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Grow Everything Biotech Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Messaginglab
Grow Everything explores the world of biology as technology. Hosts Erum Khan and Karl Schmieder interview leaders and influencers biologizing industries with tools like synthetic biology, precision fermentation, bioprospecting, and more. These companies make biomaterials from waste, cosmetics that restore healthy hair and skin, and delicious cultivated foods in a bioreactor and so much more. Join us as we discuss the latest and greatest across biotech, engineered biology, entrepreneurship, and culture and how this transition is solving healthcare and climate change challenges.
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- 4 days ago1h 19m
185. Brick Happens: Chris Maurer of Redhouse Studio Redesigns Remote Living for Earth and Mars
What if the building you live in could be grown instead of built, feed people while it goes up, and lock away carbon for a century? Architect Chris Maurer of Red House Architecture and MycoHab joins Karl and Erum to explain how he turns 12 tons of invasive bush into mushrooms that feed a community and mycelium blocks that test stronger than concrete. He breaks down the now famous sledgehammer test, why a ductile living material survives the earthquakes that shatter cinder block, and the counterintuitive truth that more mycelium does not make a stronger brick. Then things get cosmic. Chris walks through his NASA backed work growing habitats that pack down tight, fly to Mars, and unfold to grow their own radiation shielding from algae and fungi, plus the Biocycler that eats the toxins out of old houses and turns that waste into something safe. If you care about biomaterials, regenerative design, and the business models that could actually build us out of the climate crisis, this conversation will rewire how you see the walls around you.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters: Cold open and the first trillion dollar biotech Robling's live demo: an AI process engineer for biomanufacturing The Longevity Global Summit and the business of living longer A warming planet is unleashing flesh eating microbes Meet Chris Maurer: architecture that grows, decays, and feeds people What Africa taught him about regenerative architecture Building MycoHab with MIT and Standard Bank The sledgehammer test: ductile mycelium versus brittle concrete Failures, tuning biology, and the 60 day sweet spot Does biology first design give the Global South an advantage? Deployable Mars habitats that grow their own walls The Biocycler: turning old toxic buildings into new ones How fungi break down petrochemicals and chelate heavy metals The hard nut of building a business around mycelium The economics of mushrooms, materials, and carbon credits Eco luxury myco habs and the first buyers Why biobased construction becomes the rule by mid century Earth or Mars, the weirdest material, and meeting Lynn RothschildLinks and Resources:Redhouse Studio ArchitectureChris MaurerNASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) ProgramCan 'mycotecture' provide the building blocks?143. Sunscreen from Space? Delavie’s Kyle Landry Turns Space Microbes into Skincare 173. They Put the Ore in Organisms: Liz Dennett’s Microbial Mining at Endolith156. When Matter Makes Decisions: Michael Levin on the Intelligence of Form 126. Sizzling Success: Eben Bayer of MyForest Foods on Scaling Mycelium Magic159. The Future Is Fungi Awards: From Mushroom Dreams to Real-World Things<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/murat_just-as-we-dont-care-whether-aws-uses-a-activity-7467724507454160897-V527?utm_source=share&utm_medium=
- 1 weeks ago1h 13m
184. The Multiverse of Microbes: Henry Lee on Building Cultivarium and Training with Titans
