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. 

Scott Boughton is the founder of Palisade Aviation, a Colorado-based company looking to refine flight training. We'll speak with Scott about his education philosophy, and how we can equip the next generation of pilots with the skills they need for success.

Hosted by Bruce Webb. Written, Edited, and Produced by Logan Evans. Intro Voiceover by Tamera Ankrah. Artwork by Lou Kiss. 

Ned Parks is a dual-rated flight instructor from Akron, Ohio. After being present during an accident resulting from helicopter wake turbulence, Ned has spent the last year researching the not-often-discussed phenomena. We'll speak with Ned about his research, and how the aviation world can move forward and spread awareness.

Hosted by Bruce Webb. Written, Edited, and Produced by Logan Evans. Intro Voiceover by Tamera Ankrah. Artwork by Lou Kiss. 

Since 1982, Tim Tucker has served as Chief Instructor at Robinson Helicopter. We’ll learn about Tim’s roots in aviation, defined by his stint in the Vietnam war. He’ll give us insight into his time at Robinson, and expand on a design principle unique to Robinson helicopters. And if we listen closely, some of Tim’s humble wisdom might stick with us, to be applied when we need it most.

Hosted by Bruce Webb. Written, Edited, and Produced by Logan Evans. Intro Voiceover by Tamera Ankrah. Artwork by Lou Kiss.