Unsubscribe Podcast Ep. 240

Why America MUST Win The Race To Space

Original Air Date: November 23, 2025
Host: Eli Doubletap
Co-hosts: Brandon Herrera, Donut Operator, The Fat Electrician
Notable Guests:

Jared Isaacman (entrepreneur, pilot, spaceflight veteran, former NASA nominee)
Senator Tim Sheehy (veteran, entrepreneur, politician)

Episode Overview

This special installment of the Unsubscribe Podcast dives deep into why the United States must maintain its leadership in space. Hosted on location in a glamorous jet hangar, the episode features the colorful panel’s unfiltered conversation about space innovation, American competitiveness, military and entrepreneurial journeys, the future of space travel, and the intersection of private and public efforts in pushing humanity forward. With guests like Senator Tim Sheehy and Jared Isaacman, the team explores topics ranging from the brutal realities of politics and business, to the existential need for space exploration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet the Guests: High-Flying Backgrounds

Senator Tim Sheehy's Path:
- Grew up learning to fly at age 8 from a Navy pilot neighbor (08:07)
- Became both a Ranger and Navy SEAL; did multiple deployments in the GWOT
- Met his Marine wife at the Naval Academy; shared a mail-order marriage story due to deployments (09:19)
- Transitioned from wounded warrior to wildfire-fighting entrepreneur, then into politics (10:03)
- Described the punishing whirlwind of running for the Senate, including being the subject of smear campaigns (16:00)
Jared Isaacman’s Journey:
- Childhood obsessed with flight and space, built first business at 16, father joined him as a partner (29:40)
- Founded what's now a $10B fintech empire, started with a $10K gift from his grandfather (40:11)
- Built a private air force, Draken: at one point the 12th largest in the world (34:16)
- Pioneered commercial air combat training for the DoD, then pivoted to commercial spaceflight (38:09)
- Been to space twice with SpaceX; led historic private missions and organized record-setting charity events for St. Jude (47:55, 119:36)

2. The Realities and Purpose of Political Service

Sheehy discussed Congress as the “people’s branch”—messy by design, not popular but fundamental (10:09)
Heavy toll described: $325M spent on his Senate race, “life in the woodchipper,” and press vilification (16:00, 17:04)
Commentary on the need for a new generation in politics—not for sale, up-to-speed, service-driven (21:38, 22:24)
On bipartisanship in space: “We gotta fix this country, gotta reorient towards American excellence…and that means a new generation of leaders.” – Sheehy (25:43)

3. Veteran Advocacy & Victim Culture

Sheehy countered the “veteran victim culture,” endorsing mission and achievement for veterans after service (19:07)

“We’re veterans, not victims…when we come back, …the best thing we can do is give them a mission, give them a career, not free stuff.” (19:56)

4. From Garage Startups to the Edge of Space

Isaacman’s entrepreneurial lesson: Intensity and sacrifice are non-negotiable in launching successful ventures. (43:54)
Story of buying fighter jets from countries worldwide; “Until you’ve bought jets from a Middle Eastern country, you have no idea what corruption is like. We’re actually pretty good.” (34:16)
On scaling disruptive business: “Fix a problem, build a better solution, make sure the model makes money—opportunity is everything.” (41:06)

5. Space Exploration: Urgency and Inspiration

Both guests highlighted the existential, strategic, and economic necessity of American space leadership (54:01)

“If we didn’t have reusable rockets, China would absolutely be putting more rockets in space than us—by far. And it’s the ultimate high ground.” – Isaacman (54:01)
Isaacman praised the private sector (SpaceX, Blue Origin) but stressed a continued vital NASA role: “NASA has to pioneer, then hand it off to industry…Let the government do what nobody else can.” (52:37)
Risk taken by past generations—faster, bolder, more ambitious—held up as an example for what’s needed today (85:00)
Reusability as a transformative innovation: “Imagine if you threw away the 737 every time you flew to Disneyland.” (56:57)
On commercial space’s positive economic side effects: “Thousands of engineers on earth—fueling our economy.” (60:10)
Supporting both solving earth’s problems and pushing for Mars: “You have no idea what benefits this will bring back home.” (60:20)

6. Spacewalks, Human Factors, and the Cosmos

The Spacewalk Experience (63:24)

Isaacman described the intensity:

“You poke your head out, and it’s earth in your face—a big sensory thing. Looking into darkness, it was…unsettling. You appreciate the vastness of space, and everything is trying to kill you.” (73:40)
Training to denitrogenate to avoid the bends (“decompression sickness”) without an airlock—new regime developed for private crew (68:47)
The psychological strain and risks of long-duration missions to Mars: “If you don’t get the right people, you’ll have a Lord of the Flies event on Mars.” (98:18)
The prospect of returning from Mars/long missions: “Robots are the only answer. But I come back to—get some nuclear spaceships.” (99:07)

