Grow Everything Biotech Podcast

• 135. Hormones Harmonized: Elle Shelley Black of Same Skincare on Syncing Skin to Life’s Rhythms

  Karl and Erum sit down with Elle Black, a product designer and manufacturing strategist whose journey into the world of skincare, AI, and biology is anything but typical. Elle shares how her background in physical product development led her to dive deep into the supplement and cosmetics industries—spaces rich with opportunity and riddled with misinformation. From decoding the intricacies of INCI labeling to navigating unregulated beauty markets, she unpacks what it really takes to build responsible, scalable consumer products. Whether you're in biotech, product innovation, or sustainability, Elle's perspective on building smarter—from ingredients to algorithms—will resonate.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/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:00:00:00 - Cracking Open the Beauty Industry Mystery00:00:36 - The Cosmic Luck of Being Human00:02:34 - Can We Hack Aging? Let’s Try00:07:40 - Elle Black Joins: Skin, Science & Secrets00:15:17 - Elle’s Origin Story + Clean Beauty Truths00:33:10 - The Truth About Odor-Eating Deodorants00:34:11 - Beauty Products vs. Your Fridge00:35:40 - Why Cold Shipping Costs More Than You Think00:36:31 - Calling Out the Hidden in Beauty Labels00:38:29 - Why I Created a Skincare Ritual That Listens00:39:45 - Your Hormones, Your Glow—Deeply Linked00:40:33 - A Skincare App That Knows Your Cycle00:45:19 - What Men Don’t Know About Their Skincare00:53:32 - What’s Next: AI, Supplements & Radical Transparency00:56:38 - Reflections, Mic Drops & Future MovesLinks and Resources:Same SkincareLifespan by David SinclairTranscendence by Ray KurzweilSkinceuticalsSymbiomeEndoFoundTopics Covered: biotech beauty, skincare, endocrine disrupting chemicals, endometriosis, consumer biotech, supply chain, manufacturing, clean beauty, product design Have a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

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• 134. Bio-Logic in Living Designs: bioMATTERS’ Nancy Diniz on Crafting with Biology

  Karl and Erum are joined by Nancy Diniz, Co-Founder of bioMATTERS LLC, to explore the future of biodesign and sustainable materials. Drawing on her background in architecture and digital fabrication, Nancy unpacks how bioMATTERS is creating novel mycelium- and microbe-based materials that are not only biodegradable but alive. The conversation traverses speculative design, the challenge of scaling living materials, and the cultural shift needed to embrace biology as a partner in production. With humor and insight, Nancy shares how her work sits at the intersection of art, science, and ecology—and why the next generation of materials must be rooted in systems thinking.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/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:00:00:00 - From Kitchen Experiments to Living Systems: Nancy’s DIY Biodesign Spark00:00:28 - Protests, Purpose, and Speaking Up in a Wild World00:02:10 - The Future Is Biotech: From AI in Pharma to Bio-powered Skin Care00:04:32 - L’Oreal Meets Nvidia: The Unexpected Longevity Alliance00:08:17 - Meet Nancy Diniz: Architect Turned Biodesign Trailblazer00:15:22 - Clay, Craft, and Mycelium: Where Earth Meets Engineered Biology00:21:13 - Breaking the Mold: How Nancy Navigates the Unknown in Biodesign00:23:45 - Happy Accidents: Why Biodesign Thrives on Trial and Error00:25:10 - New Frontiers: Biomanufacturing Takes Center Stage00:25:50 - When Design Dreams Collide with Biological Reality00:27:00 - The Ethics of Growing with Care in Biodesign00:29:44 - Meet Symbi: Nancy’s Living Material with a Message00:32:10 - From Petri Dish to Production: The Real Challenge of Scale00:34:48 - What Ancient Pottery Can Teach Us About Tomorrow’s Materials00:37:08 - Future Tools: What’s Next in the Biodesign Toolkit00:40:00 - Dreaming Out Loud: Nancy’s Vision for Biofuturistic Design00:42:24 - Start in the Kitchen: Nancy’s Call to the Next Generation of Biodesigners00:44:25 - Final Reflections: Staying Curious in a Biotech WorldLinks and Resources:bioMatters founded by Nancy Diniz and Frank MelendezCentral Saint Martins MA Biodesign courseAncient Futures Exhibit, featuring bioMatters workROMANIA or HUNGARY Mushroom capMerck Digital Sciences StudiosL’Oréal teams up with NvidiaNucleus Genomics offers to optimize embryosNSCEB Roadshow Summer 2025BioDesign Challenge Genspace⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Topics Covered: biomanufacturing, cell free biomanufacturing, enzymes, nutraceuticals, biotech, pharmaceuticals, AI, spinoutsHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

