I Spent 340 Days in Space: Here’s What It Did to My Mind & Body | Enrico Mayor Podcast #20

Scott Kelly — NASA Astronaut — A year in orbit doesn’t just change your body—it rewires how you see Earth, risk, politics, and what actually matters.In this uncut conversation we discuss:• Why the “hardest part of Mars” isn’t rocket science—it’s political science• The real odds of dying on launch (and why astronauts still get on the rocket)• What daily life on the ISS actually feels like: schedules, sleep, food, and isolation• The weirdest realities of microgravity (yes…including the toilet)• The twin study surprises: telomeres, time dilation, and what space does to your biology00:00 - Intro01:01 - What a year in space teaches you about Earth (and why Scott is a “big fan of Earth”)06:31 - Launch prep: Star City, Baikonur quarantine & Russian vs NASA training mindset12:41 - Superstitions, ceremonies & the reality of quarantine before liftoff15:43 - “How likely are you to die?” Space Shuttle vs Soyuz risk, escapes & hard truths22:18 - Why the Space Shuttle was so complex (2,000 switches) vs modern spacecraft27:05 - Dragon vs Soyuz vs Boeing: which vehicle is “easiest” to fly today?30:19 - SpaceX landings, Starship scale & why Kelly changed his mind about what’s possible33:24 - Living with 3–13 people in orbit: toilets, claustrophobia & the gorilla suit story39:01 - A real day on the ISS: GMT, ground conferences, work weeks & “mental health days”52:09 - Re-entry: fireball windows, parachutes, “the best ride ever” & why landings feel like a car crash59:06 - Returning to gravity: dizziness, blood volume changes, skin reactions & losing 20% heart mass1:08:26 - The twin study: telomeres, radiation, time dilation & being “8 milliseconds younger”1:15:54 - Mars: radiation, life support, why one-way missions are a bad idea, and the politics problem1:25:52 - Borders from space, tribalism on Earth & what astronauts learn about cooperation1:38:09 - The hardest personal moment in orbit: learning Gabby Giffords was shot from space1:52:11 - Advice to young people: find your spark, embrace failure, and don’t quit📍 Follow Enrico:Instagram – @enricomayorTikTok – @enricomayor🎧 Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.💬 Drop your takeaway in the comments & don't forget to Like & Subscribe.