Miles Ahead

Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck is often mentioned alongside billionaire space entrepreneurs — but his motivations are strikingly different. In this episode of Miles Ahead, Miles O'Brien speaks with Beck about building a multigenerational space company, the discipline required to survive in commercial space, and why the most important impact may come long after a founder is gone. The conversation was recorded remotely before Miles traveled to New Zealand and then boarded an Antarctic icebreaker to report on climate science.

In this conversation, Guillermo Sohnlein, co-founder of Ocean Gate, shares his journey from military service to entrepreneurship in the marine and space exploration sectors. He discusses the founding of Ocean Gate with Stockton Rush, the challenges of deep-sea exploration, and the tragic implosion of the Titan submersible during a Titanic expedition. Sohnlein reflects on the media coverage surrounding the incident, the importance of crisis management, and the balance between innovation and safety in extreme environments. He also talks about his motivations for writing Titan Unfinished as a personal catharsis and a way to provide context to the events that transpired. Chapters 00:00 Guillermo's Journey to Ocean Gate 01:53 Exploring the Connection Between Space and Ocean 02:59 Meeting Stockton Rush: A Partnership Begins 04:31 The Vision Behind Ocean Gate 06:21 Learning from Antipodes: The First Submersible Experience 08:18 The Evolution of Ocean Gate's Business Model 09:50 Designing the Future: Cyclops and Titan 11:14 Departure from Ocean Gate: A New Chapter 13:40 The Titanic Expeditions: A Controversial Decision 16:39 The Moment of Crisis: Learning About the Implosion 17:10 Understanding the Loss of Columbia and Titan 18:55 Media Coverage and Public Perception 19:21 The Convergence of Technology, Wealth, and Exploration 22:33 Crisis Management and Communication Failures 25:45 Reflections on Safety and Innovation 28:50 Omissions in the Investigation Report 32:19 Balancing Innovation and Safety 37:23 Regulatory Recommendations and Their Implications 39:36 The Purpose Behind Writing 'Titan Unfinished'

Journalist Miles O'Brien sits down with legendary climate activist and author Bill McKibben to talk about his new book Here Comes the Sun. They discuss the rapid rise of renewables, China's stunning lead in solar, America's political roadblocks, and why McKibben — yes, the man who once wrote The End of Nature — now dares to feel hopeful. The two also explore how the surge in AI and data-center demand could reshape the energy landscape — and why sun and wind may be the only scalable way to keep the lights on.

n this episode of Miles to Go, Miles O’Brien speaks with climate scientist Michael Mann and vaccine researcher Peter Hotez — two scientists who have endured personal attacks, threats, and political smears for standing up for evidence-based truth. Their new book, Science Under Siege, exposes the powerful alliance of plutocrats, petrostates, propagandists, and politicians working to dismantle trust in science — and, increasingly, the institutions that sustain it. Mann, creator of the famed “hockey stick” graph, recounts how fossil fuel interests and their media allies targeted him for revealing the reality of human-driven climate change. Hotez, co-developer of low-cost vaccines and a leading public-health voice during the pandemic, shares his experiences of online harassment and political intimidation. Together, they draw a chilling parallel between the denial of climate science and the anti-vaccine movement, revealing how both are fueled by ideology, greed, and misinformation — and now emboldened by government efforts to defund and demoralize the nation’s scientific agencies, from the NIH to NASA. Miles explores the broader stakes of this “war on truth”: what happens to democracy when science itself becomes a partisan target — and how, despite it all, urgency still comes with agency.

NASA wants to land a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030. Is this the real deal—or another paper plan? Miles O’Brien talks with Bhavya Lal (RAND, former NASA) and Keith Cowing (NASA Watch) about why space needs nukes and how we get there. 🎧 Plus: meltdown myths, mission politics, and Bhavya’s 3-tier roadmap from her report for Idaho National Lab. Read it here: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA2519-1.html

