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Join Ben Todd, student pilot and competitive bodybuilder, as he documents the journey from flight training to professional aviation, while pursuing peak physical and mental performance.
Each episode of The Performance Pilot dives into the parallels between flying and fitness: discipline, precision, mindset, and continuous improvement. Through personal stories and conversations with industry professionals, Ben explores what it really takes to perform at the highest level — in the cockpit, in the gym, and in life.
Kait (00:00)
something that I am continuously seeing in exceptional pilots is that they kind of like what you've said before is like always learning. Like you can't get an ego and I have flown with guys that for sure have an ego and they think, like I am the best. I can't get better. Like I'm God's gift, you know, and sure, they're probably good pilots, but I mean, if you like
are already convinced that you know it all, like you've already basically closed off your mind to learning more and becoming better, if that makes sense.
Ben Todd (00:55)
Welcome to the Performance Pilot Podcast, where aviation meets athletic ambition. I'm your host, Ben Todd, private pilot, competitive bodybuilder, and lifelong learner, sharing my journey from the gym to the sky. Each episode will explore the habits, discipline, and mindset that it takes to perform at your best, both in and out of the cockpit. Let's get everyone.
Kait (01:38)
Okay.
Ben Todd (01:28)
Welcome back to another episode of the podcast. today is a special day. I've got an interview. First interview I'm doing since January. So it's been
it's been a little while. I have been super excited to do this interview with this person. I think once I had the idea to start this podcast, I this was the first person I thought of to interview because she is living the life that I am aspiring to live. She's a pilot.
She competes as bodybuilder. She travels literally everywhere. And
Kait (02:03)
Yeah.
Ben Todd (02:04)
Has such a cool life, and I'm super excited to kind of learn more about
her journey, her life, and just kind of pick her brain about aviation and fitness and all of the things. So today's guest is a first officer in a major airline. She is a graduate of Emberidal Aeronautical University with a bachelor's degree in aeronautics. She is an OCB bodybuilder in the bikini division. she competed in her first show this past October.
And she is also a dog mom to the cutest Kavapoo pup named Yogi, who will most likely be making an appearance on video. Please welcome today's guest, Kate Shaffery. Kate, thank you for joining me. Super excited to have you on the show.
Kait (02:38)
Okay. Okay.
Hey, Ben, thanks for the introduction. Yeah, excited to like I was telling you earlier, flying and fitness are like something I can talk about forever. So it's something that I'm pretty excited about and like to talk about a lot.
Ben Todd (03:02)
Yeah, I'm super excited about it. I just just from your social media, like I see you.
Ben Todd (03:08)
All over the place. You're always doing new things. You're always out and about. And it's it's super cool to just kind of see your journey and watch it from afar. And it really kind of gives me some like inspiration and guidance and like just something to look forward to as I'm kind of going through my journey. You know, obviously being a little private pilot, I still have a very long way to go until I'm flying for a major airline, but just kind of seeing you and just
Kait (03:10)
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (03:37)
You give me the inspiration to know that that is possible that I can do that in some point in the future. And it's just gonna take time just to get there. So
Kait (03:42)
Mm-hmm.
For sure.
For sure.
Ben Todd (03:49)
All right, so we're gonna break this up into a couple of different sections. The first section I wanna talk about is your aviation experience. Let's briefly discuss your upbringing, what got you inter interested in in interested in aviation, and why did you want to become a pilot?
Kait (04:06)
Okay, cool. So I am from a small town, Arizona called Pine Top. And I was introduced into this industry through my mother. She's a flight attendant. And you know, she was a commuter out of our small town. So she would commute on, you know, in those days the airline was Great Lakes. So the original, you know, people that know aviation will know Great Lakes. And so sh yeah, R I P.
Ben Todd (04:32)
R. I P R I P Great Lakes.
Kait (04:35)
You know, I can't talk crap about them because they came in clutch for my mother who was trying to fly down to Phoenix from my small town. well, most of the time. Sometimes she did have to drive too. But anyways, my family would drive her to the airport and you know, I'd see like great lakes flying out of there and I was like, my god, that's so cool. Like those little planes flying out of here. I'd love to do that. And then as I got more into aviation, I was like, I don't know if that's the airline I want to work for.
But you know, as a kid, I was like, we go to the small airport and I see her leave and commuting, and I was like, all right, I think that's something I'd really want to do. But it was not something I seriously ever looked into all through like grade school, mostly through high school as well. but that's how I was introduced to this industry, which makes me kind of sad because I feel like if it wasn't for my mom, I would have never thought about being a pilot, which is why it's like pretty important to me.
I'm trying to get a little bit more involved in like youths, especially like girls in general, just kind of showing them that or just like exposing the industry a little bit more because until recently, you know, it's been prior like the majority of airline pilots have been prior military. And you know, that's not always the that's not the only route. even though primarily that used to be the only route or the primary route.
And so that's kind of how I grew up. And you know, my mom's not a pilot and I didn't have any mentors or anything like that. So it was not something that I ever really considered too much of growing up. And I'm not a I'm I'll admit it, I'm not a super smart person. I'm just a hard worker. And math never really came math does not come easy to me. And I just thought that like pilots were like scientists, basically.
I was like, there is no way that I there's that that is a career for me, basically. but I honestly kinda I I have two brothers and my little brother and I grew up playing a lot of video games and I think that's kinda how I got into like dexterity and things like that as just growing up playing video games. and you know, like just being around like my like family, just being around aviation.
like my like centered around my mother. So I think that's that's the big the biggest reason why I was introduced into aviation was just my mother being a commuter out of a small airport and we would pick her up and take her to work all the time.
Ben Todd (07:08)
That's super cool. And I can relate to that because and I've shared this in previous episodes that my dad was a ramp agent for America West, based here in Phoenix, long time ago. And, you know, that's that's kind of how I got exposed to it, right? I you know, we would go to the airport before nine eleven, you'd be able to go like down to the gate and kind of hang out, and it it was not as
Kait (07:15)
Mm-hmm. Yes, I remember that. Yes. Yes. Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
So cool. I remember
I was sorry, I was gonna say the same thing. I remember dropping my mom off at Sholo Airport and there's no security there. You know, we would just walk her up to like the plane basically. And like we had this is how small my town is. like our field trips were to like the airport. This is the only airport in the vicinity of my town. And I remember going to the airport when I was like doing field trips and there was no security there. So it's so cool to like.
talk to someone where they like were were around it but really didn't have like that pilot mentor. Like you get it. Like it was cool to like see it, but like it's hard to kind of make that jump when you don't really have the knowledge.
Ben Todd (08:13)
Yeah, I can I can absolutely relate to that. I've had to do, I mean, I don't really I've been involved in a couple of like aviation groups here in Phoenix. but I aviation really wasn't anything in my family either, aside from my dad. Like I didn't know any pilots personally. So it was a lot of of my own research I had to do. But I wanted to just go back I wanted to go back on something you said briefly. Women in Aviation International, I think is such a great organization because of
Kait (08:27)
Exactly. Same.
Yeah, me too.
Yes.
Ben Todd (08:44)
what they do and what their mission is to help inspire girls to get involved in aviation. Because I think for a long time and and to a still to a certain degree now, like it's a very male dominated field. And so I think being able to immerse girls in aviation and like kind of like let them know what it's about and give them some exposure to it. And maybe it'll, you know, pique their interest of something that they want to do. I think that's a really cool
Kait (08:49)
Mm-hmm.
yeah. Mm-hmm.
Right. Right.
Ben Todd (09:12)
you know, mission of that organization to to do that.
Kait (09:14)
Yeah, for sure.
Mm-hmm. I like I and that and the ninety nines are another great organization as well. And they're also any major city is gonna have a ninety nines chapter there. So any like young adult that comes up to me, I always suggest like getting involved in the ninety nines and at least getting like some like exposure that way and finding other mentors and pilots that can kind of whether it be help, inspire, whatever it may be, just needing some advice, someone to talk to.
Ben Todd (09:19)
The ninety nines.
Kait (09:43)
that's another opportunity for females in any really major city to go ahead and look into what chapter is like closest to them.
Ben Todd (09:51)
Absolutely. And and we'll kind of get into a little bit later on, just kind of some of your thoughts and advice on some of that. But so once you decided that, hey, this being a pilot thing might be pretty cool, what what were your next steps? Like where did you do your training? Actually, I know where you did your training, but can you tell the listeners where you did your training and how did you choose to build your hours after that?
Kait (09:54)
For sure. Mm-hmm.
Ha ha.
Yeah.
So I I graduated high school in twenty thirteen and I did just, you know, English one on one, math one on one, just basic college stuff for a year, not really knowing I like changed majors several times. I had no idea what I was doing. Again, in high school, I was always like, being a pilot would be a cool thing, but like again, I didn't have resources, knowledge, or really like the motivation really to like truly think that it's something that I could do.
It wasn't until that my first year being out of high school and living in the city was I was mooching off my mom's flight benefits a lot. And that's how I was able to meet some pilots. And I was like, you know, I would sell them the same thing at like my fears. I'm like, I've always wanted to do that. And I was like, I know like I don't want to be a flight attendant, but I've always wanted to think I've always thought it would be so cool to be a pilot. And it was really cool. Every single one I talked to was like
You gotta do it. Like, I'm not good at math either. You should do a discovery flight. You live in Phoenix. That's such a great place to do flight training. I got a lot of encouragement from a lot of different like random guys where I was just, you know, traveling around. And you know, as a non-rev, you kind of check in with the flight attendant, say hi to the pilots and let them know that my mom works there and stuff and chat. So it was really cool just talking to a handful of guys. And I was like, you know, maybe this is some like just having
Someone tell me I can do it and it is achievable. And you live in a great city to go ahead and even look into it. So that's what I started to do. I again didn't really have like a set mentor. So you know, you Google flight training in Arizona and you know what's gonna come up, like Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. And I know that that is how you introduce me. I do have a degree from them, but I did it all primarily online. I did not do my flight training with Embry Riddle.
I did my flight training with the University of North Dakota out of the Gateway Airport. And they have like what you're doing out of with conjunction and the Chandler Gilbert community college. they have that I know it's changed a lot, but when I was doing it and I think you did it this way too, it was like on a semester schedule. And you have to Yeah, tell me a little bit about it.
Ben Todd (12:25)
Yep. Yep. So you you take Yeah,
so the way that they have it set up these days, and I I don't know if it was different back when you were i evaluating that as an option, but yeah, it's based on the semester schedule. you have I mean I came in with a ton of transfer credits because I've taken like two years of college. So I all of my gen eds were pretty much done. So really all I needed to do was schedule my flight lessons through my instructor.
Kait (12:35)
Mm-hmm.
Cool. Right. Right. Nice.
