Transcript

Michael Strahan’s WILD trip to Space and What’s Next in His Career

From New Heights · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 16 min · 3,297 words · 50 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Michael Strahan’s WILD trip to Space and What’s Next in His Career", an episode of New Heights published February 1, 2026 (16 min, about 3,297 words). It mentions 12 people, works and ideas, including Michael Strahan, John Madden, Fox, Madden, John Renan.

What this episode is about

Michael Strahan shares his exhilarating experience during a 12-minute trip to space, describing the gradual ascent, the intense G-forces, and the surreal moment of weightlessness when the rocket separates from the capsule. He reflects on the awe of witnessing the atmosphere from above and hints at exciting future endeavors in his career following this extraordinary adventure.

Key takeaways

  • In 12 wild minutes, space travel flips your perception of time—it's a cosmic rollercoaster with a changing perspective.
  • Embracing mortality in space stirs unexpected clarity, revealing both insignificance and significance in our earthly bonds.
  • A 9 G experience demands both thrill and trust; gravity is just one more push into the unknown.
  • Life-changing adventures remind us: busy schedules can blur the lines between living and merely existing.
  • As a retired athlete, reinvention is key; businesses become the new field where goals are pursued with passion.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 3:00: All State, Tom Hanks
  2. – 6:00: Michael Strahan, Fox, Andy Reid
  3. – 9:00: John Renan, Madden, John Madden, Michael Strahan
  4. – 12:00: Eric Williams
  5. – 15:00: Miles Garrett, Von Miller, Michael Strahan

Notable quotes from "Michael Strahan’s WILD trip to Space and What’s Next in His Career"

  • Called We Got to Ask, but you don't have to answer. You can just tell us off, but we got to ask is brought to you by All State.
    about All State · at
  • Feeling completely retired and doing nothing but that gives me enough and on top of that I still I do Fox until they throw me off of Fox.
    about Fox · at
  • And then we did Bill Bichc on the Madden Cruiser for the Super Bowl in New Orleans. We produced that. And now we're doing the Madden movie with David O.
    about John Madden · at
  • Me a better player because playing against them made everybody else seem easy. And even at the super at my Hall of Fame induction, John came, which meant the world to me. And I…
    about John Renan · at
  • I had a guy I had one of those guys on every team actually. It was just about you know the one I saw twice a year was Von Miller though. Von and those when they had they were…
    about Von Miller · at
  • With that being said though, before we go, I got to I got to give a shout out to my guy Miles Garrett, though. I had an incredible season. Unstoppable, unblockable player, man. And I've never, usually a guy has like one.
    about Michael Strahan · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Michael Strahan — Person · Main guest · 3 mentions · first at
    Primary interview subject discussing his spaceflight experience, career outlook, and media projects (docuseries/film) tied to football culture.
  • John Madden — Person · Referenced football icon / subject of upcoming film · 2 mentions · first at
    Discussed as a legendary NFL coach/broadcaster and as the central figure in a forthcoming 'Madden' movie (with Nicolas Cage portraying him).
  • John Renan — Person · Referenced opponent (offensive tackle) from Strahan’s playing career · 3 mentions · first at
    Strahan describes him as one of the toughest matchups he faced, detailing preparation, rivalry, and later respect (including attending Strahan’s Hall of Fame induction).
  • Eric Williams — Person · Referenced opponent (tough matchup) from NFL career story · 2 mentions · first at
    Cited as one of the toughest linemen faced; also central to a 'welcome to the NFL' moment story about getting dominated and learning humility.
    Played each other more and more over the years, the tougher it got, the more savvy he got. He and Eric Williams with the Dallas Cowboys was my number one toughest guy. John Renan and Leon Cersi who was the offensive tackle played.
  • Von Miller — Person · Referenced opponent (tough matchup) and acquaintance · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned as a frequent, difficult opponent; described as kind off-field but intense between whistles, with an anecdote about meeting in the Bahamas.
  • Miles Garrett — Person · Referenced current NFL player (praised) · 2 mentions · first at
    Strahan praises Garrett’s season and skill set, describing him as unstoppable and highlighting mentorship/encouragement across generations.
    Go, I got to I got to give a shout out to my guy Miles Garrett, though. I had an incredible season. Unstoppable, unblockable player, man. And I've never, usually a guy has like…
  • Andy Reid — Person · Referenced coach (context: quarterback development) · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as a coach who played a major role in giving opportunities to quarterbacks (e.g., McNabb, Vick) within a docuseries discussion.
    Played each other more and more over the years, the tougher it got, the more savvy he got. He and Eric Williams with the Dallas Cowboys was my number one toughest guy. John Renan and Leon Cersi who was the offensive tackle played.
  • Deshawn Jackson — Person · Referenced former NFL player (context: Coach Vic project) · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in relation to the 'Coach Vic' docuseries and as a former Eagle connected to events in Philadelphia.
    Him and Deshawn Jackson going at it right there. Two former Eagle grades. I came down for GMA and I was at the stadium and we had both of them there cuz they were doing the game there and.
  • Tom Hanks — Person · Referenced actor (analogy for spaceflight) · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned only to contrast the guest’s real spaceflight experience with the movie depiction in Apollo 13.
    At space looking at the darkness up there and then the rocket starts taking off and it's not like Apollo 13 movie with Tom Hanks. You're like it's kind of it's just gradual…

