Free Daily Podcast Summary
Pilot to Pilot: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Justin Siems
Pilot to Pilot Podcast is your go-to destination for aviation inspiration, insight, and real talk from the cockpit and beyond. Pilot to Pilot aims to support all pilots who fly from students to professionals and recreational flyers. The show includes genuine discussions with pilots who work in all aviation sectors including airline captains and bush pilots to share their experiences of flying.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Yesterday1h 4m
E365: Pete Stavrides: From Watching Challenger Explode to Flying Super Hornets
Pilot to Pilot Magazine — Volume 003 is out now. Get yours at pilottopilothq.com/magSponsors — please support the people who support the show: • Avemco Insurance — Save 5% as a Pilot to Pilot listener. Call (888) 635-4297 or visit avemco.com/4297-owner (owners) or avemco.com/4297-non-owner (non-owners) • Textron Aviation — Built for lifelong aviators. Plan your next chapter at txtav.com/stepup • Garmin — Plan, file, fly, log with the Garmin Pilot app • Allworth Airline Advisors — Register for their latest webinar at allworthfinancial.com/justin • Learn the Finer Points — Save 10% off your first year at learnthefinerpoints.com/justin. https://allworthfinancial.com/airlines/lp/runway-for-retirement-webinar?utm_campaign=airlines+-+more+runway+for+retirement?lmls=Partner+Channel&lmld=Pilot+to+Pilot&ad_version=SocialPete Stavridis was nine years old, watching the Challenger explode on live TV, when he decided he was going to fly airplanes. No pilots in the family. No money for it. So he enlisted in the Navy out of high school in 1995 — not the optimal path to fighters — flew P-3 Orions as an enlisted aircrewman on counter-drug ops over Panama and Colombia, and worked his way into a commission. He selected #1 out of T-34s, got the Super Hornet, and flew combat over Iraq and Afghanistan.Now he's an Airbus first officer (by design), an FAA examiner with roughly 700 checkrides behind him, an aircraft management guy specializing in the Piaggio, and he runs upset recovery training in the L-39. He also raced at Reno in the gold jet class at 500 mph, four to six feet off another airplane — until he watched his friend and competitor Aaron Hoag G-LOC and go into the ground in front of him in 2022.We get into:Why enlisting first was a risk he'd take againWhat a Navy flight surgeon prescribed when Pete was struggling in T-45s (hint: Halo)Being shot off a carrier deck, and why nothing else comparesFighter pilot ego vs. actual humility — and why humility can't read as weaknessWhat air racing really takes: micro-knots, wake vortices, and why pole position changes everythingLosing Aaron, "stem power," and how he got the jet on the groundWhy the DPE shortage isn't a DPE problem, it's an FAA problemWhat he can read about an applicant in the first two minutesHonesty, knowledge, determination — his three traits of a good captain, FO, or wingmanExposing your kids to aviation without pushing it"When we get in an airplane, we're in a survival situation. We're not supposed to be there."Happy Flying,Justin
- 2 weeks ago59 min
E364: Stepping up with Jason Rhode and why he loves the Citation CJ3+
Pilot to Pilot Magazine — Volume 003 is at the printers. Get yours at pilottopilothq.com/magGIVEAWAY - Complete the survey to be entered to win a Pilot to Pilot hat and Magazine subscriptions Big thanks to Textron Aviation for sponsoring this week's episode of Pilot to Pilot! This week I'm joined by Jason Rhode as we talk bout his unconventional journey in aviation - from where he started to what ultimately led up to step up into larger aircraft.Don't miss this opportunity to hear how the right aircraft can help you take the next step in your aviation journey!What happens when a public company CEO gets tired of the airlines and decides to fly himself? Jason Rhode, former CEO of Cirrus Logic, joins Justin to share one of the most unique aviation journeys we've featured — one that started not with a childhood dream of flying, but with a sweaty preflight in 110-degree Austin heat and a finance guy's ForeFlight demo.In this Textron Aviation-sponsored episode, Jason walks through every aircraft in his progression — DA40, DA62, Kodiak, TBM, and finally the Citation CJ3+ — and why Textron Aviation was the throughline that made each transition smoother than the last. He breaks down what the pro ownership program actually looks like from the inside, how Textron connected him with the right