101 episodes
The Pilots Pandemic Emma Laczko and Maddie Miller
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- Leisure
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4.8 • 32 Ratings
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A podcast that aims at breaking the stigma of mental health in aviation; Talking about what many aviators are thinking or feeling but are unable to say out of fear.
Expect the real, the raw, and no bullsh*t discussions about mental health in aviation, current events in the avworld, with guest speakers sharing how they navigate a life in flight.
Hosted and founded by Emma Laczko. A second generation instrument pilot, and creator of the aeromedical reform petition.
Co-Hosted by Maddie Miller, an aviation wellness expert, pilot wife and former airline employee. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepilotspandemic/support
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#104 Fareed Guyot: Navigating the special issuance pathway. Pilot mental health advocate.
This week’s guest is an honorary favorite of The Pilots Pandemic Podcast, Cargo Pilot, Fareed Guyot. Fareed has been an ardent supporter of mental health reform in aviation and shared our message of mental health advocacy on EAA radio at Osh Kosh last year as well as most recently on his local news network. Fareed has successfully navigated the Special Issuance process for generalized anxiety and will be joining us in Washington DC as part of the Pilot Mental Health Campaign to lobby our congressional leaders for change. Fareed shares about his career track to the airlines and what he went through during his journey to his Special Issuance medical.
If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available. Dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
SOCIAL LINKS-
Instagram:
https://Instagram.com/thepilotspandemic
https://instagram.com/emneonicon
https://Instagram.com/thefitaviatrix
https://instagram.com/pilotmentalhealth
Link for aeromedical reform petition:
https://www.change.org/apilotspandemic
WEBSITE: https://msha.ke/thepilotspandemic/
www.pmhc.org
SPONSORS:
www.avi-foods.com @avi_foods_co
Code:pilotspandemic
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepilotspandemic/support -
#103 NGPA Palm Springs winter warm up recap. Complaints, cactuses, and cyber trucks…
We are solo this week and recapping all of our highlights after attending the NGPA winter warm up expo in Palm Springs, CA. From the cholla garden to the club and everything in between. Listen now to hear more… If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available. Dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
SOCIAL LINKS-
Instagram:
https://Instagram.com/thepilotspandemic
https://instagram.com/emneonicon
https://Instagram.com/thefitaviatrix
https://instagram.com/pilotmentalhealth
Link for aeromedical reform petition:
https://www.change.org/apilotspandemic
WEBSITE: https://msha.ke/thepilotspandemic/
www.pmhc.org
SPONSORS:
www.avi-foods.com @avi_foods_co
Code:pilotspandemic
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepilotspandemic/support -
#102 Zack Friedman: Navigating the FAAs SSRI SI pathway. Pilot Mental Health and reform advocate.
Our guest this week is Zack Friedman. Zack is an incredibly outspoken aeromedical reform advocate who we connected with on LinkedIn. In 2022 after seeking his medical for flight training he hit a road block for disclosing treatment for anxiety and acne. Zack has been waiting to get back in left seat for almost 2 years. On this episode he walks us through his experience so far, which highlights the many inconsistencies and flaws with the FAA aeromedical system and mental health policies. Listen now to hear more… If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available. Dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
SOCIAL LINKS-
Instagram:
https://Instagram.com/thepilotspandemic
https://instagram.com/emneonicon
https://Instagram.com/thefitaviatrix
https://instagram.com/pilotmentalhealth
Link for aeromedical reform petition:
https://www.change.org/apilotspandemic
WEBSITE: https://msha.ke/thepilotspandemic/
www.pmhc.org
SPONSORS:
www.avi-foods.com @avi_foods_co
Code:pilotspandemic
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepilotspandemic/support -
#101 Two pilots lost to suicide in one day: RIP former guest Jon Dvorak & TX Pilot, Logan James.
TW: Suicide. This past week the aviation community lost two more pilots to suicide, one being our former guest and friend of the podcast… Jon Dvorak. We are absolutely heartbroken & devastated by this news and our deepest condolences go out to everyone involved. The very same day we learned about Jon we also found out about Logan Timothy James. The instrument rated Private Pilot in Paris, TX who took his own life in an airplane that same Thursday. This weeks episode is not an easy listen but we encourage you to tune in to not just this episode but Jon Dvoraks as well, episode #72. We are calling on all of you now more than ever to please join us at the Pilot Mental Health Campaign PMHC.org and sign the pilots pandemic aeromedical reform petition. If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available. Dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
SOCIAL LINKS-
Instagram:
https://Instagram.com/thepilotspandemic
https://instagram.com/emneonicon
https://Instagram.com/thefitaviatrix
https://instagram.com/pilotmentalhealth
Link for aeromedical reform petition:
https://www.change.org/apilotspandemic
WEBSITE: https://msha.ke/thepilotspandemic/
www.pmhc.org
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepilotspandemic/support -
#100 Tony Stewart: pilot loses medical for seeking mental health care.