Most of biotech runs on a tiny handful of "model" organisms — E. coli, baker's yeast — while millions of wild species sit unstudied in what scientists call microbial dark matter. In this episode, Karl and Erum sit down with Henry Lee, co-founder of Cultivarium, to explore why the future of synthetic biology depends on learning to grow, study, and engineer the organisms we've ignored. Henry breaks down the real difference between model and non-model organisms, why simply culturing a new microbe can take years, and how Cultivarium is standardizing growth recipes and building an open digital platform so any researcher can work with strains that were once impossible to handle. Along the way: a fistulated cow, a spectacular failure that ultimately cracked the genetics of cement-making bacteria, extreme microbes that could free fermentation from fresh water, and Cultivarium's evolution from a Focused Research Organization into a "Frontier Research Contractor." The conversation closes on the state of American science — funding, public trust, and AI — plus the America's Living Library Act and a quick-fire round on archaea, overused buzzwords, and whether we're alone in the universe. Before the interview, Karl and Erum spill some biotech tea on "Biotech Barbie" Cathy Tie and unpack what the video game Stray gets right about engineered microbes escaping into the wild.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters: — Summer vibes & a little biotech gossip: meet "Biotech Barbie" — What a video game about a lost cat teaches us about runaway microbes — How Henry went from building circuits to falling for biology — So what actually is a "non-model" organism? — Yes, we really talk about a cow with a window in its stomach — Step inside Cultivarium: incubators, recipes & happy accidents — Borrowing nature's best ideas: fungi, archaea & glowing jellyfish — The failure that taught us everything (a cement-making bacteria story) — Could the ocean fuel the future of fermentation? — Real talk: science funding, public trust & the promise of AI — Reinventing how big science gets funded — and a library of life — Dream organisms, pet-peeve buzzwords & "are we alone?" — Karl & Erum unpack their favorite momentsLinks and Resources:CultivariumBiosphere Project27. Charting the Unexplored Microverse for Biological Gold with CULTIVARIUM’s Nili Ostrov147. Shhh…They’re Talking: Holoclara's Dr. Andrea Choe Tunes Into Worm Signals for Health98. Gotta Get Them All: bitBiome's Quest to Decode All Microbes with Yuji Suzuki183. The American Biotech Blueprint: Senator Todd Young on Biodiversity as National SecurityKathy Tie Biotech Barbie Gene EditingStray - A Synthetic Biology Video GameBioInnovations Events - For 25% off use code: Grow EverythingTopics Covered:non-model organisms, microbial dark matter, model or
- 2 weeks ago42 min
183. The American Biotech Blueprint: Senator Todd Young on Biodiversity as National Security
Senator Todd Young joins the Grow Everything podcast to discuss the critical intersection of biotechnology and national security, sharing how his military background, Indiana roots, and role as chairman of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology shaped his understanding of the bioeconomy as a strategic imperative. From DARPA's shelf-stable powdered blood to the America's Living Library Act — a first-of-its-kind effort to sequence the DNA of flora and fauna across US national parks — Senator Young lays out a compelling vision for distributed biomanufacturing, AI-powered biological discovery, and why the US must act now in what he calls a generational tech competition with China. Karl and Erum also recap highlights from Suppliers Day hosted by the New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists, including biotech-forward exhibitors like Probiotical, Origins by Ocean, Geltor, and the unveiling of BioAtlas — the first open source map of industrial biotech.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters: - Suppliers Day Recap: Biotech Innovations in Beauty & Personal Care - BioAtlas: The First Open Source Map of Industrial Biotech - Setting Up the Interview with Senator Todd Young - How a Marine Turned Senator Became a Biotech Champion - Why Biology Is Reshaping National Security in the 21st Century - America's Living Library Act: Sequencing Our National Parks - Unlocking New Industries from Spider Silk to Bioluminescent Peaches - The Biggest Barriers Preventing Biotech from Reaching Scale - A Vision for Distributed Biomanufacturing Across Rural America - Quick-Fire Questions, Shout-Outs & Closing ThoughtsLinks and Resources:America's Living Library Act of 2026National Security Commission on Emerging BiotechThe Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)National Institute of Standards and TechnologyEngineering silk that is stronger than steelYellowstone Microbe that helped with PCR testsHawkwood’s BioAtlas179. D.C. Climate Week LIVE: The Road to Remake Everything175. Seaweed Is the New Oil: Mari Granström Builds Origin by Ocean143. Sunscreen from Space? Delavie’s Kyle Landry Turns Space Microbes into Skincare31. No Bones About It: Brewing Human and Vegan Collagens with Geltor's Alex Lorestani*** Tickets for the GE Live Ep. NY Tech Week with Roebling ***BioInnovations Events - For 25% off use code: Grow EverythingTopics Covered:National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, America's living library, US Government, Congress, bioeconomy,