7. Competition from China and the New Space Race

“China is moving incredibly fast on every important technological domain—at SpaceX speeds. It’s scary.” – Isaacman (86:48)
Bureaucratic risk-aversion and politically-driven industrial policy have throttled American innovation (87:40)
Strategic case for nuclear propulsion: “If we don’t, we’ll watch China do it—and then Russia.” (81:14, 116:04)

8. The Search for Life & the Meaning of Exploration

The odds of life—“I believe there’s life out there, absolutely. And if we conclusively find microbial life on Mars or Europa, it changes everything.” (90:06)
On the “Goldilocks Zone” and the adaptability of life, resisting anthropocentric arguments around habitability (92:11)

9. Popular Culture & Sci-Fi: Fuel for the Imagination

Isaacman’s favorite sci-fi: Battlestar Galactica (“it checks all the boxes”) (117:53)
Panel’s other picks: Starship Troopers, The Three-Body Problem, Cowboy Bebop (118:26)
The fusion of science, fantasy, and real-life aspiration throughout the conversation

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Reusable Rockets & High Ground

“Thank goodness for reusable rockets, in order to keep this edge. But we won’t hold it forever—we need to keep pushing forward.” — Jared Isaacman (54:01)
On the Cost of Political Life

“We were the Omaha Beach race…The Dems knew, for sure, this was going to be the firewall. It was the landing craft on Omaha Beach.” — Tim Sheehy (16:00)
On Veteran Service

“We’re veterans, not victims…The best thing we can do when we get home is give them a mission, give them a career, not free stuff.” — Tim Sheehy (19:56)
On Seeing Earth from Space

“It was overwhelming…Most people generally agree, it is rather unsettling—everything you’re looking at is trying to kill you.” — Isaacman (73:40)
On the Need for Leadership

“I want America to win in space. Inspire generations to do even cooler things—because of what the pioneers in the 1960s accomplished.” — Isaacman (117:24)
On Mars and the Human Element

“Mars is a planet. You’ll work your ass off your whole life to just survive. Every day will be miserable…It’s going to be tough as hell.” — Isaacman (97:01)
On Charity & Making a Difference

“Spacex’s vision is— the world is more interesting when people can journey among the stars. St. Jude’s vision is—no child should die in the dawn of life. I subscribe to both, one hundred percent.” — Isaacman (120:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

08:07 — Tim Sheehy’s formative years, Navy pilot neighbor
09:19 — Military deployments, mail-order marriage anecdote
10:09 — The fraught nature of Congress and political service
16:00 — The most expensive Senate race “Omaha Beach”
19:56 — Veterans, mission over victimhood
25:43 — On generational change and American excellence
29:40 — Isaacman’s early entrepreneurship, business with father
34:16 — Building a private air force, “buying jets from a Middle Eastern country”
43:54 — On the intensity and sacrifice needed for business
47:55 — Relationship with Elon Musk, serving as NASA nominee
54:01 — The strategic importance of reusable rockets; China threat
63:24 — Spacewalk preparation and experience
68:47 — Dangers of decompression, astronaut health
73:40 — Looking into the void on a spacewalk: “unsettling”
86:48 — China’s space and high-tech pace, warning
90:06 — Life in the universe, Goldilocks Zone
98:18 — Psychological risks of long-term Mars missions
117:53 — Sci-fi favorites: Battlestar Galactica
120:36 — St. Jude and combining charity with exploration

Final Thoughts

This marathon conversation delivered both laughter and hard truths, neatly weaving personal stories with the wider mission of why space matters—not just for national security, but for the spirit of possibility itself. Isaacman and Sheehy stand as emblematic of a new guard: doers, not talkers, who see space not as a luxury but as the next necessary step for all humankind.

“We are destined to go out and explore. Our star, at some point, is going to gobble us up. … That journey is nothing compared to what’s out there. And we’re just getting started.” — Jared Isaacman (76:09)

To follow Jared Isaacman:

X (Twitter): @
Netflix miniseries: “Countdown” (about Inspiration4)
Charity: St. Jude (featured in mission)

Ways to support:

Profits from podcast merch and collaborations go to Veterans and childhood medical charities, including St. Jude.