Our guest this week is Tony Stewart. Tony is a pilot, outdoor enthusiast, musician, and Coast Guard veteran. He is currently fighting to get his medical back after seeking mental health care through the VA. Tony’s story is a perfect example of the broken nature of the FAA’s aeromedical system and how it affects pilots and their wellbeing. Listen now to hear more… If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available. Dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
SOCIAL LINKS-
Instagram:
https://Instagram.com/thepilotspandemic
https://instagram.com/emneonicon
https://Instagram.com/thefitaviatrix
https://instagram.com/pilotmentalhealth
Link for aeromedical reform petition:
https://www.change.org/apilotspandemic
WEBSITE: https://msha.ke/thepilotspandemic/
www.pmhc.org
SPONSORS:
www.avi-foods.com @avi_foods_co
Code:pilotspandemic
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepilotspandemic/support -
#99 Laila Stein: NTSB Mental Health in Aviation Roundtable panelist.
Our guest this week is Laila Stein. Laila is a graduate of Western Michigan University, PMHC Board of Directors, and aviation researcher. She has published the groundbreaking study “Mental Health in Aviation: A Study of Aviation Students on Their Perceptions of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Rules Governing Mental Health” that was highlighted at the recent NTSB mental health roundtable. Laila believes many aviation safety and culture issues can be solved through data collection, analysis, and implementation. She currently works as a certified flight instructor and adjunct professor. As well as Board of Directors on the Pilot Mental Health Campaign. Join us and listen for more! If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available. Dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
SOCIAL LINKS-
Instagram:
https://Instagram.com/thepilotspandemic
https://instagram.com/emneonicon
https://Instagram.com/thefitaviatrix
https://instagram.com/pilotmentalhealth
Link for aeromedical reform petition:
https://www.change.org/apilotspandemic
WEBSITE: https://msha.ke/thepilotspandemic/
www.pmhc.org
SPONSORS:
www.avi-foods.com @avi_foods_co
Code:pilotspandemic
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thepilotspandemic/support
Customer Reviews
A dynamic duo
These two ladies have a dynamic that is indicative of their success in this sphere. Emma and Maddie’s passion shines through, as they talk with guests, but also in their solo episodes. A pair that truly care, and are doing the work to make the aeromedical system a better system for aviators!
An Important Show
As an airline pilot at a major airline and graduate of the FAA special issuance program, this is vitally important information being shared. Thank you so much for sharing these important stories.
Some ideas for improvement!
I really like the idea of this podcast and I like the hosts and especially that they are pilot girlies, as it’s hard to find aviation podcasts hosted by women. However, there is a bit to be desired from this podcast and I just had a couple ideas that as a listener I think could improve the experience!
-I wish the hosts went more in depth on the topic listed in the title. For example, the episode on the CFI posting the Snapchat of the student, they really only talked about that specific topic for maybe about 10 minutes and it was very surface level and then they moved on to other stories
-I feel that some opportunities for great topics and learning lessons are overlooked. For example, the British Airways pilot that was caught doing coke on his overnight before the flight the next morning. First off, the comment about “if you’re going to do coke on your overnight, just don’t tell anyone” I found to be a HUGE yikes. Im sure it was meant as a joke but that’s a really horrible example to set as im sure a lot of newer pilots may be listening. I also found it was a big missed opportunity to talk about how at major airlines, (US unionized airlines at least) it is encouraged that if a pilot shows up to work impaired, the other pilot convince the impaired one to call out sick, instead of reporting him/her. This is so the impaired pilot can get substance abuse treatment instead of losing their right to fly and essentially losing their career. To me this is SUCH an important topic that I feel isn’t talked about enough.
Overall I feel like the podcast can be a bit aimless on its topic, at least from the couple episodes I’ve listened to. The last twenty minutes they talk about food or recipes, not aviation related at all. As a listener I would like to see a more in-depth analysis on a specific topic. Anyways that is just my opinion and I hope to see to see a bit of change on the podcast as I believe it has SO much potential! Thanks for reading.
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