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The DroneOn Show

Mike & Kevin

The Drone On Show is your ultimate podcast for everything drones! Join us as we dive into the exciting world of drone technology, from our company’s groundbreaking work using thermal drones to recover lost deer for hunters and agricultural drones to revolutionize crop spraying for farmers. But we don’t stop there—we explore it all: cutting-edge advancements, regulations, and the limitless possibilities of drones in every industry. Expect thrilling stories, expert insights, and a passion for innovation that keeps you hooked. Whether you’re a drone enthusiast, hunter, farmer, or tech lover, tune in for a show that soars above the rest!

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20 episodes
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Avg 56 min
English

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S2 · E64
Friday · 54 min
Shelter Harbor Golf Club: How Spray Drones Replaced Hand Spraying | The DroneOn Show Episode 64
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits down with Chris at Shelter Harbor Golf Club to talk through how spray drones fit a high-end course. The connection started when the superintendent saw one of Mike’s early thermal deer recovery videos, then later watched golf course spray content and decided to try it. Chris walks through using thermal for deer counts and irrigation leaks, then using the spray drone on steep native areas, hills, and ponds that used to take a week of hand spraying. They cove
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S2 · E63
September 18 · 52 min
Henry Hochstetler Left Construction for 15K Spray Acres | The DroneOn Show Episode 63
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits back down with Henry Hochstetler, who has gone from construction work to a full-time spray and thermal drone lifestyle. Henry talks through his season with the T100 after coming from a T40, including cover-crop seeding into standing corn and beans, how accurate the spreading system actually was. He put up about 15,650 spray acres this year between Indiana and Ohio, mostly by himself. They get into the family side of being gone for weeks at a time, teaching
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S2 · E62
September 11 · 1 hr 3 min
Vegas Drone Expo Recap: NDAA Lists, Unfinished Drones & What’s Next | The DroneOn Show Episode 62
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike, Jay and Kevin recap their trip through the Las Vegas drone expo and what they actually saw in the NDAA-compliant booths. The sales pitch was almost never “this drone is good.” It was “this drone is on the list.” A lot of what they walked past still looked unfinished, 3D-printed, unpriced, or years away from being something a spray, thermal, or mapping operator can buy and use. The conversation turns to why so much money is chasing government contracts instead
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S2 · E61
August 27 · 45 min
We Got Inspected by the FAA | The DroneOn Show Episode 61
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike, Jay and Kevin recaps nuWay Ag’s first on-site FAA Part 137 inspection. What was expected to feel like an OSHA-style fine hunt turned out to be professional, reasonable, and educational. The inspectors—manned aircraft pilots—spent hours on site, asked real questions, and focused on safety and recordkeeping rather than looking for problems. The conversation covers how they were selected, why the AG Track app made the paperwork side much easier, how few inspector
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S2 · E60
August 21 · 1 hr 1 min
Mike & Kevin Catch-Up: FCC Rules, Wichita Store & New Platinum Trailer | The DroneOn Show Episode 60
In this DroneOn Show owners catch-up, Mike and Kevin sit down after a busy spray season to talk shop. They recap how the service team handled repairs, improved parts availability compared to last year, and the need for more temporary help next season as thermal work ramps up. The conversation turns to the biggest issue in the industry right now—the proposed FCC rules and potential restrictions on foreign-made drones—and why they chose not to add more fear-based content. They also give an update
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S2 · E59
August 14 · 23 min
5-Year-Old Viviana Takes Over the DroneOn Show | The DroneOn Show Episode 59
In this special DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits down with his 5-year-old daughter Viviana for her very first podcast appearance. Fresh off a workout and still in her cowgirl boots, Viviana chats about her pony Misty, what she knows about spray drones and thermal deer recovery, going on jobs with her dad, and why she loves finding deer. She shares her favorite parts of family life, her thoughts on school (she’s homeschooled), what she wants to be when she grows up, and plenty of fun, honest momen
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S2 · E58
August 7 · 58 min
Iowa & Mexico Spray Pilots: Zane & Bernhard on Startup Stories & Future of Drones | DroneOn Show Ep 58
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits down with two fellow spray drone applicators: Zane Carter of Neutral Drones in Iowa and Bernhard Martens from Chihuahua, Mexico. Zane shares how a layoff from Wells Fargo led him into the industry, flying T40s in his first year and covering thousands of acres before building his own operation. Bernhard recounts starting in 2021 with a single T20 funded by his farm boss, working the farm by day and custom spraying by night to hit 8,000 acres in his first se
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S2 · E57
July 31 · 52 min
From Aerospace Engineer to Drone Dealer: Mehdi’s Path with Talos Drones | The DroneOn Show Ep 57
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike talks with Mehdi from Talos Drones about his path into the industry. Mehdi shares his background as a mechanical engineer with a master’s in composite materials for aerospace from West Virginia University, followed by work at a California chemical company developing pheromone applicators for orchards. There he built custom drone systems for high-viscosity products, modified early DJI MG-1 platforms, and secured USDA grants. He later used his savings to launch h
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S2 · E56
July 24 · 57 min
Texas Rangeland Pro: Ex-Winery Owner Builds Drone Business | The DroneOn Show Episode 56
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits down with Jnani from Vortex Advantage Ag in Texas for a one-year update on his operation. Jnani shares how nearly all of his work remains focused on pasture and rangeland spraying rather than row crops, explaining the pricing realities versus airplanes and why his chopped-up Texas terrain with obstacles fits his approach. He walks through his full background—from Army airborne Gulf War veteran and skydiver, to college baseball pitcher, hardwood flooring co
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S2 · E55
July 10 · 55 min
Inside nuWay Ag: Dealer Program Growth, T100 Real Talk & Industry Expansion | The DroneOn Show Ep 55
In this DroneOn Show owners episode, Mike, Jason, and Kevin dive deep into the real-world challenges and strategies of scaling nuWay Ag and Drone Deer Recovery. They explore building a strong dealer program through local support and distribution rather than just SEO, leveraging their Drone Deer Recovery audience to grow nuWay traffic, and the importance of the New AG Track app. The conversation covers international content reach leading to unique sales like batteries for remote island rat contro
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S2 · E54
June 26 · 52 min
Spray Drones, Family Business & Personal Testimonies | The DroneOn Show Episode 54
In episode 54 of the DroneOn Show, Mike, Jason, Dennis, and 21-year-old Kaden Lamprecht from western Iowa sit down for a raw conversation blending spray drone business with faith. Kaden shares how his family started their operation three years ago (running T50s and P150 Pros, covering 20,000+ acres mostly fungicide on corn and beans) while navigating farming challenges and trusting God’s direction. The discussion turns spiritual as Mike opens up about his journey from alcoholism to sobriety and
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S2 · E53
June 19 · 1 hr 16 min
nuWay Ag Owners: T100 Swath Truth, Dealer Program & CV Coverage Reality | The DroneOn Show Ep 53
In this insightful DroneOn Show, Mike, Jason, and Kevin sit down for an open conversation about running nuWay Ag and Drone Deer Recovery. They break down their T100 swath testing results, the importance of strong CV coverage for uniform applications, why the drone industry needs to raise standards beyond traditional aerial 20-30% benchmarks, and practical settings for the best results. The trio also covers the New AG Track app, AI tools like Claude, the expanding dealer program with a new flagsh
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S2 · E52
June 12 · 52 min
Black Hawk Pilots Switch to Spray Drones: Military Precision in Louisiana | The DroneOn Show Ep 52
Episode 52 of the DroneOn Show episode, Mike talks with Cody Davis and Clinton Giglio of Guardian Aerial in Louisiana — two former U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter pilots with a combined 39 years of military flight experience. They share their transition from flying heavy-lift military and medevac missions to operating spray drones (primarily T50s with T100 interest), covering the unique challenges of sugarcane applications, precision ripening sprays, chemical penetration, and high-stakes field w
