The Professionals Playbook

Air Force Pilot Training hasn't changed very much in the last 60 years. That's about to change!I had a chance to take an inside look at the United States Air Force's next generation of pilot training with General "Pulse" Wills, the 19th Air Force Commander. Take a look and let me know what you think in the comments.YouTube Videos ▶ https://www.youtube.com/c/HasardLeeHow to connect:LinkedIn-- https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasardleeInstagram-- https://www.instagram.com/hasardlee/Facebook--https://www.facebook.com/hasardlee

My guest today is Dan Schilling who spent more than 30 years in the military, primarily as a Combat Controller and Special Tactics Officer. His numerous combat deployments have taken him around the world and include Operation Gothic Serpent, known as Black Hawk Down, where he is credited with saving the lives of a Ranger and SEAL Team Six member while under fire. He later founded and then served as the first commander of two special operations squadrons, one of which's name and purpose remains classified. He also holds the  World Record for most BASE jumps in 24 hours (201), which he conducted to benefit children who've lost a parent in special operations Dan is now a full-time writer of both fiction and nonfiction. Sign up for my newsletter for a few ideas and tools to help you grow--occasional patch giveaways as well. You can sign up here. LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

The audio isn't fantastic because it was recorded inside the factory. You can see the interviews as well as the tour on my YouTube Channel: Hasard LeeJoin the community and sign up for my newsletter for a few ideas and tools to help you grow--occasional patch giveaways as well. You can sign up here. YouTube videos (10 million views per month)LinkedIn-- Hasard LeeInstagram-- @Hasard LeeFacebook--@Hasard LeeYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

The audio isn't fantastic because it was recorded inside the factory. You can see the interviews as well as the tour on my YouTube Channel: Hasard LeeSign up for my newsletter for a few ideas and tools to help you grow--occasional patch giveaways as well. You can sign up here. LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

I've been putting out a lot more content on my YouTube Channel: Hasard LeeTerry Virts is a U.S. Air Force test/fighter pilot and a NASA veteran of two spaceflights – a two-week mission onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2010 and a 200-day flight to the Space Station in 2015. He is a leader, speaker, and author who is currently working on multiple projects, including a new book and television series.His seven months in space included piloting the Space Shuttle, commanding the International Space Station, three spacewalks, and performing scientific experiments, all while working closely with multiple international partners. Virts flew with and led Russian Space Agency cosmonauts during some of the most tense relations with Russia since the Cold War.While in space he took more than 319,000 photos – the most of any space mission. These images are an integral component of the IMAX film A Beautiful Planet, which Virts helped film and appears in.Sign up for my newsletter for a few ideas and tools to help you grow--occasional patch giveaways as well. You can sign up here. LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

Nick and his brother Giles are the founders of Bremont, one of the top aviation watch brands. I own two of their watches and they are truly engineering masterpieces. They're one of the few things you can own that doesn't turn into junk after 5 years. On my second watch I inscribed my sons name and plan to give it to him when he grows up. In this far ranging conversation we talk about his background, how he started Bremont, leadership lessons, and more. If you enjoy storytelling, you'll enjoy this episode.Sign up for my newsletter for a few ideas and tools to help you grow--occasional patch giveaways as well. You can sign up here. LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

In this episode Hasard is interviewed for ae2 by the president of Hiller Measurements, Jeff Olsen. Make sure to check out the rest of their series here:"ae² explores the creative drive, personal motivations, and stories of perseverance of leaders and creators on the grow. Our aim is to find the business model in the engineering mind, the drive and technique a gifted artist is developing, and the impact for good that outweighs the personal risk taken on by bold business creators. Along the way, we hope to inspire viewers to step out, build, and create."https://www.hillermeas.com

My guest today is Dan Schilling who spent more than 30 years in the military, primarily as a Combat Controller and Special Tactics Officer. His numerous combat deployments have taken him around the world and include Operation Gothic Serpent, known as Black Hawk Down, where he is credited with saving the lives of a Ranger and SEAL Team Six member while under fire. He later founded and then served as the first commander of two special operations squadrons, one of which's name and purpose remains classified. He also holds the  World Record for most BASE jumps in 24 hours (201), which he conducted to benefit children who've lost a parent in special operations Dan is now a full-time writer of both fiction and nonfiction. His latest book, Alone at Dawn, which captures the  story of Medal of Honor Recipient John Chapman, is a NY Times Bestseller.Sign up for my newsletter for a few ideas and tools to help you grow--occasional patch giveaways as well. You can sign up here. LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is nationally renowned child development expert Dr. Harvey Karp. He is the most read pediatrician in America, with over a million parents having used his techniques. His 3 bestselling books on the topic have been translated into over 20 languages. He is now the founder and CEO of Happiest Baby, a smart-tech and parenting company. In our conversation we talk about why there are so many contradictions in parental advice, the most critical time in child development, and how he developed the SNOO, a robotic bassinet that has helped my family get much better sleep.Sign up for my newsletter for a few ideas and tools to help you grow--occasional patch giveaways as well. You can sign up here. LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is James "Murph" Murphy who is the founder and Chairman of Afterburner, a leadership training firm comprised of more than 80 current and former elite military professionals. Afterburner was awarded Inc. Magazine's fastest growing company award five times and has worked with over 85% of the U.S. Fortune 50 companies. Before founding afterburner, Murph served as an F-15 pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He is also the author of six books that range in topic from leadership development to veteran career transition.In our conversation we talk about the biggest issue that businesses struggle with, what it was like to apply the fighter pilot mindset to the NY Giants Super Bowl run, and how to stay agle--both individually and as a company.  Sign up for my newsletter for a few ideas and tools to help you grow. You can sign up here.LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

F-35 T-shirts are now availableNew Youtube Channel is live!Live Q and A. We cover everything from my most memorable mission to my workout routine.Sign up for my newsletter for a few useful and insightful things that have helped me over the last month. LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

*T-shirts are now available here.My guest today is Richard Browning, the British inventor dubbed the “real life Iron Man.” He's the founder of Gravity, launched in 2017 with a dream to reimagine an entirely new form of human flight. Using 6 small jet engines, he's built a suit that has set multiple world records. In just 2 years he's given 5 TED talk and executed 96 public demonstrations of his technology across 30 countries.In our conversation we talk about the hurdles he had to overcome to build a jet suit, how to maintain resilience in the face of adversity, and how his next step is to build retractable wings into the suit.Sign up for my newsletter for a few useful and insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up here.LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