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• 133. Funding, Frameworks & Frenemies: Dr. Angela Belcher of NSCEB Gets Real on the $15B Biotech Boost Plan

  Karl and Erum speak with Dr. Angela M. Belcher, MIT professor and pioneer in bioinspired materials, about how biology can transform the way we manufacture sustainable technologies. Drawing inspiration from how abalone build shells and viruses assemble structures, Angela shares how her lab uses genetically engineered viruses—like M13 bacteriophage—to grow batteries, solar cells, and cancer-targeting materials at room temperature without harmful chemicals. Her work reimagines the periodic table as a design toolkit and shows how nature’s strategies can help us build cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable solutions.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/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:00:00:00 - Kicking Off with Biology, Innovation & Big Ideas00:00:21 - AI, Simulation Theory & Prompting the Future00:01:57 - Fungi Meets Art: Mycelium’s Creative Frontier00:02:44 - Can Synthetic Biology Save the Planet?00:05:54 - Meet Dr. Angela Belcher: Visionary in Biofabrication00:06:29 - Abalone Shells: Nature’s Blueprint for Smart Materials00:14:13 - Biotech Meets National Security: A Strategic Frontier00:25:23 - Building Tomorrow’s Scientists: Starting with Kids00:26:09 - Sparking Curiosity in the Next Generation00:27:00 - Science in Motion: Dodge Ball & Discovery00:27:53 - Resurrecting the Past: Biodiversity Through Time00:30:01 - Tackling the Grand Challenges in Biomanufacturing00:32:02 - From Bench to Nation: Scaling U.S. Biotech00:36:03 - Mining, Carbon & Clean Tech: A Greener Path00:38:42 - The Future of Biofabrication: What Comes Next?00:40:53 - Angela’s Journey: Curiosity, Grit & What’s Ahead00:43:32 - Final Reflections: Science, Society & What Matters MostLinks and Resources:⁠NSCEBNSCEB REPORT: Charting the Future of Biotechnology GenspaceBen Lamm on Joe Rogan ExperienceScientists use synthetic biology to address urgent sustainability challengesThe Age of Living Machines by Susan Hockfield⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Topics Covered: biomanufacturing, cell free biomanufacturing, enzymes, nutraceuticals, biotech, pharmaceuticals, AI, spinoutsHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

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• 132. Bond. Enzyme Bond. CurieCo's Erika Milczek on Replacing Chemicals with Biotech