- 3 weeks ago54 min
182. SynBioBeta 2026 Recap, It's Biologist Approved
Karl and Erum are back from SynBio Beta 2026 in San Jose — and they brought home an Impact Award. In this special recap episode, they break down the biggest moments from the conference: Neon's audacious plan to engineer chicken eggs as bioreactors, P&G's push into bio ceramides with their Native brand, Twist Bioscience's expansion from DNA synthesis into proteins, and Anthropic's deepening footprint in pharma through its acquisition of Coefficient Bio and partnership with Eli Lilly. They cover panels on the dark proteome, engineered longevity, bio-based colors replacing synthetic dyes, programmable nutrition, and the future of alternative meat — plus a standing-room-only session on bio-literacy featuring Drew Endy. Along the way, they share stories from the hallways, highlight emerging founders in DNA data storage and space biotech, recap Chef Pierre Thiam's fonio-fueled dinner, and reflect on why strengthening relationships across the bioeconomy matters more than ever.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters: - Grow Everything Wins the SynBio Beta 2026 Impact Award - Conference Highlights, Listener Meetups & Walking the Exhibit Hall - Cellular Intelligence, BioBrain AI & Neon's Chicken Egg Bioreactor - P&G's Bio Ceramides, Twist Bioscience & the Everyday Bio Panel - Engineered Longevity: Gene Therapy, Matter Bio & Measuring Aging - AI Meets Pharma: Anthropic, Eli Lilly's Tune Lab & Startup Alliances - Bruce Friedrich on the Future of Alternative Meat - Programming Nutrition: When Snacking Meets Medicine - Bio-Literacy with Drew Endy & the Teaching Disorder - Panel Recaps: Dark Proteome, Bio Colors, Enzymes & Chef Pierre ThiamLinks and Resources:Links and Resources DocumentTopics Covered:fungi pigments, bio-based colorants, fungal dyes, natural pigments, sustainable color, food colorants, synthetic dyes alternatives, antioxidant pigments, food and beverage, clean ingredientsHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow EverythingMusic by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media
- May 15, 202651 min
181. Can Hue Believe It? Gerit Tolborg’s Quest for Pure Color at Chromologics
Gerit Tolborg, CEO and co-founder of Chromologics, joins Karl and Erum to explore how filamentous fungi can replace synthetic and plant-extracted food dyes with a fermentation-derived red pigment called Tellurin. Gerit shares how a PhD discovery in Denmark led to a venture-backed startup producing a tasteless, odorless, and highly vibrant natural color that performs across processed food categories — from cured meats to bakery to dairy. The conversation covers the real economics of bio-based colorants (including the critical concept of cost-in-use versus kilo price), the challenges of scaling downstream processing from a two-liter reactor to industrial CMOs, and how regulatory pathways at the FDA and EU's FSA are evolving to accommodate fermentation-derived ingredients. Gerit also makes a compelling case for fermentation as a tool for decentralizing and de-risking global supply chains — freeing agricultural land from color crop production and building resilience against climate and geopolitical disruption.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters: - Science News: A Sulfur Exoplanet and What It Means for Extremophile Life - Is Biotech Winter Over? New IPOs and the Industrial Biotech Outlook - Introducing Gerit Tolborg and the Chromologics Origin Story - Discovering Novel Fungal Pigments During a PhD in Denmark - How Fermentation Produces a Tasteless, Odorless Red Pigment - Color Vibrancy, Purity, and Competing with Synthetic Dyes - Building a Mission-Driven Team in the Post-COVID Purpose Economy - Color as the Forgotten Ingredient and Main Purchase Decision Driver - Navigating FDA and EU Regulation for Novel Food Colors - The GMO Perception Gap Between Europe and the US - Scaling Fermentation: Downstream Processing and Cost Realities - Cost-in-Use vs. Kilo Price: The Real Economics of Bio-Based Color - Target Markets: Meat, Bakery, Dairy, Cosmetics, and