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Christine sits down with Julie Newman, chief engineer for satellites at Impulse Space and mother of three, preparing to welcome a second set of twins. They talk about building an engineering career alongside a growing family, preparing for maternity leave, and the ways parenting can change how you approach work. Julie discusses her book, Pull, Don’t Push, and why well-intentioned messages about STEM can discourage the girls they’re meant to inspire. The conversation ranges from AI tools and the value of interdisciplinary skills to the practical systems that keep a large household running, including color coding for twins. They also get into book marketing, reading nonfiction without feeling obliged to finish every page, and bringing accurate engineering into children’s books. Plus: public speaking as a career skill, advice for women starting out in engineering, and why a turbopump might become a “turtle pump” when toddlers encounter rocket science. Show notes Guest & host Julie Newman, engineer, author, and STEM advocateChristine Corbett Moran, host of RE:Productivity, engineer, authorBooks discussed Pull, Don’t Push: Why STEM Messaging to Girls Isn’t Working and What to Do Instead by Julie Newman. Julie explains how outreach can replace discouraging narratives with messages that connect engineering to what girls care about.Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein. Julie connects the book to her experience building valuable skills across disciplines.Rocket Science for Kids: An-Easy-to-Understand Guide by Russell Newman, illustrated by Laura Fearn. Technically accurate rocket science with watercolor animals, including the family’s “turtle pump” anecdote.Engineering & career Julie’s path through SpaceX, NASA JPL, Boeing, Outpost, and Impulse SpaceWhy skills at the intersection of disciplines can be especially valuablePublic speaking, outreach, and writing as engineering career skillsMaternity leave, career transitions, and advice for women entering engineeringParenting & household systems Preparing for a second set of twins and five children under fiveColor coding and the logistics of a growing familyApplying engineering skills to household organizationHow parenthood changes priorities and approaches to workAI, reading & creative projects Using AI to manage email, refresh a website, and experiment with marketingLearning from side projects and bringing those skills back to workAudiobooks, nonfiction, and permission to skip unhelpful chaptersMaking science engaging and accurate for young children

Christine talks with Kate Darling, author of The New Breed and research lead for Robotics, Ethics & Society at the RAI Institute, about parenting in an era of AI and robotics. They cover Alexa upsells, AI tutors, YouTube rabbit holes, humanoid robot hype, school logistics, social media, kids’ books, and the gap between American and European parenting norms. They also cover Kate's recent hobby: romance novels and how to fit it all in between parenting, work, and life. Kate Darling: https://www.katedarling.org/The New Breed: What Our History with Animals Reveals About Our Future with Robots: https://www.amazon.com/New-Breed-History-Animals-Reveals/dp/1250296102/RAI Institute ethics research initiative: https://rai-inst.com/resources/press-release/ai-institute-launches-ethics-research/Beast Academy: https://beastacademy.com/Scratch: https://scratch.mit.edu/Adafruit Circuit Playground: https://www.adafruit.com/category/965Claude Code: https://www.anthropic.com/claude-codeMark Rober: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRoberBlake Crouch, Dark Matter: https://blakecrouch.com/books/dark-matter/Netflix, This Is a Gardening Show: https://www.netflix.com/title/81902230David Rees, How to Sharpen Pencils: https://mhpbooks.com/books/how-to-sharpen-pencilsDog Man: https://pilkey.com/series/dog-manDiary of a Wimpy Kid: https://wimpykid.com/Project Hail Mary: https://www.andyweirauthor.com/books/project-hail-mary-hc/project-hail-mary-elThe Wild Robot: https://www.thewildrobotmovie.com/Pax: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/pax-sara-pennypackerChristine Corbett Moran: https://christinecorbettmoran.com/

