The Matt Sodnicar Podcast

I sit down with Christine Hafen to talk about her life on the sea, spanning being a ship's captain, chief mate, and dynamic positioning operator for a drill ship.  This thing is 860 feet long, 150 tall and operates 200 miles offshore in 11,000 feet of ocean - which she has to keep over the drill site in less than 5% variance.  She also tells the tale of nearly going into Davy Jones locker, evacuating during a hurricane.

We recorded this episode because Christine is facing what many of us are this year - a career change.  How does one go from the drill ship to corporate America?

If you need someone with determination, grace under pressure, and relentless spirit - here is her LinkedIn Profile.

Quinn, Joshua and I talk about their Wings for Life relay in Estes Park - recorded in May 2020, so long ago. As usual, we divert pretty quick from bikes, handcycles and running and chase some deep topics.  Enjoy!

How does someone go from being a geophysicist to starting a non-profit to create a unique science fair and serve kids? I sit down with Wendy Wempe and talk about her journey to help children -  particularly those who are under-represented in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM), namely girls and students of color from low-income families.

And you can get involved too - visit https://stemgeneration.org/who-we-are/ and find out how you could simply walk down your street, and start making a difference in a child's life.

I sit down with 787 pilot Donna Miller to talk about her journey from flying lessons in Korea to flying one of the most advanced aircraft in the world.  Starting with equating finances and purchases to literal minutes of flying time, then flying and unloading car parts in Mexico during the week and skydivers on the weekend.  Chipping away and continually driving towards becoming an airline pilot - only a few months before September 11, 2001.   

Donna then tells amazing stories about meeting and flying some of the largest legends in aviation: 

• Elray Jeppesen father of modern aviation charts, 
• Louie Zamparini - subject of Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken,
• Emily Warner, first woman captain of a US airline,
• Bob Guilliland, the first pilot of the SR71 Blackbird,
• Eileen Collins, first woman commander of the Space Shuttle - and the story of one amazing necklace,
• and Neil Armstrong.  Yes, that Neil Armstrong.

Donna is a member of and author for the 99's (International Organization of Women Pilots), Women in Aviation, ISA+21, the Experimental Aircraft Association.

I sit down with longtime friend Jean Hadzi to talk about Robotic Process Automation (RPA) - what it is and isn't - and how RPA has a love for humanity, not a contempt for it,  his involvement with NAMIC (National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications), watches, specifically the 1960 Omega Constellation, and more.

Connect with Jean on LinkedIn

Randy Wiafe - poet, musician, developer, father, son.  In this amazing, wide ranging conversation, Randy and I talk about his journey to being a developer in the tech/SaaS space.  He takes me through a near-fatal injury, leaving college, finding another way to pursue his technology goals while ultimately proving his mom wrong in the best way, battling and overcoming depression, and a very interesting discussion on an unexpected type of racism and prejudice.

Connect with Randy on LinkedIn. 

Beth takes us through growing up as one of 6 kids, working with Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, ultimately traveling to Rio with Team USA as a sports massage therapist.  From there, a drive of "How do I do this" led her to an apprenticeship in the bicycle framebuilding business, and opening an amazing shop in Eudora.