Beyond - Clean Labels, E-Numbers, and Naming a Novel Ingredient - Quick Fire Round and Host TakeawaysLinks and Resources:ChromologicsChromologics raises $ bring its natural colour ingredients closer to market Chr. Hansen - Color House (now Novonesis)Scientists found new sulfur-rich exoplanetTickets for the GE Live Event with Roebling BioInnovations Events - For 25% off use code: Grow EverythingTopics Covered:fungi pigments, bio-based colorants, fungal dyes, natural pigments, sustainable color, food colorants, synthetic dyes alternatives, antioxidant pigments, food and beverage, clean ingredientsHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow EverythingMusic by: Nihilore P
- May 8, 202648 min
180. Fungi in Full Color: Ricky Cassini Reimagines Dye at Michroma
Ricky Cassini, CEO of Michroma and a former logistics professor turned biotech founder, breaks down why replacing synthetic food dyes is harder than it sounds—and why fermentation-based colorants can outperform both petrochemical dyes and many plant-based “natural” extracts. The conversation covers the core technical constraints that matter to food companies (thermal stability, pH stability, coloring power, flavor neutrality, and supply reliability), why fermentation behaves more like manufacturing than farming, and how regulatory shifts are accelerating demand for bio-based reds and whites (including titanium dioxide alternatives). For an audience following the future of materials and biomanufacturing, this episode is a practical look at how industrial fermentation can modernize a legacy supply chain while meeting performance and consumer expectations.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters: Cold open: “Are we eating printing ink?” + beverage innovation Conference mode + introducing Ricky Cassini (Michroma) How a strategy consultant became a fungal pigments CEO Pigment vs dye: soluble vs dispersed (coffee analogies) The “food contradiction”: healthy intent, petrochemical reality Why plant-based reds struggle (cost, stability, supply chain) Pricing confusion: cost per kilo vs cost-in-use (paint analogy) What colors Michroma is starting with (red, yellow/orange, white) Performance specs that matter: heat, pH, light, flavor, reliability Labeling: “Red 40 / Yellow 5” vs natural naming + how novel fermented colors may be listed Go-to-market: choosing categories where stability is the bottleneck (dairy, bakery, snacks, vitamins) Unexpected use cases: aquaculture (salmon) + packaging inks that can migrate into food Manufacturing strategy: partnering with CJ vs building plants; “time compression” and capex discipline Scaling pressure points: regulatory timeline + the time/capital reality for novel ingredients 5–10 year vision: same bright foods, but colors made via microbes (supply chain shift) Quickfire round: fluorescent food-grade pigments, Gantt charts, and GMO marketing Wrap + host outro + upcoming episodes and partner promoLinks and Resources:michromaMichroma says fermentation will power next wave of natural colors2025 1st Place Winner of The Future is Fungi Awards159. The Future Is Fungi Awards: From Mushroom Dreams to Real-World ThingsCJ bio - Global FermentationWorld Bio Markets - Our new partnersBioInnovations Events - For 25% off use code: Grow EverythingWorld Bio Markets - PodcastsMars SnackingMolecule Manifesto - Advanced Biotech for Sustainability ReportTickets for the GE Live Event with Roebling Topics Covered:fungi pigments, bio-
- May 1, 202658 min
179. D.C. Climate Week LIVE: The Road to Remake Everything
Recorded live during DC Climate Week, the Grow Everything team sits down with investors Veronica Breckenridge, Jillian Chase, and Michael Luciani to unpack the real state of the US bioeconomy race with China, why fermentation and scale-up capacity are a persistent bottleneck, and how policy, non-dilutive funding, and better founder execution can close the gap. The panel argues that the US still leads in innovation, AI, and robotics, but needs faster, clearer regulatory pathways and smarter go-to-market strategy, including focusing on high-margin “profit pools” first, designing for manufacturability and downstream processing, and building consumer demand through clearer storytelling about health and product benefits.