Best Aerobility Podcasts (2024)

1
#51 Chrissie Miller - A Privilege and a Challenge 31:09

3h ago31:09

31:09

For the final episode of this year’s studio recordings of Inspire-Ability, Chrissie Miller takes us through her journey from graduating staff college through to taking the role she dreamed of when first starting out within the RAF. Although her experiences in this time challenged the preconceived ideas that she had about service life, Chrissie shar…

1
#50 Chrissie Miller - A Day At A Time 28:33

7d ago28:33

28:33

In the second part of our conversation with Chrissie, she discusses the challenges she faced during the training for her role in the RAF. To help her overcome this, she shares with Harriett how she found “another little family” within the Air Force, especially in the extracurricular sporting opportunities it presented. Despite the stresses of her c…

1
#49 Chrissie Miller - The Making of Me 28:50

14d ago28:50

28:50

The first episode with our final studio guest of the series sees Chrissie Miller catch up with Harriett. The current RAF Group Captain discusses her childhood and military upbringing, with both parents serving in the Navy, and how she left university with a sports science degree but very little firm career direction. With the military calling, Chri…

1
#48 Allister Bridger - Take A Moment 26:24

21d ago26:24

26:24

For our final episode in conversation with Al, he and Harriett discuss the importance of role models while reflecting on his speaking visit to a school, where he was inspired by the childrens’ interest in aviation; conversation also covers the real and perceived barriers for various demographics, and how this can be improved by those within the ind…

1
#47 Allister Bridger - Level Best 31:13

28d ago31:13

31:13

In the second part of our conversation with Allister Bridger, he discusses his role as Director of Flight Operations with British Airways during the coronavirus pandemic, and the challenges that he faced during the greatest period of uncertainty in aviation history. Al shares how he chooses to project confidence in these situations, even if interna…

1
#46 Allister Bridger - A New Dimension 28:45

1M ago28:45

28:45

The first part of our interview with our next guest, Allister Bridger. From a typical childhood in Tunbridge Wells, to a career in the Royal Air Force, and subsequently rising to such positions as Director of Flight Operations at British Airways, flying has been a huge part of Al’s life. But initially, living under the glide path for Gatwick Airpor…

1
#45 Katy Lee MBE - Aviation in Reach 29:05

1M ago29:05

29:05

We close our conversation with Katy Lee MBE, with a discussion around the importance of mental health and the importance of support across all industries and working environments. Katy was responsible for establishing Pilots Together, a text service for confidential mental health support for pilots, and she speaks movingly about how the loss of her…

1
#44 Katy Lee MBE - No Perfect Answer 29:36

2M ago29:36

29:36

In the second part of our conversation with Katy, she discusses with Harriett what she learned during her time as a teacher. She describes how some of the skills she applied to her teaching are applicable to everyday life, especially in her current training roles. On a similar note, Katy describes her role within the Air Training Corps, and how her…

1
#43 Katy Lee - Line in the Sand 28:24

2M ago28:24

28:24

Our next guest is Katy Lee MBE: a First Officer on the 737-800, RAF Air Training Corps officer, and Chair of Trustees for the charity Aviation in Reach. Such a passion for flying is unsurprising given Katy’s upbringing by her flight crew parents - Katy was able to pursue this passion despite academic pressures in school, by heading straight to flyi…

1
#42 Dr Catherine Ruddick - Never Too Late 28:55

2M ago28:55

28:55

In the final part of our conversation with Dr Catherine Ruddick, she discusses with Harriett how therapy and communication has helped her to confront the well-intentioned but unhelpful coping strategies she had developed in childhood. These new strategies have led to Catherine’s increased mental resilience, which has been vital in bouncing back and…

1
#41 Dr Catherine Ruddick - Trust the Process 29:31

2M ago29:31

29:31

For the third part of our conversation with Dr Catherine Ruddick, we learn about how opening up about mental health struggles can have a transformative effect on quality of life. Catherine describes to Harriett how her first experience of verbalising these struggles with a therapist at Headley Court has led to a healthier lifestyle with open dialog…

1
#40 Dr Catherine Ruddick - Keeping My Passion 27:00

3M ago27:00

27:00

For the second part of our conversation with Dr Catherine Ruddick, she discusses how her foray into physiotherapy reawakened a medical passion, and coincided with an inexorable pull back to military life. Having joined the Territorial Army, Catherine was able to complete the training required to become a surgeon in the Armed Forces. However, despit…

