How to Turn History into Emotion: The Apollo Story, with John Monsky

In this episode of History Shorts, I sit down with John Monsky, the creator, writer, and narrator of the American History Unbound series.

Monsky has developed a distinctive way of telling American history. Rather than focusing on debate, his productions immerse audiences in the lives of the people who lived through major moments. He combines live orchestras, Broadway performers, archival film and photography, historic flags and artifacts, and personal stories into large-scale performances that have filled Carnegie Hall, Boston's Symphony Hall, the Kennedy Center, and even the White House.

On November 10, PBS premieres his latest production, We Chose to Go to the Moon. Filmed live at Carnegie Hall, the special retells the Apollo era through the perspectives of the astronauts, engineers, and families who experienced it—set to the music of the 1960s and '70s and featuring flags that actually traveled to the Moon. It includes a special introduction by Ron Howard and appears on the eve of Veterans Day.

🎙️ History Shorts is a daily history podcast hosted by historian, author, and Smithsonian Magazine contributor Peter Zablocki. New episodes every day.

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