On this episode of Our American Stories when Apollo astronauts drove across the Moon Craig Sumner had already spent years helping make that possible As a young engineer at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center he worked on the Lunar Roving Vehicle solving the kinds of problems that come with designing a car for a place where no one had ever driven before He later left NASA to become a military pilot then returned for Skylab and the Space Shuttle program eventually serving as deputy project manager for the Shuttle's External Tank Sumner shares his personal story of what it was [... more]

Spike Lee discusses his love for college basketball, particularly March Madness, and how it compares to the NBA. He also talks about his film career, including his experiences working with Denzel Washington and his thoughts on legacy and family. Additionally, Lee touches on generational differences and the importance of empowerment for black men. [... more]

Craig Sumner worked at NASA from the time of the Apollo missions to near the end of the space shuttle program. He shared stories about his experience working with astronauts, including John Young, who was known for his calm and collected demeanor during the Apollo 16 mission. Sumner also discussed the importance of teamwork and testing in the space program, citing the Wright Brothers as an example of pioneers who tested what they flew. [... more]

John Clawson shares the incredible story of his father, Wallace Clawson, a nuclear missile savant who lived a secret life as a Cold War engineer. From correcting textbooks to working on top-secret projects, Wallace's life was marked by intrigue and danger. [... more]

Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, discusses the making of the latter series, including the character development of Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler, and the challenges of writing the finale. He also talks about his upcoming project, a science fiction series, and the possibility of revisiting the Breaking Bad universe in the future. [... more]