1
#39 Dr Catherine Ruddick - Switching Focus 30:37

3M ago30:37

30:37

In the first of our episodes in conversation with Dr Catherine Ruddick, we hear how Catherine was fixated on flying from a young age, growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Moving quickly from the Air Cadets, through a University Air Squadron, Catherine was successful in her application to the RAF. Her career as a prospective Navigator…

1
#38 Brian Wheeler - Invite the Challenge 27:51

3M ago27:51

27:51

In the final part of our conversation with Brian Wheeler, attention turns to his recovery; having fought the odds by even walking again, he describes his journey back to running, culminating in a half marathon. In more recent years, Brian has also returned to flying, and even celebrated the 5th anniversary of being told he would never walk again, b…

1
#37 Brian Wheeler - Cantankerous Patient 31:07

3M ago31:07

31:07

Having overcome the prognosis of never walking again, Brian describes how his recovery was further disrupted by more uncertainty around his health. Yet, these challenges were met by Brian’s indomitable stubbornness, and also the friendships made with fellow patients, such as Tariq. In refusing to be cowed by the adversity he faced, Brian became a s…

1
#36 Brian Wheeler - “We’ll See” 29:41

4M ago29:41

29:41

In part two of our chat with Brian Wheeler, he and Harriett discuss the role that confidence and perception play in perpetuating the gender gap. Brian reflects on a conversation with a colleague about the reversal of gender balance, and how this helped him to understand the barriers to diversity that remain. From there, Harriett and Brian discuss e…

1
#35 Brian Wheeler - Fail to Succeed 30:53

4M ago30:53

30:53

Our next guest on Inspire-Ability is Aerobility COO, NATS Deputy General Manager, and disability advocate Brian Wheeler. In the first of four episodes in conversation with Brian, Harriett discusses the impact of his naval upbringing, and how his early dream to fly led to a single-minded pursuit of a British Airways cadetship during his latter schoo…

1
#31 Harvey Matthewson - Embracing Opportunities 30:08

5M ago30:08

30:08

In our final episode with Harvey, he shares with Harriett how he overcame the challenges discussed in episode 6. In coping with this, and as a way of responding to failure, we learn how therapy has positively impacted on Harvey’s daily life, and offered a fresh perspective on other regular challenges. From coming off social media to reconnecting wi…

1
#30 Harvey Matthewson - One Foot In Front Of The Other 30:27

5M ago30:27

30:27

In our second episode in conversation with Harvey, we learn how a trip to Africa as a teenager led to a change in his life approach. Being thrown in at the deep end as a shy child, Harvey shares how he spent weeks “making friends and making people laugh”, and he came away with a greater awareness of the importance of a support network. In his exit …

1
#29 Harvey Matthewson - Facing Fears 29:29

5M ago29:29

29:29

Our second guest on this new series of Inspire-Ability is Harvey Matthewson. Anyone that has visited Aerobility in recent years will likely recognise Harvey and his laugh, as he has gone from being a front-desk volunteer, to the Ground Services Manager for Aerobility as well as managing the charity’s Equal Skies Charter advocacy initiative. In the …

1
#28 Emma Henderson - Tea and Empathy 29:58

5M ago29:58

29:58

In the final part of our conversation with Captain Emma Henderson MBE, we learn how implementing the changes discussed in episode 3, meant that Emma “breezed” through her second Command Course, and she discusses with Harriett how these changes went on to make her a better airline Captain. It was not all plain sailing for Emma however, as we learn t…

1
#27 Emma Henderson - Behind the Bulletproof Door 29:46

6M ago29:46

29:46

In the third offering from our conversation with Captain Emma Henderson, she expands on our previous episode’s ‘capacity bucket’ theory, and discusses the importance of accepting help when it is offered. Having suffered from demyelinating neuropathies and being told she may spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair, Emma describes how she was “luc…

1
#26 Emma Henderson - Capacity Bucket 30:41

6M ago30:41

30:41

In the second episode of series 2, Emma shares how her love of flying first began at the age of 18, and how a series of coincidences led to her joining a University Air Squadron; having also met her husband on UAS, and moving to New Zealand to support his RAF career, she was able to resume her flying lessons - but under one condition: “if I start f…

1
#25 Emma Henderson - I’ll Do It 30:40

6M ago30:40

30:40

Inspire-Ability is back for a second series! Our first guest is Captain Emma Henderson MBE who chats to our host Harriett about her life, from being a military spouse through to starring in ‘Inside the Cockpit’ while a Captain with easyJet. In this first episode, Emma reflects on her childhood and the sources of inspiration that she drew on. We als…