Christine sits down with husband-and-wife duo Kara Linse Buckley (sports marketing, ex-Senior Advisor, U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee advisor) and Darragh Buckley (CEO at Increase, employee #1 at Stripe), parents of four in Bend, Oregon. They dig into designing a walkable life around two anchoring goals : easy enjoyable parenting and meaningful productive work, including a custom upcoming house move with kids' bedrooms small-by-design to push family into shared spaces. The conversation ranges across the "lawless place" of the school bus, an extra hour of bedtime math as a happiness hack for the eldest, Beast Academy and the Hard Math for Elementary School curriculum, and how the Federal Reserve quietly pulled off a Fedwire format change with no one noticing. They get into kids learning to code, cursor and Replit unleashing creative explosions (Space Invaders clones, a chemistry-meets-math game), the tension between teaching kids to type vs. voice-driven AI workflows, and the inevitable question of when your child will out-sysadmin you. Plus: an unintentional capitalism unleashing via pesos in a Mexican market, Monopoly variants without sub-$100 settlements, the books making the rounds in their book clubs, and how parenting changes your brain. Books: Heart the Lover by Lily KingThe Correspondent by Virginia Evans (the "crotchety" letter-writing protagonist)Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (trad-wife time-travel novel; Anne Hathaway optioned the film rights)Famesick by Lena DunhamThe Woman in Me : Britney Spears memoirGod of the Woods by Liz Moore (mentioned as a book to skip with postpartum hormones)TV For All Mankind (Apple TV+): new Mars seasonKids' tech & education Beast Academy (Art of Problem Solving)Hard Math for Elementary School by Glenn EllisonScratch (MIT visual programming)ReplitGoogle Colab (Jupyter notebooks for Python)CursorClaude CodeLogo programming languageFinance & engineering Increase: Darragh's companyFedwire: the U.S. wire systemPatrick McKenzie's Bits About Money newsletter and Complex Systems podcastPlaces & community Edge Esmeralda: the popup village in Healdsburg, CA where the eldest demoed his Chem-Mash Lab gameBend, Oregon: where Kara & Darragh have built their home, optimized for walkabilityGames Squatter: the Australian Monopoly-adjacent game in Christine's closetMonopoly: no introduction needed!

Christine sits down with Aline Lerner, founder and CEO of Interviewing.io, for a wide-ranging conversation on parenting, productivity, and the strange in-between space where life and work blur. Aline shares her first-ever Claude Code project, a LinkedIn browser extension to surface meaningful connections, and Christine gives a deep tour of her Open Claw household setup, complete with a Mac mini, a Slack-driven AI agent named Nova, that lets the AI handle birthday party shopping, gardening orders, and recurring doctor appointments. The conversation moves into the trade-offs of schooling gifted kids in California versus magnet programs Aline grew up with in 1990s New York City, calibrating realistic risk (sharks vs. cars vs. small aircraft), and the meritocratic brutality of professional kitchens. Aline shares her unexpected love of Below Deck and Catfish as practical anthropology, useful, it turns out, for catching fraudulent job candidates. The episode closes on raising kids who aren't assholes despite growing up with more privilege than their immigrant parents had, and on hedging your sources of meaning across both family and work.

Summary Christine sits down with Brittney Gallagher, co-founder and Board Chair of the AI Objectives Institute and team member at AI watchdog The Midas Project. They cover parenting, hobbies, and current events such as cold-turkey potty training, gaming and role-playing, an Expeditionary Force audiobook binge, gardening from orchids to edible flowers, and how much Replit and Scratch to allow a 7-year-old. Then a sober look at this year's AI policy landscape: open-source Chinese models catching up, super PACs spending $125M to defeat Alex Bores over the RAISE Act, and whether you'd board a plane with a 3% chance of crashing. Show Notes Guest & Host Brittney Gallagher, Co-founder & Board Chair, AI Objectives Institute; Team Member, The Midas Project Christine Corbett Moran, VP of Engineering at Horizon3.ai Games & Media Disco Elysium (and Kim Kitsuragi)Expeditionary Force by Craig AlansonUFO 50 and Party HouseDominionDon't Worry About the Vase by Zvi MowshowitzKids' Tech & Education Khan Academy KidsReplitScratchEdge EsmeraldaAI Safety & Policy The Midas Project"The reporters at this news site are AI bots. OpenAI's super PAC appears to be funding it." (Model Republic), the viral investigation Brittney referencesAI Objectives InstituteCalifornia SB 53New York's RAISE Act and Alex Bores, targeted by Leading the Future super PACAlibaba Qwen and DeepSeek

