NASA is known for rockets, astronauts and moonshots. But at NASA Langley, the work is also about what happens before and after the launch: the testing, partnerships, aeronautics, technology transfer and long-term thinking that turn impossible ideas into repeatable progress.

Joseph Gasbarre, Director of the Strategic Partnerships Office at NASA Langley, talks through the next era of exploration — from Artemis and returning to the moon, to hypersonics, commercial space, regional air mobility and what it will take to build a lasting human presence beyond Earth.

The conversation moves from Star Trek and roller coasters to heat shields, lunar infrastructure, AI, NASA's "front door" for innovators, and why Hampton Roads continues to play a major role in the future of flight and space.

0:00 Why going to the moon more often changes everything
2:44 NASA is more than rockets and shuttles
3:04 From Star Trek fan to aerospace engineer
4:14 Artemis, launch day and years of NASA work coming together
7:46 What NASA Langley may study from Artemis reentry
9:04 Testing heat shields, speed and reentry at 32,000 mph
11:15 G-force, roller coasters and Pennsylvania amusement parks
16:31 How NASA recruits the next generation of talent
19:21 Mars travel, moon launches and escape velocity
20:47 Could humans live on the moon or Mars?
23:21 What space movies get right and wrong
24:18 How NASA thinks decades into the future
25:18 NASA's view on AI as a tool
26:32 The rise of commercial space companies
27:08 How innovators can partner with NASA
29:59 Hypersonics and faster commercial flight
31:17 The sonic boom problem and NASA's X-59
32:32 How NASA Langley looks at strategic partnerships
35:13 Putting more things on the lunar surface
36:17 Why launch cadence matters for innovation
37:01 NASA's coming "front door" for partnerships
37:34 Risk, safety and lessons from NASA history
39:48 The infrastructure we don't yet have around the moon
42:23 Handling public criticism and NASA education
45:25 Competing for talent in the space economy
49:35 Why people stay at NASA: mission
50:28 What Joseph wants to see before retirement
51:51 The first "A" in NASA: aeronautics
52:36 The future of flight, eVTOLs and regional air taxis
54:44 What Hampton Roads food should go to the moon?
56:21 Why this is an exciting time to be at the forefront

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Nonprofits are being asked to do more than ever with teams that are already stretched thin. But what happens when AI gives mission-driven organizations the capacity to move faster, understand donors better, and spend more time on the relationships that actually drive impact?

Jim Funari, CEO of StratusLIVE, joins The Fervent Four to talk about how AI, software, and digital engagement are reshaping the nonprofit world. From donor relationships and fundraising to team capacity and national reach, this conversation explores why technology is no longer just back-office support. It is becoming central to how mission-driven organizations grow, serve, and survive. https://stratuslive.com/

The conversation also highlights a Hampton Roads company making serious waves well beyond the region. StratusLIVE was named to the initial tranche of the IHR200, Innovate Hampton Roads' list of the 200 most promising and important privately owned businesses in Hampton Roads — a reminder that major technology companies are being built right here in the 757. https://www.innovate757.org/ihr200/

00:00 Mistakes Teach More Than Wins
02:11 Why Nonprofits Struggle to Market Themselves
04:20 What StratusLIVE Actually Does
05:36 Building a Nonprofit Tech Company
08:05 Staying Current in a Fast-Moving Tech World
11:13 How AI Can Help Nonprofits Do More With Less
13:02 Is There a First-Mover Advantage in Nonprofit AI?
14:01 Why Focus on Nonprofits?
15:51 The Next Generation of Nonprofit Fundraising Tools
17:29 Using AI Agents to Reduce Back-Office Work
18:53 Will AI Replace Jobs or Create More Capacity?
21:47 Bringing National Customers to Virginia Beach
24:21 Building a Business With Family
27:48 Local vs. Remote Talent in Hampton Roads
30:15 Hiring for Curiosity and Team Fit
34:03 Why Curiosity Matters in Leadership
36:02 Raising Capital in Hampton Roads
40:44 Why the Team Matters More Than the Idea
41:57 What Founders Overlook About Execution
43:43 Finding Your First Customers
46:15 Why Mistakes Are Better Teachers Than Wins
47:34 Adjusting Strategy as the Market Changes
51:17 National Impact Through Corporate Giving
53:44 A Hampton Roads Company Creating Big Impact
54:11 Why Nonprofits Need Technology at the Table
55:41 Where to Eat in Virginia Beach

What does it really take to build a business that lasts for decades?

Building an agency or service-based business is not just about landing the first client. It is about hiring the right people, delivering consistently, earning trust, surviving hard seasons, and making decisions that protect the company long after the excitement of launch wears off.

In this episode of the Fervent Four Show, Tony Cortinas, president and cofounder of Marathon Consulting, shares what he has learned from building a Hampton Roads technology consulting company that has lasted 20 years.

The conversation covers Marathon's early leap of faith, the story behind the company's name, the discipline it took to grow without sacrificing quality, and why people, culture, and client relationships have remained central to the company's success.

Marathon Consulting was also named to the first group of 20 companies selected for the IHR200, Innovate Hampton Roads' curated list of the 200 most important privately owned, growth-scalable businesses in the region. https://marathonus.com/

Watch the full conversation to hear what building a lasting business really looks like, and why endurance may be one of the most underrated forms of business success.

Learn more about the Fervent Four Show:
https://www.innovate757.org/ferventfour/

(0:00) Building relationships, starting the business, and launching before the Great Recession
(2:04) Managing time between company building and client work
(2:43) History and background of Metro Information Services and Keene
(4:52) Phased approach to launching the company
(7:04) Initial funding and relationship with Town Bank
(7:29) Company growth and employee numbers
(10:17) Origin of the Marathon name and logo
(13:49) Community involvement and support
(18:06) Influence of Metro and Keene on company culture
(19:26) Multi-step interview process and hiring standards
(22:13) Key qualities sought in potential hires
(23:48) Transitioning from client-facing roles and rewriting old systems
(25:32) The impact of AI and automation on consulting
(29:57) Predictions on AI's effect on jobs and consulting
(32:50) Evolution of Marathon Consulting's partnership structure
(38:28) Opening an office in Richmond: Challenges and strategies
(44:47) Future plans for geographic expansion and service offerings
(46:37) Overcoming growth plateaus and breaking through employee milestones
(48:27) Scaling challenges with growing teams
(49:35) Transition from small to large team dynamics
(50:10) The importance of food in company culture
(51:34) Returning to the office post-pandemic
(52:10) Reflecting on two decades of business growth
(53:18) Employee retention and long-term staff
(54:16) Future branding and company milestones
(55:16) Episode wrap-up and final thoughts