THIS TRANSCRIPT IS AI GENERATED AND WILL CONTAIN SOME SMALL ERRORS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT thepilotprojectpodcast@gmail.com. We understand the importance of good subtitles but currently as a one-person operation we just don't have the ability to edit these in a timely fashion and keep episodes coming out regularly. Thank you for your understanding! WEBVTT 0 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:03.252 >> Bryan: All right, after a long break, we are back and ready 1 00:00:03.276 --> 00:00:06.236 for departure here at the pilot project podcast, the best source for 2 00:00:06.268 --> 00:00:09.148 stories and advice from the pilots of the RCAF. I'm your 3 00:00:09.164 --> 00:00:12.036 host, Brian Morrison. With me today is my favourite repeat 4 00:00:12.068 --> 00:00:15.052 guest, my wife, Melissa. Melissa, welcome back to the 5 00:00:15.076 --> 00:00:15.596 show. 6 00:00:15.748 --> 00:00:16.996 >> Melissa: Thanks for having me. 7 00:00:17.148 --> 00:00:20.020 >> Bryan: A lot has changed in the last seven months and we figured we owe you some 8 00:00:20.060 --> 00:00:23.012 explanation for our absence as well. So let's dive into it. 9 00:00:23.156 --> 00:00:25.900 As with the last time I had Melissa on the show, we're going to reverse 10 00:00:25.940 --> 00:00:28.940 roles. So at this point, I'm going to hand over the hosting duties to Melissa 11 00:00:28.980 --> 00:00:31.400 and I'll be in the guest seat for the rest of the episode. 12 00:00:32.250 --> 00:00:34.778 >> Melissa: Before I get started, I'm going to introduce 13 00:00:34.874 --> 00:00:37.522 you, Brian, as our guest by reading your 14 00:00:37.546 --> 00:00:40.522 bio. Brian grew up going to air shows and 15 00:00:40.546 --> 00:00:43.514 has always wanted to be a pilot. He got his start flying 16 00:00:43.562 --> 00:00:46.426 in the air cadet programme as a teenager when he needed 17 00:00:46.458 --> 00:00:48.970 money for university and the pilot trade was open. 18 00:00:49.090 --> 00:00:51.994 Necessity and opportunity came together. Brian 19 00:00:52.042 --> 00:00:54.418 joined the Canadian Armed Forces on June 20 00:00:54.474 --> 00:00:57.330 14, 2006, two days after his 21 00:00:57.370 --> 00:01:00.356 20th birthday. He signed up originally for twelve 22 00:01:00.428 --> 00:01:03.380 years through the ROTP programme. After finishing 23 00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:06.076 his degree in commercial aviation management at the University 24 00:01:06.188 --> 00:01:09.164 of Western Ontario, he was posted as a second 25 00:01:09.212 --> 00:01:11.628 lieutenant to 400 Tactical helicopter 26 00:01:11.684 --> 00:01:14.252 squadron, where he worked in Ops while he waited to go to 27 00:01:14.276 --> 00:01:17.252 Moosera. After a 16 month wait, it was 28 00:01:17.276 --> 00:01:20.180 finally time to go to Moosera, where Brian completed his phase two 29 00:01:20.220 --> 00:01:22.796 training and finished at the top of his course. 30 00:01:22.948 --> 00:01:25.932 Brian then went on to complete multiengine training in Portage le 31 00:01:25.956 --> 00:01:28.740 Prairie, where he earned the Hal Wishart award for top 32 00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:31.446 multiengine student. Brian requested and was 33 00:01:31.478 --> 00:01:34.198 assigned to 405 long Range patrol Squadron 34 00:01:34.294 --> 00:01:36.958 to fly the CP 140 Aurora in Greenwood, Nova 35 00:01:36.974 --> 00:01:39.870 Scotia. After working in Ops for 17 months, 36 00:01:39.910 --> 00:01:42.870 he finally began training on the aurora, which he completed 37 00:01:42.910 --> 00:01:45.446 about eight months