Down to Earth with Terry Virts is a podcast about what matters on planet Earth. It is hosted by former NASA astronaut, author, and filmmaker Terry Virts, and features his conversations with interesting guests from diverse backgrounds, talking about science, entrepreneurship, climate, TV and Film, politics, sports, and of course, space. Terry will bring his “cosmic perspective” to engage with each guest, and their conversations will be flexible to cover any topic that is important to us human ...
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EPD 87: Election Expert Ben Jones, Disinformation Challenges, and the Influence of China and Russia
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Join host Terry Verch in "Down to Earth" as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Ben Jones, a prominent freelance election expert and advisor to leading election observation organizations. In this episode, they delve into the world of elections, disinformation challenges, and the growing influence of China and Russia. With firsthand …
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EPS 86: Uncovering the Origins of COVID-19: A Scientific Investigation
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In this episode: Nicholas Wade is a science journalist who has written for publications such as the New York Times, Nature, and Science throughout his more than four-decade career. Wade recently testified about the lab leak hypothesis to the House Select Subcommittee on Coronavirus Pandemic and recommends listening to that testimony. The origin of …
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EPS 85: The Oil and Gas Industry: Understanding the Value Chain | Down to Earth Podcast
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In this episode, we have Robert Auers, a refinery modeller and refined fuels market analyst at RBN Energy, to shed light on the value chain and technical complexities involved in the industry. Join us as we delve into the upstream, midstream, and downstream processes of the oil and gas industry, including the production methods, used to extract oil…
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EPS 84: To Infinity and Beyond? Examining the Pros and Cons of a Martian Future
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In this podcast episode, Terry engages in a lively debate with Maciej Ceglowski about whether or not humans should venture to Mars. They discuss the biggest obstacles and challenges that we would face in making such a journey, along with other related questions. Tune in to hear their insightful perspectives and arguments. Twitter: @AstroTerry Insta…
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EPS 83: Inside Ukraine: A Former SAS Soldier's Perspective
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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Robin Horsfall, a man who has truly lived a life like no other. Robin's incredible journey has taken him from the British SAS to a successful career in private security, but that's only the beginning. As a black belt in karate, Robin has faced countless challenges and overcome them all with strength and de…
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EPS 82: How Ukraine is making progress in the war through digital transformation & the use of drones
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Jaanika Merilo is an advisor to Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for digital transformation, the former deputy mayor of Dnipro in Ukraine, and a strong advocate of helping the Ukrainian war effort by fundraising for privately donated drones. She is also helping to organize a campaign to bring World Expo 2030 to Odessa. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram…
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EPS 81: How do US military generals integrate ethics into strategy?
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Terry talks with George “Saul” Youstra, a former US Army Green Beret and US Air Force Chaplain, including being chaplain to 9 four-star generals and the US Chief of Staff. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 80: Will AI robots take over the world?
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Mark and Terry talk AI, Robotics, energy, and the future of technology. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 79: An insurance policy for the 2024 Presidential election?
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Terry talks to Ryan Clancy from No Labels “Ryan Clancy, chief strategist for No Labels, talks about some unique and innovative ways to save our political system from the extreme left and right, and what might be done to give Americans a viable, centrist candidate in the 2024 presidential election without starting a completely new third party." http…
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EPS 78: What is the Eurovision Song Contest?
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Terry talks to Stig Karlsen, the head of the Norwegian delegation to Eurovision, to find out. Stig Karlsen is the lead for the Norwegian delegation to the Eurovision Song Contest, one of the biggest television events on Earth. We talk about what Eurovision is, why it is so important to so many Europeans, how England will be hosting the event this y…
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EPS 77: Will sanity ever return to American politics?
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What is the future of the Republican Party? Is DeSantis their saviour? Will sanity ever return to American politics? All this and more with Ron Filipkowski. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 76: Talking all things geophysics with Dr. Hunter Knox
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“Volcanoes in Antarctica? Getting energy from deep under the Earth’s surface? No problem. Talking all things geophysics with Dr. Hunter Knox." Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 75: Discussing the war in Ukraine with former NATO commander and USAF General Phil Breedlove
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Retired NATO commander and US Air Force General Breedlove joins me today as we focus on the Ukraine war and the difference between how Russia and the West wage war. “Combined force and joint warfare are used by NATO, but the Russians still fight in a crude way,” says Breedlove, “in an attrition-based, demonstrative way.” “Russians came into the war…
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EPS 74: What’s more important- the price of a gallon of gas, or a functioning democracy?
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“What’s more important- the price of a gallon of gas, or a functioning democracy? It’s the DTE midterm issue" Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 73: What does all that space debris zooming around Earth look like?
