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PODCAST

The Calm Cockpit Podcast

Join John Niehaus, a professional pilot and flight instructor and Gita Brown, a yoga educator and student pilot as they share how the latest tools in stress reduction, well-being, and high performance mental training can improve your abilities as aviators. Through this podcast they will show how understanding these techniques can create a mindset of excellence not just in flying, but flight training, proficiency, and aviation safety.

leisure aviation

All Episodes

18:47

Monday Briefing: Why the Zone 2 Cardio Trend Is...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/10/05

Season 2Briefing 18 Zone 2 cardio is everywhere right now—but is it actually worth the hype? In this Monday Briefing, we look at cardio through a different lens: not just for heart health or longevity, but as a practical tool for stress relief, mood support, and mental performance. Drawing on research from Johns Hopkins, a peer-reviewed study on aerobic exercise and mood, and Andrew Huberman’s explanation of Zone 2 training, this episode explores why even a small, realistic dose of steady

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70:57

Say Yes: Building an Aviation Career That Fits Your...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/09/30

Season 2 Episode 20Aviation careers rarely follow a straight line. In this episode, corporate pilot and flight instructor John Niehaus shares the unexpected turns in his own aviation journey—from graduating into the 2008 financial crisis and building hours as a CFI, to flying for the airlines, charter operations, and ultimately corporate aviation. Along the way, he learned that adaptability, relationships, and a willingness to say “yes” to unexpected opportunities can matter just as much as having

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10:28

Monday Briefing: Task Completion, and Permission to Rest

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/09/21

Season 2Monday Briefing 17 In today's busy world, it is easy to forget that one of our daily tasks, is to allow for rest and play. We get caught up in all the things we need to accomplish, and then proceed to lather, rinse, repeat. So consider this your permission to reward yourself with some time off, and we think you will find, your skills, your brain, and your nervous system will thank you.

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9:31

Bonus Episode: A Moment to Reset with Guided...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/09/18

Season 2Bonus Episode Take a few minutes to pause, breathe, and reset with this guided meditation from Avi Gordon, originally featured in Season 2, Episode 19 Whether you’re preparing to fly, coming down after a demanding day, or simply need a moment to reconnect, this short practice offers a chance to step out of the mental noise and return to the present moment. Links: Avi Gordon Wellness: guided meditations, courses, and coaching

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68:24

The Pilot Is the System: Training the Mind with Avi...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/09/16

Season 2 Episode 19 (corrected issue after 45 min) What if meditation could function like a simulator for the mind? Meditation teacher, coach, and author Avi Gordon joins us to explore how a simple meditation practice can help pilots train attention, recover from mistakes, regulate emotions, and respond more skillfully when things don’t go according to plan. From bounced landings and checkride pressure to perfectionism, breathing techniques, and the power of a five-minute daily practice, you’ll

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22:34

Monday Briefing: Three Must Listens for Pilots This Fall

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/09/07

Season 2Bonus Episode Monday Briefing 16 The first days of a new season or school year come with energy and pep. But eventually the enthusiasm wanes, the days blur together, and even another trip around the pattern can start to feel like a grind. This Monday Briefing explores a little side hustle of performance training: intentional things we can listen to that help break up the log jam when we feel stuck, re-energize our brains, and keep us moving toward our performance goals. You’ll discover

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56:26

Flashback: Back to School

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/09/02

Season 2 Episode 18 (sort of)As a new school year gets underway, we’re bringing back this conversation about succeeding in aviation training without losing sight of why you started flying. Whether you’re heading back to the classroom, flight school, or pursuing your next rating, these reminders about mindset, pressure, resilience, and finding joy still apply. It originally aired during Season 1 in September 2025 and has been one of our most popular episodes. Enjoy! Show Notes: Aviation

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6:59

Monday Briefing: Change Management

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/08/24

Season 2Bonus Episode Monday Briefing 15 As we enter into fall, we start to see a season of change. School starts again, jobs change, people move in and out of our lives. I urge you to take a second, and a breath, and realize that change can be for the good. No matter if it is purposeful, or through circumstance, change can be hard, but it can make you into the next great version of yourself.

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56:42

Rethinking Flight Training: Barter, Build, Fly with...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/08/19

Season 2 Episode 17What happens when a student pilot stops accepting “that’s just the way it is” and starts looking for better solutions? In this episode, you’ll learn how entrepreneur and private pilot DeRonte Craig used his marketing expertise to creatively overcome the financial barriers of flight training, earning his private pilot certificate in just three months. He shares why flying 5–6 days a week accelerated his learning, how “showing up” created an unexpected opportunity, and what

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23:09

Monday Briefing: Three Books to Read This Summer

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/08/10

Season 2Bonus Episode Monday Briefing 14 In this Monday Briefing, you’ll discover three books that offer practical insights into managing self-interference, handling pressure and resistance, sharpening attention, and staying present in the cockpit. The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey Learn how to get out of your own way and reduce the mental interference that can undermine performance. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Explore how fear, procrastination, and self-doubt can show up in

