Pamela Bergmann takes us deep into the intricacies of balloon technology, from the emerging field of pico balloons to the substantial full-size NASA payload balloons, which can weigh up to 8,000 pounds.

Pamela, a former senior program manager for the Google Loon project, shares her journey from fashion design to balloon engineering, highlighting the unique challenges and innovations within the balloon manufacturing sector.

The conversation explores the operational efficiencies and potential of small-scale balloons in atmospheric data collection, juxtaposed with the more traditional, larger NASA balloons used for significant scientific missions.

We examine the evolution of materials and design, and discuss how advancements in technology are reshaping the future of ballooning. Ultimately, this episode provides a profound insight into the fusion of engineering and creativity in the realm of aerial exploration.

Takeaways:

1. In this episode, Pamela Bergmann shares her unique journey from fashion design to balloon engineering, highlighting the unexpected paths one can take in their career.
2. The discussion delves into the intricacies of balloon manufacturing, touching upon the challenges of materials selection and the evolution from traditional sewing to modern welding techniques.
3. We explore the fascinating world of pico balloons, noting their potential for atmospheric research and the increasing accessibility for amateur balloon enthusiasts.
4. Pamela emphasizes the importance of understanding buoyancy and pressure dynamics in balloon design, which directly influences operational success and data reliability.
5. The conversation reveals insights into NASA's large payload balloons, particularly their capacity to carry significant weights, showcasing the advancements in balloon technology over the years.
6. Finally, the episode underscores the collaborative efforts within the ballooning community, as professionals share knowledge and experiences to push the boundaries of what's possible in this field.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. dandelionballoons.com
2. Instagram - @dandelionballoons

Companies mentioned in this episode:

1. Loon
2. Aerostar
3. Scientific Balloon Systems

"For as long as I can remember, I've made things." Dave Schipper joins us to re-start the pod after I've taken a 5 year hiatus. Dave is a generally rad dude hailing from Moab, Utah, and if you've ever done anything even half-way hardcore in the great outdoors it's reasonably likely you've used a piece of gear he designed. We talk about the paraglider bag we worked on together as well as his experience as a designer & developer to bring the avalung-in-a-backpack into being as well as super lightweight backpacks for adventure racing.

Dave can be found using his full (with the -id at the end) first name, then outdoorlabs.com. The pack we discussed in the show can be found here: https://kyk13.com/proto-pack-a-custom-paraglider-backpack/

Enjoy!

Principle Investigator at the Anne Andrews Research Group at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences

Psychiatry is the study and treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbance, and abnormal behavior

Leads research on anxiety & depression

Trying to understand how neurotransmitters are used in chemical communication by coming up with new sensors to measure what's going on.

[Eavesdropping on Neurochemical Signaling in Vivo]

Focus on serotonin system & how serotonin transporters influence behavior.

From abalone hunter to national park service law enforcement to viral video cat rescuing star, Shannon Jay is the kind of guy you just love to sit down and listen to. A fantastic story teller, he is one of my favorite people to catch up with.

In the podcast he talks about hunting giant red abalone on the Lost Coast, what he learned in 31 years of law enforcement (and some of the most important things he teaches) and his world famous (literally) cat rescuing stories from the burn zones of 3 major wildfires.

Shannon Jay is a gem of a human, enjoy the show!

Links:

The Ab King, Eric Stockwell: https://www.northcoastjournal.com/NewsBlog/archives/2018/11/12/just-fishing-with-great-whites-no-big-video

Blink, by Malcom Gladwell.

https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Power-Thinking-Without/dp/0316010669

The Carr Fire Tornado

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1XkAsWGu60

The rescue of Mama Cat with Douglas Thron

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIV1VYX1Rc8

Kimberly Freeman at lostcatfinder.com

Stan Graham sticks out in any crowd. At 6'5" with a shock of white hair, he's a physical presence.

He can also move that mass pretty quickly. In October of 2019 he's aiming for a world record for the 50 and over crowd.

We talked about running a bit in the show, but went more deeply into his beliefs, how he got into running, and why he started Elements meals.

A rad human with a story worth sharing. Enjoy!

Scott Mann shares his journey from revenge-driven Green Beret "putting scalps on the barn" in Afghanistan to creative storyteller helping guide other veterans through the process of transitioning from the military to civilian life.

Scott takes us through his career including why he turned down a military command opportunity 3 times: "I joined to be a Green Beret, not a Colonel".

He tells us about his journey out of the military, how despite all his planning and outside stability he still started to flame out.

Scott walks us through how Bo Eason, a former NFL player turned actor, helped guide him through to his next journey.

Scott is a powerful speaker and a good human; I would have been stoked to have had his leadership when I was in the military.

More on Scott at:

http://www.rooftopleadership.com/

http://www.theheroesjourney.org/

Been working on this piece of writing for a while, thought I'd share one of the first drafts with you. As you'll hear, this comes from my experiences riding earth energy, would love to get your feedback on it. Rock on!

For more info go to nikhawks.com

-NFH