Ground Stop with Austin and Josh: Where Aviation Meets Real Life

Austin &Josh

Ground Stop isn’t a podcast for airplane nerds. Technical analysis? NOT welcome here. Hosted by best friends and airline pilots Austin and Josh , Ground Stop covers the wild side of aviation, travel, celebrity culture, airline life, and whatever everyone’s talking about that week. Joined by celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and entertainers, they dive into the trips, chaos, stories, and life on the ground—with strong opinions, zero filter, and plenty of turbulence. Ground Stop — where aviation meets real life.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    How a Flight Attendant Became an ATTACK Helicopter Pilot | Captain Ross Rippy

    How does a flight attendant become an attack helicopter pilot?  Why would a pilot prefer flying without passengers? And what leads someone from serving drinks to captaining a Boeing 747? Austin and Josh welcome Captain Ross Rippy, their former flight attendant, to share how he transitioned into Army aviation and eventually into cargo flying. Ross describes learning to fly the Apache, following in his father’s footsteps, and finding his place in the captain’s seat. They also explore life without passengers, from choosing the preflight playlist to sleeping upstairs on a 747. They also share funny stories from Ross’s flight attendant days, helicopter versus airplane flying, and whether autopilot is making pilots too dependent on technology. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & Meet Captain Ross Rippy 02:33 Becoming a Flight Attendant at 18 03:27 How Ross Met Austin and Josh 07:58 From Flight Attendant to Army Pilot 09:07 What Is It Like to Fly an Apache? 13:25 Pilot Movies & Call Signs 16:33 From Military Flying to the Airlines 17:29 Why Ross Prefers Cargo Over Passengers 19:14 Staying Fit as a Pilot 23:21 Long Flights, Sleep & Fatigue 24:14 Where Do Boeing 747 Pilots Sleep? 26:30 Is Autopilot Making Pilots Worse? 29:51 Viral Aviation Videos 30:52 Airline Uniforms vs. Military Discipline 31:00 Helicopter or Airplane? Pilot Rapid Fire 32:03 Pilot vs. Flight Attendant: Pay & Lifestyle 33:31 Flirting on Flights & Layovers 34:07 Discussing a Reported Cockpit Incident 35:20 The Low Stadium Flyover Debate 🔔 Subscribe to Ground Stop for more episodes https://www.youtube.com/@GroundStopPodcastMedia #GroundStop #CaptainRossRippy #PilotLife #Boeing747 #AviationPodcast

    How a Flight Attendant Became an ATTACK Helicopter Pilot | Captain Ross Rippy

  2. Oct 30

    Dating a Flight Attendant | Can You Really Fly for FREE?

    Would you rather be a pilot or a flight attendant?  Are the travel perks worth the lifestyle? How does someone go from Air Force basic training to a career at American Airlines? Austin and Josh welcome Sarah Githens, a flight attendant who previously served in the Air Force, to compare life on both sides of the cockpit door. From early mornings in the military to airline training and international layovers, Sarah shares the experiences that shaped her career and explains why sleeping at home can sometimes be better than traveling the world. Timestamps 05:22 Meet Sarah Githens & Furries in Aviation 14:47 Why Sarah Joined the Air Force 16:33 Inside Air Force Basic Training 19:16 Getting Hired by American Airlines 20:30 Why Flight Attendant Instead of Pilot? 24:31 Medical Emergencies & Fires Onboard 28:08 Inside Flight Attendant Training 32:52 International Layovers or Sleeping at Home? 35:33 Passenger Behavior & Safety Briefings 38:19 Pilot Bathroom Breaks & Cabin Workload 39:03 What Annoys Pilots and Flight Attendants? 40:19 Pilot vs. Flight Attendant: Who Works Harder? 41:10 Tipping Flight Attendants: Sarah’s $100 Tip 41:20 How to Win Over Your Flight Crew 41:40 Flying with Chica the Chihuahua 42:10 Staying Fit Between Flights 42:30 Final Thoughts & Goodbye 🔔 Subscribe to Ground Stop for more episodes https://www.youtube.com/@GroundStopPodcastMedia 🌐 Follow Sara Githens https://www.instagram.com/sarah_githens/?hl=en #GroundStop #FlightAttendant #PilotLife #AviationPodcast #AmericanAirlines

    Dating a Flight Attendant | Can You Really Fly for FREE?

