A canceled keynote, a delayed flight, and a pilot with a rag might sound like chaos—until you see how it all snaps into focus. Photographer and pilot Jon Carmichael joins us to unpack the once-in-a-lifetime chain reaction that led to “108,” his breathtaking mosaic of the Great American Eclipse captured from a Southwest Airlines window at 39,000 feet. From childhood rocket launches and a seventh-grade eclipse demo to a last-minute scramble across flight paths, Jon shows how stubborn curiosity, bold asks, and help from total strangers can bend the odds.

We talk through the technical and the human: why photographing the moon’s shadow required telephoto mosaics and ATC-cleared S-turns, how the layered plastic of a window warps images, and what it took to catch the half-second “diamond ring.” Jon explains the thin blue line of our atmosphere and why the image feels like space despite its commercial altitude. Then the story pivots—Elon Musk cancels a surprise keynote, Jack Dorsey hears Jon’s tale, and in 45 minutes Jon steps on stage for the first time to speak to 5,000 people. The room erupts, and a new calling is born.

This episode is a masterclass in perspective and perseverance. You’ll hear practical lessons for leaders on building cultures of curiosity, for creators on asking boldly and iterating under pressure, and for anyone who needs a reminder that awe can heal division. If you’ve never stood in totality, Jon makes the case to travel the extra miles—because 99 percent isn’t the same as 100. If this story moved you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

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Jon Carmichael | 108: A Once-In-A-Lifetime Eclipse Photo