Episodes

  • Episode 445: The Lunar Era
    Oct 3 2025
    Join me this October during World Space Week 2025 for the premiere of The Lunar Era, a five-part series exploring our closest celestial neighbor and its impact on our world. Guests include Rebecca Boyle, Francis French, Dr. Roger Launius, Michelle L.D. Hanlon, Jim Remar, and more.
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    3 mins
  • Episode 450: The Lunar Era – Part 4: “After Apollo”
    Jan 4 2026
    Part 4: “After Apollo” In this episode the focus shifts from competition to preservation. Space law expert Michelle Hanlon explores the legal realities of the Apollo landing sites and how norms, first-mover behavior, and the Artemis Accords will shape the Moon’s future. That legal reality is paired with Jim Remar of the Cosmosphere, who shows how close we have already come to losing the physical legacy of the Apollo era and why preservation still matters. Part 5 will release at the end of January (maybe the beginning of February) and will feature my conversation with Casey Dreier from The Planetary Society. Make sure you've subscribed and followed the show so you don't miss future episodes. The Space Shot Links- Subscribe to The Space Shot on Substack for emails delivered directly to your inbox. I'm currently on hiatus here, but I've got some plans for the future so please stay tuned. Check it out here (https://thespaceshot.substack.com/p/coming-soon?r=5tgvq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy) Let me know if you have any questions, email me at john@thespaceshot.com. You can also call 720-772-7988 if you'd like to ask a question that can air on the show. Send questions, ideas, or comments, and I will be sure to respond to you! Thanks for reaching out! Do me a favor and leave a review for the podcast if you enjoy listening each day. You can support the show by purchasing some of my original artwork. Check out the cool stuff I've got for sale. Starlight and Gleam (https://www.starlightandgleam.com/) Episode Links: NASA’s Largest Library Is Closing Amid Staff and Lab Cuts- Holdings from the library at the Goddard Space Flight Center, which includes unique documents from the early 20th century to the Soviet space race, will be warehoused or thrown out. (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/climate/nasa-goddard-library-closing.html?unlocked_article_code=1.BFA.noXo.kcJF4G8E8EYG&smid=url-share) Check out the work that the team at For All Moonkind is doing. For All Moonkind (https://www.forallmoonkind.org/) Learn about the Cosmosphere and upcoming events here. Cosmo.org (https://cosmo.org/) Michelle and I spoke about the new Space Law program at The University of Mississippi, I'll have to have her on again to talk about that since there wasn't time to include it in this episode. You can see her faculty page here. (https://olemiss.edu/profiles/mlhanlon.php) Episode Music/Audio Historical misison audio via NASA and Archive.org. The PDF with the archival mission audio metadata is a great resource for helping find specific times and files. Diotima (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/342933) Vessel Five (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/342934) Frank and Poet (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/349136) These tracks are licensed via Blue Dot Sessions.
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    58 mins
  • Episode 449: Gemini and Mercury Remastered: My Conversation with Andy Saunders
    Dec 8 2025
    We’re taking a one-episode break from "The Lunar Era" series for a conversation I’ve been looking forward to, an in-depth discussion with bestselling author and NASA image-restoration expert Andy Saunders about his new book “Gemini and Mercury Remastered.” Andy explains how he restored thousands of original NASA film scans to reveal the Mercury and Gemini programs as you’ve never seen them. We explore the human stories behind these missions and why authentic imagery matters more than ever in the age of AI. It’s a fascinating look at the era that made the Moon landings possible and a perfect companion to "The Lunar Era." Episode Links: Check out Andy's "Apollo Remastered" website here (https://www.apolloremastered.com/). https://www.apolloremastered.com/ He's got links to buy his books on his website, if you don't already have those books, you really should get them ordered, especially before Christmas in case you're looking for a great gift. You can follow Andy on: X- https://x.com/AndySaunders1 Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/andysaunders1/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ApolloRemastered/ The Space Shot Links- Subscribe to The Space Shot on Substack for emails delivered directly to your inbox. I'm currently on hiatus here, but I've got some plans for the future so please stay tuned. Check it out here (https://thespaceshot.substack.com/p/coming-soon?r=5tgvq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy) Let me know if you have any questions, email me at john@thespaceshot.com. You can also call 720-772-7988 if you'd like to ask a question that can air on the show. Send questions, ideas, or comments, and I will be sure to respond to you! Thanks for reaching out! Do me a favor and leave a review for the podcast if you enjoy listening each day. You can support the show by purchasing some of my original artwork. Check out the cool stuff I've got for sale. Starlight and Gleam (https://www.starlightandgleam.com/)
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    38 mins
  • Episode 448: The Lunar Era – Part 3: “We Came in Peace for All Mankind”
    Dec 1 2025
