In this episode of Across The Ocean, I’m back on the mic with Matthias for what we jokingly call our “group therapy session” — and then we actually hit record and do a proper 2024 year in review. We explain the very simple reason we’ve been quiet for a few months: we’ve both been flat-out busy, and this show isn’t the top priority when the real-world work stack gets heavy. Then we break the year down into the big themes: travel, channel life, and what’s coming next. Travel-wise, 2024 was absolutely outrageous for me: Indonesia (Bali + Komodo) with our group, then Bikini Atoll on the rebreather with my technical diving buddies, and then a full month in Truk Lagoon hosting a Divers Ready trip. I talk about why those trips were bucket-list level, but also why that kind of schedule forces trade-offs elsewhere. On the channel side, we get into sponsorships — why getting paid doesn’t automatically mean “sellout,” especially when it’s brands I’ve used for decades (like Shearwater) and organizations I genuinely recommend (like DAN). Finally, we look ahead to 2025: fewer trips for me, a big focus on teaching and a major house renovation, and a reminder that if I go quiet for a few weeks, it’s probably because I’m underwater or buried in real life — not because the channel’s going anywhere.