On March 8, 2022, REACH: A Space Podcast for Kids! will meet with renowned author, retired astronaut, and the first Canadian to walk in space, Chris Hadfield.
A heavily decorated astronaut, engineer and pilot, and one of Canada’s most celebrated science communicators, Colonel Hadfield’s many awards include the Order of Canada, the Meritorious Service Cross, RCIScience’s Sandford Fleming Award and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. He was named the Top Test Pilot in both the US Air Force and the US Navy, and was inducted into Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame. He has flown three space missions, building two space stations, performing two spacewalks (EVAs), crewing the Shuttle and Soyuz, and commanding the International Space Station. In 2013, he was awarded the RCIScience Sandford Fleming Medal for his outstanding contributions to science communication in Canada and we are proud to share what he is up to now.
Podcast hosts Brian Holden and Meredith Stepien. Photo by Patriac Coakley.
REACH: A Space Podcast for Kids is a weekly, family friendly exploration of our galaxy (and beyond!) with hosts Brian Holden and Meredith Stepien (of the popular musical theatre company Team Starkid). Built for kids and based on questions from kids, REACH educates with entertaining segments, fun at-home activities, and interviews, presented in association with subject matter experts and thought partners from leading scientific institutions across North America. Some of their past special guests have included well-known voices from the world of entertainment and children’s media such as Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Goonies), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock, Wreck-It Ralph), Darren Criss (Glee), Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live), Janet Varney (The Legend of Korra), Lamorne Morris (New Girl), Tawny Newsome (Star Trek: Lower Decks), and they are beside themselves to be able to include Col. Chris Hadfield on March 8th.
REACH seeks to inspire future generations about all things space exploration in a hilarious, honest and informative way. Last season, REACH covered the James Webb Space Telescope, talked to the engineering, launch and landing teams behind the Mars Perseverance rover, and was the first podcast to do a live downlink with the International Space Station via NASA TV. Now, REACH turns its attention to learning about commanding the International Space Station, what it takes to walk in space and how Hadfield’s experiences in space and science informed his new thriller novel, The Apollo Murders.
REACH was co-created and produced by Sandy Marshall (Solar System Ambassador volunteer for NASA JPL; actor on PBS’ Odd Squad,) and Nate DuFort (creator, Unspookable, My Neighbors Are Dead, and writer/producer/co-host of Wondery/Gen-Z Media’s Iowa Chapman and the Last Dog - Educators Version).
According to Marshall, “After 2 seasons and over 30 episodes in less than a year, we're looking forward to even more exciting content for middle-grade audiences that captures the hope and wonder we experienced with space and science in our youth. With REACH, we're genuinely hoping to show the world's next generation of scientists and dreamers that anything is possible.”
DuFort adds, “Sandy and I created an entertaining, fast-paced magazine-style format, designed to weave conversational expert interviews with fun surprise guests and interactive at-home activities for both young listeners and their adult supervisors.”
REACH has featured on the front page of Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Stitcher, featured across Canada on CBC's Radio One, and has received international press from BBC’s Sky at Night Magazine, Sky and Telescope Magazine, Podcast Magazine, The Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Parent and highlighted in numerous best of lists for both science and children's programming.
RCIScience supports past Fleming Medal recipient Col. Chris Hadfield in his future endeavours and will be tuning in as he, along with REACH, inspires the next generation of space exploration.