The Calm Cockpit Podcast

calmcockpit
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Aviation
  • Updated Biweekly

Join John Niehaus, a professional pilot and flight instructor and Gita Brown, a yoga educator and student pilot as they share how the latest tools in stress reduction, well-being, and high performance mental training can improve your abilities as aviators. Through this podcast they will show how understanding these techniques can create a mindset of excellence not just in flying, but flight training, proficiency, and aviation safety.

  1. 3d ago

    The Checkride Mindset with Designated Pilot Examiner Chris Anderson

    Season 2 Episode 12   In this episode we sit down with Chris Anderson, a Designated Pilot Examiner, corporate pilot, and 12-time NAFI Master CFI with more than 23,000 flight hours and over 3,500 practical tests to his credit. Drawing on decades of experience from the examiner’s seat, Chris offers an inside look at one of aviation’s greatest challenges: managing the stress and pressure of the check ride. Together, we explore why check ride anxiety is so universal, why it seems to be increasing among today’s pilots, and how fear, self-doubt, and the pressure to perform can interfere with skills that have already been mastered. Chris dispels common myths about DPEs, explaining that the goal of a practical test is not perfection, but verifying that a pilot can operate safely and exercise sound judgment. The conversation also dives into the psychology of "choking" under pressure and the importance of resiliency when things do not go exactly as planned. You’ll learn why a brief pause can restore clear thinking, how the nervous system affects performance in the cockpit, and why many pilots discover their best flying only after the fear of failure has passed. Finally, we share practical tools to help regulate stress before and during a check ride, including breathing techniques, grounding exercises, effective preparation strategies, and the value of guided relaxation. Whether you are preparing for your first practical test or simply want to perform more confidently under pressure, this episode offers reassuring perspectives and actionable skills to help your true abilities shine through.     Links: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant--in the blink of an eye--that actually aren't as simple as they seem. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error? How do our brains really work--in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen, and in the bedroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others?   Crosscheck Mental Performance Training with Tammy Barlette: Elevate your flying, master your mind.   Guided Relaxation and Mental Reset Meditations: found on the Bonus Page of the Calm Cockpit Podcast

    1h 23m

  2. Jun 1 ·  Bonus

    Monday Briefing: All About the Bonus

    Season 2: Bonus Episode Monday Briefing 9  In this Monday Briefing, we highlight all of the bonus episodes we have compiled for you over the last year and a half of the Calm Cockpit. These episodes are exercises and deeper dives added to our normal show, so that you can use and find them by themselves. We also highlight the efforts of our guests like Sarah Gilbert, Lisa Danahy (https://createcalm.org/), and Dr. Beth Wagner who created special content just for our show. We recently set up a spot directly on our webpage to highlight these special episodes (https://calmcockpit.com/bonus-episodes), though they of course can be found on any of the podcast feeds you normally find episodes. Dr. Beth Wagner of the YouTube channel Movement and Function just created a video on her channel specifically to highlight vestibular and posture exercises just for pilots in reference to her episode on our show last year found here (https://calmcockpit.podbean.com/e/beth-wagner/). We encourage you to watch her special video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTB-4gHwB5o), give the exercises a try, and make sure to like and follow her page! We appreciate her for supporting our show and you are listeners!

    9 min

  3. May 27

    The Yips: Returning to Flow Under Pressure

    Season 2 Episode 11   In this episode we explore the phenomenon known as “the yips” — the sudden breakdown of a deeply mastered skill under pressure. Whether it shows up in the cockpit, on a stage, on the golf course, the yips are not simply a matter of nerves or lack of talent. We unpack how anxiety, perfectionism, and over-control can interfere with procedural memory, causing the thinking brain to disrupt movements and decisions that normally happen automatically. The conversation examines why this struggle disproportionately affects experienced performers and how fear of repeating a mistake can spiral into a self-reinforcing cycle of tension, hyper-focus, and diminished performance. Drawing from examples in aviation, professional sports, and music, this episode looks at practical strategies for recovery and resilience. We discuss the role of breath regulation, nutrition, muscle relaxation, meditation, and attentional control in restoring flow and reducing conscious interference.   Most importantly, we examine the mindset shifts that help high performers break free from identity-based thinking — replacing “I failed” with “I am learning.” Calm is not the absence of anxiety; it is the ability to function skillfully in the presence of it   Stuff mentioned on this episode: The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance   A Soprano on Her Head: Right-Side-Up Reflections on Life and Other Performances     Crosscheck Mental Performance Training with Tammy Barlette: Elevate your flying, master your mind.

    54 min

  4. May 18 ·  Bonus

    Monday Briefing: A Pilot’s Most Portable Tool

    Season 2: Bonus Episode Monday Briefing 8    In this Monday Briefing, you’ll learn how your breath can become one of the most effective tools for improving focus, reducing stress, and staying calm under pressure in the cockpit. You’ll discover why slowing the breath can help regulate the nervous system, reduce tunnel vision, and improve decision making during high-stress moments. The episode also explores the connection between breathing patterns, anxiety, and mental clarity; including why breath work can feel difficult for some people at first.   Whether you’re a seasoned aviator or a student pilot, this briefing offers practical insight into using the breath to support better performance and greater calm.   Links: Bonus Episode: Exhale Your Stress Breathing Exercise In this special bonus episode, we’re joined by Sarah Gilbert, a Licensed Yoga for All Abilities Practitioner. Sarah guides us through a gentle, accessible breathing practice designed to sharpen focus, reduce stress, and ease anxiety. This simple yet powerful tool is most effective when practiced daily. Be sure to find a quiet, safe space before you begin—this practice is not intended for use while driving or operating heavy machinery. Take a few moments to settle in, and enjoy this calming reset.

