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A podcast about drones and the people behind them. An educational and entertaining take on the current state of drones and what flies ahead in the drone world.
Mark Masterton (00:00)
You're quite a leader in the in the community, particularly among women. Like you say, one of the first women to to take that certification. And today on the drone as the future podcast, we have the pleasure of talking with drone diva deszi. She shares her story about being a pioneer of the drone industry. So what was it like entering a a field that was so full of men?
Desiree Ekstein (00:20)
In the beginning I'd go to the expos and I'd be standing there and people would look right past me to talk to the person beh
Mark Masterton (00:33)
Her journey from outsider to influencer and how her life now searching the Wild West perfectly ties in with her passion and knowledge of drones. Tune in to our conversation that ranges from her start all the way through to what flies ahead.
Desiree Ekstein (00:48)
But on the flip side, I feel that it's also opened up opportunities. I've been able to take advantage of situations that they're looking for people and really want to support women in the industry.
Mark Masterton (01:01)
Drone as the future is made in partnership with Drone as a Service. Make your survey mapping or inspections safer, faster and more efficient with the help of our team. Elevate what's possible with droneasaservice.com
Mark Masterton (01:17)
Welcome to the Drone is a Future Podcast, Drone Diva Desi.
Desiree Ekstein (01:21)
Why thank you.
Mark Masterton (01:22)
You run a video business, you are a podcast host, you're a published author, and you inspire many, many, many women and other people in the drone community in the drone world. So thank you for taking time out of your very, very, very busy schedule to join us.
Desiree Ekstein (01:37)
Hey, well thank you for having me. I get excited to share and so yeah, thank you.
Mark Masterton (01:42)
It's awesome to have you. should we go right back to the beginning then and when you first got a drone and got into this world? What what sparked the interest? What got you into drones? So
Desiree Ekstein (01:52)
So
like many, it was that higher perspective. So I I have been flying for many years. I started flying in actually two thousand and twelve. And then I segue well, I I say that loosely. I flying and crashing in two thousand and twelve, right? So the good news is that also helped me to buy one so I could fly and then repair. So I also learned that side of things. But
When I first started, it was because of that higher perspective. Nobody had seen life at even 20 feet above. And so getting that higher and then up at a hundred feet, it was just epic. And so that was really my passion of where it started. I also was in a very, very successful business prior to that.
And I was ready for a change. So it was great that I could now start to incorporate this flying camera into a new direction for my company. And as a lot of people know, actually Part 107 came along in 2016. My company started 2014. And not to share my whole life story for you, but
Mark Masterton (03:12)
We
pay for it.
Desiree Ekstein (03:15)
in the beginning the FAA was like, What do we do with these flying things? Right. And so we had to get what they call a 333 exemption. And me doing things right, I actually went through and got the 333 exemption and started flying that direction and was very relieved when I found out part one seven came along because
Mark Masterton (03:39)
Could you just tell me what a three three three exemption is and what it did at the time?
Desiree Ekstein (03:43)
So that allowed you to operate as a business with these flying cameras. But as according to the FAA, if you were going to be doing that as commercial purposes, you had to have a private pilot's license. Okay, ask me. No, I don't have one. So I had all the paperwork in place. I have an uncle who is a private pilot.
So I had to just kind of morph things around a little bit, but I did start taking the ground school so I could do what they call lighter than air, which is learning how to fly a hot air balloon. And then my first excursion in that balloon, we had a propane league. So two things that don't mix propane and flame, right? So we came down very fast and I went, you know.
That's just not for me. But I did scary. It is scary. And so it's like, yeah, okay. And plus they're heavy. They're so heavy. And so I just thought, you know, I I did the ground school and doing things right is very important to me. And so I just kinda held off and waited for the part one seven to come along. And then I got hired on by a company that
like anything was evolving and finding new opportunities with drones and such. And the core to that company it was doing things right, doing it safely, tri making traditional aviation the core of the safety element, risk management for what everything we did. And so that was really my strong foundation for doing safety.
Mark Masterton (05:37)
And you were a bit of a pioneer in getting that certification, weren't you?
Desiree Ekstein (05:40)
Yes, I was one of the first few females to have their certificate. Yeah, I was on it. Now I did wait a little bit because I also was a little cautious and I wanted to see, you know, okay, somebody took the test, what's gonna happen, what's it what are they expecting. But I was in a training program at the time and nobody knew really well, what is this part one seven test even gonna be about? And so again, the
program that I was in was traditional aviation. And it literally was morphing as the Part 107 exam was rolling out. And so I had a a little bit more broad foundation on traditional aviation, incorporating that. And then i I obviously over time the part 107 exam is has morphed as well. But I was part of that first
and transition then as well.