In this episode, Christine Corbett Moran hosts Joyce Yan, a software engineer and new mother, to discuss balancing parenthood and a tech career, the impact of AI on software development, and her personal projects like the Fertility Forecaster website (https://fertilityforecaster.com/). They explore postpartum experiences, AI tools in coding, and the future of work and parenting. The discussion goes into the nuances of second-time parenthood, societal expectations, and the cultural narratives around having children. key topics Balancing parenthood and a tech careerAI tools revolutionizing software developmentPostpartum experiences and recoveryBuilding and deploying a fertility app with Claude CodeBreastfeeding experiences and lactation supportImpact of cultural narratives on parenting decisionsLinks: Fertility Forecaster website (⁠https://fertilityforecaster.com/⁠) keywords: parenthood, AI in coding, postpartum, software engineering, fertility app, work-life balance, AI tools, postpartum recovery, tech industry, personal projects postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, family life, career motivation, second-time parent, cultural narratives, fertility crisis, parenting tips

In this wide-ranging episode, Casey and Christine dive deep into leadership transitions, complex systems, and the art of managing large-scale projects. Christine discusses her new role as Head of Engineering at a Series D startup, managing 60+ people and Casey discusses the counterintuitive challenges of scaling teams. Christine shares her synthetic biology progress, building an orbital shaker from scratch and exploring the intersection of hardware and biotech. The conversation spans from ancient Roman infrastructure projects to modern space exploration, touching on hiring challenges, the value of going to primary sources, and why some historical civilizations came tantalizingly close to industrial revolution but never quite made the leap. Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thesiger Now It Can Be Told about the Manhattan Project What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith Accelerate by Nicole Forsgren, Jez Humble, and Gene Kim Radical Candor by Kim Scott Playground - Contemporary science fiction novel about seasteading and AI Climbing Gold - Alex Honnold's podcast (featuring Vitaliy Musiyenko’s Sierra traverse story) Conversations with Tyler - Tyler Cowen's interview show Lex Fridman Podcast - Episodes with Jeff Wasserstrom (China scholar) and Tim Sweeney (Epic Games) The Complete History & Strategy of Standard Oil (Part I) (Acquired) Founders Podcast - Episodes on Jeff Bezos shareholder letters, Jim Simons, John D. Rockefeller, and Estée Lauder How Andreessen Horowitz Disrupted VC & What’s Coming Next (Ben and Marc Discussions) The DER Task Force - Distributed energy resources podcast (Jesse Peltan episode) Main Engine Cut Off - Space industry podcast T+303: The Trump 2024 Transition (with Mark Albrecht) The Almost-Industrial Revolutions of Rome and China  Cost of Glory - Ancient history podcast (Julius Caesar series) Circuit Playground Express - Adafruit electronics learning board Ada Fruit Orbital Shaker Tutorial - DIY lab equipment project Thinking by My Wits - Website featuring Scholar Alex Jones's literary works

In this episode, Casey recounts his recent trip to Australia to visit family and friends, while Christine shares her experience running a lemonade stand fundraiser for their children's preschool. They discuss ongoing technical and creative projects, explore the challenges of educational systems for exceptionally bright children, and reflect on various books they've been reading. The conversation weaves through topics of metallurgy, neurodiversity, programming languages for kids, and the future of space exploration. Neurotribes  Exceptionally Gifted Children  Superconvergence  Now It Can Be Told  Secret Coders Founders Podcast: Michael Dell Complex Systems: Fixing Government Tech With Mikey Dickerson  Complex Systems: Power In Local Government Adafruit: Orbital Shaker