1
#24 Tetyana Shevchenko - Living History 32:24

10M ago32:24

32:24

In the final part of our chat with Tetyana, she and Harriett discuss women in aviation, from the lack of role models for girls to the dearth of aviation in education. Tetyana is a key proponent of the importance of airshows for inspiring young aviators, and she explains the challenges now that there are more pathways for girls into flying, but fewe…

1
#23 Tetyana Shevchenko - A Bigger Purpose 22:55

11M ago22:55

22:55

In the third part of our conversation with Tetyana Shevchenko, we hear how she approached “fitting in”, after concerns were raised that her short stature would limit her ability to fly classic jets. In this particularly literal case, Tetyana adapted herself to her surroundings to achieve success, and she reflects on the importance of resilience - e…

1
#22 Tetyana Shevchenko - Aviate, Vegetate, Communicate! 30:25

11M ago30:25

30:25

In our second episode with Tetyana Shevchenko, the focus is on learning and managing stress levels in a learning environment. We hear about the importance of building a support network and working with other people, as well as the importance of mental health and how being aware of it helps minimise the pressures you might put on yourself. Tetyana p…

1
#21 Tetyana Shevchenko - Eyes Wide Open 28:36

11M ago28:36

28:36

Our next guest in the series, Tetyana Shevchenko is an experienced pilot, and the only female heritage jet pilot flying the Jet Provost. She discusses with Harriett how her behaviour has changed from childhood, when she had been a sickly child that struggled in social situations. Having grown up in Ukraine, Tetyana then moved to the UK to become a …

1
#20 Mike Miller-Smith - Nothing is Impossible 19:10

11M ago19:10

19:10

This is the final part of our trilogy with Mike Miller-Smith, the “Accidental CEO” of Aerobility. Having discussed the past, Mike talks about the future with Harriett, and reflects on some of the challenges of integrating disabled people into aviation operations. He is drawn on subjects relating to leadership and people management, and we hear the …

1
#19 Mike Miller-Smith - Retaking Control 21:58

11M ago21:58

21:58

In the second part of our conversation with Aerobility CEO Mike Miller-Smith, we hear how Mike “recalibrated” to use his chair, and how it actually enabled him to get his previous lifestyle back. Along the way, we learn how a piece of lunar technology keeps Mike on the move, and how first-hand experience of the use of a hoist to keep flying reinfor…

1
#18 Mike Miller-Smith - The Fight to Fly 22:28

12M ago22:28

22:28

In the first of three episodes in conversation with Aerobility CEO Mike Miller-Smith, we hear how a lifelong interest in aviation looked set to culminate in a career as an airline pilot, until a gradually developing health condition changed his course entirely. Mike reflects on his time at university, where despite having to respond to a failure in…

1
#17 Brian Penfold - Master of My Own Destiny 37:52

12M ago37:52

37:52

The final part of our conversation with retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Brian Penfold, in which he discusses the impact of health anxiety, and the importance of taking control before it changes your behaviour. Brian discusses the importance of charity, and his own motivations for beginning fundraising in the 1980s with his daughter’s diagnosis with…

1
#16 Brian Penfold - Look Forward 31:19

12M ago31:19

31:19

In the third of four episodes in conversation with Brian Penfold, Harriett discusses how life changed following his life-changing diagnosis with an incurable form of leukaemia. We then hear how Brian received a further setback with another “buy one get one free” diagnosis a few years later, when a routine blood check up indicated an unrelated cance…

1
#15 Brian Penfold - A Helping Hand 27:44

1y ago27:44

27:44

In the second part of our conversation with former Army Lieutenant Colonel Brian Penfold, we hear how he began his rehabilitation from a life-changing accident while on deployment. Never one to sit idle, Brian recalls that while recuperating he began his Masters in Aviation Safety Engineering alongside undertaking a 24/7 role with the Army’s Specia…

1
#14 Brian Penfold - Route to Success 34:45

1y ago34:45

34:45

The first episode of our four-part interview with retired Lieutenant Colonel Brian Penfold, whose Army career spanned nearly four decades and saw him become one of the most “trained” officers in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). Brian talks us through his career, from joining the Army and learning the importance of teamwork and …

1
#13 Neil Tucker - Wings of Pride 37:38

1y ago37:38

37:38

In the final part of our conversation with Neil Tucker, we hear the positive mental impact that flying has had on his day-to-day life, and the significance of having a passion to immerse yourself in. Neil describes how he has been able to combine his passion with a sense of duty to give back to the “aviation community centre” that helped transform …

