About this podcast
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. You'll learn how to stay composed and articulate yourself with impact as we uncover airline-specific pilot selection demands, analyze the aviation industry's culture, and give you great interview advice.
Listen to the Ready 4 Pushback podcast to transform yourself and gain valuable perspective about your dream job!
Episodes
The newest 50 of 400 episodes
- Ep 400 There's Always More: Learning When Enough Is Enough · 14 min · Season 2026 Episode 400In this solo episode, Nik Fialka explores a challenge that many pilots face throughout their careers: the constant pursuit of the next milestone and the difficulty of recognizing…
- Ep 399 Beyond the Airshow: How SUN 'n FUN is Shaping Aviation's Future · 33 min · Season 2026 Episode 399In this episode of Ready for Pushback, Nik sits down with Eric Crump, Vice President of the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), to explore the organization behind the iconic…
- Ep 398 Your Story is Your Edge: The Art of Storytelling · 34 min · Season 2026 Episode 398In this episode of Ready for Pushback, host Nick Fialka explains why storytelling is one of the most valuable—and often overlooked—skills a pilot can develop. Drawing on his…
- Ep 397 From Paper Airplanes to Fighter Jets: An 11-Year Old's Extraordinary Passion for Aviation · 30 min · Season 2026 Episode 397In this inspiring episode of Ready for Pushback, host Nick Fialka interviews 11-year-old Rishaan Dwivedi, a remarkably talented young aviation enthusiast whose passion for…
- Ep 396 Rise - The Culmination of Incremental Gains · 18 min · Season 2026 Episode 396Career success comes from consistent, incremental improvement - not comparison, perfection or one big breakthrough. This episode reflects on conversations at the 2026 Latino…
- Ep 395 Enlisted Marine to Airline Pilot: Building Flight Time While Serving · 31 min · Season 2026 Episode 395You 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 flight training while…
- Ep 394 Coffin Corner Leaves No Margin For Error · 10 min · Season 2026 Episode 394What 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 coffin corner and the…
- Ep 393 The Redbird Story: Building the Future of Flight Training · 46 min · Season 2026 Episode 393What 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 a simulator built…
- Ep 392 Are You Jaded · 12 min · Season 2026 Episode 392What 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 cynicism takes over…
- Ep 391 Stop Pitching, Start Connecting · 32 min · Season 2026 Episode 391Think 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 authentic…
- Ep 390 Train Your Mind with Stress Inoculation · 12 min · Season 2026 Episode 390You 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 to stay effective…
- Ep 387 Fly Better, Fly Safer: The Power of Aerobatic Training · 57 min · Season 2026 Episode 387Rob Dumovic joins us to explore how aerobatic training can make pilots more confident, capable, and safer. From competition aerobatics to upset prevention and recovery, Rob…
- Ep 386 The Fun is Getting There · 13 min · Season 2026 Episode 386The 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, self-doubt, long…
- Ep 388 Be Ready to Pivot · 14 min · Season 2026 Episode 388Your 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 logbooks and…
- Ep 389 The Power of the Pilot Network · 22 min · Season 2026 Episode 389Your 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 Spitfire Elite coach, to…
- Ep 385 United Airlines Pilot Hiring: What Recruiters REALLY Look For in 2026 · 24 min · Season 2026 Episode 385Nik 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 is hiring, but the…
- Ep 384 When You're a Pilot, You've Gotta Have a Plan · 24 min · Season 2026 Episode 384In 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 do you slow down?…
- Ep 383 Pilots Are Getting Hired! How to Win at RTAG 2026 · 1 h 1 min · Season 2026 Episode 383Joshua 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 pilots, maintainers…
- Ep 382 Desire: A Pilot's Career Hack · 15 min · Season 2026 Episode 382What does it really take to become an airline pilot? Nik Fialka explores the desire, discipline, and persistence behind a career in aviation. From flight school and checkrides to…
- Ep 381 The Logbook Mistakes Pilots Need to Know About · 41 min · Season 2026 Episode 381Your 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 applications, and why…
- Ep 380 Speaking Into People. Be the Positive Change. · 14 min · Season 2026 Episode 380Your 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 shares why great…
- Ep 379 LPA 2026: Amazing Career Opportunities in Aviation and Aerospace · 42 min · Season 2026 Episode 379In this episode, Claudia Zapata Cardone, President of Latino Professionals in Aerospace (LPA), joins us to preview the 2026 LPA Aerospace Industry Expo and the opportunities it…
- Ep 378 OBAP '26 The Path to American Airlines from Somone Who Knows! · 32 min · Season 2026 Episode 378Alan Johnson, Vice President of Flight Operations at American Airlines, joins us for an inspiring conversation on aviation, leadership, and career growth. Alan shares his…
