Episode Details

Mike Mongo has spent nearly two decades telling young people something he wishes someone had told him growing up: you have permission to imagine an extraordinary future.

Today on A Heart for Space, Dr. Eiman Jahangir welcomes author and self-described “Astronaut Teacher” Mike Mongo for an energetic conversation about childhood dreams, unconventional careers, and inspiring the next generation to see themselves as part of humanity's future in space. Mike shares how watching the Moon landing transformed his childhood ambition from becoming a superhero to becoming an astronaut—and how, decades later, believing that dream had passed him by ultimately inspired him to create an entirely new role for himself.

Mike and Eiman explore why he teaches students around the world that tomorrow's jobs are in space, and what Mike has learned from helping young people imagine possibilities beyond the paths already laid out for them, before digging into the philosophy behind his new KID Astronaut Training Manual. Mike also reflects on his own continuing journey toward space, particularly the mentors and strangers who gave him permission to follow an unconventional path, and why success ultimately comes down to doing what you love, with people you love, while helping others.

Learn more about Mike and his work at https://mikemongo.com

00:00 Welcome to A Heart for Space
00:37 Meeting Mike Mongo: The Astronaut Teacher
02:41 Batman and the Birth of a Dream
06:02 Becoming the Astronaut Teacher
07:32 The Power of Permission
15:39 Mike Mongo's Kid Astronaut Training Manual
20:07 Astronaut Job Camp and Saxavord Spaceport
26:36 Being 49 Percent Sure of Arrest at NASA
29:11 Blue Origin, New Shepard, and the Blue 92
32:45 Solving for Space to Solve for Earth
39:46 It's Already Too Late, So Bake a Cake
43:46 The Space We're Still Reaching For

Discover more about Dr. Eiman Jahangir, and preorder your own copy of A Heart for Space, now at https://aheartforspace.com/