Best How To Become A Pilot In Canada Podcasts (2025)

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Why So Many of Us Stay Silent on Climate Change… 53:11

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1d ago53:11

53:11

Lauren Bash is a storyteller, climate activist, and TED speaker who was named to Harvard’s Climate Creators to Watch list. She has been featured on BuzzFeed, The New York Times, and more, inspiring ordinary people to join the climate movement through storytelling in an approachable, optimistic way. In this episode, we hear how Lauren Bash went from…

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Episode 66: The Counter-Drug Ops: Flying SAR and counter-narcotics missions in the Caribbean and flying the De Havilland Dash 8 for PAL Part 1 - Pat Lalande, Trevor Juby 1:09:29

6d ago1:09:29

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From RCAF Patrol Missions to Counter-Drug and SAR Operations in the Caribbean What kinds of missions do a long-range patrol sensor operator and crew commander face in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)? What challenges and close calls have they experienced, and how did those skills carry over into high-stakes counter-narcotics and Search and Rescu…

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He Rode the Most Dangerous Train on Earth... 55:59

14d ago55:59

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Eli Snyder is a travel content creator with a community of over 500 thousand people across platforms. He’s traveled to 105 countries proving that if you look past the headlines and trust humanity, travel can be safer and more meaningful, while still staying smart. In this episode, we dive into the wildest and most intense stories from his recent tr…

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Episode 65: The Kingfisher: Developing, acquiring and flying the CC-295 Kingfisher Part 3 - Luc Coates, Francois Fasquelle, Dan Faux 1:00:15

21d ago1:00:15

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In this episode, we continue our conversation with: Lieutenant-Colonel Luc Coates, Commanding Officer of 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron Lieutenant-Colonel Francois Fasquelle, Commanding Officer of 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron Major Dan Faux, subject matter expert on the CC-295 Kingfisher We dive deeper into the Kingfisher,…

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From Growing Up in a Russian Orphanage to SpaceX Artist 27:26

22d ago27:26

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Aisha Makara is a world traveler who’s explored over 60 countries and a Mongolian artist, engineer, entrepreneur, and author of the Joyful Living Guidebook. She spent her earliest years in a Soviet-era Russian orphanage before hitchhiking across Central Asia, earning an engineering degree in Norway, co-founding Lisbon White Rose property management…

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Roadtripping Solo from California to Argentina Is Not What You’d Expect… 1:13:12

23d ago1:13:12

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Fletcher Cox spent seven months driving the Pan-American Highway from Lake Tahoe to Ushuaia, Argentina with nothing but his husky mix, Dune, and his Audi sedan… In this episode, Fletcher tells the story of crossing a cartoonish bridge in Peru under the watch of a “toll troll,” galloping through a Mexican ghost town with a gold-toothed cowboy, and s…

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Episode 64: The Kingfisher: Developing, acquiring and flying the CC-295 Kingfisher Part 2 - Luc Coates, Francois Fasquelle, Dan Faux 57:47

28d ago57:47

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In this episode, we continue our conversation with: Lieutenant-Colonel Luc Coates, Commanding Officer of 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron Lieutenant-Colonel Francois Fasquelle, Commanding Officer of 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron Major Dan Faux, subject matter expert on the CC-295 Kingfisher We begin with Dan’s early days as a…

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Episode 63: The Kingfisher: Developing, acquiring and flying the CC-295 Kingfisher Part 1 - Luc Coates, Francois Fasquelle, Dan Faux 1:05:36

1M ago1:05:36

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What drives someone to choose the demanding — and often dangerous — career of Search and Rescue pilot? What early experiences shaped their paths, and what does it really take to fly missions where lives hang in the balance? In this episode, we sit down with three remarkable guests: Lieutenant-Colonel Luc Coates, Commanding Officer of 418 Search and…

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From Solo Hiking the Length of Iceland to Bikepacking From Canada to China to Teaching Yoga Abroad and life as a Full time Trail Running Guide… 44:04

1M ago44:04

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Kara Folkerts has done it all. She solo-hiked the length of Iceland at 21 and shortly after co-led her first Costa Rica trail running tour. By 22, she’d bike-packed 10,500 km from Canada through Alaska, Russia, Mongolia, and China, moved to Japan, then studied yoga in India before helping run an ecolodge in Indonesia. Since 25, she’s stepped into…

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Episode 62: The CAPCOM: Earning the Elsie MacGill Award, flying the CH-146 Griffon, and working with NASA in Houston Part 3 - Erin Edwards 55:16

