In this episode of A Heart for Space, Dr. Eiman Jahangir sits down with Inspiration4 astronaut Chris Sembroski to discuss the life-changing experience of seeing Earth from space, the unexpected journey that led him there, and the deeper perspective he returned home with.

Chris shares how a childhood fascination with rockets and astronomy eventually led him through the U.S. Air Force, aerospace engineering, Blue Origin, and ultimately into orbit aboard Inspiration4—the first all-civilian mission to space. Along the way, he reflects on the importance of curiosity, community, and staying open to unexpected opportunities.

Their discussion explores the remarkable story behind Chris’s journey to space, and how a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital unexpectedly became the catalyst for a phone call that would change his life forever. Chris also opens up about the deeper impact of spaceflight and the profound sense of connection that came from viewing Earth from orbit. From the Overview Effect to the responsibility of caring for one another on our shared planet, he shares how the experience reshaped his understanding of humanity.

To learn more about Chris visit https://www.chrissembroski.com

(00:18) Welcome to A Heart for Space
(01:35) Life, Family, and Building Tow Trucks for Space
(02:25) Chris’s Aerospace Career and Work on New Glenn
(05:10) Childhood Curiosity, Rockets, and Astronomy
(11:40) Advocating for Commercial Space Before It Was Mainstream
(15:50) How Inspiration4 Came Into Chris’s Life
(21:00) The Moment Chris Learned He Was Going to Space
(28:30) Seeing Earth Differently After Spaceflight
(35:40) Saying Yes to Opportunity and Staying Open to the Unknown
(41:00) Community, Connection, and Telling People What You Love
(48:20) The Overview Effect and Treating Humanity as One Crew

Discover more about Dr. Eiman Jahangir, and preorder your own copy of A Heart for Space, now at https://aheartforspace.com/

In today's episode of A Heart for Space, Dr. Eiman Jahangir is joined by his sister-in-law Leah Solivan as they engage in a deeply personal conversation about the experiences, relationships, and ambitions that have shaped Eiman's extraordinary journey.

Moving beyond headlines and accomplishments, Eiman reflects on his upbringing as the child of immigrants and the early influences that drew him toward medicine, as well as his lifelong fascination with space that continued to pull at him even while building a demanding career in cardiology.

The conversation explores the realities of life as a physician—from the emotional weight of patient care and the growing pressures contributing to burnout, to the deeply human moments that continue to make the work meaningful.

Leah and Eiman then dive into the perseverance required to pursue a dream with no guaranteed path forward. After more than twenty years of trying to reach space, Eiman reflects on the emotional experience of finally launching aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard with his family watching nearby—a moment that represented not only the significance of the achievement, but the years of persistence, uncertainty, and unwavering belief that made it possible.

(00:19) Welcome to A Heart for Space
(01:54) Who Is Eiman Jahangir?
(03:13) Medicine, Family Expectations, and the Search for Stability
(06:05) A Day in the Life of a Cardiologist
(07:39) AI, Healthcare Systems, and the Future of Medicine
(09:40) Patient Stories and the Human Side of Medicine
(12:06) When Space Became a Real Goal
(15:48) Launch Day and the People Waiting on Earth
(17:45) Liftoff, Emotion, and Finally Reaching Space
(22:55) Writing A Heart for Space
(25:00) What Eiman Wants Readers to Take Away

Discover more about Dr. Eiman Jahangir, and preorder your own copy of A Heart for Space, now at https://aheartforspace.com/

In this debut episode of A Heart for Space, Dr. Eiman Jahangir introduces the story behind his book and subsequent podcast—and the journey that led him here.

A cardiologist by profession and the 704th individual to travel to space, Dr. Jahangir has spent his life navigating two very different paths: one defined by structure, the other by uncertainty. In this opening conversation, he reflects on what it meant to pursue a lifelong dream without a clear roadmap, and the resilience required to keep moving forward in the face of setbacks, near-misses, and self-doubt.

Dr. Jahangir also shares the pivotal moments that shaped the trajectory of his life—from his family’s immigration journey during the Iran-Iraq War to the experiences that followed his spaceflight, where conversations with audiences around the world revealed a common thread: many people are quietly pursuing ambitious goals of their own. This realization became the foundation for A Heart for Space, and the resulting exploration of the stories and mindsets of those who have pushed beyond conventional limits.

This episode is both an introduction and an invitation into a series of conversations about perseverance and courage, revealing what it truly takes to pursue something extraordinary.

(00:00) Opening Hook and Welcome to the Podcast
(01:16) Cardiologist, Astronaut, Father, and Author
(02:03) Chasing Two Difficult Dreams
(02:47) Why He Started A Heart for Space
(03:54) Why the Book Matters Too
(05:05) The Astronauts Featured in the Book
(06:12) Reading from Chapter One: From Iran to Tennessee
(09:09) Final Thoughts and Invitation to Follow the Journey

Discover more about Dr. Eiman Jahangir, and preorder your own copy of A Heart for Space, now at https://aheartforspace.com/