mentor pilots and Flight Safety simulator training, and why the M2-to-jet transition is far less intimidating than the insurance market wants you to believe.In this episode:Why owning a plane extended Jason's career as a CEO by four to five yearsHow Textron's pro ownership program handles maintenance tracking, mentor pilots, and service center coordinationThe CJ3+ acquisition story: buying a plane that had been in a ditch, flying it to 45,000 feet before the seller hadFinding the right insurance underwriter for jet transitions (and why your broker matters more than you think)Pilot and Paws missions, concert chasing in the Citation, and the lifestyle that makes it all worth itSponsors — please support the people who support the show: •Textron Aviation — Built for lifelong aviators. Plan your next chapter at txtav.com/stepup • Avemco Insurance — Save 5% as a Pilot to Pilot listener. Call (888) 635-4297 or visit avemco.com/4297-owner (owners) or avemco.com/4297-non-owner (non-owners) • Garmin — Plan, file, fly, log with the Garmin Pilot app • Allworth Airline Advisors — Register for their latest webinar at allworthfinancial.com/justin • Learn the Finer Points — Save 10% off your first year at learnthefinerpoints.com/justin. https://allworthfinancial.com/airlines/lp/runway-for-retirement-webinar?utm_campaign=airlines+-+more+runway+for+retirement?lmls=Partner+Channel&lmld=Pilot+to+Pilot&ad_version=Social
- Jun 24, 20261h 24m
363: Fighter Pilot. Snowbird Team Leader. Filmmaker. Rob “Scratch” Mitchell on Leading Through Loss, Chasing Excellence, and Finding a New Sky
Pilot to Pilot Magazine — Volume 002 is out now. Get yours at pilottopilothq.com/magSponsors — please support the people who support the show: • Avemco Insurance — Save 5% as a Pilot to Pilot listener. Call (888) 635-4297 or visit avemco.com/4297-owner (owners) or avemco.com/4297-non-owner (non-owners) • Textron Aviation — Built for lifelong aviators. Plan your next chapter at txtav.com/stepup • Garmin — Plan, file, fly, log with the Garmin Pilot app • Allworth Airline Advisors — Register for their latest webinar at allworthfinancial.com/justin • Learn the Finer Points — Save 10% off your first year at learnthefinerpoints.com/justin. https://allworthfinancial.com/airlines/lp/runway-for-retirement-webinar?utm_campaign=airlines+-+more+runway+for+retirement?lmls=Partner+Channel&lmld=Pilot+to+Pilot&ad_version=SocialSome people are drawn to the sky. Others are forged there.Rob “Scratch” Mitchell grew up surrounded by aviation legend — his grandfather flew Spitfires over occupied Europe, his father patrolled Cold War skies in a Royal Canadian Air Force jet. By the time Scratch sat down to choose his own path, there was never really a question. He wanted to fly fighters. He wanted to be the best. And through relentless focus, iron discipline, and a willingness to outwork everyone around him, that’s exactly what he became.In this episode of the Pilot to Pilot Podcast, Scratch takes us from the crucible of Canadian military pilot training — where attrition rates hovered near 50% — through the unforgiving world of F-18 tactical flying, into the bright lights of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, where he eventually led the team as commanding officer. Along the way, he opens up about the fatal accident that occurred on his watch during his very first airshow weekend as team lead, and what it taught him about leadership, humanity, and what it truly means to hold a team together when the world falls apart.What you’ll hear in this episode:How Scratch finished number one in his pilot training class to guarantee a fighter slot — and why second place wasn’t an optionThe story behind his callsign, involving a French tanker, the wrong basket technique, and a very expensive canopyWhat 95 airshows in a single season does to a team — and to a marriageThe moment during the Snowbirds’ first airshow of the season when his wingman was lost, and how Scratch led nine pilots back to earth when the world had just gone silentWhy ego has no place in the debrief room — even when you’re debriefing your commanding officerThe civilian world’s hardest lesson for a fighter pilot: sometimes skill and effort aren’t enough, and luck is a variable you cannot controlHis pivot from the cockpit to the camera — and why aviation storytelling was always the through lineWhether you fly airliners, light aircraft, or simply love the world above the clouds, this is an episode about what it means to commit completely — to a mission, to a team, and to yourself.