Mark Masterton (06:40)
Nice. So you like being a bit of a trendsetter.
Desiree Ekstein (06:43)
I don't know.
Mark Masterton (06:45)
You're quite a leader in the in the community, particularly among women and you were like you say, one of the first women to to take that certification and things. What was it like entering a a field that was so full of men and what what trials and tribulations came your way when you were first entering that field?
Desiree Ekstein (07:05)
So I do I do have both sides of the coin really when I when I share about that because in the beginning I would go to the expos and I'd be standing there and people would look right past me to talk to the person behind me because they just didn't think that I was literally the one flying the drones. But on the flip side, I feel that it's also opened up.
opportunities. I've been able to take advantage of situations that they're looking for people and really want to support women in the industry. And so I've been able to step into those roles. And so I I do have both sides. And so I feel very fortunate that way.
Mark Masterton (07:52)
Nice. And you talked a little bit about the the career that you had before you got into drones in twenty twelve and t in taking it so seriously as well, doing everything the right way, rather than just being a bit of a a rogue.
Desiree Ekstein (08:05)
I've always been an entrepreneur. I had an extremely successful party rental and event business. And so the one thing that that taught me was one safety. You you always have to be safe. I I I am a leader because of that, and just coordinating the logistics and just kind of bringing it all together. And so I've been able to bring that part of my life forward.
And I think that's really what's structured me into making sure that I dot the I's and cross the T's and everything that I do. Did I know. It It
Mark Masterton (08:41)
You ran a party rental business. I'm
Desiree Ekstein (08:46)
is. It's a l it's a lot of fun. my daughter does it now. She took it over when we my husband and I retired from it in two thousand and sixteen, officially turn it over to her. It's her baby. But
When you're planning events for thousands of people, it really does mean you have to be structured. You really do have to make sure that all things are lined up and there's so much safety compliance that is put into it. We would set up the huge, huge tents and so
There's fire marshals coming through and and just so much safety involved. So safety was not new to me in that respect. That
Mark Masterton (09:31)
Funny 'cause you think of parties, you don't think of safety. No. It
Desiree Ekstein (09:35)
yeah.
Mark Masterton (09:35)
it's it's a massive part of it. And it's funny how running a party business has informed you so much when pivoting to drones. so twenty sixteen, you and your husband retire and then you go off venturing into the wild west all the time, full time. You you're in you're living full time in an R V right now. Yeah.
Desiree Ekstein (09:55)
Yes.
Mark Masterton (09:56)
Yes.
Tell us all about how that happened. What what what drew you to the Wild West? I know. Why did you want to do that?
Desiree Ekstein (10:01)
So we actually we had a home very near to here and decided the way things were going.
Mark Masterton (10:08)
Where are you right now, by the way?
Desiree Ekstein (10:09)
I'm in Southern California right now. Southern California. So that is my home base, but I also have a property in Arizona. So I commute between both. when it's hot in summer, I like to be here in Southern California. Yeah.
Mark Masterton (10:23)
Yeah.
Desiree Ekstein (10:25)
And and I teach in San Diego and so and I live like right in between LA and San Diego. So I'm really in a good place. but we we had a home and life was going normal and everything is is was all good. And things really started picking up as far as my company and the things that I was doing.
So there came a pivot point and it wasn't in 2016, obviously it took a while to grow the business side of things. I started teaching quite a bit and I had opportunities to travel and do remote teachings and going different locations. So fast forwarding I've done trainings with women in drones and other entities.
in Ireland, in DC, in Canada, and you so we had these opportunities. And so we said, you know what, why are we paying for this massive house? Let's just downsize and be a little bit more remote. So we did. We took advantage of it. And we now I I I like to brag. We now have four homes. Every one of them have wheels.
Mark Masterton (11:45)
Nice, nice, nicely done. Nicely done. I was still open mouth but you said four homes. Still, it's pretty cool to be fully mobile. It's kind of a dream of mine. I'd like to live on a boat.
Desiree Ekstein (11:57)
that would be amazing.
Mark Masterton (11:59)
Very jealous of you. Yeah. R V Adventures.
Desiree Ekstein (12:02)
But backing up a little bit to the Wild West, so one of the things that we also do in Arizona is what we call a desert escape. And it's designed for people that want to escape the the city life. You know, you want to go out and see the stars, you want to get off-road, you want to adventure, maybe fly in some unique wide open spaces. one of the locations that we go to is a ghost town.
