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The Aerpod

The Aerpod

Mitchell Banks 18 Episodes Aug 19, 2026

Aviation professionals discuss their experiences and insights into various aviation professions. The podcast covers topics relevant to those working in or interested in the aviation industry. Each episode offers perspectives from experts in different aviation roles. Listeners can expect practical knowledge and career advice from people actively in the field.

Episodes

How To Actually Get Ahead In Aviation (with Pilot Annie)
How To Actually Get Ahead In Aviation (with Pilot Annie) Aug 19, 2026 6536 Don't skimp on flight-critical hardware. Find best-in-class ANR with the Lightspeed Zulu 3 using my affiliate link: https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/ref/204/In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with Annie Vogel, also known as Pilot Annie, to talk about building a life and career in aviation without following the traditional path. From discovering flying almost by accident to bu
The Lawyer Who Took On Boeing | Secrets of Aviation Law
The Lawyer Who Took On Boeing | Secrets of Aviation Law Jun 10, 2026 6204 Don't skimp on flight-critical hardware. Find best-in-class ANR with the Lightspeed Zulu 3 using my affiliate link: https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/ref/204/In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with Filippo Marchino, an aviation attorney and engineer whose work has placed him at the center of some of the most significant aviation accident cases in recent history. Drawing on his
Airline Hiring Just Changed | What Pilots Need To Know
Airline Hiring Just Changed | What Pilots Need To Know May 20, 2026 3561 In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down once again with Carolynn from PilotResumes.com to break down the current state of airline hiring, why qualified pilots still aren’t getting calls, and the factors recruiters evaluate long before an interview ever happens.As the hiring market shifts and competition increases, Carolynn explains why flight time alone is no longer enough to stand out.
This Aviation Industry Affects Everything | The Economy of Helicopters
This Aviation Industry Affects Everything | The Economy of Helicopters May 6, 2026 4782 In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with Halsey Schider, CEO of Sellacopter and North American Aircraft Brokerage, to explore one of the most visible and most overlooked corners of aviation.Halsey shares what he’s learned from both flying and brokering helicopters, how deals really come together, and where buyers and sellers consistently get it wrong. From pricing psychology to marke
The REAL Cost of Private Aviation | A Peek Behind The Curtain
The REAL Cost of Private Aviation | A Peek Behind The Curtain Apr 22, 2026 5544 In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with Preston Holland to break down the economics behind private aviation and why so many pilots, owners, and even high-net-worth individuals completely misunderstand how it actually works.Preston shares how he built one of the most valuable audiences in aviation by sharing a peek behind the curtain of aircraft ownership, operating costs, and charte
The Aviation Career You Weren't Told About | Flight Test Engineer
The Aviation Career You Weren't Told About | Flight Test Engineer Apr 8, 2026 3448 In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with former NASA engineer and Test Pilot School graduate Kate Gunderson to talk about what it actually takes to break into (and succeed in) one of the most competitive and misunderstood fields in aviation.Kate shares her journey from student to engineer, the surprising culture of NASA, the challenges that test pilots face, and why the stereotype of
The Hidden Science Behind Aviation Accidents | Human Factors Engineering
The Hidden Science Behind Aviation Accidents | Human Factors Engineering Mar 25, 2026 5257 In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with Vanesa Miksa, a Human Factors engineer at Boeing and pilot, to break down the hidden science behind how pilots interact with aircraft and why many aviation accidents aren’t just “pilot error,” but systematic failures in disguise.Vanesa shares how cockpit design, automation, and airspace systems are all built around human limitations, and what
Inside The Most Unforgiving Job In Aviation | Coast Guard Search & Rescue
Inside The Most Unforgiving Job In Aviation | Coast Guard Search & Rescue Mar 11, 2026 6581 In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with Russ Torgerson, a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot and rescue swimmer whose career spanned decades of search and rescue missions at sea. Russ shares what it’s really like operating in environments where the weather, the ocean, and the mission itself can all push a crew to the limit.From ship-based helicopter operations to moments where sec
Fit to Fly? | Your Health Could Cost You Your Career
Fit to Fly? | Your Health Could Cost You Your Career Feb 25, 2026 4219 Health decline in aviation is common, and most pilots don't notice until it becomes an issue during their medical.In this episode, I sit down with commercial pilot and pilot fitness coach Josh Ageeb to talk about the biggest health risks facing aviation professionals today.We break down the slow creep of fatigue, weight gain, and burnout, and why losing your medical is often the result of sma
Pilot Resumes Matter | Why Qualified Pilots Aren't Being Hired
Pilot Resumes Matter | Why Qualified Pilots Aren't Being Hired Feb 11, 2026 5823 Airline hiring has shifted and a lot of pilots haven’t caught up.In this episode, I sit down with resume expert and aviation recruiter Carolynn from pilotresumes.com to talk about what’s really happening behind the scenes in today’s hiring market.We break down the difference between being qualified on paper and being hireable in practice, and why those are not the same thing.We talk about:- Why we
777 Pilot & DPE Answers YOUR Questions | The Aerpod Q&A
777 Pilot & DPE Answers YOUR Questions | The Aerpod Q&A Jan 28, 2026 2706 Austin is back.After his first appearance became the most-watched full-length episode on The Aerpod, we went straight to the comments and brought him back to answer them.Austin is a Boeing 777 First Officer at Atlas Air and a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). In this Q&A episode, we dig into checkride pass rates, common DPE myths, Atlas Air schedules and pay, gateway commuting, and more.In this
A License To Learn | Secrets of Aviation Maintenance
A License To Learn | Secrets of Aviation Maintenance Jan 14, 2026 3683 In this episode of The Aerpod, Mitchell sits down with Creighton Johannes, an A&P mechanic and Director of Maintenance who’s worked on everything from light GA aircraft to King Airs, Gulfstreams, and helicopters. Creighton breaks down what aviation maintenance really looks like day to day, what pilots often misunderstand about maintenance, and why an A&P license is often described as a lic

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