*My editor sent me this after listening to the episode: "I wanted to let you know that this was by far one of my favorite episodes to edit. It provided great insight into leadership skills."*"The Professionals Playbook" t-shirts are now available here.My guest today is Scott Mann who spent 23 years as an Officer in the United States Army, 18 of those as a Green Beret in Army Special Forces, where he specialized in unconventional missions in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Iraq, and Afghanistan.He is the author of two international best-selling books: Game Changers and Straight Talk About Military Transition.He's also give 3 TED talks. In our conversation we talk about how Green Berets build rapport with local tribes, how he almost took his life after leaving the military, and how leaders can connect with their people.Order of Topics:Using SOF training for COVID-19How Green Berets compare to other SOF unitsHow to go into a village and establish trustInterpersonal techniques Architect of the Afghan SOF programAlmost committing suicideHow to transition from the militaryGreen Beret principalsHow to build relationshipsLeadership training Sign up for my newsletter for a few useful and insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up here.LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is Daniel "Bond" Robinson who is Founder and CEO of Red 6--a company revolutionizing augmented reality (AR) for military training by allowing pilots to see synthetic threats in dynamic and high speed environments.In 2005 the RAF selected him as the youngest fighter pilot of his generation to attend the Weapons Instructor Course and a year later, he was selected as the first non-American fighter pilot to fly the the F-22 Raptor; a huge deal at the time.In our conversation Daniel talks to his incredible aviation journey including flying the Raptor, why he left the RAF, and the cutting edge technology his company is working with now. Order of Topics:His backgroundFlying Tornados Culture of the debriefBeing assigned to the F-22Post Air Force career Building his own airplaneAugmented reality in aviationSign up for my newsletter for a few useful and insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up here.LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is Safi Bahcall who is the author of Loonshots, The most recommended book of the year. It came out in 2019 and has already been translated into 18 languages. It's recommended by Bill Gates, Daniel Kahneman, Daniel Pink, Malcolm Gladwell, and Tim Ferriss and was selected as the best business book of the year by Amazon, Bloomberg, Business Insider, Financial Times, Forbes, Inc., Medium, and the Washington Post. Safi is a physicist, a biotech entrepreneur, and a former public-company CEO. In 2008, he was named E&Y New England Biotechnology Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2011, he worked with President Obama's council of science advisors on the future of national research.Safi regularly speaks with leadership teams about applying the ideas in Loonshots and has presented at leading institutions around the world.In our conversation we talk about his thoughts on the coronavirus, separating artists from soldiers in organizations, the role of incentives, and then at the end, he interviews me for a few minutes. I highly recommend his book Loonshots--The subchapter "The Invisible Axe" has, in my opinion, the single greatest page and a half of non-fiction writing, where he talks about the incentive structure of middle managers and why they are predisposed to reject innovative ideas. Topics we talk about:Corona Virus--optimism Why he got into physicsArtists and soldiers--love bothBalancing risk and opportunity Loonshot tactics for small groupsStake vs. statusThink through incentives Loonshots--the bookSign up for my newsletter for a few useful and insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up here.LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is George Nolly, who flew 315 combat missions over Vietnam in both the O-2 as a forward air controller and the F-4 as strike pilot; earning 24 Air Medals and 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses. He was the last pilot to complete 100 missions over North Vietnam. While in the Air Force, George received the Tactical Air Command Instructor Pilot of the Year Award.After his service, George went into commercial aviation, flying for United Airlines as a Captain and Flight Instructor for 26 years. He is also the host of the Ready for Takeoff Podcast. In our conversation we talk about his lead up to Vietnam, flying an F-4 into the most heavily defended airspace in the world, and what makes a good pilot. Here are the show notes with associated time stamps. Passion for flight (min. 04:00)Pilot training (09:00)Forward air control (15:20)Vietnam as a FAC(20:00)TKTKTK check around 21:00Working the system (33:00)F-4 Fighter training (38:30)Vietnam in the F-4 (40:00)Post-Vietnam (59:00)Sign up for my newsletter for a few useful and insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up here.LinkedIn-- Justin Hasard LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is Joe De Sena, the Founder and CEO of Spartan, the world's largest obstacle race and endurance brand. They have more than 250 events across 40 countries with over 1 million annual global participants.He is also the host of the Spartan Up podcast and is a New York Times Best Selling Author of three books: Spartan Up, Spartan Fit, and The Spartan Way.During our conversation we talk about how to build grit, his principals for high performance, and how he started the Spartan race.Spartan Race (minute 02:00)We're zoo animals (08:20)Dark places during a race (12:00)Leadership (14:30)Firework business growing up (18:30)Branding (22:00)Death Race (23:00)We quit too soon (28:00)Money doesn't buy happiness (33:45)His routine (35:00)Risk (39:30)Project he's working on (40:30)Sign up for my newsletter for a few useful and insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here.LinkedIn-- Justin 'Hasard' LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

