First Class Leaders Podcast

kyle856
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement

Leadership isn't a title, a rank or a position. It's a mindset and a choice.  This podcast about what leadership should look like when the pressure is on, hosted by Kyle Freiburger, a former Air Canada Airbus 320 captain with over 10,000 hours in the cockpit. Every week Kyle sits down with pilots, aviation professionals and leaders from outside the industry to talk about the part most people skip. Not the highlight reel, but what they struggled with, what they got wrong and how choosing to take the lead changed the way they show up. You'll hear honest conversations about reacting out of fear instead of leading with intention, about the gap between what we intend and the impact we actually have and about the daily choices that separate people who wait for permission from people who take responsibility for how they show up. No gurus and no formulas for a perfect career. Just real stories, practical tools and a simple question worth asking on your worst day. How can I take the lead right now? New episodes weekly. Are you ready to take the lead?

  1. 1d ago

    How Do You Speak Up Without Making Things Worse With Check Airman Matthew Pitchford | Ep. 16

    Most pilots know they should speak up. What’s harder to understand is why they don’t and what it costs when they stay quiet. Matthew Pitchford has been on every side of that dynamic. He went from student pilot to flight instructor to line check airman at a US airline, which means he’s spent his career watching the same pattern repeat at every level of experience: qualified, capable people who know the right move and still won’t say it out loud. That vantage point is exactly why Kyle wanted him on the show. In this conversation, Kyle and Matt dig into why speaking up is so hard even when the stakes are high, what it actually takes to change that in a cockpit and how the story we tell ourselves in the moment is almost always what keeps us quiet. You’ll discover: Why the hazardous attitudes taught in ground school (macho, resignation and anti-authority) don’t disappear at captain upgrade How humility and competency can coexist without one undermining the other What the parking brake has to do with emotional regulation under pressure Why “what am I missing?” lands better than “why” in a tense crew dynamic The difference between seeming curious and being genuinely curious and why it matters How to speak up without making things worse when a captain shuts you down Why not speaking up is a safety event, not just a soft skills problem Whether you’re at 300 hours or 16,000, if you’ve ever known something was off and stayed quiet, this one will hit close to home. And if you train or evaluate others, Matt’s perspective from the other side of the evaluation matters too. About the guest: Matthew Pitchford is a captain at a US airline who has spent his career on both sides of the cockpit: as a student, as a flight instructor and now as a line check airman evaluating crew performance. That vantage point gives him a clear view of what’s actually holding pilots back and it isn’t the technical stuff. LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-pitchford-b2706820a

  2. Nov 3

    The Psychology of Defensiveness with Psychologist Abigail Powell | Ep. 15

    When someone else is late, we decide they're lazy. When we're late, it was traffic. Psychologist Dr. Abigail Powell explains why our brains judge other people by their character and ourselves by our circumstances, and what that habit quietly does to trust in the cockpit, at work and at home.   Abigail grew up in a family of airline pilots and now helps people in aviation and beyond make sense of what's going on in their heads. She and Kyle start with a real moment from his own life: a breakfast, a birthday card written in Polish, a waitress offering coffee and his wife telling him that was rude. It took him a full day to stop defending his character and start owning his impact.   In this conversation, you'll hear about: Why we explain other people's mistakes through who they are and our own through what happened to us The small wording change that turns a defensive apology into real ownership How all or nothing thinking, mind reading and jumping to conclusions break down a crew The difference between confidence and competence for new captains and leaders How naming an emotion out loud takes away its power and builds connection What separates someone who reacts from someone who recognizes the moment and chooses a response   If you've ever caught yourself defending your intentions when someone tells you how you came across, this episode gives you a clearer way to see what's happening and a better move to make next.   Connect with Abigail on Instagram at @TheAviationTherapist and at theaviationtherapist.com.

