Make the Donuts

Erik Sabiston
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Careers

Make the Donuts, hosted by bestselling author and commercial pilot Erik Sabiston, dives into the secrets of success through engaging interviews with experts from diverse career fields.

  1. 5d ago

    An Apache Helicopter Saved Her Life. Then She Became a US Pilot

    From surviving an ambush in Iraq to flying Black Hawk helicopters for the U.S. Army. Valdeta Mehanja joins Make the Donuts to share her extraordinary journey from growing up as a refugee of the Kosovo War to becoming a U.S. Army captain and commercial airline pilot. She recounts the Apache helicopter rescue that changed her life, the sacrifices behind her aviation career, and what it means to serve the country that gave her a second chance. What to expect:🚁 How surviving an ambush in Iraq inspired her to become a pilot.🇺🇸 Her journey from refugee camps to becoming a U.S. Army Black Hawk pilot.✈️ The perseverance and opportunities that helped her build two aviation careers. Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makethedonutz/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makethedonutz Check out our website: https://makethedonuts.com/ For one-on-one career help and/or business inquiries: www.sabistonconsulting.com SPONSOR: https://phantomlights.com/

  2. Oct 8

    Is Airline Pilot Hiring Dead in 2026? | PJ Edmonds

    Is the pilot shortage over, are regional pilots going to be stuck for years, and is becoming an airline pilot still worth the investment? PJ Edmonds joins Erik to separate reality from the rumors pilots are hearing online. They discuss airline hiring, age 67, regional career timelines, college degrees, the 1,500-hour rule, flight school debt, CFI time building, AI in aviation, and what pilots can do to actually stand out when applying to the airlines. ✈️ Why the “pilot shortage is over” narrative doesn’t tell the whole story🧑‍✈️ Why captain time, networking, and hiring events matter more in a competitive market💰 How to think about flight school debt, career investment, and whether becoming a pilot is still worth it🤖 Why AI may change aviation without replacing airline pilots anytime soon🤝 How preparation, relationships, and simply asking for help can accelerate your airline career Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makethedonutz/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makethedonutz Check out our website: https://makethedonuts.com/ For one-on-one career help and/or business inquiries: www.sabistonconsulting.com SPONSOR: https://phantomlights.com/

  3. Sep 22

    Inside the Statler Brothers’ 40-Year Career With Don Reid

    Don Reid joins Make the Donuts to tell the story of The Statler Brothers, Johnny Cash, songwriting, faith, and a career that became part of country music history. Don looks back on starting the Statlers as a teenager, spending nearly nine years on the road with Johnny Cash, writing more than 250 recorded songs, and building a 40-year career alongside his brother Harold and the rest of the group. He also shares the songwriting advice Cash gave him as a young man, the stories behind his creative process, and why retirement ultimately opened the door to another lifelong ambition: becoming an author. 🎵 The story behind The Statler Brothers and their four decades in music 🖤 Life on the road with Johnny Cash and the advice Don never forgot ✍️ Writing 250+ songs, books, and stories across a lifetime of creating Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makethedonutz/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makethedonutz Check out our website: https://makethedonuts.com/ For one-on-one career help and/or business inquiries: www.sabistonconsulting.com SPONSOR: https://phantomlights.com/

  4. Sep 1

    Why Young Pilots Should Stop Worrying About the Hiring Slowdown | TJ McManamy

    Navigating the turbulence of pilot hiring, mastering the A350, and 53 years of aviation wisdom with Captain TJ McManamy. ✈️ The Realities of Pilot Hiring: It is a waste of mental energy to compare your career progression to those hired during different cycles. The best time to get hired is the day you get hired. 🧠 Acing Part 121 Training: Success in initial airline training comes down to precise standardization and mastering your expanded procedures. Knowing your standard callouts cold prevents momentary distractions on the flight deck and ensures you never have to cram for a checkride. 🚨 Cockpit Emergencies & CRM: Learn why a good First Officer must speak up if the Captain is wrong, and hear the harrowing story of an A330 no-flap landing in Madrid that required a 10,500-foot landing roll. Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makethedonutz/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makethedonutz Check out our website: https://makethedonuts.com/ For one-on-one career help and/or business inquiries: www.sabistonconsulting.com SPONSOR: https://phantomlights.com/