Ben Todd (12:54)
we had a ground school that was led by one of the senior instructors at UND, but it was through Chandler Gilbert College. So we would go to the college two days a week, sit in ground school for an hour and a half, and then we had, you know, tests subsequently after that. But so they it's a slower pace than UND's accelerator program. UND's accelerator program is you do it exactly through UND, you have no affiliation with the community college.
Kait (13:08)
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Okay.
Sure. Interesting.
Ben Todd (13:23)
And that
program that program condenses down. I think the private pilot program you get done in less than 90 days. whereas through Chandler Gilbert, yeah, it it it gave it gives people options, right? So I mean, if you have the funding to do the accelerated and you want to just get it done and you have the study habits, I will say just through my experience that the pacing at Chandler Gilbert was
Kait (13:30)
Wow. I'm kinda glad they did that.
For sure.
Right, exactly.
Uh-huh.
Ben Todd (13:50)
fast enough for me to be able to still allocate time to studying and really making sure I knew what I was like doing. I felt really prepared going into tests and stage checks and and the check ride and everything. the accelerator program, yeah, the
Kait (14:00)
Right. Yeah. So mine was the same way. Sorry, my mine was the same.
So I did it this th through the semester program. I didn't know if like the acceleration way was like the only way now, but like the way that you did it was the same way I do it. Did it.
Ben Todd (14:15)
Yeah, and and I will
say I've heard from other people the accelerated program is is fast. Like they're I mean, you're flying s five, six, seven days a week. You've got ground school f four days a week. Like you've got it it's it's fast. and so you really have to be able to dedicate the time and the energy to do it. otherwise you won't be successful. Yeah, a hundred percent. It's it's very similar.
Kait (14:26)
Yeah.
Sure. It sounds like ATP.
It sounds like ATP and for
some people that's great. that's just again, I am someone that is not I need time to like learn things at my own pace. And it's a something like ATP is just not something I know that I would thrive in.
Ben Todd (14:55)
Yeah, and
I I can relate to that. I I feel the same way.
Kait (14:58)
Yeah.
And for some people, that's great. It works well. And I just knew with I I had options and I was like, I know that that is just not something I I knew that it's not something I really wanted to do. So it I actually so you know, like I was saying earlier, you Google flight training in Arizona and Embry Riddle Prescott comes up. So I literally I liked their I viewed their campus. I got accepted. I even got like a lot of scholarships too, but even with you know, all that.
Ben Todd (15:02)
Hundred percent.
Kait (15:28)
financial help. I at the end I even had like a like an enrollment fee in there and everything. I was like about to pick out dorms and stuff. And like when I finally did decide that this is what I wanted to do. And I was I we started breaking me and my family started breaking down the money and we're like, there's no way that like this is attainable. I'm like, this is gonna put me in debt forever. You know?
Ben Todd (15:54)
You know, and and no hate to Ember Riddle, it's a fantastic program. but when I was a junior in high school, my family came out here, we toured the campus, I love the campus. I also had a lot of financial aid, I had a lot of scholarships just because I I, you know, was a pretty good student. but even at that time, it was we my family and I had the same conversation. It was just too too much money to invest at that time.
Kait (15:58)
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Yes, mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (16:22)
and that's why I decided not to as well.
Kait (16:23)
Right.
Right, exactly. So I pulled out of that option.
Ben Todd (16:28)
I think you made I think you made a really good decision to go to UND. just from my personal experience going through their private program the last few months. I think you made a really good decision to do that.
Kait (16:31)
Yes.
Mm-hmm. Yes. Mm-hmm.
I I think I did too. if I were to do it over, I do think maybe I would have just transferred to ASU. I'm glad I didn't. Everything worked out really well. the only thing with ASU is like I would be an in-state student and I would also you know, have some scholarships. And they also had the restricted ATP. They had the restricted ATP rule. So I wouldn't have to get the full fifteen hundred hours, you know. But if I would and you know, they have a lot of
really great programs there. They have like the CRJ simulator, they have the hyperbaric chamber. There's a lot of upsides to going that route. again though, like my family and I, after learning a little bit about Ember Riddle, we're like, okay, I'm getting the same certificates at the end of the day. Do like what's the cheapest route for us to do this? And UND just happened to be the best program in my research to that.
Ben Todd (17:35)
That's that's really that's really encouraging for me to hear too, just as I continue on through my training. And, you know, I've had a such a great experience at UND so far. So it's really encouraging to hear that, you know, as you went through the entire program that you also felt the same way that you had a really good experience there.
Kait (17:37)
Mm-hmm.
Yes. Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (17:52)
So let's talk more about okay, so you instructed. How how long did you instruct for after you finished all your ratings and certificates?
Kait (17:51)
Mm-hmm.
I instructed for almost two years. so I finished my CFI mid semester. So, like we were saying, how they run off the semester program. So I was told to apply in the spring and at UND. And in the meantime, I just had my application out everywhere and I ended up getting a instructing job out of Falconfield Airport. And I really I I really liked it.
Ben Todd (18:05)
Okay.
Kait (18:29)
I start I'd started in twenty seventeen and I finished in t and my first time instructing in twenty nineteen. And I did primarily I did private private students for a little bit, but I mostly they mostly needed me for instrument instruction.
Ben Todd (18:45)
Okay. Did you feel that getting your double eye was a a good decision? That's something that I'm considering doing as I get, you know, further down the road. Would you would you say that it's would you say that it's worth it or would you rather just stick with just your CFI?
Kait (18:56)
I think it
if you can get someone else to pay for it, I think that would be awesome. So that's how the flight school that I went to, they paid for my double eye because that's where they needed the instruction. And sometimes you need to like make sign up, you need to say, hey, I'm gonna be here for X amount of hours or X amount of time if we're gonna pay for this. so that's I got lucky, so I got that paid for me. and
They came to me for E I as well. However, I was just pumping I had so many instrument students. I was like, I remember when I quit instructing, my boss was like, I'm gonna have to hire two people to replace you. Because I was just I was there six days a week, twelve hours a day. Like it was I was extreme I don't think I can ever be that motivated again. and I was just like, Bring on more students, bring on more students and the and those lessons were two hours long.
So I was getting two, four, six upward six I think the most you can do is six or eight. I was doing the most amount that you can do that each day.
Ben Todd (20:06)
That's a lot of flight time. That's a ton of flight time.
Kait (20:07)
It is is
great. Yeah. So th that was kind of my issue is like my first six months, it was very slow because it was all like just initial students. And then once I got my instrument instruction, at my CF double I is when it I it really picked up. So, anyways, they came with me to pay for my MEI as well, but I was just pumping out hours and time so much it just didn't make sense for me to commit to staying there when w
as long as they wanted me to for the MEI when I could when I was and it would have put I would have had to take a step back from students study focus and I was like it's not something that I really want to pour my energy into right now. I want to pour my energy into my students. So I ended up of course just saying no thank you to that. And so I never got my MEI, but I the double I was and I think you know you could say this about anything. If you can teach anything, you know it pretty well.
So just for that alone, I do think it's something great for any pilot to have so that they can really solidify their instrument skills and knowledge. but even even better if you could get someone to pay for it. I don't know if the industry is like that now for instructors. But when I was an instructor, they were really needing double eyes. So I was just at that was in that part of my career at a really good time for that to occur for me.
Ben Todd (21:23)
Not
Yeah, that's super cool. to my knowledge, I don't know of any flight schools that are offering that to pay for your double eye. the you know, you know as well as I know the industry ebbs and flows. so in you know, two years, once I get to, you know, maybe being a a double eye, you know, maybe things will be different. But that's really cool that you had that opportunity. I'm sure that gave you a ton of knowledge and experience in
Kait (21:40)
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Ben Todd (22:00)
Mostly probably simulated instrument conditions, but that also probably really helped you as you progressed deeper into your career.
Kait (22:07)
Sure, sure. I definitely think it was something that will s solidify anyone's skills is this learning how to teach instrument.
Ben Todd (22:15)
Hundred percent. I definitely agree with that. So after you got done instructing, you said you instructed until twenty nineteen. what was we we know what's coming in twenty twenty, but what what was next for you yeah after instructing ended in twenty nineteen?
Kait (22:21)
Yes.
Sure.
Okay, so I finished instructing at the end of twenty nineteen and I went in to a an American holy owned and this partic this particular wholly owned, God is so crazy. You know, all regionals at the time I except for Skywest was offering like sign on bonuses. You know, I had like offers from every you could get offers from any regional that you wanted, basically. so I picked a holy own because of the flow.
And at the time, getting on with the major airline was I mean, extremely hard. You needed to check every single box to even be considered and have your application even pulled up. So I and it was really nice kind of as like insurance, something in my back pocket. Like if I can't get on with the major airline, I do know that I have a flow date at the end of the day. so for that reason I selected to go with the Holy Owned with the flow.
so I was in class at the end of 2019 and then I finished tr I finished IOE right before St. Patrick's Day in March of 2020, which we also know what happened there. You know, I know, and you know what though, I try not to complain too much because besides that, I had some really good timing.
Ben Todd (23:41)
Such terrible timing. That's so terrible.
Kait (23:53)
But yeah, I we saw obviously COVID happened in March and everything it was humbling because, you know, like everyone talks about furloughs, but the industry was booming at the time. Regionals were booming, like I was saying. They were offering all these bonuses. I was like, that's not even a word on my radar, honestly. And I learned quick that it should have been. It was humbling to say the least. I was based in Chicago, so I was
at the bottom of the reserve list in Chicago all summer. And I wasn't and I was typed on the 175 out of Chicago. And you know, it was fine. I got a typewriting. I learned life how to commute. It was a very unique time in the industry that I got to experience. but in the fall I was furloughed. And obviously in March when things started I started seeing the writing on the wall.
And I reached out to my st my boss when I was an instructor and I was like, Hey, do you need any CFIs? And you know, at the time everyone also saw the writing on the walls and they're like, he's Hell no, we don't need any instructors right now. so yeah, I was furloughed that fall. I luckily still had my place that I was living in in Phoenix.
And I went back flight instructing in December in December. So I was furloughed October 1st, I believe. And then I think my flight school ended up closing a sister school or something happened where they had to move a lot of students over to the Phoenix campus. So all of a sudden there was a surplus of students. So my boss, my ex-boss reached out to me and said, Hey, I have a handful of students for you if you want to come back and instruct. And of course, like I was I loved instructing. I was really eager to get back.
I was really eager to get back flying because the guys I was hired on with my wholly owned, they they were fighting to have literally any job. Most of them were on unemployment. Like people are trying to get jobs at Starbucks, at Target, like anything. So I was like, I was so happy to get back instructing. so I went back instructing at the end of twenty twenty. And then I was doing that until
I ha you know, I had my apps out everywhere and Sky West ended up giving me a call. So I jumped ship from my holy own and went to Sky West. And that was the best decision I have ever made in my entire life. Like I stand by that. And at the time it was an extremely risky decision because what I was saying earlier of the flow.
