The Wide Lens Podcast

#0011 - The Apollo 11 Engineer

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 the surface of the moon, a contribution that became essential to the success of the first lunar landing. Ralph’s story begins far from laboratories and mission control rooms. He grew up in the remote canyons and high country of Idaho, where responsibility came early and danger was part of daily life. Breaking horses with his father, herding hundreds of sheep alone as a teenager, outrunning ground hornets, and navigating wilderness trails taught him discipline, improvisation, and calm under pressure long before he ever touched an engineering textbook. Those early experiences shaped the instincts he would later rely on when the stakes were measured not in livestock but in human lives and national ambition. His path carried him through the University of Idaho, into early work developing microwave antennas for the Navy, and eventually to Ryan Aeronautical during the height of the Apollo program. There, a single engineering report convinced him that the existing radar design would not work on the moon. His willingness to speak up, backed by deep technical insight and a lifetime of problem solving, placed him on the team tasked with redesigning the radar front end. The system he helped create became the eyes of the lunar module, guiding Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin through the final, perilous descent to the surface. Ralph takes us inside that moment, recalling where he was during the landing, what he listened for as the radar locked onto the lunar surface, and what it felt like to hear the words The Eagle has landed knowing his work had played a part. But his career did not end with Apollo. He went on to contribute to the Viking Mars mission, advanced navigation systems, and defense technologies that shaped the next era of exploration and national security. What makes Ralph’s journey so compelling is not only the engineering, but the humanity behind it. The cowboy childhood, the mentors who saw potential in him, the moments of danger that tested his courage, the years spent sailing across oceans, and the family stories that reveal the man behind the mission. His life offers a rare look at the people who make history possible without ever stepping into the spotlight. This conversation follows the full sweep of Ralph’s life, from the ranch to the radar lab, from the moon landing to the open sea. It is a story of grit, curiosity, and quiet excellence, the kind of story that deepens our understanding of the events we think we know and the people who shaped them.

#0010 - The Gulf War Naval Officer

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 all. Per takes us from the tense final days of the Iran and Iraq conflict, where he escorted tankers through hostile waters, to the flight decks and ready rooms of Gulf War era carriers, to the Pacific command ships where he served as the world reeled from the attacks of 9/11. His story offers a rare, firsthand look at the global events that shaped a generation. What makes Per’s journey so compelling is not only the operations or the geopolitics, but the human side of service. It is the quiet professionalism, the unseen decisions, and the responsibilities that never make headlines. From nuclear shipyards to forward deployed fleets in Japan, Per’s experiences reveal the complexity, pressure, and humanity behind the uniform. This conversation traces the full arc of his life in service, beginning with the early influences that nudged him toward the Navy and continuing through the unexpected opportunities that changed his trajectory. We explore the conflicts that tested him, the moments that defined him, and the lessons he carried into the work he does today. It is a story of duty, timing, and steady leadership, the kind that rarely gets told but deserves to be heard.

#0009 - The Steven Spielberg Assistant

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 expected nothing less than excellence. Mark shares how he went from running scripts and grabbing donuts to coordinating art departments on The Lost World: Jurassic Park, supporting visual effects on Amistad. He recounts the unforgettable moments that shaped him, from watching actors step onto set transformed into enslaved Africans for Amistad, to witnessing Spielberg’s instinctive leadership. This is a conversation about courage, timing, and the kind of work ethic that opens impossible doors. Mark’s journey reminds us that opportunity often arrives disguised as hard work, and that the right environment can change the trajectory of a life. If you want to connect with Mark, please email him at: mark@smsaisolutions.com [mark@smsaisolutions.com]

#0008 - The Mt. St. Helens Eruption Survivor

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 recorded in the United States. What began as an attempt to document history quickly became a fight to survive it. His footage from that day became iconic, shaping how the world understood the scale and power of the disaster. But Michael’s journey is far more than a tale of being in the wrong place at the right time. It is a story of instinct, courage, and a deep commitment to capturing truth. In this conversation, we explore the moments leading up to the eruption, the days that followed, and how that experience shaped the rest of his career. We also look at the work he is doing now, continuing to elevate stories that help people see the world through a wider lens. To learn more about Michael, please visit: www.globalnetproductions.com [http://www.globalnetproductions.com]

#0007 - The Moneyball Athlete & Actor

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 Oscar‑nominated film Moneyball. Working alongside Brad Pitt, Chris Pratt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, he brought authenticity to one of baseball’s great underdog stories and discovered how sport and storytelling intersect. Join us as we explore his remarkable journey - the sparks that lit his passion, lessons learned worldwide, and behind‑the‑scenes moments from Moneyball you’ve never heard before.