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PODCAST

The Performance Pilot

Join Ben Todd, student pilot and competitive bodybuilder, as he documents the journey from flight training to professional aviation, while pursuing peak physical and mental performance. Each episode of The Performance Pilot dives into the parallels between flying and fitness: discipline, precision, mindset, and continuous improvement. Through personal stories and conversations with industry professionals, Ben explores what it really takes to perform at the highest level — in the cockpit, in the

leisure aviation

All Episodes

33:06

7. The True Cost of Chasing a Dream

The Performance Pilot ·

2026/09/21

In this episode, I get candid about the financial realities, sacrifices, and unexpected challenges I’ve experienced while pursuing my aviation career.I discuss the true cost of flight training, my decision to finance my Private Pilot Certificate, and why balancing flight school with a full-time IT career ultimately led me to leave my job and pursue training full-time. While that decision allowed me to earn my Private Pilot Certificate, it also created significant financial challenges that

en

102:42

6: The Power of Remaining a Student: Aviation,...

The Performance Pilot ·

2026/06/24

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with airline First Officer and OCB bikini competitor Kait Shaffery to discuss her journey through aviation and fitness. From growing up in a small Arizona town and discovering aviation through her mother’s career as a flight attendant, to earning a seat at a major airline, as well as stepping on a bodybuilding stage, Kait shares the lessons, challenges, and mindset shifts that have helped her succeed.The conversation dives into flight training,

en

73:07

5: My Journey to Becoming a Pilot

The Performance Pilot ·

2026/06/01

After a four month hiatus from the podcast, I'm back with one of the biggest milestones of my life: officially becoming a licensed private pilot.In this deeply personal episode, I share the full story of my 15 month journey from my first flight lesson to passing my private pilot checkride. I discuss the challenges of balancing a demanding career in IT with flight training, the difficult decision to leave a stable job, and the sacrifices required to pursue a lifelong dream.Listeners will get

en

54:58

4: From Personal Passion to Community Impact -...

The Performance Pilot ·

2026/02/16

This week's episode is another interview episode. My guest this week is Tyler Fluitt, an Austin, TX-based fitness coach and owner of Level Up Physiques. He is an IFBB Professional Bodybuilder in the Men's Physique Division, and has also been my personal bodybuilding coach for the last 3 years.We begin the conversation by discussing how Tyler got his start in the fitness industry, growing up as a skinny kid in Louisiana. We dive into how he began working out and why he got started competing

en

34:28

3: Flight School Expectations and Bodybuilding Update

The Performance Pilot ·

2026/01/19

In this week's solo episode, I discuss my expectations for beginning flight school, as well as provide an update to my bodybuilding journey. Since the college semester begins this week, I outline my expectations for how I expect the semester to unfold, the different ways of accomplishing flight training, and what my future plans may entail in order to expedite my training. I also reveal that my bodybuilding coach and I have selected the first bodybuilding show that I will be competing in

en

58:42

2. Save Money on Flight Training with Colin Boone

The Performance Pilot ·

2026/01/12

This week's episode is an interview with Colin Boone: Gulfstream G150 pilot, Gold Seal Flight Instructor, and owner of Flight Sim University, an online flight training platform that teaches student pilots all of the fundamentals of flight training right from the comfort of their own home. The conversation begins by Colin discussing how he developed an initial interest and passion for aviation, then moves into a discussion on his experience flying the Gulfstream G150 and how he found his way

en

37:36

1: A New Chapter

The Performance Pilot ·

2026/01/05

In this inaugural episode of the podcast, I begin by discussing my inspiration for starting the podcast in the first place. I then move into talking about my journey as both a competitive bodybuilder and student pilot, and how each of those journeys will be the focal points of not only future podcast episodes, but also my life this year. I conclude by issuing a call to action to invite everyone to get uncomfortable this year to finally pursue and make progress towards a goal or desire that

en

7 results

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