This week on the GeekWire Podcast: a new Microsoft leader finally gets to work, Amazon makes a surprising change in its remote work policy, and the promise of space for the tech industry.

Our guest commentator is Charlie Kindel, who worked for many years as a Microsoft general manager in areas including its server and mobile businesses, before jumping into the world of startups and then ending up at Amazon, where he led mobile payments and built the Alexa Smart Home organization. 

After working as chief product and technology officer at home automation company SnapOne, previously known as Control4, he’s now an independent advisor and consultant to companies including space and satellite startups.

Stories covered on this week's show:

• ‘The most profound experience’: Blue Origin sends Star Trek’s William Shatner to the final frontier
• Microsoft and Amazon reach truce allowing former AWS executive Charlie Bell to start in new role
• Amazon will leave remote work decisions to individual team leaders in new policy twist

With GeekWire's Todd Bishop and John Cook. Theme music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell. See geekwire.com/podcast for more episodes and links to subscribe.