Best The Routing Table Podcast Podcasts (2025)

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Operation Beaver Drop: Conservation in Freefall 50:00

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32m ago50:00

50:00

In 1948, Idaho faced a strange wildlife problem: too many beavers in the wrong place. Their solution? Strap parachutes to them and drop them from planes. In this episode, we dive into the bizarre-but-true history of the Idaho Beaver Drop, one of the weirdest wildlife relocation stories ever. In this episode, we tell the story about Idaho's "Beaver …

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Shaun McGlade: Building a Business, Balancing Life 10:26

6d ago10:26

10:26

From growing up on a family farm to leading his own accountancy practice, Shaun McGlade’s journey shows the power of hard work, adaptability, and vision. In this episode, Shaun reflects on the lessons learned from his parents’ business, the importance of making numbers “real” for clients, and the leap of faith it took to leave a secure job to start…

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Nifemi: From Science Lab to Chartered Accountant and Influencer 11:55

6d ago11:55

11:55

Nifemi’s career didn’t start in accounting — in fact, she studied science at university before discovering her true passion at a graduate careers fair. In this inspiring conversation, she shares how she made the leap into Chartered Accountancy, topped national exams, and built a thriving career that blends finance, content creation, and mentoring. …

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Fish Fraud: Chilean Sea Bass is a Lie 44:17

7d ago44:17

44:17

When you go to a restaurant and order Chilean Sea Bass, you're not getting what you think. It’s not Chilean, it’s not a bass, and the name was made up to help sell a fish no one wanted to eat. In this episode, we dive into the surprising marketing success of the Patagonian toothfish - from obscurity to fine dining stardom - and what happened when d…

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Frozen Legacy: The Battle Over Kasem’s Corpse 38:08

14d ago38:08

38:08

He was the voice of America’s Top 40 – but after Casey Kasem died, a bizarre battle broke out over his body. From courtrooms to Norway to Howard Stern’s radio show, the story gets stranger at every turn. This week on The Internet Says It’s True, we tell the story, then chat with Comedy Writer Jimmy Mak! Pre-Order The Book Here: https://amzn.to/4miq…

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Beyond Mark Twain: Faye Dant on Hannibal's African American Stories 1:08:10

19d ago1:08:10

1:08:10

Send us a text You probably know a little bit about Hannibal, Missouri, because of the books written by a guy named Mark Twain, but I bet you don’t know much about the history of African Americans who’ve lived in Hannibal, even though Hannibal has had African American residents from its earliest days. I didn’t until I talked with Faye Dant, founder…

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Edgar Allan Poe and the Cabin Boy, Richard Parker - REWIND 36:00

21d ago36:00

36:00

Originally released October 10, 2022. When Edgar Allan Poe wrote his only novel in 1838, he included a grim story about a young cabin boy who was killed and eaten at sea so that other sailors could survive. 46 years later, an uncanny coincidence took place. This episode is all about the case of Richard Parker. We welcome back Comedian and Writer Ja…

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WAKING BLUE -- An Original Piano Composition by Alexander Blue Feather 12:12

26d ago12:12

12:12

Meet the piano piece that’s been with me most of my life.In this solo episode, I share the story behind Waking Blue. A song I began composing at age 13, long before I had language for who I was becoming. From Beethoven to Salt Lake City, from Ensign Peak to Southern California, this melody carried me through moves, grief, queerness, and awakening.W…

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Dear Alexander: A Listener Asks About Cardell 33:54

28d ago33:54

33:54

In this heart-forward installment of Dear Alexander, Blue Feather responds to a soul sibling’s question: What stories do you remember of your dad, Cardell, and what’s helping you now in the midst of grief?What unfolds is part tribute, part time-travel, and full embodiment of what it means to grieve with depth and beauty. From fire poles and Lake Po…

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Talk to Your Plants: The Weird Science Behind It (It Really Works) 51:30

28d ago51:30

51:30

You’ve probably heard that singing to your plants helps them grow - but is that actually true? In this episode, we dig into the science behind the myth, from CIA lie detector experiments on houseplants to a MythBusters greenhouse filled with heavy metal. The answer turns out to be more complicated - and more fascinating - than you'd expect. What do…

