Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To The My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form

040 | Krys Blackwood (NASA JPL)

Posted on April 25, 2017March 5, 2023 By Sammy Younan No Comments on 040 | Krys Blackwood (NASA JPL)

My Summer Lair Chapter #40: What Are Your Thoughts On Space?

Remember how newspapers used to have corrections…they’d type up a line like “The New York Times regrets the error?” Krys’ response to this interview: “Gah, I must have been nervous. It’s been 20 years since we found the first exoplanets, and there are 25 in the HABITABLE zone, but almost 3K confirmed. Sigh.” Heh…she regrets the error.

Krys Blackwood & Sammy Younan

That’s the thing with space and why it is so exciting and inspiring! What we know has to be constantly updated and what we know seems like a lot but there is so much amazing universe out there. I was “over the moon” happy to sit down with Krys Blackwood at FITC to hear about her powerful work at NASA JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and NASA’s Deep Space Network and of course…Doctor Who.

As you’ll hear Krys refers to herself as an “Indiscriminate geek and a total dork.” Amazing. One of many unique aspect of JPL’s mandates is assisting science-fiction tv shows and movies: to help get the science right. Krys boils her complex work to “I make space software” however her bio is outstanding: “She’s now designing the future of deep space operations for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA.” Fresh!

(The JPL is open to the public!! If you have a chance next time you’re in Cali go on one of their tours; see what all these nice people are working on. Thanks Nice People.)

Sci-fi Krys Recommends:
The Expanse (TV Show)
Europa Report (Movie)
Doctor Who (her choice of Doctor is startlingly!)

All of this work is fascinating to me; I could have sat with Krys for hours peppering her with questions. This notion of heading to Mars…becoming a multi-planetary species; mapping the stars…space is inspiring as much as it’s intimidating. It’s hard to fathom the dangers that lurk in that darkness and I’m only partially talking about aliens.

We’ve lost many lives in perfecting our ability to get to space and yet here we are: an undaunted mankind determined to escape the limiting demands of gravity and to embrace an indescribable freedom.

The classic JFK lines: “We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”

Or if you’re more inclined Captain Kirk’s marvelous Risk Is Our Business:

NASA JPL @ W • T • F

Host & Photography Sammy Younan

Recorded: Sunday April 23, 2017 at 11:30 am (at FITC)

Stress free pop culture tastefully harvested for your divine delight. Once a week a carefully curated edition of My Pal Sammy goes directly to your inbox. Sign up for my newsletter so we can have some fun…after all: in space no one can hear you scream in delight!

My Summer Lair, Podcast Tags:Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Krys Blackwood, NASA, Science-Fiction, Space Is The Place

Post navigation

Previous Post: 039 | Henry VanderSpek (Taxi Drivers Of Toronto)
Next Post: 041 | Ivan Cash (Cash Studios)

More Related Articles

031 | Kevin A. Boyd (Fan Expo) My Summer Lair
009 | Andrew Keen (The Internet Is Not The Answer) My Summer Lair
Virginia Abramovich (Between Waves) 210 | Virginia Abramovich (Between Waves) My Summer Lair
Kat Rosenfield (Stan Lee’s Alliances: A Trick of Light) 129 | Kat Rosenfield (Stan Lee’s Alliances: A Trick of Light) My Summer Lair
Michael Holley (The Big Three: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and the Rebirth of the Boston Celtics) 189 | Michael Holley (The Big Three: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and the Rebirth of the Boston Celtics) My Summer Lair
035 | Ryan Kipp (Cabin) My Summer Lair

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #CouchWorthy: March 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    It’s hard to believe but we’re basically into April. Spring has sprung. However, before we leave March behind here are some TV highlights that are #CouchWorthy. Maybe you missed em or didn’t hear about em. What about something fresh? Or something different? Or fun! Then here ya go!
  • #SetTheVCR: March 27 – April 02, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR goes down a Rabbit Hole after a Knock At The Cabin. The dinosaurs are loose, there's a murder mystery and a couple of a-ha moments you can take…s'all on me? You're welcome!
  • #SetTheVCR: March 20 – 26, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Big Names in this week's #SetTheVCR: The Sandman, Mr. October, David Koresh and Tom Cruise. All they require is a Watcher, Britpop supplies the soundtrack.
  • #SetTheVCR: March 13 – 19, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is a fantastic TV tour: from Local comedy, to Irish hospitality to an Essex County visit after seeing Changeland you'll want to wear comfortable pants. Or no pants…even better!
  • #SetTheVCR: March 06 – 12, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    We got historical farts, spies in a cold war and a talking seashell…that can only mean it's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: February 27 – March 05, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Selective Outrage, a ghost and a Lil Yoda…obviously it's time for #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: February 20 – 26, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Smile! It's a fresh week of TV; you don't need The Consultant to know the Circus is back in town. It's #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: February 13 – 19, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week in #SetTheVCR we go to space, technology runs amok and the American Government has been keeping UFOs secret. Welcome to the future…in this week's TV.
  • #SetTheVCR: February 06 – 12, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    A #SetTheVCR week that starts with a #GOAT…but will it end with a #GOAT?
  • #SetTheVCR: January 30 – February 05, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Ark you excited for another #SetTheVCR? Train your Watchful Eye on these fresh recommendations that'll make you Stand and cheer.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: DCEU Is Pee-Ew | Batgirl vs HBO MaxAugust 5, 2022
    Sammy & Rob Gaudette discuss and review the status of the DCEU following the cancellation of Batgirl on HBO Max. Rob still has hope.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: Contact Photography Festival 2022 | Culture SnapMay 12, 2022
    Sammy is joined by photographer Henry VanderSpek aka Culture Snap to discuss and recommend a happy handful of Contact Photography Festival exhibitions.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: A Taylor Hawkins MemorialMarch 28, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss the shocking and sad passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: All The Batmans | Keaton To Nipples to BatfleckMarch 10, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss All The Batmans: from Michael Keaton to Ben Affleck.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: 2021 Induction Ceremony | Rock & Roll Hall of FameNovember 25, 2021
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss their happy highlights from the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

  • Yaron Weitzman (Tanking to the Top) and Sammy Younan in My Summer Lair 148
    Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers
    by Sammy Younan
    Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Process in the History of Professional Sportsby Yaron WeitzmanPublished by Grand Central Publishing on March 17, 2020NBA // Non-Fiction // 76ers One of the best lines in Yaron Weitzman’s NBA book: “Hinkie triggered a culture war.” Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and...

    READ ON “Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers” »

  • New Book Alert: January 10-14, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: January 3-7, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 8-12, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 1-5, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

Copyright © 2023 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme