Artemis II, Europa Clipper, and the return of a podcast
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THE MattDanToddcast Podcast is BACK for season three!
Remember when dc Talk announced that its members were going to explore different creative paths right before the release of their greatest hits album? They said they weren’t breaking up. It was just an intermission.
Other than a Jesus Freak cruise and the very occasional guest vocalist appearances on various projects, the world has heard barely a peep from the trio that took `90s CCM by storm.
And the odds of a reunion any time soon (if at all) are pretty slim.
Remember that?
This intermission between seasons of my podcast is hardly like that – for a variety of reasons.
Or do you remember when the Eagles got back together in the mid 190s and said, “For the record, we never broke up. We just took a 14 year vacation.” Remember that?
Well, this year-and-a-half delay between seasons was nothing like that, either. There wasn’t any drama. Or any hard feelings. Or bruised egos. I had interviews lined up, episodes planned, and thoughts ready to record.
But life got in the way of this little side project.
It’s been a long time since my last podcast episode, but I’ve finally fired the ol’ podcast recording machine back up and am ready to launch a new season of THE MattDanToddcast Podcast after an incredibly long hiatus. I’ve embedded the episode here, but you can also find it on most streaming platforms. After you give it a listen, please take the time to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. I also hear that commenting and liking the episodes helps appease the mighty Algorithm That Decides All Things.
It was fun to get back behind the mic. And I even found myself slipping back into preacher mode – just for a second. And even though this episode is a little shorter than usual, I’m not gonna lie. It felt good.
We (Finally) Have Liftoff: Launching a New Season, Big Dreams, and a Spacecraft to Europa
About Season 3, Episode 1
Season Three blasts off with my reflections on the timeless pull of exploration while watching the Artemis II crew launch
That same mix of wonder leads into a recounting of my front‑row experience watching the Europa Clipper rocket roar into the sky, sparking a look at the mission, Europa itself, and the dreams that drive us to keep reaching farther. After a 17‑month break, THE MattDanToddcast Podcast returns with a reminder that long odds don’t mean impossible ones.
This episode is part rocket launch, part pep talk, and part personal journal entry. It’s the perfect way to launch a new season of stories, conversations, and inspiration.
Mentioned in this episode:
- President George W. Bush’s speech at the memorial service for the Space Shuttle Columbia crew
- Photos and videos from the Europa Clipper NASASocial event
- Our Ireland trip
- In Praise of Mystery by Ada Limón
- United States Air Force Heritage of America Band performance of Gustav Holst’s The Planets, Jupiter: The Bringer of Jollity (available through public domain)
- Moonshot: A NASA Astronaut’s Guide to Achieving the Impossible by Astronaut Mike Massamino
- PopCon Indy