Ben Todd (26:29)
you're at Sky West and you know, you're flying with them. When did you so what was kind of the the next step? When did you decide you wanted to start applying for the majors? How much time, like how many hours had you were you at at that point? And then what did that kind of look like for you?
Kait (26:46)
So I, like I said, I was on the 175 at my original airline and I was on the CRJ at Sky West. I freaking love the CRJ. It was such a fun little jet. I miss it so much. so I was based in Chicago again for a while. I finally got Phoenix space, but my my plan was again at the time initially, it was like, all right, you need to have a degree, you need to have turbine PIC time, like
so my you need to have all this time. So my total time I was I knew I had to upgrade if I wanted a call. And I was also some a suggestion that I make to anybody I talk to is going to those networking events. So I went to I don't think I ever make got to women in aviation, which is kind of ironic, but I got to NGPA twice and OBAC.
and Papa. I believe those are were all the ones I got to. But I mean I did at least like four or five of those. Just kind of networking and those get your resume to I was just gonna Yeah. Yes.
Ben Todd (27:54)
Did you Yeah, I wanna I wanna stop you there and just ask I wanna ask a question. Did you
find that going to the conferences were a helpful decision or like a helpful thing for you to do to get in front of recruiters, like get FaceTime with these different airlines? Do you think that that would be I'm looking at doing, you know, going to conferences later on as I get more time and get through all my ratings and certs. Would you say that would be a good decision? Would was that beneficial for you?
Kait (28:10)
Yes.
Yes. Yes. Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Yes. I was gonna say that gets your resume to the top of their stack. Face to face time. You know, they look back and they see, this person's can been to women in aviation, they've been to NGPA, they've talked to us every single time. Look how much time they're accumulating. So I I will I I know that is what got me my call to come to the airline that that I am at now because I got my call to interview less than a week.
after I went to NGPA.
Ben Todd (28:56)
That's cool. So you didn't actually you didn't get it you didn't get an interview with them in person at NGPA, but you probably talked to some of the recruiters there.
Kait (28:57)
Very cool.
No.
I always t I did not ever have an opportun no one ever pulled me back and was like, Hey, do you d we want to interview you today? It was more of a why do you want to work here? Or like, what are your tell me about it's it like tell me about yourself kind of stuff? And you just kind of talk talked to some sir some recruiters. It is not like a formal interview. It's just more like tell me about yourself and what are you flying? Like, where do you live? Where
Ben Todd (29:19)
Mm-hmm. Yep.
Did you
did you do any like formal interview prep before you really started like grinding and hitting the the pavement on that? Okay.
Kait (29:35)
Yes.
I did. I think
that you you need to. There is a very specific way, yes. You know, and people are like, it's expensive. And like you can just like Google Hunter interview. And it's like, yeah, you're putting millions of dollars on the line by not paying for that. You know, these are experts and they and you go through like practice like interviews and they tell you, all right, this was a great story, but you need to break it up A, B, C, D, they call it.
Ben Todd (29:44)
Yeah, I have also heard that.
Kait (30:09)
I think STAR. That's like an acronym. Yes. like having PTSD thinking about it. But it's literally like it takes I remember going to sleep and like dreaming of like stories. And I'm like, how can I tell that better? Like what are they looking for? Like it was a 24-hour seven-day-a-week thing on my mind. I was always on my phone typing out stories. I'm like, I remember that happened. I would get my phone out and start typing out stories and like little details. I would write everything down and then
Ben Todd (30:10)
The star format. Yep.
Kait (30:37)
You know, after every week I would go through and format it the way that you need to. And I would talk to it to the experts and they're like, that's a great story. Let's talk it let's talk about it more. Let's break it down more. to kind of get your point across better, to make the story stronger. so they they got me my job, honestly. The job offers. I got initial I got a few two job offers and the reason I got those job offers is because of the experts that first of all cleaned up my resume.
and taught me how to interview for and it's not like a normal interview, you know, like you need to an aviation interview is a very niche type of interview. So it's it's a specialty that you really need to invest in for sure.
Ben Todd (31:21)
So to summarize, I I think this is an important point to hit on for all the listeners out there who are, you know, getting towards that time where they're looking to start applying to I mean, I feel like even regionals, it would probably be helpful in this competitive market. There's, you know, a lot of CF a lot of CFIs that are at two thousand hours that are still instructing that haven't gotten offers yet. So so just to to kind of reiterate this professional interview prep is and professional resume review.
Kait (31:36)
It's crazy.
Mm. Yes. Right.
Ben Todd (31:51)
is something that should people should consider if they really want to give themselves the best like advantage and the best opportunity for getting these job offers.
Kait (31:51)
Mm-hmm.
Right.
I know that if I didn't do that, I would not be able to forgive myself if I didn't get the job. I can there's there's something to be said about like failing and saying, That's okay. I did my best, I put everything into it. I could not have done better. I knew I would not be able to live with myself if I was like, Well, I could have got interview prep. I would have had the job if I would have just prepped better or had had d just paid for it. I
if I didn't get the job, at least I could live with myself and be like I did everything possible and I just need to improve or whatever it may be. I just know I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't give myself every opportunity to succeed.
Ben Todd (32:45)
I think that's that's awesome advice. And I really appreciate you sharing that. And I think that's really important that we all take that into consideration and invest in ourselves. I just literally just saw an Instagram post this morning talking about interview prep. And so it's kind of interesting that we're talking about this. But I think it's really important. I mean, you said it, it's millions of dollars that are on the line for these.
Kait (32:47)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (33:12)
major airline jobs. I think the average is, you know, it's an eighteen million dollar career if you get to a major at thirty or something like that. So it's it's so much money that you have on the line. And so to give yourself the best possible opportunity to get that job, investing in yourself is is the way to do it.
Kait (33:14)
Yes.
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Especially because I think every pilot I mean not every pilot, but you know, people have hiccups and they're like, they have a few failures or God forbid, like you have a DUI or something, and you need to be able to talk to a professional and kind of talk about it outright in the best way that they want to hear about this, you know. This kind of can help you help help you, 'cause I mean I have failures and it's something that I need to talk about and own up to. but there's a very s there's
Ben Todd (33:48)
Yeah. A hundred percent.
Kait (33:59)
strategies to go about talking about your past.
Ben Todd (34:04)
Yeah, a hundred percent. And and the experts are are the best equipped to help you pr craft that strategy. so I so I think it's great that I think it's great that you did that. I think it's great that you shared that because I think that's something that a lot of people overlook.
Kait (34:05)
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Exactly. Exactly.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Yes. Yes. Every person that I know, I shouldn't say every person, but d I'm sure there are people out there that did not invest in it and are at their dream job. every single one of my friends that are at major airlines though have invested in professional aviation interview prep.
Ben Todd (34:38)
That's awesome. That's super cool advice. So thank you for sharing that. So you fin you got your CGAO from the major that you're at. when was that? And how long have you been there? And what airframe are you flying right now?
Kait (34:39)
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
so I was hired on in twenty twenty-three and in July of twenty twenty-three. So it'll be a year and a few three years and a few weeks. I was initially hired on on the seven three and then I switched to the Airbus only mostly because I wanted to be based in Phoenix, where I live. And at that time that was the only way to be based in Phoenix is to be on that specific airframe. So I switched to the Airbus.
It about a year and a half ago. Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (35:23)
What have been some of the most memorable experiences that you've had? Not necessarily at the major, but just in general throughout your flying career? Tell me about a couple of of experiences that really stand out for you as just things that have been really cool for you to experience.
Kait (35:42)
It goes without saying it's gonna be like when I first flew my jet on the line at my first at my first Holy Own. Like that was I I it's kind of even at when I was in my ATP C T P course, I was like, I cannot believe I'm getting in a simulator of like an Airbus. I like I cannot believe I'm here. I can't that was really eye-opening. That's when I was like, my god, like I made it, I'm an airline pilot. Was in when I was in ATP CTP course. and then you know, when I was on IoE.
with my initial major I mean with my initial regional, it was I was taxi. I was so far behind that airplane. My my poor Czech airmen, we're still friends actually. it I don't know how they do it, man, with guy with guys that used to be CFIs and make this jump. It was tough.
You know, but you just gotta keep going. And you know, I was lucky too because when I was doing IoE, it was during COVID, so it was so quiet. I can't imagine going through IoE now. so you know, just like taxiing around Chicago the very first time was so insane. Yeah, I know. I was like, I have no idea what's going on.
Ben Todd (36:43)
Mm-hmm.
Gosh, that's crazy. That's so nuts. I've I've
flown into hair I've flown into O'Hare plenty of times. I've flown in and out of O'Hare. That is there is a lot going on there. That's that's a lot of congestion.
Kait (37:01)
Yes.
There these Czech airmen
yeah, these Czech Airmen are ha you are exceptional at what you do when you are able you you're managing a brand new new hire and you're managing O'Hare and you're managing of course the aircraft and you know as a captain as it is already, you're managing rampers, gate agents, ATC, ramp passengers, and then, you know, and your FO is and you're also an instructor. You know, it's it's a tough job. So that was really cool. It's a lot, yes.
Ben Todd (37:24)
Mm-hmm.
Right.
Kait (37:36)
so initially flying around Chicago, that was crazy. and then, you know, I didn't do that very long before I went to the CRJ. some of my favorite memories in the CRJ, I actually had one of my old instructors as a captain at Sky West, and she had upgraded and she had a job offer at a major.
Ben Todd (37:56)
That's super cool.
Kait (38:04)
went during upgrade and I was her FO right after she finished IoE and then I traded into because her start her start date with her major was literally like a month after she was on the line as a captain. So she I know it is so crazy. So she only had three trips as a captain and I was her FO for every single trip.
Ben Todd (38:06)
That's so cool.
That's so crazy.
That's awesome. That's that's really cool.
Kait (38:30)
I traded into every single
one. Yeah. So my God. It was so fun. It was like flying with like your friend. Like you're going to work, but you're like flying with your friend. It was and you know, like we had gone to you we she was at a UND instructor. She was not a student with me, but it was still really cool. I look back at that. And I think my favorite I hate to say it, my favorite part of my career was at Skywest, I think.
and I said that was my fondest memory, but I do think my fondest memory of course was flying with my mom. It was close to it was like two years that we fin b finally were able to fly together. being at my airline. That was on Easter. It was on Easter. Yeah. That was really cool. It was it was like emotional. It was like full circle. It was, you know, like this is
Ben Todd (39:07)
I remember when you posted about that. That wasn't that wasn't that long ago, was it? It was what, maybe Easter. Okay. Yeah. So again it was yeah, it was pretty I think that that must have been that must have been so fun for you.
Kait (39:24)
the woman that this is why I'm here. And then now we're at the same company doing it was full circle moment. Very emotional. Very cool.
