The DroneOn Show

Mike & Kevin
  • 4.5 (2)
  • Technology

The Drone On Show is your ultimate podcast for everything drones! Join us as we dive into the exciting world of drone technology, from our company’s groundbreaking work using thermal drones to recover lost deer for hunters and agricultural drones to revolutionize crop spraying for farmers. But we don’t stop there—we explore it all: cutting-edge advancements, regulations, and the limitless possibilities of drones in every industry. Expect thrilling stories, expert insights, and a passion for innovation that keeps you hooked. Whether you’re a drone enthusiast, hunter, farmer, or tech lover, tune in for a show that soars above the rest!

  1. 5d ago

    Vegas Drone Expo Recap: NDAA Lists, Unfinished Drones & What’s Next | The DroneOn Show Episode 62

    In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike, Jay and Kevin recap their trip through the Las Vegas drone expo and what they actually saw in the NDAA-compliant booths. The sales pitch was almost never “this drone is good.” It was “this drone is on the list.” A lot of what they walked past still looked unfinished, 3D-printed, unpriced, or years away from being something a spray, thermal, or mapping operator can buy and use. The conversation turns to why so much money is chasing government contracts instead of commercial work, the FCC proposal timeline, and why they keep telling people to buy the Matrice 4 and 4TD now if they’ve been on the fence. They also touch the follow-up after last week’s FAA episode, the reality of getting watched as you grow, and the Platinum trailer heading to Kansas. Chapters (00:00:00) - Opening banter and drone rip-off jokes(00:00:49) - Meeting recap and NDAA compliance marketing(00:02:10) - Vegas Drone Expo impressions: unfinished products(00:03:47) - Government funding and lack of commercial focus(00:05:10) - No pathway to commercial drones without military funding(00:06:30) - Impact on hobbyists and small drone businesses(00:08:05) - Which drones will remain sellable under new rules(00:09:17) - FCC rule timeline and process concerns(00:11:20) - Who decides military grade and industry reaction(00:12:19) - Service providers and rental business models(00:14:21) - Skydio rental scheme and government motives(00:15:53) - Coolest drone seen: Brink police drone(00:16:48) - DJI's transmission moat and Starlink integration(00:18:32) - Industry growth predictions for next year(00:19:10) - Lidar and mapping business opportunities(00:21:17) - Big companies vs small operators in lidar(00:22:10) - Orthomosaic mapping and crop scanning at scale(00:24:02) - Barriers to entry for small lidar businesses(00:28:57) - New unconventional drone uses seen at show(00:30:00) - Thermal drones for firefighting life-saving use(00:32:11) - Cost of thermal drones for fire departments(00:33:01) - Stages of grief over industry changes(00:33:58) - Iowa drone surveillance law and deer recovery(00:38:39) - Debate over surveillance rights and homestead law(00:41:50) - Manned drone loophole and law details(00:45:58) - FAA scrutiny and company growing pains(00:48:48) - Pioneering deer recovery and regulatory gaps(00:54:19) - Heavy lift drones and FAA exemption struggles(00:56:16) - Six month outlook and buying Matrice 4T advice(00:57:50) - Closing reflections: downer tone but real talk(00:58:33) - Searching for a bright spot to end on