Companies & orgs

  • Fox — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at
    Michael Strahan mentions his love for working at Fox and his commitment to the company despite considering retirement.

Products & tech

  • Madden — Product · Case study · 3 mentions · first at
    Michael Strahan discusses a movie about John Madden, highlighting the cultural impact of the Madden video game and the upcoming film.
    And then we did Bill Bichc on the Madden Cruiser for the Super Bowl in New Orleans. We produced that. And now we're doing the Madden movie with David O.

Sponsors

  • All State — Product · Sponsor · 1 mention · first at
    All State is mentioned as the sponsor of the segment 'We Got to Ask', indicating a commercial relationship with the podcast.

Full transcript with timestamps

All right, straight. Before we get you out of here, we always end uh our conversations with a little segment called We Got to Ask, but you don't have to answer. You can just tell us off, but uh we got to ask is brought to you by All State.

Oh boy. You do not have to answer. Yeah, you can tell us to off. I'll be honest, though. I kind of I kind of like skating on the edge, man.

There we go. All right, here we go. Well, talk about skating on the edge of the atmosphere. What What was it like going to space?

Amazing, dude. Crazy cuz the whole thing was like 12 minutes. Boop boop. Felt like hours.

What? Really? To be in the light and you're looking up at space looking at the darkness up there and then the rocket starts taking off and it's not like Apollo 13 movie with Tom Hanks. You're like it's kind of it's just gradual like a gradual push and you're looking at your little screen cuz see have the little screen tells you the altitude, the speed. You're like oh 40,000 ft. I've been in a plane. Then you you're looking down, then you look back, it's like you're 200,000 feet and you're 2,000 miles per hour or something crazy. And you're going, goodness, oh my god, this is real. And the design of the ship is amaz when it goes up, it's designed to twist. So you don't have to turn your head, just look out your own window and you get to see the full 360 cuz there's emergency booster in the middle. So you got to keep your head back because something happens and that shoots you off. That shoots you off at 9

G's. when you're going up there, it's like three and a half. Yeah. Like your top gun or something. But the gradual push up is like three and a half G's, I want to say. Coming down, it's like 5 G's. But when you get up there and they release the main rocket from the capsule and they go, "Oof, and then you realize, oh my god, my arms are floating." And then the lights go off, you can undo your belt, put your belt up, and you but you you push as hard as you two your two fingers like holding a cell phone, like that kind of pressure.

And then I'm doing flips, man. My my big ass has never done a flip. I haven't done a flip since I was a kid. And I'm doing I'm doing like flips. We had little mini footballs. You do like that. It just go. It doesn't none of that. It's just And blowing in one space and doing like the cartoons where you're flapping does nothing. You'll just sit in one spot and then um it's just amazing to float around. You're looking back at Earth and it's like you're watching when you leave your um your your your Apple TV on too long.

