Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

• 146. Pump It Up: Benji Leibowitz on DAO-ing Science Differently

  In this episode of Grow Everything, hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez talk with Benji Leibowitz, Co-Founder of Pump Science, about what it really means to be “DAO-ing science differently.” From the early days of Molecule DAO to today’s crypto-native platform for funding longevity and nootropics research, Benji explains how decentralized science (DeSci) can rebuild healthcare and biotech from the ground up. By combining bonding curves, tokenized IP, and radical transparency with live-streamed worm and fly experiments, Pump Science is transforming science into an attention game that’s fast, fun, and open to everyone. Tune in to hear how DAO-driven models are unlocking underfunded areas like longevity, attracting crypto investors, and creating a new culture where research is not only transparent but also entertaining.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters:(00:00:00) Welcome to the Grow Everything Podcast(00:00:49) Proposed U.S. budget cuts to research(00:01:59) How jargon fuels skepticism in science(00:02:25) China's bioeconomy surpassing U.S. in biotech investment(00:04:31) Rising gut imbalance in infants: My Baby Biome study(00:06:35) Billionaires investing heavily in longevity research(00:08:21) Wishing for more entertaining "fun" billionaires(00:10:26) Meet Benji(00:13:07) Rebuilding healthcare and biotech from scratch (DeSci)(00:15:15) From tokenizing biotech IP to Pump Science’s new model(00:18:09) Focusing on longevity to attract crypto investors(00:23:56) Optimizing experiments with C. elegans worms(00:27:47) A high-velocity "casino" model backed by real IP(00:33:18) Launching compound tokens on a bonding curve(00:36:36) Funding research through small trading fees(00:40:34) Gamifying research: rewarding top-performing compounds ("King of the Pill")(00:43:23) Using live streams for trust and funding transparency (DeSci)(00:46:35) "Fly races" as entertainment and a longevity indicator(00:48:56) Excitement for performance enhancement and nootropics (Pump Science)(00:50:14) Rapid-fire guest Q&A(00:51:32) Advice for newcomers to Pump Science(00:53:06) Reflecting on the guest's model for funding science(00:55:31) DeSci’s potential to build a parallel healthcare systemEpisode Links:Advocate for Science - Contact Your CongresspersonPump.ScienceMoleculeDAODeSci 101 EpisodeLaura Miniquini Episode Michael Fisher EpisodeJocelynn Pearl EpisodeAlbert Anis EpisodeStephanie Culler, Persephone EpMomo and Guru - Viome EpisodeMap of Longevity Companies Attracting Investor InterestThe Gut Microbiome Protects Infants from DisasesBioFab Fair - Use promo code: GROW10 for a discount to attend! Topics Covered: Decentralized science, DAO, longevity, open science, crypto science   Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram  / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything

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• 145: "Decentralized Science 101: Defining DeSci with the Experts"

  In this highlight reel episode of Grow Everything, hosts Erum Azeez and Karl Schmieder dive deep into the rapidly evolving world of decentralized science (DeSci). Featuring expert insights from Albert Anis, Jocelyn Pearl, Michael Fisher, and Laura Minquinin, this episode explores how DeSci is revolutionizing the way research is funded, shared, and governed — far beyond traditional academic systems. You’ll hear how blockchain, bioDAOs, and decentralized funding models are enabling faster, more collaborative innovation across the life sciences. Whether you're a researcher, founder, or biotech enthusiast, this conversation unpacks the tools, values, and infrastructure reshaping the future of scientific discovery. From autonomous agents designing experiments to the Solana-based $BIO token, this episode distills cutting-edge developments into a compelling introduction to the DeSci movement — and why it matters now more than ever.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters:(00:00:15) Welcome to the Grow Everything Podcast(00:00:44) Travels and reading Bossy Pants(00:01:34) Highlighting September as Blood Cancer Awareness Month(00:02:20) Innovations in biopharma and cancer therapies like CAR T(00:02:53) The science of how sleep flushes waste from the brain(00:04:07) A deep dive into sulforaphane for cognitive benefits(00:05:07) The challenge of getting effective quantities of molecules from food(00:06:20) Introducing Decentralized Science (DeSci)(00:07:05) Why DeSci is important: Democratizing science and making it accessible(00:09:08) DeSci's role as an alternative funding mechanism for scientific research(00:10:54) Defining DeSci as science improved by the blockchain(00:11:27) How token incentives work in DeSci research projects(00:12:56) Contrasting DeSci's crowdsourcing model with traditional science funding(00:14:43) Defining a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)(00:15:46) The origins of decentralized science and ValleyDAO(00:18:35) Explaining DeSci by comparing it to decentralized finance (DeFi)(00:19:40) How the broken scientific publishing model needs disruption(00:20:50) Breaking open the "black box of biotech" with LabDAO(00:22:40) DeSci as a tool to fund overlooked areas of research(00:22:57) How DeSci addresses major problems like publishing and reproducibility(00:23:43) The mission of Athena DAO to fund women's health research(00:25:33) DeSci movement(00:26:09) The idea of a DeSci-funded cloud lab for global collaborationEpisode Links:Michael Fischer episodeJocelynn Pearl episodeAlbert Anis episodeLaura Minquini episodeHow Your Brain’s Nightly Cleanse Keeps It HealthyDeSci WikiBioFab Fair - Use promo code: GROW10 for a discount to attend! Topics Covered: biotech beauty, space biotech, skin care, biomanufacturing, longevity, extremophiles  Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram  / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything

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• 144. Art Meets Agar: Karen Ingram Reimagines Biodesign

  Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez sit down with Karen Ingram, Creative Director & Designer at Karen Ingram & Associates, Inc. From her iconic Biogenetic Blooms—Petri dish paintings made with living yeast—to her innovative teaching with BioBuilder and playful experiments like Fallacy Bingo, Karen shows how science and creativity can merge to inspire broader engagement with biotechnology. She shares stories from the early Brooklyn biohacker days, reflects on teaching teenagers to think critically about designing life, and explains how art, games, and design can shape the future of the bioeconomy. This is where art truly meets agar—transforming living microbes into canvases and reimagining the possibilities of biodesign.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:(00:00:00): Summer travel in the Hamptons.(00:01:35): Sag Harbor’s Whaling History – The town’s past as a whaling hub using whale oil.(00:02:31): From Bioeconomy to Petrochemicals – Petroleum discovery quickly ends whaling.(00:03:59): The Basque Whalers – Early European whaling led by the Basques.(00:04:54): Positive Whale News – Australia’s humpback whales are making a comeback.(00:07:08): The Genetic Manual – Penn study finds 25% of young ICU patients have treatment-altering mutations.(00:08:22): The Healthcare Gap – Why advanced health data isn’t used enough.(00:11:08): The Wood Wide Web – Mapping underground mushroom networks that link ecosystems.(00:14:11): Meet Karen Ingram.(00:16:28): Karen’s Origin Story – Interest in tech and nature leads her to synthetic biology.(00:17:58): Early Brooklyn Biotech – Genspace and starting bio-art projects.(00:19:51): Biogenetic Blooms – Karen paints flowers in Petri dishes with engineered yeast.(00:24:19): Teaching BioBuilder – Co-authoring a book for teens on synbio and ethics.(00:28:13): Designing for Accessibility – Making biotech exciting and easy to understand.(00:29:44): Fallacy Bingo – Creating a game mixing nightlife with logical fallacies.(00:36:31): Collab Futures – Building collaborations between scientists and creatives.(00:38:28): Gaming in Science – Using games for emotional, memorable science communication.(00:45:57): Biotech Collaborations – Karen’s stop-motion art with Triton Bio.(00:48:50): A tool Karen can’t live without(00:49:34): A SynBio project she’d revisit.(00:49:51): Misconceptions about mixing art and science.(00:50:12): Defining her true studio(00:52:40): Super Convergence – Why merging disciplines matters.(00:54:20): Endless Biotech Jobs – Encouragement for newcomers to explore creative biotech careers.Links and Resources:Karen Ingram & Associates Inc.Biogenetic BloomsBiobat Biobuilder - Synthetic Biology in the Lab Natalie KuldellKaren Ingram SubstackFallacy BingoCoLab FuturesGenspace Caveat - Facts Machine: Science Comedy Trivia NightTritonBioDan GrushkinMegan PalmerCasey Lardner The Patient Will See You Know by Eric Topol Drivas lab demonstrates the benefit of genetic testing in critically ill adultsSociety for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)BioFab Fair - Use promo code: GROW10 for a discount to attend! Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

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• 143. Sunscreen from Space? Delavie’s Kyle Landry Turns Space Microbes into Skincare

  Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez sit down with Dr. Kyle Landry, President and Co-founder of Delavie Sciences, to explore how extremophiles—microbes that survive in the harshest environments on Earth and space—are unlocking new frontiers in skincare and longevity. Kyle shares his unconventional path from food science to biodefense to NASA collaborations, revealing how a microbe that survived 18 months outside the International Space Station became the foundation for a groundbreaking sunscreen ingredient. The conversation dives into longevity science, microbial resilience, the future of skincare as true preventative health, and the entrepreneurial challenge of scaling biotech innovations from test tube to industrial reactors.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Links and Resources:Chris Mason Episode Kate Rubins Episode Erika DeBenedictis EpisodeLifespan.ioFight Aging! Delavie Sciences David Sinclair’s Novel - Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To Efficacy of a Novel SPF Booster Based on Research Aboard the International Space StationNASA iTECHChapters:(00:00:00) - Introduction to the episode and the Grow Everything podcast(00:00:49) - Aging by Biotech NYC event overview(00:03:35) - Tips on being a great moderator(00:04:03) - Keys to moderating well: preparation and audience engagement(00:07:20) - Notable absence of space topics at longevity event(00:09:40) - Guest introduction: Dr. Kyle Landry and his background(00:10:13) - Story of how the hosts met Kyle Landry(00:11:42) - Career journey from food science to skincare(00:14:27) - Inspiration from space research leading to Delavie Sciences(00:17:25) - How Delavie’s product works at a molecular level for sun protection and anti-aging(00:20:43) - Evolution of the space microbe and cultivation on Earth(00:22:31) - What it means for a microbe to “sit outside the space station”(00:23:26) - Professional connections with other Grow Everything guests, Chris Mason and Dr. Kate Rubins(00:24:29) - Potential for Delavie to expand beyond skincare into new industries(00:26:11) - Lessons from researching extremophiles and challenges of working with new organisms(00:28:22) - Role in mentoring students and researchers(00:31:36) - Rethinking health and resilience in biotechnology(00:33:20) - Exploring the “product versus platform” dilemma in biotech entrepreneurship(00:34:48) - How Delavie functions as both a technology platform and a product company(00:36:29) - Corporate partnerships and product applications of Delavie’s ingredients(00:38:53) - Clarification: using microbial compounds, not live bacteria, in products(00:39:59) - Importance of protecting the skin microbiome without disrupting it(00:42:46) - The future of skincare and longevity(00:45:03) - Quick-fire questions begin(00:45:19) - Weirdest place to hunt for a microbe(00:45:31) - Bio-fact most people don’t believe but should(00:46:48) - Personal skincare non-negotiable(00:48:20) - Would you rather halt or reverse aging?(00:48:51) - Weirdest place a sample has been collected(00:51:14) - Post-interview reflections and discussion(00:52:54) - Takeaways from the interview and the concept of convergence(00:54:03) - Conversation on Umami flavor and UV light spectrums(00:56:00) - Regulatory differences in sunscreen between the US and Europe(00:58:14) - Announcement of the BioFabricate Fair and listener discount codeTopics Covered: biotech beauty, space biotech, skin care, biomanufacturing, longevity, extremophiles  Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram  / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow Everything

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• 142. Petri Dishes & Policy Shifts: Capgemini’s Richard Traherne on Scaling Biology

  Karl and Erum speak with Richard Traherne of Capgemini Invent and Cambridge Consultants, where they explore the explosive convergence of engineering biology, artificial intelligence, and sustainable innovation. Richard reveals how programmable biology is catalyzing a new industrial revolution—transitioning biotech from niche innovation to foundational infrastructure across sectors like food, fashion, personal care, and manufacturing. From building predictive bio-labs to deploying proprietary large language models for enzyme design, Richard shares how his team is helping companies leap from conceptual curiosity to commercial readiness. The conversation dives into challenges faced by both bio-literate and bio-novice enterprises, the importance of storytelling and regulatory support, and how a truly bio-native design mindset can unlock regenerative, high-performance solutions. This episode is a must-listen for biotech professionals, sustainability strategists, and innovation leaders eager to scale with intention in the emerging bioeconomy.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:00:00:00 - Stepping Into the Era of Programmable Biology00:01:04 - Inside a Workshop on Designing Life with Code00:06:31 - Longevity Breakthroughs: Tackling Aging with Biotech00:08:40 - The Beauty Revolution Powered by Regenerative Biology00:12:31 - Turning Biotech Ideas into Market-Ready Innovations00:14:05 - Spotlight Conversation with Richard Traherne00:32:34 - Slashing Discovery Costs in Energy and Fuels00:33:03 - The Real-World Hurdles of Bringing Biology to Life00:33:41 - Winning Trust in Bioengineered Solutions00:36:13 - Scaling Biology to Power the Global Bioeconomy00:41:12 - How AI Is Supercharging Biotechnology00:44:42 - Engineering Biology for a Sustainable Future00:48:39 - Game-Changing Bio Projects and Their Ripple Effects00:52:30 - What’s Next for the Future of Engineering Biology00:55:32 - Quickfire Insights and Closing ThoughtsLinks and Resources:109. Long Live Vitalia: The City Where Aging Slows and Innovation Accelerates With Niklas Anzinger137. Hack to the Future: Shelby Newsad on Biohacking Breakthroughs50. The Dye-Hard Innovator: Natsai Chieza Designs Change for the Fashion Industry and the WorldCapgemini Engineering Biology Report: Access here Capgemini Lab Breakthrough hereCapgemini CRI: Unlocking the potential of engineering biology: The time is nowCapgemini x WEF: From Policy to Practice: Actionable Recommendations for a Commercial BioeconomyCapgemini x WEF: Next Generation Bio-Innovation: Delivering Commercial ValueCapgemini x WEF: Accelerating the tech-driven bioeconomy⁠Topics Covered: biotech consulting, bioengineering, innovation adoption, integration, bio-based, systems biologyHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

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