  3. Oct 27

    How Fake Service Dogs Hurt Those Who Need Them

    Dogs in airplane overhead bins? Would you "check" your dog in the cargo hold?  And what happens when fake service animals like lamas, kangaroos, skunks, or ponies create problems for travelers and people who genuinely rely on them?  Austin and Josh welcome veterinarian Dr. Lexy So to discuss the decisions pet owners face before flying. From recognizing stress signals to choosing a carrier, planning medication with a vet, and arranging international paperwork, they explore how to prepare for the journey. Dr. Lexy shares her concerns about cargo travel while the pilots explain their perspective. Would a pilot divert for a sick dog? Expect candid disagreements, practical considerations, and unexpected stories from veterinary practice Timestamps 01:30 Introducing Veterinarian Dr. Lexy So 02:14 Why Dogs Should Never Go in Overhead Bins 03:17 Meet Dr. Lexy 05:23 Fake Service Dogs on Planes 08:35 Cute or Stressed? Reading Dog Body Language 09:54 Viral Animal Videos: Real or Fake? 12:19 Why Josh Refused to Fly With Snakes 15:34 Collars & Harnesses for Pet Travel 18:05 Dog Myths & Facts 20:32 Helping Dogs Feel Comfortable at the Vet 22:02 Dog Myths: Rapid-Fire Retake 24:54 Preparing Your Pet for Air Travel 🔔 Subscribe to Ground Stop for more unfiltered aviation conversations: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundStopPodcastMedia #GroundStop #FlyingWithDogs #PetTravel #AviationPodcast

    How Fake Service Dogs Hurt Those Who Need Them

  4. Oct 22

    How Soon Can You Fly After a BBL? A Plastic Surgeon Explains

    How soon can you fly after a BBL? Why are some patients reversing theirs? And can surgery really give you abs? Austin and Josh welcome Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Michael Keyes of Celebrity Plastics of Miami Beach, to discuss postoperative travel, BBL recovery, and the passengers they encounter after surgery. Dr. Keyes explains how he approaches travel clearance for his patients and shares his experience responding to an inflight medical emergency. They also discuss which cosmetic procedures are worth it, why some patients seek BBL reversals, and how male body sculpting works. Plus: patient transformations, an unexpected emergency at Art Basel, and his perspective on beauty and confidence. Timestamps 09:32 Meet Dr. Michael Keyes 13:46 Botox & Cosmetic Procedures: Worth It? 15:44 BBLs & Why Some Patients Reverse Them 17:39 Tummy Tucks, Hair Transplants & Male Body Sculpting 20:40 Flying After Plastic Surgery 23:34 BBL Recovery & Airplane Seating 27:40 Is There a Doctor on Board? 35:08 A Medical Emergency at Art Basel 37:26 Awake Breast Augmentation 39:38 Can Surgery Give You Abs? 42:43 Patient Transformations 46:02 What Patients Say After Anesthesia 47:45 Confidence & the Purpose of Plastic Surgery 49:04 Building Celebrity Plastics 51:19 Becoming a Plastic Surgeon 55:22 Beauty Is a Currency 🔔 Subscribe to Ground Stop for more unfiltered aviation conversations: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundStopPodcastMedia ➡️ Follow Dr. Michael Keyes https://www.instagram.com/p/DboygIFRwHJ/ https://www.instagram.com/celebrityplastics/ #GroundStop #DrMichaelKeyes #FlyingAfterSurgery #BBLRecovery #PlasticSurgery

    How Soon Can You Fly After a BBL? A Plastic Surgeon Explains

  5. Oct 16

    Is Jetbridge Jesus a Real Thing?

