Shows / Ready 4 Pushback
Ready 4 Pushback
If you're looking to enter the commercial aviation industry, we've got the right podcast for you! With pilot and interview coach Nik Fialka as your host, we will deliver exceptional and insightful content to help you understand the landscape of professional aviation. We will help you organize your thoughts, score interview points, and ace the aviation recruitment process. You will get a deep dive into all the facets of the aviation industry by hearing directly from leaders and recruiters…
Episodes
Ready 4 PushbackEp 396 Rise - The Culmination of Incremental Gains
Career success comes from consistent, incremental improvement - not comparison, perfection or one big breakthrough. This episode reflects on conversations at…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 395 Enlisted Marine to Airline Pilot: Building Flight Time While Serving
You don't have to wait until you leave the military to start your airline pilot journey. Marine Gino Morato shares how he balances active duty, family, and…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 394 Coffin Corner Leaves No Margin For Error
What happens when the opportunity you've been waiting for arrives, but you're not ready for it? This episode draws a powerful connection between aviation's…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 393 The Redbird Story: Building the Future of Flight Training
What does it take to change the way pilots learn to fly? In this episode, Nik Fialka sits down with Charlie Gregoire, founder of Redbird Flight, to explore how…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 392 Are You Jaded
What happens when the dream of flying starts to feel like just another job? This episode is a reminder for pilots to break the cycle of negativity before…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 391 Stop Pitching, Start Connecting
Think your next aviation opportunity comes from a perfect elevator pitch? Think again. Adam Uhan, co-founder of The Pilot Network, joins us to break down why…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 390 Train Your Mind with Stress Inoculation
You don't get to choose the day everything goes wrong in the cockpit. Are you ready for it? In this episode, Nik breaks down how pilots can train their minds…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 387 Fly Better, Fly Safer: The Power of Aerobatic Training
Rob Dumovic joins us to explore how aerobatic training can make pilots more confident, capable, and safer. From competition aerobatics to upset prevention and…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 386 The Fun is Getting There
The fun isn't just reaching the left seat, the major airline, or the next big milestone. It's the journey getting there. Flying is hard. Training, check rides…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 388 Be Ready to Pivot
Your airline career can change overnight. Are you prepared if it does? In this episode, Nik breaks down the practical steps pilots can take now, from keeping…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 389 The Power of the Pilot Network
Your next aviation opportunity might come from the pilot sitting next to you. Nik sits down with Haley Ageton, Air Force C-130 pilot, United pilot, and…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 385 United Airlines Pilot Hiring: What Recruiters REALLY Look For in 2026
Nik Fialka sits down with Justin Ritter, Director of Pilot Hiring at United Airlines, for an inside look at what it really takes to get hired in 2026. United…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 384 When You're a Pilot, You've Gotta Have a Plan
In this episode of Ready 4 Pushback, we dive into one of the most important habits a pilot can develop: having a plan before you ever get to the runway. When…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 383 Pilots Are Getting Hired! How to Win at RTAG 2026
Joshua Lee, President of RTAG, joins Nik Fialka for an inside look at the veteran aviation community and the RTAG National Convention. They break down how…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 382 Desire: A Pilot's Career Hack
What does it really take to become an airline pilot? Nik Fialka explores the desire, discipline, and persistence behind a career in aviation. From flight…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 381 The Logbook Mistakes Pilots Need to Know About
Your pilot logbook is more than a record of flight time. Nik Fialka sits down with Airos founder David Spektor to discuss common logbook mistakes, airline…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 380 Speaking Into People. Be the Positive Change.
Your words have the power to build confidence or create fear, especially when you're leading, teaching, or mentoring another pilot. In this solo episode, Nik…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 379 LPA 2026: Amazing Career Opportunities in Aviation and Aerospace
In this episode, Claudia Zapata Cardone, President of Latino Professionals in Aerospace (LPA), joins us to preview the 2026 LPA Aerospace Industry Expo and the…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 378 OBAP '26 The Path to American Airlines from Somone Who Knows!
