16 episodes
Moonrise The Washington Post
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- History
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4.5 • 13 Ratings
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“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.
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Introducing Moonrise
You’ve heard about how we landed on the moon, now find out why we went there. Host Lillian Cunningham introduces a new podcast that explores the real story behind the moonshot. Coming summer 2019.
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The Tale of the Blue Light
A man who meets himself on the moon. A blue orb that bursts into flames. The quest to explain the unexplained. In the first chapter of "Moonrise," the journey to space begins.
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Visionaries of the Void
A tiny New York office fills with big ideas. A group of sci-fi writers bring space travel into popular culture. American rocketry begins to take flight. On this episode of Moonrise, the dream of the moon starts to become reality.
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The Shapeshifter
A German rocket scientist with a secret mission and dark past. A science fiction editor under the watch of the FBI. In the third chapter of Moonrise, weapons of war lay the groundwork for space travel.
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Inside the Gulag
A Russian rocket dreamer is sent to a Siberian prison. And the road to redemption stretches more than 5,000 miles. On this episode of "Moonrise," a look at the maestro behind the Soviet space effort.
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The Bomb and the Saucer
Nuclear fears haunt the American psyche. Fascination with aliens is on the rise. And the U.S. government begins secret rocket experiments. In the fifth installment of "Moonrise," the best and worst of science fiction's predictions start to spring to life.
Customer Reviews
A better understanding
Most stories about the race to the moon start in the early sixties, or the late fifties at best. This surprising podcast takes it way back to the thirties and describes why and how key-figures got involved in space-exploration. Very interesting and surprising. Changed my prejudiced relation to science fiction too ;-)
Can’t wait till the next episode
This podcast is the best one I’ve heard until now. It’s an honest look at the heroic but also the dark side of post WOII history. From the Netherlands I wish you the best. Waiting for your next episode...
Great account on the race for then moon
This podcast forms a great addition to all that has been published about the race to the moon so far.
The episodes are nicely demarcated but build up in a very clear line to the epic 1961 announcement by president Kennedy to put Americans in space and on the moon before the end of the decade, and beyond.
Opening of archives will have led to access of some additional information, but most of the story is not based upon it. It’s appeal is mainly in the way all is analyzed and put into perspective.
“Truer, but also darker” in nicely reflected in the atmosphere of the podcast. Theme music and other sounds derive from science fiction themes and fit well, but sometimes the tone becomes a bit over dramatic. Lillian Cunningham’s voice can become at bit annoying at times, as she has a tendency to emphasize phrases by stretching syllables slightly too long. Having said that, it is a great tale and I am now rationing myself to one episode a week to make it last longer.