    Would you give up a first-class upgrade for your partner or leave them in economy? Is “Jetbridge Jesus” a real thing? And would flying commercial make someone a dating dealbreaker? Austin and Josh debate the status, expectations, and awkward choices that come with air travel. A matchmaking story about only dating men who fly private sparks a conversation about luxury travel, airport lounges, and what flying first class actually says about you. They also tackle upgrade dilemmas, talkative seatmates, wheelchair assistance, and passengers who refuse to miss meal service. Timestamps 00:00 First Class vs. Economy & Airline Status 03:56 Would You Give Your Partner Your Upgrade? 05:55 Aviation Would You Rather 07:41 Avoiding a Talkative Seatmate 08:33 Extra Legroom or a Reclining Seat? 10:49 Rapid Fire: Seatmates, Snacks & Tough Choices 12:30 Passenger Etiquette: Straight to Jail? 16:23 “Jetbridge Jesus” & Wheelchair Assistance 20:44 Beef or Chicken? Never Missing Meal Service 🔔 Subscribe to Ground Stop for more unfiltered aviation conversations: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundStopPodcastMedia #GroundStop #AviationPodcast #AirlinePilots

    Is Jetbridge Jesus a Real Thing?

  6. Oct 12

    Amazon Air Plane Crash in Miami | Pilots Analyze the Boeing 767 Landing

    Austin and Josh welcome their first guest, Shanneal Young, to review footage of the Miami Boeing 767 accident involving 21 Air, operating for Amazon Air. They discuss go-arounds, ATC audio, and the emergency response, separating initial observations from questions an investigation would need to answer. Chelsea Handler’s rant sparks a debate about airplane etiquette, while a look at ACARS raises questions about who can read messages between pilots and dispatchers. Shanneal brings a passenger’s perspective, asking the questions that help make the aviation discussion easier to follow. Timestamps 00:51 Meet Shanneal Young 01:38 Flying Standby: First Class to No Seat 04:48 What Traveling as a Model Is Really Like 06:33 A Model’s Travel Essentials 11:21 Traveling Alone & Unwanted Attention 14:23 Modeling Abroad: Getting Sent Home 15:43 Chelsea Handler’s Bare Feet on Planes Rant 20:25 Should Airlines Enforce Foot Etiquette? 22:21 Wearing Socks in Airplane Bathrooms 23:09 ACARS Explained: Are Pilot Messages Private? 25:31 Amazon Air Boeing 767 Crash in Miami 27:34 Filming an Emergency vs. Helping 28:21 Pilots Analyze the Landing Footage 30:07 Runway Safety & When Pilots Go Around 31:53 Miami Crash: ATC Audio & Emergency Response 35:29 Pilot Escape Footage 36:51 Marine One & DCA Radio Communications 38:43 Unruly Passenger Duct-Taped to a Seat 39:34 Spirit Airlines Headquarters Sale 40:32 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up 🔔Follow Ground Stop for more unfiltered conversations https://www.youtube.com/@GroundStopPodcastMedia #GroundStop #AviationPodcast #AirlinePilots