later. After spending a month in 38 00:01:45.478 --> 00:01:48.422 Hawaii, Brian came home to marry me, the love of 39 00:01:48.446 --> 00:01:51.350 his life. When he requested leave for his honeymoon, he was told 40 00:01:51.390 --> 00:01:53.730 to wait as something was coming down the pipe. 41 00:01:54.190 --> 00:01:57.190 A month after getting married, Brian deployed to Kuwait to fly 42 00:01:57.230 --> 00:01:59.982 surveillance flights in Iraq for Operation Impact. For 43 00:02:00.006 --> 00:02:02.930 roto zero, he was gone for four months, then home for 44 00:02:02.970 --> 00:02:05.790 three and gone for a second three month tour. 45 00:02:06.130 --> 00:02:09.066 It would be over two years before Brian had spent more days home 46 00:02:09.098 --> 00:02:11.874 with me than away on the road. In his first 47 00:02:11.922 --> 00:02:14.778 three years on the Aurora, he was away for 314 48 00:02:14.874 --> 00:02:17.650 days. Highlights from these years included 49 00:02:17.690 --> 00:02:20.434 flying across Canada, including the Arctic, Kuwait, 50 00:02:20.482 --> 00:02:23.322 Brazil, Scotland, San Diego, Hawaii, Florida 51 00:02:23.386 --> 00:02:26.378 and the Azores. During that time, Brian 52 00:02:26.434 --> 00:02:29.394 upgraded to aircraft captain on his 30th birthday 53 00:02:29.522 --> 00:02:31.750 and later upgraded to crew commander. 54 00:02:32.250 --> 00:02:35.218 After their first son, Hendrik was born, Brian took parental leave 55 00:02:35.274 --> 00:02:38.002 and upon return was requalified just in time to be 56 00:02:38.026 --> 00:02:40.226 posted to three CFFTs as an 57 00:02:40.258 --> 00:02:42.866 instructor. After their second son, Theo was 58 00:02:42.898 --> 00:02:45.730 born and while Brian was on parental leave, he was 59 00:02:45.770 --> 00:02:48.530 diagnosed with other specified trauma and stressor 60 00:02:48.570 --> 00:02:51.306 related disorder, as well as generalised anxiety 61 00:02:51.378 --> 00:02:54.154 disorder, which led to his medical release after 62 00:02:54.202 --> 00:02:56.418 18 years of service on July 2, 63 00:02:56.514 --> 00:02:59.424 2024. During his time in 64 00:02:59.432 --> 00:03:01.840 the RCAF, Brian has flown for approximately 65 00:03:01.880 --> 00:03:04.392 1700 hours and has loved every minute of 66 00:03:04.416 --> 00:03:07.232 it throughout his career. There have been many pauses and 67 00:03:07.256 --> 00:03:10.136 setbacks, but he has always persevered, as we know 68 00:03:10.168 --> 00:03:12.020 he will with whatever comes next. 69 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:15.944 All right, Bryan, let's start with the most obvious question. 70 00:03:16.112 --> 00:03:18.848 Why haven't you been putting out new episodes for the last seven 71 00:03:18.904 --> 00:03:19.500 months? 72 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:22.944 >> Bryan: So initially when I started doing the show, 73 00:03:23.072 --> 00:03:26.016 I thought that I had followed all the rules and regulations for 74 00:03:26.048 --> 00:03:28.994 what was required, but there are no written 75 00:03:29.042 --> 00:03:32.002 rules that specifically talk about podcasts. So I really just 76 00:03:32.026 --> 00:03:34.770 had to do my best, talk to the public affairs officers 77 00:03:34.890 --> 00:03:37.786 and sort of hope that I had all the t's 78 00:03:37.818 --> 00:03:40.786 crossed and the I's dotted. After about a year, 79 00:03:40.938 --> 00:03:43.230 somebody let me know that 80 00:03:43.730 --> 00:03:46.682 I should have had permission from my commanding officer as well, which 81 00:03:46.706 --> 00:03:49.626 I hadn't done originally. So 82 00:03:49.818 --> 00:03:52.721 I paused the show and applied for permission. 