Episode 518: Crazy About A Mercury

Episode 518: Crazy About A Mercury

From What the HELL Were You Thinking? by Dave Bledsoe

February 9, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 519

About this episode

In this episode, Dave Bledsoe explores the Space Race and the Mercury Program while humorously recounting his experience in a drinking contest.

Show Notes Episode 518: Crazy About A Mercury This week Host Dave Bledsoe attempted to join a small group of elite performers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of human endurance in pursuit of knowledge. (He was in a drinking contest. He Lost) On the show this time we head back to the heady days of Steely Eyed Missile Men reaching out to the face of God. (And the boobs of every Cape Cookie on the coast) as we cover the Space Race and the Mercury Program! Along the way we discovered that Dave was never going to make it into space. Then we dive right into the people that made NASA (Nazi Scientists.) Then join the Space Race already in progress as the Soviet Union launches Sputnik and America launches a public relations campaign. We meet the Mercury Seven, the heroes who launched the program in the United States, and their long suffering wives. (Astronauts: not good husbands) Finally we examine what the space program really gave us. (A massive flying homage to Jeff Bezos’ dong!) Our Sponsor this week is Paperclip Consultants, focusing on the job, not the problematic people doing it! We open the show with NASA lying to us and close with Keith, who is crazy about Mercury! Show…

People in this episode

Host: Dave Bledsoe

Topics covered

  • Space Race
  • Mercury Program
  • NASA
  • drinking contest
  • Mercury Seven
  • public relations
  • human endurance

Keywords

  • Space Race
  • Mercury Program
  • NASA
  • drinking contest
  • Mercury Seven
  • Sputnik
  • Jeff Bezos

Sponsors

Paperclip Consultants

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NASA, Soviet Union

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