The Vertical Space
A podcast for the innovators at the intersection of technology and flight.
The Vertical Space is a podcast at the intersection of technology and flight, featuring deep dives with innovators, early adopters, and industry leaders.
We talk about the radical impact that technology is creating as it disrupts flight, enabling new ways to access the vertical space to improve our lives - from small drones to large aircraft. Our guests are operators and innovators across the value chain: airframers, technologists, data and service providers, as well as end users.
- All
- policy and regulations
- air vehicles
- energy and propulsion
- avionics and sensors
- autonomy
- sustainability
- physical and digital infrastructure
- engineering and manufacturing
- defense
- commercial aviation
#108 Alex List, FlyShirley: 'Shirley' there's an opportunity for AI in the flight deck
In this episode we sit down with Alex List, CEO and founder of FlyShirley, a startup building an AI copilot for the cockpit. Alex walks through what AI in aviation actually looks like today: the practical reality of a gr...
#107 Robert Rose, Reliable Robotics: Congressional testimony and conveyor belts in the sky
In this episode we reconnect with Robert Rose, CEO of Reliable Robotics, fresh off his testimony before Congress on the state of advanced air mobility. Robert shares what most people misunderstand about FAA certification...
#106 Koen De Vos: U-Space, U-Space… Where Art Thou?
In this episode we sit down with Koen De Vos, Secretary General of GUTMA, to unpack why U-Space still feels more aspirational than operational, and what aviation can learn from industries that have at least partially man...
#105 Ben Ivers, Boeing: Airspace modernization
In this episode, we sit down with Ben Ivers (Boeing’s Director of Emerging Technologies & Regulatory Strategy) to unpack a deceptively simple idea: airspace modernization isn’t optional anymore and the tech to enable...
#104 Edward Barraclough, Drone-Hand: Why ranching will scale autonomy before defense
Autonomy may scale in agriculture long before it does in defense or UAM, and today’s guest makes a compelling case why. We speak with Edward Barraclough, founder and CEO of Drone-Hand, about applying autonomous drones an...
#103 Ed Bastian, Delta Air Lines: Raising the ceiling of possibility
In this episode, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian breaks down what truly differentiates a great airline: people and culture. Ed shares why “take care of your people first” isn’t a slogan (it’s Delta’s operating system!) an...
#102 Adam Woodworth, Wing: What aviation looks like at Google scale
Adam Woodworth, CEO of Wing (Alphabet’s drone delivery company), joins us to talk about making delivery ubiquitous and why drones should be an equal player alongside other delivery methods. Adam argues we’ve already pass...
#101 Ryan Gury, PDW: Drones, Innovation, and Lady Gaga
Welcome to episode 101 of The Vertical Space. In this conversation, we sit down with Ryan Gury, Co-founder and CEO of Performance Drone Works (PDW). Ryan argues that “commercial is eating aerospace,” and shows why the ce...
#100 Chris Hewlett, Project ULTRA: Why DoD will lead UAS integration
In this 100th episode, we sit down with Chris Hewlett, former Navy Commander and Director of Project Ultra, for a candid conversation about the realities of UAS integration. Chris challenges the industry’s rush toward co...
#99 Jia Xu, SkyGrid: Opening the sky for autonomous flight
In this episode, we welcome back Jia Xu, CEO of SkyGrid, to discuss the future of autonomy and shared airspace. SkyGrid is building a trusted airspace and operational integration platform to enable safe, secure, and effi...