83 00:03:52.905 --> 00:03:55.809 And unfortunately, just the way bureaucracy works 84 00:03:55.849 --> 00:03:58.793 sometimes it took over six months before I 85 00:03:58.801 --> 00:04:01.649 got an answer. That being said, in the meantime, I have 86 00:04:01.689 --> 00:04:04.681 done a few interviews that I'm really excited to air over the 87 00:04:04.745 --> 00:04:05.789 summer and fall. 88 00:04:06.369 --> 00:04:09.201 >> Melissa: When we last checked in and spoke about your mental health, we 89 00:04:09.225 --> 00:04:11.961 noted you were possibly heading for a medical release. 90 00:04:12.065 --> 00:04:13.669 Where is that process at? 91 00:04:14.169 --> 00:04:17.041 >> Bryan: So, as we mentioned in my bio, and as we suspected 92 00:04:17.105 --> 00:04:19.665 would happen, I was medically released from the canadian armed 93 00:04:19.697 --> 00:04:22.494 Forces. My last day was actually last 94 00:04:22.542 --> 00:04:25.198 Tuesday, July 2. So I am now a 95 00:04:25.214 --> 00:04:25.970 civilian. 96 00:04:26.550 --> 00:04:28.290 >> Melissa: How does it feel to be a civilian? 97 00:04:28.790 --> 00:04:31.774 >> Bryan: To be honest, Im still processing that. I 98 00:04:31.862 --> 00:04:34.558 have a peer support person that I talk to fairly regularly 99 00:04:34.614 --> 00:04:37.286 and he says that it takes around 100 00:04:37.478 --> 00:04:40.438 three to five years for it to really set in and to come to grips 101 00:04:40.454 --> 00:04:43.286 with a change. So Im trying to take my time and work 102 00:04:43.318 --> 00:04:46.318 through it. In some ways its nice. Im looking forward to 103 00:04:46.334 --> 00:04:49.138 the unlimited vacation time, at least until I figure out 104 00:04:49.154 --> 00:04:51.618 what's next. But there's definitely things I 105 00:04:51.634 --> 00:04:52.190 miss. 106 00:04:53.010 --> 00:04:55.470 >> Melissa: How do you feel about being medically released? 107 00:04:55.890 --> 00:04:58.818 >> Bryan: I have mixed emotions about it, for sure. I'm mostly at peace with 108 00:04:58.834 --> 00:05:01.818 it because I knew that it was what's right for my health and 109 00:05:01.874 --> 00:05:04.666 for the family. But that being said, it's a dream 110 00:05:04.698 --> 00:05:06.590 job, so it's very hard to walk away from. 111 00:05:07.530 --> 00:05:09.670 How would you say the process has been for you? 112 00:05:10.210 --> 00:05:11.510 >> Melissa: It's been rough. 113 00:05:13.450 --> 00:05:16.092 That's my nice way to put it. It's just been a lot of, 114 00:05:16.116 --> 00:05:18.440 like, managing 115 00:05:18.940 --> 00:05:21.500 more of the house and helping you 116 00:05:21.540 --> 00:05:24.172 manage kind of the roller coaster that you've been 117 00:05:24.196 --> 00:05:26.876 on. There's been, like, a lot of highs and 118 00:05:26.908 --> 00:05:29.844 lows with any, like, anyone's mental health, 119 00:05:29.892 --> 00:05:32.732 really. There's. There's good times and bad times. The roller coaster 120 00:05:32.796 --> 00:05:35.660 has just been a little bit more than we were kind of used 121 00:05:35.700 --> 00:05:38.004 to. We kind of stabilised a little bit, 122 00:05:38.172 --> 00:05:40.884 and the whole process has just 123 00:05:40.932 --> 00:05:43.732 had so much uncertainty to it, which 124 00:05:43.756 --> 00:05:46.148 has caused a big spike in your anxiety. 125 00:05:46.244 --> 00:05:49.076 So the fall from that is that 126 00:05:49.228 --> 00:05:52.076 there's more for me to pick up and do because you're 127 00:05:52.108 --> 00:05:54.884 frozen a lot more of the time. So it's 128 00:05:54.932 --> 00:05:57.724 definitely been rough, but at the same time, 129 00:05:57.812 --> 00:06:00.612 it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be 130 00:06:00.676 --> 00:06:03.356 because you've grown so much in the last couple, uh, of 131 00:06:03.388 --> 00:06:03.960 years. 