If you have been following the world news this week, you will have likely seen an article or TV news segment about the expedition from which I just returned. One week ago, my team from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society located the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s last vessel, Quest. After six years of preparation, a team of 14 plus 8 crew set off for the Labrador Sea with a very tight plan to locate the lost vessel. Sir Ernest Shackleton is an icon to most explorers. His leadership during the famed Endurance Expedition stands as a timeless lesson in resilience, optimism, and the power of teamwork. As his ship was trapped and eventually crushed by Antarctic ice, Shackleton faced what seemed like insurmountable odds. Yet, his steadfast optimism and unwavering commitment to his crew turned a potential tragedy into an extraordinary tale of survival.

What is real? What is authentic? In this short audio podcast, Robert continues his one-man Boomer crusade against singers who use excessive processing and autotune on their vocal tracks. (Ugh…he sings!) Also - Jill's comments about Photoshop and AI post-processing applied to underwater photography. They share their love for authentic experiences and encourage young people to interact with their peers in real life. Jill spent the weekend with remarkable young people presenting at the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society - which gave her great hope and optimism for the future.

Jill Heinerth named honorary Ottawa Riverkeeper. She shares the important message of water literacy and how the river plays a role in the health of Canada's capitol city.

Artificial Intelligence has entered the chat. The media is full of articles about advanced AI applications and how it will soon touch every aspect of modern life. Love it or hate it - it’s going to change the way we interact with our digital devices. But fear not - AI has been embedded in everything from our smart phones to our kitchen appliances, and so far our refrigerators have not organized a robot rebellion. So far. Jill and Robert discuss how AI has been assisting underwater explorers and what the future looks like when intelligent, robotic digital “personalities” are a common part of daily life. As we discussed on the podcast, here’s a link to a special online preview of Diving Into The Darkness

Diving Into The Darkness, a world premiere doc film about underwater explorer Jill Heinerth, directed by Nays Baghai, wins Best Documentary Feature at the prestigious Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Jill shares her red-carpet experience and behind the scenes anecdotes of the very first screenings of this remarkable movie! www.DivingIntoTheDarkness.com

Jill shares her recent air travel experience and provides valuable tips and tricks for adventure travelers on today's airlines.

Jill spoke at the Wings WorldQuest gathering in Charleston, SC, and shared the message of women empowering other women. Whether in exploration, arts, science, or even sports, women are breaking barriers and helping the next generation of girls excel. Jill and Robert also discuss the success of the newly formed Professional Women's Hockey League and invite listeners to check out a teaser trailer of "Diving Into The Darkness" a new feature film about Jill Heinerth!  Links: https://www.wingsworldquest.org https://divingintothedarkness.com/ https://www.intotheplanet.com/  

Even when things are looking grim, Jill shares the importance of maintaining optimism throughout the expedition team. Recorded on a windy hike on the Tip to Tip trail at Burritts Rapids on the Rideau Canal, near Ottawa. Jill's Website: Into The Planet Link to  Burritts Rapids Info  

JIll and Robert take listeners on a stroll along the river as they discuss their predictions for 2024. More at www.IntoThePlanet.com

Jill was recently approached by a group of bright high school students to help with a freelance project. She has some words of wisdom for others who may find themselves mentoring young people.