Dr. Joel Selanikio is a physician, TED speaker, inventor, emergency responder, and former CDC epidemiologist and outbreak investigator. He was also the lead physician at the IMC Ebola Treatment Center in Sierra Leone.He is one of the few people on the planet that is a professional in public health, clinical expertise, and technology.In our conversation we talk about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) including its origins, symptoms, testing, treatment and lessons to learn from it. There is a lot of noise out there right now--this episode was recorded to be as unbiased and useful as possible. Sign up for the newsletter for a few useful and insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here.LinkedIn-- Justin 'Hasard' LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is Pierre "ATÉ" Chuet a former French Fighter pilot who is now an author and speaker. He went through Pilot Training as an exchange officer with US Navy before flying for the French Navy. He's flown missions in Iraq and was the Rafale Airshow pilot. After a stroke took him out of the cockpit, he transitioned to speaking. In our conversation, we talk about human performance in combat, mental toughness, and the 11G pull-up that caused his stroke. Below are the show notes with time stamps: Youngest pilot in Europe (Minute 02:45)Exchange with US Navy (10:00)Carrier landing mistake (15:00)Anti-ship mission (18:00)Flying the Dassault Rafale (25:00)Physical preparation (36:00)Being at the tip of the spear (47:00)Mental health (1:05:00)Speaking (1:18:00)This interview is available in video format on YouTube here.Sign up for my newsletter for a few useful and insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here.LinkedIn-- Justin 'Hasard' LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is Drue Kataoka who has built the top art studio in Silicon Valley, and did it entirely outside the gallery system. Her studio serves top art collectors in 4 continents and over 30 countries. Her art was used for the first zero gravity art exhibit in space at the International Space Station. She was also selected as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader & Cultural Leader. In our conversation we talk about how art can be a catalyst for creativity in other professions, how creativity is like a muscle that you have to train, and the future of art in virtual and augmented reality. Below are the show notes and associated time stamps: How art fosters creativity (minute 03:20)Art vs. science (08:45)Art vs. technology (15:00)Building a business around art (21:45)The commission model (25:30)Her art (28:30)First art exhibit in space (32:00)Virtual reality art (40:00)Grit in art (47:30)Influence of Japan (55:30)Her principles (1:01:30)Sign up for my newsletter for a few useful and insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here.LinkedIn-- Justin 'Hasard' LeeInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerYou can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is George Whitesides, who is the CEO and President of Virgin Galactic, the spaceflight company founded by Sir Richard Branson. With Scaled Composites, the company has developed the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo vehicles, based on the X Prize-winning SpaceShipOne. In his role, he is responsible for guiding all aspects of the company to commercial operation at Spaceport America.Prior to Virgin Galactic, he served as Chief of Staff for NASA. Upon departure from the agency he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award the agency confers. He is also a fellow of the UK's Royal Aeronautical Society.In our conversation we talk about the strengths and weaknesses of NASA, how space exploration is like aviation 100 years ago, and what the future of Virgin Galactic looks like. Below are the show notes and associated time stamps: Background (minute 02:40)Strengths and weaknesses of NASA (06:45)Working with Richard Branson (10:45)Leadership (15:00)How they're getting to space (19:00)Training (24:00)How space will change our culture (25:00)Lots of technical questions... (27:00)Next 5-10 years for VG (37:15)Aviation 100 years ago (39:15)SpaceX and Blue Origin (43:30)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here.LinkedIn-- @justinfighterpilotInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you'd like to help out, you can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is Jason Ramos, a firefighter currently in his 30th season. He spent over half that time as an air-delivered firefighter. Known as Smokejumpers, these professionals are highly trained and specialized firefighters who can parachute or rappel into a forest fire. They work independently in some of the most difficult terrain imaginable. Jason has over 270 jumps into fires and has also written the leading book on the profession titled "Smokejumper." In our conversation we talk about what it's like to be in one of these infernos, the traits required of a smokejumper, and dive into some of the tactics and equipment used to put out forest fires. Below are the show notes with the associated time stamps:Being in a forest fire (minute 03:00)History of smoke jumping (09:00)Selection process (12:30)First fire he jumped into (23:30)How to kill a fire (28:00)Mission planning (34:30)Gear (44:30)Biggest lessons to pass on (49:00)Projects working on now (54:00)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here.LinkedIn-- @justinfighterpilotInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you'd like to help out, you can review the show by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

Thanks for the support. It's been 1 year since I started the podcast. Today I'm answering your questions. Below are the top questions along with the timestamps.What career would I have gone in if flying didn't work out (min 00:30)How to do well in pilot training (02:30)Failures in my life (09:30)How to prep before college (11:00)Bad habits in flight training (12:30)Advice for check rides (min 14:00) Why I started the podcast (15:30)How to debrief (18:00)F-35 vs F-16 aircraft (23:45) and (51:30)How to become a pilot (27:45)Getting selected for fighters (33:00)Fighter pilot culture (37:30) and (49:45)Enlisted (39:00)Top Gun (40:30)Medical DQ (41:45)Tips for general aviation pilots (43:45)My future career (48:00)Favorite military experience (52:00)Succeeding at USAFA (54:00)Physical and mental training (55:30)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is former US Naval Fighter Pilot, Charlie Plumb. After graduating from the Naval Academy, he completed flight training and reported to Miramar Air Station in San Diego where he flew the first adversarial flights in the development of “TOP GUN.” He then deployed to Vietnam and flew 74 successful combat missions and made over 100 carrier landings.On his 75th mission, just five days before the end of his tour, he was shot down over Hanoi, taken prisoner, tortured, and spent the next 2,103 days in an 8-by-8 foot cell as a Prisoner Of War. Following his repatriation, he continued his flying career, retiring from the Navy after 28 years of service.In our conversation, we talk about what it was like flying the top jet of the era, the missions he flew over Vietnam, and how he kept hope throughout his nearly 6 years as a POW. Below are the show notes with associated time stamps:His passion for flying  (min. 02:30)His first jet out of pilot training (03:30)Probability of Kill (PK) missiles (06:00)Showing up to Vietnam (07:30)First mission (09:30)Jumped by 3 enemy fighters (12:30)Surface to Air Missiles (19:45)Being shot down (26:00)Hanoi Hilton (32:30)Time in Captivity (34:00)Keeping hope (39:40)Torture (44:00)Keeping mentally and physically fit (45:30)Coming home (48:30)Inspiring others (54:30)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is Dr. Daniel Kraft, a Stanford and Harvard trained physician-scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, and innovator. He has over 25 years of experience in clinical practice, biomedical research and healthcare innovation. He is founder and chair of Exponential Medicine, a program that explores convergent, rapidly developing technologies and their potential in biomedicine and healthcare. He has multiple scientific publications and medical patents and is often called to speak to the future of health, medicine, and technology and has given 5 TED and TEDMED Talks.Daniel recently founded IntelliMedicine, focused on personalized, data driven, precision medicine.He is an avid pilot and has served in the Air National Guard as a flight surgeon with squadrons flying the F-15 & F-16. His research on aerospace medicine has been published with NASA. He is also an Adviser to the XPRIZE Foundation. In our conversation, we talk about the challenges of turning an idea into reality, the similarities between medicine and aviation, and how to live a longer healthier life. Below are the show notes.Career evolution (min. 02:45)Aviation vs medicine (min. 06:00)Medical simulators (min. 08:30)Stanford pager story (min. 12:00)How flying is transformational (min. 14:00)Yelp for doctors (min. 17:00)Turning an idea into a reality (min. 17:45)How he learns (min. 24:00)How to perform at a high level (min. 24:45)How to increase longevity (min. 29:00)Things to help kids develop better (min. 35:45)Future of medicine (min. 40:00)Flying conversation (min. 50:00)Social media info (min. 53:00)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is Major General (Ret.) Brett Williams. He is a command pilot with over 3,700 hours and 100 combat missions in the F-15C Eagle. He was also the Commander for the Air Force's largest combat wing. In his final active duty assignment, General Williams was the Director of Operations for U.S. Cyber Command where he was responsible for planning and executing both defensive and offensive cyberspace operations. He is a leading authority on cyber security and is now the COO of IronNet, a company that leverages AI and machine learning to protect nations and companies against advanced threats. In our conversation, General Williams talks about leading an 8-ship of Eagles on day 1 of Desert Storm, his leadership philosophy, and the top things to protect yourself from a cyber attack. His discussion on leadership is one of the best I've heard.Top lessons learned as a fighter pilot (min. 03:00)Flying on Day 1 of Desert Storm (min. 11:00)Leadership philosophy (min. 17:30)Habits/ routines for performing at a high level (min. 34:00)Moving to Cyber Command (min. 39:00)Current landscape of cyber (min. 48:00)Social media aspect of cyber (min. 34:00)IronNet (55:00)Projects working on (56:30)Social media info (58:45)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is Dr. Meenakshi Wadhwa, a world-class planetary scientist and currently the Director of the School of Earth and Space Exploration at ASU. She is a cosmic CSI detective investigating the origins of our solar system, primarily through meteorites. She has been involved in a number of NASA planetary science missions, including Co-Investigator on the Genesis mission and as Collaborator on the Mars Science Laboratory mission.She was also a member of the Planetary Protection Subcommittee (PPS) and was Chair of the NASA Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extra-terrestrial Materials. Here's a brief highlight from our conversation today.Meenakshi is a great teacher, especially with a complex subject like the origin of our universe. I also had a chance to interview her husband, former NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski, so make sure to listen to that episode after this one.  In our conversation, Meenakshi and I talk about how meteorites hold the secret to the formation of our solar system, whether she thinks we'll discover life outside of the earth, and some of the obstacles she's had to overcome in her career. Below are the show notes with associated timestamps:Meteorites (min. 03:00)Story from expedition (min. 07:00)How earth formed (min. 11:00)How we date the solar system (min. 14:30) Upcoming missions (min. 22:00)Robots vs. people from a science perspective (min. 24:30)Exoplanets (min. 29:00)Where passion came from (min. 32:30)Obstacles she's overcome (min. 38:00)Traits she looks for in students (min. 39:40)How she met Astronaut Scott Parazynski (min. 44:30)Projects she's working on (min. 48:45)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Make sure you use a unique username. Thanks for the support

