The Authority File Round-Up – August 2021

A quick overview of last month's episodes, in case you missed them

On July 20th, aerospace company Blue Origin—founded by multibillionaire Jeff Bezos—launched a sub-orbital spaceflight mission. Comprised of a four-person crew clad in navy jumpsuits, the 10-minute civilian spaceflight sparked a firestorm of opinions, think-pieces, and publicity in and outside of the space industry. The number one inquiry: Could ordinary citizen spaceflight become more than science fiction?

Last month, our guest answered our burning questions about space exploration. Why are billionaires investing in space technology? What’s next for spaceflight missions? Will we one day populate the Earth’s moon? She also raised important topics of her own—like the ever-growing problem of orbital debris, for one.

Here’s a quick round-up of the conversation, in case you missed it. We hope you find the episodes educational, stimulating, and surprising. Thanks for listening!


Emerging Space Markets book cover

Emerging Space Markets

Dr. Stella Tkatchova, a project manager in the European Space Industry and author of Emerging Space Markets, joins us to characterize today’s space economy. Brought to you by Springer Nature.

Episode one: Unpacking Space Commercialization

  • Stella breaks down the history of the commercialization of the space industry. What are her predictions for advancements in space debris cleanup, solar-powered satellites, and lunar services?  Listen to episode one here.

Episode two: Privatizing the Business Model

  • How have business models in the space economy changed? Is viable and self-sustaining space tourism farther off than we might think? Listen to episode two here.

Episode three: Today’s Major Players and Investments

  • How has China’s rising power in space technology disrupted the market? Why have companies set their sights on lunar exploration? How will countries address governmental borders while inhabiting the moon? Listen to episode three here.

Episode four: Looking at Space Debris and the Latest Trends

  • Stella unpacks the possible threats—and business opportunities—orbital debris holds for the industry. Plus, how can universities prepare students for diverse career and research opportunities in space technology? Listen to episode four here.

Prison Life Writing Conversion and the Literary Roots of the U.S. Prison System book cover

Missed July’s episodes? We’ve got you covered.

In July, we had two enthralling series. First, Simon Rolston, author of Prison Life Writing: Conversion and the Literary Roots of the U.S. Prison System, walked through the history, characteristics, and writers of the prison life writing genre. How does the US carceral system affect the lives—and narratives—of incarcerated authors? You can listen to the first episode here.

Our second series featured Alan Brill, Senior Managing Director in the Cyber Risk practice of Kroll. Alan unpacked the complexities and urgency of effective cyber security in higher education. Topics include how to best prepare for a cyber attack and the precautions needed to reduce cyber risk on campus. Click here to listen to the series.

What’s Coming Up in September

This month, we’re joined by four fantastic guests who speak on the myth of the COVID-transformed workplace. Though the beginning of the pandemic hailed a “new normal,” our guests have found an overwhelming push to return to pre-COVID times, sans transformative changes. They discuss the differences between temporary tweaks and long-lasting metamorphosis, the implementation of effective diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and how to support students entering today’s workforce. You can find the first episode here.


You can find more episodes of the Authority File here on our websiteApple PodcastsSpotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks for listening! See you next month.


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