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Tips for Traveling the Great River Road, Part 2 1:04:27

1M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

Send us a text Our summer road trip down the Great River Road continues in this episode. We start just after Lake Pepin and make our way to the Mississippi’s confluence with the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois. Along the way, I’ll comment on the following places: the Upper Mississippi River National Fish & Wildlife Refuge; Winona, Minnesota; in Wisco…

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Mr. & Mrs. Stephenson: Kitchen Table Baseball Scheduling 48:32

1M ago48:32

48:32

For over 20 years, the fate of every baseball game on the calendar wasn't in the hands of some software or spreadsheets in MLB offices. It was in the hands of a married couple working from their living room in Martha's Vineyard. In an age before AI and software optimization, Henry and Holly Stephenson built each MLB season by hand—one pencil mark a…

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Everyone Should Sit Next to a River and Listen (MAKE SIT HAPPEN) Salmon River Meditation, Stanley, Idaho, Summer 2025 10:01

1M ago10:01

10:01

For years, I’ve carried around a simple little illustration: a kid sitting beside a river, with the words: “Everyone should sit next to a river and listen.”This 10-minute meditation was recorded during my first morning camping near Redfish Lake, Idaho, beside the Salmon River and under the gaze of the Sawtooth Mountains.It's green. It's lush. And i…

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MAKE SIT HAPPEN: Redfish Lake Meditation (Stanley, Idaho) 10:01

1M ago10:01

10:01

Welcome to a 10-minute "Make Sit Happen" meditation recorded in real time on the shores of Redfish Lake, Idaho (my father’s home-state, where I recently scattered some of his ashes).This is a gentle, contemplative sit, accompanied by the natural music of lake water meeting the shore. The rhythm of the waves invites you into presence, stillness, and…

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UPDATED AUDIO: Salt and Peppering My Dad's Ashes: My Grief Ritual at Redfish Lake, Idaho 31:05

1M ago31:05

31:05

🎧 UPDATED AUDIO – Now Ears-Approved!This re-released version comes with smoothed-out sound for your comfort. The original audio had a few sharp turns (thank you for your grace). This one is tuned to invite you into stillness, memory, and meaning. Same content as previous episode in the feed. Feel free to move right along, to the next episode, if yo…

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Concrete Decisions: When Race Determined Routes 52:25

1M ago52:25

52:25

What do Rondo, Hayti, Storyville, and Humboldt Park have in common? They were thriving minority communities - until the U.S. built highways through them. In this episode, we look at how a 1950s infrastructure project tore through Black and immigrant neighborhoods, and what’s being done to make things right. Then we chat with Comedian Natasha Samren…

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Salt and Peppering My Dad's Ashes: My Grief Ritual at Redfish Lake, Idaho 28:44

1M ago28:44

28:44

In this episode of Viral Mindfulness, Alexander Blue Feather invites you along on an intimate pilgrimage through Idaho’s Redfish Lake, a landscape of dark skies, towering saw-toothed mountains, and quiet revelation. Carrying his father’s ashes, Alexander reflects on grief as a deep form of praise—an apprenticeship with sorrow—and shares how letting…

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Tips for Traveling the Great River Road, Part 1 1:04:27

2M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

Send us a text It’s summer and many of y’all will be hitting the road to travel and see something new (or revisit places you enjoy). I haven’t done a travel-themed podcast in a while, so in the next couple of episodes, I’m going to go over the highlights of driving the Great River Road. In this episode, I start with an overview of what to expect fr…

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The Spirit Scam: Houdini’s Capitol Hill Showdown 36:36

2M ago36:36

36:36

Did the world’s greatest magician take on psychics in Congress? In 1926, Harry Houdini testified in Washington to outlaw spiritualist fraud. What he said—and what happened next—might surprise you. In this episode, we tell the story of Houdini's efforts and then speak with United States Congressman, Mark Pocan. Congressman Mark Pocan was sworn in as…

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MAKE SIT HAPPEN: June Lake Beach (California) 10:01

