Once We Were Spacemen

Nathan Fillion & Alan Tudyk

Nathan FIllion and Alan Tudyk were once spacemen. Since co-starring on Firefly, they have also been aliens, mystery writers, veterinarians, superheroes, chickens, robots, and policemen. Now, they’re doing a podcast where they get to know their fellow creatives, learning about who they once were and what they’re up to now. This is that podcast.

Listen to Once We Were Spacemen wherever your mom gets her podcasts. If you’d like to listen early, join our community on Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.

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20 episodes
Updated Wednesday

Episodes20

Newest first

Once We Were Lunk Alarmed with Louis Jensen | Episode 38
Artist and creative catalyst, Louis Jensen, has been part of this show since before the first episode aired, just never in front of a microphone. Nathan makes the introduction, and Alan meets the man behind the name in the credits. Some people tell good stories because they know how to tell a story. Louis tells good stories because he's lived an unreasonable number of them. By the end, Nathan and Alan have new nicknames and a fresh reminder of why the most unlikely friendships are often the best ones. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
Wednesday · 1 hr 32 min
Once We Used Dog Scissors | Episode 37
Nathan got a pet psychic reading for his cat. The psychic said something that he, a committed skeptic, immediately dismissed. But maybe he was wrong to do that… Meanwhile, Alan needed a haircut while at a convention and solved the problem by asking the audience for a volunteer, mid panel, while still taking questions. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
July 22 · 1 hr 5 min
Once We Made Uncharted with Allan Ungar | Episode 36
Allan Ungar is the filmmaker behind the Uncharted fan film that the internet went wild for… the one where Nathan played Nathan Drake. It all began with a soft float, which is apparently a Canadian thing, and a chain of events so unlikely it had to start with a con man. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
July 15 · 1 hr 10 min
Once We Coveted Sharp Vision | Episode 35
Nathan cannot seem to visit Paris without ending up underground. Last time it was the basement of the Eiffel Tower; this time, the catacombs, where one prisoner's story pulled his attention off the other six million skeletons. Back above ground, Nathan and Alan recount the laser eye surgery they both had years ago, and the small difference in results that one of them still refuses to forgive... Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
July 8 · 56 min
Once We Had A Tudyk Rash with Jim Rash | Episode 34
Jim Rash will insist the Groundlings is not a cult, and he is mostly right. The improv troupe turned him into a gifted actor, though he insists his deep well of characters is closer to a kiddie pool. He waves off his writing talents too, which is harder to pull off with an Oscar at home. The newest thing he is being modest about is Miss You, Love You, a film he wrote and directed, now on HBO Max. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Richard Jash. Ahem. Jim Rash… Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
July 1 · 1 hr 22 min
Once We Were Robot #4 | Episode 33
Alan was once cast as Robot #4, but his trailer door now says Gary. The upgrade was not an accident. Checking in from the Atlanta set of the Superman sequel, Alan makes the case that a little conviction can turn a number into a name. Nathan knows a thing or two about conviction himself, having once taped a script page to his own forehead in service of a scene. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
June 24 · 1 hr 10 min
Once We Were Fake Private Eyes with Eric Winter | Episode 32
Eric Winter spotted Nathan at a farmers market and assumed, with some certainty, that his career was over. Fortunately for fans of The Rookie, he was wrong. Despite being told he was too nice to play mean, Eric landed the role of Tim Bradford. After eight seasons of playing television's crankiest cop, somehow none of the cynicism has rubbed off. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
June 17 · 1 hr 16 min
Once We Scared Aunt Jeannie | Episode 31
Do you know how real cowboys earn their belt buckles? If you don't, Alan will tell you. And if you do, Alan will tell you anyway. The guys wander from Texas to Paris, where most people visit the top of the Eiffel Tower. Nathan, however, visited the basement… which is probably for the best, as the wind makes it rather nippy up there. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
June 10 · 1 hr 21 min
Once We Were Late Clowns with Edi Patterson | Episode 30
Edi Patterson is one of those performers who commits so fully you forget you're watching someone act. Righteous Gemstones and Vice Principals fans need no introduction. Alan witnessed her brilliance firsthand on Resident Alien, where she played the tallest, most beautiful, most unhinged avian alien in the universe. Their characters’ scenes had a way of going places no one planned, including one that should have been nominated for an MTV Best Kiss Award. Nathan has his own evidence: Edi recently picked up a script she'd never seen, walked to center stage, and immediately developed a speech impediment. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
June 3 · 2 hr 1 min
Once We Had A Nice Fist Fight | Episode 29
Alan just moved into a new place that may already be occupied. He's fine with some light haunting, as long as the ghost mostly stays out of his way. Nathan, however, thinks Alan should go full Ghostbuster. Speaking of things hiding in plain sight… a soap opera veteran once gave Nathan a piece of advice that he's been slipping into his performances ever since. If you've watched The Rookie, you've seen it. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
May 27 · 1 hr 4 min
Once We Were Knee-Deep in Chocolate with Bill Roe | Episode 28