2M ago55:16

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What’s it like to go from flying helicopters in the Royal Canadian Air Force to becoming the voice in the headset for astronauts aboard the International Space Station? How do you transition from military aviation to serving as Deputy Branch Chief Operations Officer and CAPCOM at NASA? In this episode, we sit down with Captain Erin Edwards — a Spec…

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How She Went From $0 in Cambodia to Becoming a Full-Time Writer on the Road 1:17:56

2M ago1:17:56

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Karmen Wiid is a South African solo traveler, writer, and host of The Lost & Found Podcast. She published her first book at 12, studied philosophy and literature in university, and now works remotely while moving through the world with curiosity and creativity. She’s currently based in India, and she shares such profound wisdom on the meaning of li…

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Episode 61: The CAPCOM: Earning the Elsie MacGill Award, flying the CH-146 Griffon, and working with NASA in Houston Part 2 - Erin Edwards 51:59

2M ago51:59

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What does it take to pass selection for one of Canada’s most elite aviation units — 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron? How do you earn the coveted role of SOF Aircraft Commander? And what happens when you trade a military cockpit for a mission control console at NASA? In this episode, we sit down with Captain Erin Edwards, a trailblazing Can…

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Episode 60: The CAPCOM: Earning the Elsie MacGill Award, flying the CH-146 Griffon, and working with NASA in Houston Part 1 - Erin Edwards 53:34

2M ago53:34

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How does a MARS Officer and Ship’s Team Diver become a Special Operations helicopter pilot? What does it take to get through the intense rigours of Phase III helicopter training — and then make the leap to 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron? In this episode, we sit down with Captain Erin Edwards, a SOF Aircraft Commander, recipient of the pre…

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What No One Tells You About Being a Wingsuit Skydiver, BASE Jumper and Helicopter Pilot… 1:08:01

2M ago1:08:01

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Braden Roseborough is a wingsuit skydiver,, BASE jumper, helicopter pilot, and instructor with over 3,000 jumps, certifications in tandem, AFF and wingsuit flight, and a full-time career as a software engineer. In this episode, Braden takes us from packing parachutes to teaching wingsuit flights, free-flying out of MI-17 helicopters above the Pyram…

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Episode 59: The Seeker: Fixed Wing Search and Rescue and flying the CC-115 Buffalo and CC-130H Hercules Part 2 - Dan Conway 1:06:33

2M ago1:06:33

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What did it take to fly Search and Rescue in the venerable (but aging) CC-115 Buffalo? What does it feel like to return to 3CFFTS as a seasoned pilot, ready to learn about the world of instructing? What's it like to be taught by your former students as you learn to fly the CC-130H Hercules? Today we sit down for part 2 of our interview with Major D…

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How These Freediving Instructors Shot an Award-Winning Underwater Film in 48 Hours… 1:10:27

3M ago1:10:27

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Miki Bonny & Carlo Gava are award-winning filmmakers, certified freediving & scuba instructors, and founders of B & G Expeditions. They’ve built an online following of hundreds of thousands by sharing their freediving and scuba adventures. On top of that, they host immersive group trips, teach breath-hold techniques with their 3-Minute Program, and…

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Episode 58: The Seeker: Fixed Wing Search and Rescue and flying the CC-115 Buffalo and CC-130H Hercules Part 1 - Dan Conway 59:34

3M ago59:34

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What is it like to attend RMC and go through flight training in the RCAF? Why was the CC-115 Buffalo in Comox a desirable posting even with the airplane entering its sunset years? Major Dan Conway is the current Deputy Commanding Officer (DCO) of 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Greenwood NS, and soon to be the DCO of 3CFFTS in Portage la Prair…

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Episode 57: The Culture: The Evolution of Culture in the Canadian Armed Forces and flying the CH-146 Griffon Part 3 - Jeannot Boucher 1:04:30

3M ago1:04:30

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What does it take to take on the responsibility of being the Chief of Staff Chief Professional Conduct and Culture (COS CPCC) in the wake of the larger culture change effort that the Canadian Armed Forces has pursued over the last 10 or more years? Why is culture change necessary, and what does it even mean within the context of the military? Major…

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How He Became National Geographic Adventurer of the Year… 1:24:42

3M ago1:24:42

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Gavin McClurg is a professional paraglider, the first American to finish the Red Bull X-Alps, and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. He’s a two-time round-the-world sailor and record-holding foot-launch pilot. In this episode, we trace his path from ski racing in Tahoe to thirteen years at sea, where he built a global sailing and kitesurfi…

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Episode 56: The Culture: The Evolution of Culture in the Canadian Armed Forces and flying the CH-146 Griffon Part 2 - Jeannot Boucher 50:04

