Straighten Up and Fly Right Podcast

Episodes

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  The $100K Bet That Changed Everything | Michael Christopher 05.08.2026 44m

  Maybach Mike sits down with regional airline pilot Mike Christopher in Dallas to explore how a college accounting graduate became a jet-flying pilot in just three years. Mike shares his unconventional journey through the American Airlines Cadet Program, the $100,000 investment required to go from zero flight hours to certified pilot, and how a conversation with his older brother in medical school shifted his mindset from "taking on debt" to "investing in himself." This episode breaks down wha...
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  When It Gets Hard, You Find Out Who Really Wants It | Aaron Jones 28.07.2026 50m

  Colonel Aaron Jones shares his remarkable journey from witnessing a max-performance F-15 takeoff in Okinawa as a ninth grader to commanding the 49th Fighter Training Squadron at Columbus Air Force Base. In this episode, Jones discusses his 20-year career as a fighter pilot, his transition to leadership roles, and his passionate work with Legacy Flight Academy—a nonprofit dedicated to introducing underrepresented youth to aviation. The conversation covers what inspired him to pursue military a...
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  He Took an 80% Pay Cut to Become an Airline Pilot | Alex Cole 14.07.2026 49m

  What would make an accomplished Air Force pilot walk away from a successful career at Boeing and take an 80% pay cut to start over? For Alex Cole, it came down to knowing what he really wanted and refusing to eliminate himself before someone else had the chance to say no. In this episode of Straighten Up & Fly Right, Alex shares a remarkable aviation journey that began with seeing the SR-71 as a kid in Okinawa and eventually took him through the U.S. Air Force Academy, pilot training, the...
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  From Football Dreams to Air Force Pride: Ryan Nichols' Journey of Deliberate Excellence 30.06.2026 1h 5m

  Ryan Nichols, born and raised in San Antonio, sits down to share his unlikely path from aspiring football player to dedicated Air Force serviceman. After a coach's reality check revealed he was never actually accepted to college, Ryan made the pivotal decision to enlist at Lackland Air Force Base in October 1998. In this episode, he opens up about the culture shock of basic training, his unexpected selection as dorm chief, and the profound influence of the three strong women who shaped his wo...
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  If You’re Not Making a Million, Don’t Talk About It 23.06.2026 1h 1m

  What separates high performers from everyone else? In this episode of Straighten Up and Fly Right, Kenny T sits down with former Navy SEAL Jake Zweig for an unfiltered conversation about mentorship, leadership, discipline, and building a life of purpose. Jake shares his incredible journey from a difficult childhood to the U.S. Naval Academy and the Navy SEAL Teams. Along the way, he explains how mentors changed the trajectory of his life and why he's dedicated the rest of his career to helpin...
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  From Air Force Acquisitions to Airline Pilot: TC’s Career Change, Flight Training Lessons & Leadership 08.06.2026 50m

  TC shares how he went from a military-brat upbringing and a failed plan to play football into Air Force ROTC at UTSA, ultimately becoming an acquisitions officer—work he describes as broad “cradle to grave” program management with lots of paperwork, meetings, and long timelines. Around the 10-year mark and facing career-pressure options he didn’t want, he began flight training as a hobby in Los Angeles, researched the airline shortage, and chose to separate in 2019 with his wife’s support des...
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  U-2 Pilot Kris "Judge": From F-16 Poster to 737 Captain 08.06.2026 45m

  Kenny T interviews Kris, a pilot from Louisiana who trained at Louisiana Tech, joined the Air Force, and flew C-130s, the M-28 Skytruck, PC-12s, Cessna 208s, and ultimately the U-2 Dragon Lady before retiring and becoming a United Airlines 737 captain. Judge explains how seeing an F-16 poster led him to join ROTC, credits mentor CMSgt Edward Fowler for instilling discipline, and shares why he loves general aviation, including owning a Piper Comanche 250 and building an RV-8. He confirms the e...
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  Eyes Above the Horizon: How Legacy Flight Academy Introduces Underserved Youth to Aviation 08.06.2026 17m

  Experience Eyes Above the Horizon, Legacy Flight Academy's signature aviation event that is changing lives through the power of flight. In this episode, you'll go behind the scenes of a free, full-day aviation experience where students ages 11–19 explore STEM, leadership, aviation careers, and the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen before taking their very first flight in a real aircraft with a certified flight instructor. Throughout the day, students participate in hands-on STEM activities, learn...