My guest today is Scott Parazynski, who has traveled 23 million miles over 5 missions to space, including 7 spacewalks. He was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2016 and is the only person to both fly into space and summit Mount Everest. Dr. Parazynski served as Senator John Glenn's personal physician during his historic return to space in 1998, and is the recipient of many awards, including five NASA Space Flight Medals, two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, two NASA Exceptional Service Medals, the Aviation Week Laureate Award, and the Antarctica Service Medal.He is now a tech start-up CEO and inventor, venturing into some of the world's most extreme environments in the name of exploration and innovation. His company, Fluidity Technology is redefining how we control vehicles, including drones, using technology he used in space. In our conversation, we talk about what the violent journey to space is like, his historic mission to repair the Space Station's solar panels, and his techniques for learning a new subject. Make sure to subscribe so you catch next month's episode with Dr. Meenakshi Wadhwa, a world-class planetary scientist who is married to Scott. We dive into the world of space as well as talk about how she and Scott met, which I'm confident is the most unique way that two human beings have run into each other. Below are the show notes with associated timestamps:Standing next to a fully fueled Space Shuttle (minute 3:00)The violent journey to space (minute 4:00)Being John Glenn's personal physician (minute 5:00)Moment he's most proud of (minute 15:00)Physiology in space (minute 21:00)Future space exploration (minute 24:00)Growing up in West Africa/ Middle East (minute 30:00)Mount Everest (minute 35:00)Mastering the skill of learning well (minute 39:00)Daily routine (minute 3:00)Fluidity Technologies (minute 3:00)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Make sure you use a unique username. Thanks for the support

My guest today is Jim Abbott, a pitcher who played for 10 seasons in the Major Leagues. Despite being born with only one hand, he won the James Sullivan Award as the nation's best amateur athlete and then went on to win a gold medal in the Summer Olympics. He is one of only 8 players in the last 40 years to skip the minor leagues and make his debut in the Majors. His successful career is highlighted by a no-hitter he thew as a member of the New York Yankees. Jim is a trailblazer who inspired me going up. In our conversation he talks about the electric feeling of taking a no-hitter into the 9th inning, his mental training, how he de-briefed his outings, and more. Note: the audio has some issues the first 10 minutes, but smoothes out after. Below are the show notes with associated timestamps:Pitching a No-Hitter--thinking and feeling throughout (min. 03:30)No mold to follow--did that empower or intimidate? (min. 10:30)Mindset growing up (min. 15:00)A moment that altered the trajectory of his life (min. 19:30)Winning a gold medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics (min. 25:30)Skipping the minor leagues (min. 28:30)His motivation (min. 31:15)Techniques to perform your best (min. 32:30)Mental Preparation (min. 34:00)The baseball debrief (min. 37:00)Biggest lesson for the next generation (min. 47:30)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Make sure you use a unique username. Thanks for the support

My guest today is Roy Bahat who is the head of Bloomberg Beta, an investment firm with over 150 million dollars under management. He invests in the future of work with a focus on machine intelligence and automation. Fast Company magazine named Roy one of the Most Creative People in Business. Before heading up Bloomberg Beta, Roy served as the president of IGN Entertainment, the leading Video Games' media company. There he was known for unorthodox but very effective hiring strategy. Roy is also on the faculty at U.C. Berkeley, where he teaches about media at the Haas School of Business. He's a graduate of Harvard and was also a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University.I had a great time chatting with Roy today. He is the leading expert on the future of work. In our conversation we talk about how he choses a startup team, the principals he uses to run Bloomberg Beta, the future of media, and more. Below are all the show notes with associated timestamps:Bloomberg Beta background (min. 02:45)Finding companies with potential (min. 03:45)Data vs. gut feeling (min. 06:30)Successful startup team makeup (min. 12:00)Lessons learned over the years at Bloomberg (min. 15:30)Trends of the future (min. 22:30)Future of work (min. 25:00)Artificial Intelligence (min. 28:00)Separating the signal from the noise (min. 33:45)De-emphasizing the resume (min. 35:00)Future of formal education (min. 39:00)Advice for next generation (min. 41:30)Projects working on now (min. 43:45)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilotIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review. Thanks!