Ben Todd (39:34)
Going from
going from those early days at Pine Top and taking her there and now you guys are both, you know, flying on a on an Airbus together. Like that must have been really cool.
Kait (39:37)
Yes. Yeah.
Yes.
That was I I've been waiting for that my whole life. So it was it was full circ it was a very cool full circle moment. And you know, coming I remember flying the CRJ for the first time at Sky West and flying into Sky Harbor for my first time. I'll never forget that. It was a flight Albuquerque to Phoenix and I I remember flying into Sky Harbor and I was like, This is so cool. Like this is like where I learned to fly. I was flying over the practice area. I was that's the
Ben Todd (40:11)
That's so cool.
Kait (40:12)
Like, you know, those
full circle moments, it's really incredible.
Ben Todd (40:16)
That's so cool. I can't, I can't wait to have those myself. And just just and hearing hearing this, hearing your experience, hearing just the excitement in your voice as you talk about this, it makes me excited to continue on with this phase and like just to continue pushing and continue persevering because one day, you know, I'll be sitting talking to somebody and I'm gonna have that same enthusiasm that you have sitting talking to me about it. It's super cool. So
Kait (40:18)
Mm-hmm.
For sure.
Mm-hmm.
Right, right. Mm hmm. Yep.
Ben Todd (40:45)
let's let's transition into talking about fitness a little bit. So we actually met at the gym.
but when did you start like really getting into fitness? Like how old were you? Were you an athlete? Did you is this something you just like
Kait (40:57)
Mm.
Ben Todd (40:58)
picked up for like recently, talk about a little little little bit about that.
Kait (41:01)
grew up I grew up being an an athlete. I played soccer all through growing up. I dabbled in cheerleading a little bit. I think that's how I kind of learned I was like, ooh, I like lifting. but I was I I played soccer, but not I was never like really good enough to like move on to a college or anything like that. so did that and I remember always being like envious
of people like of guys who got to like play football. I think like if football was socially acceptable for girls, I really wanted to play football. And it's so cool now because kids can play flag football. I was like, man, I wish like that would have been like a thing for me in in school. So I was always it I loved Powder Puff. I freaking killed it in Powder Puff, like things like that.
Ben Todd (41:42)
Uh-huh.
Kait (41:52)
So yeah, I've always been really into sports. I've always been into like movement. I did like a half marathon a few years ago prior before I got really into bodybuilding. I I really try and focus on like getting my 10,000 steps, things like just little movements here and there. I like having my class pass and you know, trying out new things, like random stuff. Like I'll do like Pilates or like and then the next day I'll do like a spin. I haven't done them lately, but like that's
kind of how I was like sprinkling, like staying active. I'm like, I'm kind of bored today. I'll go do a spin class or something like that. Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (42:27)
That's cool.
When did you start actually really taking weightlifting seriously and like trying to learn more about biomechanics and just like movements and things like that?
Kait (42:33)
And
About three years ago. A little over three years ago now, I would say. Yeah. Yeah, pretty recent. I thought I was a runner for a while. I tried to like running. I thought that I was like, all right, like I wanna be fit, I wanna be small. Like I guess like running is the way to do that. And it's for some people, but I was like forcing I was trying to find my thing and I thought that running was my thing and I learned
Ben Todd (42:41)
that's yeah, that's pretty recent.
So you started Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Kait (43:04)
quickly, I shouldn't say that. I did it for a little bit and I was just kinda doing it 'cause I like was forcing myself to do it. And sure it's like a okay way to stay active, but like I said, I would I would rather do like class pass with like spin or Pilates or whatever.
Ben Todd (43:11)
Mm-hmm.
Everyone has their thing, and whenever somebody asks me like for advice on like what's the best thing to do, or I always just kind of tell people you gotta find your thing, right? Whatever you like to do, there's no one right answer. It's not, it's not running, it's not weight training, it's not Pilates, it's not spin, it's not whatever. Like it's whatever you want it to be, as long as you're staying active and doing something active, right?
Kait (43:39)
Right.
Agreed. So yeah, it's been
I it I really started to focus a little bit more on being healthy in 2020. I it was in my young 20s, of course. I was going out a lot, I was drinking a ton, like that was just how it was. And then every it kind of was forced to come to an end, of course, in 2020 when COVID happened. and I kind of
Ben Todd (44:05)
Right. Right.
Kait (44:07)
You know, it was kind of a bummer. I was like, man, this is like my mid twenties. I want to keep partying. I want to keep drinking. I want to keep going out. and once I kind of started putting that was forced to stop being unhealthy, basically, I was I realized how much better I was feeling by starting to r run more and focus on movement more and learning a little bit more about I didn't really know too much about nutrition. I was I was actually vegetarian for almost
a decade. And that was yeah. a pest I should it's a pescatarian. Most people don't really know what that means, but since we're fitness, hopefully people so I would only eat fish. that was the only my was my only source of protein. but it was truly because I liked eating healthy, but I couldn't really afford eating healthy at that time through college and flight instructing. it was just kind of my way to eat less. I'm like, I can't eat that because
Ben Todd (44:38)
Really?
Mm-hmm.
Kait (45:06)
If I could just like cut myself off of like a whole food group basically, I would eat less. So I was basically running a lot and not eating, you know, to stay skinny. And so it wasn't until yeah.
Ben Todd (45:14)
Mm.
Yep. That's the that's that's
the cycle that a lot of people get into. It's it it happens. It happens.
Kait (45:25)
Exactly. Mm-hmm.
It does. And I can't blame that. Like looking back, I can't blame people for that. It's so yeah, it wasn't until about three, four years ago I started eating meat and changing and learning a little bit more about weightlifting. I actually got a lifestyle trainer and I she taught me everything about
Ben Todd (45:32)
Mm-hmm. Yep.
Kait (45:54)
what I know now, like mac like kind of got me started with macros and weightlifting. And I again I knew that weightlifting was something that was important. So but it I was not good at it. So I didn't have like a split. I didn't like break it up by like an upper or lower, but like, every once in a while I'll go do this machine or this machine. I didn't really have like knowledge about it. And I was like, for sure.
Ben Todd (46:16)
I think as a beginner though, as
a beginner, that's that's completely acceptable. And, you know, I I kinda will go back to when I first started weight training. Like I didn't know what I was doing either. You know, I mean I might look like I do now, but back back in those days, like I had no clue. I would just kind of go like just do some random machines and call it a day.
Kait (46:25)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Right.
Exactly.
Yeah, exactly. So it wasn't until I had really like a friend that would I was seeing how she would do these things and she also was a competitor as well. And I learned from her basically about like how to it was cool w what what the game changer for me was when it became a sport.
So I would like track my lifts and I could feel myself being able to get that one extra rep in or those few extra pounds. And I was like, this is X amount of weight or X amount of reps more than what I did last week or whatever it may be. And I'm like, I want to keep getting better. So once I was actually like documenting my lifts and having like a set again, like some sort of like regid regimen schedule documentation of like my progress, it became like more of a sport to me.
And that's kind of when I c it that's when I started to fall in love with it, was when I could physically feel and see myself getting stronger. And that's that was kind of that was the game changer for me.
Ben Todd (47:43)
I posted about this I think a week or so, a week or two ago, talking about how hypertrophy and progressive overload is literally like a tangible output for you making progress and you improving in the gym. Like to see yourself going from lifting this weight, you know, four weeks ago and now you're lifting this weight, and just to see that progression of that progress, that's a tangible like effect of you.
Kait (47:46)
Mm-hmm.
Yes, yes.
Right.
Ben Todd (48:11)
making progress and getting stronger and and all of that. So it's it's super cool that you kind of discovered that yourself and that's kind of how you started to fall in love with it.
Kait (48:14)
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Yes, exactly. It was just going going with a fr it was truly just a friend that knew what she was doing. I mean, I was paying her, but she I would consider her a good friend of mine. And we would go and work out. She'd teach me how to do it and again start documenting it. I'm like, wow, this is really fun. And I was kind of good at it. So I liked it. Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (48:39)
That's super cool. That's super cool
that she was willing to kind of pr like provide that like that education and that assistance for you. because otherwise, like, you know, it's it's hard for people who don't really know how to lift to go in and like lift by themselves because they don't know if their forms are correct. They don't know if like the movement that they're doing is like targeting a specific muscle group. There's just a lot that beginners don't know. And so it's cool that you had somebody there to kind of mentor and guide you into
Kait (48:48)
Yes. Mm-hmm.
Right.
Right.
Yes,
exactly.
Ben Todd (49:09)
like
l really learning how to do this stuff.
Kait (49:12)
Yeah, agreed.
Ben Todd (49:14)
When did you decide you wanted to do a bodybuilding show? Like what kind of sparked your interest in that?
Kait (49:19)
So again, my friend that sh my lifestyle friend's trainer, she used to be she had just done a show a year before we started being together a few times a week. And I was like, man, that's so cool. But like I just kind of again, just kind of assumed I was like, that's not something that would ever really be in the cards for me. I don't know if I I don't think I have the genetics for that. I don't think like this is just kind of something that
I don't think I would be able to achieve. And I how the conversation started out, I remember, I don't remember what year it was, but she was like, do you have any New Year's resolutions? I was Yeah, I really want to get stronger. And like I thought it was so cool that you did a show, but I was, I don't think that that's just something that I could ever do. And she's like, No, that's absolutely something that you could do. What are you talking about? And I was like, And you know, you always see what
Bodybuilders are posting and what they're eating and what they're doing. And I was like, there is just no way that I am like equipped to do that. And she was like, She's like, you hit your macros every single day. She's like, you do your workouts when you need to do your workouts, you do your cardio when you do your cardio. She's like, I don't know what you're talking about. She's like, this is just when you are training to do this, all we're doing is this. And she was like, if you want to do it, we sh let's let's do it. You you need to do it. And
Ben Todd (50:15)
Mm-hmm.
Super cool.
Kait (50:42)
Yeah, just having her just kinda tell me like really like get a grip like this is something that you could do. And
Ben Todd (50:49)
Mm-hmm. I think we
I think we very easily it's very easy for just people in general to just write things off as not possible. Like, like I can't do that because of XYZ reason, right? But it's cool that you had her there or that she again was like kind of that that little push for you. Like, what are you talking about, girl? Like you could definitely do this. Like, we'll just let's just hammer this stuff down, let's nail it down and we'll get after it. So it's it's really cool that she was able to provide that for you.
Kait (50:58)
Yes.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Exactly.
Yeah. I was really lucky. And again, sh like I like just loved I loved learning about food. I loved working out. So it was she's like, You're already doing the steps. She was like, We just need to do growth for at least a year and then we can then we can figure out if like this is something you truly want to do. But this year let's just really focus on
you know, eating in a surplus, going into a bulk and learn and she was like, You're gonna get uncomfortable. Like, are you okay with that? Like your your clothes aren't gonna fit as well. You're gonna gain a lot of weight. And I was like, Yeah, like that's fine. I I I can do it. So she was kinda she was she really pushed me it to not really push me, but she was reassuring that that is something it was something that I could do.