2M ago10:01

10:01

In this 10-minute guided meditation, you’re invited to settle into the sound of water and memory. Recorded live on the shore of June Lake Beach, this track features the gentle tide and natural surf—a found-sound meditation bed from the Eastern Sierra’s alpine shoreline.Let the rhythm of the water carry you inward. Let the hush between waves soften …

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Jailing Political Opponents: Abraham Lincoln and Habeas Corpus - REWIND 35:00

2M ago35:00

35:00

Abraham Lincoln is known as "The Great Emancipator." But not many people know that during the Civil War, he jailed as many as 2,000 political opponents without charges or trial. The story in this episode revolves around what happened in Baltimore, Maryland in 1861 and why it led to the Mayor, the Police Chief, the entire City Council and many more …

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First Dispatch From the Feathered Road (U.S. Route 395) June Lake: From Ice Cream to Ashes 55:02

2M ago55:02

55:02

Alexander Blue Feather takes us deep into the heart of the Eastern Sierras in this rich, reflective, and often hilarious travelogue. Recorded over several days during his solo summer road trip, this episode is an audio journal of wonder and wandering. From chipmunks and cold plunges in June Lake to the tender salt-and-peppering of his father's ashe…

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The Missouri River, Part 2: Channelization, Community, and Recreation 48:44

2M ago48:44

48:44

Send us a text In this episode, we continue our detour along the Missouri River with part 2 of my conversation with Steve Schnarr from Missouri River Relief. In part two, Steve describes the process the Corps of Engineers used to channelize the river, how it changed the river, what we lost, and how some folks gained new land. He talks about a Misso…

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Orangutan, M.D.: Rakus and the First Wild Animal Wound Treatment 21:24

2M ago21:24

21:24

In the depths of the Sumatran rainforest, scientists witnessed something no one had ever seen before—and it might rewrite what we thought we knew about medicine. A wild orangutan got injured… and what he did next left researchers stunned. Was it instinct? Intelligence? Or something else entirely? This one’s wild—literally. Review this podcast at ht…

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MAKE SIT HAPPEN: A Seat For Compassion -- Loving-Kindness Meditation 18:47

2M ago18:47

18:47

n this guided meditation, Alexander Blue Feather leads us through a loving-kindness practice inspired by the grief-woven wisdom of Francis Weller. You’ll begin by grounding your body like a tree—rooted, upright, and open—before stepping into a visualization that invites you to face your own suffering with tenderness and compassion.With each breath,…

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Another Seat At The Table: On Self Compassion 22:02

2M ago22:02

22:02

What if progress isn’t the point? What if your soul doesn’t move in a straight line, but in spirals and stillness?In this poetic reflection, Alexander Blue Feather reads from The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller and Rumi’s The Guest House, exploring the sacred art of self-compassion. You'll hear about grief, letting go of the “muscular agenda”…

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Battle of Blair Mountain: The War on American Workers 43:44

2M ago43:44

43:44

In 1921, over 10,000 coal miners marched through the mountains of West Virginia with rifles, pistols, and dynamite. They dug trenches, wore uniforms, and exchanged gunfire with machine-gun nests and private planes dropping homemade bombs. It was the largest labor uprising in American history — and the largest domestic conflict since the Civil War. …

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Behind The Velvet Curtain: Broadway's Divine Drama 30:44

2M ago30:44

30:44

In this weekend's special edition of Viral Mindfulness, Alexander Blue Feather invites you to step behind the velvet curtain into the sacred glow of Broadway. As CNN broadcasts George Clooney’s "Good Night, and Good Luck" live from the Winter Garden Theatre and the 2025 Tony Awards light up the stage, Alexander reflects on the electric drama—both o…

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Still Defying Gravity: Queer, HIV-Positive & 10 Years Thriving Sober 34:18

2M ago34:18

34:18

“Elphaba wasn’t the villain. She was the spellbreaker.”In this powerful Pride Month episode, Alexander Blue Feather reflects on the moment Wicked became his lifeline. It was June 2003, freshly diagnosed with HIV, newly exiled from the Mormon church, and standing at the edge of a new life. Then Elphaba soared across a Broadway stage, green-skinned a…

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The Missouri River, Part 1: Geography, Ecology, and Human Impacts 58:01

