Hosted by Col. Merryl Tengesdal (USN, USAF, ret.) and Lt. Col. Caroline Jensen (USAF, ret.), AFNS is an unfiltered conversation between two trailblazing military aviators who share their unique experiences in combat, reconnaissance, and demonstration flying. Through personal stories & even more laughter, they explore the challenges of balancing leadership, motherhood, and work/life balance in the military while offering insights for those transitioning from military to civilian life.Strap in because this series gets into the nitty gritty - and we can assure you, it's all fire and no smoke.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Host [Host Name] interviews Nicole Malachowski, the first woman Thunderbird pilot, as she shares her journey of breaking military barriers and the power of mentorship.
17 Oct 2025TRANSCRIPT
Barriers Broken
First woman Thunderbird pilot Nicole Malachowski shares her journey of resilience and leadership, discussing how she broke barriers and drove change through mentorship and authenticity in this interview.
10 Oct 2025
Fill Your Shoes - Pt.2
Host Heather 'Princess' Fox shares advanced leadership communication strategies for guiding large teams toward bold goals while remaining authentic in this interview.
3 Oct 2025
Fill Your Shoes - Pt. 1
Host "Princess" Fox shares leadership communication strategies for guiding large teams authentically in this interview with Merryl.
26 Sept 2025
Amber Brierly: S.I.C. - Special Live Episode
Dragon Lady Merryl Tengesdal interviews CFI and entrepreneur Amber Brierly about aviation, community, and essential flying skills, offering insights into confidence and navigating bias in the cockpit.
5 Sept 2025
Decide to Rise
Hosts Caroline "Blaze" Jensen and Merryl "Dragon Lady" Tengesdal discuss resilience and self-care during their mid-season check-in, sharing personal updates and military experiences.
14 Jun 2025
Ryan "Motor" Riley - "Trust Over Noise" - Part 2
Former fighter pilots Ryan "Motor" Riley and Caroline "Blaze" Jensen discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion in military aviation, emphasizing trust, mentorship, and performance as Caroline Jensen interviews Ryan Riley.
12 Jun 2025
Ryan "Motor" Riley - "Trust Over Noise" - Part 1
Ryan "Motor" Riley discusses his experiences flying the F-16 and leading the Thunderbirds, emphasizing leadership, teamwork, and advocating for instructors in this interview.
7 Jun 2025
Sharon "Betty" Preszler - "Nowhere to Hide - Part 2
Sharon "Betty" Preszler discusses the removal of pioneering service member stories from military websites and how these narratives build pride and resilience in this interview episode.
5 Jun 2025
Sharon "Betty" Preszler - "Nowhere to Hide - Part 1
F-16 pilot Sharon "Betty" Preszler recounts breaking barriers as one of the first women fighter pilots in the U.S. Air Force, facing scrutiny and a harrowing emergency ejection, in this interview.
2 May 2025
SEASON 2 INTRO | The 2nd Season of All Fire No Smoke Is Here
Oh, you thought that was just a one-time thing? Ha! We're back! And, as is standard protocol, we're bringing the fire, but now this time with unfiltered, guest-driven episodes. Here's a fun, quick intro from our hosts to set the tone of SEASON 2 of All Fire No Smoke.
Stay tuned for our full-length episodes as we record guest interviews with the women and men who have paved the way for a stronger, QUALIFIED aviation industry today.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
21 Feb 2025
Ep. 8 - Fired Up
How does the right inspiration unlock your next move—no matter your age? Whether it’s a mentor, a movement, or a piece of media that sparks something inside you, the right fuel can change everything. In this episode, Blaze and The Dragon Lady talk about the power of surrounding yourself with the right influences, how to tap into relentless motivation, and --as ridiculous as it sounds--why the fire inside you is only as strong as the sparks you feed it. No excuses—just ignition.
17 Feb 2025
Ep. 7 - Caged Animal
How does routine set you free instead of holding you back? In a world full of expectations, outdated traditions, and external pressures, trusting your gut can feel like breaking the rules. But real performance—whether in the cockpit, in business, or in life—comes from optimizing your own system, not forcing yourself into someone else’s mold.