    Part 3: “We Came in Peace for All Mankind” traces the Apollo program's story and its unique place in history. Dr. Roger Launius explains the political, cultural, and historical forces behind the first lunar landing, while Francis French and Rebecca Boyle broaden the context of the impact of Apollo on society. This chapter of The Lunar Era traces the program’s origins, the world’s reaction, and the legacy preserved in archives and memory. Parts 4 and 5 will release soon, so make sure you've subscribed and followed the show so you don't miss future episodes. The Space Shot Links- Subscribe to The Space Shot on Substack for emails delivered directly to your inbox. I'm currently on hiatus here, but I've got some plans for the future so please stay tuned. Check it out here (https://thespaceshot.substack.com/p/coming-soon?r=5tgvq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy) Let me know if you have any questions, email me at john@thespaceshot.com. You can also call 720-772-7988 if you'd like to ask a question that can air on the show. Send questions, ideas, or comments, and I will be sure to respond to you! Thanks for reaching out! Do me a favor and leave a review for the podcast if you enjoy listening each day. You can support the show by purchasing some of my original artwork. Check out the cool stuff I've got for sale. Starlight and Gleam (https://www.starlightandgleam.com/) Episode Links: You can find Dr. Launius's latest book, "Smithsonian Atlas of Space: A Map to the Universe from the Big Bang to the Future" here. (https://www.smithsonianbooks.com/store/aviation-military-history/smithsonian-atlas-of-space-a-map-to-the-universe-from-the-big-bang-to-the-future/) Other works from Dr. Launius can be found on his Amazon author page. (https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001HD3INK/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=9cb1f109-94e7-4a13-b297-1e5578f9e3e7&ccs_id=43fdc298-f6b2-45a0-9cc3-8228823cc467) Learn more about Francis French and his work here. FrancisFrench.com (https://www.francisfrench.com/) Check out Rebecca's website here. RebeccaBoyle.com (https://rebeccaboyle.com/) Episode Music/Audio Historical misison audio via NASA and Archive.org. https://archive.org/details/Apollo11Audio The PDF with the archival mission audio metadata is a great resource for helping find specific times and files. NASA Archive Digital Audio File Metadata (https://dn721903.ca.archive.org/0/items/Apollo11Audio/NASA-Audio-Archive_Digital-Audio-File_Metadata.pdf) Lastly, a huge thanks to the Apollo In Realtime website. It is an incredible resource and finding the exact MET for certain mission milestones is super helpful when digging through all of the audio at Archive.org. Apollo In Real Time (https://apolloinrealtime.org/). I really need to have these guys on the podcast to talk about their work on Apollo and now the ISS. Diotima (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/342933) Vessel Five (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/342934) Frank and Poet (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/349136) Evol Triumph (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/349137) These tracks are licensed via Blue Dot Sessions.
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    35 mins
  • Episode 447: The Lunar Era – Part 2: “Vast Loneliness”
    Nov 5 2025
    Part 2: "Vast Loneliness" continues The Lunar Era series, exploring the Space Race from the early days of the Cold War to the groundbreaking flight of Apollo 8, which marked humanity's first journey to lunar orbit. This episode features space historian Francis French and science journalist Rebecca Boyle. Together, we discuss how political rivalry and one breathtaking photograph, "Earthrise," transformed our understanding of Earth's place in the universe. Part 3 will release on or around Thanksgiving (11/27), so make sure you've subscribed and followed the show so you don't miss future episodes. The Space Shot Links- Subscribe to The Space Shot on Substack for emails delivered directly to your inbox. I'm currently on hiatus here, but I've got some plans for the future so please stay tuned. Check it out here (https://thespaceshot.substack.com/p/coming-soon?r=5tgvq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy) Let me know if you have any questions, email me at john@thespaceshot.com. You can also call 720-772-7988 if you'd like to ask a question that can air on the show. Send questions, ideas, or comments, and I will be sure to respond to you! Thanks for reaching out! Do me a favor and leave a review for the podcast if you enjoy listening each day. You can support the show by purchasing some of my original artwork. Check out the cool stuff I've got for sale. Starlight and Gleam (https://www.starlightandgleam.com/) Episode Links: Al Worden appearances in "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood." These episodes are fantastic, check them out here. (https://alworden.com/mister-rogers-neighborhood/) The rest of https://alworden.com/ is also worth checking out. Learn more about Francis French and his work here. FrancisFrench.com (https://www.francisfrench.com/) This is the book I picked up to read with Astrid and its wonderful. Astronaut Al Travels to the Moon (https://www.amazon.com/Astronaut-Travels-Moon-Alfred-Worden/dp/1947305271/) Check out Rebecca's website here. RebeccaBoyle.com (https://rebeccaboyle.com/) Episode Music Diotima (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/342933) Vessel Five (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/342934) Frank and Poet (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/349136) Evol Triumph (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/349137) These tracks are licensed via Blue Dot Sessions.