132 00:06:04.260 --> 00:06:07.172 >> Bryan: Yeah. And definitely, like I said, I'm at peace with it, and 133 00:06:07.196 --> 00:06:10.140 that's true. But that doesn't mean that hasn't been a hard process. 134 00:06:10.220 --> 00:06:11.036 For sure. 135 00:06:11.228 --> 00:06:14.046 >> Melissa: Yeah, for sure. All right, 136 00:06:14.118 --> 00:06:16.958 so you're officially done your RCAF 137 00:06:17.054 --> 00:06:19.894 career. So I feel like we need to talk about, you know, 138 00:06:19.942 --> 00:06:22.942 some of your favourite parts of that before we move 139 00:06:22.966 --> 00:06:25.742 on to talk about other things. So, Brian, tell me, what was 140 00:06:25.766 --> 00:06:28.090 your best day flying in the RCAF? 141 00:06:28.910 --> 00:06:31.662 >> Bryan: Brian? So, ironically, even though it led to 142 00:06:31.726 --> 00:06:34.566 eventually a medical release, I would say that my tours 143 00:06:34.598 --> 00:06:37.206 overseas were my best days flying in the RCAF. 144 00:06:37.398 --> 00:06:40.306 It's very satisfying to fly on a 145 00:06:40.378 --> 00:06:43.338 super regular basis with the same crew all the time in 146 00:06:43.354 --> 00:06:46.322 the same aircraft. You really get used to how everything's going to 147 00:06:46.346 --> 00:06:49.170 go. You're working as a team, you get to know everybody 148 00:06:49.210 --> 00:06:51.970 and kind of how all their idiosyncrasies work 149 00:06:52.010 --> 00:06:54.810 together. Also, there was this feeling 150 00:06:54.850 --> 00:06:57.842 of like, okay, we're in Iraq, we're fighting 151 00:06:57.866 --> 00:07:00.830 against ISIS, we're taking part in global events, and 152 00:07:01.570 --> 00:07:04.226 you feel like maybe you're hopefully 153 00:07:04.418 --> 00:07:07.138 helping to make the world a better place. And at least 154 00:07:07.234 --> 00:07:10.070 certainly we were helping a lot of people who lived 155 00:07:10.110 --> 00:07:12.790 in Iraq to not fall under the 156 00:07:12.870 --> 00:07:15.774 subjugation of ISIS. So for that, it 157 00:07:15.782 --> 00:07:16.970 was very satisfying. 158 00:07:17.590 --> 00:07:20.422 >> Melissa: And I think that was, like, the era where you felt like you 159 00:07:20.446 --> 00:07:23.214 were finally trained and actually doing your 160 00:07:23.262 --> 00:07:26.050 job, which for anyone that's gone through the process, 161 00:07:26.470 --> 00:07:29.382 it's just so much learning and so much training through 162 00:07:29.406 --> 00:07:32.382 all the different phases to finally, like, be on 163 00:07:32.406 --> 00:07:35.120 your aircraft, doing your thing for 164 00:07:35.160 --> 00:07:37.808 real, on a real mission, I think that was. 165 00:07:37.944 --> 00:07:38.792 That was huge for you. 166 00:07:38.816 --> 00:07:39.940 >> Bryan: Yeah, uh, 100%. 167 00:07:41.280 --> 00:07:43.700 >> Melissa: What was your hardest day? Flying in the RCAF. 168 00:07:44.640 --> 00:07:47.248 >> Bryan: So I would also say that some of my hardest 169 00:07:47.304 --> 00:07:50.100 days were my tours overseas. 170 00:07:50.520 --> 00:07:53.512 Obviously, I was pretty scared a lot of the 171 00:07:53.536 --> 00:07:56.528 time, which is part of what led to my trauma 172 00:07:56.584 --> 00:07:59.472 injury. I've also never been more tired than 173 00:07:59.496 --> 00:08:01.966 during my first tour. Like, just 174 00:08:02.118 --> 00:08:05.062 totally exhausted. Our schedule was all over the place. It 175 00:08:05.086 --> 00:08:07.998 was really hard to get on a good sleep pattern. We 176 00:08:08.014 --> 00:08:10.998 had challenging conditions, and like I said, there were threats that I 177 00:08:11.014 --> 00:08:13.462 found scary, despite the fact that we were 178 00:08:13.486 --> 00:08:15.930 taking really excellent precautions. 