Summary: Hello, Innovators! Welcome back to another episode of the Killer Innovations podcast.<br> <br> I am so happy to be back in the studio with you today, and I'm excited to give you an update on the show and myself.<br> A few months ago, in February, I had to undergo open heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.<br> The surgery was totally unexpected when we went to Florida for Christmas. I have a rare genetic cardiac condition, so I'm under Mayo's care. During my annual check-up, the test showed some issues, which turned a three-week visit into a four and half month stay.<br> Unfortunately, the nine days I spent in the intensive care unit being intubated caused damage to my vocal cords, preventing me from recording new episodes — that is, until today. The damage to the vocal cords is why my voice may sound different.<br> But the show must go on, and that's where the team that helps me with the show stepped in. While I've been out, Andrew, Kirk, and Ethan have been serving up the <a href="https://killerinnovations.com/the-best-of-killer-innovations-creative-qualities/">most popular shows</a> from our rich 19-year archive.<br> Since I couldn't record, I turned my attention to my writing, posting multiple times weekly to my blog at <a href="https://www.philmckinney.com/">philmckinney.com</a>. If you haven't checked it out lately, I encourage you to hop over. You will notice that all of my writing is now merged onto the Ghost platform that hosts the blog, making it easier for everyone to find the archive of my articles going back to 1996.<br> To get back in front of the microphone, I've been meeting with vocal cord experts, including those specializing in performers and audio professionals. We looked at various options to determine what it would take to get my voice back to its pre-surgery level. The most important was letting the vocal cords rest. In addition, the specialists changed my diet to reduce the acid reflux, which has been scaring the vocal cords. Who knew?<br> Now for some exciting news. I've been cleared to experiment with recording new shows to see how my vocal cords hold up. Andrew, our associate producer, has been investigating and testing <a href="https://killerinnovations.com/human-creativity-and-ai/">AI tools</a> that can be trained on my past shows, taking the scripts I write and recording the audio for me. This will allow us to deliver original content without over-stressing my vocal cords.<br> In fact, the introduction you heard today was an actual recording of me from my mobile studio built into my bus parked in Port Angeles, Washington. This main segment you are listening to was recorded using one of the AI tools.<br> Like my challenge to you, the podcast team needs to innovate, even in how we produce the show. What do you think?<br> As for my health, I'm doing great. I've lost 35 pounds—though I wouldn't recommend bypass surgery as a weight loss program. My focus now is on my cardiac rehab and rebuilding my strength and stamina. This summer, I'm working from my bus parked in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, walking on the beach to get my steps in, and loving my Starlink broadband!<br> Regarding the show, our team is working hard to rebuild the queue so we can release new original content on a more regular schedule. If we miss a few weeks, I apologize in advance.<br> So, what is changing — and staying the same with the show?<br> When the show was launched in 2005, the goal was to explore creativity, design, and innovation. Over the years, this podcast has grown to include a mix of interviews, solo episodes, and occasional co-hosts. This focus and format will not change, but the technology behind producing this show will continue to evolve.<br> So, who are our listeners? Well, <a href="https://killerinnovations.com/">Killer Innovations</a> attracts a broad spectrum of people. From tech aficionados to aspiring entrepreneurs,