  3. Oct 27

    NAV Canada’s Safety Chief on Curiosity, Leadership, and Learning from Mistakes - Anthony McKay - #14

    The best leaders in aviation aren’t necessarily the ones with all the answers. They’re the ones who stay curious enough to hear what others see. In this episode, Anthony McKay, Vice President and Chief Safety and Quality Officer at NAV Canada, shares hard-won lessons on leading, learning, and making better decisions under pressure. After decades on the flight deck and in senior aviation leadership including leading air traffic services across NAV Canada’s seven flight information regions Anthony has seen how curiosity can turn disagreement into progress. He and host Kyle explore what to do when someone challenges your idea, why asking questions is more effective than defending your position, and how to stay accountable when you get it wrong. In this conversation, you’ll hear about: Why curiosity matters more than having the title or authority How to pause and respond instead of reacting defensively Why listening to other perspectives can strengthen decisions and safety How owning mistakes builds trust The role of self-awareness and intention in effective leadership How captains and instructors can help develop the next generation of leaders Anthony shares stories from his career, including a lesson from his early days as a pilot that stayed with him and the mentors who taught him to slow down and bring people along. This episode connects aviation safety, crew resource management, and practical leadership skills that apply well beyond the cockpit.

  4. Oct 20

    The Pilot Mindset That Turns Flight Hours Into Career Leverage - Tevin A - #13

    Most pilots think their job is their security. Tevin Mulavu makes the case that’s backwards and once you see why, you may never look at your logbook the same way again. Tevin spent more than 20 years flying internationally, including time on the Boeing 777 and 787, while spending up to 200 nights a year away from home. That experience triggered a difficult question: if his kids remembered him mainly by the days he wasn’t there, what was he really building? What started as a personal reckoning became a mission to help pilots turn cockpit experience into a meaningful career beyond aviation. You’ll discover why so many pilots quietly feel trapped by the industry, how Tevin used a survey to confirm the problem was widespread, and why he founded the Aviator Entrepreneur Academy to address it. We explore the difference between career security and personal security, why pilots may be sitting on a “mountain of value” they never learned to recognize, and how skills like risk assessment, executive judgment, communication, adaptability, and leadership can transfer far beyond the flight deck. Kyle also shares the turning point that pushed him out of a high-status aviation career and into deeper identity work including the belief shift that changed everything: security comes from the value you can create, not the title on your badge. Together, they unpack why high performers can get stuck in blame, perfectionism, and “not now” thinking, and why the first move isn’t necessarily quitting your job. It’s building awareness, taking inventory of your strengths, and becoming open to a better path.

  5. Oct 13

    The 3-Step Drill for Building Self Awareness - #12

    You are not as self-aware as you think you are and that might be the best news you hear today. Kyle shares the personal story that exposed the gap between his intentions and his impact, then breaks down the simple skill that turns frustration, defensiveness, and miscommunication into growth. For years, Kyle believed he was already humble, open, and easy to work with. Then repeated feedback from partners and colleagues, along with a memorable CRM training moment at age 28, forced a hard truth: good intentions do not guarantee good outcomes. That realization became the foundation for his Take the Lead framework and a deeper understanding of self-awareness. You’ll discover why self-awareness is not a destination but a direction, how to spot the signals you’ve been ignoring, and why defending your intentions can make trust and connection worse. Kyle explains how external feedback, internal emotions, and everyday friction can all offer clues and how to move from reaction to response using a simple ACT process.Key takeaways include: The difference between blame and ownership Why curiosity can help you move forward How humility, support, and courage guide your next step Why daily reflection, coaching, and practical reps matter If you’ve wondered why the same conflict keeps repeating or how to become the person you want to be, this episode offers a practical path toward self-awareness, leadership, and personal growth.

  6. Oct 6

    The hidden reason people get defensive and how to break the cycle - Mike Sferrazza - #11

    What if defensiveness is not a personality problem, but a leadership problem? Kyle and Mike Sferrazza break down why difficult moments keep escalating, what your brain is really protecting, and the simple shift that can stop the reaction loop before it takes over. If you keep finding yourself arguing, blaming, justifying, or shutting down with a spouse, co-worker, or anyone who pushes your buttons, this conversation will hit hard. The real issue is not just what the other person said it's the belief underneath your response and the move you choose next. You'll discover: Why defensiveness is often a threat response, not a character flaw How hidden beliefs like "I'm not good enough" quietly run the show The difference between reacting and responding in the middle of conflict Why "take the lead" works as a pattern interrupt when emotions spike How influence happens as a byproduct of staying grounded, not by trying to control someone else When boundaries are the healthiest move, especially in relationships and high-stakes environments Why coaching and belief work matter if you want to change the root, not just the behavior Mike shares how defensiveness shows up as the urge to win, prove a point, or avoid feeling inadequate, while Kyle connects that pattern to emotional intelligence, leadership, and the five principles behind the Take the Lead framework. Together they unpack the practical difference between handling a heated conversation and actually transforming the belief driving it. This episode is especially valuable if you're tired of repeating the same conflict patterns and want a better way to show up without getting pulled into someone else's reaction. Whether you're navigating marriage, leadership, the flight deck, or any relationship where tension escalates fast, this one gives you a framework you can actually use in real time.If you've ever thought, "I know I'm reacting, but I don't know how to stop," start here. The answer may be simpler than you think and harder than you'd like. But once you learn the skill, everything changes.

