Tools of Fighter Pilots

TC
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Tools of Fighter Pilots explores the tools, strategies, and mental frameworks that enable fighter pilots to perform at their best under extreme pressure—and how those same principles translate beyond the cockpit. Hosted by TC, drawing on his experience as a fighter pilot in his air force, the show features conversations with exceptional guests from diverse high-performance fields. #ToolsOfFighterPilots #HighPerformance #LeadershipUnderPressure #DecisionMaking #MentalDiscipline #PeakPerformance #Resilience #EliteMindset #PersonalDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth

  1. 5D AGO

    TOFP S02 E1: The Discipline Behind Unconventional Leaders

    Welcome back to Tools of Fighter Pilots, where lessons from the cockpit sharpen leadership, decision-making, and performance under pressure. In this episode, I’m joined by Kyle Skalisky retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, former F-15 Eagle driver, F-16 aggressor, F-18 test pilot, and author of A Sky Less Traveled: A Maverick Life of Leadership, Resilience, and the Pursuit of Purpose. Kyle’s journey goes far beyond flying jets. It’s a deep exploration of what leadership truly means when stakes are high, expectations are clear, and trust is the foundation that holds teams together. From squadron culture to executive leadership, he shares how unconventional leadership is not about breaking rules, it’s about independent thinking, service to the mission, and the courage to challenge groupthink while offering better solutions. In this conversation, we explore how elite aviation principles translate into business, teams, and everyday leadership, especially the idea that leadership is not defined by title, but by influence, accountability, and the consistency of actions over time. Key takeaways from this episode: -> Why leadership is influence, not position -> How trust is built through respect, accountability, and active listening -> The power of character, competence, and commitment in building strong teams -> Why real debriefing drives growth, and why most organizations still get it wrong -> How preparation and reflection allow leaders to respond instead of react under pressure This episode is a reminder that unconventional leadership isn’t about standing apart, it’s about stepping forward when the mission, the team, and the moment require it. 🎧 Watch, listen, and subscribe 📺 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ToolsofFighterPilots 🎧 Spotify: http://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/toolsoffighterpilots 📰 Substack: http://toolsoffighterpilots.substack.com/podcast

    47 min

  2. JAN 28

    AMA 2 - The Journey so far, Season 1 Wrap up

    Pressure Does Not Break You. It Reveals You. Welcome back to Tools of Fighter Pilots, where lessons from elite environments translate into sharper leadership, decision-making, and performance under pressure. In this episode, we close out Season 1 by reflecting on the core principles that define high performance across any field, from aviation to medicine, business, and sport. Over the season, we explored how fighter pilot non-negotiables, being on time, preparation, structure, assertive communication, and controlling the controllables, shape clarity, trust, and execution under pressure. We expanded beyond the cockpit to feature surgeons, psychologists, therapists, and other high performers, showing how these tools transfer to real-world challenges. This episode highlights: -> Why preparation builds confidence and reduces surprises -> How structure and checklists turn pressure into clarity, not chaos -> Why discipline creates freedom, not limitation -> How debriefing accelerates growth and strengthens teams -> Why controlling the controllables is the ultimate edge in high-stakes environments Season 1 reminds us that excellence is engineered long before the mission begins. Preparation comes before confidence, standards come before results, and responsibility comes before leadership. Watch, listen, and catch up on the full season: 📺 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ToolsofFighterPilots 🎧 Spotify: http://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/toolsoffighterpilots 📰 Substack: http://toolsoffighterpilots.substack.com/podcast

    18 min

  3. 12/23/2025

    TOFP S01 E11: Operating at 12,000 Kilometers: Surgical Precision & Human Performance

    Welcome back to Tools of Fighter Pilots, where lessons from the cockpit fuel sharper leadership, decision-making, and performance under pressure. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Suleiman Al-Mazidi and Dr. Muhannad Al-Haddad, part of the surgical team at Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital in Kuwait, whose work is redefining what’s possible in modern medicine. Alongside their colleague Dr. Humoud Al-Rashidi, they made history by performing the world’s longest-distance intercontinental robotic surgery, operating on a patient in Brazil from more than 12,000 kilometers away. What makes this story extraordinary isn’t just the technology. It’s the mindset. Using a Da Vinci robotic system, ultra-low latency connectivity, and years of disciplined preparation, the team executed two flawless surgeries across continents under intense pressure, global media scrutiny, and unforgiving time constraints. Latency had to stay under 200 milliseconds. Checklists, communication, and trust weren’t optional, they were survival tools. In this conversation, we connect elite aviation principles with elite medicine, exploring how preparation, structure, and calm execution translate across the highest-stakes environments imaginable. Key takeaways from this episode: -> Why mastery comes from repetition, not shortcuts -> How time, latency, and precision become weapons, not constraints -> The role of SOPs and checklists in reducing human error -> Why assertive communication enables trust across teams and continents -> How controlling the controllables makes the impossible achievable This episode is a powerful reminder: whether in a cockpit, an operating room, or a boardroom, excellence is built long before the moment arrives. 🎧 Watch, listen, and subscribe 📺 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ToolsofFighterPilots 🎧 Spotify: http://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/toolsoffighterpilots 📰 Substack: http://toolsoffighterpilots.substack.com/podcast