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S2 · E51
June 5 · 50 min
31 Year Old Going All-In on Spray Drones – Complete Newbie Story | The DroneOn Show Ep 51
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike and Jay talks with Bryce Matthews of StratoWorx Drone Solutions in Indiana. At 31 years old and brand new to spray drones, Bryce is right on the edge of pulling the trigger on a T100 and starting his own operation. He shares his extensive research process, why he’s leaning toward DJI, his conversations with current pilots at the conference, and how he plans to build the business alongside a partner while balancing family life (including 7 kids and a serious coo
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S2 · E50
May 29 · 52 min
From Cattle Farmer to Running a Spray Drone Business in the Mountains | The DroneOn Show Ep 50
In episode 50 of the DroneOn Show, Mike and Jay catches up with Preston Cave of Pac Aerial Applications in North Carolina. Preston shares his journey from growing up on a tobacco farm and showing cattle to building a successful spray drone business. He talks about tackling rugged mountain terrain, Christmas tree applications, cover crops, pastures, and using a mini truck to access tough spots. The conversation covers upgrading from T40s to T50s, considering the T100, battling the 300ft ceiling,
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May 22 · 1 hr 16 min
Is Drone Deer Recovery Legal in Illinois? Full Court Case Breakdown | The DroneOn Show Ep 49
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike and Kevin sits down with Jeremy Shelton, an Illinois drone deer recovery pilot, and his attorney Ed Fanning to break down a landmark court case. Jeremy received a citation for using a thermal drone to search for a wounded deer. The case went to trial and he was found not guilty — not on a technicality, but because the judge ruled that simply searching for a lost deer with a drone does not violate Illinois statute. The conversation dives deep into the actual law
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S2 · E48
May 15 · 56 min
How This 25 Year Old Built a 15K Acre Spray Drone Business in 3 Seasons | The DroneOn Show Ep 48
In episode 48 of the DroneOn Show episode, Mike sits down with 25-year-old Caden Wilburn of C&J Spray Drones in Laddonia, Missouri. Caden shares how he launched his drone spraying operation to carve out his own space on the family farm (1200 crop acres + 2400 hogs) and has now covered roughly 15,000 acres in just three seasons. He talks about starting with T40s, upgrading to two T50s, and seriously considering the T100, while running long, efficient passes on flat, square Missouri fields. The co
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May 8 · 59 min
25 Years in Weed Science: SC Veteran Applicator on Drones & Vegetation | The DroneOn Show Ep 47
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike talks with Johnney Staples of Nexus Solutions USA in South Carolina. Johnney shares his journey from tobacco farming and hand-weeding as a kid to earning a PhD in weed science at Auburn, then building a successful vegetation management and custom application business. He explains why he started Nexus to serve industrial turf, utilities, right-of-way, and rangeland clients that traditional ag reps often overlook. The conversation covers his early drone experimen
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S2 · E46
May 1 · 1 hr 2 min
From Four Wheelers to Drones: 25+ Years Spraying Rangeland in Oregon | The DroneOn Show Ep 46
In this DroneOn Show episode from the Spray Drone End User Conference, Mike sits down with Dave and Jared from Bear UAV / Branch Enterprise in Eastern Oregon. They share how they started in custom application back in 1999 after a tough year in potatoes and onions, evolving from four-wheelers and pickups with hand wands to drones in 2017. The conversation covers the realities of rangeland and noxious weed spraying, post-fire habitat restoration, government contracts, and why they prefer XAG (Zagg
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S2 · E45
April 24 · 57 min
Midwest Drone Applications: 66K Acres, Team Management & Hard Lessons | DroneOn Show Ep 45
In this DroneOn Show episode, Mike talks with Josh from Kansas, a former Army veteran who built Midwest Drone Applications into a serious operation covering 66,000 acres in one season with a team of contractors. Josh shares how he got started through drone deer recovery, his wild first T40 season (self-taught in thigh-high grass), the rapid growth from one drone to a fleet, and the infamous J100 rollout that led to multiple in-flight failures. He dives into managing large teams, the power of the
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