Best Midlife Pilot Podcasts (2025)

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EP136 - Information Whiskey: The Tool in the Plane is Us 59:28

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1d ago59:28

59:28

In this Information Whiskey session, Ben achieves peak midlife status by straining his back loading golf clubs into his airplane, proving that "we are the joke." Meanwhile, Brian gets voice recognized at an FBO after some night flying adventure, and Ted successfully converts his partner from "scrambling for handholds" to enjoying turbulence on flig…

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From Passenger to Pilot: The Midlife Shift of Supporting Aging Parents 58:05

16d ago58:05

58:05

Send us a text Throttle back and tune in as The Motovation Podcast tackles one of life’s trickiest corners—caring for aging parents—through the eyes of adults in their late thirties and forties who still feel like kids at heart. In this episode host Krissy Vann and Laurie Joy Kingwell ride through: Role reversal and identity shifts: Why managing do…

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#401: Tired of Adulting? 5 Simple Ways to Bring Fun Back Into Your Life Before Burnout Takes Over 16:31

1d ago16:31

16:31

HEAR WHAT CUSTOM MUSIC SOUNDS LIKE! OR CLICK HERE TO CREATE YOUR OWN CUSTOM SONG! When was the last time you genuinely had fun—like laugh-until-your-belly-hurts, can't-wait-to-do-it-again kind of fun? If your daily life feels like one never-ending Monday, you’re not alone. So many of us are stuck in the cycle of adult responsibilities, deadlines, a…

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What Military Service During “Peacetime” is Really Like 57:22

1d ago57:22

57:22

Ray Christian joined the U.S. Army in 1978, as a way to get his life started. He became a paratrooper, an infantryman, and a drill sergeant. He also endured trauma and found that getting out of the service was more challenging than he expected. This week, Ray discusses why he signed up in the first place, what it was like serving in-between major c…

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Gone Riding: Your Summer Playlist Starts Here 1:13

3d ago1:13

1:13

Send us a text The Motovation Podcast is officially on summer break—but the ride isn’t over. With over 14,000 downloads and counting, we want to thank you for being part of our growing community. While we’re out exploring the open road, revisit some of our most-loved episodes, including: – Poppin’ Wheelies: Finding Balance in Life’s Stunts with Kri…

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EP135 - Dehydrated to Perfection with Erica Gilbert 1:00:23

8d ago1:00:23

1:00:23

Time for a heat dome intervention. Weather expert and certified mensch/CFII/CSIP Erica Gilbert returns to explain why we're all flying around in "the most expensive tin can you could sit in" and why Brian's brilliant idea of turning a boneyard 152 into a backyard sauna might actually be profitable. Learn why high temperatures make us all like moms …

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#400: What It Really Takes to Escape Your Circumstances: From Small-Town Poverty to Commercial Airline Pilot 37:58

9d ago37:58

37:58

If you’ve been battling self-doubt, stuck in survival mode, or wondering whether your dream is too far gone to chase—this conversation with Donald Osborn is for you. The truth is, where you began doesn’t define where you’re capable of going. Whether you’re on a path of healing, personal transformation, or just trying to rebuild momentum, this equal…

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Baywatch Made Me World Famous. My Stalker Stole My Privacy. 56:01

9d ago56:01

56:01

Alexandra Paul always loved connecting with fans. She had many, from her breakout role in the 1983 horror film Christine to her years playing a lifeguard on Baywatch. In 2011, Paul's career was slowing down, but it was also the year that she met her biggest fan: a woman who would come to stalk her for over a decade, costing Paul tens of thousands o…

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EP134 - CAF Adventures, Heat Domes, and Shredded Tubes 1:04:34

15d ago1:04:34

1:04:34

The crew welcomes Dev Cannon, who exemplifies the CAF mission by going from aviation newcomer to Music City Wing Commander in just a few years, leading 70 volunteers in preserving warbird history. Dev explains how the CAF's 19,000 international members keep aviation heritage alive through everything from flyovers at memorial services to introducing…

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#399: The Swearing Therapist on Moving to America, Midlife Reinvention, & Flipping Off Society’s Timeline 1:00:46

