NASA Vending Machine

Hosted by Dan Moren and Jason Snell

We came to podcast “For All Mankind!” Dan Moren and Jason Snell have the right stuff… to watch Apple TV+’s space drama and talk about it every week. Dramatic things are always happening around the vending machine, if you didn’t notice.

Podcast art by Thom Zahler.

Latest Episode: January 17, 2024

31 S4 Exit Interview with Ben Nedivi & Matt Wolpert

With season 4 of “For All Mankind” in the books, we got a chance to spend a little time asking co-creators and showrunners Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert about the show in general, season four in particular, where the show might go if it’s renewed for future seasons, and (of course) why there are so many vending machines.

Previous Episodes

  • NASA Vending Machine cover art
    January 11, 2024
    30 “Perestroika” (S4E10)

    We say goodbye to season four by detailing the exciting and eventful finale, in which the counter-countermeasures are foiled by counter-counter-countermeasures… or are they? The tension between the crew and the authorities on Mars reaches a breaking point! Frantic typing occurs—but without typos! And Jason gets some strong “Babylon 5” vibes—in the best way. Comrades, there’s been a Martian vending machine right behind you all along!

  • NASA Vending Machine cover art
    January 4, 2024
    39 “Brazil” (S4E9)

    Everything gets tense as we rush toward the season finale. How many Star Trek shows are there in this universe? Was that a modem sound? Would it be better if the KGB and CIA worked together? And what’s more American than eating a McDonald’s burger in a motel?

  • NASA Vending Machine cover art
    December 28, 2023
    28 “Legacy” (S4E8)

    Listeners, thanks for reminding us what happened to that one character we thought was dead, because he’s very much not dead and in this episode. The Henry Hill of space shucks off his robe and turns right to warn Aleida about the peril Margo may be in! Meanwhile, on Mars, it’s time to plan a heist! Kelly may be about to make history, but Ed is absolutely a Bad Grandpa. We talk through all the permutations as “For All Mankind” rockets on toward its season finale.

  • NASA Vending Machine cover art
    December 21, 2023
    27 “Crossing the Line” (S4E7)

    So many lines being crossed! Ed’s rebellion encourages a worker revolt just as Kelly and Alex arrive on Mars. Meanwhile, Margo gets a new assignment, Aleida’s news appearance goes viral. And Dev spills some sugar and shows his true colors. If you were wondering if this season was in the truest bananas spirit “For All Mankind,” did the last line not clinch it for you?

  • NASA Vending Machine cover art
    December 14, 2023
    26 “Leningrad” (S4E6)

    It all comes to a head in St. Petersburg—er, Leningrad. Chekhov’s hotel accommodations are placed on the mantel. Margo is reminded who her employers are. And on mars, Ed continues to rebel. And what is an asteroid, if not a giant vending machine?

  • NASA Vending Machine cover art
    December 7, 2023
    25 “Goldilocks” (S4E5)

    It’s a gold rush in space! Okay, maybe an iridium rush, as everyone on Earth wants to grab Goldilocks, the $20 trillion asteroid. But things are more complicated than that, of course. Danielle is stuck in an episode of “Lost,” having flashbacks to dark times. Kelly and Aleida have to deal with a rash decision made by Dev. And is Ed Baldwin this season’s… villain?

  • NASA Vending Machine cover art
    November 30, 2023
    24 “A House Divided” (S4E4)

    It’s splitsville! “For All Mankind” explores rifts between supports of the old and new Soviet regimes, but there’s also an Earth-Mars dichotomy, the re-emergence of Cold War fault lines, the downstairs grunts versus the upstairs astronaut heroes on Mars, and even the Helios workers versus their billionare boss. Meanwhile, things are bad for Comrade Semonov, but Margo has finally found late-night coffee thanks to the washer from a cafeteria chair and—most importantly by far—a Soviet vending machine.

  • NASA Vending Machine cover art
    November 22, 2023
    23 “The Bear Hug” (S4E3)

    Our season storylines begin to come into focus this week, as Kelly and Aleida encourage Dev to have his Steve Jobs moment, Margo learns about the calm atmosphere found at Soviet Union police stations, Ed finds calm in hydroponics, and Miles discovers that black market shenanigans can really snowball.

  • NASA Vending Machine cover art
    November 16, 2023
    22 “Have a Nice Sol” (S4E2)

    This week we’ve got an upstairs/downstairs thing going on at Happy Valley, where newbie Miles is learning about black market speakeasies and base commander Danielle is enjoying some fresh pasta. Back on Earth, Kelly and Aleida join forces to TP things and build a business, and they’re all out of toilet paper. But the most important, earth-shaking thing in this episode is undoubtedly the triumphant Martian reappearance of a fateful vending machine!

  • NASA Vending Machine cover art
    November 9, 2023
    21 “Glasnost” (S4E1)

    “You know, when I was a child, I liked to go to my father’s factory and enjoy the vending machine…” We’re back! And so is “For All Mankind,” complete with a new opening montage of “historical facts”, another dangerous adventure in outer space, some check-ins with old characters, and some surprising new ones.

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