HOUR ONE:
Capital punishment is a controversial topic. The death penalty is debated…death row inmates are sometimes granted clemency…sometimes, new evidence clears them completely. But there is another, quieter death penalty being served right now by roughly 50,000 American prisoners. They are inmates who have been sentenced to “life without parole” – who are destined to live the rest of their lives behind bars. They know that they won’t leave until they die. Bob talks with husband and wife filmmakers Alan and Susan Raymond about their brand new documentary on the subject called Toe Tag Parole.
HOUR TWO:
Bob talks with former astronaut Chris Hadfield about a few of his 4,000 hours spent in space, and about his book An Astronaut’s Guide To Life On Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything. While on his mission aboard the International Space Station, Hadfield attracted the world’s attention when he released a series of photos and educational videos about life in space. His version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity received over 10 million views in its first three days online.
Then – we’ll remember our trip down to Cape Canaveral to witness a night launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Bob talks with public radio’s resident expert on NASA and the space program, Pat Duggins. He’s written several books on the subject, including Final Countdown which deals with the end of the Shuttle program.