    Amazon Air Plane Crash in Miami | Pilots Analyze the Boeing 767 Landing

  7. Oct 5

    How a Flight Attendant’s Passenger Warning Became a DJ

    A close call in Munich, a tire incident at LAX, and a ditching off Boca Raton give pilots Austin and Josh plenty to unpack from what the footage shows to the questions it leaves unanswered. Then the conversation takes a lighter turn: a flight attendant’s passenger warning becomes a DJ, familiar airline announcements get the red-light/green-light treatment, and middle-seat armrests become contested territory. Along the way, they discuss an alleged NFL impersonation scam and share why they sometimes avoid telling people they’re pilots. Timestamps 07:11 Boeing 787’s Close Call in Munich 10:27 LAX Tire Incident and ATC Response 12:31 Ditching off Boca Raton 17:27 The Alleged NFL Impersonation Scam 20:02 Why We Avoid Saying We’re Pilots 20:50 More NFL Impersonation Reactions 28:47 A Flight Attendant’s Warning Goes Viral 38:19 Red Light, Green Light: Airline Announcements 47:04 Who Gets the Middle-Seat Armrests? 49:20 Middle Seat or Cockpit Jump Seat? 50:48 Passenger Complaints About Inflight Wi-Fi Follow Ground Stop for more unfiltered conversations https://www.youtube.com/@GroundStopPodcastMedia #GroundStop #AviationPodcast #AirlinePilots

    How a Flight Attendant’s Passenger Warning Became a DJ

  8. Sep 28

    What Life as an Airline Pilot Is Really Like

    Would you cheer if a passenger jet flew just above your stadium or wonder why it was that low? One of us loved it. The other called it an unnecessary risk. We’re Austin George and Josh Stone, two airline pilots who’ve been best friends for 28 years. In our first episode of Ground Stop, we debate low flyovers in South Africa and Texas, weigh in on aviation headlines, and reveal which airplanes we’d want to fly for the rest of our careers. The conversation gets personal as we compare crew meals, roast each other’s layover routines, and get into the radio habits that drive us crazy. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Ground Stop 00:27 South Africa’s Low Flyover Debate 03:56 The Boeing 777 Low Pass in Texas 05:55 Tex Johnston’s Famous Barrel Roll 07:55 Marine One and DCA 10:30 LaGuardia and the “Early Shove” Debate 18:21 The UPS Crash in Louisville 22:35 Which Airplane Would We Fly Forever? 25:32 Would We Fly a Supersonic Jet? 26:54 Crossing the Atlantic on a Single-Aisle Plane 29:19 Best Friends for 28 Years 30:13 What Pilots Really Eat 33:33 What’s in Our Flight Bags? 38:38 The Cost of Leaving Your Dog at Home 41:00 Fit to Fly: Working Out on Layovers 43:18 Japanese 7-Eleven Sushi Runs 45:48 Cabin Pressure: Radio Habits That Drive Us Crazy 49:40 First Class Problems: Commuting and Free Flights 51:42 Getting Josh to Miami 52:40 Riding in the Cockpit Jump Seat 54:43 What We Ask the Flight Attendants For 56:15 Wrapping Up Our First Episode #GroundStop #AviationPodcast #AirlinePilots

    What Life as an Airline Pilot Is Really Like

  9. Sep 23

    Ground Stop Podcast Trailer | Aviation, Travel & Airline Life Unfiltered

    Welcome to Ground Stop, the aviation podcast that isn’t for airplane nerds. Hosted by best friends and airline pilots Austin George and Josh Stone, Ground Stop goes beyond the cockpit to cover aviation, travel, airline life, celebrity culture, and the stories everyone’s talking about. Expect unfiltered conversations, strong opinions, incredible guests, behind-the-scenes airline stories, and absolutely no guarantee of where the conversation will go. No aircraft systems. No performance charts. No technical analysis. Just two airline pilots, great stories, interesting people, and a completely different perspective on life in the air and on the ground. Ground Stop — where aviation meets real life. Subscribe and follow Ground Stop for new episodes. YouTube: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: Instagram:

  • 1 Trailer
    8 Episodes

Trailer

About

Ground Stop isn’t a podcast for airplane nerds. Technical analysis? NOT welcome here. Hosted by best friends and airline pilots Austin and Josh , Ground Stop covers the wild side of aviation, travel, celebrity culture, airline life, and whatever everyone’s talking about that week. Joined by celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and entertainers, they dive into the trips, chaos, stories, and life on the ground—with strong opinions, zero filter, and plenty of turbulence. Ground Stop — where aviation meets real life.

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