017 - Stephan Günther, Germany

What happens when a childhood dream refuses to fade? For Stephan Günther, it meant spending a lifetime turning that dream into motion. From growing up in 1970s Germany with a deep fascination for space, to becoming an airline captain and 3D simulation developer, Stephan has built both a career and a company—Space Dream Studio—around his vision of one day stepping foot on Mars. He was a candidate for the Mars One program, and today he continues to develop space-related simulations, tools, and experiences for others who dare to imagine interplanetary life.

In this episode, we talk about what it really means to commit to something as massive as moving to another planet. Stephan opens up about the emotional complexity of applying for a one-way trip, including the moment he told his first wife about his plans. We also dive into his thoughts on why Mars is pivotal to proving we're not alone, the importance of honesty when chasing impossible goals, and why—even after all this time—he still believes his journey to space isn’t over.

A huge thank you to Stephan Günther for sharing his story today, to Nick Thorburn for our unforgettable theme music, to Ceci Giglio for the brilliant graphics, to RDan, Leila, Inka, and Carl for admining the Facebook group, and to my family for always encouraging my Mars obsession—even when it means geeking out over vintage color by number art from space.