And a lot of this is because my husband, who I like to say is a gold digger, but he's actually a prospector. but he has two gold claims. He's very much involved with knowing the environment and you know what makes for a good place to pan for gold and and that type of thing. And right out of the property is a lot of mining area.
And so the history of the Wild West is really key to us. And so it's it's funny when you look at the correlation. So you say the Wild West, how it really does. The industry right now just really resembles that. I can remember doing jobs out in the Ag Field in particular where
They had no clue of the value that a drone could offer. And now it's like, I need this. I know this is a tool. Yeah, I'm so
Mark Masterton (13:37)
That's one of your main philosophies, isn't it, that drones aren't toys. Yeah. That they're to be used for important things. 'cause I I remember when I first got a drone, it was like my brother brought me bought me it from a store. Like forgot what the kids' toy stories in America, but he got me one. and yeah, it was definitely for flying around inside and hitting walls and bouncing off the walls but not doing me much good at all. But do you think it's important that people
younger kids as well don't treat them like toys.
Desiree Ekstein (14:08)
Right.
Mark Masterton (14:09)
Well that makes it sound l not fun, but there's more to them than that.
Desiree Ekstein (14:12)
There there are and it's it's a career path and when you say that, that's what sparked you to pursue it though, isn't it?
Mark Masterton (14:24)
Kinda. I guess it kinda led me here
Desiree Ekstein (14:26)
Yeah.
Mark Masterton (14:28)
to Away from piloting and more about talking about them, yeah.
Desiree Ekstein (14:30)
Yeah. And that happens too, which that's actually perfect because so many p people think about okay, drones, you have to be a pilot. But you don't. There are so many things in aviation that are available, just being exposed to the drones, especially with STEM and such like that, being exposed to the drones in a in a earlier age.
makes you just go, wow, I didn't know I could do this. wow, look at I can I can be in
Mark Masterton (15:03)
Talk little bit about STEM and how you teach younger people about getting into drones and building 'cause many people just buy them, pre built and fly them and have fun with them, but you actually know how to rebuild them, repair them and you've been teaching
Desiree Ekstein (15:17)
To a point.
To a point I do. I I'm much better at crashing them than I would be for rebuilding up.
Mark Masterton (15:23)
I could share stories about that as well.
Desiree Ekstein (15:25)
I think we all have, you know. Why it like you stole it, right? No.
Yeah, you do. You have to push yourself, you know, and and make it happen. But yeah, having that exposure. just getting started with it. in particular, I am a co-instructor for a program called Girls Take Flight in San Diego. And it is for high school girls that are able to through this program, they can get their part one hundred seven. We teach them the material for that. And
A couple of key things that are missing from a lot of the trainings that I see. We actually teach them how to fly a drone and they are exposed to professionalism. So through various companies, through fro field trips, through presentations that they have to do. we do the whole LinkedIn, set up you know, your resume, that kind of stuff. they learn all about that type of thing. So it's
beyond. And so once they've gone through the program, they're they're ready to take that next step. And and so what I have found though through that program, like many, is people don't understand that there are many opportunities within aviation. And yes, you can be a drone pilot and have a career path, but I've had young ladies go through there that go, you know what? I was going to be a lawyer.
Well, now I didn't realize there's aviation law. And so there's so many different aspects of it. You know, the the whole engineering side. I have another one that's taken engineering now, but now she wanted aviation engineering. And so to see that growth and that potential started with STEM. Started an early age, getting their hands on the sticks, stepping out of that comfort zone.
'Cause a lot of times, especially with the young ladies, they're they're afraid to take the stakes. They're so cautious. And then once they do, they're just like, Wow, it just opened up a whole new world. And so it it's key. It it is vital to workforce development to actually pave that path for all youth.
Mark Masterton (17:48)
You're clearly very good at passing on the knowledge that you've you've gained over the over the years. whether it's like public speaking, teaching classes or authoring books. I've been dabbling in a few chapters of Desert Escape, Off Road, Off Grid, and In the Air. Very good read. I was enjoying it a lot and actually learning so much from re from reading it, having been down to Arizona
previously with this company, filming our drones, 'cause actually our drones are tested in the Arizona Desert. We've got a base in Mesa where we do a lot of our drone testing. Yeah so it was very interesting reading the little nuggets of knowledge that you drop at the end of each chapter about what to pack for drones, what having a landing pad to not get dust in all your bags. All our camera stuff w was covered in like a a centimeter layer of dust, I swear, when we came back to
Vancouver. So it was all I was like, damn, I wish I read this book before we went down there. But yeah, you you're clearly really good at passing on your knowledge and sharing all the tips that you learned. What what do you enjoy about that? Like passing on your skills to younger generation, to young girls, to women, everybody.