179 00:08:16.230 --> 00:08:18.970 And, uh, as far as, like, how tired I was, 180 00:08:19.390 --> 00:08:22.278 I was actually so tired that when I got back, you know, we 181 00:08:22.294 --> 00:08:24.990 went on our honeymoon within a few days of me 182 00:08:25.030 --> 00:08:27.832 returning home to Canada, and I was 183 00:08:27.856 --> 00:08:30.736 just a wreck. I could hardly keep my eyes open. I was 184 00:08:30.768 --> 00:08:33.136 basically falling asleep at our first night at dinner. 185 00:08:33.248 --> 00:08:34.696 >> Melissa: The biggest party pooper. 186 00:08:34.808 --> 00:08:37.712 >> Bryan: Yeah, it was. It was pretty brutal. We 187 00:08:37.736 --> 00:08:40.180 had fun, but I was exhausted. 188 00:08:40.880 --> 00:08:43.328 >> Melissa: What was the coolest experience you had flying in the 189 00:08:43.344 --> 00:08:44.140 RcAF? 190 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.816 >> Bryan: So I have two coolest experiences. The 191 00:08:47.888 --> 00:08:50.888 first one was getting to take you and your family flying in the 192 00:08:50.904 --> 00:08:53.694 Aurora for family day. The second cool experience 193 00:08:53.782 --> 00:08:56.678 is like, a very quintessentially east coast 194 00:08:56.734 --> 00:08:59.734 experience. I got to do a fly past in 195 00:08:59.782 --> 00:09:02.646 Digby with the Bluenose two. 196 00:09:02.798 --> 00:09:05.782 So for our younger listeners who may 197 00:09:05.806 --> 00:09:08.766 not be familiar with it, if you look at a dime, assuming you ever 198 00:09:08.798 --> 00:09:11.766 carry change, that is the ship that is 199 00:09:11.798 --> 00:09:14.670 on the canadian dime. And they had 200 00:09:14.710 --> 00:09:17.414 that ship and a couple other tall ships that were 201 00:09:17.462 --> 00:09:20.352 sailing up and down the sound in Digby, 202 00:09:20.526 --> 00:09:23.476 and we basically did, I would say, half a dozen 203 00:09:23.508 --> 00:09:26.276 fly pass for the crowd, just going 204 00:09:26.348 --> 00:09:28.980 in at the minimum altitude we were approved 205 00:09:29.020 --> 00:09:31.300 for and doing high speed 206 00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:34.188 passes, climbing up, coming around, and doing it 207 00:09:34.204 --> 00:09:36.812 again. It was just a really cool experience to get to 208 00:09:36.836 --> 00:09:39.692 do that kind of thing. Yeah, it was 209 00:09:39.716 --> 00:09:40.320 awesome. 210 00:09:41.420 --> 00:09:43.956 >> Melissa: What are your feelings about the military now that you have 211 00:09:43.988 --> 00:09:44.720 released? 212 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:47.420 >> Bryan: So, overall, my 213 00:09:47.800 --> 00:09:50.312 experiences and feelings with the military are 214 00:09:50.376 --> 00:09:53.192 positive. I still think its an 215 00:09:53.256 --> 00:09:56.208 amazing institution. Ive enjoyed my career in the 216 00:09:56.224 --> 00:09:58.336 military a tonne, and 217 00:09:58.528 --> 00:10:01.232 truthfully, I cannot think of another 218 00:10:01.296 --> 00:10:04.120 one that im going to enjoy as much. Thats one of the hardest 219 00:10:04.160 --> 00:10:06.928 parts about moving on is that this was a 220 00:10:06.944 --> 00:10:09.776 dream job and im trying to imagine 221 00:10:09.848 --> 00:10:12.784 what else would I enjoy as much and its so hard to think of something 222 00:10:12.832 --> 00:10:15.720 that I would like that much. So obviously I feel really 223 00:10:15.760 --> 00:10:18.728 positive about it. I'm not going to miss the bureaucracy. 