3M ago58:01

58:01

Send us a text In this episode, we detour off the main channel of the Mississippi River to get to know its longest tributary: the Missouri River. Our guide for this exploration is Steve Schnarr, Race Director for Missouri River Relief. We covered a lot of territory (like the Missouri River), so our conversation is split between two episodes. In thi…

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Poisoned: 344 Meals and a Miracle 40:26

3M ago40:26

40:26

A luxury flight packed with Coca-Cola executives turns into a mid-air disaster when nearly 200 people fall violently ill — and it wasn’t a virus, or turbulence. It was breakfast. This week, we uncover the true story of the worst food poisoning outbreak in airline history, and how one kitchen mistake nearly caused an aviation catastrophe. It’s a chi…

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Rabbit Rabbit: Interrupting Wanting With Being 16:08

3M ago16:08

16:08

Rabbit rabbit! Welcome to June. In this heartfelt kickoff to the month, Alexander Blue Feather invites you into an intimate exploration of quirky traditions, grief rituals, spiritual recommitment, and summertime synchronicity. He shares the folk origins of the “rabbit rabbit” custom, begins a 30-day wake-up challenge guided by spiritual teacher Ady…

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The First National Mississippi River Day: Building Community Around the Big River 47:08

3M ago47:08

47:08

Send us a text February 1 is National Baked Alaska Day. April 14 is National Ex-Spouse Day, but April 22 marks Earth Day. We’ve had these (and more!) national days celebrating things silly and crucial, but we’ve never had a National Mississippi River Day. Until this year. It’s long overdue. On June 2, we’ll celebrate the first National Mississippi …

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Peter Conover Hains: From Fife and Drums to Planes and Tanks 38:30

3M ago38:30

38:30

Peter Conover Hains was born before the Civil War and still wore a U.S. Army uniform in World War I. He fired one of the Civil War’s first naval shots, built ports and canals, and returned to active duty at age 77. His legacy spans over half a century of American warfare — and four generations of service. This Memorial Day, we’re telling the story …

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River to Table: Josh Galliano on Campfire Cooking 1:02:46

3M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

Send us a text In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with accomplished chef and St. Louis area resident Josh Galliano. We talk about his path to becoming a chef and the family and cultural influences. He grew up in southern Louisiana near the Mississippi River, where he had regular access to fresh, seasonal products. Mostly, though, we ta…

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Measuring Misfortune: The Pirate Who Stole America’s Metric System 41:11

3M ago41:11

41:11

In the late 18th century, America was THIS close to adopting the metric system. Washington wanted it. Jefferson wanted it. France was helping by sending a ship with official metric weights and measures. But the entire plot was ruined by British Pirates. In this episode, we tell the story of America's closest flirt with the metric system, how the pl…

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Malicious Compliance: The Car Company That Sabotaged the Nazis 46:16

3M ago46:16

46:16

Sometimes, the best resistance looks like obedience. During the Nazi occupation of France, the Citroën automobile factory seemed to be cooperating — manufacturing trucks for the German military like any other commandeered facility. But behind the scenes, the French workers were quietly waging a war of their own. This episode tells the story of how …

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The Cincinnati Zoo’s Darkest Exhibit: Native Americans on Display 54:07

4M ago54:07

54:07

In 1896, Native Americans were put on public display at the Cincinnati Zoo as part of a fabricated "village" exhibit. It wasn't just Cincinnati—similar human exhibitions took place around the world, reinforcing damaging stereotypes. But how did these events happen, and why do their impacts still linger today? This week, we dig into one of the most …

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The Lufthansa Heist: Millions Stolen, Millions Missing 36:10

4M ago36:10

36:10

In 1978, a group of mobsters pulled off the largest cash robbery in American history — and thought they’d gotten away clean.But almost immediately, the heist started to unravel in the bloodiest way possible. Millions disappeared. Bodies started piling up. This is the unbelievable true story of the Lufthansa Heist. In this episode, we tell the whole…

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Painless Parker and the Bucket of Teeth 14:34

