SKY MAMI

Marisa Maher
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to SKY MAMI. 🚁 I’m Marisa Maher, a Black Hawk pilot, leader, athlete, lifelong learner, and the voice behind SKY MAMI. What started in the cockpit has become something much bigger. SKY MAMI is about hard conversations with no autopilot: the choices, pivots, failures, ambitions, and uncomfortable questions that shape who we become. Here you’ll find conversations and stories about aviation, leadership, mental health, fitness, identity, life after service, and personal growth, along with a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to build a new chapter when an old one has defined you for a long time. Some days we’re talking Black Hawks. Some days we’re questioning our relationship with success. Some days we’re training, traveling, learning from incredible people, or figuring life out in real time. The common thread is simple: Stay curious. Choose your own direction. Keep becoming. This isn’t just a channel about being a pilot. It’s about the person you become along the way. SKY MAMI Hard Conversations. No Autopilot. 🩷🚁

Episodes

  1. 10/09/2025

    11 - The Burnout Algorithm | Why high performers hit a wall

    Are you running on empty in the pursuit of corporate excellence? This week, we tackle the silent career killer: motivational burnout in the modern workplace. I'm joined by my friend, Tiffany, a Data Scientist, who brings a unique, analytical perspective to a deeply human problem. We dive into the in-depth details of what actually causes this exhaustion, especially in high-pressure, expertise-driven fields like aviation, tech and data science. We discuss how to identify the subtle, and not-so-subtle, signs of chronic stress before it cripples your performance and passion. Tiffany shares her insights on recognizing the patterns of "always-on" culture and setting data-informed boundaries. Most importantly, we don't leave you hanging. We break down actionable, practical self-care strategies, not just bubble baths, but sustainable systems and mindset shifts, that you can implement immediately to protect your energy, manage stress, and ensure you remain the most effective, innovative performer in your area of expertise. Hard conversations. No autopilot. Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/kmiLik-rr8o If you've ever felt the drive slip away while the demands pile up, you are not alone. Come chat with us!  Find us on Instagram: @sky_mami_ @thats.so.tiff

    11 - The Burnout Algorithm | Why high performers hit a wall

  2. 07/08/2025

    10 - The audacity to fail

    What if the thing standing between you and the life you want isn't your ability to succeed, but your willingness to fail? In one of the most vulnerable conversations I've had on SKY MAMI, I sit down with Carlos Techeira to talk about failure, ambition, identity, and the emotional weight we carry when we've spent our lives trying to be strong, capable, and successful.  This conversation gets real.  Carlos sees something in me during this conversation that I'm not always able to see in myself. As he reflects on what my journey represents, not just for me, but for the little girls coming behind us and the generations who will have more possibilities because someone went first. His pride and emotion bring us both to tears. It's a moment that forces me to stop, take in how far I've come, and recognize that sometimes our lives become bigger than our own ambitions. Sometimes what we accomplish becomes proof for someone else of what's possible.  But none of that happens without being willing to risk getting it wrong.  We talk about the fear of failure, the pressure we put on ourselves to succeed, and what it takes to keep choosing the uncertain path when there are no guarantees it will work out.  Because maybe courage isn't believing you're going to succeed,  Maybe it's believing the possibility is worth failing for.  The Audacity to Fail is about giving yourself permission to try, to fall short, to change, and to take up space anyway, because you never know who might be watching you and realizing for the first time that they can, too.  Hard conversations. No autopilot.  Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/Kyy_bZpIN-A

    10 - The audacity to fail

  3. 10/19/2024

    9 - Why "healthy" is more important than your workout | with Laura M. Thompson, MS, RDN

    Get ready to fuel your body and mind! In our latest episode, I chat with Laura, a US Army registered dietitian, about the importance of fitness and holistic health for soldiers. We dive into trending nutrition and lifestyle topics and share actionable tips for optimizing your well-being.  Hard conversations. No autopilot. CPT Laura M. Thompson, MS, RDN currently serves at a Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Facility on Fort Liberty, NC. H2F facilities are designed to meet the unique healthcare needs of soldiers, both during active duty and after retirement. They are staffed by a team of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, technicians, and support staff, who are dedicated to providing high-quality care.  Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/j4Iru1Y7qIA

    9 - Why "healthy" is more important than your workout | with Laura M. Thompson, MS, RDN

  4. 07/21/2024

    8 - How do you build a culture people want to be part of?

    Welcome to the Lounge, SKY Mami is back with you, level 1000,  and I have an exciting new episode to share.  I’d like to introduce our first collaborative episode with Cancelled for Maintenance Podcast. We are flying a formation flight in this episode with Women Rock Wings, the Official flyCULTURE and Journey Right, LLC. You’ll hear from inspiring voices who discuss their journeys and the role supportive communities played in their success. This conversation dives into practical tips for building a strong network, fostering collaboration within a community, and harnessing the collective energy to overcome challenges and achieve dreams.    I hope you enjoy flying with us, let me know your thoughts as you listen. There will not be a video for this episode. You can learn more and follow our guests at: @officialflyCULTURE - Instagram @womenrockwings - Instagram @journeyright_llc - Instagram @canxformaintenancepodcast - Instagram Watch SKY Mami on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@skymami

    8 - How do you build a culture people want to be part of?

  5. 06/19/2024

    7 - Braves, Blackhawks, and Maintenance Test Pilots

    Continuing with the topic of flying Blackhawks for the US Army, SKY Mami shares her sight picture of the Atlanta Braves flyover mission on June 14, 2024. She also gives insight to networking opportunities and details what it means to be a Maintenance Test Pilot. Hard conversations. No autopilot.   Get your tickets for flyCULTURE New Orleans July 5, 2024 here:  https://womenrockwings.com/events/ Whether you’re a seasoned aviator or just fascinated by the world of flight, the flyCULTURE™ Brunch & Fly-In Event is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in aviation culture, network with like-minded individuals & treat yourself to an unforgettable experience. Don’t miss out on the first of its kind event. There will be plenty of photo opportunities so bring your camera! Save the date. Take flight at flyCULTURE™.

    7 - Braves, Blackhawks, and Maintenance Test Pilots

  6. 06/07/2024

    6 - Is your ego driving you? | Ambition, Identity & Success

    Ambition can take you places, so can confidence, competitiveness, and the desire to prove yourself.  But at what point does ego grab the wheel? In this episode of SKY MAMI, we're talking about the uncomfortable relationship between ego, ambition, success, and identity, and what happens when the drive to achieve starts influencing our decisions more than we realize.  I unpack the difference between being genuinely driven and needing validation, how ego can show up in our careers and relationships, and why sometimes the hardest thing to examine isn't whether we're capable of achieving more, it's why we need to.  There's nothing wrong with wanting to win. There's nothing wrong with being ambitious.  The question is: Are you choosing the destination or is your ego driving you there? Hard conversations. No autopilot.  Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/F-h-ZzZdV_I

    6 - Is your ego driving you? | Ambition, Identity & Success

  7. 05/21/2024

    5 - So you want to be an Army Pilot? | The WOFT Application Process

    So you want to Fly Army but where the hell do you actually start? In this episode of SKY MAMI, I break down the Warrant Officer Flight Training (WOFT) application process and share the resources that can help you navigate the path from "I think I want to do this" to actually putting together a competitive packet.  We'll talk about where to find reliable information the major pieces of the application process, and some of the things I learned when navigating the path myself.  The episode isn't pretending there's one perfect formula for getting selected, it's about knowing where to look, asking better questions, advocating for yourself, and taking ownership of the process.  If becoming an Army aviator has been sitting int he back of your mind and you don't know where to start, start here.  Hard conversations. No autopilot.  For current information on the application process to become a Warrant Officer Pilot visit the following link: https://recruiting.army.mil/ISO/AWOR/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/d73PP9DM_Vg Interested in becoming a Warrant Officer Pilot? Click this link: https://recruiting.army.mil/ISO/AWOR/

    5 - So you want to be an Army Pilot? | The WOFT Application Process

  8. 05/21/2024

    4 - New Callsign, Who Dis

    New unit, new mission, new callsign, new goals. In this episode, Marisa speaks on the differences between the units she's been in and the inherent risks involved in the day to day life as a Combat Helicopter Pilot. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AexcVzor9A0 Interested in becoming a Warrant Officer Pilot? Click this link: https://recruiting.army.mil/ISO/AWOR/

    4 - New Callsign, Who Dis

  9. 05/14/2024

    3 - They told me "NO." I became a Blackhawk Pilot anyway.