Desiree Ekstein (19:00)
to everybody. You know, I the greatest thing of all is anything that I have, any knowledge or experiences, as you can tell, I like to share stories. but my my thing is I just I love to see people getting started and people will grow so much farther and bigger and better than anything I could ever imagine. And I find that this is just a little baby step.
And it opens up new doors. I've had people from a college class that I I taught that wrote me a letter a couple years later and just thanked me and said had he not taken that class, he wouldn't be in a career path making over a hundred thousand a year doing something that he never thought imaginable. And it's like, my gosh.
And so that's my opening thing to everybody. I wanna see you being a a a success. If I can help make you a success in any way, I I love it. I just love to see people getting started with a new thing in life. And by the way, thank you for the book. Cause that's exciting. it was my first time reading myself out there.
Mark Masterton (20:17)
Yeah, very good. Like it's very sh it's sh succinct, it's to the point and yeah, those facts are like gold dust. And like hearing the interesting stories about you and your husband just going off into the desert off grid, like it's it's very appliable to my camping trips on on weekends when I we lose signal and then I'm like Hmm. Should have downloaded that map. should have and you get very specific which app to download, what to do here, there, the other. I I am interested though, as to
The wildest story you've encountered in the desert when out go going I mean maybe ideally your drone batteries are charged. H have you got into any like interesting situations out there that you can can recite for us?
Desiree Ekstein (21:03)
I go out and I do 3D models. I'm doing Gagian splats and and such like that and trying to recreate that for people. And so it's so exciting when we're going out there into the desert and we think, okay, we're gonna film this one building over here. This is really cool. And then my husband's really good at saying, let's go down this wash. And so we end up going where we weren't planning, and it
you come across something rare and unique. we've had opportunities where we found complete building structures and such like that that we didn't even know about. And so and preserving that history is where I just go, yay. And so and you don't have to have a map a drone that'll do an automated mapping.
you can do them manual. So I'm always I've got a drone. I always get out there and map that thing, you know, and and recreate it. And so that that's my big yay takeaway from it all is I just love finding those unknown things that you just wouldn't expect to see out there. sometimes you'll find a massive tunnel or something and that's his thing. He knows the whole mining terminology and all that. But
It's like, wow. And we'll go in We love going in
Mark Masterton (22:32)
Wow, I I'm wouldn't catch me going down a dark tunnel I've never seen before. For people out there who might not be aware of what a Gaussian splat is, could you just give us a a quick rundown of what that that is and what it what it means?
Desiree Ekstein (22:45)
So
that is taking a environment, an entire virtual environment, a digital preservation of a it could be a building or it could be an actual like the ghost town or it can be any environment and you're recreating it in such a way that someone can actually look in it, spin it around, see inside of it.
walk through the park or whatever it is that you've done a model of. And so it's recreating that environment for people. So my next step that I want to do is the actual virtual real environment where they actually can be in it. So right now for me, we're we're spinning it around, you're looking at it, you're getting all the angles of it. obviously there's architectural value and such like that as well.
But you're you're looking at it and spinning it around and seeing all the different sides of it. Whereas my next step that I want is I want to create an environment where people can walk through it, especially in the the old mining era, you know, and things like that, because how many people really do get off road and go see these things? And it's a vital part of our history.
Mark Masterton (24:08)
And you're like preserving it with with that technology too. But once the deserts have taken it in years to come, it won't look the same as when you captured it that day.
Desiree Ekstein (24:15)
Right,
right. I think I even put a story like that in in my book. There you go. So we stumbled across a building and I didn't have a drone or anything at that time. And so I just kind of took a snapshot of it. And so when Kenny and I went back to film it, actually film it, it had completely fallen in and it's gone. This is gone. So it's just a pile of rubbish.
And it's like, wow, there's so much history. So our passion is you know, the mining era and all that. But I always say that our our what we're living in today is truthfully history tomorrow. And so there's so many things. Even like you think about environmental studies and such like that. There's a lot of, you know, in San Diego we had some erosion and and things like that.
So even beyond just the mining era, any history that you can preserve, the the more value it is. And the more clarity you can provide, be it a splat, then that is carried forward. And so I an example I like to give when I'm in class is how many people have been to a restaurant.
