The Pilot Life

Phil Wiltse / Horizon Air Captain (ret)

This Great conversation with Captain Phil Wiltse reflecting on his 35 year flying career with Horizon Air. He has witnessed nearly the entire 45 years of Horizon Air from a ground agent at the newly formed airline, to a check pilot and instructor on the E175. “The information provided in this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal vlog and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.

• Transcript

Mark Drake / B787 Captain / Hawaiian Airlines

Incredible conversation with Captain Mark covering his nearly 5 decades in the aviation industry, with a remarkable 39 years at Hawaiian Airlines. From the early days flying with his Dad around on TWA metal, to his current position as a Captain and Check Pilot on the B787, his aviation journey has been, in his own words...a fairly tale. Mahalo to Captain Drake for sharing his pilot life story with us! Check out more aviation podcasts and content here: / thepilotlife121 “The information provided in this video is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal vlog and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated

• Transcript

Max Lyons / Hillsboro Aviation

Pull up a chair and sit down for a great conversation with Max. A 4th generation logger and world traveler, his career path changed when he ventured out on a solo trip that would inspire his dreams and set him down the path of aviation. A remarkable adventure full of surprises! Check out more aviation podcasts and content here: / @thepilotlife “The information provided in this video is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal vlog and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated

• Transcript

Captain Yokko Okamura / Horizon Air

"I was not trying to become a first, I just wanted to be an airline pilot". Captain Yokko's drive to become an airline pilot was truly remarkable, overcoming vast obstacles at a time when Japanese women were not allowed to become pilots. An inspiring journey pursuing her dreams to become an airline pilot. Check out more aviation podcasts and content here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCf4iOF34spaZUAC-ZdOUwJQ “The information provided in this video is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal vlog and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

• Transcript

Learn to fly in 2026

• Transcript

Terry Shaffer / Flying the F8 in Vietnam

Great conversation with Captain Terry Shaffer, retired airline captain, former fighter pilot, and all around great guy! From his early dreams of Hollywood stardom to flying the F-8 off aircraft carriers, to teaching and training the next generation of airline pilots, his stories and experiences are certain to enlighten and entertain. Check out more aviation podcasts and content here: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePilotLife “The information provided in this video is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal vlog and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

Kali Retzler / Part 135 Captain

Great conversation with Captain Kali about her journey to the pilot seat of a Cessna Grand Caravan and the challenges overcome along the way. She has a ton of great insights for pilots looking to pursue a career in aviation with her great stories from learning to fly in Hawai‘i. Check out more aviation podcasts and content here: / @thepilotlife Learn more about the Pacific Flight Academy here: https://www.pacificflightacademy.com “The information provided in this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal podcast and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

Captain Ty Frisby / Aerobatics to Airlines

Great conversation with Captain Ty about his aviation journey from Aerobatics to the Airlines. He shares a lot of great instructional content on his podcast as well as instagram account. Talk Flying podcast https://www.youtube.com/@tyfrisby Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ty_frisby/?hl=en “The information provided in this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal podcast and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

Greg Wooldridge / 3-Time Blue Angel Flight Leader

In this episode, we sit down with Captain Greg “Boss” Wooldridge, a respected leader in naval aviation history. Greg is the only pilot to have led the Blue Angels three times, a rare distinction that speaks volumes about his leadership, trust, and performance under pressure. His career spans decades of excellence—from a distinguished Navy career, to the flight deck as a FedEx pilot, and now impacting audiences worldwide as a sought-after public speaker. This conversation is packed with insight on leadership, accountability, preparation, humility, and trust, delivered by someone who has lived them at the very highest level. 🎤Check out his speaker information here: https://johnfoleyinc.com/greg-boss-wooldridge/ ✈️ Blue Angel 2026 Season Schedule: https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/show/ Follow The Pilot Life on Instagram for more aviation content: https://www.instagram.com/thepilotlife121/?hl=en Connect with The Pilot Life on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendansodonnell/ “The information provided in this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal vlog and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

Mike Swanigan / Alaska National Guard / Airline Captain (ret)

A full circle moment to sit down and chat with Captain Mike Swanigan aka "Swani" about his amazing journey to the flight deck. His dreams of becoming a pilot as a young boy were quickly dashed when he found out that African Americans were not allowed to be pilots. His resilience and drive kept him on a course to become not only an Air National Guard pilot, but also the Chief Pilot and eventual Vice President of Flight Operations for Alaska Airlines. An amazing story told through the eyes of a pilot who witnessed some of the most transformational times in the aviation industry. Check out Captain Swani's podcast "Talking Flight" here: https://talkingflight.libsyn.com Follow The Pilot Life for more aviation content: https://www.instagram.com/thepilotlife121/?hl=en “The information provided in this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. The opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

Captain Ernie Meeks / Southwest Airlines

Awesome conversation with Captain Ernie Meeks aka "Big Ern" ( yes, we get the backstory on that call sign!) From early dreams of being a pilot to flying the C-5 Galaxy - One of the largest military transports in the world. Ernie's aviation journey has taken him around the world and back again! He is currently a B-737 pilot for Southwest Airlines where he shares his aviation stories and experiences on his social media channels "Flyin with Big Ern". A truly enjoyable experience and so grateful for the opportunity to spend some time with Captain Ernie. Check out more of his content below! https://www.youtube.com/@UC3sGT-zxmi0MNKR5M4SzJgg https://www.instagram.com/flyingwithbigern/?hl=en https://aviatorintelligence.com Follow The Pilot Life for more aviation content: https://www.instagram.com/thepilotlife121/ “The information provided in this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal vlog and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

