The Last Soviet
5.0/5
Critic Rating
Lance Bass, NSYNC Superstar and Russian trained astronaut, takes you on a wild ride into space. He tells the story of the last Soviet cosmonaut who is trapped on the world’s only space station, as the country he knows and loves collapses beneath him. On this journey through Earth’s atmosphere in the form of a podcast, Lance introduces you to the woman who won a reality show cosmonaut contest, a ham radio operator in Australia who became a lifeline for the Soviet Space Station, a hustler from Chicago who tried to sell coca-cola to the Russians and the edit...
Critic Reviews
Score: 5
Keelin • Mentally? A Magpie. • Apr 26, 2023
"Across these eight episodes, we are told a twisting and winding story. The Last Soviet is an insightful, and thought-provoking exploration of what happened then, and how that reaches now. The luscious tones of Bass’ voice are just a perk to this incredible story. The range of connections deftly navigated by this team serves as a particularly poignant reminder of our humanity. Pair all of this great storytelling with a design that’s like dessert for the ears..."
Score: 5
Ximena Smith • Stuff NZ • Mar 4, 2023
"The Last Soviet has content in bundles, moving along with a kind of swagger borne out of confidence in the incredible source material. It also takes full aural advantage of its outer space setting, featuring textures and effects that evoke the solitude and surrealism of Krikalev's situation. Its historical chops are solid, while Bass is an excellent host, possessing the instincts and timing of a trained performer, one clearly engrossed by the subject matter. This is a shame, but only slightly detracts from an overall excellent, lightning-in-a-bottle story."
Score: 5
Fiona Sturges • Financial Times • Feb 19, 2023
"Bass never got to go into space, but his obsession with the stories of those who have remains undimmed. It’s a remarkable story, expertly narrated by Bass, whose celebrity presence is not the distraction it might have been. Sharman’s tales of training regimes, space travel rituals and the hospitality extended by her fellow cosmonauts are wonderful. The Last Soviet delivers a vivid slice of sociopolitical history while allowing us to bask in the wonder of human beings climbing aboard space rockets and blasting off into the unknown…"
Score: 5
Devin • Podstack • Feb 16, 2023
"The first episode helps bring you up to speed on the history of the space program, how it would’ve inspired Sergei, and hints at what we’ll learn about Lance’s own experience. I love the storytelling Kaleidoscope is doing and the different stories they’re covering. They really great at making you want the next episode immediately! If you like history, space exploration, and a documentary full of twists, you’ll like this."
Score: 5
Miranda Sawyer • The Guardian • Feb 11, 2023
"...excellent new podcast...The Last Soviet is impressive and interesting, with some lovely use of sound: voices fading in and out, crackling radio, clanging machines. Such care means that initially, the choice of presenter – Lance Bass, from 90s boyband ’NSync – is a surprise, but Bass isn’t a random celebrity host. Space is always a brilliant topic, and The Last Soviet is packed not only with starship detail but the social and political context, the personalities involved, the mad scientific nuttiness of it all."