    34 min

  4. 12/04/2025

    TOFP S01 E10: The Leadership Mindset Behind a Fighter Pilot’s Ritual

    Welcome back to Tools of Fighter Pilots, where lessons from the cockpit fuel sharper leadership and decision-making. In this episode, I sit down with Billie Flynn — legendary fighter pilot, senior experimental test pilot, combat commander, and founder of 5GCX — to explore how his now-famous “fighter pilot Caesar salad” became a metaphor for excellence, discipline, and holding your standards when it matters most. Billie’s career spans more than 40 years across the CF-18, Eurofighter Typhoon, and F-35. He retired from Lockheed Martin as the Senior F-35 Test Pilot and global spokesperson for the largest defense program in history and is one of the few pilots to have flown and tested advanced fighter aircraft around the world. A former squadron and task force commander, Billie flew combat missions over Kosovo and led a Canadian unit that earned Battle Honours from Queen Elizabeth II. With multiple engineering and aviation degrees, and as a Fellow and past President of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Billie brings unmatched technical and operational insight into what “high standards” really mean in both aviation and leadership. In this episode, we break down why standards matter, why shortcuts erode performance quietly, and why excellence is ultimately a choice. Key takeaways: 🥗 How a Caesar salad became a standard for pride and precision 🧠 Why mental readiness outruns talent in elite environments ✈️ What fifth-gen jets demand from today’s pilots 📚 How training and preparation evolve with new technology 🎧 Tune in to learn how fighter pilot principles can elevate performance in any field. Watch, listen, subscribe 📺 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ToolsofFighterPilots 🎧 Spotify: http://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/toolsoffighterpilots 📰 Substack: http://toolsoffighterpilots.substack.com/podcast Connect with Billie: 🌐 Website: https://billieflynn.com 🚀 5GCX: https://5gcx.ai 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billie-flynn-9a7312a/ Connect with TC: 🌐 Website: http://www.tommasocartacci.com 💼 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tommasocartacci 📸 Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tri_coach_tc 📅 Book a call: http://www.calendly.com/tommaso-cartacci/30min

    45 min

  5. 11/13/2025

    TOFP S01 E09: The 5 Non-Negotiables of Flawless Execution

    Welcome back to Tools of Fighter Pilots, where lessons from the cockpit meet leadership, sport, and life. In this episode, I sit down with @Christian Boo Boucosis to unpack how the mindset and methods of fighter pilots can transform the way we lead teams, make decisions, and build trust in business. We explore how principles like preparation, structure, assertive communication, and clarity under pressure serve as a foundation for leadership, and how aviation tools like debriefing, binary decision-making, and contingency planning can sharpen performance and psychological safety in any organization. If you’ve ever wondered how elite military precision translates into high-performing teams and resilient leadership, this conversation connects the dots between the cockpit and the boardroom. Key takeaways from this episode: ✈️ How preparation and structure create freedom, not rigidity ✈️ Why assertive communication builds alignment under pressure ✈️ How debriefing drives growth and accountability ✈️ What leaders can learn from binary decision-making and contingency planning 🎧 Tune in now to learn how fighter pilot principles can help you lead with clarity, confidence, and control. 📺 Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@ToolsofFighterPilots 🎧 Listen on Spotify: http://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/toolsoffighterpilots 📰 Subscribe on Substack: http://toolsoffighterpilots.substack.com/podcast 👇 Connect with Boo: 🌐 Website: https://callmeboo.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-boo-boucousis/ 👇 Connect with TC: 🌐 Website: http://www.tommasocartacci.com 💼 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tommasocartacci 📸 Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tri_coach_tc 📅 Book a call: http://www.calendly.com/tommaso-cartacci/30min This is the material from today's recording with Christian "Boo" Boucosis, CEO of Afterburner. Validation and clarity... 9:23 https://fathom.video/share/vRzZ9-Wse6g8dnzNzyHp3-466PCWW4NG fathom.video Christian "Boo" Boucousis Afterburner - Boo (CEO) Afterburner 9:23 https://www.afterburner.com Afterburner Home v2 Unlock your team's potential with Afterburner’s fighter pilot leadership training with keynote speakers, online resources, and workshops. 9:23 https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/ecroBDDKluGGnPaIQzdFSEKbwJjbR8845qmZUdRn7w7LbvF_vhnVxRQzDADV_Q6x.izejJjCz891fERIP Passcode: =8AX.5UV