3M ago50:04

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What does it feel like to deploy as the Commander of Task Force Jerusalem in support of OP PROTEUS in the West Bank? What does it take to take over various commands in the Tactical Helicopter force? What goes into developing a defence policy update like "Our North Strong and Free" (ONSAF)? Today we sit down for part 2 of our chat with Major-General…

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He Solo Camped For 40 Days Through 24 National Parks… 1:04:17

3M ago1:04:17

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Chase Reichenbach is a photographer and filmmaker based in Seattle. He has been featured on Good Morning America, ABC News, and other major platforms for his viral travel and storytelling work. He’s traveled to over 30 national parks, documented stories across the U.S. and Europe, and built a creative career capturing weddings and working with bran…

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Episode 55: The Culture: The Evolution of Culture in the Canadian Armed Forces and flying the CH-146 Griffon Part 1 - Jeannot Boucher 57:35

3M ago57:35

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What was it like to deploy to Afghanistan as the Deputy Commanding Officer of Canadian Helicopter Forces in Afghanistan (CHFA)? What was the Tactical Helicopter role in Afghanistan at the time and how violent was it in 2009? Today we sit down with Major-General Jeannot Boucher, Chief of Staff Chief Professional Conduct and Culture (COS CPCC). Jeann…

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From Battling a Brain Tumor to Serving in the Peace Corps 1:28:28

3M ago1:28:28

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Risa Josephine, a ski resort dispatcher and adventure sports enthusiast, battled a brain tumor from age seven until her life-changing surgery at eighteen. She graduated from the University of Georgia, volunteered at the Jodie O’Shea Orphanage in Bali and then spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in Kyrgyzstan. In our conversa…

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Episode 54: The Jet Jockey: Supersonic Stories: Flying the CF-188 Hornet in the Cold War Part 2 - Dan "Alf" McWilliams 1:18:44

3M ago1:18:44

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What was it like to be one of the first cadres to fly the might CF-188 Hornet? What did it feel like to operate in Europe on the edge of the Iron Curtain during the Cold War? What was it like to deploy in support of the Gulf War? Dan "Alf" McWilliams is a retired RCAF Fighter pilot who operated during the Cold War. Today we sit down and talk about …

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Episode 53: The Jet Jockey: Tutor Tales: Flying and instructing on the CT-114 Tutor Part 1 - Dan "Alf" McWilliams 1:12:26

4M ago1:12:26

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What was it like to live in Germany on a NATO base during the Cold War as a teenager? What does it feel like to follow in your dad's footsteps and achieve your dreams to become a jet pilot? What was it like to instruct at "The Big 2" Moose Jaw when there could be up to 30 CT-114 Tutors flying at once? Today we sit down with Cold War fighter pilot D…

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Episode 52: The Commander: Commanding the RCAF and flying the CF-188 Hornet Part 2 - Eric Kenny 1:10:00

4M ago1:10:00

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What is it like to command the RCAF? What is the RCAF good at, and what needs fixing? Who are our potential main adversaries and why? What challenges will we face as we pursue modernization? Have US politics (as of recording mid-March) affected our strategies with the F35 and other acquisitions? What does the future hold for the RCAF? We will talk …

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She Left College & Became a World-Traveling Entrepreneur by 22 56:45

4M ago56:45

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Today on the podcast, I spoke with Emma Wilson, a 22 year old solo travel coach and content creator who’s lived and worked in over ten countries across Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. Originally from Oregon, Emma grew up with a traditional mindset and had never even considered traveling. But in 2022, she left college with little support,…

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Episode 51: The Commander: Commanding the RCAF and flying the CF-188 Hornet Part 1 - Eric Kenny 1:01:10

4M ago1:01:10

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What does it take to complete Canada's "Top Gun", the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course? What is it like to deploy to Bosnia or take part in the bombing campaign in Kosovo with real air-to-air and ground-to-air threats? What does it take to coordinate strikes in Afghanistan? How are we shifting from a counter-insurgency to peer-to-peer warfighting …

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Episode 50: The Inferno: Aerial Firefighting in the Palisades Fires in California and flying the Canadair CL-415 Part 2 - Pascal Duclos 51:29

4M ago51:29

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What did it take to get the Pasisade Fires under control in LA County, California in the winter of 2025? How does aerial firefighting compare in Quebec and California? In this final part of our 2 part series on aerial firefighting, we sit down once again with aerial firefighter Pascal Duclos. Pascal has been fighting fires across Canada and the Uni…

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How Does a Captain Run a 191-Foot Luxury Superyacht for the Ultra-Wealthy? 59:07