- Jun 10, 20261h 13m
E362: A Career Changer's Road from Orchestra Halls to the Airlines
Pilot to Pilot Magazine — Volume 002 is out now. Get yours at pilottopilothq.com/magSponsors — please support the people who support the show: • Avemco Insurance — Save 5% as a Pilot to Pilot listener. Call (888) 635-4297 or visit avemco.com/4297-owner (owners) or avemco.com/4297-non-owner (non-owners) • Textron Aviation — Built for lifelong aviators. Plan your next chapter at txtav.com/stepup • Garmin — Plan, file, fly, log with the Garmin Pilot app • Allworth Airline Advisors — Register for their latest webinar at allworthfinancial.com/justin • Learn the Finer Points — Save 10% off your first year at learnthefinerpoints.com/justin. You plan for everything when you fly. But have you planned for life after the cockpit? Download the free guide from Allworth Airline Advisors https://allworthairline.com/justin.His uncle flew F-18s in the Marines before becoming a UPS MD-11 captain. His dad plays organ. His twin sister teaches choir in Texas. And David spent the better part of a decade as a professional tuba player before a global pandemic, a family hotel, and one YouTube rabbit hole set him on an entirely different flight path. In this episode, David traces every step of a career change that most people would have talked themselves out of — the 141 versus 61 debate, the flight school that felt like family, the stage check that became his most memorable moment as a CFI, and the three-to-five-minute orchestra audition that taught him everything he needed to know about showing up prepared. His advice is simple, honest, and hard-won: don't chase the end goal. Just be the best version of wherever you are right now.
- May 28, 20261h 3m
E361: Electric Planes, Forest Fires & Vancouver Island: A Canadian Pilot's Unconventional Path
Pilot to Pilot Magazine — Volume 002 is out now. Get yours at pilottopilothq.com/magSponsors — please support the people who support the show: • Avemco Insurance — Save 5% as a Pilot to Pilot listener. Call (888) 635-4297 or visit avemco.com/4297-owner (owners) or avemco.com/4297-non-owner (non-owners) • Textron Aviation — Built for lifelong aviators. Plan your next chapter at txtav.com/stepup • Garmin — Plan, file, fly, log with the Garmin Pilot app • Allworth Airline Advisors — Register for their latest webinar at allworthfinancial.com/justin • Learn the Finer Points — Save 10% off your first year at learnthefinerpoints.com/justin. https://allworthfinancial.com/airlines/lp/runway-for-retirement-webinar?utm_campaign=airlines+-+more+runway+for+retirement?lmls=Partner+Channel&lmld=Pilot+to+Pilot&ad_version=SocialCanadian pilot Mike Andrews has never taken the direct route — and that's exactly what makes his story worth hearing. Growing up in Southern Ontario, Mike got his start through Canada's Air Cadet program, earning a glider license at 16 and a private pilot license at 17 before nearly going the Canadian Armed Forces fighter pilot route. A heart murmur medical delay, a backpacking trip to New Zealand, and a hard reset later, he found himself building a flight school from scratch on Vancouver Island with one airplane and a jacket that said "ask me about flying."Now based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Mike is one of Canada's leading instructors on the Pipistrel Velis Electro — the country's first electric aircraft approved for primary flight training — and he's about to embark on a brand new chapter as a bird dog pilot doing aerial wildfire fighting in BC's rugged mountain terrain.In this episode, Justin and Mike dig into the Canadian pilot training system, what it's actually like to fly and teach in an electric airplane, the unique aviation culture of the Pacific Northwest coast, and what draws a variety-hungry pilot to a career where low-level mountain flying meets public service. Plus — Mike shares what it was like to nearly make it into Canadian fighter pilot selection before a three-day paperwork deadline changed everything.Topics Covered:Canada's Air Cadet program and glider scholarshipsCanadian vs. American pilot training and instructor rating systemsFlying the Pipistrel Velis Electro — Canada's first electric flight trainerElectric aviation: where it works today and where it's headedAerial wildfire fighting and the bird dog roleBuilding a sub-base flight school on Vancouver Island from the ground upThe TBM 960's "Home Safe" emergency automation featuresWhy variety — not the airlines — has driven Mike's entire career