    What happens when the career you thought you were building no longer feels like the life you're supposed to live? In this episode of SKY MAMI, I take you back to one of the biggest pivots of my career: deciding I wanted to become a Blackhawk pilot, and refusing to let "no" be the end of the conversation.  This isn't just a story about learning to fly helicopters, it's about recognizing when you want something different, having the courage to change direction, advocating for yourself when the path isn't straightforward, and refusing to let someone else's limitations become your own.  I talk about what pushed me toward Army Aviation, the obstacles between me and the cockpit, and what happened when I stopped treating rejection like a final answer.  Looking back, becoming a Blackhawk pilot taught me something that extends far beyond aviation: sometimes the life that fits you requires being willing to disappoint the version of you that had everything planned out.  Hard conversations. No autopilot.   If you're interested in submitting your application to become a Warrant Officer Pilot, you can find more information on this website: https://recruiting.army.mil/ISO/AWOR/ Watch this full episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/UAaiKraKMWM

    3 - They told me "NO." I became a Blackhawk Pilot anyway.

  10. 05/14/2024

    2 - What's your reason "why?"

    We all have goals, but what happens when motivation disappears, the plan gets hard, or the life you imagined starts changing? In this episode of SKY MAMI, I dig into the question underneath all of it: What's your reason why? Your "why" is bigger than a goal, a job title, an accomplishment, or the version of success you think you’re supposed to chase. It's the thing that keeps pulling you forward when discipline gets uncomfortable and motivation isn't enough.  I talk about finding purpose behind the things we pursue, getting honest about what actually matters to us, and understanding the difference between chasing something because we should and choosing something because it genuinely means something. Because knowing what you want is one thing.  Knowing why you're willing to work for it changes everything.  Hard conversations. No autopilot.  Watch this full episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/o6GNZ-u9QOo

    2 - What's your reason "why?"

  11. 05/14/2024

    1 - So...what the hell is SKY MAMI?

    Welcome to SKY MAMI,  I'm Marisa Maher, Blackhawk pilot, leader, athlete, lifelong learner, and a woman trying to figure out what it means to build a life beyond the identities and accomplishments that once defined me.  SKY MAMI started with aviation, but it was never meant to stay in the cockpit.  This is a space for hard conversations with no autopilot about leadership, ambition, mental health, fitness, identity, transition, failure, growth, and what happens when the life you've worked incredibly hard to build starts evolving into something new.  In these first few episodes, I'm introducing you to the woman behind SKY MAMI: where I've been, what shaped me, why these conversations matter to me, and what I want this space to become.  You'll hear from people with wildly different experiences and perspectives, and sometiems it'll just be me working through the things we don't say outloud.  We're going to be curious. We're going to challenge ourselves. We're going to laugh. We're probably going to get uncomfortable sometimes.  Because SKY MAMI isn't just about where we've been, it's about who we're becoming.  Hard conversations. No autopilot.  Find this full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lU0wP1dAIbc YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyMami

    1 - So...what the hell is SKY MAMI?
  • 11 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Welcome to SKY MAMI. 🚁 I’m Marisa Maher, a Black Hawk pilot, leader, athlete, lifelong learner, and the voice behind SKY MAMI. What started in the cockpit has become something much bigger. SKY MAMI is about hard conversations with no autopilot: the choices, pivots, failures, ambitions, and uncomfortable questions that shape who we become. Here you’ll find conversations and stories about aviation, leadership, mental health, fitness, identity, life after service, and personal growth, along with a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to build a new chapter when an old one has defined you for a long time. Some days we’re talking Black Hawks. Some days we’re questioning our relationship with success. Some days we’re training, traveling, learning from incredible people, or figuring life out in real time. The common thread is simple: Stay curious. Choose your own direction. Keep becoming. This isn’t just a channel about being a pilot. It’s about the person you become along the way. SKY MAMI Hard Conversations. No Autopilot. 🩷🚁

Information

  • Creator
    Marisa Maher
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 SKY MAMI
  • Show Website
    SKY MAMI