The Tailwinds & Sunshine Podcast

Flying Chickens: Special Guest | Mike Strasser | Part 2

Part two is here, y’all! Mike is an exceptionally talented and fascinating individual. In addition to being an airline pilot, he and his brother Stefan run a cartoon seri

Flying Chickens: Special Guest | Mike Strasser | Part 1

Mike and I were sim partners during our upgrade training at SkyWest Airlines. His awesome Austrian accent and diverse background led to many captivating stories during tr

Wait ‘til I get my money right…

In today's episode, I climb back on my soapbox to discuss an important issue: money. Stop wasting your money! While it’s easier said than done, many Americans live far be

From Coffee Spills to Cockpit Thrills: Special Guest | Vanessa Montaño | Grand Finale

Welcome back! This is the grand finale. We close out our conversation talking about non-rev travel, Vanessa’s icks with pilots which turns into a full blown conversations

Thunder From Down Under | Our Non-Rev Journey to Sydney | Reading your reviews and emails | Keep your seatbelt fastened! Like, really!

Wow! Can I say I performed at the Sydney Opera House? Probably not, huh? Had me a little vacation in Australia and I can’t wait for you to listen to today’s episode. I ca

From Coffee Spills to Cockpit Thrills: Special Guest | Vanessa Montaño | Part 2

Welcome back, nerds! Thank you for joining me today. In this episode, we talk about the differences between Part 61 and Part 141 schools to help you make the best choice

United Jumpseater Sparks Conflict with SWA, Igniting a Battle for the jumpseat 2024 | Listener in airline training wants advice to manage stress | How to ACE your LOE

I'm thrilled about today's episode! Get ready for an intense showdown between United and SouthWest Airlines in an all-out jumpseat war. I'll dive into the gripping story

From Coffee Spills to Cockpit Thrills: Special Guest | Vanessa Montaño | Part 1

Welcome to The Tailwinds & Sunshine Podcast! In today's episode, we explore how minority families can unknowingly impact our aspirations. Vanessa shares insights into the

FOMO Alert! | Handing Out Advice To Listeners | ERJ FOs upgrading to the CRJ at SkyWest | You missed your interview now what?

Hey there, feeling like life's got you in a rut? Well, let me tell you something – you've got way more power over your life than you give yourself credit for. In today's

Professional Bag Stacker: Special Guest | Micah Vobora | Part 2

What are some of Micah’s icks? Oh.. he’ll tell you alright. Once again, we talk about the Spirit furloughs and rumors surrounding the news. Which do you like better the 7

Answering Your Questions | Rockie’s Coach as Pilot Monitoring in United 757 | Runway incursion close calls | I refuse to tip the van driver

Hold off on the crucifixions! I tip, I swear, but spare me the Mr. Pink nickname, alright? Today, buckle up for a riveting episode where I dive into the latest news, incl

Check Your Ego to Succeed | You just got furloughed, now what? | The declining ethics of our society

In today's episode, I explore the current trend of airlines slowing their hiring processes and discuss why the challenges faced by some carriers won't necessarily impact

Professional Bag Stacker: Special Guest | Micah Vobora | Part 1

I had so much fun talking with my friend Micah.  In this first part we catch up, talk about Micah’s student pilot journey and the differences between Part 61 and 141 flig

Answering Your Questions | Army Soldier wants to pick the right airline | Favorite Overnights | Manny the Slam-Clicker?

In today’s episode I answer one of my fellow Army Soldier’s questions.  He wants to make the right choice for his family so I give him some advice in picking the right ai

Special Solar Eclipse Episode: My first trip as a Captain | I’m SAD (got in trouble!) | Aviation is your second career, is it worth it?

Welcome to this special Eclipse episode; Manny’s in trouble with the Chief! Join me as I bring you up to speed on my latest adventures and take you backstage on a repo fl

Answering Your Questions | Upgrade IOE Debrief, United KEWR Diversion and handling a prickly captain

Welcome to today's podcast episode, where I'll be tackling your questions, including strategies for dealing with a challenging captain. Additionally, I'll be offering an

Pushing Tin: Special Guest | Patrick DeWaal | Part 3

Welcome to the grand finale! It's time to delve into the technical aspects and witness Patrick's expertise in air traffic control. He details his use of equipment and too

Answering Your Questions | New Non-Rev Blueprint and some pilot advice for the future

What an incredible journey it's been! In this episode, I dive into topics that truly ignite my excitement. Overflowing with enthusiasm, I couldn't resist recording this e

Pushing Tin: Special Guest | Patrick DeWaal | Part 2

In this episode we continue the conversation from part 1. Patrick highlights the importance of perseverance. He also mentions how dynamic hiring and duty station placemen

Pushing Tin: Special Guest | Patrick DeWaal | Part 1

Pushing Tin! If you haven’t seen the movie, you gotta go watch it. Patrick never runs out of things to talk about. In this episode we start digging at the surface to ge