  5. Aug 18

    He Went From Enlisted Sailor to Flying Combat Jets | David Elias

    David Elias went from working on Navy aircraft as an enlisted sailor to flying them as a Naval Aviator. In this episode, he shares the combat missions, aircraft, mentors, and decisions that took him from the enlisted ranks to the cockpit of the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler. ✈️ From enlisted sailor to Naval Aviator: David shares how a childhood obsession with military aviation eventually led him from enlisted service to earning his wings, and what it took to make the jump from working on aircraft to flying them. ⚡ Inside the Prowler and Growler: Hear what it was like flying the EA-6B Prowler through the end of its Navy era, transitioning to the far more advanced EA-18G Growler, and performing the electronic warfare mission alongside other combat aircraft. 🎖️ Combat, carriers, and a career that came full circle: David recounts deploying aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, flying his Prowler during the opening strikes into Syria, and years later finding that exact aircraft sitting in a museum in Denver. Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makethedonutz/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makethedonutz Check out our website: https://makethedonuts.com/ For one-on-one career help and/or business inquiries: www.sabistonconsulting.com SPONSOR: https://www.delsolaviation.com/ #NavyPilot #Aviation #USMilitary #USNavy

  6. Aug 4

    The Navy Pilot Who Became One of America's GREATEST Authors! | Stephen Coonts

    A behind-the-scenes look at carrier aviation combat, publishing bestsellers, and military storytelling! ✈️ Stephen Coonts shares his journey from flying A-6 Intruders in Vietnam to becoming a 16-time New York Times bestselling author 📈 Learn how Flight of the Intruder went from 32 slush pile rejections to Ronald Reagan's desk in the Oval Office 🎯 Practical storytelling advice on writing realistic dialogue, avoiding cockpit clutter, and crafting authentic characters Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makethedonutz/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makethedonutz Check out our website: https://makethedonuts.com/ For one-on-one career help and/or business inquiries: www.sabistonconsulting.com SPONSOR: https://phantomlights.com/ #PilotCareer #Aviation

  7. Jul 21

    The Skills You NEED to Get Hired at a Major Airline | Alan Johnson

    A behind-the-scenes look at airline leadership, pilot hiring, and building a career at a major airline! ✈️ Alan Johnson shares his journey from Army aviator to Vice President of Flight Operations at American Airlines📈 Learn how hiring, retirements, fleet strategy, and leadership are shaping the future of the airline industry🎯 Practical career advice on standing out, giving back, and building a long-term career as a professional pilot – For video versions of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@MaketheDonuts Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makethedonutz/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makethedonutz Check out our website: https://makethedonuts.com/ For one-on-one career help and/or business inquiries: www.sabistonconsulting.com SPONSOR: https://www.coatrope.com/

  8. Jul 7

    How to Standout and Get HIRED By Major Airlines | Kit Darby

    A closer look at today’s airline hiring slowdown—and what it really means for your aviation career. ✈️ Why the current slowdown reflects shifting market conditions, not a simple end to pilot demand and how long-term trends still point to ongoing need📈 How retirements, airline profitability, fleet planning, and fuel costs interact to shape hiring cycles over the next decade🎯 Thoughtful, experience-based guidance to help pilots navigate uncertainty, position themselves competitively, and build a sustainable long-term career For video versions of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@MaketheDonuts Follow us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makethedonutz/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makethedonutz Check out our website: https://makethedonuts.com/ For one-on-one career help and/or business inquiries: www.sabistonconsulting.com SPONSOR: https://goflexair.com

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About

Make the Donuts, hosted by bestselling author and commercial pilot Erik Sabiston, dives into the secrets of success through engaging interviews with experts from diverse career fields.

Information

  • Creator
    Erik Sabiston
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Erik Sabiston
  • Show Website
    Make the Donuts

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