Like a Pilot

You've spent hours cramming for exams, only to forget almost everything weeks later. Sound familiar? Pilots have to retain an extraordinary amount of information throughout their careers. So how do they make it stick?

In this episode of Like a Pilot, discover the surprising science behind studying less, remembering more, and making knowledge last.

Your brain might never be the same again!

How do pilots deal with jet lag? Where do they sleep on an aircraft? Wait! What? Pilots sleep while they’re at work?

In this episode of Like a Pilot, Phil takes you behind the scenes of long-haul flying to explore the strange world of crew rest, tactical naps, body clocks and sleeping at all the wrong times. We’ll look at American International Airways Flight 808 and discover what happens to performance when we stay awake too long. We’ll also unpack the two factors that determine when you’re actually ready to sleep.

After excursions to London and Laguna Seca Raceway, Phil will leave you with some practical strategies for resetting your own sleep when shift work, travel or life knocks it sideways.

In thunderstorms and pouring rain, Air France 358 touches down in Toronto. Nearly half the runway is already behind it. Seconds later, the Airbus A340 is in a ravine, destroyed by fire.

How does a serviceable aircraft, flown by experienced pilots, run out of runway?

In this episode, we look at useful catastrophizing — structured “what if?” thinking — and why risk management is not just about identifying threats.

It is about weighing responses, watching for indicators, and actually executing when the moment arrives.

Because a Plan B only protects you if you actually use it.

We often think of role models as polished success stories. But in aviation, some of the clearest lessons come from people you would never want to become. In this episode, Phil explores how pilots learn by watching the people around them — the captains they admire, the ones they don’t, and the mentors who shape their growth more directly. From flight decks to ski slopes to race tracks, this is a story about role models, mentors, and why good modelling isn’t copying. It’s careful borrowing.

Leadership is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot, but what does good leadership actually look like? And why does it matter at all? We’ve all had bad bosses. The screamer. The idea-stealer. The plain incompetent. The one asking for sacrifice from behind a locked door.

In this episode of Like a Pilot, Phil looks at the damage bad bosses cause and offers an alternative: a practical, no-nonsense guide to leadership that applies just as well in the flight deck, the boardroom, or around the kitchen table.

In this episode of Like a Pilot, Phil answers a question from Miss Seven that’s crossed every passenger’s mind: "What do pilots actually do up there when the autopilot is flying?" (Apart from drinking coffee and chilling, of course.)

We’ll step inside the cockpit to unpack workload — the finite mental capacity we all have, how overload creeps in quietly, and why too little workload can be risky too. Along the way, we’ll revisit two devastating reminders of how quickly margins can disappear: American Airlines 965 and Swissair 111.

And you’ll leave with a simple, practical workload management framework you can use immediately — whether you’re flying an approach, running a shift, leading a team, or drowning in emails.

Where’s Wilkesy? In training. I’ve been back in full student mode while changing fleets, so the Like a Pilot podcast has been put into a holding pattern until the New Year. In the meantime, why not dive into the back catalogue. Perhaps start with the Christmas themed checklist episode, or revisit our most-listened-to deep dive on automation lessons from Air France 447 (a few lawyers in the news lately could probably use a refresher on that one!). Search Like a Pilot on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

Ever frozen under pressure, knowing you were capable of more? This episode of Like a Pilot dives into why fixating on outcomes often leads to anything but success. From cockpit to canoe slalom, you'll hear how elite performers—pilots, Olympians, and race drivers—master their minds by focusing on what truly matters: the process. Discover how shifting your attention from the fear of failure to the precision of your performance can fundamentally transform your results, unpacking practical tools and revealing how even 'pink elephants' can help you silence self-doubts and stay laser-focused in the moment. Ready to unlock your true potential? Tune in now!

When life punches you in the face, what is that voice in your head saying?

When you’re beating yourself up, what’s the worst thing you tell yourself about yourself?

A military pilot earns her wings but can’t shake the feeling she got there by accident. A test pilot finishes a mission but still feels like a pretender.

In this episode, we unpack the voice that questions your competence, your right to be here, your ability to do the job. And you’ll learn three tools to challenge the stories you’ve been telling yourself—because the most dangerous beliefs are the ones you never stop to question.

Is your feedback resonating? Does it foster growth?

For pilots, every flight is a lesson, and well-facilitated debriefs provide the fuel for mastery. In this episode of Like a Pilot, Phil Wilkes explores how structured debriefs turn ordinary feedback into real growth.

This isn’t just about aviation—it’s about transforming how you listen, how you reflect, and how you lead. Whether you’re mentoring a colleague, coaching an athlete, leading a team, or parenting at home, stop telling—start guiding.

Discover how structured reflection, powerful questions, and active listening create space for people to own their learning and actually improve.

From the cockpit to the boardroom—and even your living room—this episode will change the way you approach leadership, teamwork, and communication.