Alan Johnson, Vice President of Flight Operations at American Airlines, joins us for an inspiring conversation on aviation, leadership, and career growth. Alan…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 377 Beyond the Checklist: How Great Pilots Think Under Pressure
What separates a pilot who can run a checklist from one who can actually manage the airplane when things go sideways? Nik sits down with airline captain and…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 376 Solo Checkride Complete! What to Avoid at all Costs!
The checkride isn't just about knowing your stuff, it's about how you perform when things start coming at you. After last week's nerves and preparation in…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 375 The Power of the Pivot
When Plan A falls apart, that's when the real journey begins. Harry Yi shares his journey through rejection, unexpected opportunities, and the decisions that…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 374 Checkrides Make You Nervous?
Checkrides can bring out nerves in even the most experienced pilots, but fear doesn't have to take the controls. In this episode, Nik Fialka shares his own…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 370 Solo A Good Plan to Get Where You Want to Be
A good plan today beats a perfect plan next week, especially when preparation becomes procrastination. Nik explores the fine line between being truly ready and…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 373 How to Build Hours, Build Relationships and Build a Career
The best aviation opportunities often come from the relationships you build long before you're ready for the job. In this episode, Vinh Do returns to share how…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 372 The Art of Happiness
Happiness in aviation isn't found in the next promotion, paycheck, or aircraft. It's built through the habits and mindset you choose every day. In this solo…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 371 From Division I Athlete to Air Force Two: Saj El Amin's Aviation Journey
Saj El Amin never planned to become a pilot until one conversation changed the course of his life. From flying C-17 missions around the world to serving as an…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 369 Dating Advice to Ace Your Airline Interview
What do first dates and airline interviews have in common? More than you think. Dating and relationship coach Lauren Mathues shares why authenticity…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 368 Naked in Public
The biggest mistake on your application isn't failure. It's hiding it. Hiding failures creates doubt and can cost you the opportunity. Learn how transparency…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 367 When One Airline Closed, Another Door Opened
Former Spirit pilot Steffany shares her journey from cargo flying to the Airbus flight deck, what made Spirit's culture so special, and how she navigated the…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 365 Out of the Tower Into the Cockpit: Ben Lobaugh's Jump from ATC to JSX
Nik sits down with Ben Lobaugh, a former FAA air traffic controller and now a First Officer at JSX, to discuss how he left a stable FAA career to get back into…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 364 The Summer Slump: What to Do When Hiring Slows and Everything Feels Like It's on Hold
Summer hiring slowdowns can feel frustrating, but delays don't always mean your career has stalled. Learn how to stay current, prepare for training, and keep…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 363 Flying Flexjet Worldwide, The Honest Details
Flexjet captain Zach DiGiovanni returns to give an honest, detailed look at life flying in the international large‑cabin program at a 91K/135 fractional. He…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 361 Inside Medevac: The Real Life of a HEMS Pilot
Nate "Kiwi" Jaenichen joins Nik for an inside look at helicopter emergency medical services, from base operations and single-pilot flying to the reality of a…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 360 Key to a Great Interview: Don't Close Past the Sale
Nik breaks down why pilots tend to talk themselves out of strong interview answers by "closing past the sale." He explains how over‑explaining and filling…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 359 From Canvas to Cockpit: Jakhar's Path from Artist to Pilot
Jakhar Yunussov, a Kazakhstani pilot known as "@artmonster_" on Instagram, joins Nik to share his unique journey from art school to an architecture degree to…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 358 The Aviation Imbalance: Finding Time, Being Present
Nik unpacks what it really means for pilots to be present with their families despite long overnights, junior schedules, and constant transitions. He contrasts…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 357 Perseverance Through Failure with Tim Manley
Tim Manley, a current Part 135 pilot, joins Nik to discuss his journey - one shaped by setbacks, resilience, and growth. He emphasizes the value of persevering…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 356 Pilot Resume Strategies for Standing Out in the Stack