    16 min

  5. May 13

    The Future of Flight Training: Modern Lessons from Backseat Pilot with Nate Ehlers

    Season 2 Episode 10 In this episode we sit down with Nate Ehlers of Backseat Pilot to explore how flight instruction is evolving for the next generation of aviators.  From his own in-flight emergency that sparked the idea for Backseat Pilot, Nate shares how the company grew from cockpit reference tools into a full-scale resource for CFI candidates. We discuss why so many aspiring instructors waste valuable time reinventing lesson plans, and how structured systems can help candidates focus on what really matters; learning to teach, communicate, and lead from the right seat. We also dive into the future of aviation education, including how AI can be used to sharpen oral exam prep, improve teaching delivery, and create realistic mock check ride scenarios without replacing human instructors. Nate explains the balance every instructor must learn between allowing mistakes and maintaining the “safety bubble,” plus what students should look for when choosing a flight school or instructor.  If you’re pursuing your CFI, mentoring students, or simply curious where aviation training is headed, this conversation offers a smart look at the resources and mindset that supports aviation educators to achieve the highest standards with maximum efficiency.    Link and Discount Code: Nate is giving listeners a super-generous 20% off all products from The Backseat Pilot!  Find everything you need to help support your CFI checkrides and to teach future students: from CFI lesson plans, annotated Airmen Certification Standards, reference cards, CFI prep courses, this is the real deal. Nate provides CFI training that gets you ready for the real world with three ways to support you through your training, from ongoing community practice, to small group focused prep, to one-on-one coaching. No matter where you are in your CFI journey, there's a spot for you at Backseat Pilot.    https://thebackseatpilot.com/ 20% discount code: CalmCockpit

    1h 18m

  6. May 4 ·  Bonus

    Monday Briefing: Rise, Grind, and Get Uncomfortable

    Season 2: Bonus Episode Monday Briefing 7 This episode breaks down what it actually takes to build a mindset that drives consistent performance—not just temporary motivation. Instead of chasing positivity, the focus is on developing mental control, disciplined execution, and a system that makes outperforming others inevitable.   Get Comfortable in the Uncomfortable, and be your best!

    10 min

  7. Apr 29

    Failure Isn’t Final: How to Comeback from a Setback

    Season 2 Episode 9   In this episode we explore how pilots can navigate failure, recover faster, and build the kind of resilience that supports long-term success in aviation.  We’ll discuss check ride failures, perfectionism, and the myth of the flawless aviator. You’ll hear why one setback is rarely career-ending, how many top pilots have failed along the way, and why those struggles often create stronger instructors and safer professionals. Failure is reframed not as a personal flaw, but as the gap between expectation and reality—a moment that often triggers a powerful stress response. We break down why setbacks can feel so overwhelming, how they affect performance, and why nervous system regulation must come before mindset shifts. From timed recovery periods to practical tools like the “worry appointment,” this conversation offers pilots a healthier way to process mistakes without letting them define the future. The episode closes with a powerful reminder: success and failure are two sides of the same coin. What matters most is how you respond, what you learn, and your willingness to keep moving forward.   Links: Self-determination theory: A quarter century of human motivation research. Great article from the American Psychological Association with research links and in-depth discussion of the theory in practice.

    55 min

  8. Apr 20 ·  Bonus

    Monday Briefing: The 3 Drivers of Motivation That Get You Unstuck

    Season 2: Bonus Episode Monday Briefing 6   In this Monday Brief,  we explore how motivation really works, and why so many high performers still find themselves feeling stuck. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), developed by psychologists Ryan and Deci, the conversation breaks down the three essential drivers of human performance: autonomy (feeling in control of your choices), competence (feeling capable and effective), and relatedness (feeling connected to others).   When these needs are met, motivation becomes internal and sustainable; when they’re not, even the most driven individuals can lose momentum, especially if they’re relying on external rewards like money, status, or recognition. The episode offers practical ways to get “unstuck” by rebuilding these three needs through small, intentional actions. Whether it’s reclaiming autonomy through values-based decisions, restoring competence with quick, achievable wins, or strengthening relatedness through connection and service, the focus is on simple nudges that create real traction. The takeaway: peak performance isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about realigning with what actually drives you, and making small moves that bring you back into sync.   Links: Self-determination theory: A quarter century of human motivation research

    25 min
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About

Join John Niehaus, a professional pilot and flight instructor and Gita Brown, a yoga educator and student pilot as they share how the latest tools in stress reduction, well-being, and high performance mental training can improve your abilities as aviators. Through this podcast they will show how understanding these techniques can create a mindset of excellence not just in flying, but flight training, proficiency, and aviation safety.

Information

  • Creator
    calmcockpit
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Calm Cockpit Podcast

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