And it's that's my favorite pub or whatever it is. And then you go back five years later and that pub isn't there anymore. That's history. Had you not captured that, it's gone forever. You know. And so there's so much history like that. And that's why history is so important to me.
Mark Masterton (26:03)
As someone who uses drones very often, you going out on your trailblazing in the desert every day, but you're always packing your drone, big, small, batteries charged. What would you like drones to do in the future that would help you in your pursuits? teaching and preserving history, all these things, what would you like drones to do in the in the future? If there was like some new features that could be brought along in the next few years to make things even better?
Desiree Ekstein (26:30)
Can I say do the dishes?
Mark Masterton (26:33)
That'd be my top one as well. my god.
Desiree Ekstein (26:36)
No, I I'm big with and it's not my realm, but the medical supplies. I I truly see and and I know beyond visual line of sight, you know, all that is coming down the pipeline. It's taking a very long time. But because of the lives that it saves, getting that in into places that, you know
Places some places take forever to travel to and yet having an opportunity to have medical supplies delivered, that that to me i is very vital. And I get it, it's stepping stones. We're trying to get there. So you see great things happening, but i I feel that that is just something very vital for the future.
Mark Masterton (27:29)
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. all those years ago you stepped into an industry that was quite hard to well, not hard, but not usual, for you to step into. And you talked about the the trials that came with that. From the girls that you teach today, do you have any like nuggets of advice? What do you end your talks with? with inspiring the next generation of girls to take up drones, even if it's not piloting, just drone adjacent law or whatever it is,
What would you say to them, anybody who's like considering a career in this industry?
Desiree Ekstein (28:04)
I would always say take that step and just do it. because you're growing when you out step outside your box. There's a little comfort, discomfort that's involved. And to grow and experience it, you don't know what's beyond. And so I always say just take that step and just do it. Take the sticks. quite often I see that.
Women will come and they're like, No, I can't do this. And it's like, Yes, you can. There's no reason why you can't. And so just taking that step. And then I also like to say, be present. So if you have taken that step and you're wondering, okay, where am I at? What do I do? Get involved with it. Get actively involved. Take steps to be present in a situation that either you're liking or learning or
in an environment in I I hate to date myself because I think Facebook is probably not the useful thing. But but
Mark Masterton (29:09)
good.
Desiree Ekstein (29:11)
good. So they th that is still a thing. Okay, good. But you know, i Instagram, Facebook, you know, LinkedIn is s more your professional side, so we don't wanna see your pictures of what you ate for breakfast, you know, that kind of thing. But
Get involved. Find somebody in the social networks and in the community. Nothing like face-to-face conversation with people is so awesome. And so getting involved and being present in it will help you grow and those doors will open and you I didn't know I could do that. You know, just like my aviation story of aviation law. Wow, I had no idea. I know an aviation lawyer or two and
Until you actually are out there and meet people, you don't know.
Mark Masterton (30:01)
Great, great, great advice. just quickly, can you tell us about your induction into the Women and Drones Hall of Fame?
Desiree Ekstein (30:08)
Wow, yeah. So big shout out to Women and Drones. they
Mark Masterton (30:16)
Tell us more about that establishment as well.
Desiree Ekstein (30:17)
Okay, okay. so I actually met up with Sharon, who's the founder of Women and Drones at an event called Interdrone, which is not even around anymore, but she hosted a luncheon, a ladies' luncheon. And it was so amazing and
Humbling because the room was filled with women that are just actively involved in the industry, doing things, rock stars and amazing. And I walked out going, Wow, I'm just this, just me, you know, it's like so, so inspiring to see these other women doing things. And I was like, Hey, I know that too. yay, here's this. And so through that,
I got closer and closer with women and became ambassador for the women in drones. And I love what Sharon has done through Women in Drones, supporting other ladies that are doing things in the industry. And like I said, not just pilots. And one of the great things about women in drones is there's so many men that support what women do in the industry. And I've seen it grow more and more over time.
where men are realizing wow we do need women in the industry in various roles, you know, not just a Dolon Palit, although we can do this, yes, but various roles. And so through that, it's grown and I've had many, many opportunities. And Sharon started the Hall of Fame. I couldn't give you dates or anything like that.
that she had several of them where it was just recognizing women in the industry. And I was when we hosted it at the Smithsonian in DC, I was inducted into that hall of fame. I am so excited. Congratulations. Thank
Mark Masterton (32:23)
Yeah.
