Debugged S3 E8: Cosmic Conversations Unveiled with Sirisha Bandla

Hello! Welcome back to Debugged, the Congressional App Challenge’s alumni-led podcast that connects the country’s youth with technology by debugging the intricate world of computer science.

In this episode, host Medha Gupta chats with Debugged’s first guest astronaut, Sirisha Bandla! As a child, Bandla was mesmerized by the stars and the idea of going to space. Today, not only has she achieved her goal of venturing out into the stars, but she also serves as VP of Government Affairs for Virgin Galactic. In her role, she oversees legislative, regulatory, and government business priorities, and works with research companies to fly science and technology experiments on Virgin Galactic’s spaceship craft of vehicles.

Having earned her degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University, she talks about the choices she made throughout her career to turn her goals into a reality. She also discusses the reasoning behind her choice in major—and even why Purdue was the right place to study it as an aspiring astronaut. Furthermore, she touches on standout mentors throughout her career, the advice they gave, and her advice on how to find mentors of your own.

Having taken many no’s as soft guidelines throughout her career, she discusses the most interesting times she’s flipped a “no” into a “yes.” Similarly, she recalls some of the most constructive feedback she’s received throughout her career, and how she took it to heart and grew from it. Touching on her early career, she mentions a few of the events that made her reconsider if becoming an astronaut was a feasible goal, and how motivating it was to watch the commercial spaceflight industry grow up alongside her.

Finally, she discusses her switch from a technical engineering role to a non-technical governance role at Virgin Galactic. Tune in to the latest episode of Debugged to hear more about Sirisha Bandla’s inspiring career!

More about Debugged

Founded in 2021 by the Congressional App Challenge’s Alumni Advisory Board, Debugged is a unique podcast experience that seeks to redefine STEM education, shine a light on diverse voices, and further the narrative around a myriad of computer science topics. By highlighting trends in the industry, breaking down complicated concepts, and interviewing high profile guests, listeners are given the opportunity to delve into the world of technology in an analytical yet engaging way.

Debugged is free to stream on your favorite platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more via Anchor.fm! To be the first to know about new episodes, and to learn more about the team of eleven alumni behind every one, follow @cacdebugged on Instagram and X. Thank you so much for your viewership; we hope you enjoy the episode!