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What does all that space debris zooming around Earth look like? Former NASA astronaut Ed Lu explains how his new company, LeoLabs, is making space a safer place, by tracking all of that junk, and helping companies like SpaceX manoeuvre their satellites to avoid debris-causing explosions in orbit. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry…
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EPS 72: Dragon v Dragon air-to-air combat from House of the Dragon
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Terry Virts breaks down the dragon air-to-air combat seen in “house of the dragon” from a test pilot and fighter pilot's perspective. Courtesy of HBO All images used for this video are from the tv show House of the Dragon by HBO Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 71: What’s it like to fly the world’s most advanced fighter jet?
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What’s it like to fly the world’s most advanced fighter jet? How can aeroplanes prevent crashes, even if the pilot is unconscious? Why is the Air Force better than the Navy? This and more with fighter pilot/test pilot Billie Flynn. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry In partnership with: https://evaintmedia.com/…
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Terry talks with Adam Frisch, who’s running in a dead heat against one of the biggest MAGA Republicans in the country, Lauren Boebert. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 69: How do journalists get scoops? with Mark Jacob
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Should they treat the right and left equally? How can we save democracy? These are just some of the topics that we discuss with former Chicago Tribune editor Mark Jacob. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 68: The story of Hvaldimir, the Spy Whale
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Regina Crosby, a conversationist and founder of the One Whale charity, joins me to talk about all things whale and marine mammals. For example - the Beluga in Hammerfest, in the North of Norway, that lives in the marina, often returning phones people drop into the water! She has a plan to return him to the wild - but being raised as a captive whale…
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EPS 67: What is happening in Space?
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What is happening in Space? Will the Artemis program take us back to the Moon? Should we be cooperating with Russia? Are there fish in Europa’s oceans? And what about all that space junk? All this and more in Terry’s conversation with Time magazine’s Jeffrey Kluger. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry…
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EPS 66: Gun Laws Down Under – is Australian policy more effective?
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Steve James joins me in today’s episode – Steve is a former inspector of Police for Victoria and was Ministerial Adviser for Drug Policy for Australia and New Zealand Government for 11 years, who is currently enjoying retirement. He has a fascinating background, joining a cadet programme at age 15, following crime from the early days, moving onto d…
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EPS 65: What’s the whackiest science story ever? (Joe Palca, an NPR science reporter)
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What’s the whackiest science story ever? How about the OJ chase upending Al Gore and the Space Station? Heir’s 30 years of science reporting adventures from NPR’s own Joe Palca. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 64: Are electric cars and solar panels making us completely dependent on China?
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We are moving towards electric vehicles and wind & solar power make us wholly dependent on China. Is it even possible to build the number of EVs that are being promised today? And how do we get gas prices back down to Earth? Get the answer to these questions and more with Mark Mills.
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Will Russia win in Ukraine? How can the West defeat their militarily? Why does Putin think he’s a modern-day Peter the Great? Best-selling author and Washington Post columnist Max Boot discusses these questions and more. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 62: Dark matter, the early universe and galaxy formation with Dr Katie Mack.
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Katie joins me for the third time to cover the Large Hadron Collider, and how its third run investigates the fundamental physics of the universe. Katie explains all about the collider giving us a layperson's introduction and delving into some of the big questions and aims of the new project. The new run for 3 years of data collection, collecting mo…
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EPS 61: Texas politics: how bad can it get?
