Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft is a Research Professor at the University of Maryland and the Director of NASA Acres, NASA's US-focused agriculture program. She helped found NASA Harvest in 2017 and has dedicated her career to applying satellite data, machine learning, and geospatial tools to benefit agriculture worldwide. Her work sits at the cutting edge of space technology, earth science, and sustainable food systems—proving that NASA is about much more than just space exploration.
In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Whitcraft shares her unconventional path from pre-med student to leading NASA's agriculture programs. She opens up about struggling with anxiety and depression in college, the pivotal geography course that changed her life, and dealing with imposter syndrome even at the height of success. She discusses the realities of being a woman in male-dominated STEM fields, and the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding career. Above all, she emphasizes the importance of following your curiosity, believing in yourself, and remembering that it's never too late to try something new. Whether you're interested in technology, agriculture, or simply learning how to navigate life's challenges with grace and determination, this episode offers wisdom and encouragement for dreamers of all ages.
Key Topics Discussed
Introduction to NASA and Agriculture
What NASA Acres and NASA Harvest are and how they differ
NASA studies Earth more than any other planet
Using satellites, models, and observations for agriculture
The difference between NASA's space agriculture (growing food in space) and earth science agriculture
Childhood and Early Influences
Growing up in a family winery in Southern California
Parents started winery just months before she was born
Early love of food, wine, and feeding people
Almost went to culinary school instead of college
Following curiosity and pursuing the next interesting question
The Pivotal College Moment
Started college as pre-med student
Struggled with severe anxiety and depression freshman year
Mother encouraged taking a year off; she refused due to perfectionism
Took general education courses including geography
Professor Tom Gillespie saw and supported her through struggles
Discovered she could download satellite data and see her family's vineyards
Changed major to geography/environmental studies and international development studies
Came out "a healed and happy person"
Career Philosophy and Challenges
Do the most interesting thing and follow your curiosity
Don't set limiting expectations for yourself based on predetermined scripts
Her job now didn't even exist when she was 20
Overcoming perfectionism
"If you wanna make an omelet, you gotta break a few eggs"
Imposter Syndrome Throughout Career
Dealt with it at every stage of her career
Still experiences it approaching age 40
Finding role models who validated her feelings
Getting older helped her understand why these feelings came up
Learning to treat herself with the kindness she shows friends
Realizing you're your own worst critic
Anxiety often comes with high performance and intelligence
Women in Male-Dominated STEM Fields
Barriers in aerospace, agriculture, technology, and earth sciences
Her "dukes up" personality: if challenged or doubted, will fight her way out
Strong sense of justice and fairness
Of course she's experienced sexism - "it's almost a given"
Has witnessed and testified in civil suits about inappropriate behavior
Things are "miles away" from where they were even a few years ago
Social media has created space for open dialogue about previously hidden issues
The Maternity Leave Challenge
Most difficult unsolved challenge in her field
Had to use vacation leave for maternity leave
Expected to come back like nothing changed
No policy or procedure for passing off and reclaiming responsibilities
Felt aimless when returning after second child in 2021
"Who am I in this program anymore? Who am I in the world anymore?"
Creating the Dependent Care Fund
Was spending personal money on childcare for work travel
Colleague also traveling internationally with twins
Found NASA had policy allowing these expenses
University of Maryland said no because "not available to everybody"
Created fund available to everyone with dependent care responsibilities
Includes children, parents, siblings, disabled family members
Covers plane tickets, respite care during work travel
Fund still needs to grow but represents important systemic change
Combining Wine and Geography
First remote sensing project compared California and French Pinot Noir vineyards
Rewarded curiosity of starting somewhere and seeing what came next
Started with forest work with Tom Gillespie
Still deeply loves trees: "I am a tree hugger"
Current Work and Future Challenges
Biggest challenge: not getting stuck in hopelessness about climate change
Even small contributions matter - including maintaining your own health
Using satellite data, AI, and machine learning in agriculture
Helping farmers make decisions about climate adaptation
Combining climate models, field trials, and satellite observations
Scenario planning: "If I do this, then what?"