  2. Aug 27

    We Got Inspected by the FAA | The DroneOn Show Episode 61

    In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike, Jay and Kevin recaps nuWay Ag’s first on-site FAA Part 137 inspection. What was expected to feel like an OSHA-style fine hunt turned out to be professional, reasonable, and educational. The inspectors—manned aircraft pilots—spent hours on site, asked real questions, and focused on safety and recordkeeping rather than looking for problems. The conversation covers how they were selected, why the AG Track app made the paperwork side much easier, how few inspectors there are for the growing number of Part 137 operations, and why operators shouldn’t panic about an inspection if they’re running a legitimate program. They also talk FCC comment deadlines, buying drones amid uncertainty, and how the Platinum trailer held up when the inspectors walked through it. Comment now: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs We use nuWayAgTrack for all of our jobs — it makes tracking, reporting, and managing spray drone work so much easier. Download now, the app is live! • Apple App Store → https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nuway-agtrack/id6748161334 • Google Play → https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nuwayag.agtrack&pcampaignid=web_share Chapters (00:00:00) - Drone Workout(00:00:58) - FAA On-Site Drone Inspection(00:03:37) - Airplane Safety: AG Track App(00:08:10) - Flying Instructor on Part 137 Inspection(00:11:52) - Farmers on Drone Exemption(00:14:41) - Drones: Should You Fly a Class 3 Medical?(00:19:12) - Farmers: Do We Need Drones on Our Property?(00:25:26) - Farmers Take for Granted DJI's Drones(00:30:05) - Jay Miller: If We Bans Chinese Drones,(00:33:12) - The U of E Drone Conference(00:34:53) - How to Leave a Comment on the FCC Drone Proposal(00:37:44) - Private vs Public: Drone Compliance(00:41:22) - New Way Ag: Drone Trailer Inspection(00:45:13) - Pilots on the Run

  3. Aug 21

    Mike & Kevin Catch-Up: FCC Rules, Wichita Store & New Platinum Trailer | The DroneOn Show Episode 60

    In this DroneOn Show owners catch-up, Mike and Kevin sit down after a busy spray season to talk shop. They recap how the service team handled repairs, improved parts availability compared to last year, and the need for more temporary help next season as thermal work ramps up. The conversation turns to the biggest issue in the industry right now—the proposed FCC rules and potential restrictions on foreign-made drones—and why they chose not to add more fear-based content. They also give an update on the Wichita storefront (praised by DJI as the best retail space they’ve seen in the US), the new climate-controlled Pilot Command Center trailer, and a class-action lawsuit involving the J100. Honest talk on the current market, American manufacturing timelines, and staying optimistic about the future of spray and thermal drones. Chapters (00:00:00) - Woodlands Drone Guys on the Down(00:03:08) - Do You Need a Helicopter to Remove a Tree?(00:04:57) - FCC Drone Rulemaking: What to Do About It(00:09:26) - DJI's New Way Ag Store in Wichita(00:15:33) - Drones, retail sales outlook(00:16:44) - New Way Ag: Five Things a Distributor Should Expect From Their(00:21:44) - Drones for Farming: How we suck(00:23:58) - Trump's Foreign Drone Ban(00:28:56) - What That Means For The American Worker(00:32:50) - Adam Levine on Men and the 2020 election(00:38:12) - UPS Driver on Customer Service(00:44:30) - Tunnel Drone Recovery Expert(00:47:34) - Buzzing Around on a Drone(00:48:02) - EA Vision Faces Class Action Lawsuit(00:48:40) - New Way Ag Platinum Trailer: $87,500(00:53:47) - Flying a drone on a farm(00:57:25) - Agra Drone Group on proposed class action lawsuit

    Mike & Kevin Catch-Up: FCC Rules, Wichita Store & New Platinum Trailer | The DroneOn Show Episode 60

  4. Aug 14

    5-Year-Old Viviana Takes Over the DroneOn Show | The DroneOn Show Episode 59

    In this special DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits down with his 5-year-old daughter Viviana for her very first podcast appearance. Fresh off a workout and still in her cowgirl boots, Viviana chats about her pony Misty, what she knows about spray drones and thermal deer recovery, going on jobs with her dad, and why she loves finding deer. She shares her favorite parts of family life, her thoughts on school (she’s homeschooled), what she wants to be when she grows up, and plenty of fun, honest moments that only a 5-year-old can deliver. A light-hearted, heartwarming episode that shows the family side of the drone business. Chapters (00:00:00) - Drone on the Show(00:02:47) - Why Do I Like Spray Drones So Much?(00:06:02) - 5-Year-Old Interview(00:09:52) - Reveal: Finding a Deer(00:10:43) - Why Do You Like Doing Podcasts?(00:12:17) - Students Save Money For Vacation(00:13:04) - What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?(00:17:52) - Drones for Kids: Learning How to Fly(00:21:46) - What's Next For You?(00:22:27) - Viviana's Birthday Party