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Pretty bad, y'all. The Texas Republican party’s recently approved platform has gone too far in trying to turn government into a religious institution and is a direct threat to democracy. The platform, really a "manifesto," includes these gems: encouraging Texans to secede from the Union with a ballot initiative in 2023. Proclaiming gun rights to be…
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EPS 60: Batter up; Jeff Conine on becoming a baseball legend
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Terry is joined today by baseball legend Jeff Conine, who gives us a rundown of his baseball career, which oddly enough, began with racquetball - going from pitcher to batter, from championships to major leagues. They cover everything about American college, sports scholarships, wins, losses, friends, teams, managers, parents, to the best showers i…
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Melani Robinson, writer for NY Times, Huffington Post and creator of several scripted TV series. She is currently working on a memoir of her experience in Russia and chats to Terry about this modern love story, in which she moves to Russia as a newlywed with her husband for his work. Join Terry and Melani as they chat and compare their experiences …
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Terry speaks with Major General Dmytro Marchenko on the invasion of Ukraine. We hear from General Marchenko on his views of the Ukrainian army and how united and strong they are in the face of the Russian invasion. Despite Russia having such a large force behind them, their fatalities far out way that of the Ukrainian army. The General tells us his…
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EPS 57: Why the American political system is the “ultimate self-licking ice cream cone”
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Terry discusses flaws in the American political system; how the Democrats don’t have policies that focus on geopolitical realities and are too willing to grow our deficit, but also why the other side is worse. How the Republicans have let go of basic decency and ethics just to hang on to power. A poignant and heartfelt commentary on the state of af…
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EPS 56: My visceral reaction to the Texas school shooting
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Terry talks about the Texas school shooting and how laws can save lives, but in America, over 40,000 people die a year from gun violence – senseless deaths. “The best way to ensure we don’t go down the slippery slope of tyranny is to have a strong functioning democracy.” Eva International Media Ltd Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry…
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EPS 55: Think you know which type of energy is cleanest? Solar? Wind? Think again
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Terry is joined by Mark Mills a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and expert on energy. “We cannot run society on energy sources that operate at the convenience of nature.” This week they cover greenwashing in the energy sector and why renewable energy might not be the only answer. They answer questions like: 1. Are governments greenwashing…
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EPS 54: Combatting Russian propaganda with emails
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Julia Minson tells Terry about her work with the website providers of to help people in Russia gain access to independent media, addressing disinformation and propaganda. The website sends emails to individuals in Russia, allowing people to download software to enable access to international media sources, whilst protecting them from government sur…
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Episode 53: Need an idea for a great meal? Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema joins Terry
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Need an idea for a great meal? Recommendation for a spectacular restaurant? Check out my conversation with Washington post food critic Tom Sietsema. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 52: My thoughts on disinformation and propaganda in Ukraine
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"My thoughts on disinformation and propaganda in Ukraine (and everywhere else for that matter...)" https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 51: Meet Olga Maliarchuk, whose office was destroyed in Mykolaev minutes before she arrived
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Olga is a senior government official in Mykolaev, helping coordinate the local response to the Russian bombardment. She was supposed to be at work when the Russians bombed the local government building, while she had stepped out to run errands. This is her story of life under attack. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_ter…
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EPS 50: Will gas prices ever come back to Earth?
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David Braziel explains today’s crazy energy market. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 49 What the heck is going on with oil prices anyway
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https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 48: What are the coolest ice moons in the outer solar system?
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What are the coolest ice moons in the outer solar system? Find out from Jim Head and Erica Nathan from Brown University. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 47: Thoughts on the invasion of Ukraine
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Why disinformation is the biggest threat we face today, and how to avoid getting sucked into its trap. Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 46: What will the James Webb Space Telescope discover?
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How are stars and galaxies made, What will the James Webb Space Telescope discover? Find out from Harvard astronomer Charles Law.
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A discussion of the implications of Putin’s war in Ukraine on space policy, and the bigger picture of the future of democracy. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 44: Was ʻOumuamua just a very bizarre asteroid, or an interstellar spacecraft?
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Was ʻOumuamua just a very bizarre asteroid, or am I tets tell at spacecraft? Hear Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb’s take. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 43: Dr James Head, professor of planetary geosciences at Brown University (part 3)
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Dr James Head is a professor of planetary geosciences at Brown University, who has worked on projects from training Apollo astronauts to be geologists, to robotic missions to Venus, Mars, and the outer planets. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 42: What secrets of the universe with the JWST reveal? Join Dr. Katie Mack and find out!
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Doctor Katie Mack is a professor at North Carolina State University, she’s an Astrophysicist and author of the new book The End of Everything, talking about how the universe will end. And she’s also a pilot! https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 41: A conversation with JP Ouellette and Dylan Matlock, the producers of the film Mass
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A conversation with JP Ouellette and Dylan Matlock, the producers of the film Mass, a powerful drama about forgiveness and moving beyond tragedy. Check it out! https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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EPS 40: Talking modern medicine & Einstein’s theory of relativity with Dr Ricky Flores, one of the worlds’ top paediatricians
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Dr. Ricky Flores is the Clinical Director of the Texas Children's Cancer Center in the Woodlands, near Houston, Texas. He is also the president of the Correa Family Foundation, a non-profit set up by the Houston Astros’ shortstop Carlos Correa and his family that focuses on supporting children with cancer. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTer…
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EPS 39: New emails show top US and British scientists told Dr Fauci in early 2020 that the Coronavirus likely originated in a lab
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42:24
Nicholas Wade is a journalist who has written for publications such as the New York Times, Nature, Science, and others. He is the author of a recent article about the “lab leak hypothesis” for the Coronavirus, published in The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry…
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EPS 38: What’s it like to film a movie in space?
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James Neihouse is a member of the American Society of Cinematographers and a long-time filmmaker, shooting over 60 movies in his career, including 8 space IMAX films. https://terryvirts.com/ Twitter: @AstroTerry Instagram: astro_terry
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