In this episode of Miles to Go, I’m joined by veteran airline captain and aviation analyst Les Abend to examine the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport in January 2025 that claimed 67 lives. We dissect the findings from the recent NTSB hearing, detailing how a Black Hawk helicopter flying with night vision goggles, a regional jet on a challenging approach, and an overwhelmed air traffic controller all played a role in the tragedy. We dig into why ADS‑B Out wasn’t active, despite being installed on the military helicopter, and how longstanding FAA warnings about that airspace were ignored. We also briefly discuss the ongoing investigation into Air India Flight 171—notably, the emerging consensus that both engines were intentionally shut down in flight, triggering a loss of control shortly after takeoff. This incident, while still under review, underscores how cockpit access and crew coordination remain critical vulnerabilities in modern aviation. https://milesobrien.substack.com/

When Air India Flight 171 fell from the sky just seconds after takeoff, killing all aboard and many on the ground, investigators were baffled. The Boeing 787 was mechanically sound. The weather posed no threat. The pilots were sober and experienced. So what went wrong? In this episode of Miles to Go, veteran aviation journalist Miles O’Brien is joined by retired American Airlines captain Les Abend to dissect the deeply troubling conclusion: one of the flight crew members appears to have intentionally moved both engine fuel cutoff switches—a deliberate act of sabotage from the cockpit. Together, they explore how such tragedies violate aviation’s sacred trust, why they are so difficult to foresee or prevent, and what this means for pilot mental health and airline safety culture going forward.

In this wide-ranging conversation, astronaut Leroy Chiao joins Miles to talk candidly about what it’s really like to live and work in space — and inside NASA. From Cold War suspicion to Russian cooperation, and from toilet paper certification to Starliner delays, it’s a journey full of humor, frustration, and hard-earned insight. Chiao also shares why he almost flew a year-long mission (spoiler: a very large space tourist), what happens when blood flows the wrong way in microgravity, and whether Jared Isaacman can actually fix what’s broken at NASA.

In this special edition of Miles to Go, I sit down with longtime friend and aviation expert Lars Perkins to analyze the NTSB’s latest findings on the midair collision over the Potomac River. We discuss the altimeter discrepancy, the challenges of visual flight rules (VFR), and whether night vision goggles (NVGs) may have hindered rather than helped the helicopter crew. We also explore systemic issues in aviation safety, including the normalization of deviance—where repeated near misses create a false sense of security. Finally, we examine the political interference in the NTSB investigation and what the agency’s next steps might reveal.

A tragic mid-air collision near Washington Reagan Airport has put a spotlight on the dangers of D.C.'s complex airspace. In this episode, veteran pilot Harold Coghlan joins Miles O’Brien to break down what happened, the risks of military and civilian aviation operating so closely, and what needs to change to prevent future disasters. 🔍 Key Topics Discussed: ✅ The unique dangers of flying in Washington D.C. airspace ✅ How military helicopters and airliners operate in the same congested airspace ✅ The ‘see and avoid’ problem—why night flying increases the risk ✅ What went wrong in this accident and how future crashes can be avoided ✅ The troubling rise in military aviation accidents ⏳ Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction & Overview of the Accident 04:20 - Meet Harold Coghlan: A Veteran Pilot’s Perspective 08:15 - The Complex Architecture of D.C. Airspace 14:50 - The Role of Military ‘White Tops’ in VIP Transport 20:30 - See and Avoid: Why It’s Risky at Night 26:40 - The Black Hawk’s Maneuver—Was It a Mistake? 34:15 - Military Aviation’s Safety Crisis 41:00 - How Airspace Rules and Safety Procedures Must Change 45:30 - Final Thoughts: Will This Accident Be a Wake-Up Call? 📢 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! #AviationSafety #MilesToGo #MidAirCollision #WashingtonDC #PilotTalk #BlackHawk #FAA #MilitaryAviation

This episode of Miles To Go features Jared Isaacman, serial entrepreneur, space explorer, and nominee for NASA Administrator. From founding Shift4 Payments to commanding groundbreaking space missions like Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn, Isaacman shares his extraordinary journey. We discuss his aviation roots, his leadership style, and the challenges and opportunities ahead as he prepares to lead NASA. A must-listen for anyone curious about the future of space exploration.

