Crew Collective

Thousands of ordinary people all over the world have taken part in something called an analog mission. Think of it like a dry run on earth for future space missions. Scientists, researches, and really all kinds of folks, have lived and worked in an isolated, extreme environment on Earth, like a desert, an Arctic island, or a sealed habitat, or at least one known case, their parent's backyard — to simulate what it would be like to live in space or on another planet.

Host and producer Stuart Barefoot spoke with two analog astronauts about their journeys here on Earth.

The Analog Astronauts:

Jas Purewal- The World's Biggest Analog

Ben Corbin-  Rime of the Modern Mariner

Sources and Links

Solomon, S. E. (2026). Becoming Martian: How living in space will change our bodies and minds (S. Kelly, Foreword). MIT Press.

AZPM. (2016, July 1). From the vault: Biosphere 2 construction 1989 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jmPbTLQAfs

About the Show

Original music for this series is written and record by Doug Hoyer
[additional tracks come from Blue Dot Sessions, and Storyblocks ]

More episodes can be found at crewcollectivepodcast.com

Support the show by getting some our new merch

Executive Producers:  Matt Medeiros, Carl Hancock and Travis Totz

Graphic and web design by Melissa Jelich-Stohmaier

This episode was written, researched, edited, produced and narrated by Stuart Barefoot 

What is Crew Collective?

Crew Collective is a podcast dedicated to the art of storytelling. Hosted by Stuart Barefoot, each episode will explore the stories that help shape us—books, movies, songs, video games—nothing is off limits. We’ll talk to creators of all stripes about their process, their craft, and the worlds they build.

Whether you’re a seasoned creator, just starting your journey, or simply a casual observer who likes behind the scenes looks at creative work, Crew Collective will provide an entertaining and informative listening experience. By mixing interview and documentary style storytelling, this show will provide in depth conversations and curated storytelling.

Season One: Space Stories

For season one, we'll explore six stories about outer space. Each episode will feature a creator from a different medium.