My guest today is Chris Voss who served as the lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI. During his career, he worked on over 150 international hostage cases. During his 24 year tenure, he was trained in the art of negotiation by not only the FBI but Scotland Yard and Harvard Law School. He is also a recipient of the Attorney General's Award for Excellence and the FBI Agents Association Award for Distinguished and Exemplary Service. Chris is a master negotiator who has since written one of the top books in the field titled "Never Split the Difference." He also works as an adjunct professor at USC's Marshall School of Business and Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. In our conversation we talk about what it's like to be on the phone with a terrorist, the traits required of a hostage negotiator, how everyone can become better at negotiating, and more. Below are all the topics with associated timestamps:Big picture of his career and highlights  (min 03:00)The moment he starts speaking to a terrorist or criminal (min 04:30)Building rapport with the other side (min 09:30)The ebbs and flows of a hostage negotiation?  (min 11:45)Traits of a great hostage negotiator? (min 16:30)Why only 5 people on the planet can do this (min 19:45)Negotiation he's most proud of (min 23:00)Negotiation that didn't go well (min 25:15)Reading someone's voice (min 27:45)Negotiating in business (min 31:00)How to improve your negotiation skills (min 34:30)Mistakes most people make (min 38:00)Dealing with people who have a big ego (min 39:15)Negotiating over email (min 40:15)Asking for a raise (min 42:30)Negotiating exercises (min 43:45)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is Tyson Weihs, the Co-Founder and CEO of ForeFlight--by far the best aviation software ever produced. Tyson and his company Foreflight has nearly singlehandedly dragged the entire aviation industry into the future. Before Foreflight aviation software was slow, cumbersome, and obsolete as soon as you bought it. It was similar to the dashboard GPS devices you stuck to your car window. Foreflight has done to aviation software what Google Maps did to the TomTom. It works seamlessly, it's updated all the time, and every few months there's a new feature you can use.In our conversation, we talk about what it takes to build a great team, how to harness innovation, how he manages his time, and more. Below are the full show notes with associated time stamps:Where the idea of ForeFlight came from (min. 03:30)Obstacles Foreflight has had to overcome (min. 08:15)His biggest win (min. 12:40)Building a great team and culture (min. 19:15)How to manage innovation (min. 29:15)Making the software useful to everyone (min. 34:00)Surprises as CEO (min. 36:30)How he manages his time (min. 39:30)Things that increase his performance (min. 41:30)Where ForeFlight is going in the future (min. 42:30)Whats next (min. 49:15)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilot

My guest today is Matt Hall, Australia's top aviator. He has logged over 6,000 hours in various aircraft, including the F-18 Hornet and the F-15 Strike Eagle. He is a decorated Wing Commander in the Australian Air Force, a Fighter Combat Instructor (Australia's version of Top Gun), and in 1997 was named Australia's Fighter Pilot of the Year.Matt has also competed on the international level in aerobatics, winning the Australian Advanced Aerobatic Championship and finished first in Freestyle and second overall in the Unlimited category. For the last 10 years, Matt has been flying at the pinnacle of aviation racing--The Red Bull Air Race series. He is one of the top pilots, coming in second overall a record three times. With the final Red Bull race ever coming up, Matt is in second place with a chance to win the championship. What struck me most about Matt was his system's approach to winning. He has merged the training he did in the Air Force with an Olympic athlete's mindset. Every aspect of his life has been optimized so that on race day he can fly as fast as possible. In our conversation we talk about what it's like to pull 12G's, the time his wing hit the ocean during a race, his sports psychology training, and more. Below are the show notes with the associated timestamps:Where passion for aviation comes from (min. 02:45) Highlights of your military career and stories (min. 08:00)Lessons learned from combat (min. 12:15) How he got into racing (min. 14:45)How difficult the transition to racing was (min. 17:45)How to reduce jet lag (min. 20:15)Red Bull Air Race weekly schedule (min. 23:45)How the military background helps now (min. 27:45)Using sports psychology for flying (min. 30:15) Mental and physical training (min. 33:15)Pulling upwards of 12G's in turns! (min. 35:15)Race overview (min.37:15)Strengths and weaknesses flying (min. 39:45)Challenges he's had to overcome (min. 41:15)Being the CEO of the team and the pilot (min. 43:45)Crashing a Red Bull plane into the water (min. 47:00) Whats next now that the Red Bull series is canceled (min. 54:45)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

My guest today is a genius that is changing the paradigm of the world we live in. I don't use those words lightly. He is the Co-Founder of Siri, the digital assistant that's in every Apple device. He is a founding member of Change.org, a community of over 200 million members who fight for what's right by shining a spotlight on important issues around the world. He is also a founding member of Sentient, the worlds most well funded artificial intelligence company. He is currently working as the Co-Founder of Viv Labs, developing Bixby, Samsung's digital assistant. He has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, and holds 26 patents. Talking with Adam was an incredible experience. He is one of the few people who has changed the world in a measurable way. His story about Steve Jobs calling him up and offering to buy his company is amazing. He talks about how he managed his time while starting 3 companies simultaneously, how to develop a mental model to predict the future, and his current digital assistant, which the rest of us won't have access to for several years. If you listen to one part, listen to the last 10 minutes, where he talks about the key to his success--verbally stated goals. Below are the topics we discussed along with timestamps:Origin of Siri (min. 02:45)How to know when you can commercialize a passion (min. 06:15)Developing a mental model of the future (min. 10:30)How social media has helped us (min. 15:00)Working with Steve Jobs (min. 17:00) The Apple culture (min. 24:00)Seeing Siri everywhere now (min 27:00)Future of digital assistants (min 30:30)Developing Bixby for billions of devices (min. 34:00)Balancing security with function (min. 37:15)His personal super-assistant (min. 38:30)Founding Sentient, the worlds most well funded AI company (min. 41:45)Using Sentient computing to find the perfect shoe (min. 46:15)Amazing time management skills (min. 48:30)His key to success--verbally stated goals (min. 53:15)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilot

