The Wide Lens Podcast

On this episode of The Wide Lens Podcast, we sit down with Ralph Longfellow, a physicist and engineer whose life traces an extraordinary arc from a rugged Idaho sheep ranch to one of the most consequential engineering moments in human history: landing the first man on the moon. Ralph is one of the behind‑the‑scenes minds who helped redesign the lunar landing radar that guided Apollo 11 safely to t...

On this episode of The Wide Lens Podcast, we sit down with retired naval officer Per Provencher, a man whose career unfolded at the fault lines of modern history. Over more than two decades in uniform, Per moved through some of the most consequential military moments of the late twentieth and early twenty first centuries, not as a distant observer but as someone standing watch in the middle of it...

On this episode of The Wide Lens Podcast, we welcome Mark Kurtz, a filmmaker whose early career unfolded inside one of the most influential creative hubs in Hollywood. As a young production assistant at Amblin Entertainment, Mark stepped into a world largely created by Steven Spielberg, where dinosaurs roared to life, historical epics demanded precision, and the greatest storyteller of our time ex...

On this episode of The Wide Lens Podcast, we welcome filmmaker and storyteller Michael Lienau, whose life was forever altered by one of the most dramatic natural events in American history. When Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, Michael was a young filmmaker drawn to the unfolding story, and just days later he found himself at the mountain again for the second largest eruption ever recorde...

On this episode of The Wide Lens Podcast, we welcome Melvin Perdue - ballplayer, coach, and actor whose journey spans the diamond and the silver screen. From Little League in Alabama to championship clubs across Europe and Australia, his 14‑season career reflects grit, adaptability, and a love for baseball without borders. Melvin’s path also led to Hollywood, where he portrayed Ray Durham in the O...

On this episode of The Wide Lens Podcast, we welcome Steve Englehart, legendary writer whose six-decade career at Marvel and DC redefined superhero storytelling. From starting off as a young and hungry train riding staffer commuting into NYC to reshaping Batman with psychological depth and finally co-creating Shang-Chi and Star-Lord, his influence spans comics, animation, and blockbuster films. St...

On this episode of The Wide Lens Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Dan Diamond, MD, a family physician and experienced disaster responder, as he recounts his frontline medical triage work after Hurricane Katrina and reflects on what the crisis taught him about leadership and resilience. Dr. Diamond describes arriving at the Convention Center, coordinating with military and emergency teams, treating ur...

On this episode of the Wide Lens Podcast, we revisit September 11, 2001, through the lens of amateur photographer Robert Fisch. That morning, while having breakfast near his Greenwich Village apartment, the sound of impact drew him toward the World Trade Center. Grabbing his camera, he captured the unfolding tragedy — from the second plane’s strike to the chaos that followed — and later, through h...

In this episode of The Wide Lens Podcast, Brad Stave interviews humanitarian storyteller Steve Reynolds about his frontline work during the 1980s Ethiopian famine. Discover how Steve helped uncover hidden suffering, aided BBC’s breakthrough broadcast, and witnessed U2’s Bono and his wife Ali Hewson’s quiet, hands-on visit to a feeding camp where they served families and children through both song...

Rob Belanger shares his unforgettable experience volunteering at Woodstock ’99. From backstage moments and surprise celebrity run-ins to navigating the chaos of a music festival gone off the rails, Rob offers a raw, personal lens on one of the most controversial concerts in history.   Enjoying The Wide Lens Podcast? Spread the word and leave a review—it helps more than you know. Thanks for listeni...

In 1995, Odoi Odotei interned at the Bill Clinton White House—alongside Monica Lewinsky. In this episode, he shares what it was like to witness history from the inside, before the headlines hit. Enjoying The Wide Lens Podcast? Spread the word and leave a review—it helps more than you know. Thanks for listening!