4M ago14:34

14:34

He pulled teeth in the middle of the street while a marching band played behind him. He claimed to make dentistry painless—and got sued for saying so. But instead of backing down, he built a dental empire and changed his name to beat the system. This is the bizarre true story of the man who turned dentistry into a circus: Painless Parker. Review th…

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Blue Feather In The Desert Of Dementia: Journey Through Loss and Love 27:53

4M ago27:53

27:53

In this deeply personal episode of Viral Mindfulness, Alexander Bluefeather shares an intimate reflection on the passing of his father. Recorded in real time as he heads across the desert toward a family gathering and celebration of life, this episode is a raw meditation on grief, memory, sacred moments, and the practice of presence at the threshol…

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Real Life Jaws: The 1916 New Jersey Shark Attacks 47:57

4M ago47:57

47:57

In the scorching summer of 1916, terror lurked beneath the waves as a mysterious sea predator turned the Jersey Shore into a hunting ground. Over twelve harrowing days, swimmers vanished in a frenzy of blood and panic, and even an inland creek wasn’t safe from the carnage. What followed was a nationwide shark hysteria—an event so chilling, it would…

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A Secret German Plot: The Zimmerman Telegram 52:44

4M ago52:44

52:44

A secret message, a bold promise, and a fateful mistake—when Germany reached out to Mexico with a shocking proposal, they never expected British spies to be listening. As the telegram’s explosive contents made headlines, outrage swept across America. What happened next would change the course of World War I forever. In this episode, we talk about t…

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Murder on the Mississippi: Frank Dodge Explores Identity and Deception on the River 26:26

5M ago26:26

26:26

Send us a text In 1964, four members of the Ku Klux Klan killed two African American men in Mississippi. The story of their murder and the following decades of stops and starts in the prosecution of their killers inspired my latest Frank Dodge mystery: Murder on the Mississippi. In this episode, I give some background on the murder of Dee and Moore…

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The U.S. Government Killed 10K People with Alcohol - REWIND 47:46

5M ago47:46

47:46

Originally released April 11, 2022. Bootlegging was an inevitable result of 1920s Prohibition in the U.S. And when the government tried to solve the problem, they ended up with a solution that killed at least 10,000 Americans through poisoned, denatured industrial ethyl-alcohol. In this episode, we tell the story and then talk with Comedian Leslie …

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Bucket List: The Internet Can’t Believe This Mandela Effect - REWIND 41:06

5M ago41:06

41:06

Originally released February 28, 2022. The Internet has been blowing up recently with people who can't believe this claim: That the phrase "Bucket List" originated with the 2007 Rob Reiner buddy film of the same name. In an apparent "Mandela Effect," or mass false memory, everyone seems to think they've been using the phrase in their lives long bef…

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215: Les EU et l’UE toujours amis mais plus alliés 19:05

5M ago19:05

19:05

To say that relations between the U.S. and Europe have changed is an understatement. NATO is a major bone of contention and the introduction of tariffs has caused turmoil in financial markets. Let’s talk about it in this lesson.By Plus Publications

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The Most Kissed Girl in the World - REWIND 43:20

5M ago43:20

43:20

Originally released Sept. 20, 2021. When the Laerdal Toy Company was tasked with creating the very first mannequin for practicing CPR, they used a familiar face - it was that of "L'Inconnue de la Seine" - a famous mask supposedly cast from an unknown drowning victim discovered in the River Seine in the late 1880s. In this episode, we explore the st…

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From Roots to Routes: Making the Leap to Full-Time RV Life 1:00:16

5M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

Send us a text Living out of an RV or van seems more possible than ever before, and, based on what’s out there on social media, a lot of people have already taken the plunge. If you’re someone who is curious about what it takes to make the switch to full-time RV life, this episode is for you. I talk with Patti Hunt, host of the RV Life podcast, and…

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Mutiny in Space - The 1973 Skylab Incident 48:24

5M ago48:24

48:24

In 1973, the three astronauts aboard Skylab 4 staged NASA’s first (and only) space mutiny, rebelling against an overwhelming workload and mission control’s rigid oversight. For one dramatic day, they cut off communications, taking time to enjoy the view of Earth and reset their own schedule. When contact was reestablished, tensions ran high—but wha…