  Karl and Erum sit down with Erika Milczek, CEO and founder of Curie Co, to explore how synthetic biology is rewriting the rules of modern chemistry. Erika, a former Merck chemist, shares her journey from Big Pharma to launching a biotech startup that engineers enzymes to replace legacy chemicals in personal care and consumer goods. With insights grounded in regulatory shifts, manufacturing scalability, and the power of directed evolution, Erika discusses how her team is building a “biotech alternative to petroleum-based chemistry.” Whether you're curious about enzyme engineering, bioindustrial startups, or how synthetic biology can drive sustainability in everyday products, this episode delivers a high-energy, deeply technical, and inspiring dive into the future of materials innovation.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/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:00:00:00 - Welcome to the Future: Setting the Stage00:00:22 - Juggling Labs, Life, and Launchpads00:01:27 - Terraforming Mars? Let’s Dream Big00:04:58 - Joe Rogan, Speciation, and Sci-Fi Tangents00:10:08 - Biotech Beauty Week: Innovation on Display00:14:13 - Meet Erika Milczek: Enzymes Over Everything00:33:03 - Feeding the Bug: The Spark Behind Discovery00:35:15 - Scaling Science: What Makes Commercialization Hard00:35:51 - Why Partnerships Make or Break Biotech00:38:02 - Following the Rules: Regulatory Shifts & Product Strategy00:42:48 - From the Lab to RTP: Building in Biotech's Backyard00:45:37 - Ecosystem First: How to Build Bio Economies00:50:01 - Fundraising Real Talk: Investors, Guts & Growth00:53:50 - Biomanufacturing Is Just Getting Started00:56:29 - Let’s Talk Packaging: Biotech’s Next Frontier00:59:52 - Wrapping Up: Lessons, Hope, and What’s NextLinks and Resources:Curie CoMars: One Day on the Red Planet (film)Marsbound by Joe Haldeman (book) The case for Mars terraforming research (Erika de Benedicts research paper)Ben Lamm on Joe Rogan ExperienceDire Wolf on the cover to Time MagazineSupplier's Day 2025 during Messaginglab's unofficial Biotech Beauty WeekCapsum - microfluidics contract manufacturingP2 company - conditioning agents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Topics Covered: biomanufacturing, cell free biomanufacturing, enzymes, nutraceuticals, biotech, pharmaceuticals, AI, spinoutsHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

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• 131. Leaf It to Science: How Foray Bioscience's Ashley Beckwith is Reforesting the Future

  Karl and Erum are joined by Dr. Ashley Beckwith, Founder & CEO of Foray Bioscience, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of biomaterials and the emerging role of plant culture in shaping it. Ashley unpacks how Foray is pioneering new approaches to growing materials directly from plant cells, redefining how we produce, restore, and preserve biological resources. The episode explores the untapped potential of plant culture in bioproduction, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity preservation when applied with care and intention. Ashley shares her path from growing up in Colorado to pursuing mechanical engineering and bioengineering, and how that interdisciplinary foundation ultimately led her to start Foray. Throughout the conversation, Ashley describes how Foray is building the foundational infrastructure for plant culture. The company develops core capabilities from the ground up and then partners with others to scale and specialize applications. This platform-based approach reflects Foray’s belief that unlocking the full potential of plant systems requires a collaborative ecosystem rather than the efforts of a single company.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/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chapters:00:00:00 - Kicking Off with a Big Question: Can We Rebuild Nature from the Cell Up?00:00:15 - Summer Vibes and Bio Talk: Memorial Day Weekend Catch-Up00:00:46 - Synbio Beta Sparks: The Pulse of Next-Gen Biotech00:02:27 - Argentina to IndieBio: The Unstoppable Founders You Need to Know00:04:01 - Biotech Gets Corporate: The Rise of Strategic Venture Funds00:05:11 - Deal Flow & Discovery: HC Wainwright’s Biotech Bash00:08:18 - Brooklyn Bio Buzz: A Night Out with the Community00:10:24 - From the Explorers Club to Seed Vaults: Sci-Fi Meets Soil00:11:22 - Meet Dr. Asheley Beckwith: Engineering the Future of Fashion with Cells00:27:35 - Biology Meets Ecology: How Engineered Plants Could Aid Conservation00:30:12 - Sci-Fi to Soil: Fabricating Seeds for Extinct Ecosystems00:32:21 - The Wild Frontier: Overcoming the Barriers in Plant Cell Cultivation00:45:52 - Nature Meets Code: Using AI to Unlock the Secrets of Plants00:50:20 - Imagining Tomorrow: The Vision Behind ForayBio’s Living Materials00:51:50 - Full Circle: Final Reflections from the Edge of BiodesignLinks and Resources:⁠Foray BiosciencesSF500 (Argentinian Global Venture Fund)Syensqo Corporate Venture FundH.C. WainwrightUniversity of Vermont - Dr. Steve KellerUniversity of Maryland - Dr. Matt Fitzpatrick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Topics Covered: biomanufacturing, cell free biomanufacturing, enzymes, nutraceuticals, biotech, pharmaceuticals, AI, spinoutsHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] by: NihiloreProduction by: Amplafy Media

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