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PODCAST

The Star River Podcast

Eric Loyd: The Astropotamus

The Star River: Astronomy, Culture, and the Cosmic ConnectionWe are all travelers on a single current - a River of Space and Time flowing from ancient suns into the distant future. On The Star River, we don’t just watch the universe pass by; we wade into the stream.Hosted by Eric Loyd (the Astropotamus), this podcast bridges the gap between the technical and the transcendent. We explore our inextricable link to the Cosmos through the lenses of astrophotographers, the melodies of musicians, and the

science astronomy

All Episodes

61:38

Chasing Stars in the City Lights with Jessica Dowell

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/09/29

How does an observatory thrive amidst urban lights?Charting the CourseExplore the challenges and triumphs of the University of New Mexico Observatory, nestled in the heart of Albuquerque. Observatory Director Jessica Dowell and her husband, Jayce Dowell discuss the observatory's history, outreach efforts, and the quest for a darker sky site."The goal is to give them the experience I had as an undergrad, which inspired me to be an astronomer." - Jessica DowellWaypoints00:02:53 - The

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84:27

Seeing the Entire Sky at Once in Radio Waves with Dr...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/09/01

What does it mean to look at the the entire sky all at once in radio waves?Charting the Course This episode dives into the world of radio astronomy with Dr. Jayce Dowell, research Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and a leading scientist for the Long Wavelength Array (LWA). Unlike the VLA the LWA explores the entire visible sky all at once, and electronics and software give it unique abilities and views of the universe. I met him at

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102:20

How to See the Surface of a Star: New Mexico’s Secret...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/08/18

What does it take to see the surface features of distant stars or track satellites in deep space? In this episode we sit down with Professor Michelle Creech-Ekman, Professor of Physics and Project Scientist at New Mexico Tech. From her roots in North Dakota to her pivotal work at JPL on the Keck Interferometer, Dr. Creech-Ekman shares her journey and her current groundbreaking project: the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI).Perched 10,500 feet high in central New Mexico, the MROI is a

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5:56

Transitioning from the VLA to the Rest of New Mexico

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/08/04

As we pull up stakes on the Plains of San Augustin and wrap up our time with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, let's take a quick pit stop to reflect on our journey so far and set the stage for what's coming next on the Enchanted Frequencies Mission to New Mexico.In this interlude episode, I preview the next leg of the expedition:🏔️ Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI): Bleeding-edge optical and infrared astronomy at 10,600 feet.📡 The Long Wavelength Array (LWA): Listening

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72:34

Can a Star Make a Cookie? (And How We Search for...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/07/28

Can a star make a cookie and searching for techno- and bio-signatures to find signs of extraterrestrial life.What do cosmic cookies, giant space spectrometers, and artificial intelligence in deep space have in common? They're all part of the daily work of Dr. Chenoa Tremblay, project scientist with the SETI Institute, Breakthrough Listen, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO).In this episode of The Star River Podcast, host Eric Loyd sits down with Dr. Tremblay to explore the

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41:58

Flecks of Matter on a Spinning Rock: Finding Joy in...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/07/21

What happens when you leave the high-stakes, "level-10 emergencies" of political campaign management to find your center among the stars? In this episode, I sit down with Corrina Jaramillo-Feldman, Senior Public Information Officer for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) VLA, VLBA, and ngVLA. Together, we navigate her fascinating, meandering journey from running statewide campaigns to translating the invisible, silent data sets of radio astronomy for the global public.As I

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52:10

What's Dance Got to Do With It? Signe Mason, Part 2

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/07/14

Gather around the campfire, fellow Star River navigators! In this episode, we sit down with Signe Mason, an Operations Specialist at the world-renowned Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico and an astrophysics researcher simulating black holes at Northwestern University for part 2 of her journey down the River.I continue my conversation with Signe, from the outdoor patio at the Capital Bar and Grill in Socorro, complete with interruptions, sirens, and train horns. Now with more people! The editing on

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54:24

Not Today, Satan: Managing the VLA Telescope with...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/07/07

Gather around the campfire, fellow Star River navigators! In this episode, we sit down with Signe Mason, an Operations Specialist at the world-renowned Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico and an astrophysics researcher simulating black holes at Northwestern University.Recording live from the outdoor patio at the Capital Bar and Grill in Socorro, complete with interruptions, sirens, and train horns, we dive deep into the fascinating, behind-the-scenes reality of what it actually takes to manage 27

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30:04

The Parking Lot Conversation with Lorenzo and Richard

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/06/23

What happens when two VLA workers get interviewed without warning in the parking lot of the VLA? Let's find out.This was in the parking lot of the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array without notice. After the hubbub of the open house had faded for the day, but right as people were starting to arrive for the Star Party and set up their telescopes, one of the workers telling people where to park yelled out, "hey, podcast guy! Can I be on your podcast?" After figuring out that

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42:17

Blue Collar Astronomy: Maintaining the VLA with Shane...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/06/09

You heard about Shane Baca in the previous episode, and now it's time to hear from Shane himself."When they cross the cattle guard out here on the way in, they gotta take their watch and they gotta turn it back forty years."Pull up a chair to the campfire, grab a drink for our Ritual, and let's do a deep dive into what it takes to keep 27 (plus a spare) 240-ton radio telescope receiver dishes running, while also dealing with the grounds, the parking lot, pest removal, making sure the