Providing evidence beyond just experience and talking to neighbors
Mentors and Role Models
Tom Gillespie (undergraduate professor) - saw her potential despite struggles
Chris Justice (PhD advisor) - one of original remote sensing pioneers from the 1970s
Family friends who demonstrated resilience in their own lives
Never had regular senior woman mentor in her field specifically
Relied heavily on friends in other fields and stay-at-home parents
Department Chair at UMD is a woman she touches base with regularly
Motherhood and Career
Has two children: ages 4 and 8 (four years apart)
Most proud of her children and getting to watch them grow
Feels like she shouldn't say that but it's genuinely true
Seeing them laugh and play together makes her heart "almost explode"
"I have created so much new love"
Balancing work and motherhood is "not easy"
Choosing to have children despite climate concerns shows optimism and bravery
Raising people who will be part of the solution
Advice for Getting Into the Field
Don't count yourself out - if you're curious, try it
Sometimes takes introductory courses for things to click
Take full advantage of office hours
Professors are "top researchers" - free hours to ask questions
People who came to office hours wrote recommendation letters later
Be bold and ask - worst they can say is no
Most of the time they'll say yes
Show up and take up space - you deserve to be there
On Social Media and Community
TikTok and social media created democratization of information
Virtual communities allow people to share experiences
Changed conversation about what's acceptable and normal
Applies to gender issues and also health conditions
"Shadow and light" in all things - pros and cons
Philosophy on Life and Career Changes
It's never too late to try new things
Her mom changed careers at 34 when Alyssa was born
Mom learned to snowboard in her mid-50s
You can still go to medical school at 40 or become a violinist
Potential doesn't end at 17 or 18
Do it for joy, not to be good enough
Example: her 8-year-old doing first piano recital - "just do it scared"
The Importance of Teams
Join a team even if not sports
Develops camaraderie and support
Chess, academic decathlon, many ways to build community
Final Wisdom: Belief in Oneself
Most important quality: belief in oneself
Bravery comes when you believe in yourself
Can be brave and still hard on yourself
Acting in alignment with who you truly are
"You are the biggest determinant of what you're gonna accomplish in your life"
Nobody can overcome that barrier for you
The Foundation of All Accomplishment
Currently feeling that basis is nurturing personal relationships
Nurturing one another
That's the foundation from which anything can grow
Anybody can talk about science - connecting on human level is different
Feeling "happy with the weight of the world"
Driven to leave world better than ancestors passed it
Focus on what you can control and contribute
Memorable Quotes
"NASA more than just space—the planet NASA studies the most is actually Earth."
"Do the most interesting thing and don't set expectations for yourself, limiting expectations."
"You have to make mistakes to grow. If you wanna make an omelet, you gotta break a few eggs."
"I sometimes say, you know, if somebody doubts me or says I'm not gonna let you do that, I'm sort of like, hmm, I'd like to see you try to stop me."
"You are by far your own worst critic, the vast majority of the time."
"Why can't I be kind to myself in the same way [as I am to my friends]?"
"The overarching message I think here is like, get out of your own way."
"Belief in oneself, really. Bravery comes when you believe in yourself."
"You are the biggest determinant of what you're gonna accomplish in your life."
"All of it can be made easier if you tune into yourself and get to know yourself and then believe in yourself."
"The basis of all accomplishment is nurturing personal relationships and nurturing one another."