Ben Todd (52:01)
That's really cool. That's it's awesome that she saw that in you and didn't let you take like the easy route of just like, you know, I think I'm gonna pass on this. Like this might be cool, but that's not for me. So it's it's neat that she kind of pushed you into like getting uncomfortable and getting outside of your comfort zone and just like actually taking the steps to do it.
Kait (52:02)
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm. It is.
Exactly. Exactly.
Yes.
Yeah.
And that's stuff that's things that I really enjoy doing is just having like kind of like a goal or like having something I'm working towards like long term and I mean being like going through school and being a pilot and whether it be like getting a new typewriting or going interviewing or like whatever the future may hold, I've always kind of thrived in having like a goal, like at the end, whether it's like a set goal, whether it be like tomorrow or like a year or two down the line.
So and like I said, like she saw how well I was good at like tracking meals and like tracking my workouts and how I was like really excelling in the gym. And she was like, You could absolutely do this.
Ben Todd (53:02)
That's super cool. So talk to me a little bit about your prep. and what I'm really curious to know, this is something that I'm actually wondering about for myself when I get to this point down the road. How did you manage to balance your prep with obviously you're a pilot, right? Like you're flying all these trips, you're doing overnights in hotels. How did you manage to be in prep, maintain like your macros, hit your meals, get your workouts in, get your cardio in?
Kait (53:03)
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (53:32)
All while flying trips and like being a pilot.
Kait (53:32)
Mm-hmm.
So and I I wanna say planning, but it's really not even planning because I was actually on reserve all through prep. And I enjoyed doing the really early reserve assignment periods. So either a two AM or a five AM, I would be going. People call it's called I like to call it on call because like that's normally what like the general public but people in aviation know it's reserve. And so I would go on reserve at like five in the morning.
And I knew like when you start that early, you're gonna end early. And if I don't get called, I know that I can I'll just go straight to the gym. And luck I was really lucky, I was pretty good about getting an assignment ahead of time. So I was on like a two hour call out basically, but there was only a handful of times that I didn't have adequate notice. So I'm like, okay, they want me in at nine. I have to be at the gym by six.
If I want to get a workout in. Or what I would do often is I'm like, okay, well, I need to get an hour of cardio done today. I will do an hour of cardio and then I can get go home and get ready. And then I can do my lifting at the gym, at the hotel gym, or if I could find a better gym, that was always ideal when I land this e this afternoon. So for me, that's just what worked the best was just kind of.
waking up really early or going on reserve really early and knowing that I would hopefully in most cases be able to ha find time in the evening time to get at least my second workout in if I was able to do cardio in the morning and then do a lifting session in the afternoon. hotel gyms are really hard. No, go ahead.
Ben Todd (55:18)
So if if so if you went
on if you went on reserve, let's say at five AM, you're generally if you got a call, right? Or if you get a call, you're generally going to have a morning flight, right? Generally speaking, that's usually how that would work.
Kait (55:23)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yes.
Yes. Well and because you wouldn't be legal for too much past into the evening, you know.
Ben Todd (55:36)
Correct.
Right. Right. So you'd have a morning flight, so you would land at whatever destination that you would be going to sometime in the evening, which would still give you time before the day is over to get your workout and get whatever you needed to do done.
Kait (55:44)
Yes. Yes. Right.
Right.
And like I said, in a perfect on a really good day, I would know that evening before someone would like, for example, call call out the evening before and then I would see it on my schedule. They legally are not allowed to alert us until you actually go on reserve. So a lot of the times they would tell me the night before and they're like, You need to be in at eight. So I'm like, Okay, well, if I go to s I can get cardio in at I can get like at least 20 minutes of cardio in in the morning and then go in and then do my weight lifting after.
Ben Todd (56:16)
Mm-hmm. Yep.
Kait (56:20)
so it really I kind of had to take it day by day and figure out what kind of where I was in the week and where I would be what at what time I would be able to work out. And then I would just kind of sprinkle in cardio wherever I could get cardio in at any time of time. I was always needing to do more cardio. So I was like, if I can get it in the morning, I can get it in the afternoon. Hell, I was even getting it in
Dallas Airport, there was like a underground gym for like the rampers and I would be going down there and getting cardio in or at least like an ab session in. Yeah. So I I you I just had to take it day by day and figure out how to squeeze in the workouts that I needed to squeeze in.
Ben Todd (56:54)
That's so cool.
So cool.
So what you're saying, if I'm just kind of reading between the lines a little bit, is there's a way to do it. Like you can figure out a way. Like you could I'm sure you could make excuses and be like, well, I can't do my lift because this hotel gym sucks and there's not another gym or whatever. You could probably make all the excuses in the world about it. But at the end of the day, like if you needed to get it done and you had the desire to get it done, you'd figure out a way to get it
Kait (57:15)
yeah.
You're gonna it people again, like people are I've asked but people have asked me for, well, like, how did how did you do it? How like how like how that's so crazy. I'm like, if you want something, you are going to do it. And it does not matter what is placed in front of you, you're going to do it. Like, I it's truly it was truly just like a day-to-day thing. I would just adapt. I'm like, you know what? I'm going to this shitty little place where they were not gonna have any leg machines and
I will not be able to get a good leg workout in that day. But I was like, okay, well, what if I go to TG really, really early in the morning the day before I get a good leg workout in? And then tomorrow, at least if I have a cable machine and some dumbbells, I can at least get a good upper body in the net that day. You know, like so you I again, I really have no other way to put it besides it was just like a day to day thing trying to figure out how to do it. Planet Fitness was my savior. I would Uber because Planet Fitness is our.
Ben Todd (58:13)
So cool. Yeah.
Kait (58:26)
everywhere and they have but they're they're gonna be better than any hotel gym. so I plan so Planet Fitness was a great resource for me because they are all over the country, every major city, even minor cities, they're all over the place. So ideally they would be in walking distance, but I would Uber to Planet Fit Planet Fitnesses all the time to get a real workout in. They're in they're like in every major they're in Kona, they're in Honolulu, they're in Columbia, like they're
Ben Todd (58:27)
Mm-hmm.
Hundred percent. Absolutely.
That's awesome.
Kait (58:56)
They're everywhere. So they really ha Planet Fitness had a huge component in traveling and finding real gyms in the country.
Ben Todd (59:05)
You didn't let the the situation dictate how you were going to respond to it. You just like figure out a way to make it work.
Kait (59:15)
Well, and Ben, to be totally honest with you, it this is gonna sound weird. I think it was pretty easy with my job. I besides, I I will say the hardest thing and the thing that really is going to hurt someone that is going to compete in this industry is going to be rest. My rest was so poor. It was adequate, but the
Real like the the competitors that I was competing against really had an advantage because they probably had way more opportunities. They're not changing times. I my secret is to stay on Phoenix time no matter where I am at, whether I'm in Hawaii even in Hawaii, I am staying on Phoenix time no matter what. Like if I'm on the East Coast, I'm s eating lunch on two PM, which is like five PM and they're having dinner. You know, like if st I consistently have to stay on one time zone.
Ben Todd (1:00:04)
Mm-hmm.
Kait (1:00:09)
It does make it hard for, like I said, so the rest was a really hard component. especially when you get deeper into prep, rest is it's really hard to get to sleep and it's really hard to stay asleep. So being an early riser was just to my benefit because I'm gonna be awake at four or five in the morning, ready to start my day, anyways, you know? And by like five, six PM, I'm gonna be ready for bed. So it was really in my best interest to wake up early.
And get my workouts in and start my day really, really early, anyways, because I was already up before the sun every single day, anyways. but I honestly think that I am in a, I was in a my job besides the rest component was in my, it worked out very well. I, and you know how the industry is, like when I'm off, I'm off. All I have to do that day is go to the gym, you know? Like I know so many people that are like,
Going through prep and they're like nurses or they're hairdressers. And I'm like, you are on your feet all day. And you are talking to the general public in dealing with patients or clients, whatever it may be, all day. I could not do that. I sit on my ass all day. You know, like I talk to air traffic control. I talk to my captain. I'm like, that is it. And of course, you know, it takes like mental work. That was the most exhausting part, but
Ben Todd (1:01:14)
Mm-hmm.
Ha ha
Yep. Of course. Hundred percent.
Kait (1:01:36)
I'm not on my feet. I'm not active every day. Like I is so I'm I consider my in to be in this in a competitor at an advantage in that aspect of having days off to really commit to competing. And then some days I would especially being on reserve, you're fixing a lot of really broken stuff. So it would be a lot of dead heads or it would be one leg. So it would really like.
Ben Todd (1:01:59)
Mm-hmm.
Sure.
Kait (1:02:03)
It was not like four leg days days for me. It was fixing a lot of really broken stuff. So I think in my situation
Ben Todd (1:02:06)
Right.
It's not like you're it's not like back in the regionals, it's not like back in the regionals where you're flying,
you know, three, four day trips of four legs you know, four legs each e per day or something like that.
Kait (1:02:17)
Right, exactly. So I I can I was talking to my coach about this. I was like, I don't how your clients that have real jobs do this. I was like, I would not be able to do this if I had to be on my leg, if I had to be on my feet being active every single day doing this. I was like, when I come home, like I'm home. This is all I'm focusing on, you know? And then when I'm out on the road, d exercising is just figuring out where I can squeeze it in. I'm like, I fly a little bit.
And then I just will focus on putting fitness in where I can.
people that have normal eight to five jobs Monday through Friday, they don't have that luxury. You know, they have routine, but they don't have the luxury of just going to work for a few hours or a few days and then just unloading, not thinking about work for like four or five days at a stretch, you know.
I like I said, I just saw the girls that my coach was working with that had real jobs, and I was like, These girls are superheroes. Like, I don't know how they're doing it. I will say though, when I was telling my coach that she's like, Kate, that's why you have so much cardio, and that's why I need you to do at least 10,000 steps every single day because you are on your ass all day. I'm like these girls.
Ben Todd (1:03:11)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, that's true. That's a good point.
Kait (1:03:28)
They're like, these girls are not at the cardio level that you need that you are needing to do. They're like they're not having to make up for it on the other end because they are on their feet all day. So it does it does come with some pros and cons. but I would have it no other way.
Ben Todd (1:03:44)
That's so cool. So you competed in October. What was what was that experience like? What was show day like? What was the lead up like? Did you have fun? Like, tell me about it.
Kait (1:03:45)
Mm-hmm.