It and it was literally you one of the best parts which sounds kind of creepy is that you have to come to terms with death.

Oh wow. And by that I mean before you take off you become so relaxed and free. Best way to put it. You just come so if it's God's will

this is what it is. This is how I go. And wow. Believe me though. I was happy to come back but But everybody on the ground was crying and except for my mom. My mom was like, "Your dad did worse. He was jumping out of planes all the time. He's a paratrooper." I'm like, "Well, damn. You know what? Come on." But everybody else was crying, but all of us on there were just so happy, man. So filled with joy. And it was it was um it was one of the best things I've ever done in my life without a doubt.

Wow. That is incredible. That's what I wanted to hear, baby. And that was a long explanation, but I No, I loved every second of it, man. I'm so in.

I tell you, you would love it. They do an incredible job from start to finish. And um I I would highly recommend it. If you get the opportunity to do it, I would jump on it in a heartbeat. It's life-changing in a lot of ways. Makes you realize how insignificant you are on this in the world. And but it also makes you realize how important you are to the people that matter the most to you. because I'm on there thinking about my family and like I'm not ready to leave them and they're not ready for me to leave either. Like it really puts a lot of things in perspective.

That is beautiful, man. You've done so much, Mike. What's next? What is the next thing for Michael Strahan?

Hey, retirement like full just all around work. There's no way. You know what? Yeah, they're in the way at some point. Some some some point, man. You know what it is? I I love Fox. I I absolutely love that. But I just want to you work so much and then I want to go here, I want to go there, and I can't do a lot of things because I got these commitments and schedule stuff. And I I think at some point I have to look at time lived and time left.

I got you. You know, I hear and you guys are are young, man. Y'all y'all y'all enjoy You got more time ahead of you than behind you. I got more time behind me than ahead of me. So, I'm starting to look more in that vein of life. and I'm not just gonna completely disappear. But another thing is I love business and I got a lot of other businesses that I do and I'm and those things interest me like football did because I have had to learn them like I had to learn football later and I love doing those things and I think I could get a lot of you know um validation or of just you know not not feeling completely retired and doing nothing but that gives me enough and on top of that I still I I do Fox until they throw me off of Fox.

Man, I don't want to be 80 years old on Fox, but you know, I stick around a little bit longer.

You got some fun stuff coming up on uh on Smack with Smack Entertainment, right? You guys got some docu series coming coming out, right?

Yeah, we got a docu series coming out, Coach Vic. And this is the second one we did with with with Mike cuz Mike, we did the evolution of the black quarterback with Vic.

Yep. Um and which which Andy Reid, your coach, played a big part in that, Doc, because think about the quarterbacks. He McNav, Vic, all these guys that he really brought in and gave a chance when other people probably wouldn't have. So, he's been very instrumental in that. So, document I mean that that and now we have coach Vic and his his his his foray into coaching at Northolk State.

That's right. Folks state, baby. Him and Deshawn Jackson going at it right there. Two former Eagle grades. I came down for GMA and I was at the stadium and we had both of them there cuz they were doing the game there and at the link and I'm like um I felt out of place in Philly man all that eagle stuff. I'm like we could have done this at a neutral sight. Don't bring me over here to the beauty.

But you know so we got we got um Coach Vic coming up. We also we have a movie coming out too. I'm going to screen it uh right after we get done here. And and that one is about John Matt. We did the documentary on the Mad video game. John and then we did

and then we did Bill Bichc on the Madden Madden Cruiser for the Super Bowl in New Orleans. We produced that. And now we're doing the Madden movie with David O. Russell directing. Christian Bell plays Al Davis. Nicholas Cage plays John Madden. And so that I'm going to screen now cuz that's coming out.

Man, I can't [ __ ] wait, man. That looks awesome, man. That looks so [ __ ] awesome.

It's gonna be incredible. And obviously John Madden is he's one of the biggest personalities that I I I like he was the world when I was growing up and I can only imagine what it was to actually be like be in a room with him and and to enjoy who he was as a person, man.