In this conversation, Miles O'Brien and J. Alex Halderman discuss the critical issues surrounding election security, focusing on the importance of trust, the vulnerabilities of local voting systems, and the impact of cybersecurity threats. They explore the implications of razor-thin margins in elections, the challenges of public discourse on election integrity, and the political dynamics that influence election security legislation. The discussion also touches on the effects of bomb threats on voter turnout, the need for better auditing processes, and the future of election technology, including the potential vulnerabilities introduced by systems like Starlink.

In this episode of Miles to Go, we delve into the invisible world of methane leaks with environmental advocate Melissa Ostroff. Armed with a thermal imaging camera, Melissa tracks methane emissions from century-old oil wells in Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest to the streets of Philadelphia. Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, is responsible for 30% of global warming, yet it often escapes detection due to insufficient monitoring and outdated infrastructure. Join Miles O'Brien as he follows Melissa's journey, uncovering the surprising scale of methane leaks—from abandoned wells to her own basement. This eye-opening discussion reveals the hidden dangers of our reliance on natural gas and highlights the urgent need for better policies and technologies to address these emissions. Don't miss this compelling exploration of a problem hiding in plain sight.

Today is Election Day—at long last. I am exhausted, and I suspect many of you feel the same way. I am in Georgia to cover this important day in history for the PBS News Hour. I'm sure you know by now Georgia is one of the seven swing States where the actual decision will be made on who is our next president. Despite no evidence to support the notion, Donald Trump and his allies have repeatedly questioned the Integrity of the vote tallying process in this country. Georgia became one of the main targets of these so-called election deniers in the wake of the 2020 election. But long before the likes of Mike Lindell and Sidney Powell descended on places like Coffee County to try and steal the presidency from Joe Biden, Donna Curling was raising questions about the security and integrity of the machines that Georgia uses to record and tabulate votes. The lawsuit, now called “Curling v. Rafensperger,” began when Donna had just moved to Georgia and voted on machines made by Diebold, which left no verifiable paper trail of voter intent. She was dismayed by this, eventually leading her and the other plaintiffs to sue the state in 2017 to stop using the machines. The machines that the state bought in 2019 to replace the DREs are so-called Ballot Marking Devices made by Dominion Voting Systems. Curling and her fellow plaintiffs believe these devices are still vulnerable. They have consistently advocated for what computer scientists say is the gold standard for voting: paper and pen. Oh, the irony. So, the suit remains active even as the BMDs do here in Georgia. Hopefully, election deniers will not raise false allegations about the performance of these machines - using them as a way of planting seeds of doubt in the Integrity of the election. As for Donna Curling, she will continue her fight to have Georgia join the 70% of voters in the United States using hand-marked paper ballots. I had a great conversation with her. I hope you enjoy it. #ElectionDay #Democracy #VotingIntegrity #newshour

In this three part miniseries, Miles O'Brien and Lars Perkins - along with several special guests - investigate the bizarre circumstances that led to one of the most fatal plane crashes of all time. This is the story of Japan Air Lines Flight 123.

In this three part miniseries, Miles O'Brien and Lars Perkins - along with several special guests - investigate the bizarre circumstances that led to one of the most fatal plane crashes of all time. This is the story of Japan Air Lines Flight 123.

In this three part miniseries, Miles O'Brien and Lars Perkins - along with several special guests - investigate the bizarre circumstances that led to one of the most fatal plane crashes of all time. This is the story of Japan Air Lines Flight 123.

Miles to Go returns after a long hiatus. In this “black box” special, Miles O’Brien talks with two pilots to try and understand why the 737 plummeted to the ground so suddenly and precipitously. Was it deliberate?

Marvin Minsky is often regarded as the father of modern AI, but when Miles visited him in 2010, Minsky wasn’t a proud father. In fact, Minsky was disappointed with the lack of progress in the field and had reservations about its future. Unfortunately, Minsky is no longer with us and can’t answer our questions about machine learning and new robots, but his answers from this interview in many ways still hold. Go back in time on this episode of Miles To Go.

How did our early solar system form? What are the origins of life? How likely are we to get hit by a dangerous asteroid? A daring NASA mission called OSIRIS-REx hopes to find the answers to these big questions at an asteroid named Bennu. This week, the spacecraft arrives at its destination. To learn more, Miles sits down with members of the OSIRIS-REx team on this episode of Miles To Go.