Bill Roe was eleven years old when he rode a trolley to Bavaria Studios, waved to the guard, and went to work scooping foam out of the chocolate river on the set of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Five decades later, he's the Supervising Director on The Rookie, and Nathan and Alan finally have a microphone in front of him. As it turns out, the man who was present for some of the most iconic moments in American film and television has never once sat down for an interview. Some lucky bastard is going to be the first to ask him all about his incredible career. Alan and Nathan are those bastards. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
May 20 · 1 hr 7 min
Once We Drove Cross-Country | Episode 27
Alan drove a motorhome across America and arrived with lots of feelings about freedom, the open road, and the structural integrity of RV awnings. Nathan has 150 fidgets – organized by type in velvet-lined display cases – which honestly tracks. The guys catch up on new beginnings, old neighborhoods, and the kinds of stories that only happen in New York. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
May 13 · 57 min
Once We Borrowed Kayaks with Jon Huertas | Episode 26
Jon Huertas has lived a life that defies easy explanation. He'll try anyway. From the Bronx to the Air Force, from Castle's precinct to gold country, Jon has always found his way… usually by ignoring the obvious path. Nathan and Alan could listen to his stories forever. They almost did. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
May 6 · 1 hr 6 min
Once We Had Bad Haircuts | Episode 25
Once, Alan Tudyk humped a national treasure. Tom Hanks, specifically. In jeans. Other business includes worst haircuts, surreal celebrity encounters, and the time Alan accidentally got stoned before a red carpet. Maybe she's born with it, maybe it's Maybelline… Actually, it's just Alan's dog. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
April 29 · 1 hr 13 min
Once We Filled German Niches with Flula Borg | Episode 24
Very few people can trace a straight line from a small town in Bavaria to playing supervillains in Hollywood. Flula Borg is not one of them. His path involves an improbable mentor list, a trainer named Paolo, and a holiday tradition that only makes sense if you've seen all eleven seasons of Frasier. Tune in for the slowest lightning round in OWWSM history. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
April 22 · 1 hr 6 min
Once We Cheated Death | Episode 23
Quicksand, rip currents, and falling windows… all ways the guys have narrowly avoided death. One of them happened before Alan was even an actor, let alone a Spaceman. Here's to hoping he doesn't see a pair of tiger sharks. Press play; your life may depend on it! **Listener Note: The segment from 35:30–37:52 includes a discussion of sexual coercion in duck mating behavior. Please skip ahead if the subject matter is difficult.** Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
April 15 · 53 min
Once We Recorded Live | Episode 22
Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk are aging into senior discounts. They’re even wearing shoes with elastic laces. Yet, they STILL found the energy to record a live episode in front of an audience. While on stage, the guys swap stories about prosthetic makeup mishaps, commiserate over dog digestion, and open the floor to audience questions. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
April 8 · 38 min
Once We Were Starving Artists | Episode 21
Pro tip: if you ever find yourself living in a cramped hotel room without a fridge, store your bagels and cream cheese on the window sill. Just beware the pigeons. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
April 1 · 55 min
Once We Were Gingers with Molly Quinn | Episode 20
Molly Quinn left small town Texas with two goals: become an actor and travel the world. She has done just that. In this episode, the drawbridge comes down and we cross the moat into Castle. Molly and Nathan reflect on what it was like to build a TV family. Molly also shares insights about eating on camera, talks about her first impressions of Nathan, and explains how Alan inspired her as a fellow ginger in Hollywood. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
March 25 · 1 hr 12 min
Once We Set Out To Do The Impossible… Again? | LIVE Announcement | Episode 19
Nathan, Alan, and the cast of Serenity just announced a brand-new Firefly animated series in development… set during the time between Firefly and Serenity. Whether it happens depends on YOU. The cast has a pilot script. They have showrunners. They have an animation house. They have permissions and blessings from the powers that be. What they need now is proof that the fanbase that kept this show alive for two decades wants more Firefly. Here's the mission: go to the Once We Were Spacemen Instagram and engage with the announcement post. Like it. Comment. Share it. Tag a Browncoat, tag a Reaver. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV6Js56jT3F/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Recorded live at Awesome Con 2026. Moderated by Maggie Lovitt. Follow Once We Were Spacemen wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to extended episodes a whole week early by joining our Patreon. Once We Were Spacemen is a Collision33 production.
March 18 · 40 min

Once We Were Spacemen

Once We Were Lunk Alarmed with Louis Jensen | Episode 38

Once We Used Dog Scissors | Episode 37

Once We Made Uncharted with Allan Ungar | Episode 36

Once We Coveted Sharp Vision | Episode 35

Once We Had A Tudyk Rash with Jim Rash | Episode 34

Once We Were Robot #4 | Episode 33

Once We Were Fake Private Eyes with Eric Winter | Episode 32

Once We Scared Aunt Jeannie | Episode 31

Once We Were Late Clowns with Edi Patterson | Episode 30

Once We Had A Nice Fist Fight | Episode 29

Once We Were Knee-Deep in Chocolate with Bill Roe | Episode 28

Once We Drove Cross-Country | Episode 27

Once We Borrowed Kayaks with Jon Huertas | Episode 26

Once We Had Bad Haircuts | Episode 25

Once We Filled German Niches with Flula Borg | Episode 24

Once We Cheated Death | Episode 23

Once We Recorded Live | Episode 22

Once We Were Starving Artists | Episode 21

Once We Were Gingers with Molly Quinn | Episode 20

Once We Set Out To Do The Impossible… Again? | LIVE Announcement | Episode 19