16d ago1:00:46

1:00:46

She came to America with $100, no job, and no clue how to turn on the shower—Now she's The Swearing Therapist helping others to heal out loud! ⏯️ Hit play on her power anthem! Hear Zulma’s story come to life in her personal theme song, And Still I Rise — a fierce, fearless tribute to the woman who turned pain into power. Zulma B. Williams didn’t fo…

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Allison Williams on Botox, Privilege, and Gen Z’s Love of Marnie From ‘Girls’ 1:16:20

16d ago1:16:20

1:16:20

On June 11th, actress Allison Williams joined Anna live onstage at the Tribeca Festival in New York City for a conversation that was equal parts introspective and hilarious. Allison talked about everything from botox and how it impacts her work (and the faces she’s able to make to her young son) to her very complicated and controversial film and TV…

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EP133 - Ice Bags in Your Nether Regions: Remote Field Breakdown Survival Guide 57:47

22d ago57:47

57:47

The guys tackle the inevitable reality of breaking down away from home - and yeah, "you did it to yourself by choosing to take on flying in midlife." They get real about emergency prep: "have a leatherman, have zip ties, have tape" and for the love of all that's holy, "cash is options, cash is flexibility." Brian drops wisdom about proactive mainte…

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How Much Can Your Love Life Change in One Summer? 39:17

23d ago39:17

39:17

In 2018, we followed eight listeners as they dated over the course of the summer. We heard about having sex for the first time, being ghosted, downloading and deleting dating apps, and grieving one partner while falling in love with someone new. In this episode, you’ll hear the final check-in with our eight daters (you can listen to the first and s…

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#398: How Do You Heal When You Still Hurt? 3 Keys to Healing After Trauma 20:24

23d ago20:24

20:24

SEND KEVIN A PRIVATE VOICE MESSAGE Are you stuck in survival mode after trauma—wondering if it’s even possible to feel joy and purpose again? If you've been silently carrying the weight of your past, hoping something will finally shift—you’re not alone. In this episode, Kevin Lowe shares the real, lived truth about what it takes to rebuild a thrivi…

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EP132 - Information Whiskey: Smart Charts and Fish Finders 1:00:23

29d ago1:00:23

1:00:23

Ben raves about Garmin Smart Charts as a potential ForeFlight killer, while the gang shares their biggest radio pet peeves - from the dreaded "with you" to "fish finder." Brian explains why his ignition wires "date back to when Jimi Hendrix was an unknown rising guitarist," and they dive into listener feedback about check ride prep (spoiler: don't …

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#397: You Can’t Heal What You Hide: A Story of Trauma, Truth, & Redemption with Joe Smarro 1:11:33

30d ago1:11:33

1:11:33

What if the pain you've buried is the very thing standing between you and your healing? This powerful interview pulls back the curtain on one man’s darkest moments to show you what’s possible when you stop running and start facing the truth. How This Helps You? Let’s be real—most people are carrying wounds they’ve never told anyone about. And as lo…

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Money Advice For This Weird Moment 1:13:39

30d ago1:13:39

1:13:39

At a time when inflation, tariffs, and stock market fluctuations are creating confusion and financial strain, we’ve assembled an unlikely panel of experts to answer your money questions, big and small. Our panel includes: Bethel Habte, a financial coach and author of the Deconstructing Money newsletter; Mark Blythe, economics professor at Brown Uni…

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Off Road Edition 69 ft. Richelle of True Grit Moto 31:35

1M ago31:35

31:35

Send us a text In this off-road edition of The Motovation Podcast, we’re joined by Richelle Trelenberg, founder of True Grit Moto—a mobile motorcycle mechanic service based in British Columbia known for wrenching with skill and serious style. This episode is anything but structured. With the usual roadmap tossed out the window, Krissy, Laurie, and …

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EP131 - 4% Gain to Go Pants Less - Cross Country Cockpit Organization 1:04:48

1M ago1:04:48

1:04:48

The crew tackles long cross-country cockpit organization after Ted's epic 5,400-mile journey reveals that going "pants-free" provides a "4% gain" in performance (wheel pants, people!). From the critical importance of blue shop towels to strategic snack placement and lumbar support, Ben, Brian, and Ted share hard-earned tips for setting up your cock…

