The Space Shot

A concentrated dose of space awesomeness, delivered right to your podcast feed.

About the show

Subscribe and check out the massive back catalog (Season 1 has 365 episodes) for some excellent bite-sized pieces of space history, pop culture, science, and more. Whether you're into history, science, pop-culture, or current events, there's something for you here at The Space Shot.

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Episodes and Blog Entries

  • Episode 448: The Lunar Era – Part 3: “We Came in Peace for All Mankind”

    Episode  |  November 30th, 2025  |  Season 7  |  34 mins 35 secs
    apollo 11, dr. roger launius, francis french, rebecca boyle, the lunar era, the space race

    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.

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    Episode 447: The Lunar Era – Part 2: “Vast Loneliness”

    Episode  |  November 5th, 2025  |  Season 7  |  57 mins 41 secs
    apollo 8, apollo program, francis french, rebecca boyle, the lunar era

    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.

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    Episode 446: The Lunar Era – Part 1: “Myths to Missiles”

    Episode  |  October 4th, 2025  |  Season 7  |  22 mins 30 secs
    our moon, rebecca boyle, the lunar era

    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"

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    Episode 445: The Lunar Era

    Episode  |  October 3rd, 2025  |  Season 7  |  2 mins 47 secs
    apollo, dr. roger launius, francis french, jim remar, michelle l.d. hanlon, rebecca boyle, the lunar era

    Launching during World Space Week 2025: The Lunar Era, a five-part series on the Moon featuring Rebecca Boyle, Francis French, Roger Launius, Michelle Hanlon, Jim Remar, and more.

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    Episode 444: Life Beyond Earth?

    Episode  |  October 1st, 2025  |  Season 6  |  24 mins 37 secs
    eric ward, life beyond earth, life beyond earth?, linda hall library

    Life Beyond Earth? A Linda Hall Library Exhibit
    I visited the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City, MO a few weeks ago to visit their excellent exhibition, "Life Beyond Earth?" where I chatted with co-curator and Vice President for Programs and Education at the museum.

  • Episode 443: From Wichita to the Moon: CosmoShox at Johnson Space Center

    Episode  |  June 25th, 2025  |  Season 6  |  45 mins
    cosmoshox, wichita state, wsu

    Learn all about the CosmoShox from Wichita State University and the 2025 NASA SUITS design challenge!

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    Episode 442: April in Orbit: Apollo 16 and What’s Ahead in 2025

    Episode  |  April 21st, 2025  |  Season 6  |  12 mins 5 secs
    cosmoshox, nasa design challenge, nasa suits, wichita state

    Today we’re going to take a minute to look back and look ahead. We’re starting off with a teaser for the next Coffee at the Cosmo in May, then we’ll look back at Apollo 16. Finally, we’ll wrap today’s episode with a look at what I’ve been up to in graduate school at Wichita State and what’s coming up soon.

  • Episode 441: Skylab Reentry Live Recording

    Episode  |  November 18th, 2024  |  Season 6  |  51 mins 57 secs
    david hitt, dwight steven-boniecki, emily carney, space hipsters, taking up space

    This episode is jam-packed with awesome guests and Skylab reentry stories. Emily Carney, David Hitt, and Dwight Steven-Boniecki joined me to talk about all things Skylab, give it a listen!

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    Episode 440: Happy 4th of July!

    Episode  |  July 4th, 2024  |  Season 6  |  13 mins 14 secs
    john mulnix, space, space history, space history podcast, space podcast, the space shot

    Episode 440 on July 4th, 2024... lots of 4's! Check out this episode. We'll catch up, and you'll get a bit of a teaser for what's coming next. :)
    I also talk about some history and political theory- perfect for this July 4th!

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    Episode 439: What I Read in 2023

    Episode  |  January 7th, 2024  |  Season 6  |  30 mins 54 secs
    book review, book reviews

    Here's what I read in 2023 (not counting some fictional books). I'd love to hear if you've got a recommendation and what you think about this episode. What was your favorite book of 2023?

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    Episode 438: Catching Up While Astrid Catches Some Z’s

    Episode  |  October 28th, 2023  |  Season 5  |  12 mins 33 secs
    author interviews, book interviews, eaa, social media

    It's been a minute, and many amazing things have happened at home. My wife and I welcomed our first kiddo into the world this September. We also chat about plans for season 6 and beyond.

  • Episode 437: Skylab 50th Extravaganza!

    Episode  |  July 20th, 2023  |  Season 5  |  1 hr 11 mins
    david hitt, dwight steven-boniecki, emily carney, nasa history, skylab, space history

    This episode is jam-packed with awesome guests and Skylab stories. Emily Carney, David Hitt, and Dwight Steven-Boniecki joined me to talk about all things Skylab, give it a listen!

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    Episode 436: Coffee at the Cosmo- Skylab at 50: Part 2

    Episode  |  July 3rd, 2023  |  Season 5  |  47 mins 57 secs
    david hitt, emily carney, john mulnix, nasa, skylab, space exploration, space history

    Enjoy this encore presentation of the Coffee at the Cosmo. Join us for a Coffee at the Cosmo conversation celebrating the 50th anniversary of Skylab, America's first space station.

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    Episode 435: Coffee at the Cosmo- Skylab at 50: Blazing the Trail for ISS, Artemis and Beyond

    Episode  |  July 3rd, 2023  |  Season 5  |  1 hr 24 mins
    coffee at the cosmo, david hitt, emily carney, human spaceflight, jack lousma, john mulnix, milt windler, nasa history, skylab, space station, space stations

    Enjoy this encore presentation of the Coffee at the Cosmo. Join us for a Coffee at the Cosmo conversation celebrating the 50th anniversary of Skylab, America's first space station.

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    Episode 434: Gemini 4: America's First EVA (Mission Audio)

    Episode  |  June 4th, 2023  |  Season 5  |  41 mins 12 secs
    gemini 4, gemini 4 audio, gemini 4 podcast, gemini iv, gemini iv podcast, meredith bagby, mission audio, nasa, nasa historical audio, nasa history, nasa mission audio, project gemini, project gemini nasa, the new guys

    In this episode, we catch up on life and what I've been reading/doing the past few months, then we climb into a Gemini capsule to listen to mission audio from Gemini 4. Enjoy!

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    Episode 433: Coffee at the Cosmo- The Making of a Podcast Part 2

    Episode  |  January 25th, 2023  |  Season 5  |  44 mins 39 secs
    coffee at the cosmo, dave giles, emily carney, john mulnix, space and things

    Here's a special presentation of the latest Cosmosphere Podcast. We caught up via Zoom over the weekend for part 2 of the conversation between Emily Carney, Dave Giles, and John Mulnix. Give it a listen.