Did We Go (Back) To The Moon? Michael Knowles Investigates Artemis II - The Michael Knowles Show

Summary5 min read

Episode Overview

Title: Did We Go (Back) To The Moon? Michael Knowles Investigates Artemis II
Podcast: The Michael Knowles Show
Date: April 10, 2026
Theme: Michael Knowles investigates the enduring fascination—and controversy—around America's journey to the moon, both in the Apollo era and the present-day Artemis II mission. The episode explores moon landing skepticism, cultural fascination with lunar exploration, and Knowles's own experience witnessing the Artemis II launch.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. America's Lunar Obsession and Historic Context

Knowles opens by tracing humanity’s age-old curiosity about the moon, from ancient stargazers to the 20th-century space race.
He recounts the historic Apollo 11 mission and the subsequent lunar landings, emphasizing the monumental achievement and shifts in public interest after America "won" the space race.

“Since ancient times, man has looked up to the moon and thought, what is that? Why is it different shapes sometimes and I wonder if I could get up there and walk on it.” (01:23)
Highlights the technological audacity of the 1960s and the public’s changing appetite for costly lunar programs.

2. Moon Landing Skepticism and Conspiracy Theories

Knowles addresses the skepticism that erupted post-Apollo, referencing the infamous 1979 book by Bill Kaysing, We Never Went To The Moon, which accused NASA of perpetrating a political hoax.
He lays out the main conspiracy talking points: missing stars in lunar photos, odd shadows, the "waving" flag, and the theory that it was all staged on a movie set by Stanley Kubrick.

“A small group of Americans began to examine the story closer and started to notice that some things seemed a little strange. [...] One theory answered all of these questions. The landing was fake. It was filmed in a movie studio, possibly directed by Stanley Kubrick.” (04:06)
Knowles humorously traces how the internet amplified conspiracies, creating a cottage industry in both making claims and debunking them.

“People began to take sides. If you thought they were faked, you were an idiot. If you thought they were real, you were a bigger idiot and probably Jewish.” (05:27)

3. Return to the Moon: Artemis II and Public Perception

The Artemis II mission is outlined as a historic return—America’s message that it retains the bold spirit to explore space.
Knowles notes the polarized reception: many celebrate the new achievement, while detractors scrutinize every detail for evidence of a cover-up.

“To many, this is a grand return, a triumphant message that we still possess the skill and audacity to travel beyond this goodly frame the earth into and beyond the brave war hanging firmament.” (06:15)

“Others however, will never be satisfied. Every frame will be analyzed, every assumption questioned. Every discrepancy will be evidence of another grand conspiracy.” (06:31)

4. Knowles’s Personal Investigation and Experience at the Artemis II Launch

Firsthand Account: Invited to Cape Canaveral, Knowles aims to “answer the truth” of Artemis II by seeing the launch for himself. He’s kept safely at a distance, humorously suspecting “suspicious” motives.

“I arrived and immediately set out to inspect the rocket up close. At which point NASA informed me that I would be stationed three and a half miles away. Something about safety or whatever. Suspicious.” (07:47)
Skepticism and Self-Mockery: Knowles pokes fun at his own brief flirtations with conspiracy, investigating online claims post-launch about “green screens” and supposed evidence of a hoax.

“From my firsthand experience I thought the case was closed. And then I opened X. Look at this. They're escaping through the side. Michael, go touch the grass. It looks like a green screen.” (08:13)
Conclusion: After honest (and sometimes tongue-in-cheek) reflection, Knowles affirms his belief in the moon missions, acknowledging the skepticism while celebrating the accomplishment.

“But I think that those guys and that lady and that Canadian went to the moon. And that is very, very cool.” (08:40)

“It's hard to believe because it is incredible. Some, apparently, will never be convinced. Once we have the moon base up and running, there will be Twitter sleuths breaking down the doors of every movie studio. Which is fine by me because Hollywood is Gomorrah by the sea. In the meantime, though, America is going back to the moon.” (09:19)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Moon Landing Conspiracies:
- “Why don't you swear in the Bible that you walked on the moon. You're a coward and a liar and a thief.” (05:03)
On Apollo’s Cultural Impact:
- “America had won the space race. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became household names. Everyone seemed to look back fondly at the time. The United States defied the odds and accomplished what man had dreamt of for millennia.” (03:30)
On Artemis II and National Spirit:
- “We're so used to the general incompetence and perfidy of our decadent, degenerate culture that we doubt that people can do important things, impressive things. It's hard to believe because it is incredible.” (08:52)

Timestamps of Important Segments

[01:21] — Introduction to America’s moon fascination and Apollo history
[04:05] — Introduction of moon landing skepticism and conspiracies
[05:27] — Internet age and expansion of conspiracy, cultural fracturing
[06:15] — Artemis II explained, contemporary public reaction
[07:47] — Knowles’s firsthand experience at the Artemis II launch
[08:13] — Social media reactions, Knowles’s skepticism, and resolution
[08:40] — Knowles’s conclusion and reflection on American accomplishment

Summary

Michael Knowles’s investigation into the Artemis II mission is a witty, sharply observant journey through five decades of American moon fascination. He blends personal narrative, cultural critique, and a nuanced account of skepticism—both genuine and performative—about lunar exploration. By the episode’s close, Knowles emerges affirming both the reality of the Apollo and Artemis missions and the importance of national ambition, all while recognizing that, for some, no amount of evidence will ever quell doubts.

Tone: Dry, comedic, occasionally self-deprecating, and rooted in cultural critique.
Ideal for: Listeners seeking a balance of historical overview, cultural analysis, and contemporary commentary on space exploration and skepticism.