"Something isn't nothing." (On focusing on what you can contribute)
"Just do it scared." (Advice to her 8-year-old before piano recital)
Show Notes & Links Of Interest
[00:00 - 01:30] Introduction and Episode Preview
Hosts introduce Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft
Working at NASA Harvest and NASA Acres
Excitement about technology and satellites in agriculture
[01:30 - 05:20] Guest Introduction and NASA Programs
Research Professor at University of Maryland, Department of Geography
Director of NASA Acres (US-focused ag program)
Difference between NASA Acres and NASA Harvest (international)
NASA Harvest started in 2017 as experimental program outside NASA centers
Located in academia for more flexibility in partnerships and projects
Successful program led to doubled agriculture budget
NASA's earth science division - Earth is the planet NASA studies most
Satellites rotating around Earth collecting data constantly
Data used for weather forecasts, land monitoring, forests, agriculture
[05:20 - 08:40] Growing Up in Wine Country
Family in wine business - parents started winery months before she was born
Southern California vineyards
Grew up walking through vineyards
Loves to eat and feed people
Latent interest in feeding people
Almost went to culinary school instead of college
"Hopelessly curious" - follows next interesting question
Never been one for five-year plans since college
[08:40 - 12:20] The College Pivot: From Pre-Med to Geography
Started college as pre-med student
Struggled with anxiety and depression freshman year
Over 20 years ago - mental health less discussed then
Mom encouraged taking year off; refused due to perfectionism
Focused on general education requirements instead
Took "People in Earth's Ecosystems" geography course
Professor Tom Gillespie saw and mentored her
Discovered: could download satellite data and see family vineyards
Could make 3D model of parents' house
"This is incredible. I just couldn't believe what was possible."
Changed major to geography/environmental studies and international development studies
Came out "a healed and happy person"
[12:20 - 14:40] Philosophy on Finding Your Path
Do the most interesting thing
Don't set limiting expectations for yourself
Job she has now didn't exist 20 years ago
If stuck in doing only what she knew, would never have gotten here
Gets to be creative and "stand in my power"
In 2025, people talk more about mental health
Remembers crying after getting B on physics test in high school
"Not healthy approaches to learning and growth"
"If you wanna make an omelet, you gotta break a few eggs"
Need to develop resilience
Know you'll hit unexpected challenges
[14:40 - 17:30] Finding Geography and Remote Sensing
Tom Gillespie taught geography class, tropical dry forest expert
Started working with him, deeply in love with trees
"I am a tree hugger" - trees are beautiful, powerful, anchored
Had to pick project in remote sensing class
Chose to compare California vineyards (where dad sourced grapes) to French vineyards (Burgundy Pinot Noir)
Not particularly novel but unlocked technical skills
Rewarded curiosity of starting somewhere
Husband also geographer, met in grad school
He works at Esri (builds ArcGIS)
"Geography, it's where it's at"
[17:30 - 20:40] Dealing with Imposter Syndrome
Had challenges at different stages of life
Overarching challenge: getting in own way
Narrowing what she thinks she's capable of
Wondering if good enough at what she's doing
Thankfully relaxed as gotten older
Still rears its ugly head occasionally
"No matter what I do, no matter what I accomplish, I very much am enough"
"I'm the only me and I'm irreplaceable"
Grew into these realizations as a mother
Wants children to feel this way too
Lessons make her resilient to any challenge
[20:40 - 24:00] Women in STEM and Facing Challenges
Male-dominated areas: aerospace, agriculture, technology, earth sciences
Far more women now than 5 or 10 years ago
Hearing from other women who went through similar experiences
Seeing role models doing amazing jobs
"Getting older" helped (doesn't want to tell 10-12 year olds to wait)
Getting curious about why feelings come up
Learning not to let comments stick versus letting them pass
Reflects on: would never think critically about friends this way
"Why can't I be kind to myself in the same way?"
Realizing you are your own worst critic
Take introspection when unkind, but don't over-criticize
Anxiety often comes with high performance and intelligence
[24:00 - 27:00] Barriers and Sexism in STEM
"Dukes up" flip side of personality
If challenged or told can't do something: "I'd like to see you try to stop me"
Will fight way out if backed into corner
Strong sense of justice and fairness
People not making space for her - knew it was "BS"
"That's their problem, not mine"
Knowing she deserves to take up space, has great ideas
"Of course I've experienced sexism" - almost a given
Dealt with and witnessed really inappropriate stuff
Testified in civil suits
Much better in 2025 than a few years ago
People now call out: "That's not acceptable, you don't get to do that"
[27:00 - 30:40] The Maternity Leave Challenge
Challenge not yet addressed with good answer
Parental leave, particularly maternity leave
Body goes through something incredible and physically difficult
Expected to come back like nothing changed: "Wait, what?"
