Air Force pilots have to learn skills quickly to perform when the stakes matter. In a world where mentorship is scarce, this podcast is a resource to help you help yourself, and others.
This is a podcast created to help MQ-9 Reaper crews who want to master their craft. But the material can help any skill-heavy professional maximize how fast they learn or how well they develop others.
Season one is focused on helping skilled flyers self develop, and become better guides and teachers. Good luck, we're all counting on you!
This season I'll be talking to instructors who keep me honest. And to start it off, I'm bringing Cosmo and Dwight to talk about their journeys and what they feel are the most important lessons for flying students and instructors.
Note: The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
BONUS: Debating Truth > Ego
In this last episode, Notebook LM debates whether the idea of Truth over Ego is practical in a cynical, bureaucratic world. I wasn't sure what to expect when I asked the AI to debate this, but I loved the outcome. It's really a very challenging look at integrity and what it means in an imperfect world.
Thanks for listening, I hope the material this season helped. I recommend going back an reviewing each episode at some point and picking something new out of each episode each week to keep chasing who you want to become. Remember to check the appendices for more resources that don't fit into a podcast format.
Good luck and God Bless!
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
Note: The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
BONUS: Debating Skill vs Affect
What's more important, learning skills or affects? Today, Notebook LM will debate which one matters more to starting your journey to become a wise instructor. Let me know in the episode 10 poll if you like or hate this style of presentation!
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E12 The Traits of Good Instructors
In this episode we'll discuss the things that come to mind when thinking of "good" instructors, the kinds of things we're trying to emulate in our pursuit of mastery and wisdom. This material was originally written by LtCol "Count" Magnuson and Maj "Whiskers" Whitfield, thank you for your thoughtful inputs.
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
BONUS: Debating what Matters
In this episode, NotebookLM presents the last material as a Debate-Team might, what is more important: Ownership or Aircrew Discipline. Let me know in the episode 10 poll if you liked this format or not!
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E11 Things that Matter in Aviation
This episode reviews the mindsets that matter to Aviators, with a capital "A." There is nothing more important to becoming a master instructor than these things...but they're hard to learn. There are three ways to learn these:
Pay attention and hang out with people who walk the talk,
Recite/create helpful mantras
Read/Listen to material on the subject (like this episode), then introspect on how you're demonstrating it in your life
Use the Debrief Focal Point to learn it (see the instructor handbook).
Thanks to LtCol “Buzz” Larned & Maj “Juice” Cooper, who wrote the original versions of this section.
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
BONUS: Debating the Science
This episode is an extra that may not be for everyone. Here, Notebook LM uses the material in the last episode to debate whether it's more important to start with a good mindset or a good system. It's a fascinating (and sometimes confusing) way to look at the same material as AI demonstrates how a debate-team might present the material.
I'd love to know if this episode was helpful, or just confusing. Let me know!
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E10 A Summary of the Science
This episode includes a quick overview of the kinds of principles that you can find when you look into relevant, credible, peer-reviewed science. Listen and see if this material challenges any assumptions you have. If it does, look it up on Google Scholar and see what you have to learn!
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E09 Instructors Succeed (or Fail) Together
Today we'll talk about the idea that instructor cadre need to work together. We'll talk about why it's so important to think and act as a team, as a standardized but diverse group working together to create a coherent, amazing student experience.
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E08 Learning is Never "Done"
Today we'll talk about the idea of "mental models," and why improving the model will never result in a perfect replica of reality. They're helpful, but always more simple. Enjoy!
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E07 Teaching Skillsets and Value-Systems
Video Episode. This episode uses video to help illustrate the difference between learning and teaching different things: Knowledge, Skills, and Mindsets. If you mix them up, you'll muddy everything. This is the episode most folks struggle with, because we've been conditioned our whole lives to think that all learning is alike...but that's not what the science says.
Buckle up and don't pair this with another episode. Just watch it by itself. Once you get it, it make sense...but until you do you will want to take time with this one. Good Luck!
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E06 Systems Defeat Bias
Cognitive bias can kill self-development. We all suffer from them, but we can't SEE them affecting us. Today we'll talk about how you can defeat those biases without needing to memorize hundreds of specific biases, and without infinite willpower. The system is your friend. Truth > Ego.
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The material lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
You can find Thriving in Chaos, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/sM~QV8t
23 Dec 2025
S1E05 Student Matters Most
This episode talks about what I (Data) learned when I had my first "perfect" brief...that the brief matters a whole lot less than the student who is trying to learn from it. This episode talks about a subtle perspective that can drive incredibly impactful growth if you are humble enough to really learn to listen to your student.
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E04 Break the Cycle of Stupid
This is the episode that inspired the cover art. When bad ideas come back up over and again, they kill progress. That's called "Collective Stupidity" as opposed to "Collective Intelligence." This episode talks about how we can be part of creating a collectively intelligent community, and avoid being part of that cycle of stupidity.
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E03 Lessons from AF History
In this episode we look at 100 years of Air Force history, and 11 of our the biggest takeaways. Pick one or two and think on them, and they're sure to help you learn something about yourself and something you can work on.
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E02 6 Most Common Errors of MQ-9 Instructors
In this episode we talk about the six most common errors that Data has seen in 12 years of teaching instructors. These ones pop up all the time, and knowing them can save you a great deal of pain.
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E01 Beginning of Wisdom
In this episode we discuss what mindsets are key to improving in the first place, especially if you want to be a wise instructor or leader. This is the difference between a "Know-it-all" (who I used to be) and a person who actually helps (who I hope I am now). Enjoy!
This episode was produced with AI assistance. Voices provided by NotebookLM; content curated and edited by Data.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
23 Dec 2025
S1E0 Introduction
This is an introduction to the Podcast. This podcast does not represent the views or policies of the US Air Force, it is the product of the author's experience, others like him, and the peer reviewed science that informed those opinion.
The paper lives on Intelink, here:
Learning: https://go.intelink.gov/fs-4X
Instruction: https://go.intelink.gov/aksteR7
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