The Hatch Podcast
At the intersection of innovation, creativity, and community — The Hatch Podcast shares stories from founders, scientists, and artists shaping the future of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Produced at Hatch Fairhope, it’s where bold ideas take flight.
The Founders Series dives into the journeys of startup founders building the future of business, technology, and innovation across the Gulf South.
The Music Accelerator combines professional music industry guidance with spiritual mentorship, creating a unique environment where artists can grow both creatively and personally. Hosted by music industry veteran Chris Estes, this series features conversations with artists and insiders who’ve spent years shaping the sounds and stories of modern music.
The Bioscience Innovation Series explores breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture, and environmental science — with founders and researchers driving life-changing discoveries in labs across the region.
Around the Table features conversations with Alabama’s most forward-thinking companies and creators, from startups re-imagining industry to leaders building stronger communities.
And throughout the year, The Hatch Podcast Network introduces new limited series spotlighting the people and ideas transforming the Gulf Coast economy — one story at a time.
Find out more at hatchfairhope.com
Contact: team@hatchfairhope.com
The Hatch Podcast
Inside the Lab: Next Generation Vaccines and Emerging Viruses with Dr. Jonathan Rayner | Bioscience Innovation
What does it really take to study dangerous viruses, engineer next generation vaccines, and build biotech companies in Alabama?
In this episode of The Hatch Podcast: Bioscience Innovation, Dr. Rayner shares how breakthroughs really happen inside research labs and why the Gulf Coast is becoming a place where meaningful bioscience work can take root.
From his early career at the CDC and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute to launching startups like iSeq-Biotechnology, Rayner has spent decades studying some of the most dangerous pathogens on earth. He explains why scientific progress unfolds slowly, how vaccine platforms are developed long before the public hears about them, and what it takes to turn university research into solutions that reach the real world.
You’ll hear candid insights on the challenges of funding, the realities of public perception, and the importance of building the right talent and facilities — especially wet lab space — to keep biotech companies in Alabama. Rayner also shares a lighter side of his story: launching an indoor dog park with his son, a project rooted in family and community.
“Ultimately, I think people get into science because they love science. They enjoy the process of discovery. We're investigators. We do research because we have to kind of do it over and again, and it's different every single day.”
— Dr. Jonathan Rayner
💡 In This Episode
• How emerging viruses are isolated, studied, and understood
• Why “fast” vaccines are built on decades of foundational research
• What broad spectrum antivirals could make possible
• The role of early stage biotech companies in turning discoveries into products
• Why intellectual property and timing matter for university researchers
• How Alabama is building the infrastructure needed for bioscience growth
• The importance of wet lab space for startups across the Gulf Coast
• A look at Rayner’s new venture: an indoor dog park built with his son
🔗 Learn more about iSeq-Biotechnology: https://i-seq.com
About The Hatch Podcast
At the intersection of innovation, creativity, and community — The Hatch Podcast shares stories from founders, scientists, and artists shaping the future of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
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🔗 Learn more: hatchfairhope.com
📩 Contact: team@hatchfairhope.com
Produced by Tim Scott for The Hatch Podcast Network.