Lucky enough to have maternity leave (used vacation leave, not actual parental leave)
Passed off responsibilities but no policy for getting them back
No procedure because "not accustomed to women leaving for this period"
First child (2017): NASA Harvest selected while 6 weeks postpartum - brand new start
Second child (2021): felt aimless returning
"Who am I in this program anymore? Who am I in the world anymore?"
[30:40 - 33:00] Creating the Dependent Care Fund
Was annoyed at personally spending money to do job
Buying tickets for husband, baby, mom, or mother-in-law for work travel
Baby too young to leave behind
Colleague Dr. Catherine Nakalimbe taking twins to East Africa
Found NASA had something on books allowing budgeting for this
University of Maryland said no: "Not a benefit available to everybody"
Created fund supporting everyone with dependent care responsibilities
Not just young children or mothers, includes caring for parents, siblings, disabled family members
Anyone whose absence would create hardship
Funds plane tickets, respite care
Fund nowhere near large enough yet
People still embarrassed to ask - that should change
One way of "empowering by removing barriers"
[33:00 - 35:40] Social Media's Positive Impact
TikTok and social media created space for dialogue
More open than ever before
Things that happened behind closed doors now discussable
Before: only recourse was campus office (slow, ineffective)
People didn't bother due to career blowback
Now: people have platforms and virtual communities
Really shifting conversation around common experiences
What's acceptable and what's normal
Not just gender - also medical conditions
Learned more in 2-3 years from Reddit and TikTok about rare condition
"Democratization of information and experience sharing"
Shadow and light in all things
[35:40 - 40:20] Pride in Children and Emerging Trends
Most proud of her kids (sometimes feels she shouldn't say that)
Should be proud of creating science thing
Reality: can't believe got to make two people
Hang out with them all the time
Watch them grow into unique people different from each other
Four years between them (4 and 8 years old now)
When they laugh and play together: heart almost explodes
"I have created so much new love"
At intersection of satellite data, machine learning, AI, agriculture
Technologies rapidly evolving
Easy to despair about challenges ahead
[40:20 - 43:20] Hope and Challenges for the Future
Huge challenge: not getting stuck in hopelessness
People saying can't have children due to climate change
Optimism in saying: even though scary, I'm gonna do it
Bravery: raising people who'll be part of solution
Biggest challenge: not folding cards and giving up
What's the small piece you can contribute right now?
Even maintaining mental and physical health radiates outward
Broader impacts on family, friends, community
Exciting opportunity: get clear answers about decisions humans can make
Agriculture/farmers can make informed decisions
[43:20 - 47:00] Technology and Agricultural Decision-Making
Huge amounts of data from multiple sources
From farm: tractors, combines, harvesters
Farmer's word of mouth and perspective
Satellite data
Many types of models
Can parse through what activities will have what outcome
Example: climate models show it's getting drier
Field trials: agronomists test interventions on small land
See who's already adopted changes (cover cropping)
What will this do for resilience to climate change?
Impact on productivity, time, machinery costs?
Pulling together sources for scenario planning
Takes guesswork out: "If I do this, then what?"