Unsubscribe Podcast Ep. 240

Why America MUST Win The Race To Space

Original Air Date: November 23, 2025
Host: Eli Doubletap
Co-hosts: Brandon Herrera, Donut Operator, The Fat Electrician
Notable Guests:

Jared Isaacman (entrepreneur, pilot, spaceflight veteran, former NASA nominee)
Senator Tim Sheehy (veteran, entrepreneur, politician)

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet the Guests: High-Flying Backgrounds

Senator Tim Sheehy's Path:
- Grew up learning to fly at age 8 from a Navy pilot neighbor (08:07)
- Became both a Ranger and Navy SEAL; did multiple deployments in the GWOT
- Met his Marine wife at the Naval Academy; shared a mail-order marriage story due to deployments (09:19)
- Transitioned from wounded warrior to wildfire-fighting entrepreneur, then into politics (10:03)
- Described the punishing whirlwind of running for the Senate, including being the subject of smear campaigns (16:00)
Jared Isaacman’s Journey:
- Childhood obsessed with flight and space, built first business at 16, father joined him as a partner (29:40)
- Founded what's now a $10B fintech empire, started with a $10K gift from his grandfather (40:11)
- Built a private air force, Draken: at one point the 12th largest in the world (34:16)
- Pioneered commercial air combat training for the DoD, then pivoted to commercial spaceflight (38:09)
- Been to space twice with SpaceX; led historic private missions and organized record-setting charity events for St. Jude (47:55, 119:36)

2. The Realities and Purpose of Political Service

Sheehy discussed Congress as the “people’s branch”—messy by design, not popular but fundamental (10:09)
Heavy toll described: $325M spent on his Senate race, “life in the woodchipper,” and press vilification (16:00, 17:04)
Commentary on the need for a new generation in politics—not for sale, up-to-speed, service-driven (21:38, 22:24)
On bipartisanship in space: “We gotta fix this country, gotta reorient towards American excellence…and that means a new generation of leaders.” – Sheehy (25:43)

3. Veteran Advocacy & Victim Culture

Sheehy countered the “veteran victim culture,” endorsing mission and achievement for veterans after service (19:07)

“We’re veterans, not victims…when we come back, …the best thing we can do is give them a mission, give them a career, not free stuff.” (19:56)

4. From Garage Startups to the Edge of Space

Isaacman’s entrepreneurial lesson: Intensity and sacrifice are non-negotiable in launching successful ventures. (43:54)
Story of buying fighter jets from countries worldwide; “Until you’ve bought jets from a Middle Eastern country, you have no idea what corruption is like. We’re actually pretty good.” (34:16)
On scaling disruptive business: “Fix a problem, build a better solution, make sure the model makes money—opportunity is everything.” (41:06)

5. Space Exploration: Urgency and Inspiration

Both guests highlighted the existential, strategic, and economic necessity of American space leadership (54:01)

“If we didn’t have reusable rockets, China would absolutely be putting more rockets in space than us—by far. And it’s the ultimate high ground.” – Isaacman (54:01)
Isaacman praised the private sector (SpaceX, Blue Origin) but stressed a continued vital NASA role: “NASA has to pioneer, then hand it off to industry…Let the government do what nobody else can.” (52:37)
Risk taken by past generations—faster, bolder, more ambitious—held up as an example for what’s needed today (85:00)
Reusability as a transformative innovation: “Imagine if you threw away the 737 every time you flew to Disneyland.” (56:57)
On commercial space’s positive economic side effects: “Thousands of engineers on earth—fueling our economy.” (60:10)
Supporting both solving earth’s problems and pushing for Mars: “You have no idea what benefits this will bring back home.” (60:20)

6. Spacewalks, Human Factors, and the Cosmos

The Spacewalk Experience (63:24)

Isaacman described the intensity:

“You poke your head out, and it’s earth in your face—a big sensory thing. Looking into darkness, it was…unsettling. You appreciate the vastness of space, and everything is trying to kill you.” (73:40)
Training to denitrogenate to avoid the bends (“decompression sickness”) without an airlock—new regime developed for private crew (68:47)
The psychological strain and risks of long-duration missions to Mars: “If you don’t get the right people, you’ll have a Lord of the Flies event on Mars.” (98:18)
The prospect of returning from Mars/long missions: “Robots are the only answer. But I come back to—get some nuclear spaceships.” (99:07)

7. Competition from China and the New Space Race

“China is moving incredibly fast on every important technological domain—at SpaceX speeds. It’s scary.” – Isaacman (86:48)
Bureaucratic risk-aversion and politically-driven industrial policy have throttled American innovation (87:40)
Strategic case for nuclear propulsion: “If we don’t, we’ll watch China do it—and then Russia.” (81:14, 116:04)