Summary In this week's episode, Casey and Christine discuss their weekend family adventures, including picnic table remodeling, bike maintenance, and trips to the local airport and climbing gym. They explore their experiences with AI toys for children, microwave modification projects, and dive into deeper conversations about human intelligence, biology experiments, and aging research. The discussion ranges from reflections on their honeymoon in Cuba to thoughts on economic growth, education, and the potential of technological advancement to solve fundamental human problems. Links Asterix comics - Comics that Casey enjoyed as a child and now reads with his children Now It Can Be Told by Leslie Groves - About the Manhattan Project The Prodigy's Cousin - Book about links between autism and childhood prodigies NeuroTribes - Book about autism Acquired podcast episode on Epic - Healthcare software company Gompertz mortality law Dino - Magical Toys [AI powered toy] Paperclip Maximizers and Squiggle Maximizers

Bronze Sword Replication Project - Inspired by a 3,400-year-old bronze sword found in South Central Germany in 2023 Lost PLA Method - Similar to the lost wax method for metal casting Cybertruck Experience - Family rented and drove Tesla's Cybertruck Glowing yeast experiment CRISPR experiment DNA athleticism gene testing Voyage of the Southern Sun - Book by Michael Smith about flying around the world in an ultralight aircraft Like War - Book about social media's impact on global politics and warfare Abundance by Ezra Klein - Audiobook being listened to by hosts Acquired Podcast - Episode on Meituan Radiohead - Music being enjoyed in the biology lab Heracles and the Trojan War - Historical/mythological reference point for the bronze sword era Non-alcoholic beers - Athletic Brewing, Partake, and Sober Carpenter brands mentioned

Show Notes Terraform's new blog post - Casey's Terraform 2.0 announcement and job postings Palladium Magazine - Why Starship Matters - Casey's article on what Starship means Beast Academy - Math enrichment program UNSW Math Enrichment - University math problems Modern Relationships Podcast - Agnes and Arnold - Episode with Agnes and Arnold discussed Your Undivided Attention - Cult deprogramming - Podcast on cult deprogramming Dwarkesh Podcast - Scott Alexander - Scott Alexander's first podcast appearance Situational Awareness blog - Leopold's blog on AI safety Christine’s create a home biolab blogpost update Chopin Nocture in C-sharp minor, Op. Posthum.

In this week's episode, Christine and Casey dive into their recent adventures and intellectual pursuits. Christine shares highlights from Jeff Bezos' exclusive MARS conference (Machine learning, Automation, Robotics, and Space), including fascinating encounters with colossal mammoth revival efforts, fusion energy breakthroughs, and quantum consciousness theories. Casey discusses his explorations in creating custom watch faces for his new Garmin device. The conversation expands into thoughtful discussions on education systems around the world, examining Finland, South Korea, and America's approaches to gifted education, teacher quality, and standardized testing. They debate college admissions philosophies, curriculum rigor, and the value of challenging young minds with unsolved problems. The episode concludes with reflections on media consumption, journalism ethics, and the importance of truth-seeking in reporting. MARS Conference - Jeff Bezos' invite-only event focusing on Machine learning, Automation, Robotics, and Space Colossal - Company working on woolly mammoth de-extinction through genetic engineering ZAP Energy - Fusion energy company using Z-pinch technology Signal Messaging - Mentioned in context of recent news coverage The Smartest Kids in the World by Amanda Ripley - Examining education systems in Finland, South Korea, and Poland Genius Denied by Jan and Bob Davidson - About education for gifted students The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller (not recommended by hosts) Longitude by Dava Sobel - Historical account of the longitude problem Sharing Space by Cady Coleman - Autobiography of NASA astronaut The Voyage of the Southern Sun by Michael Smith - Account of recreating the historic flying boat route from Australia to England The Tech God Complex: Why We Need to Be Skeptics - Podcast Acquired Rolex Episode - Episode on Rolex  No, poor people aren’t funding your credit card rewards (Complex Systems Podcast) - Patrick Mackenzie's podcast on payment systems and complex systems Off-Nominal and Main Engine Cut Off - Space industry podcasts Tilt Parenting- TPP 178: The Davidson Institute on Supporting & Educating Profoundly Gifted Children - Podcast about raising neurodivergent kids The Davidson Institute - Resources for gifted education Magnus Carlsen Interview on Lex Fridman Customizing Monkey C SDK for wearable devices Beast Academy (from Art of Problem Solving) - Math curriculum for advanced students The Collatz Conjecture - An unsolved mathematical problem discussed when talking about challenging gifted students

