Science Episodes

As a child watching the Apollo 11 Moon landing from his home in New York, Ron Garan knew he wanted to become an astronaut. That dream eventually led him from flying F-16 combat missions during the Gulf War to spending 178 days in space aboard both the Space Shuttle and Soyuz spacecraft. But it wasn't reaching orbit that changed him most, it was looking back and seeing Earth as one interconnected, fragile home. In this episode, Dr. Eiman Jahangir welcomes retired NASA astronaut, fighter pilot, a...

What does it take to pursue an impossible dream? In this special bonus episode, Dr. Eiman Jahangir reflects on the lessons that have shaped his own journey—from medicine and spaceflight to leadership, resilience, and innovation. Through personal stories and practical insights, he explores why setbacks and uncertainty are often the foundation of success, and why the courage to take the next step can change the course of your life. Whether you're a student, healthcare professional, leader, entre...

At age eight, Scott watched Apollo 9 launch from the surf off Cocoa Beach—and his course was set. Decades later, he would become the only person to have both flown in space and summited Mount Everest. In this episode, Dr. Eiman Jahangir sits down with Scott Parazynski—physician, retired NASA astronaut, and CEO of OnwardAir—for a conversation that spans five space missions, seven spacewalks, and two of the most demanding summits a human being can attempt. Scott opens up about the phone call that...

The Leap That Built TaskRabbit: An Interview with Founder Leah Solivan In this episode of A Heart For Space, host Dr. Eiman Jahangir sits down with his sister-in-law and the visionary founder of TaskRabbit, Leah Solivan. Together, they delve into the pivotal leap of faith that sparked the creation of TaskRabbit and the unconventional journey required to achieve entrepreneurial success. Leah Solivan, an engineer by training, shares the profound internal struggle of leaving the secure and st...

In this debut episode of A Heart for Space, Dr. Eiman Jahangir introduces the story behind his book and subsequent podcast—and the journey that led him here. A cardiologist by profession and the 704th individual to travel to space, Dr. Jahangir has spent his life navigating two very different paths: one defined by structure, the other by uncertainty. In this opening conversation, he reflects on what it meant to pursue a lifelong dream without a clear roadmap, and the resilience required to keep...