5M ago59:07

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Ever wondered what it’s like to captain a 191-foot superyacht through some of the most remote and pristine places on Earth? Captain Liam Devlin takes Wall Street elites, Russian oligarchs, actors, and more on adventures around the world! He has spent over 25 years navigating the world’s oceans, from the rugged coastlines of Alaska to the untouched …

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Episode 49: The Inferno: Aerial Firefighting in the Palisades Fires in California and flying the Canadair CL-415 Part 1 - Pascal Duclos 1:02:20

5M ago1:02:20

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What was it like to deploy to Los Angeles and fight the infamous fires of the winter of 2025? What does it take to hit the fires with precision every time? How difficult is it to scoop from a heavy sea state on the ocean, or from tight quarters in a California reservoir? In this episode we sit down with aerial firefighter Pascal Duclos. Pascal has …

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Episode 48: The Div Commander: Commanding 1 Canadian Air Division as it prepares for the future and flying the CH-146 Griffon and CH-147 Chinook Part 3 - Chris McKenna 1:20:49

5M ago1:20:49

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What modernization projects and new aircraft is the RCAF getting? Why does the RCAF need a warfighting focus moving forward? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 2600 flying hours and is currently the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, or 1 CAD. In this episode we'll talk about the exciting new modernization projects and aircraft that are coming…

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Episode 47: The Div Commander: Commanding 1 Canadian Air Division as it prepares for the future and flying the CH-146 Griffon and CH-147 Chinook Part 2 - Chris McKenna 1:04:14

5M ago1:04:14

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What is it like to deploy as the Task Force Commander for a violent mission in Mali? What difficulties does working with the UN bring? What is it like to be the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, or 1 CAD, and have 5 different official jobs? What modernization projects and new aircraft is the RCAF getting? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 26…

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How She Started a Business While Living in Her Car 40:17

5M ago40:17

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Today on the podcast, I sat down with photographer and agency owner Madison Olivia Brown in Charleston, SC. Madison built her first online business from scratch while traveling the country in her sedan. She later rebranded it as Vienna & Co, a creative marketing agency focused on luxury and hospitality brands. She also runs networking events for yo…

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What It’s Like to Surf in Great White Shark Territory 29:39

5M ago29:39

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McHenry Jackson grew up in Folly Beach, South Carolina, surfing every chance he got. Now, he spends months at a time living on boats as a seafloor mapper, exploring the ocean for work and surfing whenever he can. When he’s not working, he’s surfing in places like South Africa, Panama, and Hawaii. This August, he’s making the big move to Hawaii to f…

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Episode 46: The Div Commander: Commanding 1 Canadian Air Division as it prepares for the future and flying the CH-146 Griffon and CH-147 Chinook Part 1 - Chris McKenna 1:08:52

5M ago1:08:52

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What is it like to deploy to Kandahar City, Afghanistan with JTF2 as a young officer in the RCAF? What about to return flying the CH-147D Chinook? Major-General Chris McKenna has over 2600 flying hours and is currently the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, or 1 CAD. In this episode we'll talk about his early flight training, his deployments to …

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How the American Dream Makes Life Harder Than It Should Be… 41:16

6M ago41:16

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Teju Ravilochan is a Forbes 30 Under 30 social entrepreneur and TEDx speaker. He co-founded Uncharted and later started GatherFor out of a desire to intentionally create a mutual support system for people experiencing poverty. Growing up, Teju was struck by the extreme gap between wealth and poverty, which led him to question the way the world work…

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Episode 45: The Merge: Changes to the podcast, air-to-air photography, and aviation publishing Part 2 - Mike Reyno 1:01:12

6M ago1:01:12

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What is it like to survive a mid-air collision with the Snowbirds? What does it feel like to join an Aurora crew on operations in the Mediterranean Sea for Op Sharp Guard? What does it take to make the jump from publisher to having an aviation podcast network? Today, we sit down with renowned air-to-air photographer and publisher Mike Reyno to disc…

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Marine Conservation Through the Eyes of a PADI Master Diver 1:16:09

6M ago1:16:09

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Today, I’m talking with Francheska Krysiak, also known as Franny, a marine conservationist, scientific rebreather diver, and PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, who has spent the last 10 years working to protect our oceans. Franny supports conservation and restoration work for various organizations, such as the California Academy of Sciences. She is a…

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Episode 44: The Merge: Changes to the podcast, air-to-air photography, and aviation publishing Part 1 - Mike Reyno 54:46

6M ago54:46

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Tune in to this episode for an exciting announcement about the podcast! Following that, we will sit down with renowned air-to-air photographer and publisher Mike Reyno. What is it like to work extensively with the RCAF conducting air-to-air photography with every Squadron in the RCAF? What does it take to get the perfect shot - and what gets you no…