    5-Year-Old Viviana Takes Over the DroneOn Show | The DroneOn Show Episode 59

  5. Aug 7

    Iowa & Mexico Spray Pilots: Zane & Bernhard on Startup Stories & Future of Drones | DroneOn Show Ep 58

    In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits down with two fellow spray drone applicators: Zane Carter of Neutral Drones in Iowa and Bernhard Martens from Chihuahua, Mexico. Zane shares how a layoff from Wells Fargo led him into the industry, flying T40s in his first year and covering thousands of acres before building his own operation. Bernhard recounts starting in 2021 with a single T20 funded by his farm boss, working the farm by day and custom spraying by night to hit 8,000 acres in his first season—with a drone so reliable it barely needed parts. The three discuss early crashes, power lines as the biggest threat, differences in field sizes and operations between Iowa and Mexico, the strong ongoing demand for custom work, and where the industry is headed over the next five years as more farmers consider buying their own drones while custom applicators continue to scale. Chapters (00:00:00) - Nutri Drones: Drone On Air(00:00:22) - How to Get Out of Dropping Chemicals(00:02:36) - How to spray drones on a farm(00:06:46) - Buy Back My Drone Back(00:07:38) - Drone Crash During Spray(00:10:15) - Flying a drone off a power line(00:13:26) - Are there any regulations on crop spraying in Mexico?(00:15:45) - Flying a drone damaged by fire(00:17:14) - The Hard Work of Having a Drone Business(00:21:02) - Drones for Business: More Customization, Less Stress(00:21:58) - Why drones are crashed in the night(00:24:48) - Farmhouse on an Acreage(00:25:55) - Continued growth in custom app business(00:27:07) - Had I Said No to More Acres, I Would Have Had(00:27:37) - Farmers Talk About Drone Sales(00:31:54) - DJI's 14,000 Generator(00:34:47) - Do You Need a Diesel Generator For Drone Applications?(00:37:28) - Big Battery Packs For Solar Power(00:40:13) - Do You Need Solar to Fly?(00:41:41) - T70 vs T100(00:43:14) - What to Do About Dual-Motor Drones(00:46:59) - Do You Need a Drone to Spray?(00:49:24) - Do drones affect crop spraying?(00:52:44) - Is it Too Late to Start a Drone Business?(00:55:21) - Drones Coming soon to our Region

  6. Jul 31

    From Aerospace Engineer to Drone Dealer: Mehdi’s Path with Talos Drones | The DroneOn Show Ep 57

    In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike talks with Mehdi from Talos Drones about his path into the industry. Mehdi shares his background as a mechanical engineer with a master’s in composite materials for aerospace from West Virginia University, followed by work at a California chemical company developing pheromone applicators for orchards. There he built custom drone systems for high-viscosity products, modified early DJI MG-1 platforms, and secured USDA grants. He later used his savings to launch his own engineering and drone business around 2019, trained at DJI in China, and made his first sale to customers who drove up from Mexico. The conversation covers the realities of heavy after-sales support, staying technical as a dealer, honest feedback on T100 performance and swath widths, connectivity in tough areas, and why the spray drone industry attracts a younger crowd. Practical insights from someone who learned the technology from the inside out. Chapters (00:00:00) - Drone on Air: Is the Industry Young?(00:01:20) - DJI's Remotely Controlled Insects(00:05:24) - How I learned to fly drones by accident(00:09:00) - How To Sell Your First Drone(00:11:42) - English speaker speaks fluently in the US(00:13:58) - Exporting DJI drones to sprayers(00:18:10) - DJI 14,000 Generator(00:21:09) - Custom Trailers(00:21:33) - Do You Need a T100 Drone? vs. T60X(00:27:15) - T100 vs T50: Is It Worth It?(00:30:39) - DJI Drone: If It's Not Reliable, Then Why(00:33:27) - BUSINESS CONVERSATIONS: Challenges(00:34:41) - Farm Drone Sales: Challenges(00:38:34) - Do You Think Your T40s Are obsolete?(00:40:24) - DJI T100 Relay connectivity(00:41:52) - DJI Drone: Should You Use Rtk or Not?(00:44:40) - Do You Need a Drone to Spray Your Crops?(00:48:17) - T6X can't fly under 17 feet on T100(00:49:53) - DJI's commitment to its drone users(00:51:25) - DJI's Thank You Letter to Feedback(00:52:12) - Drone On-Air

