Interplanetary Podcast

In this episode, Matt unpacks what it really means when billionaires start shaping national space policy sometimes more directly than governments themselves. We talk about Jared Isaacman’s new NASA leadership tone, the fight over NASA budgets, and why institutions like NCAR suddenly found themselves accused of being “woke” simply for doing climate science. Along the way, we contrast all of that with the quieter, steadier side of exploration: ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and her upcoming Crew-12 mission to the ISS and zoom out... way out ...to two of the most astonishing science stories of the year: an interstellar visitor from another solar system, and a runaway black hole leaving a trail of newborn stars behind it. Who is space really for? the richest voices in the room, or the public that funds the future? And why the answer matters not just for space, but for climate, science, democracy, and what kind of civilisation we want to become.

In episode 323, Matt sits down with filmmaker Mark Craig to talk about his new documentary Apollo 1 the film that revisits the story of Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee, and the tragedy that reshaped NASA on the road to the Moon. Mark shares what drew him to the project, the moments that surprised him most during research, and why the Apollo 1 story still matters especially for audiences who know Apollo mainly through the later triumphs. APOLLO 1 is a Stopwatch / Haviland Digital 7T1 Films production (c) 2025 Find more about it here. https://www.facebook.com/Apollo1film/

In this episode, Matt opens with forgotten space hero John Bevis’ birthday and a cosmic musing on relativistic dust, black holes, and the unimaginable energies hidden in tiny things. Then astrophysicist and author Ethan Siegel joins the show to discuss his new book, The Grand Cosmic Story, a sweeping journey from the birth of the cosmos to the emergence of life and intelligence. Together they explore the importance of critical thinking, evidence, and scientific honesty in an age when misinformation moves faster than light itself.

In this episode, Matt is joined by acclaimed science writer Brian Clegg to explore the dazzling world of the multiverse. Brian unpacks the science and speculation behind one of physics’ most mind-bending ideas. Together, they discuss why the multiverse has captivated scientists and storytellers alike, the fine line between science and philosophy, and what it all means for our place in the cosmos. Brian Clegg is expanding our minds and what’s possible in his upcoming title The Multiverse: When One Universe Isn’t Enough (23rd October 2025).

Andy Saunders joins Matt to talk about his new book Gemini and Mercury Remastered. We dig into the forgotten missions that paved the way for Apollo, the astonishing images he’s restored from NASA’s archives, and the human dramas behind them from blown hatches to dangerous spacewalks.