    39 min

  6. 10/23/2025

    5 Non-Negotiables of Fighter Pilots With TC

    Welcome back to Tools of Fighter Pilots, the show where lessons from the cockpit meet the realities of business, leadership, sport, and life. I’m TC, your host, and in this solo episode, I’m breaking down the five principles fighter pilots live by, and why they’re just as essential outside the jet. Before I ever strapped into an F-16, my instructors drilled one truth into me: You don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to your level of preparation. In combat, there’s no pause button. What you’ve prepared on the ground is all you can draw on in the air. Over the years, I’ve learned that there are five non-negotiables every fighter pilot carries into the cockpit: ✈️ Be on Time – Punctuality is not about the clock; it’s about trust and reliability. ✈️ Be Prepared – No plan survives first contact, but preparation creates options. ✈️ Structure and Checklists – Systems free the mind to focus on what matters most. ✈️ Assertive Communication – Clear, direct language keeps teams aligned under pressure. ✈️ Control the Controllables – Focus energy where it makes an impact, not where it’s wasted. These aren’t just aviation rules. They’re baseline operating codes for leading high-performance teams, competing in sport, and navigating life. In this episode, I share real stories from missions that nearly went sideways, the habits that kept us alive, and the practical ways you can apply these same tools to your own world. Because in the air and in life, you only get one pass. Make it count. 🎧 Listen now and download the free reflection worksheet to apply the Five Non-Negotiables in your business, sport, and life. 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToolsofFighterPilots 🎧 Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/toolsoffighterpilots 📰 Substack: https://toolsoffighterpilots.substack.com/podcast 👇 Connect with TC: 🌐 www.tommasocartacci.com 💼 www.linkedin.com/in/tommasocartacci 📸 www.instagram.com/tri_coach_tc 📅 www.calendly.com/tommaso-cartacci/30min

    19 min

  7. 10/09/2025

    TOFP S01 E08: Flying With Purpose: How The 3 CS Build Meaningful Work

    Welcome back to Tools of Fighter Pilots — where lessons from the cockpit meet leadership, sport, and life. In this episode, I sit down with Tamara Miles, researcher, leadership professor, and co-author of Meaningful Work, to explore how we can build purpose-driven teams and careers. Together, we dive into the Three Cs that make work truly meaningful: ✨ Community → Feeling that you belong and that your voice matters ✨ Contribution → Knowing that what you do makes an impact ✨ Challenge → Being pushed to grow, learn, and develop We connect these to the Five Non-Negotiables of Fighter Pilots, being on time, being prepared, structure and checklists, assertive communication, and controlling the controllable, and show how these principles apply to high performance in the air and in the boardroom. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn work into something more than just a paycheck, this conversation will give you a practical framework backed by research, lived experience, and tactical lessons. Key takeaways from this episode: ✈️ Why meaningful work is less about what you do and more about how you experience it ✈️ How leaders can create trust, connection, and impact inside their teams ✈️ Why community, contribution, and challenge are the building blocks of engagement and performance ✈️ How fighter pilot principles translate into business, leadership, and sport 🎧 Tune in now to learn how to design a culture where people don’t just work, they thrive. 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToolsofFighterPilots 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/toolsoffighterpilots 📰 Subscribe on Substack: https://toolsoffighterpilots.substack.com/podcast 👇 Connect with Tamara Miles: 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaramyles/ 👇 Connect with TC: 🌐 Website: https://tommasocartacci.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommasocartacci/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tri_coach_tc/ 📅 Book a call: https://calendly.com/tommaso-cartacci/30min

    28 min

  8. 09/10/2025

    TOFP S01 E07: Psychological Safety and Empowered Teams

    In this episode of Tools of Fighter Pilots, Tommaso Cartacci sits down with Jason “RICHO” Richardson — fighter pilot, airline captain, and Formula 1 synergy coach — to explore why psychological safety is the foundation of high-performing teams. Together, they unpack: ✈️ What silence in meetings really signals about team health 🧠 Why vulnerability from leaders creates trust and growth 🎯 How fighter pilot debriefs teach us to learn from mistakes, not hide them ⚖️ The difference between accountability and blame 🏁 What corporate teams can learn from squadrons and Formula 1 crews Whether you’re building teams in the sky, in sport, or in business, this conversation reveals why safety and standards together create the “learning zone” where people and performance thrive. Subscribe for more on high-performance leadership, coaching, and operational excellence. 🎧 Tune in for insights from a fighter pilot… and the person who has seen what high performance looks like at 35,000 feet and inside Formula 1. Now on Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms. 🔗 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToolsofFighterPilots 🔗 Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/toolsoffighterpilots 🔗 Read on Substack: https://toolsoffighterpilots.substack.com/podcast Connect with Jason Richardson 🌐 Website: www.richardsonhps.com 📸 Instagram: @richardsonhps ▶️ YouTube: Richardson HPS 𝕏 Twitter/X: @richardson_hps Connect with TC 🌐 Website: www.tommasocartacci.com 💼 LinkedIn: Tommaso Cartacci 📸 Instagram: @tri_coach_tc 📅 Book Time: Calendly

    38 min
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Tools of Fighter Pilots explores the tools, strategies, and mental frameworks that enable fighter pilots to perform at their best under extreme pressure—and how those same principles translate beyond the cockpit. Hosted by TC, drawing on his experience as a fighter pilot in his air force, the show features conversations with exceptional guests from diverse high-performance fields. #ToolsOfFighterPilots #HighPerformance #LeadershipUnderPressure #DecisionMaking #MentalDiscipline #PeakPerformance #Resilience #EliteMindset #PersonalDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth

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