Spitfire Elite resume expert Vinh Do joins Nik to break down what separates a successful pilot resume from the forgettable stack. They share the most common…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 355 The Future of Flight Training
Donald Maloy of Maloy Aircraft joins Nik to share his vision for a more streamlined path from zero experience to becoming an airline-ready pilot. Drawing on…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 354 Think Before You Talk: Applying Radio Discipline to Pilot Interview
Nik returns in this solo show with a clear message: think before you speak. While that advice applies in the air with the push-to-talk switch, it's just as…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 353 Flying Paychecks into Property Wealth with Marty Medve
In this Ready for Pushback episode, Nik reconnects with wide‑body captain and Trident Home Loans owner Marty Medve to talk about building a financial legacy…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 352 Solo Sick With Envy
On today's solo episode, Nik draws on a powerful excerpt from John Steinbeck to highlight the excellence, discipline, and consistency demanded of aviation…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 351 Commanding a Navy Reserve Squadron with Ted Kyriopoulos
In this special on-location episode, Nik sits down with Ted Kyriopoulos, Commanding Officer of the VR-58 "Sun Seekers," moments after his change-of-command…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 350 Know When to Stop Talking in an Interview
Nik is back today with a simple reminder: don't talk too much in an interview. Rambling can create confusion, invite contradictions, and sometimes signal a…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 349 Using the GI Bill to Kickstart Your Career with Pray Aviation
In this episode, Doug Mitchell of Pray Aviation joins Nic to break down how veterans can make the most of the GI Bill for flight training. He explains why…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 348 Don't Overthink the Path to Your Dream Job
Do you tend to overthink things? You are not alone! In this solo show, Nik implores listeners to go back to the basics and stop overthinking the hiring…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 347 Developing Aviation Professionals at Kansas State University with Ty Pina
In this episode, Nik sits down with Ty Pina, Aviation Department Head at Kansas State University. Drawing on 21 years of service in the Air Force, Ty reflects…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 346 After Spirit: A Pilot's Playbook for What's Next Webinar
In place of this week's solo episode, Nik is joined by Jaron Roux and Haley Ageton of Spitfire Elite Consulting on a recent webinar focused on helping former…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 345 Professional Aircraft Detailing with Chris Hibben and JetGlow Aviation
Former Navy and Air Force combat photographer Chris Hibben joins Nik to discuss how his unique aviation background led him to create JetGlow Aviation, an…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 344 Stop Telling, Start Offering: Show Hiring Teams Your True Value
It's normal for people to have wants, but Nik is here today to remind everyone that wants don't get you hired. Instead of telling companies what you want…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 343 Serving Your Country and Passengers: The Air National Guard and Part 121 Life
Nik sits down with Vincent Cheval, a C-130 pilot in the Montana Air National Guard and First Officer at Allegiant, to explore the balancing act of serving in…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 342 Two Days of Work Every Day: Accelerating Your Process
Are you worried about falling behind? Are you looking for ways to stand out? Everyone's path to success involves varying costs, especially in the forms of…
Ready 4 PushbackEp. 341 Professor, Pilot, Pathfinder: How Marla Faison Lifts Future Aviators at ECSU
Professor Marla Faison of Elizabeth City State University joins Nik to share her unconventional path through aviation, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 340 High Threat, High Altitude: Expanding Your Team to Fly into Bogotá
In this episode, Nik takes us behind the scenes of his rigorous preparation for his first flight into Bogotá, Colombia - one of the most technically demanding…
Ready 4 PushbackEp. 339 No Passengers, Just Purpose: The High-Stakes Life of an Organ Transplant Pilot
Nik sits down with Guilherme "G" Ramos, a Brazilian-born pilot flying the Embraer Phenom 300 on life-saving transplant missions across the United States. G…
Ready 4 PushbackEp 338 Authentic Charm: The Interview Edge
Are you, charming? This episode explores what genuine charm really is and why it matters so much for pilots, job seekers, and leaders in aviation. Nik spells…
Ready 4 PushbackEp. 337 Networking on Empty: Navigating the Hiring Landscape as an Introverted Pilot
Nik sits down with former Marine turned air ambulance pilot Nate "Kiwi" Jaenichen to explore what it's really like to build an aviation career as an introvert…