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters: Live from DC Climate Week: intro and panelist lineup US vs China: how real is the biomanufacturing gap Policy signals: DOD, DARPA, and non-dilutive funding Biggest bottleneck: fermentation infrastructure and scale-up capacity The “graveyard” lessons: downstream costs and manufacturability Go-to-market strategy: profit pools vs TAM, and unit economics Consumer storytelling: health, microplastics, and demand creation AI + robotics: how they change the bioeconomy race What unlocks US biomanufacturing: regulation and faster pathways What to watch next: RNA, peptides, and proof of profitable companiesLinks and Resources:D.C. Climate WeekGraveyard ReportNSCEBSynBioBeta Pass - Discount code: Grow Everything Topics Covered:bioeconomy, biomanufacturing, synthetic biology, fermentation, biological materials, industrial biotech, US-China competition, venture capital, bio-based supply chain, biodiversityHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553Instagram / Twitter / LinkedIn / Youtube / Grow EverythingMusic by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media
- Apr 24, 20261h 1m
178. Pretty in Pigments: Jesse Adler Colors the Future with Pitri
Karl and Erum talk with Jesse Adler, founder of Pitri, about why color is not just aesthetic, but chemical, biological, and deeply tied to human and environmental health. Jesse traces their path from biomolecular science and biodesign into building fungal pigments that can replace synthetic and animal-derived colorants, starting with the beauty industry as a high-margin, ingredient-driven entry point.The conversation explores how consumer expectations and industrial infrastructure were built around petrochemical dyes, why biological materials are often unfairly judged against synthetics, and what it takes to create drop-in, high-performing pigments from living systems. Along the way, Jesse reframes color as a functional feature in nature, shares early experimentation stories, and points to future opportunities like multifunctional pigments and the “holy grail” of opaque white.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverythingChapters: Spring in Brooklyn, the BioD series, and why nature’s colors feel “high definition” The Allbirds “AI pivot” and what meme-stock dynamics look like in real time A major biotech IPO and the rise of in-licensing drugs from China Spain’s investment into Boston biotech and signals of a thawing biotech winter Introducing Jesse Adler and Petri: fungi-grown pigments for beauty Jesse’s origin story: biomolecular science, creative making, and discovering biodesign A “molecular worldview”: how materials constantly interact with our bodies and environments The history of synthetic dyes and the hidden costs of “best available” color What Petri’s pigments should feel like: drop-in performance plus better provenance Early lab experiments, unexpected outcomes, and learning through making Color as function in nature: UV protection, stress response, and antimicrobial roles Lessons from Pangaia: lab-to-launch gaps, scale, and the mismatch of expectations Working with living systems: consistency, fermentation “witchcraft,” and honest partnerships Why petrochemical infrastructure matters: machines, print heads, and manufacturing risk Where fungal pigments disrupt first: beauty vs textiles vs food A future where colorants are multifunctional, not inert Quickfire: misunderstood colors, surprising pigment use, and the “holy grail” of opaque white Wrap-up: why the color revolution is just beginningLinks and Resources:Pitri BioTo Dye For - Alden Wicker75. Dye Another Day: The New Way to Color Textiles with Colorifix's Orr Yarkoni176. Dare to Commercialize: Damien Perriman’s eXoZymes Playbook15. Meet the Willy Wonka of Algae. Elliot RothD.C. Climate Week 2026 (April 20th - 26th)Brooklyn Botanic GardenAllbirds AI PivotKailera breaks IPO record $625MSynBioBeta Pass - Discount code: Grow Everything <stron
About Grow Everything Biotech Podcast
Grow Everything explores the world of biology as technology. Hosts Erum Khan and Karl Schmieder interview leaders and influencers biologizing industries with tools like synthetic biology, precision fermentation, bioprospecting, and more. These companies make biomaterials from waste, cosmetics that restore healthy hair and skin, and delicious cultivated foods in a bioreactor and so much more. Join us as we discuss the latest and greatest across biotech, engineered biology, entrepreneurship, and culture and how this transition is solving healthcare and climate change challenges.
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