- Ep 377 Beyond the Checklist: How Great Pilots Think Under Pressure · 54 min · Season 2026 Episode 377What 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 instructor Graeme…
- Ep 376 Solo Checkride Complete! What to Avoid at all Costs! · 25 min · Season 2026 Episode 376The 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 Episode 374, Nik is…
- Ep 375 The Power of the Pivot · 58 min · Season 2026 Episode 375When Plan A falls apart, that's when the real journey begins. Harry Yi shares his journey through rejection, unexpected opportunities, and the decisions that shaped a career he…
- Ep 374 Checkrides Make You Nervous? · 15 min · Season 2026 Episode 374Checkrides 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 pre-checkride anxiety…
- Ep 370 Solo A Good Plan to Get Where You Want to Be · 11 min · Season 2026 Episode 370A good plan today beats a perfect plan next week, especially when preparation becomes procrastination. Nik explores the fine line between being truly ready and getting trapped in…
- Ep 373 How to Build Hours, Build Relationships and Build a Career · 30 min · Season 2026 Episode 373The 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 moving to Alaska…
- Ep 372 The Art of Happiness · 17 min · Season 2026 Episode 372Happiness 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 episode, Nik shares…
- Ep 371 From Division I Athlete to Air Force Two: Saj El Amin's Aviation Journey · 55 min · Season 2026 Episode 371Saj 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 Air Force Two pilot…
- Ep 369 Dating Advice to Ace Your Airline Interview · 48 min · Season 2026 Episode 369What do first dates and airline interviews have in common? More than you think. Dating and relationship coach Lauren Mathues shares why authenticity, confidence, and real…
- Ep 368 Naked in Public · 17 min · Season 2026 Episode 368The 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 can strengthen your…
- Ep 367 When One Airline Closed, Another Door Opened · 56 min · Season 2026 Episode 367Former 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 uncertainty of the…
- Ep 366 The Power of Intellectual Margin · 21 min · Season 2026 Episode 366
- Ep 365 Out of the Tower Into the Cockpit: Ben Lobaugh's Jump from ATC to JSX · 43 min · Season 2026 Episode 365Nik 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 the cockpit. Ben…
- Ep 364 The Summer Slump: What to Do When Hiring Slows and Everything Feels Like It's on Hold · 19 min · Season 2026 Episode 364Summer 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 your options open…
- Ep 363 Flying Flexjet Worldwide, The Honest Details · 41 min · Season 2026 Episode 363Flexjet 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 breaks down the Red…
- Ep 362 Pilot Stories: How I Got Hired, Real Client Hiring Stories Webinar · 1 h 14 min · Season 2026 Episode 362
- Ep 361 Inside Medevac: The Real Life of a HEMS Pilot · 38 min · Season 2026 Episode 361Nate "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 seven-on/seven-off…
- Ep 360 Key to a Great Interview: Don't Close Past the Sale · 17 min · Season 2026 Episode 360Nik 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 silence can cause…
- Ep 359 From Canvas to Cockpit: Jakhar's Path from Artist to Pilot · 36 min · Season 2026 Episode 357Jakhar Yunussov, a Kazakhstani pilot known as "@artmonster_" on Instagram, joins Nik to share his unique journey from art school to an architecture degree to his upcoming Airbus…
- Ep 358 The Aviation Imbalance: Finding Time, Being Present · 22 min · Season 2026 Episode 358Nik unpacks what it really means for pilots to be present with their families despite long overnights, junior schedules, and constant transitions. He contrasts airline life with…
- Ep 357 Perseverance Through Failure with Tim Manley · 44 min · Season 2026 Episode 355Tim 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 through failure…
- Ep 355 The Future of Flight Training · 37 min · Season 2026 Episode 353Donald 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 his background as a…
- Ep 354 Think Before You Talk: Applying Radio Discipline to Pilot Interview · 13 min · Season 2026 Episode 354Nik 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 critical in an…
- Ep 353 Flying Paychecks into Property Wealth with Marty Medve · 37 min · Season 2026In 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 beyond the cockpit…
- Ep 352 Solo Sick With Envy · 9 min · Season 2026 Episode 352On today's solo episode, Nik draws on a powerful excerpt from John Steinbeck to highlight the excellence, discipline, and consistency demanded of aviation professionals. While…
- Ep 351 Commanding a Navy Reserve Squadron with Ted Kyriopoulos · 24 min · Season 2026 Episode 351In 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 ceremony at Naval Air…
- Ep 350 Know When to Stop Talking in an Interview · 11 min · Season 2026 Episode 350Nik 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 lack of confidence. By…