  7. Sep 29

    Why Good Intentions Can Still Have a Bad Impact - #10

    The difference between a strong leader and a damaged relationship can come down to one split second: intent versus impact. A real cockpit incident shows how good people, with good intentions, can still make things worse when they slip into reaction mode.Kyle breaks down the “autopilot loop” that kicks in when we feel threatened, why the brain defaults to blame and justification, and how that reaction can affect communication and decision-making. If you’ve ever snapped at someone, shut down, or wondered, “Why did I do that?” this episode offers a more useful place to start than shame.In this episode, you’ll explore: Why intentions are invisible, while impact is what others experience How threat perception can pull us out of thoughtful decision-making How a cockpit incident illustrates the way mistakes can compound Why mistakes can be an opportunity to learn, rather than a reason to judge yourself What it means to “take the lead” by shifting from justification to focusing on impact Why asking for help can be a powerful leadership move Kyle also shares a practical way to notice your “signals” the moments when you realize you’re frustrated, defensive, or off track. By noticing sooner and reflecting on what happened, you can build a better response for next time.For pilots, aviation professionals, and anyone working to become a more self-aware leader, this episode is a reminder: leadership isn’t about proving your intentions. It’s about learning to take responsibility for your impact.

  8. Sep 22

    Why Success Feels Empty Until You Redefine How You Measure It - Tyler Haughey - #9

    Most of what holds pilots and leaders back is not skill it’s the belief that they’re “not ready” yet. In this episode, Tyler Haughey and Kyle explore why that feeling is so common, how it shapes our decisions, and how taking the next step can turn hesitation into progress. Tyler started flight training after 9/11 and has since worked as a flight instructor, airline captain, pilot recruiter, and founder of Level Flight, an online ground school designed for people with real lives. In this conversation, Tyler and Kyle go beyond aviation training to discuss leadership, confidence, failure, emotional reactions, and personal growth. They explore: Why capable people often believe they are not good enough The difference between feelings and beliefs How perfectionism can prevent people from taking action Why success should be measured by progress, learning, and the next step The difference between reacting emotionally and choosing how to respond How humility, curiosity, ownership, courage, and support can shape better leadership Why focusing on impact instead of intent can improve relationships How pilots can balance memorizing essential information with knowing where to find reliable references Why ground training should be treated as meaningful preparation rather than a checkbox How to learn from mistakes and use them to become a better leader Tyler also shares a cockpit training experience that taught him to slow down, recognize a mistake, and fix what he could. Kyle discusses how practicing ownership and humility can change everyday interactions, including relationships at home and in the workplace. Whether you are a pilot, aviation professional, leader, founder, or someone working to become a better version of yourself, this episode offers practical insight into overcoming self-doubt, managing emotional reactions, learning from failure, and moving forward one step at a time.

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About

Leadership isn't a title, a rank or a position. It's a mindset and a choice.  This podcast about what leadership should look like when the pressure is on, hosted by Kyle Freiburger, a former Air Canada Airbus 320 captain with over 10,000 hours in the cockpit. Every week Kyle sits down with pilots, aviation professionals and leaders from outside the industry to talk about the part most people skip. Not the highlight reel, but what they struggled with, what they got wrong and how choosing to take the lead changed the way they show up. You'll hear honest conversations about reacting out of fear instead of leading with intention, about the gap between what we intend and the impact we actually have and about the daily choices that separate people who wait for permission from people who take responsibility for how they show up. No gurus and no formulas for a perfect career. Just real stories, practical tools and a simple question worth asking on your worst day. How can I take the lead right now? New episodes weekly. Are you ready to take the lead?

Information

  • Creator
    kyle856
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    First Class Leaders Podcast

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