Moonrise podcast

Moonrise

“Truer, but also darker.” This is the real origin story behind America’s decision to go to the moon. The story we learn starts with Sputnik, then President Kennedy’s challenge, and ends with triumph: an American flag on the lunar surface. But in the 50 years that have passed since the moon landing, as presidential documents have been declassified and secret programs have been revealed, a wilder story has begun to emerge. “Moonrise,” a new Washington Post narrative mini-series, digs into the nuclear arms race of the Cold War, the transformation of American society and politics, and even the birth of science fiction, to unearth what really drove us to the moon. Join host Lillian Cunningham (of the Presidential and Constitutional podcasts) as she uncovers a story that has so much to reveal about America -- and about the dreams and nightmares of being human on this Earth.

“Truer, but also darker.” This is the real origin story behind America’s decision to go to the moon. The story we learn starts with Sputnik, then President Kennedy’s challenge, and ends with triumph: an American flag on the lunar surface. But in the 50 years that have passed since the moon landing, as presidential documents have been declassified and secret programs have been revealed, a wilder story has begun to emerge. “Moonrise,” a new Washington Post narrative mini-series, digs into the nuclear arms race of the Cold War, the transformation of American society and politics, and even the birth of science fiction, to unearth what really drove us to the moon. Join host Lillian Cunningham (of the Presidential and Constitutional podcasts) as she uncovers a story that has so much to reveal about America -- and about the dreams and nightmares of being human on this Earth.

 

#17

Introducing, "The Sports Moment"

Ava Wallace, sports reporter at The Washington Post, is in France to report on the Summer ... more

27 Jul 2024

00 MINS

00:59

27 Jul 2024


#16

Introducing “The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop”

Grenada’s Black revolutionary leader, Maurice Bishop, was executed in a coup in 1983, alon... more

17 Oct 2023

03 MINS

03:34

17 Oct 2023


#15

Listen to the first episode of “Field Trip”: Yosemite National Park

To hear the rest of the series, follow “Field Trip” wherever you listen. California’s Sier... more

30 Jun 2023

55 MINS

55:41

30 Jun 2023


#14

Introducing “Field Trip”

Journey through the messy past and uncertain future of America’s national parks. The Washi... more

14 Jun 2023

03 MINS

03:13

14 Jun 2023


#13

The Dark Moon

Apollo 11 lifts off from Earth, fulfilling but also waking us from a longtime science-fict... more

22 Oct 2019

49 MINS

49:23

22 Oct 2019


#12

Magnificent Desolation

The United States confronts race riots and the Vietnam War. Science fiction wrestles with ... more

15 Oct 2019

50 MINS

50:10

15 Oct 2019


#11

The Beyond

Lyndon Johnson takes over the presidency following John F. Kennedy’s assassination, while ... more

08 Oct 2019

57 MINS

57:23

08 Oct 2019


#10

JFK and the Secret Tapes

John F. Kennedy announces the moonshot. Then the doubts creep in …In the ninth chapter of ... more

01 Oct 2019

45 MINS

45:37

01 Oct 2019


#9

A New Frontier

John F. Kennedy goes from senator to president. Space cowboys go from fiction to reality. ... more

24 Sep 2019

47 MINS

47:36

24 Sep 2019


#8

Nightmare on the Hill

Congress investigates the Sputnik launch. Lyndon Johnson seizes the spotlight. And Preside... more

17 Sep 2019

49 MINS

49:12

17 Sep 2019


#7

SPUTNIK!

A top-secret memo in the Eisenhower administration. A plan to make space the new military ... more

27 Aug 2019

40 MINS

40:42

27 Aug 2019


#6

The Bomb and the Saucer

Nuclear fears haunt the American psyche. Fascination with aliens is on the rise. And the U... more

20 Aug 2019

38 MINS

38:57

20 Aug 2019


#5

Inside the Gulag

A Russian rocket dreamer is sent to a Siberian prison. And the road to redemption stretche... more

13 Aug 2019

38 MINS

38:53

13 Aug 2019


#4

The Shapeshifter

A German rocket scientist with a secret mission and dark past. A science fiction editor un... more

06 Aug 2019

41 MINS

41:58

06 Aug 2019


#3

Visionaries of the Void

A tiny New York office fills with big ideas. A group of sci-fi writers bring space travel ... more

30 Jul 2019

36 MINS

36:50

30 Jul 2019


#2

The Tale of the Blue Light

A man who meets himself on the moon. A blue orb that bursts into flames. The quest to expl... more

19 Jul 2019

20 MINS

20:03

19 Jul 2019


#1

Introducing Moonrise

You’ve heard about how we landed on the moon, now find out why we went there. Host Lillian... more

18 Jul 2019

04 MINS

04:05

18 Jul 2019