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#396: Burned Out & Soul-Tired? 3 Ways to Take a Sabbatical—Even with Kids, a Job, and Zero Free Time 13:56

1M ago13:56

13:56

Are you feeling burned out and soul-tired—like you’re constantly pouring into everything and everyone but have nothing left for yourself? You’re not alone, and this episode is your wake-up call to finally take a breath and reset. In this powerful solo episode, Kevin Lowe introduces the idea of taking a sabbatical—not as some luxury reserved for the…

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How a Matchmaking Job Inspired a Film About Dating's Secret Economy 46:04

1M ago46:04

46:04

Long before Celine Song was nominated for an Academy Award for her directorial debut, Past Lives, she was a struggling playwright in New York City with a side hustle: matchmaking. In this episode, Celine talks about how that experience inspired the plot of her new A24 movie, Materialists, starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. This…

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EP130 - Debriefing the Debriefs: Part 2 - Instrument Checkrides 1:07:00

1M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

In the compelling conclusion to their check ride series, the Midlife Pilot crew explores instrument rating experiences drawn from their Patreon community. From developing the perfect instrument scan to battling temperamental autopilots and partial-panel approaches, this episode reveals the unique challenges—and profound rewards—of becoming an instr…

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#395: Divorced. Grieving. Burned Out. So He Left for 6 Months… and Didn’t Return for 14 Years 53:49

1M ago53:49

53:49

Ever felt like you’re living someone else’s life—even if, on paper, everything looks “successful”? What if the freedom, joy, and meaning you’re craving are waiting on the other side of letting go? 🔥 What You'll Learn (3 Powerful Takeaways) The Power of the Pause: How a 6-month sabbatical became a 14-year global journey and reshaped Ray’s definition…

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Betraying a Friendship to Get a Viral Story 1:04:37

1M ago1:04:37

1:04:37

When blogger AJ Daulerio broke the Brett Favre sexting scandal in 2010, it became one of the biggest stories of his career. But it came at a cost: he had betrayed Jenn Sterger, the woman at the center of the story, who had confided in him as a friend and explicitly asked him not to name her. The fallout was immediate and lasting. Jenn became the ta…

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From Race Tracks to Reinvention: Jessica Soodeen on Grief, Identity, and Finding the Road Back to Herself 45:41

1M ago45:41

45:41

Send us a text On this episode of The Motovation Podcast, we sit down with Jessica Soodeen—a woman whose life journey spans race engineering, global corporate leadership, and some of the deepest personal transformation a person can face. Jessica’s career has taken her from the motorsports circuits of Europe to executive roles at companies like Hone…

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EP129 - Debriefing the Debriefs: Part 1 - Private Pilot Checkrides 1:04:40

2M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

In this first installment of their two-part check ride series, the Midlife Pilot Podcast crew mines gold from their community's private pilot exam experiences through intimate Patreon debriefs. Ben, Brian, and Ted tackle everything from the anxiety-inducing oral exam (which Ben likens to "walking into the delivery room") to those heart-stopping lan…

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#394: Permission to Rest: You Can’t Heal Past Trauma Until You’re Willing to Do This 1 Thing 16:27

2M ago16:27

16:27

What if the one thing you’ve been avoiding, is the very thing you need most? This episode is a heartfelt reminder that sometimes the bravest thing you can do after trauma isn’t pushing through—it’s stopping long enough to heal. If you’ve experienced loss, heartbreak, or any kind of personal crisis, you’ve probably felt the urge to just keep going. …

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Why Chef José Andrés Googled ‘How to Be a Father’ 41:05

2M ago41:05

41:05

José Andrés is at the helm of more than a dozen restaurants and is famous for the humanitarian work that his organization World Central Kitchen does everywhere from Haiti to Gaza. But when it comes to parenting, José says he’s often felt less than confident. In this episode, he discusses his somewhat rocky upbringing in Spain, his successes and str…

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#393: After The Crash: What No One Tells You About Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 52:40

