Have you ever looked up at the stars and wished someone could walk you through the wonders above your head — without needing a PhD for confusing telescope parts? Well, you're in luck. In this episode, I’m thrilled (and honestly, a little misty-eyed) to reconnect with my lifelong friend and kindred curiosity-seeker, Kevin Rehberg! Kevin is the founder of his newly- launched company, ClearSky Events, providing a truly magical mobile stargazing experience for people looking to ENJOY the simple wonders of stargazing.

Kevin’s love of the night sky began at age 10 with a clunky plastic telescope and a whole lot of imagination. I was lucky to watch Kevin fall in love with the night sky - Kevin was one of my very first friends growing up, when playing with friends meant playing outside. From climbing trees to looking at stars, Kevin has always had a spirit of exploration. I’ll never forget how excited he was to assemble & peer through his first telescope and share it with all of us kids in the neighborhood...

Fast forward to today, and he’s transformed that passion into something extraordinary: bringing the awe of Saturn’s rings, the surface of the moon, and deep-sky galaxies to your backyard — no astronaut suit required.

We talk about:

• The hilariously humble beginnings of his telescope adventures from our backyards
  
  

• How ClearSky Events is making stargazing accessible, unforgettable, and portable
  
  

• Why curiosity is one of the best forces in the universe (and in life)
  
  

• What it’s like building a business rooted in joy, family, and sharing wonder with others
  
  

It’s rare to have a friend who shares your dreams as a kid and grows up to build something that lets others dream bigger. I couldn’t be more grateful for Kevin, for his heart, and for this full-circle conversation under the stars.

If you’re planning an event, looking for the perfect way to wow your guests, or just need a little wonder in your week — discover ClearSky Events in this week’s episode. Contact Kevin and host your very-own, memory-making event TODAY! https://www.clearsky.events/

About Kevin:

Founder Kevin Rehberg's fascination with the night sky began when he was 10 years old. Armed with a comically bad department store telescope and a budding lifelong curiosity, he would venture into shin deep snow to discover the dynamic visual wonders of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, the moon, and beyond.

​

He quickly realized that the most rewarding part of exploring the night sky was sharing it with friends. A couple equally horrible telescope purchases later, he gifted himself the college graduation present of a state of the art observatory-grade computerized telescope.

From day one with his new telescope, Kevin envisioned a time when future versions of it would be smart enough to make the night sky accessible to even the most casual stargazer. That day arrived with the very recent mainstreaming of smart telescopes.

ClearSky Events is the progression of that eleven year old's passion for sharing the night sky with a jiggly plastic telescope to today's ability to connect the deepest sky wonders with new friends the world over.

​

Kevin is married to Regina and together they have two wonderful daughters who share that same curiosity for everything big and small in our universe. A long time coming to arrive at ClearSky Events, but worth every minute of the wait. Share that same passion with the guests of your next event.

https://www.clearsky.events/

Want to learn more about how Beth connects with guests like Kevin, and how her career in space began? Send Beth a note directly at beth@casualspacepodcast.com and follow the show on all the socials.

Want more engaging stories about our future in space? Learn how you can send your own, original story to space right now- at storiesofspace.com

Hazel Ying Lee was a fearless pilot and a true aviation pioneer — the first Asian American to fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots. But for decades, her remarkable story was left untold, until now.

In this episode, author Susan Tate Ankeny tells us how she uncovers Hazel’s legacy in her book, American Fly Girl. Through rich research, Susan brings Hazel’s courage, wit, and determination back into the spotlight — where it belongs.

This conversation is a tribute to hidden heroes and the storytellers who make sure we don’t forget them.

This conversion captures
*Hazel’s fearless entry into aviation during a time of extreme racial and gender barriers
*Susan’s journey researching and writing American Fly Girl
*The emotional impact of giving a voice to overlooked heroes, including her father’s own WWII legacy
*Why stories like Hazel’s still matter — and what we can learn from them today

About Susan Tate Ankeny
Susan Tate Ankeny is the author of American Fly Girl and The Girl and the Bombardier, powerful narratives that uncover the lives of unsung World War II heroes. The daughter of a bombardier who was shot down over France in 1944, Susan grew up immersed in stories of aviation, survival, and resilience. Her father’s passion for flight became her own, leading her to join several World War II aviation historical societies and dedicate herself to preserving these vital histories.

Through meticulous research, heartfelt storytelling, and a deep reverence for those who came before, Susan brings history to life—one remarkable story at a time.

You can learn more about Susan and her work at https://susantateankeny.com. Her books are available wherever stories take flight.

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!

Exploring space one story at a time just isn’t enough? Same here. That’s why I created Extra Space, a newsletter on LinkedIn with even more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and human stories from the edge of exploration.

Check it out here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7326279375165837312/

Send your story to space, or to the sea with MISSION 05 at https://www.storiesofspace.com/

Join us in-between our episodes of Casual Space on the socials,

• LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast

• Facebook - @casualspacepodcast

• Instagram - @casualspacepodcast

• YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83

And finally, if you know of a great guest, topic or event you would like to hear featured on an episode of Casual Space, send me an email at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.

Michelle Lucas knows what it means to chart your own course—especially when the stars aren't clearly mapped. In this heartfelt conversation, Michelle recounts her unexpected trajectory from a third-grader dreaming about rockets in a refrigerator box “space station” to becoming a NASA flight controller and the founder of Higher Orbits, a nonprofit bringing students’ experiments to actual space. Beth and Michelle explore how childhood curiosity, persistent grit, and a few key mentors launched Michelle into the heart of space exploration—and how she's now using that same passion to light the path for others.

Beth and Michelle unpack the realities of navigating NASA's culture, what safety really looks like behind the scenes, and how working in space changed Michelle’s approach to life on Earth. Oh, and don’t miss a fun connection Beth and Michelle laugh about: a wax-molded space shuttle from Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.

More About Michelle Lucas:
Michelle is the founder of Higher Orbits, a nonprofit organization that uses spaceflight to excite and engage students in STEM, leadership, teamwork, and communication. Before launching Higher Orbits, Michelle served in multiple roles at NASA, including flight controller, instructor, and safety team member. She’s a lifelong space enthusiast who believes deeply in mentoring the next generation of explorers—and still proudly owns a cassette tape of her first astronaut shoutout from space.

If you’re in the Chicagoland area, you can meet Michelle at the Galactic Golf Outing on May 13—a fundraiser where you can literally tee off with astronauts to support Higher Orbits’ mission. (Bonus: It’s hosted at the Glenn Club, once home to Neil Armstrong’s naval station.)

Connect with Michelle and support student STEM dreams at higherorbits.org.

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!

We’re sending stories to space AND sea! Launching MISSION 05 this week, and you’ll want to make sure you have a place on board- www.storiesofspace.com

Join me and our guests for all of our conversations and stories at:

• LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast

• Facebook - @casualspacepodcast

• Instagram - @casualspacepodcast

• YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83

or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.