In episode 7, Blaze and The Dragon Lady unpack the power of structure, routine, and mental agility, and why it's time to ditch the stigma around doing what actually works.
13 Feb 2025
Ep. 6 - Friendly Fire
How does even the most experienced pilot get humbled in the cockpit? No matter how many flight hours or how many impossible maneuvers you’ve mastered, aviation has a way of keeping you on your toes. In episode 6 - Blaze and The Dragon Lady break down how even elite pilots can get schooled by the simplest training scenarios—and why, as women in aviation, the margin for error is razor-thin. From hard lessons in the sky to the relentless pursuit of excellence, this episode is all about resilience, precision, and proving yourself over and over again.
26 Dec 2024
Ep. 5 - Warfighter
How do military aviators balance the high-stakes demands of their careers with the equally challenging responsibilities of parenthood?
In episode 5: "Warfighter," our hosts dive head first into their simoltaneous experiences as military leaders and new mothers, sharing the wins and also the trials of navigating motherhood in the armed forces.
From timing the decision to have children to facing the cultural stigma around women in the military starting families, their stories reveal the strength, adaptability, and unwavering determination required to thrive in both roles.
Dragon Lady and Blaze discuss the importance of support systems, the resilience of military children, and how their families became part of their careers.
Whether you're a parent, a professional, or simply curious about the lives of military families, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.
12 Dec 2024
Ep. 4 - We Ride at Dawn
Blaze and Dragon Lady, two decorated military leaders, share their experiences and insights on how compassion, adaptability, and humility shape effective leadership in the cockpit and beyond.
26 Nov 2024
Ep. 3 - Knock It Off
F-16 Aggressor Squadron pilots, including Lt. Col. Joe Ritchie and Major Dave 'Doc' Dolby, reveal how their high-stakes flying lessons inform parenting with honesty, accountability, and empathy.
11 Nov 2024
Ep. 2 - Don't Call Me Honey
How does a woman in the military put a stop to being called "sir" one too many times? And do the life-support systems in a fighter jet cater to both men and women's "plumbing?"
In Episode 2 - Don't Call Me Honey, our hosts discuss how they helped their male counterparts see things differently and become thought leaders in supporting both men and women in their squadrons. They also dive in on what it was like joining the first generations of women to fly in the US Military after the combat exclusion policy was lifted.
They cover why women have to adhere to tighter margins of error and failure in military flying and in general life, and how they leveraged this realization to lift others up around them.
As always, this discussion is all fire and no smoke, and a strict reminder to always be careful about adding terms of endearment for your coworkers, especially your flight instructor.
28 Oct 2024
Ep. 1 - The Land of the Not Quite Right
How did two women find themselves in some of the most prestigious and coveted flying roles in the United States Air Force? Whether flying inches apart from another fighter jet in close formation at 500mph, or taking reconnaissance images at 70,000 feet, our hosts spare no detail on their historic paths.
In Episode 1 of All Fire No Smoke, The Land of the Not Quite Right, Blaze and Dragon Lady dive into their backgrounds and childhoods, their inspirations to pursue military aviation, and how they view motherhood up against their vast lists of career achievements. There's also quite a lot of laughter along the way.
It takes a special kind of human to strap into a U-2 Spy Plane or F-16 fighter, and in this episode, our hosts explain how they fit that mould just right.
We are very proud to release this project and hope you'll enjoy!
Keep 'em flying!
- Blaze and Dragon Lady
Inside a recent episode
Nicole Malachowski: Barriers Broken | Pt. 2
Published 24 Oct 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what I was going to reinvent myself as. And I came across, I want to share with you guys, the Japanese philosophy called Ikigai, I-K-I-G-A-I. I'm probably pronouncing it wrong. And I'm going to give a very basic Western philosophy. a view of a very complex, beautiful Japanese tradition. So I want to honor and respect that. But it's all about finding your purpose in life. Because I felt purposeless, right? I was rudderless. I mean, I can't go fly for the airlines. What am I supposed to go do? And IcaGai is an intersection of answer to four questions. Something you're good at, something you love, something you can get paid for, and something the world needs. […]
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