Arlette Donzey / Airline Pilot

The saying "the best things in life aren't easy" comes to mind when hearing Arlette's aviation story. From a young girl in Germany pursuing her dreams of flying to the skies over the United States and beyond, It has been quite the journey to the flight deck for Airline Pilot and accomplished skydiver Arlette Donzey. Sit back and enjoy her story! Check out her Instagram page for some incredible flying content: https://www.instagram.com/arlettedonzey/?hl=en Follow The Pilot Life for more aviation content: https://www.instagram.com/thepilotlife121/ “The information provided in this video is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal vlog and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

LaMar Haugaard / 40 YEAR Airline Pilot at Horizon Air

Such a privilege to sit down with LaMar, one of the longest tenured Horizon pilots where he also served as the chief pilot for 2 decades. Great conversation covering the history of the airline and lessons learned in nearly 40 years of airline flying. Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im7F3MKtAOk “The information provided in this podcast is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal podcast and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

Steve Randall / Oceanic Ferry Pilot to Airline Captain

Sit down for a jolly good chat with Captain Steve Randall! From crossing the Atlantic Ocean in small, general aviation aircraft to flying the big iron for the airlines, his aviation journey is one for the books! And speaking of books, he is an accomplished aviation author and master story teller. BOOK GIVEAWAY! (2 LUCKY WINNERS) DRAWING 9/10/2025 AT 12PM PDT📘 🎉 Visit the YouTube Video and leave a comment to enter to win! Purchase his book here: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ https://redwoodbusdriver.com Follow Captain Steve on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redwoodbusdriver/?hl=en Follow The Pilot Life for more aviation content: https://www.instagram.com/thepilotlife121/

Bobby Nikkhoo / Pacific Flight Academy Co-Founder / Airline Pilot

Great conversation with Bobby ; Hawaiian Airline pilot and co-founder of the Honolulu based Pacific Flight Academy. We talk Career pivots, flying during Covid, starting a flying academy and so much more! Check out the Pacific Flying Academy here: https://www.pacificflightacademy.com https://www.instagram.com/pacificflightacademy Follow The Pilot Life for more aviation content: https://www.instagram.com/thepilotlife121/ “The information provided in this video is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal vlog and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

Captain Ron Kirkland / F-14 Fighter Pilot

Captain Ron is one of the most experienced, and most humble pilots I have ever met. His story is simply incredible, from flying P-51 Mustangs, Mig-21s and F-14's to heavy iron like the Boeing 747. Sit back and enjoy his aviation journey!

Jessie Doros / B737 Pilot / Alaska Airlines

Excited to share my conversation with Jessie, a pilot and friend I've had the privilege of knowing for 25+ years. She entered the airline industry during the early 2000's, a difficult time to start your airline dream. Hired, furloughed, corporate pilot, airline pilot, around the world and back. Enjoy the conversation with Jessie as she talks about her journey to the flight deck of Alaska Airlines. “The information provided is for entertainment purposes only. This is a personal vlog and the opinions expressed are solely those of the participants and do not represent any associations or institutions they may or may not be affiliated with unless expressly stated.”

F-14 Pilot breaks down TopGun scenes

Huge thanks to Captain Ron "Rhino" Kirkland for indulging me in my breakdown of famous TopGun scenes. Awesome to be able to sit down with someone who flew the Tomcat and speak about the capabilities and performance of this amazing aircraft. Be sure to check out his full podcast on an upcoming episode of The Pilot Life where we talk about not only his journey to the Navy, but also flying as a test pilot, a cargo pilot on the MD11 and B747 and more!

Captain Kenny Williams / Alaska Airlines

An honor to sit down with a personal mentor and talk about Kenny's amazing aviation career. From his first awe-inspiring experiences in small bush planes to becoming one of the original pilots at Horizon Air, where he helped lay the groundwork for a regional airline that would reshape Northwest aviation. After joining Alaska Airlines, his career progressed over three decades, during which he worked on the development of the Juneau JAWS system—groundbreaking weather technology that made one of the most challenging landings in North America significantly safer. If you enjoy aviation content, check out The Pilot Life Youtube channel, where we feature in depth video podcasts, day in the life videos, and a ton of other cool pilot stuff....plus the occasional giveaways:) https://www.youtube.com/@ThePilotLife Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thepilotlife121/

John Swanson / U-2 Pilot

In this episode, we sit down with aviation legend, John Swanson, for a conversation that spans over five decades of flying experience. From piloting the iconic OV-10 to soaring at high altitudes in the U-2, John has seen and done it all. With nearly 21,000 hours of flight time — that's over two years in the sky — his expertise is unmatched. John's impressive career includes flying for Delta Airlines and NetJets, adding layers of experience in both military and civilian aviation. Join us as we dive into John's incredible journey, explore the challenges and thrills of being a pilot, and gain insight into the mind of someone who has spent nearly a lifetime navigating the skies.