I got it. It was
So I really like I love meal prepping. I love counting macros. I love going into a bulk. I love going into a cut. I love the process of it. It is so fun for me. And I another reason why I really liked getting into bodybuilding is just something that I those aspects I really, really enjoy. so when I started my cut in prep, I was
It's so funny looking back now. My coach is like, yeah, you know, we do our weekly check-ins. And I'm like, I don't know what's so hard about this. This is so much fun. I'm so strong. I'm so fit. I love eating. I'm like, this cut is amazing. Yeah. I really was thriving in prep until I I want to say about July. Jul June, July, July, August, September, October. Four months out. So yeah. 12 weeks out is July.
Ben Todd (1:04:44)
And that that would have put you what, like twelve weeks out ish?
Kait (1:04:53)
one of my best friends had a bachelorette party and I packed all of my meals for the bachelorette and I didn't drink at all and I didn't eat anything at all besides like my food. That's when I realized I was like, this is not fun anymore. and again like going into it, I was like, this is fine. Like I I won't need to drink. I won't need to eat out. That was when it was starting to get
Ben Todd (1:05:11)
Mm-hmm. Yep.
Kait (1:05:22)
not fun. And then August, my best she I threw a surprise birthday party for my best friend and we went to Ocean 44 and all of her friends were there eating like these like lobster and scallops, which is like my favorite food. And you know it's hard too because everyone there is like, well this is healthy. Like this is protein. Like it that every day that's all I was hearing like this is healthy. I'm like you can have some of this and
Ben Todd (1:05:42)
Yep. Exactly. Yep.
Mm-hmm.
Kait (1:05:52)
It's hard because they you it's I initially I my immediate reaction is like frustration and they just don't know, you know. so August that birthday party was really hard and then I s my sleeping started to become it was hard to sleep. I really had to focus on sleeping. And man, like the wind would blow and I would be awake. Like I was learning how to like sleep. I had
Ben Todd (1:05:59)
Yep. Right.
Mm-hmm.
Kait (1:06:21)
the earplugs in, I had the face mask on. Like I was starting to listen to like pod like really boring podcasts and really boring books because my mind was still like want wanting to be awake, but I know I had to sleep. So if I listen, just close my eyes with the face mask on and I was like, just listen to this podcast for an hour. And at the end of the hour you will be asleep. So it was just like a grueling hour of like trying to fall asleep. So I had to account
I had to account for an hour or two actually getting to sleep before I actually got to sleep. So again, and with the job, and I was I knew I was gonna be up at four in the morning anyway. So I'm like tr starting to try to go to sleep at like six. In the summertime, that's really also hard to do. Yeah. so and then, you know, in and being a pilot, like I can't like really take anything for that either, you know. And especially OCB.
Ben Todd (1:07:03)
Right.
And that's hard. Super hard. Yeah.
Right. Yep.
Kait (1:07:20)
but I was there's there was nothing I could do about that besides like, okay, I need to account for be going to sleep is going to be a challenge. So that that is truly like the hardest part about competing with the job was just rest was a challenge and getting to rest and getting adequate sleep because at the end of the day, getting rest for work was like the most important thing. But it was it was just something that I knew I gonna be.
Ben Todd (1:07:41)
Hundred percent. Absolutely.
Kait (1:07:47)
poor at in my prep. So I knew I needed to come out on top in other aspects like lifting and meal prep and eating and my steps. Like I knew that if I I you have to control what is in your control. You know, I'm like, okay, well, rest is not ideal, but that just means in the other aspects that I can control, I need to be a hundred percent on to make up for the rest. Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (1:08:16)
So I'm sure that was a challenge for you and as you got further and further into prep, you're probably like, This is hard. This is this is a lot harder than I yeah, I bet.
Kait (1:08:23)
Mm-hmm. Well, I was ready to quit. I don't I don't
quit, but I was like, what have I done? And then, you know, at this point, I'm like a month out. And I'm like, I you can't quit at that point. Yeah. I'm like, I have all well, and God, like I've spent thousands of dollars at this point. I'm like, there is I I I and I don't quit. It's something that I put this much time and energy into. but God, like the month out, I was just like, I just need to get to like.
Ben Todd (1:08:33)
Right. And so you were you're already so com yeah, you're already so committed.
Kait (1:08:52)
peak week because that's when like the carbs are really gonna come up. And I was not a pleasant person to be around either. I was like all I wanted to do all I want to do is sleep, really, like try and sleep. I needed I was starting to commit like twelve hours of getting to sleep and I would maybe get like six or seven hours of being in bed for twelve hours. Yeah.
Ben Todd (1:09:12)
It's
so that's that was probably really tough to deal with for a month.
Kait (1:09:15)
yeah, I r I remember like going to bed, I'm like crying. I'm like, I just want to go to sleep. And I'm like, all right, two hours I'll be asleep. But that that was that was the hard part. It was just like having to commit a twelve hours of getting rest and I would get
Ben Todd (1:09:23)
man.
Half of that.
Kait (1:09:31)
On a b I would
yeah, half of that of like actual true rest. Yeah.
Ben Todd (1:09:36)
So leading up to the show, pretty difficult. Once you hit peak week, you had your you had some food back in you, you started to carb up a little bit, and then, you know, prepping like getting ready for the show that week. What was that experience like?
Kait (1:09:40)
Yes, very difficult.
Yes.
Yes.
I had taken the week of peak week off. So I was really lucky I was able to do that. and I it was I learned really like I started journaling. that again to kind of like get to sleep. I'm like, I'm gonna just like journal in a dark room and try and go to sleep. But just kind of looking back and like during peak week, I'm like, wow, I really made it like
it was really cool during that week. Like, wow, I like really made it to the finish line. it was it was a fine week. You know, I think that was honestly leading up to peak week was the hardest part. Peak week is is kind of when it got easier. It's kind of my cardio started to taper off a little bit. I started turning it into instead of the stair climber or runs, I had to actually my biggest issue with cardio was my heart rate. So it would take
I would need to like kill myself to get my heart rate above a hundred. You know, I was like wearing my backpack and like live putting heavy things in it so that like I could work harder and get my heart rate up, or I'd go on a run initially, like a sprint initially to get my heart rate up and then transition to the stair climber. God, what else would I do? These really crazy things. And I was like crying the whole time because it was like so hard to get my heart rate up above a hundred. And ideally it wanted to be in like a hundred and twenty at least. You know? That was
Ben Todd (1:11:10)
Mm-hmm.
Kait (1:11:24)
That was my issue with cardio, was just how low my heart rate was. so that was nice during peak week. Instead of doing the stair climber, I started going more into incline walk and then just like accepting that it was gonna take a little bit longer of a walk to get my heart rate up. so that was I think that kind of took a lot of stress off my body, especially like I was saying, because I was so sedimentary in my job and my like lifestyle, I had to have a lot of cardio.
Ben Todd (1:11:41)
Sure. Sure.
Kait (1:11:54)
built into my plan. And I mean, I know I know like that's why I was successful at my show is like I know like I hated the cardio, but it was just like a necessary evil. That's why I was like, all right, I'm gonna wake up at five and get at least half my cardio done. And then at least like I can kind of like manage it a little bit more at the end of my day, you know.
Ben Todd (1:11:56)
Yeah, I'm sure.
You
knew that the payoff on the back side of it was gonna be worth like the suck that you had to deal with by getting up early and like splitting it up and all that kind of stuff.
Kait (1:12:19)
Right. Exactly.
I'm and then like I said, I'm already up at like four in the morning. I'm like, I might as well just go knock out some cardio, some fasted cardio, and then it once I'm done, I get to eat. So yeah, peak week leading up to peak was the hard part. I really enjoyed peak week.
just like little things. Like I would wake up and I would be so excited to like drink my just to be out in the sun and warm my body. I'm like, I'm so thank I'm so lucky. I get to live in like such a hot climate that I get to sit outside. I get to get some natural sun. And then like, you know, like the summers before, I'm like, like F this sun. I don't I hate summers here. This sucks. And then like I was waking up, I was like, I'm so excited to just like sit outside. And
Ben Todd (1:13:00)
Mm. Yeah.
Kait (1:13:04)
Sit my coffee and just like love the little things in life, you know? Like it was beside so that's just like one example. Like I I truly was just starting to take like gratitude in like little things in life. So it was just peak week is kind of when that all started to kind of like show. Like I was saying about journaling too. I was like just kind of looking back during peak week. I'm like, man, like it's really cool like how my mind sh has like shifted during all the this whole process and stuff throughout.
and I finally made it, you know.
Ben Todd (1:13:37)
That's really cool. That's super cool. Did you did the show live up to your expectations? Like you had you built up this idea in your mind. It did it.
Kait (1:13:38)
Mm-hmm.
my god, more.
More. Yeah. It like it felt it was really cool like having all the people that like care about me. Like even like not even people that like are super close to me. Like people that were just randomly in my life would reach out and be like, my God, today's the day. Like I'm so excited for you, no matter what happens. Like even my family was there, like my close friends were there. you know, and all the attention is like on you.
Like y like having this huge goal and then having it showcased like the result of all of your work showcased. And of course, like the glam is fun, being and all that is really fun. posing was also really challenging. I was exhausting. but I had a posing coach and I I owe so much of my success to her too.
Ben Todd (1:14:32)
Yeah, of course.
Kait (1:14:45)
that was also hard, like trying to schedule in, like getting schedule sessions in with her. But I would say it it I had never been to a bodybuilding show until my own. Like the whole reason I think, yeah. The whole I had really no idea what to expect. what really got like I said, what got me into bodybuilding was my initial coach, just like her talking about it and going to the gym that we go to is just like being around people like that.
Ben Todd (1:14:58)
Really?
Mm-hmm. Yep.
Kait (1:15:14)
kind of like inspired
me into it. So I didn't even know what to expect really. So it not only did it live up to my expectations, but it exceeded my expectations. Yeah. So it was great.
Ben Todd (1:15:25)
That's so cool. I remember seeing your
I remember seeing your post afterwards. You just looked so happy and just like all of your family was there. And it it looked like a really, really fun experience for you.
Kait (1:15:33)
Yeah.
It was a very it was it was w it exceeded my expectations. Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (1:15:42)
That's so cool. That's that's
super awesome. So where are you what are you focusing on with your training now? So now you're nine, eight months post show. what does your training look like now? Do you have any other shows that you're looking at doing? Are you kind of more in just like a general health phase?
Kait (1:15:55)
So I
yeah, a general health phase, what I really sh the hardest I talk about the week leading or the month or two leading up to show was the hardest. But now that we're talking show and post show, the hardest part about show is post show. That, you know, I don't have this goal at the end of the road anymore and a lot of binge eating.
Ben Todd (1:16:18)
Mm-hmm.
