I never thought I’d be co-hosting a podcast with an AI captain—but here we are.
Boat, Brain, and Beyond: Sailor’s Mindset isn’t just a podcast about sailing. It’s a reflection of everything I’ve been learning about adaptive leadership, emotional resilience, and what it means to hold steady when everything feels like it’s going sideways. My sailing adventure restarted during Covid, where my wife exclaimed “I’m taking a sailing class!” Alas, it was the only activity we were allowed to do! So I hurried to schedule my own class and there was only 1 spot left in October so I took it. The ASA 101 class, and followed by the ASA 103 I was certified to captain a 30 foot boat. For years I was part of a sailing club that allowed my and my wife to captain a 27 foot boat out on the Columbia river multiple times a month and earn our chops. Docking and maneuvering, sailing under heavier conditions, navigating around river barges, and currents from the river and around sea lions!
A year after we took our week long ASA 104/114 course in the San Juans we were ready to hijack a classmate to our first flotilla on a 45-foot aluminum monohull named Obelix and started our sailing adventure on a 10 day trip from Bellingham, WA up to the Princess Louisa Inlet in Canada and back. Along the way we experienced a fellow captain who lost engine power in the Dodd Narrows, and the current pulled him toward the rocks. The calmness in his voice, even while drifting toward disaster, stuck with me. That story changed how I see overcoming challenges and leadership. And now I’m using this podcast to unpack what that really means—not just for sailors, but for anyone trying to navigate chaos with courage.
What I’m Learning from the Process (So Far)
Launching this podcast has been way more than hitting record and uploading some ocean sounds. It’s taught me how to:
- Think like an instructional designer: I’m not just sharing stories—I’m building experiences. Each episode follows a clear arc, embeds real learning theories (like Social Cognitive Theory and Constructivism), and offers reflection points that are as applicable in the workplace as they are on deck.
- Script with intention, not perfection: Writing for audio and visual storytelling is a totally different muscle. I’ve had to learn how to be vulnerable, clear, and concise—while still leaving space for humor, silence, and depth.
- Integrate AI meaningfully: My co-host, Captain Meta-Helm, is more than a gimmick. He’s a character who helps me explore tough themes from a different angle—like a wise old sailor who’s seen it all (and maybe read a few thousand leadership articles too).
- Design across modalities: From vodcasts with metaphor-rich visuals to audio episodes layered with sound design and ambient narrative pacing—I’m getting to apply everything I’m studying in learning design and tech in a real, creative way.
- Stay true to my weirdness: Yeah, I talk to a fictional AI sea captain. But that’s the point. We’re entering an era where storytelling, tech, and education collide—and instead of waiting for someone else to show me how to do it, I’m figuring it out on the fly.
Why This Matters (and What’s Next)
This project is helping me shape my identity as an AI-powered storyteller—not just as a podcaster, but as an instructional designer who can build emotionally resonant, cross-platform learning content. It’s also helping me create a portfolio that actually reflects who I am: someone who’s passionate about leadership, resilience, and creating something that feels a little bit human… even when there’s code involved.
So if you’ve ever wondered how sailing metaphors, AI voices, educational theory, and big existential questions about leadership all fit into one floating, evolving narrative—you’re in the right place.
This is just the beginning.
🎧 New episodes of Boat, Brain, and Beyond launch soon.
Follow along, and let’s navigate this wild world together. Leave your landlubber life behind, join the adventure of the sea. Live life under your own terms, and learn how to navigate your own course through learning. Sailing is a lifelong learning adventure, and my podcast will help entertain and grow along the way.
⛵
– Jason
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