  7. Jul 24

    Texas Rangeland Pro: Ex-Winery Owner Builds Drone Business | The DroneOn Show Episode 56

    In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits down with Jnani from Vortex Advantage Ag in Texas for a one-year update on his operation. Jnani shares how nearly all of his work remains focused on pasture and rangeland spraying rather than row crops, explaining the pricing realities versus airplanes and why his chopped-up Texas terrain with obstacles fits his approach. He walks through his full background—from Army airborne Gulf War veteran and skydiver, to college baseball pitcher, hardwood flooring company owner, personal protection/bodyguard work for high-profile clients, and owning a winery—before building Vortex into a deliberate brand. The conversation covers equipment sales without heavy inventory to stay neutral, the challenges of after-sales support, upcoming large solar projects, his move from XAG P150s to testing the massive Series Air platform, content creation struggles while spraying, and how YouTube drives most of his business. Honest talk on finding a niche, learning from past businesses, and helping others succeed.

  8. Jul 10

    Inside nuWay Ag: Dealer Program Growth, T100 Real Talk & Industry Expansion | The DroneOn Show Ep 55

    In this DroneOn Show owners episode, Mike, Jason, and Kevin dive deep into the real-world challenges and strategies of scaling nuWay Ag and Drone Deer Recovery. They explore building a strong dealer program through local support and distribution rather than just SEO, leveraging their Drone Deer Recovery audience to grow nuWay traffic, and the importance of the New AG Track app. The conversation covers international content reach leading to unique sales like batteries for remote island rat control, high call volumes from across the country, the new Kansas branch with same-day training success stories, and why local dealers are essential as drone adoption remains under 4%. They also discuss T100 performance in tough environments, the value of screen recording flights, DJI transparency and parts availability, the upcoming Wichita flagship retail store experience, and the thermal pilot locator’s ongoing impact. Honest talk on growth, obstacles, and what’s next for the business. Chapters (00:00:00) - How to Build a Distribution Channel for New Ag.(00:05:06) - Farmers Sell drones out of the Middle of the Ocean(00:09:01) - Ag Drone Crash Log(00:12:54) - Drones Go Mainstream(00:16:17) - Flying a drone is NOT recommended(00:20:09) - Drones for Deer Recovery(00:23:01) - DJI vs Hasbro: Agricultural Drone Comparison(00:25:45) - Five Things You Need to Do to Break Into the Drone Market(00:27:11) - Tesla vs DJI: Elon Musk Is Pissed(00:33:52) - Dji Drone Reviewed on New Ag Channel(00:37:36) - No NDA for Tech Companies(00:40:51) - Flying drones in the corn field(00:43:26) - Drones for Deer: Lost in Michigan(00:45:53) - Pet Rescue: Join the Recovery(00:49:02) - How to Get Out There and Hunt Deer(00:49:48) - Wichita Wireless Store: Opening soon(00:51:57) - DJI Agricultural Drone Dealers(00:55:15) - TALKING TO THE FANS

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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Drone On Show is your ultimate podcast for everything drones! Join us as we dive into the exciting world of drone technology, from our company’s groundbreaking work using thermal drones to recover lost deer for hunters and agricultural drones to revolutionize crop spraying for farmers. But we don’t stop there—we explore it all: cutting-edge advancements, regulations, and the limitless possibilities of drones in every industry. Expect thrilling stories, expert insights, and a passion for innovation that keeps you hooked. Whether you’re a drone enthusiast, hunter, farmer, or tech lover, tune in for a show that soars above the rest!

Information

  • Creator
    Mike & Kevin
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The DroneOn Show

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