- May 19, 202653 min
E360: No Pilot's License, No Problem: How Marci Veronie Climbed to the Top of Aviation Without Ever Leaving the Ground
Pilot to Pilot Magazine — Volume 002 is out now. Get yours at pilottopilothq.com/magSponsors — please support the people who support the show: • Avemco Insurance — Save 5% as a Pilot to Pilot listener. Call (888) 635-4297 or visit avemco.com/4297-owner (owners) or avemco.com/4297-non-owner (non-owners) • Textron Aviation — Built for lifelong aviators. Plan your next chapter at txtav.com/stepup • Garmin — Plan, file, fly, log with the Garmin Pilot app • Allworth Airline Advisors — Register for their latest webinar at allworthfinancial.com/justin • Learn the Finer Points — Save 10% off your first year at learnthefinerpoints.com/justin. https://allworthfinancial.com/airlines/lp/runway-for-retirement-webinar?utm_campaign=airlines+-+more+runway+for+retirement?lmls=Partner+Channel&lmld=Pilot+to+Pilot&ad_version=SocialMarci Veronie is the Senior Vice President of AVEMCO Insurance, and she's one of the most fascinating people in aviation — not because she's a pilot, but because she's spent nearly four decades watching what happens when things go wrong. Landings. Taxiing. Overconfident airline pilots in light sport aircraft. She's seen it all, and she's got the data to back it up.In this episode, Marci opens up about her wildly unexpected path from a Pittsburgh girl chasing a paralegal certificate to becoming the first non-pilot sales underwriter at AVEMCO — and eventually SVP. She talks about the calls she dreads taking on Monday mornings, what separates a superior pilot from a scary one, and why 60% of pilots are leaving real money on the table every single year.She also gets candid about being a woman in a male-dominated industry for decades, her work with Women in Aviation International, and what it actually takes to build a 39-year career at one company.Whether you fly a J-3 Cub or a 737, this episode will change how you think about risk, training, and what it means to truly be a safe pilot.\Happy Flying,Justin
- May 7, 202651 min
E359: The End of Spirit Airlines: What Happened, What's Next, and What It Means for Pilots
Spirit Airlines officially ceased operations on May 2 at 3am, and in this episode Justin sits down with Jim Higgins, Professor of Aviation at the University of North Dakota, to unpack what happened and what comes next.They dig into the chain of events that brought one of the country's most recognizable low-cost carriers to a halt — from a business model under pressure, to two Chapter 11 reorganizations, to the spike in oil prices that finally pushed Spirit past the point of recovery. Jim breaks down why the federal bailout package fell apart, why no other airline stepped in to acquire Spirit despite multiple asks, and how $9 billion in debt made a merger virtually impossible.The conversation also turns to the roughly 2,000 Spirit pilots now entering an already active hiring market. Justin and Jim talk through how the majors are likely to respond, what this means for regional pilots and pilots holding CJOs, and why Spirit aviators have a strong reputation among hiring departments across the industry. They also cover the resources available through ALPA, the importance of leaning on the aviation community, and the often-overlooked mental health side of losing a job you loved.Whether you're a Spirit pilot, a regional pilot watching the hiring landscape shift, or simply someone trying to make sense of what just happened to a 34-year-old airline with an impeccable safety record, this episode offers context, perspective, and a reminder that the industry takes care of its own.If you know a Spirit pilot, reach out. A letter of recommendation, a connection, or just a conversation can go a long way.