Desiree Ekstein (32:24)
you. Thank you. And so it's just an honor to be recognized that way.
Because you know, you just go through life day to day doing your thing and and you don't realize, wow, did I really make an impact on something? You know? And so yeah, yeah. It's like I said, my favorite thing is make seeing other people be a success. So I never think about it. Then
Mark Masterton (32:50)
The ward's
a nice two every now and again, you know. You say y you and your husband retired in twenty sixteen, but it doesn't sound like you slowed down one bit to be honest. No. But the business your on the go video business is is going well, you're giving tours, you're giving speeches, you're teaching, you're podcasting. What? What's coming down the pipe for Drone Diva Desi? What what's the future holding?
Desiree Ekstein (33:17)
I would like to continue offering courses, obviously, trying to help people get started. do some coaching if somebody wanted to talk and you know, I just don't know where I'm at, what am I gonna be doing, what are some opportunities? I like to do that. our big thing right now, which kind of aligns with the the book that you have, is doing off-road, off-grid.
tours right there from our place there in Arizona. So I welcome you.
Mark Masterton (33:50)
next time we're down there I am calling you
Desiree Ekstein (33:53)
There you go. And not far from May
Mark Masterton (33:55)
We went we did a brief trip to Sedona.
Desiree Ekstein (33:57)
Shadow is amazing.
Mark Masterton (33:58)
so I would love to we saw some of the rocks and that yeah. I'd like to do the the drone diva Desi Tour though. There you go.
Desiree Ekstein (34:07)
And I can do one in Sodo.
Mark Masterton (34:08)
So I'd I wanna go off road off grid and be with someone who I can trust to get me back to civilization.
Desiree Ekstein (34:14)
And you know, that's a key point is you do want to be with somebody that knows the area because you could get out there and go, this isn't the dirt road anymore. What about that one? And we tease because my husband says at the third cactus you turn left and you know that kind of right.
Mark Masterton (34:31)
So many cactuses.
Desiree Ekstein (34:34)
Exactly. And so he does know the area quite well. And so we hope to develop that and allow people to come and experience it, get off the pavement.
You know, and
Mark Masterton (34:46)
So
important nowadays to get off the grid and
Desiree Ekstein (34:48)
It is and you can't see the stars when you're in the city anymore. And when you get out there, it's like, wow, it's just it's amazing to unplug. So I hope to offer that opportunity to people to be able to come out and do that and experience it. And I know a lot of times people think, off-road, off-road, but we we tailor it to the person that's going. And so if you want a little
Mark Masterton (35:17)
As any former party planner would.
Desiree Ekstein (35:20)
Yes. See?
Mark Masterton (35:22)
It
all it all informs the next thing.
Desiree Ekstein (35:24)
Yes,
you're right. And so we we make it enjoyable for the person that's on the on the trip. Yeah, wha what do you want to see? also in that same town that we do our our trip with, the history. There's a lot of history because General Patton did his camp training. It's called Camp Bouse. He had eleven training camps and Camp Bowse is one of them. So we have a museum right there in the little town, very little.
And so there's a lot of history as far as just General Patton, where he did the training, and we could take you out there if that's what you want. And so yeah, it's it's it's a great place.
Mark Masterton (36:08)
Sign me up, honestly. I'm bringing me and the rest of the drone of the future team.
Desiree Ekstein (36:12)
So
and see it's good to have a team building experience. I think so.
Mark Masterton (36:18)
I think we need that. So
I think that's I think that's in the calendar. I think so. Thank you for giving us the idea. Well, it's been an absolute pleasure having you on the podcast. You're
Desiree Ekstein (36:27)
my gosh, thank you.
Mark Masterton (36:28)
you're a legend. You're great great guests. Great stories. I can't wait to finish the book now and read about all the other adventures you went on. I encourage other people to go out and and get it as well. It's a really good read and you'll lots of great takeaways. yeah. But thank you very much for joining us on the podcast. Hope it's the first of many and we'll we'll get to see you.
Down the road.
Desiree Ekstein (36:48)
Well, thank you. Thank you very much for having me, and I enjoyed our conversation.
Mark Masterton (36:53)
Awesome, thank you.
Mark Masterton (36:57)
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Mark Masterton (37:21)
This has been the Drone as the Future podcast. Today's episode has been produced by Ryan Witten, junior produced by Juan Gutierrez, filmed by John Rawlinson, and features original intro music by Josh Santos. Thank you very much for tuning in, and if you'd like to follow along our journey, fly over to that subscribe button wherever you're listening so you can be updated to hear what