meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Fascinating People Fascinating Places

Modern Day Hero: NASA Astronaut Jim Wetherbee

Fascinating People Fascinating Places

Daniel Mainwaring

Documentary, Society & Culture:documentary, History, Society & Culture

51.1K Ratings

🗓️ 19 March 2022

⏱️ 40 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Heroes of Space. Part I I have always had a fascination with heroic figures. In the modern world, it’s difficult to think of a task requiring more courage and skill than flying as a test pilot — unless of course you decide to go into space. Jim Wetherbee is one man who did both. A decorated Navy veteran, NASA pilot and commander, he later brought his skills to the private sector. It was here that he realized his experience could provide valuable lessons not just to businesses but to private citizens conducting mundane every day tasks. His book: Controlling Risk in a Dangerous World, provides not just incredible anecdotes from his extraordinary career. It also provides valuable guidance that each of us can apply to our every day lives. In this episode I have the honor to talk to the real-life spaceman who lived every kid’s dream. I highly recommend Jim’s book “Controlling Risk in a Dangerous World” which you can find on his official website: Jim Wetherbee as well as retailers including Amazon. Available in both hardcover and paperback, here is an overview: Jim Wetherbee, the only five-time Space Shuttle commander, presents thirty techniques that astronauts use—not only to stay alive in the unforgiving and deadly environment of space, but also to conduct high-quality operations and accomplish complex missions. These same techniques, based on the foundational principles of operating excellence, can help anyone be successful in high-hazard endeavors, ordinary business, and everyday life. Controlling Risk shows you how to embrace these techniques as a way of operating and living your life, so you can predict and prevent your next accident, while improving performance and productivity to take your company higher. You can also learn more about Jim at his official website: https://www.jimwetherbee.com/about-1 Episode Credits: Jim Wetherbee Capitan US Navy Ret., NASA Astronaut sound from Pixabay.com Cover art: Space Shuttle Columbia launching. Public domain.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Fascinating people, fascinating places.

0:03.0

G'd a and welcome to the Dan Mainwearing podcast.

0:07.0

This is where we talk to and about the famous and the infamous,

0:11.0

the celebrated and the obscure, the well-known and the

0:13.3

well known and the undiscovered.

0:15.7

Interviews, articles and discussion from around the globe.

0:19.1

I've always had a fascination with heroic figures and in the modern world there are few people

0:26.6

with the level of skill and courage required to successfully land fighter jets on aircraft carriers. But a select few take it a stage further, embarking on

0:37.1

a career even more hazardous, space travel. One such man is Jim Weatherby, a decorated Navy veteran in the space shuttle pilot and commander.

0:48.0

After a distinguished career, he moved into the private sector and quickly realized the techniques he developed as a skilled aviator, an astronaut could be applied not just to civilian enterprises, but to everyday life.

1:03.8

His book, Controlling Risk in a Dangerous World, offers not just a fascinating insight into his

1:10.0

remarkable career, it also provides a roadmap to survival that all of us can learn from.

1:18.8

A lot of us, myself included, have or had aspirations to be an astronaut growing up.

1:25.0

You're one of the miniscule group you actually accomplished it.

1:30.0

How did you go from childhood child to actual astronaut?

1:34.7

So good to talk to you, Dan.

1:36.2

Yes, I feel very fortunate that I was able to fulfill my dream.

1:40.1

I don't remember much before I was 10 years old,

1:42.3

but suddenly when I was 10 I decided you know in the

1:46.0

youthful exuberance of a child I'm going to be an astronaut and it wasn't I think I want to be or maybe I will be. I definitely knew I was going to be an astronaut.

1:57.0

Of course, as I grew older, I realized, well, that's not likely, there's too many people that want to do it and too few opportunities.

2:06.9

So I really said about doing the next best thing that I could do at the time so when it was time to go to

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Daniel Mainwaring, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Daniel Mainwaring and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.