In this conversation with Kayleigh Bowers, we'll examine  how the best way to solve problems in aviation is to listen to the different lived experiences of those around us. 

Kevin Humphreys is a helicopter pilot and mental health ambassador from Australia. During his service in the Australian army, Kevin fell victim to PTSD, anxiety and depression — ailments he buried deep inside himself until they culminated in a mental breakdown. With the help of those around him, Kevin was able to build himself back from his lowest point. Now, he hopes to use his experience to fight the stigma against mental illness and prove that struggles with anxiety and depression are not aberrations to be ashamed of, but natural forces to confront and manage.

In this conversation with Kevin, we’ll examine mental health in aviation. How can we find the vulnerability we need to address internal struggles in an industry that often rewards just “toughing it out?” Kevin will take us through his personal journey, the shame he felt at his breaking point, his  path to recovery, and how a character from a 1970’s sci-fi series gave him the strength to believe in himself again. 

Loreto Moraga has worked as an attorney specializing in aviation law for over 25 years. She serves as President of both the the Chilean Helicopter Association and the Chilean Space Association.

In this conversation with Loreto, we’ll examine aviation from a lawyer’s perspective. How can liability differences between commercial airline and helicopter flights affect the mindset of pilots? We’ll learn about Loreto’s legal background in Chile, and how working with the families of accident victims changed her approach to safety. Loreto will speak about her work in the Chilean Space Association, and break down the safety lessons pilots can draw from NASA’s Artemis program. And finally, we’ll look at the bigger picture; how the insight of non-aviators - minds like Loreto’s - might be just what we need to help prevent future accidents. 

This episode of “Push to Talk” examines a pilot’s relationship with Air Traffic Control. What common mistakes do we make when communicating with the tower? I spoke with Steve Phillips, an Air Traffic Controller of over forty years, to help demystify the voice in our headset. 

Del Livingston is the former Vice President of Flight Operations for Airbus Helicopters, and a veteran of the Vietnam war. In this, we’ll speak with Del about his background flying Dustoff operations in Vietnam, including a harrowing rescue mission, the result of which sent him home from combat a month early. Then, Dell will tell us about his transition into the civil world, and the difference in stakes between civil and military flight when it comes to aviation safety. 

Jessica Meiris is a pilot and rock climber from Colorado Springs. In 2014, she became the first woman in history to rope solo climb El Capitan in a single push.

Jessica experienced her first brush with helicopters when she was air-rescued after an accident climbing a rock tower in Red Rocks, Nevada - an event that would planet the seeds for a new chapter in her life.

Now in a second career as a helicopter pilot, Jessica hopes to one day fly for short haul rescue programs in U.S. national parks, and give back to the climbing community that shaped her. 

We’ll speak with Jessica about her transition to aviation from guiding adventure sports, the air rescue mission that opened her eyes to helicopter flight, the similarities between flying and rock climbing, her experience flying glacier tours in Alaska, and the importance of building relationships in aviation.

In this second installment of a two-part conversation, we'll speak with aviation photographer Jay Miller about attending Permian High School (the basis of Friday Night Lights), the process of handling proprietary information when publishing his books, and why he believes each person has a story worth telling. 

Jay Miller began his career as an aviation photojournalist in 1957 - he was just nine years old. Through the lens of a small Kodak Brownie pointed to the West Texas sky, Jay Miller built the foundation of a career that would lead him face-to-face with some of the most famous aviators in history. In that time, he’s cultivated an immense body of work that catalogs the story of aviation. 

In this first installment of a two-part conversation, we’ll speak with Jay about his early days photographing aircraft in Odessa, Texas. He’ll tell us how he came to know renowned aviators like Jimmy Doolittle and Eddy Rickenbacker, how he acquired the mach meter from the first manned flight to reach a speed of mach 3, and how a mistake made while photographing an air-to-air warhead led to an otherwise unattainable image.

Gary Maddux served 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including a stint in presidential squadron HMX-1. After losing his daughter to suicide in 2019, Gary has dedicated his life to mental health outreach and awareness. Now working to become a licensed counselor, Gary hopes to provide others with the insight he's wrestled from loss.  

Vicki Coates is the team lead of certification for the Helicopter and Agricultural branch of the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority. We'll speak with Vicki about her roots in aviation (including a close call early in her career), helicopter operations in New Zealand, and how growing up on a farm prepared her for a career in the sky.

Hosted by Bruce Webb. Written, Edited, and Produced by Logan Evans. Artwork by Lou Kiss.