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71:10

Superior Judgement: Risk Management with Mike Jesch

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/08/05

Season 2 Episode 16 Learn how professional pilots manage risk before it becomes a problem. In this episode, you'll discover practical Threat and Error Management (TEM) strategies that can improve your decision-making, reduce workload, and strengthen your safety margins. You'll learn how to identify and trap threats before they escalate, create effective personal minimums, use mental rehearsal to stay ahead of fear and stress, manage cognitive bandwidth with automation, and avoid the subtle traps

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14:33

Monday Brief: The Speed That Keeps You Safe with...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/07/27

Season 2 Bonus EpisodeMonday Briefing 13 In this week's Monday Brief, discover one of the most memorable lessons ever shared on The Calm Cockpit Podcast: there are only two speeds in aviation—slow and screw up. This deceptively simple philosophy challenges the instinct to rush and demonstrates why deliberate, methodical action leads to greater safety, fewer errors, and often no loss of time at all. You'll learn why the perception that hurrying saves time is often an illusion, and how adopting a

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46:09

Beat the Heat: Your Summer Flying Survival Guide

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/07/22

Season 2 Episode 15Summer flying brings unique challenges that go far beyond comfort. In this episode, we explore how heat and dehydration can quietly erode pilot performance, slow reaction time, impair memory, reduc situational awareness, and increase fatigue. Small aircraft cockpits can become significantly hotter than the outside air, placing additional stress on the body and triggering a physiological "fight or flight" response that pulls valuable mental resources away from flying the

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15:42

A Supplemental Life: 5 Pilot Recommended Supplements...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/07/13

Season 2 Bonus Episode Monday Briefing 12 This briefing focuses on daily supplements and digital tools designed to enhance a pilot's mental clarity, physical recovery, and stress management. We all want to study, test, fly, and exercise better, but in today's world we are inundated with influencers telling us this special substance is going to solve all our problems. Here are some Calm Cockpit suggestions on where to start, and how to cut through the noise. Top Five Recommended Supplements

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73:58

Grief Doesn't Stay on the Ground: A Conversation with...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/07/08

Season 2 Episode 14 Grief is an inevitable part of life, but in aviation, it often remains unspoken. Whether it's the sudden loss of a colleague or the death of a loved one, grief can affect focus, decision-making, performance, and well-being in profound ways. In this episode, you'll learn how grief impacts the brain, why healthy compartmentalization is different from emotional suppression, and practical strategies pilots can use to stay grounded during difficult times. You'll also discover tools

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15:26

Three Must-Have Apps for Every Pilot

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/06/29

Season 2 Bonus Episode Monday Briefing 11 Your flight bag is full of tools to help you fly safely—but what about the tools that help take care of the pilot? In this Monday Briefing, we share three simple apps we think every pilot should have: Water Llama for staying hydrated, MyFitnessPal for understanding how you're fueling your body and brain, and Insight Timer for managing stress and training your nervous system. None are aviation apps, but all can help support better focus, decision-making,

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67:19

The Pilot’s Reset Button: Breathing Techniques Every...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/06/24

Season 2 Episode 13 Breathing is one of the few systems in the body that operates automatically while also remaining under conscious control, making it a powerful tool for pilot performance and resilience. This episode explores how breathing influences stress, focus, alertness, recovery, and sleep, and why it serves as a bridge between the demands of the external environment and a pilot’s internal state. Listeners will learn how posture and breathing mechanics affect oxygen exchange, why nasal

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17:52

Monday Briefing: The Good News--No One is Coming to...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/06/15

Season 2: Bonus EpisodeMonday Briefing 10 In this Monday Briefing, you'll discover why self-care is not a luxury or a reward for surviving a stressful week, but the foundation of a healthy, resilient, and meaningful life. You'll learn a practical definition of self-care that goes beyond the stereotypes of the wellness industry and focuses instead on the daily routines that provide maintenance of your body, mind, and emotions. This episode offers a simple framework for building sustainable habits

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82:31

The Checkride Mindset with Designated Pilot Examiner...

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/06/10

Season 2 Episode 12 In this episode we sit down with Chris Anderson, a Designated Pilot Examiner, corporate pilot, and 12-time NAFI Master CFI with more than 23,000 flight hours and over 3,500 practical tests to his credit. Drawing on decades of experience from the examiner’s seat, Chris offers an inside look at one of aviation’s greatest challenges: managing the stress and pressure of the check ride. Together, we explore why check ride anxiety is so universal, why it seems to be increasing among

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9:26

Monday Briefing: All About the Bonus

The Calm Cockpit Podcast ·

2026/06/01

Season 2: Bonus EpisodeMonday Briefing 9 In this Monday Briefing, we highlight all of the bonus episodes we have compiled for you over the last year and a half of the Calm Cockpit. These episodes are exercises and deeper dives added to our normal show, so that you can use and find them by themselves. We also highlight the efforts of our guests like Sarah Gilbert, Lisa Danahy (https://createcalm.org/), and Dr. Beth Wagner who created special content just for our show. We recently set up a spot

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76 results

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