8. The Search for Life & the Meaning of Exploration

The odds of life—“I believe there’s life out there, absolutely. And if we conclusively find microbial life on Mars or Europa, it changes everything.” (90:06)
On the “Goldilocks Zone” and the adaptability of life, resisting anthropocentric arguments around habitability (92:11)

9. Popular Culture & Sci-Fi: Fuel for the Imagination

Isaacman’s favorite sci-fi: Battlestar Galactica (“it checks all the boxes”) (117:53)
Panel’s other picks: Starship Troopers, The Three-Body Problem, Cowboy Bebop (118:26)
The fusion of science, fantasy, and real-life aspiration throughout the conversation

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Reusable Rockets & High Ground

“Thank goodness for reusable rockets, in order to keep this edge. But we won’t hold it forever—we need to keep pushing forward.” — Jared Isaacman (54:01)
On the Cost of Political Life

“We were the Omaha Beach race…The Dems knew, for sure, this was going to be the firewall. It was the landing craft on Omaha Beach.” — Tim Sheehy (16:00)
On Veteran Service

“We’re veterans, not victims…The best thing we can do when we get home is give them a mission, give them a career, not free stuff.” — Tim Sheehy (19:56)
On Seeing Earth from Space

“It was overwhelming…Most people generally agree, it is rather unsettling—everything you’re looking at is trying to kill you.” — Isaacman (73:40)
On the Need for Leadership

“I want America to win in space. Inspire generations to do even cooler things—because of what the pioneers in the 1960s accomplished.” — Isaacman (117:24)
On Mars and the Human Element

“Mars is a planet. You’ll work your ass off your whole life to just survive. Every day will be miserable…It’s going to be tough as hell.” — Isaacman (97:01)
On Charity & Making a Difference

“Spacex’s vision is— the world is more interesting when people can journey among the stars. St. Jude’s vision is—no child should die in the dawn of life. I subscribe to both, one hundred percent.” — Isaacman (120:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

08:07 — Tim Sheehy’s formative years, Navy pilot neighbor
09:19 — Military deployments, mail-order marriage anecdote
10:09 — The fraught nature of Congress and political service
16:00 — The most expensive Senate race “Omaha Beach”
19:56 — Veterans, mission over victimhood
25:43 — On generational change and American excellence
29:40 — Isaacman’s early entrepreneurship, business with father
34:16 — Building a private air force, “buying jets from a Middle Eastern country”
43:54 — On the intensity and sacrifice needed for business
47:55 — Relationship with Elon Musk, serving as NASA nominee
54:01 — The strategic importance of reusable rockets; China threat
63:24 — Spacewalk preparation and experience
68:47 — Dangers of decompression, astronaut health
73:40 — Looking into the void on a spacewalk: “unsettling”
86:48 — China’s space and high-tech pace, warning
90:06 — Life in the universe, Goldilocks Zone
98:18 — Psychological risks of long-term Mars missions
117:53 — Sci-fi favorites: Battlestar Galactica
120:36 — St. Jude and combining charity with exploration

Final Thoughts

To follow Jared Isaacman:

X (Twitter): @
Netflix miniseries: “Countdown” (about Inspiration4)
Charity: St. Jude (featured in mission)

Ways to support:

Profits from podcast merch and collaborations go to Veterans and childhood medical charities, including St. Jude.

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Summary

Unsubscribe Podcast Ep. 240

Why America MUST Win The Race To Space

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet the Guests: High-Flying Backgrounds

2. The Realities and Purpose of Political Service

3. Veteran Advocacy & Victim Culture

4. From Garage Startups to the Edge of Space

5. Space Exploration: Urgency and Inspiration

6. Spacewalks, Human Factors, and the Cosmos

The Spacewalk Experience (63:24)

7. Competition from China and the New Space Race

8. The Search for Life & the Meaning of Exploration

9. Popular Culture & Sci-Fi: Fuel for the Imagination

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Final Thoughts

Summary

Unsubscribe Podcast Ep. 240

Why America MUST Win The Race To Space

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet the Guests: High-Flying Backgrounds

2. The Realities and Purpose of Political Service

3. Veteran Advocacy & Victim Culture

4. From Garage Startups to the Edge of Space

5. Space Exploration: Urgency and Inspiration

6. Spacewalks, Human Factors, and the Cosmos

The Spacewalk Experience (63:24)

7. Competition from China and the New Space Race

8. The Search for Life & the Meaning of Exploration

9. Popular Culture & Sci-Fi: Fuel for the Imagination

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Final Thoughts