037 | Leading a Triple Life with Homer Hickam (Part 1)
Homer Hickam has famously authored many books. His notable works include, Torpedo Junction, Rocket Boys—a book about his childhood which was eventually adapted into the Hollywood film, October Sky—and the recently published Don’t Blow Yourself Up, a memoir of his experiences and struggles as a writer. Besides being a highly successful novelist, Homer is also a war veteran and scuba instructor who has worked with NASA in spacecraft design and crew training.
In part 1 of this episode, you’ll hear about Homer’s triple life as he describes his experiences as a writer, diver, and NASA spacecraft designer. He shares his love for reading and how it influenced his passion for writing. He recounts his experiences in the army and the frightening story of his first dive. He describes the shipwrecks he found in his dives and how they inspired him to write Torpedo Junction. You’ll also get insight into our time working together in NASA.
"Sometimes, ignorance is not only bliss; it's also an advantage." - Homer Hickam
This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:
● Who Homer Hickam is and how he led a triple life
● The memoir Hollywood is set to adapt into a film
● Homer's love for reading and how it segued into writing
● Homer’s education, army service, scuba diving, and other experiences
● Writing a story about the battle against U-Boats during World War 2
● Homer's writing history and how shipwrecks inspired him to write his first book
● The amazing story of his first scuba dive and the wrecks he explored
● When Homer received a job offer from NASA
● Revisiting the time Homer and I worked together as divers
● Writing Rocket Boys and what it was like reliving his childhood
● How curriculum changed after Sputnik
Resources Mentioned:
● Film: October Sky
Connect with Homer Hickam:
● Book: Torpedo Junction
● Book: Rocket Boys
Spaceship Not Required
I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.
I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.
In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are… spaceship not required.
Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.