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What It's Like to Be One of the First Skiers in Antarctica... 39:59

7M ago39:59

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Ever wondered what it’s like to ski in Antarctica before anyone else that season? Or what goes into filming backcountry skiers, adaptive athletes, and even couples getting married in some of the most remote places on Earth? Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Tamara Šuša has done it all. Voted Best Local Photographer in Aspen, Tamara captures …

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Episode 43: The Service Couple: Being an RCAF aircrew service couple and flying in the CH-149 Cormorant and the CP-140M Aurora - Paul and McKayla Goddard 1:26:38

7M ago1:26:38

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What is it like to be an RCAF aircrew service couple? Paul is a CH-149 Cormorant pilot and McKayla is a retired ACSO who flew on the CP-140M Aurora. Hear all about their experience as a service couple from dating at RMC to the trials of being unmarried and long-distance, to finally the ups and downs of being a married service couple in two busy tra…

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The Truth About The Amazing Race 43:13

7M ago43:13

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What’s The Amazing Race actually like? Redmond Ramos, former Navy corpsman, motivational speaker, and Amazing Race Season 29 contestant, gives us the inside scoop. From picking a random teammate on day one to navigating wild travel challenges on zero sleep, he shares what happens behind the scenes and whether the race is as real as it seems. He als…

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Episode 42: The Wing Commander: Commanding 15 Wing Moose Jaw and flying the CH-146 Griffon Part 2 - Dan Coutts 1:07:13

7M ago1:07:13

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What is it like to be in charge of the one of Canada's largest pilot training bases? What does the future hold for pilot training in Canada, and what are we doing now to ensure our pilots are the best of the best? Colonel Dan Coutts is the current Wing Commander of 15 Wing Moose Jaw. In part 2 of our chat with him, we will discuss current and futur…

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How One Man Biked The World… By Accident 38:28

7M ago38:28

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Today, I’m sitting down with Andrew, whose two-week biking trip turned into a journey spanning 27,461 miles across 37 countries. Since his travels, he’s raised over $20,000 for the Trevor Project, helping prevent LGBTQ+ youth suicide. Along the way, he faced a slew of wild challenges, including getting hit by a truck in Peru, being robbed at knifep…

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Episode 41: The Wing Commander: Commanding 15 Wing Moose Jaw and flying the CH-146 Griffon Part 1 - Dan Coutts 1:02:01

7M ago1:02:01

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What is it like to fly the CH-146 Griffon for 427 Squadron as it transitioned from a normal Tac Hel Squadron to being part of CANSOFCOM? What about flying in Bosnia, or being Special Operations Support in Afghanistan? How do you take 400 Reserve Tactical Helicopter Squadron and help prepare them for high readiness status? Colonel Dan Coutts is the …

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Episode 40: The Knight: The Fighter Force and the CF-188 Hornet - Fred 1:04:10

8M ago1:04:10

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What is it like to fly a CF-188 Hornet? What does it feel like to break the sound barrier? How do our pilots stack up against friendly partners in exercises? How physically demanding is flying a fighter? Today we sit down for a chat with Fred "Penguin" Roy to talk all things CF-18. Fred is a former Reg Force fighter pilot who now flies as an airlin…

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Episode 39: The Holiday: Deploying at Christmas on the CC-130J Super Hercules - Mike B 38:09

9M ago38:09

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What is it like to deploy away from your loved ones at Christmas? In this special Christmas episode, we'll dive into what it feels like to experience what thousands of CAF members have felt before - being half a world away from family and friends at Christmas. In this episode, we'll talk with Mike Behring, a CC-130J Super Hercules pilot as well as …

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Episode 38: The Operator: Changing from SOF to Pilot - Ben 40:14

9M ago40:14

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What is it like to be a member of the elite force known as CJIRU? Why switch from Special Operations Forces Operator to Pilot? What challenges and opportunities do the trades have in common, and what useful traits overlap? Tune in this week as we chat with Ben, a former Special Operations Forces Operator who switched to the pilot trade, currently u…

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Episode 37: The Veteran: Remembrance Day and a Career to Remember Part 2 - Duncan 1:04:03

10M ago1:04:03

1:04:03

What was it like to fly the legendary CP-121 Tracker, or the mighty CP-140 Aurora when it was a new aircraft? Duncan MacIsaac served for 27 years in the Regular Force and another 8 in the Reserves. He has flown many aircraft types in the RCAF, and has a ton of experience to share. Part 2 of our 2 part Remembrance Day episode will feature Duncan's t…