Note-Our audio was challenging this week! We did our best to postprocess to improve, and we promise the backlog is higher quality listening. This week, hosts Casey Handmer and Christine Corbett Moran share stories from their recent family road trip to Las Vegas for a cousin's wedding. They discuss the efficiency of Vegas weddings, touring the Hoover Dam and its impressive Art Deco design, and experiencing the technological marvel of The Sphere. The conversation explores engineering history through the lens of Henry Kaiser's accomplishments, biohacking experiments, professional achievements, and Casey's ongoing Mars terraforming project.  Sure Thing Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas Touring the Hoover Dam and learning about its Art Deco architecture Visiting the Great Unconformity geological formation Exploring the National Atomic Testing Museum Experiencing The Sphere and its "Postcard from Earth" show by Darren Aronofsky Discussion of Western Colossus (Kaiser biography) Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (book club selection; Christine does not recommend though) Bayesian Conspiracy podcast - "Super Babies" episode Founders Podcast - Henry Kaiser Episode Cost of Glory Podcast Modern Relationships podcast with Eric Weinstein

Show notes: Bento Lab - Portable DNA analysis lab with centrifuge, gel electrophoresis, and PCR machine Bio Bits - Kits for demonstrating protein synthesis with fluorescent indicators Shannon-Hartley theorem - Information theory concept discussed related to signal transmission Rock climbing for kids - REI resource about climbing with children The Martian - Book referenced during discussion of radio communications from Mars Joule-Thomson effect - Physics concept mentioned regarding gas expansion Blue Ghost lunar lander - Recent moon landing discussed Starship test flights - SpaceX's Starship development program Erica DeBenedictis' work - Research on microbial tolerance to Martian environments Moving Mars - Science fiction book by Greg Bear Habit Chaining - Productivity concept mentioned IKEA Poäng chairs - Mentioned as ideal reading chairs Street Parking - Modified CrossFit workout program Christine uses The French Laundry Cookbook - High-end cookbook Christine purchased After Meat - Book about bioreactor technology Acquired Podcast: Lockheed Martin episode - Podcast Christine is listening to Banff Mountain Film Festival - Film festival they attended with their children The Weirdest People in the World - Book by Joseph Henrich Guns, Germs, and Steel - Book by Jared Diamond The Machiavellians - Book by James Burnham His Majesty's Dragon - Historical fantasy novel with dragons Red Mars - Book by Kim Stanley Robinson about Mars colonization 28C3 Cellular protocol stacks for Internet (Harald Walte) - (Video) How to Set Up a Home Biohacking Lab for Education - Christine’s blogpost

In this week's episode, we explore Christine's new adventures in biohacking and home biology experiments, including plans for a PCR machine and DNA analysis. Casey shares detailed insights from his recent visit to SpaceX's Starbase, discussing the facility's impressive growth and the technical challenges of Mars colonization. The conversation weaves through topics from DNA structure to educational approaches for children, while touching on historical figures and the evolution of dating technology. Links: Lost in Math by Sabine Hossenfelder Beast Academy - Math education program The Amoeba Sisters - Biology education resources Bento Lab - Portable DNA analysis laboratory Biotechnology 101 Bacterial CRISPR and Fluorescent Yeast Combo Kit  BioBits - Educational biology kits SpaceX Starbase - SpaceX's launch facility Everyday Astronaut's Starbase Tour Dwarkesh Podcast with Jeff Dean TSMC Founder Interview on Acquired Valentine's Day reflections: single women in STEM into single men in STEM Henry Parkes Scientific Concepts: Histones - Proteins that help organize DNA Karyotype - Chromosomal display PCR Machine - DNA/RNA amplification technology Gel Electrophoresis - DNA/RNA separation technique