My guest today is Brig. General (retired) Pete Palmer. He served for 32 years in the Army in various infantry assignments, both stateside and abroad. His joint and coalition experience include four tours in NATO as well as Kosovo and Iraq.  During the latter part of his career Pete was assigned to serve as the Director of Accelerated Capabilities Development, where he helped champion the Army's push into improving the relationship between the soldier and technology. He most recently served as the Director of General Dynamics's EDGE innovation Network, which develops and nurtures emerging technology.Pete has served as somewhat of a mentor to me. He is truly world-class in connecting people with an idea or team so that they will succeed. He has also worked with nearly every major government organization that is researching human performance. In our conversation we talk about mapping the human mind, the top ways to increase a soldiers performance, being able to "smell" the battlefield, leadership lessons learned, and more. Below are the topics we talk about, in order with timestamps:Background (min. 02:30)Why we don't focus on the brain of the warfighter (min. 06:00) Cognitive shoe size (min. 09:00) How close are we to mapping the mind (min. 14:00)Should we train people up or have them do a different job (min. 18:30)Once we have a map of the mind, how do we assign jobs (min. 22:00)Biggest ways to increase a soldiers performance (min. 25:30)Playing the "bad guy" and running new commanders through the paces (min. 30:30)Being able to "smell" the battlefield (min. 34:00)Training EVERY senior leader that fought in the last gulf war (min. 36:30) Leadership lessons learned (min. 38:30). Deciding between firing someone and training them up (min. 41:00)Giving people feedback (min. 43:15)Projects working on now (min. 50:00)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilot

My guest today is Andy Findlay, the 2018 Reno Air Race Champion. The race, officially known as the National Air Race Championships, is a multi-day event that takes place every September. It is billed as "the worlds fastest motor sport." The highly modified aircraft often reach speeds in excess of 400 mph, often just feet from each other. Andy has raced competitively for most of his life--downhill skiing, snowmobiles, motorcycles, and now airplanes. He has flow over 20 different types of aircraft and has a background in engine development. He was the 2013 "rookie of the year" and is now the reigning sport-class champion.Two things stood out to me about Andy--his engineering expertise and his passion for understanding the mental side of peak performance. His engineering background is evident as he discusses how he gains an incremental advantage with each modification to the plane. It was also fascinating to hear how he trains mentally to perform his best on race day. In this episode we talk about, in order:What is sport-class racing (min. 2:45)How he got involved in racing (min. 4:00)Why it's so difficult for a prop plane to go 400mph (min. 6:15)What happens if a prop goes supersonic (min. 8:45)Engine development (min. 9:15)Engine blowing up (min. 14:00)What a Reno race is like (min. 17:30)Race strategies (min. 19:30)Losing a friend while flying (min. 21:00)Training required (min. 23:30)Reno Race debrief (min. 25:30)What it's like to be the champion (min. 29:15)Breaking the 400mph barrier (min. 35:30)Strengths of the plane, team, and him (min. 38:00)Getting into a flow state (min. 40:30)Performing at peak performance (min. 42:00)How much faster he can go (min. 49:30)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilot

Patrick Sobalvarro is the Co-Founder and CEO of Veo Robotics, a company that creates the brains for superhuman industrial robots.Patrick has more than twenty-five years of experience in computer vision, robotics, and industrial automation. Prior to founding Veo Robotics, he was the first Entrepreneur in Residence at Siemens Venture Capital. Patrick was also President of Rethink Robotics, creators of collaborative manufacturing robots, and founded and led the computer vision startup IntelliVid to its acquisition by Tyco International.Originally trained as a computer scientist, Patrick holds a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Computer Science from MIT. I was impressed with how Patrick was able to explain the nuances of what he does to someone outside the industry like myself. He is humble and knowledgeable which makes him a great teacher. In this episode we talk about how robots are similar to the plow-horse from the early 20th century, how Tesla automated their factory too much leading to disastrous results, computer vision, A.I., what he looks for in new-hires, and his No-Jerks policy. In this episode, we talk about in order:Insights from computer vision in stores (min. 5:30)What defines a robot? (min. 9:30)Industrial robotics overview (min. 14:15)Tesla overreaching (min. 19:30) Handoff between robots and humans (min. 24:30)Removing robots from their cages (min. 33:00)The "Moses Vest" (min. 37:45)Computer vision (min. 39:00)Computing power required (min. 40:30) AI/machine learning  (min. 42:00)Future of industry (min. 47:15)As CEO what qualities he looks for in new-hires (min. 49:45)No-Jerks Policy (min 51:30) Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilot

Valerie Plame is one of America's most famous CIA officers. Her life was the subject of the 2010 movie Fair Game staring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn. During her time in the CIA she served several tours as a NOC, which stands for non-official cover. NOC's are the most covert of the Agency's operatives, working with no connection to the U.S. government and without diplomatic immunity. While much of the work she did still remains classified, Valerie spent time in the CIA's nuclear counter-proliferation division preventing rouge nations from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. I had a good time talking with Valerie. I was impressed with how open and candid she was about her time in the CIA. I think a lot of her insights are applicable to more normal jobs, especially about how she overcame a gender bias and her tips on networking. In the episode we talk about her time at the CIA's training center, known as "The Farm," what being a NOC was like, leadership tips, the types of people who thrive in the CIA, and more. Below are the show notes with the topics we discussed along with the times.CIA selection 2:15Initial CIA training 10:30Follow-on training 12:10Favorite part of the job 13:30 Org chart of CIA 16:30Types of cover 18:30Role of human intelligence 21:00 Being a NOC 22:30Types of people who thrive 22:45Is it lonely 24:15Handling pressure 25:45 Good Stories 26:30  Leadership undercover 28:00 Mentorship vs sponsorship 32:10How the role of women changed 34:09  Playbook on networking 37:00 Life made into major movie 38:30 Spies lies and nukes conference 39:30Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

Lt. Col. John "Brick" Caldwell is the Commander and Leader of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. I had never met Brick before this interview, but several pilots I've flown with have a tremendous amount of respect for him. After our conversation, I do as well. He is an accomplished warrior with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He has over 660 combat flight hours, a Distinguished Flying Cross, and is a graduate of the USAF weapons school. He served for several years in the Air Force's Test and Evaluation Squadron, overseeing the latest fighter aircraft technology. He now leads the 130-person Thunderbird organization and flies the number 1 jet.Brick is a world-class professional who is also a great communicator. He talks about some emotionally difficult topics as well lessons he's learned along the way. I think everyone can take away something from this interview. Feel free to share this episode with someone who you think would benefit most. In this episode, we talk about, in order:His first passion for aviation (minute 0:00)Turning a dream into reality (minute 5:00)Lessons learned (minute 6:00)Deployment to Iraq (minute 07:00)Losing a friend in combat (minute 10:10)Taking enemy life (minute 19:15)Deployment to Afghanistan (minute 21:15)The mission he received a Distinguished Flying Cross (minute 24:00)Combat Lessons learned (minute 28:15)Test and evaluation experience (minute 31:00)F-16 Viper evolution (minute 37:15)Decision to join Thunderbirds (minute 41:45)Being Thunderbird #1 (minute 50:15)His crazy schedule (minute 53:00)Thunderbird debriefs (minute 57:00)Looking forward to most this season (minute 58:30)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

This is not a typical episode, but I felt it was worth sharing. It's a speech I gave for Memorial Day. The audio quality isn't great, but it's meaningful to me. If I can use this podcast and platform to help keep the memory of the fallen alive, then it will have all been worth it. ---------------------------------------Freedom isn't free. I had the chance to take a history class with the man who coined that phrase, Col. Walter Hitchcock. His point was that living in a free democracy costs money, effort, and more than anything young men and women willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice.Though I didn't quite understand it at the time, I do now. These young people traded in their lives and dreams so that we can live ours. Honoring their memory and sacrifice, along with their family's sacrifice, is a small way we can begin to repay our tremendous debt to them.