- Apr 28, 20261h 5m
E358: Spirit Going Under? United-American Rumors & 2026 Pilot Hiring Forecast — Jim Higgins Returns
🎙️ Pilot to Pilot Magazine — Volume 002 is out now. Get yours at pilottopilothq.com/magSponsors — please support the people who support the show: • Avemco Insurance — Save 5% as a Pilot to Pilot listener. Call (888) 635-4297 or visit avemco.com/4297-owner (owners) or avemco.com/4297-non-owner (non-owners) • Textron Aviation — Built for lifelong aviators. Plan your next chapter at txtav.com/stepup • Garmin — Plan, file, fly, log with the Garmin Pilot app • Allworth Airline Advisors — Register for their latest webinar at allworthfinancial.com/justin • Learn the Finer Points — Save 10% off your first year at learnthefinerpoints.com/justin State of the Industry!Spirit's on the brink, Scott Kirby is publicly floating a United–American merger, and the entire airline industry feels like it's holding its breath. Welcome to silly season.Jim Higgins, professor of aviation at the University of North Dakota and former MEC chair, returns to the Pilot to Pilot Podcast to break down everything happening across the majors right now — and what could happen next.In this episode, Justin and Jim dig into:• Where pilot hiring actually stands in 2026 (and the FAPA numbers that tell the real story) • What verbiage in earnings calls and press releases signals trouble before furloughs hit • Fuel prices, the Strait of Hormuz, and how a war on the other side of the world hits your paycheck • The Spirit situation and what bankruptcy vs. liquidation would actually mean • The United–JetBlue rumors — and whether "merging with American" was a smokescreen • Seniority list integration, ALPA merger protocols, and why Southwest hired an M&A law firm • What Delta, Alaska, and Southwest would HAVE to do if a United mega-merger goes through • The Allegiant–Sun Country deal nobody's talking about • Could Delta go international by buying foreign carriers outright?Drop a comment with YOUR merger prediction. We'll be wrong together.
Get Pilot to Pilot summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
Fighter Pilot Podcast
Explores military aviation through stories of fighter pilots, aircraft, weapons systems, and emerging technologies like AI in air combat.
Aviation News Talk – Pilot Stories, Safety Tips & General Aviation News
Pilot stories, safety advice, and technical guidance for general aviation pilots, from a flight instructor with decades of experience.
"There I was..." An Aviation Podcast
Pilots share real in-flight emergencies and decision-making experiences to teach safety lessons.
Pilot Briefing - Aviation Podcast
Weekly aviation news updates for pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
I Learned About Flying From That
Pilots recount aviation emergencies and mistakes in interviews based on Flying magazine’s long-running series.
AvTalk - Aviation Podcast
Aviation news, analysis, and interviews for enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Flight Suit Friday
Coast Guard aviators share stories and insights about search and rescue missions and life in aviation.
Opposing Bases: Air Traffic Talk
Pilots and air traffic controllers discuss aviation operations, procedures, and real-world experiences in candid conversations.
Ask the A&Ps
Aviation maintenance experts answer pilot-submitted technical questions about aircraft upkeep and repairs.
Combat Story
Veterans share unfiltered stories of combat, detailing their paths to service, pivotal moments in battle, and the lasting impact of war.
Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Discusses intentional living and well-being through interviews with experts in psychology, neuroscience, and performance.
The Entrepreneur DNA
Entrepreneurs share lessons on building businesses and personal growth through real experiences and mistakes.
About Pilot to Pilot
Pilot to Pilot Podcast is your go-to destination for aviation inspiration, insight, and real talk from the cockpit and beyond. Pilot to Pilot aims to support all pilots who fly from students to professionals and recreational flyers. The show includes genuine discussions with pilots who work in all aviation sectors including airline captains and bush pilots to share their experiences of flying.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Pilot to Pilot in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Pilot to Pilot daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Pilot to Pilot as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Pilot to Pilot podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Pilot to Pilot product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Justin Siems.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Pilot to Pilot release new episodes?
Pilot to Pilot publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Pilot to Pilot cover?
Pilot to Pilot covers topics including Leisure, Aviation. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Pilot to Pilot summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.