2M ago52:40

52:40

We live in a world that rushes recovery, underestimates the brain, and often labels suffering as stress or burnout. But what if the real cause is a hidden brain injury? 🎧 BONUS: CLICK TO LISTEN TO A CUSTOM SONG FOR TODAY'S GUEST! *This song was created on behalf of anyone impacted by a TBI. Why Must You Listen? Discover what no one tells you about …

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EP128 - Two Bounces and a Skip: Planning vs. Reality 1:08:00

2M ago1:08:00

1:08:00

Join the Midlife Pilot Podcast crew as they return from their epic Texas fly-in adventure with tales of triumph, near-misses, and one unfortunate set of wheel pants. Ted recounts his 28.3-hour post-fly-in journey that somehow went east instead of west ("Look, you can only chase tailwinds for so long"), while Brian shares his VFR limits revelation (…

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#392: Think You’re Not Brave? Here’s Why That’s a Lie You’ve Been Telling Yourself! #TheCourageEquation 12:59

2M ago12:59

12:59

Do you think courage is only for the brave? Or could it be that courage is something you already have, even if you’ve never noticed it? In this episode, we're breaking down the real truth about courage—and why it’s not just for heroes, firefighters, or people on the nightly news. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of what courage really i…

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Your IRL Dating Stories 54:35

2M ago54:35

54:35

A man delivers an unforgettable pickup line. A woman asks her Uber driver out on a date. A rancher swears off men and then, years later, suddenly develops feelings for the guy down the road. This week, listeners share offline dating stories for the ages, including charming meet-cutes, frustrating missed connections, and happily ever afters. We also…

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How to Adult in 2025: Letting Go of Made-Up Rules and Shifting Gears on Your Own Timeline 44:49

2M ago44:49

44:49

Send us a text In 2025, “How to adult” is one of the most searched phrases on Google—and the questions people are asking reveal something deeper than just forgotten laundry tips. From “Is it normal to like stuffed animals as an adult?” to “Can you start ballet at 35?”, it’s clear we’re collectively rethinking what growing up really looks like. In t…

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#391: 3 Ways We Respond to Life’s Hardest Situations—But Only 1 Leads to Personal Growth After Trauma 12:22

2M ago12:22

12:22

What do you do when your back’s against the wall—and everything feels like it’s falling apart? In this soul-stirring solo episode, Kevin Lowe reflects on a pivotal concept sparked by Damon West’s incredible journey from criminal conviction to national inspiration. Whether it's heartbreak, job loss, or silent internal battles like depression, we all…

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EP127 - Big Texas Send Live from T82: Between Two Wheelpants 1:13:21

2M ago1:13:21

1:13:21

The Midlife Pilot Podcast hosts the Big Texas Send fly in at T82 in Fredericksburg, TX and lands with a thud (but "didn't dent the runway") at the gorgeous TAC Aero hangar. Ben, Brian, and Ted swap harrowing journey tales involving everything from Brian's "measured scud running" to Ted mysteriously ascending to 15,000 feet in a light sport ("Try a …

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Isabel Allende on Grief, Ayahuasca, and Dating After 70 53:01

2M ago53:01

53:01

Isabel Allende didn’t publish her first book until she was 39, after losing nearly everything in the wake of the Chilean military coup. More than four decades later, she’s become one of the most beloved Spanish-language authors, with over 80 million copies of her books sold worldwide. After political exile, writing books became Allende’s way of mak…

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#390: From Quarterback to Crime Boss to Keynote Speaker: Damon West’s Unimaginable Story of Hope 49:14

2M ago49:14

49:14

Have you ever felt like your story was over—only to discover it was just beginning? Damon West was sentenced to 65-years in a Texas maximum-security prison. But instead of letting that be the end of his story, he sparked a transformation—within himself and the prison around him—starting with a simple metaphor: a coffee bean. In this gripping episod…

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#389: Never Ask. Never Get a Yes! Your Fear of Rejection Is Costing You More Than You Realize 11:23

2M ago11:23

11:23

How many dreams have you let slip away—not because you heard “no”—but because you never asked in the first place? Today’s episode is a wake-up call for anyone who's let fear of rejection rob them of the life they truly want. Kevin Lowe is here to remind you: The biggest risk isn't hearing “no”—it’s never asking at all. This episode is for you if: Y…