Kait (1:16:22)
a lot of w and super fast weight gain. and then you know like post show blues, I'm like, man, like that was so much fun. I miss like I wanna I was this close to like going back into another prep. And I couldn't because I didn't plan for it very well. But I was like, if I just keep doing more shows, like at least I'll have the structure and it will put me back on this mindset to like stop binge eating.
and get back on like my regimen and back on my routine. And obviously that's not the answer. But the hardest part about being a bodybuilder is post show without a doubt. so to answer your question, it is I the last few months it's kind of been like damage control of like post show and like getting back into feeling better and I mean I feel fine. I feel good. But like
Right before I started like that initial start of prep and where I was like, I feel great, I'm so strong, I'm so healthy, I love this cut. Like, I was like in peak performance of my life. I looked and felt my absolute best. And that's what I'm trying to get back to. And I am just now starting to get back to that, probably the last like three months, I would say, feeling good about.
Getting back into that. So really like the initial few months post-show was damage control and then just kind of like getting back into like my routine and getting back to like feeling great and looking great.
Ben Todd (1:17:57)
You know, I've I've heard, obviously I've never done a show, but I have heard that that is the hardest part is, you know, you're you restrict yourself for so long, you know, twelve weeks, sixteen weeks, twenty weeks, whatever it might be, that once that's over with, it's very easy to let yourself like completely go 180 degrees in the opposite direction and just start like eating everything and just kind of like
Kait (1:18:06)
Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (1:18:24)
falling off of your routine and regimen because now you don't need to. And so I I that's that's very common. And so I think for you just to be able to recognize that and like understand like yes, okay, like this happened. Now what can we do to like get back to what we were a year ago and just like get back to this version of myself that I like want to be. And so I think that's I think that's really admirable and very courageous, honestly, and very vulnerable that you shared that because I think that's
Kait (1:18:28)
Right.
Yes.
Right. Exactly.
So
Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (1:18:53)
Something a lot of competitors struggle with that doesn't get talked about a t a ton.
Kait (1:18:56)
Yeah, it need I I don't think it gets talked about enough. Like I don't know if I don't know if I would have done a show if I would know what it was like on the back end. Cause I was like at the peak of feeling and looking my best. And then I destroyed it in both.
Ben Todd (1:19:09)
Mm-hmm.
Kait (1:19:19)
In post show with all the binge eating. And I was just like, I'm gonna take care of this later. I'm just going to do damage control later. And that's what I'm doing. And it's not fun. Like it it was kind of hard to kind of get back into like loving the gym when you don't like love the way that you look or like love the way that you're lifting anymore. so it's been several months of just kind of trying to get back to what I was right before prep.
Ben Todd (1:19:48)
Well, if it's any consolation, I we see each other pretty often at the gym these days, just because I'm, you know, going in the mornings now with my new routine. And every time I see you in there, you're always crushing it. You're always, you know, getting after it and doing your best. I mean, that hey, that's that's all you can do. And and so I think it's it's a testament to you and just your willingness to like want to try to be better, do better. and I think you're you're definitely on the right path with doing that.
Kait (1:19:55)
Yeah, mm-hmm.
Doing my best. Yes. Yep.
Thank you. Yep. It's it's finally starting to feel like I said, the last few months I'm starting to be like, all right, like this is like how I was feeling back before I like started prep. but that's kind of why like lately I've just been kind of like, wow, I feel great again. Like, do I want to do another show? I'm like, no, calm down. Like, let's just like get back into feeling and looking great. And then like in the future I can think about it again. But for now, it's just I am trying to feel
I have other things that I want to focus on just outside of the gym and kind of trying to find like a good healthy balance. And I'm back with my fur initial lifestyle coach that got me into this in the first place. And just kind of having someone, you know, this is the thing. It's like, having accountability and having someone to talk to about the gym and being like, like let's increase cardio or like, you know, just having someone there to like because I know how to lose weight, you know? I know how to gain weight.
Ben Todd (1:20:59)
Awesome. Cool.
Kait (1:21:16)
And I know the science behind it. But like having someone to actually be there and talk you through it and like just have like that account about ability is just something that I like to have and something that I need and like she's such a good friend. So
Ben Todd (1:21:31)
That's the power that I've noticed in having a coach. I mean, I've had a coach for six years. and so just and I can do the same thing. I can I can bulk myself, I can cut myself, like all that stuff. But having that just that neutral, like third party, like to give you that guidance and just that like objective viewpoint, it it really is a game changer.
Kait (1:21:36)
Mm-hmm.
Right. Exactly. Mm-hmm.
Exactly.
Mm-hmm.
Right.
For sure, agreed.
Ben Todd (1:21:55)
Thanks for sharing everything that you have so far, Kate. I think this has been a really inspiring conversation. and I think there's a lot of takeaways that we can learn from just from this experience and hearing about not only just your journey through your aviation career, but how competing was for you and what that process was like. And now in the post show phase of life that you're in, just kind of what is important to you right now at this time.
Kait (1:22:09)
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
for
Ben Todd (1:22:24)
The final portion of this conversation I want to have is just some advice. I mean, I look to you as somebody who has definitely built some knowledge around a a thriving aviation career. You've you know you've flown, you know, you've instructed, you've flown at the regionals, you're not at the majors. I think that you can offer some good perspective on just people who are either starting their journey or need some guidance, need some just some support.
Kait (1:22:42)
Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (1:22:53)
So looking back on your twelve years in aviation, what are some of the big lessons that you've learned along your journey?
Kait (1:23:04)
think the biggest thing that kind of got me through my journey was just kind of taking everything day by day. Like I remember when I was a private pilot and I was like, I was just like right where you were at. And I was like, man, I just did like a stage check and I now I still have to do like the real thing. And I was like, and that's just one of many and I have so many in my career. Like I would start to spiral, like just thinking about like what I still need to conquer.
And that will drive you crazy. You just need to think about it day to day. that kept me sane because you can't think about long-term. You just have to take each thing as it comes. And then it's kind hard to believe. Looking back 12 years, I remember in PPL ground school trying to...
Ben Todd (1:23:48)
Yeah, I've
Kait (1:23:55)
finish an exam and I'm like, God, have so many of these left in my career. Like, it's just like really like made for me. And I like mentally had to like just stop thinking like that. So I think just taking, I take, I still say I'm like one crisis at a time, like focus on like the crisis of that day. And then like, once you conquer that crisis, it's just like moving on to like the next crisis. But that's the biggest thing I would say is like, yeah.
Ben Todd (1:24:18)
I'm so bad at that. I'm I'm
so bad at that. Like for me, I have this habitual habit of always thinking like 18 steps into the future. And I I sometimes forget that. Yeah, 100%. And there's the old saying. No, it doesn't. There's the old saying, you know, how do you how do you eat an elephant? You eat an elephant one bite at a time. Right. So it's it's kind of one of those things that you have to kind of
Kait (1:24:28)
Me too, me too.
It's overwhelming.
and it doesn't help.
Yeah.
Ben Todd (1:24:46)
Consciously like stop yourself and say, okay, like what is my main focus right now? Like what do I need to be doing right now that's going to get me to the next place? And then you kind of just do that incrementally.
Kait (1:24:51)
Right. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Exactly. That's my biggest thing is just like take one day at a time. Don't think long-term. gotta just, especially when you're just starting out, I think that really kind of messes with people's heads and they're like, I just can't continue on like this. But I would say just taking one day at a time was like the best thing for me.
Ben Todd (1:25:16)
That's good advice. What would you say? I'm I'm I know you've flown with a lot of different people throughout your career. You've flown with instructors, you've flown with other, you know, you've flown with students, you've now flown with other, you know, professional pilots, you've flown with captains, you've flown with FOs when you were a captain. What qualities separate a good pilot from an exceptional one? What makes a pilot exceptional in your opinion?
Kait (1:25:21)
Yeah.
I something that I am continuously seeing in exceptional pilots is that they kind of like what you've said before is like always learning. Like you can't get an ego and I have flown with guys that for sure have an ego and they think, like I am the best. I can't get better. Like I'm God's gift, you know, and sure, they're probably good pilots, but I mean, if you like
are already convinced that you know it all, like you've already basically closed off your mind to learning more and becoming better, if that makes sense. I even like, you know, when, especially when I'm like new on these planes or like when I was a captain and I was really junior and I was flying with really junior FOs, like we would brief threats. And I thought it was really admirable when guys would come out and say, like I just passed IOE. I'm still learning like any guidance, any tips, like tricks, like.
Ben Todd (1:26:18)
Absolutely.
Kait (1:26:37)
Please let me know, you're not gonna offend me. It just kind of made for such a good environment that these guys are still willing to learn and they wanna learn and they wanna be better. I've also heard people talk, you're fine, yeah.
Ben Todd (1:26:49)
Well, that probably makes that probably makes you
as a captain that probably makes you as a captain more receptive to actually giving them advice and giving them feedback because they are exhibiting the fact that they know they still have a lot to learn and they still know that like they don't know a lot. So that probably makes it easier for you and more enjoyable for you to actually give them that advice and that feedback.
Kait (1:27:04)
Right. Right.
Right, for sure. So I would just say just being open-minded and wanting to learn and accepting constructive criticism from your instructors and not just shutting it down. I've worked with guys where they've just, like I said, have been convinced that they're the best thing. And like I said, they're not bad, but you could have so much better of an attitude and just open yourself up to learning so much more and they'll close that off.
So I would say it's just, you know, and then experience that's just always going to make someone exceptional when they're mastered their trade. But just same thing, I still work with guys all the time that have been on this plane for over 25 years and they still say the same thing. They're like, I am still learning so much about this plane. So I would say that would be the biggest thing.
Ben Todd (1:28:10)
I think it's really good to approach just life in general, not even just flying, but just life in general with that attitude. You can always learn something from somebody. You there's always somebody who can teach you something in any area or avenue of life. So I think just that's great advice. Just continuing to be open minded and accepting of the fact that you don't know everything and always trying to be better in any area of life.
Kait (1:28:20)
You're right.
You're right.
Mm-hmm.
Right. Mm-hmm.
Right, and having that attitude like, don't know everything and I still want to learn and I still have so much to learn.
Ben Todd (1:28:45)
And that that just probably will help you not only just in your career but in life in general.
Kait (1:28:50)
Yeah, good point. Yes, agreed.
Ben Todd (1:28:52)
What advice would you offer to somebody either like me who just is a little private pilot or somebody who has never stepped foot in an airplane, as they get started on their own journeys and start forging their own paths? And maybe specifically even tailor that to girls, you know, because obviously it's very probably very intimidating for girls to to want to try to get involved in this industry just with how male dominated it is.
Kait (1:29:08)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
sure. What I wish I would have had when I was in your position or you know, someone that's not even stepped in an aircraft would be reaching out to people that are willing to help and teach and guide you. Like just a mentor. I, you know, started this journey and like I said, my mom was a flight attendant but I didn't know any pilots and I was just starting this blind.