Before: based on experience or talking to neighbors (valuable but limited)
May not have confronted what's coming
Opportunity to buffer risk
[47:00 - 51:40] Mentors and Role Models
So many at various stages
Tom Gillespie (undergrad) - lifesaver, saw her potential
Showed belief: "Of course you can do this"
Powerful vote of confidence
Chris Justice (PhD advisor) - original remote sensing pioneer from 1970s
Grounded in science, "this is what we need to do"
Also human touch: "Of course you can do this"
Not losing faith despite challenges
Mentors not even older or in her field
Close family friends and how they approach challenges
Never really had senior woman mentor meeting regularly
One woman professor in department when started
Now department chair is woman (touches base regularly)
Very busy - doesn't want to ask for more time. At same time hopes younger women would ask her
[51:40 - 55:00] Advice for Young People in STEM
Don't count yourself out
If curious, try it
Sometimes takes introductory courses for it to click
Already clicking in first intro course for her
Just start somewhere
Huge fan of office hours
Professors are top researchers
"Paying a great deal of money" - free hours to ask questions
Often only person at office hours as undergrad
People she did this with wrote recommendation letters
Supported fellowships
Gave them opportunity to get to know her
Take full advantage of what's in front of you
Be bold and ask
[55:00 - 58:00] Taking Up Space
Girls and people from underrepresented backgrounds
From marginalized backgrounds
Not socialized or encouraged
Sometimes actively discouraged from raising hand
Showing enthusiasm or grit
"You deserve to take up as much space as everybody else does"
Show up - worst they can say is no
Really hard when young but gets easier with practice
Most of the time they'll say yes
As teacher: nobody came to office hours
"You guys, this is free. You already paid for this. This is included in the package."
[58:00 - 1:01:00] Channeling Responsibility into Action
Feels "happy with the weight of the world"
Driven to leave world better than ancestors passed it
More you notice and feel, more you see suffering
No shortage right now, can shut you down
Sometimes have to take breaks
Recently needed help taking care of herself
What keeps her in research despite challenges
Really believes in what they're doing
Can help bolster food security
Promote sustainability in agriculture
Move toward system with no hungry people
"This is my lane" - highly educated in this
Lever available that she should lean into
Understands what she's doing and thinks it can help
[01:01:00 - 1:03:00] Focusing on What You Can Control
Something isn't nothing
Try to focus on power she has
If sit in narrow place of despair
Miss out on expansiveness of possibility
Empowered women empower women
Role models and visibility very important
Difficult to visualize something if never seen it before
Few women opened door, went through a lot
Battle wounds
Opened door wider for others
[01:03:00 - 1:06:00] The Dependent Care Fund Impact
Annoyed how much personally spending to do job
Not just routine childcare
Big part of job was travel
Buying tickets for family members
Found NASA policy allowing it
UMD said no because "not available to everybody"
Created fund for everyone with dependent care responsibilities
Young children, parents, siblings, disabled family members
Anyone whose absence creates hardship
Fund plane tickets, respite care
Fund still needs to grow
Making time for younger folks when asked
Including younger girls and women
[01:06:00 - 1:08:00] One Quality to Embrace: Belief in Oneself
First thought: bravery
But bravery comes when you believe in yourself
Can be brave and hard on yourself
Can be brave and hard on others
Believing in yourself and your convictions
Acting in alignment with who you truly are
Sky is the limit
Will do what you're intended to do
Spiritual belief embedded
You are biggest determinant of what you'll accomplish
Extreme things can change that
But if don't believe in yourself: barrier nobody can overcome for you
[01:08:00 - 1:11:00] Claire's Violin Example
Claire kept messing up one spot in performance
Practicing more helped
Thinking she could do it was helpful
When in the music, it came
Practice helpful in convincing yourself
But probably already could do it
Biggest thing: convincing yourself
Then flows naturally
All can be made easier if tune into yourself
Get to know yourself, then believe in yourself
So much can be resolved
"Panacea to solve so many woes"
[01:11:00 - End] Recommendations and Closing
Jess McMillan - retired professional skier, before was professional kayaker
Consider interviewing stay-at-home parents
Empowering stories not often told
Best friend is stay-at-home parent
Also molecular chemist/biochemist
Still gets consulting work
Made choice right for her and family
Bravery of: "I'm not my job, I'm not my accomplishments"
Irreplaceable to family
Topic: women taking career breaks and returning to work
Brain drain issue
The basis of all accomplishment: nurturing personal relationships
Nurturing one another
Foundation from which anything can grow
Anybody can talk about science
Connecting on human level is different thin
Hosts