But you know those pregame meetings, I mean, imagine doing those pregame meetings and you're meeting with John Madden.

Yeah, that's crazy. And then you're at the stadium and that bus is sitting there and you're like, "Oh my god, John Madden." That was more presser than freaking John Ryan,

right? I got to ask you, you brought up John a couple times. I do got to ask you this. I see the highlights and I see a lot of Michael Strahan highlights. I know you've always given John his credit as being tough, physical, but what was what was it really like? How what was it like for Michael Strahan going up against John Ren?

Tough. easier when he first got there cuz he was in he was in Tennessee and then when they brought him to Philly the whole thing was we brought him to Philly to stop Strahand which pissed me off. So I studied John Renan more than I probably studied anybody anybody. I could tell what he was going to do before he can do it. Um I could tell he was going to fart before he farted. THAT'S HOW THAT'S THAT'S how much I knew that cat. Right. But I will say as we played each other more and more over the years, the tougher it got, the more savvy he got. He and Eric Williams with the Dallas Cowboys was my number one toughest guy. Um John Renan and Leon Cersi um who was the offensive tackle played in Pittsburgh and then in Jacksonville were the were two 2A and 2B and so freaking strong and tough and smart and I love John cuz John made me a better player. Those those three I named made me a better player because playing

against them made everybody else seem easy. And even at the super at my Hall of Fame induction, John came, which meant the world to me. And I had to give him a shout out. I had to give him a shout out. So I said, John Renan, 67, 350 lbs, whatever, of of um of of Twisted Steel and no sex appeal. SO you got to go give him a compliment. Hell no. Could you have ever called out that he was going to be the VP of rules and and policy and handed out fines for guys with that are given late hidden cheap shots.

You know, it's kind of like what's that catch me if you can character? That's exactly hired a guy who does the crime so that you know how who know how who to catch doing the crime. And John, man, I I couldn't believe it. I'm like, how are you finding anybody? We should go and retroactively find your ass for what you were doing.

Oh man, that's so [ __ ] good. All right, man. We're going to we got to wrap and get you out of here, big dog. No, we appreciate the time, but we we always end these uh these interviews or these talks with uh a welcome to the NFL moment, man. What was your welcome to the NFL moment, Dre?

Oh, man. I've had Well, I one was I was actually playing in the game. The other one I was just actually a rookie at the game. As a rookie at the game, we were playing the 49ers in the playoffs and in San Fran. And I just remember being there and I'm coming from Texas Southern man. I'm watching Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Ricky Waters, all these guys and I'm like, "Can I have your autograph?" THAT'S WHAT I WANTED.

I WANT an autograph. I didn't know Jerry Rice coming out there running like a damn stallion. And it it was that was the most Amazing, amazing thing. But my welcome to the NFL moment was playing the Cowboys, playing against Eric Williams. And we're out there and we're fighting, man. We're battling. And I'm like, you know what, mother? You wait till next time. I'm going to do that. I'm do I do that. He looked at me and he said, "Let me tell you something, young fella. That may happen in the future, but right now, you just take this whipping like a girl. You take THIS ASS WHIP.

YOU JUST take this ass whooping like a Okay. And he was right. Sometimes you got to you got to take that ass whip it like a man. And that was my welcome to the NFL. There's some bad boys out here. You know always king of the jungle.

I love that. That is so good. That's similar to mine. I I've told this. We probably won't even put in the episode, but I got to tell you this after that. My guy Jay Ratliff with the Cowboys and it was my first time playing like a head up nose or 5 and everything. So, it's me and him one-on-one and he was whooping my ass. Like, I could not block him. He didn't have he didn't have a sack. I get a holding call later in the game and I'm and I didn't think it was a good call. I start yelling at the ref and I look back at Jay. I'M LIKE, "MAN, YOU KNOW THAT'S some bullshit." He's like, "Son, I've been whooping your ass all day. I figure I deserve one of them.

You know what? I ain't got nothing to say." Yeah, you're right. But we all have that one guy, man.

Yeah. all got that one guy and we all had those moments. But hey, if you didn't have those kind of moments, you didn't play football.

