Show Notes
This week on Real Life, John Cowan sits down with one of the most powerful minds in space exploration: NASA’s Head of Science, Dr Nicola Fox.
As the Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Dr Fox oversees a massive portfolio of roughly 100 interstellar missions. From exploring the profound origins of the universe to steering the scientific direction of the upcoming Artemis moon missions. A world-renowned physicist and engineer, she previously made history leading the Parker Solar Probe mission, humanity's daring first journey to "touch" the Sun.
Behind her extraordinary career is a journey marked by immense perseverance. After tragically losing her husband suddenly in 2010, Dr Fox continued to break barriers in the male-dominated field of heliophysics, raising her two young children while driving some of mankind's greatest cosmic discoveries.
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More from Real Life With John Cowan
He was the man who put the "pace" in New Zealand paceman. At his peak, Shane Bond was terrifyingly fast, clocking a blistering 156.4 km/h at the 2003 World Cup and dismantling the world’s best batsmen. Widely regarded as our greatest fast bowler since Sir Richard Hadlee, Shane’s career was a thrilling rollercoaster of immense triumph and devastating, career-threatening injuries. But his story is much more than just cricket statistics, it's a masterclass in resilience.
Before scaling the world's most unforgiving peaks—from Antarctica to the Andes and the Himalayas—Sir Graeme was a "painfully shy" child growing up in Gisborne who was afraid of everything. His life transformed when he discovered the outdoors, leading to historic feats like the first-ever winter traverse of the Southern Alps in 1971.But his greatest legacy isn't written in the snow. Spurred by a challenge to "do good for others", Sir Graeme co-founded the Outdoor Pursuits Centre (now Hillary Outdoors) and established the Graeme Dingle Foundation, which has empowered over 400,000 young Kiwis over the last 30 years. Recently awarded the prestigious global Order of Magellan for his lifetime achievements in exploration and youth advocacy, Sir Graeme joins John for an unscripted look at his extraordinary life, his worldview, and his latest mission to "move mountains" for the next generation of New Zealanders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This Sunday on Real Life with John Cowan, anything goes as we welcome one of New Zealand's most authentic, straight-talking leaders: Hon Shane Jones.
Known to Kiwi audiences as the co-host of TVNZ’s Eat Well for Less NZ and Cooks on Fire, Ganesh brings a wealth of energy, humor, and heart to everything he does.
Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the ACT Party, David Seymour was first elected to Parliament as the MP for Epsom in 2014. He also holds Associate Minister portfolios across Education, Health, Finance, and Justice. Raised in Whangārei with a background in engineering and philosophy, David brings a unique blend of practical problem-solving and big-picture ideas to everything he does. Whether he’s debating policy in Parliament, pushing for regulatory reform, or stepping into the public eye beyond politics (like his infamous turn on Dancing with the Stars), David is known for his sharp wit and candid style. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.