Are We There Yet?

Broadcasting from Florida's Space Coast, Brenden Byrne has been covering space launches and NASA operations since 2016 for Central Florida Public Media's 90.7 WMFE. His proximity to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral gives the show a boots-on-the-ground quality that most space podcasts cannot match. When a rocket goes up from the Cape, Byrne is often there to report on it firsthand. Each weekly episode runs about 25 to 30 minutes and blends news reporting with interviews. Recent coverage includes the Artemis II mission preparations, commercial crew updates, and a surprisingly interesting segment on how NASA research is helping conserve tortoises near launch sites. Byrne pulls in guests from NASA, the University of Central Florida, and the broader space industry, and his public radio background means the interviews are well-structured without feeling overly formal. The show has released over 200 episodes and maintains a 4.4-star rating from 351 reviews. Listeners particularly appreciate the local angle. While plenty of podcasts cover space news from a desk, Byrne reports from where the rockets actually launch. He also hosts Space on Tap events in the community, which gives the show a connection to its audience that feels genuine. For anyone who wants space news with real journalistic reporting rather than just commentary, this is a strong pick.