Jeff Nielsen, also known as “Capt. Jeff” is the host of the very successful "Airline Pilot Guy" Podcast. After seven years in the U.S. Air Force as a C-141B and T-37 Instructor Pilot, he was hired by a very large, international “legacy” airline (we refer to it as “Acme Air”). His 30 year airline career has included flight time in the B-727 (all seats), L-1011 (First Officer), and the “Mad Dog” MD-88/90 (Captain).I had a great time talking with Capt. Jeff. He has the calm demeanor and soothing voice you'd expect from a senior airline pilot. He has a wide breath of aviation knowledge and is the subject matter expert on being an airline pilot. In order, we talk about:Day in the life (minute 8:30)Difference between Air Force and civilian flying (minute 12:30)Routines-traveling (minute 18:45)Routines-flying: (minute 20:30)How flying in the airlines changed over the years (minute 24:45) The function of a flight engineer (minute 29:00)Future of the industry including automation (minute 41:30).  Advice for people getting into the airlines (minute 49:00)Common issues new airline pilots have (minute 51:00)His podcast--Airline Pilot Guy (minute 52:30)Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilot

Felicity Aston is a British Polar Explorer living in Reykjavik, Iceland. In 2012 she became the first person in the world to ski alone across Antarctica. The journey of 1744 km (1080 miles) took her 59 days and gave her a place in the book of Guinness World Records. More than a decade before, her first journey to Antarctica was as a meteorologist with the British Antarctic Survey to monitor climate and ozone activity. She went on to complete numerous journeys in Antarctica and other polar regions of the world including Greenland and Siberia.Felicity regularly speaks to audiences around the world about her expedition experiences as well as polar science, Antarctica and meteorology. She has written three books which have now been translated into several languages.In this episode she talks about (in order):Her careerHow she puts together expeditionsWhat type of people she selectsHer leadership philosophyWhy Antartica is so amazingWhy it's so difficult to navigate during polar tripsBeing utterly alone on the fringe of the worldHer mental trainingHer physical trainingProjects she's working on nowCheck out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comMake sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilot

Chad Hennings is is a three time NFL Super Bowl Champion with the Dallas Cowboys, a former A-10 fighter pilot, an author, a speaker and an entrepreneur.Chad attended the United States Air Force Academy. There he was honored academically as well as on the gridiron. Named most valuable athlete at the Academy, he also earned: defensive player of the year honors from the Western Athletic Conference, a spot on the WAC's All-Decade Team, the 1987 Outland Trophy, MVP of the 1988 Freedom Bowl, two-time Academic All-American, Academic All-American Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, and several other accolades. These achievements earned him a spot on the Dallas Cowboys' roster. However, he postponed his entry into the NFL to fulfill his commitment to the U.S. Air Force. Chad entered the Euro-NATO training program and went on to fly 45 missions in operation “Provide Comfort” behind the controls of an A-10 Thunderbolt II. The operation provided support to the Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq. He received two aerial achievement medals, a humanitarian award and an outstanding unit award for his actions. Chad then joined the Dallas Cowboys, earning a starting position as a defensive lineman. He spent his entire 9-year professional football career with the Cowboys, retiring with three Super Bowl rings.He is active in several veterans' initiatives and speaks to both businesses and non-profits on the topic of commitment. He is the author of the books, “It Takes Commitment”, “Rules of Engagement”, and “Forces of Character”. In this episode we talk about (in order):Where Chad got his passion for aviation and footballWho his mentors were growing upWhat he does to surround himself with the best peopleWhy true strength is vulnerability What his process is for setting large goalsHis techniques for performing at a high levelReframing failureWhat is was like being a 25 year old rookie for the CowboysBalancing large goals with having a familyThe power of relationshipsCharacterProjects he's working on nowMake sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilot

Alex Hollings writes on a breadth of subjects. His writing can be found on a number of websites; most notably FighterSweep.com, where Hollings serves as editor, TheNEWSREP.com, where Hollings serves as a Senior Staff Writer, and Popular Mechanics. He can also be heard regularly on SOFREP Radio and on All Marine Radio. In this episode we talk about (in order):How he starts an articleWhat his process is for developing an ideaHow he structures his writingWhat the timeline is for a major magazine articleWhat happens to the article once he submits itHow social media has changed the landscapeHow journalists have changedDoes not paying for news cause bias due to clickbait articlesAdvice for new people in the industryCommon mistakes by new writersUpcoming projectsCheck out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/listenInstagram/ Facebook-- @justinfighterpilot

Terry Virts is a U.S. Air Force test / fighter pilot and a NASA veteran of two spaceflights – a two-week mission onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2010 and a 200-day flight to the Space Station in 2015. He is a leader, speaker, and author who is currently working on multiple projects, including a new book and television series.His seven months in space included piloting the Space Shuttle, commanding the International Space Station, three spacewalks, and performing scientific experiments, all while working closely with multiple international partners. Virts flew with and led Russian Space Agency cosmonauts during some of the most tense relations with Russia since the Cold War.While in space he took more than 319,000 photos – the most of any space mission. These images are an integral component of the IMAX film A Beautiful Planet, which Virts helped film and appears in.In this episode we talk about (in order):What it's like to take the elevator up to the space shuttleHis launch day routines Launching into spaceRe-entering the earth in both the space shuttle and SoyuzHow the space shuttle glides compared to an F-16Commanding the ISS LeadershipWhat he looks for in future astronauts His vision of space exploration in the next decadeWhat an astronaut debrief is likeProjects he's working on right nowMake sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilot

Michele Rigby Assad is a former undercover officer in the National Clandestine Service of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Trained as a counterterrorism specialist, Michele served her country for ten years, working in Iraq and other secret Middle Eastern locations. Upon retirement from active service, Michele and her husband (also a former agent) began leading teams to aid refugees, including a rescue mission to Iraq that was featured on ABC's 20/20. Michele holds a master's degree in Contemporary Arab Studies from Georgetown University. Today she serves as an international management consultant, splitting her time between the Middle East, Florida, and Washington, D.C.In this episode we talk about (in order):Building rapport with members of Al-QaedaMental toughnessEmotional Intelligence Living in combat zones for nearly a decadeWhat she does to de-stressWhat traits new CIA officers should haveWhat to do during an attackWho she was allowed to tell that she worked in the CIAWhat inspired her bookWhat projects she's working on nowMake sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotThis episode was edited by Trevor CablerIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

Jell-O has been the most requested guest since this podcast started. Today he was kind enough to be interviewed and lived up to the hype. Jell-O spent nearly 25 years in service flying mainly the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet but also the F-16 Fighting Falcon during an adversary tour. He accrued over 3,800 flight hours and 705 carrier landings, having served as a TOPGUN instructor and air wing operations officer. Jell-O left the Navy in 2017 and now flies for a major airline. He also started the "Fighter Pilot Podcast" which explores the fascinating world of air combat.Jell-O is a great speaker with lots of stories. He has the wisdom of an experienced fighter pilot and is able to communicate it in an easy going way--a trait he shares with the first guest I interviewed, Matt "Freq" Casey. In this episode we talk about his advice to a new fighter pilot, what it feels like to land on a carrier at night, his favorite aircraft to fly, his views on leadership, and more.Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode I've also started a monthly newsletter where I send out a few useful or insightful things that have helped me over the last month. You can sign up by clicking here or going to:https://www.professionalsplaybook.com/newsletter Instagram-- @justinfighterpilotLinkedIn-- Justin LeeFacebook--@justinfighterpilotIf you got value from this episode, please give the show a review by tapping here and scrolling to the bottom where it says: "Write a Review." Thanks for the support

Minute 47:00 of this episode has a story that nearly brought a tear to my eye.  Having been deployed to combat, I've seen the incredible team effort to save lives that he talks about.  It's truly awe inspiring to see the military men and women, most under 30 years old, come together and sacrifice so that others may live.  I am confident that as long as I live, I will never see a focused team effort like I did in the mountains of Afghanistan.  It's unfortunate that war seems to be the catalyst for this cohesiveness, but for those who had the experience, it's a memory that won't be forgotten.  Dr. Patten may be the newest person to hold the title "Most Interesting Man in the World."  He was an F-16 fighter pilot in the Air National Guard for 10 years before going to medical school and becoming an emergency room doctor.  He has also remained a fire fighter for the Millbrook Fire Department since 2001.In this episode he talks about time management skills, goal setting, overcoming high pressure situations, and staying passionate.  He also shares several amazing stories along the way.  Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode! Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comInstagram-- @justinfighterpilotFacebook--@justinfighterpilot

Gunnar Jeanette is a professional race car driver. At the age of 18 he became the youngest ever driver to finish the 24 hours of Le Mans. He has since raced there an additional seven times. He also competed in the American Le Mans Series, the Rolex Sports Car Series, and the World Endurance Championship—winning the 2005 Gran Am Cup team championship, the 2011 ALMS LMPC Driver Championship, and the 2013 ELMS GTE Team Championship. He currently races in the IMSA Weathertech Championship.In addition to being a professional race car driver, Gunnar is an avid skydiver, having logged thousands of skydives and hundreds of base jumps. Gunnar has participated in several world record skydives and has been featured on MTV, People Magazine, and USA Today and more.     I this conversation he talks about racing on the world stage at 18, his physical and mental training, and what makes a great driver. He describes the unique requirement of endurance racing and how he “rests” on the straightaways traveling over 200 mph. He also talks to commercial off the shelf simulator he uses at home to prepare for race day. Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comInstagram/ Facebook-- @justinfighterpilot

Mike Doyle is an active Special Weapons and Tactics team member, known as S.W.A.T.  He also hosts a podcast called Tactical Tangents that delves into decision making, critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, and teamwork.  The mission of the S.W.A.T. team is to provide the police department with the capability to resolve high-risk situations.  Examples of their missions include hostage situations, barricaded suspects, high-risk search warrants and raids, VIP protection details, and counter-sniper.  S.W.A.T specialties include snipers, explosive breaching, chemical and less-lethal munitions, armored personal carrier operations, tactical medics, tactical robot operations, and entry specialists.Mike also works as a K9 handler, tactical medic and as a police firearms instructor.  In this podcast he goes into the S.W.A.T mentality, who thrives during the training, and what is like entering a barricaded building.  He also gives shooting tips for beginner and intermediate shooters.Also, I'm giving away the F-35 patch I've been flying with.You can win it by 1. Writing a review on iTunes, 2. subscribing to the show, and 3. sharing your favorite episode as a post on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  Email me some proof at justin@professionalsplaybook.com or DM me @justinfighterpilot on facebook or instagram.If you've already written a review, thank you—it really means a lot—convince a friend to subscribe and share your favorite episode and that will be good enough.  Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comInstagram/ Facebook-- @justinfighterpilot

Ron “Monty” Montgomery served as a US Navy SEAL for nearly 26 years.  He served 16 years as an enlisted man before accepting a commission as a SEAL Warrant Officer.  After completing Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) at the age of 18 he went on to SEAL Team Two where he was also a member of the East Coast Navy Parachute Team.  After his time in SEAL Team Two, Monty went back to BUD/S as an instructor, overseeing thousands of SEAL candidates.  Monty served in nearly all of the East coast SEAL teams throughout his career, though much of what he's done remains classified.  He spent a tour in the elite Navy SEAL Anti-Terrorism Team as well as as the Naval Security Coordination Team, known as REDCELL.  REDCELL's mission was to demonstrate vulnerabilities of military bases and would regularly use false IDs, jump fences, barricade buildings, take hostages, kidnap high ranking officers, plant bombs near Air Force One, and sneak into nuclear submarines. In this wide ranging conversation Monty goes into what it takes to survive BUD/S, what makes a great SEAL, what it feels like to jump out of a cargo jet flying at 30,000 feet and more.  Check out all the interviews at https://www.professionalsplaybook.comInstagram/ Facebook-- @justinfighterpilot