Cultivating a Culture of Cultures? Genspace's Casey Lardner on Community Biotech
In this episode of Grow Everything, hosts Karl and Erum dive into the world of community biology with Dr. Casey Lardner, Executive Director of Genspace. They explore how this groundbreaking Brooklyn lab is reimagining who gets to participate in science — and how. From radical accessibility and inclusive education to the launch of Gotham Foundry, Casey shares how Genspace is cultivating a culture of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. This is a conversation about science as a shared resource, where artists, bioengineers, and everyday citizens all have a seat at the bench.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Welcome to Grow Everything: Where Bio Meets the World
00:00:25 - Guest Co-Host Sabriya Stukes Drops In — Backyard BBQ to Biotech
00:01:18 - What’s Buzzing in Biotech: Founders, VCs & Sound Baths
00:03:48 - Redefining Community: Beyond Buzzwords in Bio
00:06:38 - Genspace Unveiled: Brooklyn’s Portal to Public Science
00:10:41 - From Chemistry to Community: Casey’s Unexpected Path to Genspace
00:13:40 - Inside Genspace: Culture, Creativity, and the Curious
00:22:06 - Radical Access: Building Biotech for Everyone
00:28:55 - Live from Ilmar 2025: Big Ideas, Big Shifts
00:37:35 - What’s Next? Introducing Gotham Foundry
00:39:25 - Fueling Founders: How Genspace Sparks Startups
00:40:23 - Why NYC is the Place to Grow Bio Right Now
00:41:53 - Stay Curious: The Secret Ingredient in Science
00:43:26 - Can AI Help Democratize Biology? Genspace Thinks So
00:46:51 - Where Art Meets Genome: The Power of Story in Science
00:51:28 - Bold Visions: What the Future Looks Like at Genspace
00:55:49 - The Pulse of NYC Biotech: Reflections and Real Talk
Episode Links:
OpenPlant Genspace - growing your own insulin?
BioFab Fair: Use promo code: GROW10
