{"podcast":{"title":"Galaxy Balance","slug":"galaxy-balance-7619530","podcast_index_feed_id":7619530,"rss_url":"https://api.riverside.fm/hosting/TsNBRv3G.rss","website_url":"https://riverside.com","image_url":"https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/c0a4b47b-b2c9-4c68-88b5-1baa3a352c83/logos/0081482a-5241-4cdc-aa4f-c89d3aca95e7.png","author":"Cory Smith","episode_count":20,"summary":"Galaxy Balance explores the frontier where biology, technology and consciousness meet. Each episode brings together pioneers shaping our collective future, from genome engineers and AI builders to longevity researchers, space explorers, and mindfulness practitioners. Hosted by Cory Smith, the conversations dive deep into how these seemingly distant fields form an interconnected ecosystem, one that balance innovation with introspection, science with spirit, and ambition with awareness. At its core, Galaxy Balance is about integration; the idea that our greatest leaps forward happen when disciplines collide. The same algorithms that decode galaxies can help us understand genomes; the same principles that govern consciousness can illuminate AI. Through long-form, unscripted dialogue, the show invites listeners to zoom out from the silos of specialization and see the larger pattern: a living system of intelligence evolving across scales – molecular, planetary, and cosmic.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/galaxy-balance-7619530"},"episode":{"title":"Samira Kiani: Conscious Innovation at the Edge of Biotechnology","slug":"samira-kiani-conscious-innovation-at-the-edge-of-biotechnology","published_at":"2026-03-03T02:18:32+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/galaxy-balance-7619530/samira-kiani-conscious-innovation-at-the-edge-of-biotechnology","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/galaxy-balance-7619530","url":"https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/04debd640814f335f4bf3b210fd4807f5de7fa480a527584e5527467bbfd349d/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJjM2MxNGU4MC0zMmQwLTQ4MGItYjcxNS1iYjU2MjcwMTBiZDMiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiJjMGE0YjQ3Yi1iMmM5LTRjNjgtODhiNS0xYmFhM2EzNTJjODMiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTBiYjRiMzM2NjY3MWFlZGQwZTZhMTEiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjk5ZDEzMmQwZDA2YTk1ZjI0YzM2ZjE5L2Nvcnktc21pdGhzLXN0dWRpby1sTktuWC1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTItMjRfXzMtNTUtNDEubXAzIn0=.mp3","audio_url":"https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/04debd640814f335f4bf3b210fd4807f5de7fa480a527584e5527467bbfd349d/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJjM2MxNGU4MC0zMmQwLTQ4MGItYjcxNS1iYjU2MjcwMTBiZDMiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiJjMGE0YjQ3Yi1iMmM5LTRjNjgtODhiNS0xYmFhM2EzNTJjODMiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTBiYjRiMzM2NjY3MWFlZGQwZTZhMTEiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjk5ZDEzMmQwZDA2YTk1ZjI0YzM2ZjE5L2Nvcnktc21pdGhzLXN0dWRpby1sTktuWC1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTItMjRfXzMtNTUtNDEubXAzIn0=.mp3","summary":"In this episode of Galaxy Balance, Samira Kiani, a genetic engineer, entrepreneur, and science storyteller working at the intersection of genome engineering, regenerative biology, and human meaning. Samira's scientific work spans synthetic biology, immune modulation, and cellular rejuvenation, while her broader mission explores how innovation can remain aligned with ethics consciousness, and care. A former academic and DARPA Safe Genes investigator, Samira is the co-founder and CTO of HexemBio, where she is developing regenerative platforms inspired by early human development. Beyond the lab, she is the creator of Make People Better, an award-winning documentary examining the moral and societal implications of gene editing. This conversation explores authenticity in science, conscious innovation, the responsibility of power, and how the future of biotechnology depends as much on wisdom as capability. 00:00 - The philosophy of presence and being in the moment 02:15 - Origin story: From Iran to MIT in synthetic biology 04:23 - The art design in genetic engineering and synthetic biology as poetry 08:58 - Advice for young scientists feeling constrained by societal expectations 12:52 - Research journey at MIT: CRISPR and translating tech to clinics 15:51 - Ethical discussions in gene editing and public engagement 19:12 - Making \"Make People Better\": The moral dimensions of gene editing 22:01 - Reflection on the controversy of the first gene-edited babies 27:23 - Rethinking innovation culture and race for first publication 36:44 - Leaving academia: embracing authenticity and starting HexenBio 38:02 - HexemBio’s mission: rejuvenating cells with consciousness 43:24 - Origin stories of cells and connectedness in biology 45:58 - Her approach to science: exposing cells to youthfu…","meta_description":"In this episode of Galaxy Balance, Samira Kiani, a genetic engineer, entrepreneur, and science storyteller working at the intersection of genome engineeri…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3730,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/galaxy-balance-7619530/episodes/samira-kiani-conscious-innovation-at-the-edge-of-biotechnology/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/galaxy-balance-7619530/samira-kiani-conscious-innovation-at-the-edge-of-biotechnology.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}