And I think that that contributes a lot to my success, honestly, is because I did not really know what I was signing up for. You know, I was just like, I want to be a pilot. And then that just like long-term didn't really know like how that career was going to like look or pan out. Like I wish I would have known a little bit more about like furloughs and the ebbs and flows of the career and you know, how timing can be everything. Like I feel like if I would have like known that or
someone would have warned me about that, I probably would have been a little bit afraid to make the first leap into this career. With that being said, I don't think like if someone is passionate about this career should let what might be, how the future may look to scare them away. You know, if you're passionate about, you have to be passionate about this and about flying.
in order to keep going. So first of all, I would say find someone that can kind of guide you so you don't go in as blind as I was going into this career and kind of like mentally prepare you a little bit for what's ahead, but also don't let that scare you. I would just say have someone like that's in your corner that you could just always go to. And it doesn't matter if it's like even long-term career. It's like, I'm having this issue or I'm having, you know, even I've had people that like, I get sick when I go up and fly. Like what do you suggest for that?
Like just like little things where you can, someone that's understand, that can understand what you're going through and kind of point you in the right direction and just give you longevity advice. With that being said, like anyone can reach out to me or if, and you know, I'm kind of a little, I will admit I am a little disconnected from how, where the position you're in than when I was in, I was 10 years ago, but I'm always willing to help out as much as I can.
So I would just say, find, and it doesn't even have to be like a young girl finding a female pilot. You know, like I said, the first few pilots I talked to were just guys that were flying me around when I was mooching off my mom's flight benefits and they encouraged me, you know? And like I never kept in contact with them or anything, but as I continued to fly, I made connections. And we talked about that too, how, you know, networking is really important, but you just meet like so many.
people in this industry that can kind of that have more knowledge than you and can kind of guide you and give you some advice. So that's what I would say would just first of all also get a discovery flight and see if this is actually something that you could do like long term and just make sure that the places that you're looking into. The biggest thing I would say is like maintenance make sure that they're safe and they're not cutting corners when it comes to obviously like safety is the most important aspect in aviation all around.
so make sure that they take safety seriously across the board. But as long as you can find someone that can get you like pointed in the right direction so you're not going in so blind. And you know, there's lots of information out there on the internet, but I think talking to someone that's truly gone through it or can actually or can find someone that is more familiar with your situation that can help out can kind of save you a lot of.
like getting lost. I don't really know the right word to say it, but I just felt so lost sometimes when I didn't have someone to talk to. And at the time, you know, there wasn't very many female role models or pilots that I had that I could reach out to, or really any pilot that I could reach out to. So I just think it's important to make those connections and find people. And I found people along the way, but if I would have had them in the beginning of my career, I think that would have helped me a lot.
Ben Todd (1:33:29)
Well, and I think social media is much bigger now than it was when you were going through training. And there's so many of the quote unquote pilot influencers that are out there now on on the internet. I think just having access to those people, having better or more easy access to those people.
Kait (1:33:32)
Yes, it is. right. You're right.
Right? Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (1:33:47)
makes it easier to find somebody who can help you. And and I can just speak from experience. I have a couple mentors who've been helping guide me just through my journey so far. It is so helpful to have somebody who's two, three, four, five steps ahead of you who can kind of tell you and prepare you for what's coming next or give you all alternate things to consider or just
Kait (1:33:54)
Right. Mm-hmm.
Right.
Right, and I did not have that. And that's amazing that you have that.
Ben Todd (1:34:14)
Just
things that you don't you don't know what you don't know, right? And so it's it's nice to have somebody there who has learned that, been there, and can help pass that information on to you.
Kait (1:34:17)
Don't know, right? Mm-hmm.
Totally agree. And it's really cool to see, like when I started my private, there was a class of 50 and there was only two girls in that class. You know, we only had one girl and maybe two girl instructors. And I just, then you would go out in the practice area and you wouldn't hear girls on the radio. It's just 10 years ago, that wasn't a thing. So it's really cool to see how much that has changed in the last decade. And it continues to, too. So I think that there's a lot more available for
men and women right now to just get some help and guidance because it was it's cool to hear that you have so many people because I did not have that and that would have helped me a lot. like I said if I could go back and do it again or give anyone advice it's just like find like what you said someone that is like five four or five steps ahead of you that can help you out a little bit or just talk just talk to not even help just like talk to and just maybe even complain if you just vent.
Ben Todd (1:35:16)
Yeah. It it's it's it's
It's it's already
been so helpful. It's already been so helpful for me that I can definitely empathize with you that having a lack of that when you were going through was pro it probably made your training significantly more.
Kait (1:35:24)
Ha
Mm-hmm.
for
For sure, 100%.
Ben Todd (1:35:39)
So pivoting a little bit, generally speaking, I think pilots really struggle when it comes to just in general, pilots struggle when it comes to eating healthy while on the road, maintaining an activity level while on the road.
Kait (1:35:48)
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (1:35:57)
and it's it's just it's a something that pilots really struggle with because you're sedentary for so long, then you're in these hotels and you're not in a city for very long. How have you I know you touched on this briefly when we were talking about when you were going through prep, but how have you been able to prioritize just health and fitness in a general sense while you're working?
Kait (1:36:06)
Threat.
Really what it comes down to is fitting in fitness where you can and preparation as much as you can prep. because when I was in prep the whole entire time I was on reserve.
so just kind of like looking ahead at your schedule and just seeing like where you can squeeze in little things. Cause there'd be some times where it would be so early, I wouldn't be able to get a full workout in, but at least maybe I could go on a run or go on a walk or get some fasted cardio in. And it doesn't have to be perfect, but at least you can get like something in to kind of, especially to start your day when you're going to be sitting all day.
So it's just all just kind of looking ahead at the, and we all know that what you plan in this industry is not always what works out. So I would always just make a tentative, I would look at my week, see what days I was on reserve and what days I was scheduled off at home. And I knew the days off at home that were
to be, were going to be uninterrupted. It was just the day, and I knew I'd be able to work out and get movement in on those days. I would just have to figure out the ways to do that when I was on the road or when I was on reserve. And most, and a lot of times I didn't even get called. So I would just be, go to the gym, work out. And if I got called, if I had to be there in two hours and I would just leave and I'd have to finish it later, you know? So you just kind of have to be flexible.
Ben Todd (1:37:44)
I think that's an awesome strategy. And I think I mean, again, never working an airline schedule before, but that sounds like it is very feasible and attainable if you just break it down on like a weekly schedule. And I think that's really good advice. And you you hit on something that was pretty important that I want to reiterate. Not everything's always gonna be perfect. Like you're gonna have to pivot, you're gonna have to be a little flexible. Things might not
Kait (1:37:55)
Mm-hmm.
For sure.
Ben Todd (1:38:12)
work the way that you want them to, but that doesn't mean you can throw like you should throw away everything away and just say, screw it, like I'm not gonna just I'm not saying I'm not gonna do anything because at least you can do something even if something gets in the way.
Kait (1:38:21)
Right.
Right, you have to pivot and like I said, I kind of just look at it like I sprinkle in my workouts and my cardio around the day around my days that I'm working just the best that I can. And if I can't work it in, then I'm like, all right, I'm just going to have to make that up later in the week when I'm off.
Ben Todd (1:38:44)
I love that. And and and I I've heard you reiterate a lot just through the course of this conversation, a lot of it is really just planning and preparation. Like really just taking a look exactly, right. And you're still gonna have to like there's still gonna be contingencies, there's still gonna be things that don't necessarily align with how you thought they would work or what your plan was, but
Kait (1:38:46)
Mm-hmm.
planning as much as you can. And then, right.
and
you just have to pivot.
Ben Todd (1:39:11)
But at least if you can have a structure or a framework of a plan that gives you at least some guidance. And then you can if you need to pivot or work around that, then you can. But at least you have a structure that probably will set you up pretty well.
Kait (1:39:14)
for sure.
Mm-hmm.
Right, exactly. And then once you have a structure, I like that word. Once you have a structure, you're like, Tuesday was a dumpster fire. I worked all day. I got really bad sleep. I'm not gonna get a workout in. And I'm like, all right, that's fine. I know I have three days off later in the week. I'm just gonna do it on Thursday instead.
So, but at least you know, you're like, okay, I'm just gonna move this day to this day. I'm gonna move this workout to this workout. So when you have a set structure in front of you and you like can start like tweaking it and moving it around, as long as you have a baseline of something and like a baseline plan, you could just kind of like start moving the parts that work best for you.
Ben Todd (1:40:01)
I love that. That's great advice. I appreciate you sharing that.
Kait (1:40:02)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, for sure.
Ben Todd (1:40:06)
So this has been a really enlightening conversation. I know we've we've gone on a little a little past how the length of time I thought we would do it, but I this has been such a great conversation. This has been so fun. I've really enjoyed it. I hope that the listeners have also found some value and some insight in everything that you've shared because you've shared a lot of really great things today. Where can
Kait (1:40:13)
I know, right?
Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (1:40:29)
People find you if they want to follow, just I mean, you're always post you're in Hawaii right now. Like, that's so awesome. You're literally recording from Hawaii, like so cool. you're posting a lot on your Instagram about just like where you're traveling to and things you have going on. Where can people find you? And and Yogi, and you can't forget about Yogi. Like, he's probably like 80% of the things you post on Instagram, but he's awesome. He's so worth the 80%. where can people find you on Instagram?
Kait (1:40:42)
Mm-hmm. And yogi. That's basically it. Yeah.
He is awesome.
so my handle is Kate spelled K A I T and shaft S H A F F all one word, or if someone's not on Instagram, they don't want to do it that way. Like if they are friends with you, just tell them to just give them my details and they can reach out anytime. but Instagram, I'm sure it was probably like the most reasonable way to find me. I'll see it eventually for sure.
Ben Todd (1:41:23)
Perfect. Yeah, it's I have really enjoyed this. this was a lot of fun. I'm I'm really, I'm really glad we did this. No, this is awesome. Like I'm I I am so excited that yeah, and and honestly, I can tell you're really passionate about it. And that's so cool because again, like I kind of said in the intro, like you have the life that I want to have eventually. And just seeing you living it and seeing you.
Kait (1:41:27)
Thanks so much for talking with me for two hours. It was fun. Yeah. I love this stuff, obviously.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Ben Todd (1:41:51)
just doing everything that you do, it gives me the inspiration and the motivation to know like, yes, like that is attainable. I can do that. It's just gonna take a while to get there. But everyone goes through the process, everyone goes through the journey and you're doing it. So I'm super proud of you. Like you you freaking krill you're crushing it.
Kait (1:41:57)
Yes.
for sure.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Yep.
Ben Todd (1:42:11)
Yeah, of course. Well, thanks everyone for tuning into this week's episode. If it brought you some value, please share it with someone who's chasing their own version of high performance. don't forget to follow the show so you don't miss a flight. Fly safe, and we'll see you all next time.