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5:30

Enchanted Frequencies: Shane Baca Trailer

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/06/02

Hello, fellow Navigators! Pull up a chair next to the campfire for a quick mid-stream check-in. My day job has been an absolute mountain of work this week, so I am letting our next full-length episode drift just a tiny bit further down the stream to get the proper editing and polish it deserves, launching next Tuesday morning instead.This quick teaser gives you a behind-the-scenes preview of my the next episode of my special series, Enchanted Frequencies, where we explore the universe through radio

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34:30

VLBA Space Exploration: From Books to Black Holes...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/05/26

You don't need an elite academic pedigree to have a meaningful relationship with the universe; you just have to be curious, dedicated, and a little bit crazy. Dr. Justin Linford shares his journey along the Star River with me, in person, at the Very Large Array in New Mexico.For the very first time on The Star River Podcast, I packed up my gear and traveled 2,000 miles to the high desert of New Mexico for a live, face-to-face interview. Sitting in the break room inside the iconic Very Large

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5:52

Introduction to Season Two: The Enchanted Frequency

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/05/22

Gather 'round the campfire, Navigators. Welcome back to the banks of the Star River!After a six-week winter thaw, the current is officially moving again. In this special Season 2 teaser, I detail my recent 2,000-mile expedition into the stark, whisper-quiet high desert of New Mexico in search of the Enchanted Frequency.From chasing the ghostly glow of the Zodiacal light under heavy, pristine dark skies to standing among the massive dishes of the world’s most iconic observatory, Season 2 is a

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4:30

The New Mexico Mission: Returning Home

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/04/25

In this final "transition" episode, Eric (The Astropotamus) packs his bags and heads home from the Land of Enchantment. Returning with dozens of hours of audio from the deep heart of the Southwest, he pauses to reflect on the voices recorded, the connections made, and the shared Rituals that anchored this mission."I am a time traveler, and I'm leaving New Mexico not the same person who arrived."Coming soon to the Star River:The Builders: Impromptu conversations with the VLA rail

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10:37

The New Mexico Mission: Standing in the Middle of...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/04/18

In this special "transition" episode, Eric (The Astropotamus) packs his bags and heads for the Land of Enchantment. Before diving into interviews with the scientists of the Southwest, he pauses to bridge the gap between two worlds: the green, frost-nipped vineyards of Upstate New York and the red, silent dust of the Plains of San Agustin."I am a time traveler. By the time you hear my voice, I’m already standing in the high desert of New Mexico."In this journey down the River, we

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75:58

From Flashing the ISS to Building a Legacy: A...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/04/14

Ever wondered how a karaoke machine can help you communicate with the International Space Station? Listen to this amazing story and find out!In this expansive interview, I wade into the Star River with prolific astrophotographer and observatory operator Robert Lozano. We navigate a journey that spans decades - from Robert's childhood in San Antonio to his current role as a pioneer of remote deep-sky imaging.The conversation begins with an "astronomical first": the 2012 ISS Flash Project

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2:50

The New Mexico Mission: Exploring the Silence of the...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/04/11

The Astropotamus is heading to the Land of Enchantment. By the time you hear this, I'll already be in the current - traveling from the vineyards of New York to the high desert of New Mexico. This mission isn't just about dark skies; it’s about the Plains of San Agustin, where radio waves from the distant Cosmos hit sensitive receivers planted across the ancient lakebed like weird, steel sunflowers.This short briefing previews an expedition that spans the heavy-industry science of the Very

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67:39

The Dark Sky Defender: From Fighter Jets to the Space...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/04/07

What does it feel like to fly a jet fighter at Mach 1 and realize your wingman is silhouetted against the brilliant, unpolluted glow of the Milky Way? In this episode, I sit down with Mike Weasner, a man whose life has been a high-velocity voyage through the cosmos.From his early days as an astrophysicist to his time managing the Air Force Space Shuttle program, Mike has spent decades navigating what lies above. He shares the staggering perspective of looking down at the world from 35,000 feet—and

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61:57

The Human Firewall: Open Source Firmware and the...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/03/31

Is our technology a bridge to the stars, or a back door into our private lives?On this journey down the Star River, the current has led me to Josh at WLTechBlog - a digital nomad, technologist, and security expert who navigates the invisible currents of our online world.We dive into the "code" of modern living, from the ethics of closed-source security cameras (and superior open-source firmware like Thingino) to the reality of life as a digital nomad. But the conversation turns deeply

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76:48

The Five Messengers: Black Holes, Gravitational...

The Star River Podcast ·

2026/03/24

How do we listen to the five - and only five - messengers of the universe? Join astrophysicist Dr. Saavik Ford as we explore the high-energy heart of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and the shift into the Multi-Messenger era, all starting with a ritual glass of Nero di Troia.In this expansive conversation, I'm joined by Dr. Ford, a professor at CUNY and a researcher at the American Museum of Natural History, for a journey that meanders from the subways of New York to the edge of the observable

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