What happens when a strategic planner whose job was to predict disasters at the Pentagon turns his sights on the current trajectory of society?

Christopher "Coyote" Choate is a retired Air Force officer who flew the F-4 Phantom and F-15E Strike Eagle. After a decorated military career, he transitioned into a sci-fi author, writing the dystopian space opera trilogy, *Apollo Wept*. Inspired by the cultural turmoil of 2020, Christopher created a satirical future that serves as a massive warning light for where our society might be headed if we don't pull up from our current nosedive.

This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of learning through adversity. Christopher discusses the jarring transition from the zero-error world of fighter jets to the messy, creative process of writing a novel. He also breaks down why physical suffering through long-distance running brings him mental clarity, why he remains an optimist despite writing about societal collapse, and the ultimate fighter pilot mindset for overcoming failure.

In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover:

* The Warning Signs: Why a Pentagon planner wrote a dystopian novel about America's future.

* Satire & Sci-Fi: How fiction allows us to tell the truth about modern politics without the emotional baggage.

* From the Cockpit to the Keyboard: Applying military discipline to the chaotic process of writing.

* The Marathon Mindset: Why finding clarity often requires leaning into physical suffering.

* The Nosedive: Why society might need to hit rock bottom before we finally pull up.

* The simple, two-step rule for overcoming overwhelm: Show up and find a mentor.

* Christopher's definition of true success: Why your family is the only thing a job can't replace.

This episode is for sci-fi fans, anyone feeling overwhelmed by the current state of the world, or listeners who want to adopt the mental toughness of a fighter pilot.

Connect With Christopher Choate:

* Website & Newsletter: https://coyoteauthor.wordpress.com/

* Book: Apollo Wept (Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible)

Chapters:

00:00 Hook: You Only Fail When You Quit

01:11 Introduction: Christopher "Coyote" Choate

01:37 The Motivation Behind *Apollo Wept*: A Warning for the Future

05:06 Using Sci-Fi and Satire to Talk About Modern Politics

06:27 Fighter Pilot Discipline vs. The Messy Process of Writing

09:23 Finding Mental Clarity Through Marathons

11:55 Is Society in a Nosedive? An Optimist's Perspective

13:03 The Pentagon Strategist's Guide to Overcoming Overwhelm

14:33 Christopher's Definition of True Success

16:08 How to Connect and Get the Book