Alan Shepard: The Original Space Cowboy

America’s first astronaut wasn’t just a spaceman — he was a fighter pilot, a rule-breaker, and a straight-up menace to anyone who underestimated him. This week, Ben is joined by space historian Brandon Fibbs to dig into the wild life of Alan Shepard, the hotshot naval aviator who went from strafing enemy ships in WWII to strapping himself into a tin can perched on top of a barely-tested rocket. Together they unpack how Shepard muscled his way into the Mercury 7, stared down NASA bureaucracy, battled an inner-ear condition that nearly ended his career, and still came back swinging — all the way to hitting a damn golf ball on the surface of the Moon. It’s the story of a man who never stopped pushing higher, harder, and further than anyone thought possible.