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    58 mins
  • Episode 446: The Lunar Era – Part 1: “Myths to Missiles”
    Oct 5 2025
    Part 1: "Myths to Missiles" traces humanity’s relationship with the Moon, from ancient myths and early telescopes to the dawn of the Space Age. Featuring science journalist Rebecca Boyle, author of "Our Moon: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are" Part 2 will release on 10/18/25, so make sure you've subscribed and followed the show so you don't miss future episodes. The Space Shot Links- Subscribe to The Space Shot on Substack for emails delivered directly to your inbox. I'm currently on hiatus here, but I've got some plans for the future so please stay tuned. Check it out here (https://thespaceshot.substack.com/p/coming-soon?r=5tgvq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy) Let me know if you have any questions, email me at john@thespaceshot.com. You can also call 720-772-7988 if you'd like to ask a question that can air on the show. Send questions, ideas, or comments, and I will be sure to respond to you! Thanks for reaching out! Do me a favor and leave a review for the podcast if you enjoy listening each day. You can support the show by purchasing some of my original artwork. Check out the cool stuff I've got for sale. Starlight and Gleam (https://www.starlightandgleam.com/) Episode Links: Check out Rebecca's website here. Rebecca Boyle (https://rebeccaboyle.com/) You can learn more about World Space Week and see if there are any events near you. World Space Week (https://www.worldspaceweek.org/) Episode Music- Diotima (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/342933) Vessel Five (https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/342934) Licensed via Blue Dot Sessions
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    23 mins
  • Episode 444: Life Beyond Earth?
    Oct 1 2025
    The Space Shot Links- Subscribe to The Space Shot on Substack for emails delivered directly to your inbox. I'm currently on hiatus here, but I've got some plans for the future so please stay tuned. Check it out here (https://thespaceshot.substack.com/p/coming-soon?r=5tgvq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy) Let me know if you have any questions, email me at john@thespaceshot.com. You can also call 720-772-7988 if you'd like to ask a question for the show. Send questions, ideas, or comments, and I will be sure to respond to you! Thanks for reaching out! Do me a favor and leave a review for the podcast if you enjoy listening each day. Screenshot your review and send it to @johnmulnix or john@thespaceshot.com and I will send you a Space Shot sticker and a thank you! You can support the show by purchasing original artwork at my other website, Starlight and Gleam (https://www.starlightandgleam.com/) Episode Links: Life Beyond Earth? Exhibit Page (https://www.lindahall.org/experience/events/life-beyond-earth-exhibition/) NASA Are We Alone? (https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/search-for-life/) NASA’s Tally of Planets Outside Our Solar System Reaches 6,000 (https://www.nasa.gov/universe/exoplanets/nasas-tally-of-planets-outside-our-solar-system-reaches-6000/) NASA Says Mars Rover Discovered Potential Biosignature Last Year (https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-says-mars-rover-discovered-potential-biosignature-last-year/) Episode Muisc- "Dewbound" licensed via Blue Dot Sessions. https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/342236"
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    25 mins
  • Episode 443: From Wichita to the Moon: CosmoShox at Johnson Space Center
    Jun 26 2025
    The Space Shot Links- Subscribe to The Space Shot on Substack for emails delivered directly to your inbox. I'm currently on hiatus here, but I've got some plans for the future so please stay tuned. Check it out here (https://thespaceshot.substack.com/p/coming-soon?r=5tgvq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=copy) Let me know if you have any questions, email me at john@thespaceshot.com. You can also call 720-772-7988 if you'd like to ask a question for the show. Send questions, ideas, or comments, and I will be sure to respond to you! Thanks for reaching out! Do me a favor and leave a review for the podcast if you enjoy listening each day. Screenshot your review and send it to @johnmulnix or john@thespaceshot.com and I will send you a Space Shot sticker and a thank you! Episode Links: Planetary Society Resource on the current NASA budget NASA's disastrous 2026 budget proposal in seven charts (https://www.planetary.org/articles/nasa-2026-budget-proposal-in-charts) Follow the CosmoShox via Wichita State's OpenXR Lab LinkedIn page. OpenXR Lab (https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7318684068382920706) Wichita State- CosmoShox (https://www.wichita.edu/academics/college-of-innovation-and-design/cosmoshox.php) McCall Mural at JSC Building 2- The Teague Auditorium Lobby (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Teague_Auditorium_Lobby.jpg) Wichita State- College of Innovation and Design (https://www.wichita.edu/academics/college-of-innovation-and-design/index.php)
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    45 mins