Seriously. Who was yours? What was your I had I had about five of them. Uh I had I had a guy I had one of those guys on every team actually. It was it was just about you know the one I saw twice a year was Von Miller though. Von Von and those when they had they were they were trying they were on those Super Bowl runs with uh with Peyton man. Van was it was he was a beast and he was mean man. I've learned I've learned to know Van. Von is like you. He's a great guy. Like just a just a A1 human being. But man, when he in between those whistles, he was trying to embarrass you.

I tell you what, man. I was I was in the Bahamas and and Von came over to hang out.

I'd never seen somebody with legs that big. Oh yeah. He's he's he's he's an animal now.

Really? I wouldn't expected that more splendor. I didn't either. I was like, "Oh, maybe I I should be commenting on other men's ass and legs." But I was like, "DAMN, if I was built like that, you know what I'm saying?

Yeah, he's producing some torque, man." With that being said though, before we go, I got to I got to give a shout out to my guy Miles Garrett, though. I had an incredible season. Unstoppable, unblockable player, man. And I've never, you know, usually a guy has like one move or something like that in the counter. There's nothing he doesn't have. And and it's crazy. You watch him and going, "Ah, how could a guy that big be that fast and lean that low? How could a guy be that big and that strong and run somebody over? How does he open at the hips and come inside?" Or

such a savvy ball player, too, man. He knows what's coming. But yeah, congrats to Miles, man. Incredible season. I'm so happy for him. He really is a good dude, man. I've had a chance, you know, have lunch and spend some time with him and and hit him up and talk to him before and after that. And I always try to encourage him because as you guys know,

we play and pretty soon we're just another guy who played in the league in so many ways and it's time for the next generation and um you just got to encourage them because I always had guys encourage me and I hate to see when when when you know old guys we tear down these young players. Game's different, pay is different, all these things are different. part of the game. I remember making three million bucks a year and I was the highest paid defensive end in the league and that was a big deal because I was making as much as or more than Bruce Smith and Reggie and all those guys. And then then I end up jumping up like 8 million bucks a year and that was unheard of. Now five times that would probably be the going rate, but you can't think back because back then like that was that was doing well in those times. So, I always want to encourage these young guys. I always want to encourage these older guys.

Encourage these young guys, man. Don't just look at them as if you didn't play in my era, you couldn't play. Okay. Okay. Fine. They weren't born. What can you do? Blame the parents.

Yeah. No doubt. No doubt. Well, we we can go ahead and leave it right there. That was beautifully said, big dog. And I can't thank you enough for the wisdom. Just you being you, your personality. Seriously,

I'm telling you, man. what what you've been to just me as a as a player and and and always reaching out and being kind, man. I can't thank you enough for being you, big dog.

Well, I appreciate you both for having me, man. And really, in all sincerity, I think you two are are the best. So, keep on doing it. And I love the brotherly love and I love the fact that you guys are just who you are and you're being yourself and that's your that's that's the magic of the Kelsey brothers, man.

Come on now. Thank you, big dog. Appreciate Mike. You're the best, brother baby.

Straight. You're the best, man. Appreciate the time, dog.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Michael Strahan’s WILD trip to Space and What’s Next in His Career"?

Michael Strahan (Guest), Jason Kelsey (Host), Travis Kelsey (Host).

What is "Michael Strahan’s WILD trip to Space and What’s Next in His Career" about?

Michael Strahan shares his exhilarating experience during a 12-minute trip to space, describing the gradual ascent, the intense G-forces, and the surreal moment of weightlessness when the rocket separates from the capsule. He reflects on the awe of witnessing the atmosphere from above and hints at exciting future endeavors in his career following this extraordinary adventure.

What is mentioned in this New Heights episode?

12 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Michael Strahan, John Madden, Fox, Madden, John Renan, Eric Williams. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Michael Strahan’s WILD trip to Space and What’s Next in His Career"?

The episode runs 16 min; the transcript is about 3,297 words in 50 timestamped sections.

More from New Heights

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated February 1, 2026.