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Transcript8 lines

[00:01]
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[01:22]
Podcast Host
NASA is going back to the MO or depending on your particular perspective, NASA is attempting to go to the moon for the first time. As the Artemis 2 launches into deep space and bangs a ue around the moon, we will take a trip down memory lunar lane and consider why we are so fascinated by Earth's favorite pet rock. Since ancient times, man has looked up to the moon and thought, what is that? Why is it different shapes sometimes and I wonder if I could get up there and walk on it. Then in the 1950s, American scientists and foreign communists figured out how to use rockets to explode our way into space. We began to race the Soviets, and while they got into orbit first, we set our sights on a higher, rockier goal. We choose to go to the moon and this decade and do the other things. Not because they are easy, but because they are hard. In 1969, NASA launched Apollo 11, the first mission to put men on the moon. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were strapped to the top of a Saturn V rocket, then hurled toward the moon using six and a half million pounds of kerosene and liquid hydrogen fuel. Four days and 13 hours later, Armstrong set foot on the surface, that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. We went back five more times with Apollo 12, 14, 15 and 1713 had a little bit of trouble, so they didn't land. But they did get a movie out of it. Astronauts did experiments, played golf, and a couple of times they even brought a moon buggy with them. It was at that point that everyone looked around and thought, okay, I think we're probably good with this for a while. Big budgets and waning public interest ultimately shut down the Apollo program. Journeys to the moon changed from a lofty future goal to a thing of the past. America had won the space race. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became household names. Everyone seemed to look back from fondly at the time. The United States defied the odds and accomplished what man had dreamt of for millennia. But the whole experience was so incredible that some people began to doubt that it was credible. I believe that we didn't go to the moon. So there was a documentary that came on Fox.
[04:04]
Good Ranchers Advertiser
You might not have looked into it.
[04:05]
Podcast Host
I have.
[04:05]
Good Ranchers Advertiser
No one went to the moon.
[04:07]
Podcast Host
I don't think we did. I think it was fake. In 1979, a former naval officer named Bill Kaysing wrote a book subtly titled We Never Went to the America's $30 billion swindle. Four years after the final Apollo mission, Kaysing claimed that NASA simply did not have the technology required to make it to the moon. That the entire operation was an elaborate anti Soviet propaganda hoax. A small group of Americans began to examine the story closer and started to notice that some things seemed a little strange. Why aren't there any stars in the photos? Do shadows appear from multiple light sources? Why does the flag look like it's waving when there is no air on the moon? One theory answered all of these questions. The landing was fake. It was filmed in a movie studio, possibly directed by Stanley Kubrick. The conspiracy theories percolated for years among small numbers of weirdos mocked by polite society, which was delighted to gobble up the government slop story that they had been fed, as the doubters would have it. But then the conspiracy theorists had an Apollo 8 moment of their own. The invention of the Internet. I'm at the center of the Web. In theory, I can pull in information from any other point at the speed of light. All of a sudden, the people asking questions about starless skies and wavy flags found an audience of millions of people eager to listen to them. People started making whole online careers out of questioning truth of the Apollo missions. Why don't you swear in the Bible that you walked on the moon. You're a coward and a liar and a thief. Then some other people made careers out of debunking those people. Then a slightly smaller group of people made still smaller careers debunking the people who were doing the debunking. People began to take sides. If you thought they were faked, you were an idiot. If you thought they were real, you were a bigger idiot and probably Jewish. Everyone claimed secret knowledge, esoterica abounded. Which brings US to today. Artemis 2 took astronauts to deep space around the moon and back. Paving the way for future manned missions to the surface. To many, this is a grand return, A triumphant message that we still possess the skill and audacity to travel beyond this goodly frame the earth into and beyond the brave war hanging firmament. A mission that sets the stage for the future of space travel. Others however, will never be satisfied. Every frame will be analyzed, every assumption questioned. Every discrepancy will be evidence of another grand conspiracy. Whoever you are, whatever you believe, everyone was waiting for this moment. Four, three, two, one. Booster ignition. Wow. Unfortunately, NASA rejected my application to join the mission and see the evidence firsthand. But they did invite me to come to Cape Canaveral for the launch. I will admit, even though I am pretty Apollo pilled, you know, I think it happened. I have gone down the Internet rabbit holes now. Of course the question is just where are they gonna ditch that rocket ship? You know, so that they can pretend to go to the moon and you know, I don't know, get on a boat or something. No, I'm joking, I'm joking. I think that's real. There have been several multi hour long blocks in which I was convinced that the whole thing was a big hoax. I made it my duty not just to report, but to investigate for the benefit of all mankind. I would use my access to try to answer the truth of this supposed launch. Hey, what's up? What's going on? I arrived and immediately set out to inspect the rocket up close. At which point NASA informed me that I would be stationed three and a half miles away. Something about safety or whatever. Suspicious. Well, call me what you will, just don't call me late for dinner. At the very least I saw and felt a very large rocket go very high in the air. If anything is going to the moon, I am confident that it is that. From my firsthand experience I thought the case was closed. And then I opened X. Look at this. They're escaping through the side. Michael, go touch the grass. It looks like a green screen. Okay, you know what? Fine. You know what? Fine. I did not intend to take any hard lines on this subject today. This may come back to bite me when the truth of the universe is hopefully revealed to me after the particular judgment. But I think that those guys and that lady and that Canadian went to the moon. And that is very, very cool. We're so used to the general incompetence and perfidy of our decadent, degenerate culture that we doubt that people can do important things, impressive things. It's hard to believe because it is incredible. Some, apparently, will never be convinced. Once we have the moon base up and running, there will be Twitter sleuths breaking down the doors of every movie studio. Which is fine by me because Hollywood is Gomorrah by the sea. In the meantime, though, America is going back to the moon.
[09:52]
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