TV companion podcasts have become a popular genre in recent years with networks and streaming services fueling the interest by producing behind-the-scenes shows via the podcast medium to delve deeper into the storylines.

Told through the lives of NASA astronauts, engineers and their families, the Apple TV+ original series For All Mankind presents an aspirational world where NASA and the space program remained a focal point of our hopes and dreams. The show explores what would have happened if the global space race had never ended, and in season two, the height of the Cold War and tensions between the United States and the USSR are at their peak. The greater ambitions of science and space exploration are under threat of being squandered as the US and Soviets go head-to-head to control sites rich in resources on the moon. The Department of Defense has moved into Mission Control, and the militarization of NASA becomes central to several characters’ stories. Due to its unique premise, and the creative direction of the season, it’s the ideal series to debut as Apple TV+‘s first companion podcast.

Crafted as a widely accessible, thought-provoking experience for lovers of space and fans of the genre in general, the For All Mankind: The Official Podcast is the latest fix for sci-fi entertainment junkies around the world. Peeling back the curtains on the mind-boggling technologies, space exploration, and speculative “what ifs?” that make the Apple TV+ original series a uniquely fascinating ride, this podcast tests the limits of the wildest imaginations and perhaps, predict a not-too-distant future to come. Fans of the series and its themes hear host Krys Marshall discuss topics beyond our atmosphere with guests from the series, space experts, and former astronauts — plus never-before-heard audio that shows how astronauts achieve the impossible.

Capitalizing on the high consumption of podcast media among For All Mankind’s target audience, we wanted to produce and promote an Apple Original Companion Podcast for Season 2 that introduces the franchise to new audiences while extending engagement for existing fans on Apple TV app.

Just like the second season, the first Apple TV+ companion podcast included 10 episodes that were released weekly to drive sustained viewership throughout the season. Seven out of ten episodes focused on the “cool” scientific aspects explored in the show, current space related events, along with future-facing speculations on what mysteries mankind will discover next on the journey into the cosmos. Three episodes were a roundtable format with executive producers and cast members as they dove deeper into key moments of the show.

The podcast generated substantial press from entertainment and tech trades, and it reached the top 10 TV & Film charts in the UK, France, Australia, US and Canada. The podcast was listed on the US top 20 chart four weeks in a row and received high praise from fans for the behind-the-scenes content, realities of space travel and a captivating host.