1
#12 Neil Tucker - Prescription for Positivity 32:26

1y ago32:26

32:26

In this episode, Neil reflects on his recovery from a life-changing accident and the importance of focusing on incremental progress. With typical good humour, Neil describes how Aerobility gave his life its “sparkle” back, and how he overcame some of the challenges he faced when re-soloing. We also hear how a prescription for a “dose of PMA” was an…

1
#11 Neil Tucker - Attitude of Gratitude 29:34

1y ago29:34

29:34

The first part of our conversation with Neil Tucker, a trustee of Aerobility and a self-described “propeller-head”. A life-long lover of aviation, it took 35 ‘gap-years’ and a serious motorcycle accident before he re-gained his wings with Aerobility. In this episode, we hear about how Neil overcame the initial adversity of his life-changing acciden…

1
#10 Brian Jones - Winds of Hope 25:20

1y ago25:20

25:20

In the final part of our conversation with Brian Jones, we hear how the team was received by the press upon landing. From oblivious dignitaries in Egypt to meeting astronauts, Presidents and royalty, Brian reflects with Harriett as to whether or not he was changed by the celebrity experience. In an emotional retrospective, we hear how both Breitlin…

1
#9 Brian Jones - The Only Sure Way to Fail is to Quit 25:06

1y ago25:06

25:06

In this episode, Brian discusses some of the challenges and unexpected life-threatening situations that he and Bertrand Piccard faced during their record-breaking circumnavigation. He describes the importance of feeding off your team, and how Piccard later said of their flight, that there was “Three of us… there was Brian, there was me, and there w…

1
#8 Brian Jones - Pilots, Friends, Brothers 33:08

1y ago33:08

33:08

The first part of our interview with balloonist Brian Jones, who in 1999 was part of the Breitling Orbiter 3 team that was the first to circumnavigate the world by hot air balloon. In this episode, Brian describes his journey, from an inauspicious start in the RAF as a clerk with no O Levels, to a fully-qualified pilot, and how a chance encounter i…

1
#7 James Ketchell - It's All Mental 37:38

1y ago37:38

37:38

The final episode in conversation with adventurer and motivational speaker, James Ketchell. Following successful expeditions around the world, James overcame a trio of incidents that led to dramatic rescues from the middle of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, before conquering these setbacks to once again circumnavigate the globe, this time by autogy…

1
#6 James Ketchell - The Ultimate Triathlon 24:21

1y ago24:21

24:21

In this third instalment of James Ketchell’s fascinating chat with Harriett, he reflects on how life changed (or didn’t) following his successful solo row across the Atlantic. He describes finding his “calling” in a life of adventure, despite a life-threatening ordeal descending from the summit of Everest. Tune in next week for the fourth and final…

1
#5 James Ketchell - Defining Moment 26:53

1+ y ago26:53

26:53

Having successfully rowed across the Atlantic solo, James Ketchell’s life was changed forever when he became dedicated to a life of adventure and personal endeavour. From the isolation of the mid-Atlantic to the ice ladders of Mount Everest, James shares the importance of marginal gains and staying motivated, and how approaching challenges one day …

1
#4 James Ketchell - A Second Chance 31:46

1+ y ago31:46

31:46

Following a serious motorcycle accident, James Ketchell’s outlook on life was permanently changed. In the first of a four-part interview, James discusses how he went from a hospital bed to rowing across the Atlantic solo; along the way, he shares his secrets to staying motivated, and the importance of mentors and accepting help and advice.…

1
#3 Suzy Morgan - Blazing a Trail 29:03

1+ y ago29:03

29:03

Having flown for the first time on her father’s knee at the age of 4, Suzy Morgan’s passion for flying really took off through her University Air Squadron, and has led to a trailblazing career from short-haul aircraft at British Midland, and becoming a Captain on the Boeing 777 for a leading British airline. Suzy discusses the role of women in avia…

1
#2 Liz McConaghy - Through Adversity 26:43

1+ y ago26:43

26:43

Liz discusses her adjustment from active service to civilian life, and the mental health struggles that have affected her along the way. This frank and honest conversation sheds light on how she now has overcome the adversity that almost led to the loss of her life, and how changing your approach to failure can improve your resilience and help you …

1
#1 Liz McConaghy - A Sense of Purpose 21:49

1+ y ago21:49

21:49

The rebooted series of Inspire-Ability kicks off with a completely compelling interview with Liz McConaghy. From a small town in County Down to the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan, RAF veteran Liz McConaghy shares with us her journey to the front line, and 17-year career as a Chinook Crewman. As the only woman in her intake, and the youngest ai…

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