009 - Cynthia Montanez, USA

Growing food on Mars is one of the biggest challenges future settlers will face, but Cynthia Montanez is already working on solutions. As we continue celebrating Women’s History Month, this episode highlights Cynthia’s work as an Astrobiology student at the Florida Institute of Technology and a two-time analog astronaut at the Mars Desert Research Station. Her research focuses on turning Martian regolith into viable soil for plant growth, a crucial step toward sustainable living on the Red Planet. From apple picking in upstate New York to studying botany and soil science, Cynthia’s passion for plants has shaped her path toward space exploration. With hands-on experience in regolith remediation and vermicompost studies, she is determined to help make farming on Mars a reality.

In this episode, we discuss her journey into astrobiology, why cacti might be the best plants for Mars, and how food can impact morale in space. We also commiserate over dehydrated meals, talk about the joy of a fresh salad, and even dive into plant pot arts and crafts. Cynthia’s story is a perfect example of someone leading the charge in space science and why growing food on another planet is about much more than just survival.

A big thanks to Cynthia for being on today’s episode, to Nick Thorburn for our fantastic theme music, to my family for supporting my endless Mars fascination.