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Flying through more than four decades of aviation history, pilot Tom Taylor takes us behind the cockpit door to share a career journey that spans generations of aircraft and airline transformations. From his early days as a teenage flight enthusiast to becoming an international captain for one of Asia's premier carriers, his story captures the evolving landscape of commercial aviation through both personal triumphs and industry-wide challenges.

Tom's path began conventionally enough—flight lessons in British Columbia during the late 1970s, inspired by a memorable flight in a P-51 Mustang with air racer Steve Hinton. Like many pilots of his generation, he built experience through flight instruction before joining small regional carriers. His career trajectory through Time Air and Canadian Regional Airlines mirrors the consolidation that reshaped North American aviation in the 1980s and 90s, offering listeners a front-row seat to how pilots navigated these industry transformations.

What distinguishes Tom's story is his pivot to international flying in the early 2000s. After years with Canadian airlines, he embraced expatriate life with stints at China Airlines and ultimately Cathay Pacific. His 16 years with Cathay reveal the complex balancing act of maintaining family connections in Canada while building a career across the Pacific. Tom's account of flying 747 freighters around the world provides fascinating operational insights, but it's his experiences during Hong Kong's political transformation and the COVID-19 pandemic that prove most compelling.

Few aviation professionals can offer the perspective Tom does on flying through unprecedented global disruption. His description of Cathay's "loop" flying system during COVID—30-day patterns of continuous flying punctuated by strict quarantines—illuminates the extraordinary measures required to maintain essential cargo operations while borders closed worldwide. Being separated from family for over eight months while continuing to fly globally represents the personal sacrifices behind keeping supply chains functioning during crisis.

Ready for more incredible aviation stories? Follow Flying Minds and message us at [email protected] to suggest future guests or aviation topics you'd like us to explore.

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The hidden health crisis in aviation rarely makes headlines, but it affects thousands of professionals whose work keeps our skies safe. In this eye-opening conversation, Michelle Stiles—flight attendant base lead and wellness coach—reveals the physical toll that aviation takes on those who call the skies their workplace.

Michelle's story begins with her first operational flight at age 18, where she met host Stephan Grisbrook as her captain. Twelve years later, she's combining her aviation expertise with her passion for health coaching through her company Stiles Coaching, which specializes in habits and flexible discipline for aviation professionals.

The conversation unveils the concept of aviation workers as "shift workers on steroids," constantly battling disrupted circadian rhythms while maintaining peak performance in an industry where mistakes can have serious consequences. Michelle shares a powerful personal experience of experiencing true fatigue after an ultra-long-haul flight, sleeping for four days straight—stunning for someone known for boundless energy.

From the infamous "Flight Attendant 15" weight gain to practical strategies for managing health during unpredictable schedules, Michelle offers invaluable insights into supporting physical wellbeing in challenging circumstances. She explains how light exposure, consistent routines, and understanding your body's unique needs can help mitigate the physical demands of aviation work.

What makes this discussion particularly valuable is the recognition of a massive wellness gap in the aviation industry. Despite rigorous safety protocols, employee health often remains unaddressed. Michelle and her business partner Melanie are pioneering solutions through their Healthy Aviator collaboration, focusing on the five pillars of health: nutrition, movement, sleep patterns, social connections, and mental wellbeing.

For current aviation professionals struggling with health challenges or those considering entering the field, this conversation provides both warning and wisdom. The industry offers magical experiences but demands intentional self-care. As Michelle puts it, "Discipline is the ultimate act of self-love"—a philosophy that might just transform how we approach wellbeing at 35,000 feet.

Ready to prioritize your health in a demanding industry? Connect with Michelle through her podcast "Well With Michelle" or on Instagram at Styles Coaching to learn how to thrive, not just survive, in aviation.

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From a farm boy in Saskatchewan to a world aviator, Warren has some great stories. From learning to fly an Ultra-lite on the farm, to flying overseas in China,  to being an instructor with Dehavilland Aircraft of Canada. Sit back and hear some pretty entertaining stories and the challenges faced during his journey.

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One of Canada's leading aviation experts, Tim Morgan, from starting a flight school to being part of one of the most successful airlines in Canada. His successes, his challenges, and how he managed to compartmentalize the stresses of running several aviation businesses. Untold stories of how small the aviation world is and how he navigated through these. 

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A brief description on the conception of Flying Myndz. Your Captain, Stephan, talks about the end of a Ultra Low Cost Carrier Airline in Canada, that coincided with the end of a 4 decade flying career that started Flying Myndz.

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 FLYING MYNDZ IS HERE TO NAVIGATE THE MENTAL LANDSCAPE OF AVIATION INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS.

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