224 00:10:18.824 --> 00:10:21.656 I won't miss working in a place where it takes six 225 00:10:21.688 --> 00:10:24.448 or seven months to get a response on if you can do a podcast or 226 00:10:24.464 --> 00:10:27.344 not. I found that pretty frustrating. But every 227 00:10:27.392 --> 00:10:29.976 organisation has its faults. I am 228 00:10:30.008 --> 00:10:32.808 looking forward to the freedom of not being in, 229 00:10:32.944 --> 00:10:35.760 but I recognise that we have it so good in the military 230 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:37.952 and there's going to be a tonne of things that I'll miss. 231 00:10:38.056 --> 00:10:40.696 >> Melissa: Oh yeah, I think it's going to be interesting watching your 232 00:10:40.728 --> 00:10:43.584 transition to what I like to refer to as the real world. 233 00:10:43.672 --> 00:10:46.664 >> Bryan: Yes, definitely. I've already had to learn about 234 00:10:46.712 --> 00:10:48.740 healthy insurance and dental plans. 235 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:51.764 >> Melissa: And you made your first visit to a real 236 00:10:51.812 --> 00:10:53.076 doctor in pharmacy. 237 00:10:53.228 --> 00:10:55.360 >> Bryan: That's right. It was eye, uh, opening. 238 00:10:55.900 --> 00:10:58.520 >> Melissa: What will you miss the most about being in the military? 239 00:10:59.140 --> 00:11:02.012 >> Bryan: So the first thing that I'm going to miss is the 240 00:11:02.036 --> 00:11:04.900 camaraderie. I think that that is something 241 00:11:04.940 --> 00:11:07.812 that I'm just not going to find anywhere else. I think just by 242 00:11:07.836 --> 00:11:10.588 the nature of the organisation and what we do and 243 00:11:10.684 --> 00:11:13.276 the shared experiences we all have and the hardships we go 244 00:11:13.308 --> 00:11:16.264 through that the camaraderie that that builds is just second 245 00:11:16.312 --> 00:11:19.280 to none. I'm also going to miss. I know we're both 246 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:22.024 going to miss when we move next the instant friends 247 00:11:22.152 --> 00:11:25.072 factor of being in the military. When you move, 248 00:11:25.176 --> 00:11:27.656 you go to a new posting, you go to a new unit. 249 00:11:27.808 --> 00:11:30.696 Hopefully there's some people there that you already knew. But if not, 250 00:11:30.728 --> 00:11:33.648 like you definitely meet a couple people in the first week. By 251 00:11:33.664 --> 00:11:36.392 the end of the week you've got a few buddies, your spouse meets 252 00:11:36.416 --> 00:11:39.408 their spouses and everybody has friends. You're going 253 00:11:39.424 --> 00:11:41.930 to barbecues and all that kind of stuff. So 254 00:11:42.470 --> 00:11:45.038 that we're going to miss because the next place we move 255 00:11:45.214 --> 00:11:47.982 we're not going to have a base, we're not going to have a 256 00:11:48.006 --> 00:11:50.998 posting to go to. We're going to have to figure out how to make friends 257 00:11:51.054 --> 00:11:53.670 as adults in the real world and I think that's going to be really 258 00:11:53.710 --> 00:11:54.310 weird. 259 00:11:54.470 --> 00:11:56.250 >> Melissa: Yeah, I think the military 260 00:11:56.950 --> 00:11:59.782 families in general do a really good job 261 00:11:59.886 --> 00:12:02.838 of just welcoming new people 262 00:12:02.934 --> 00:12:05.894 into that community and helping you find your place in 263 00:12:05.902 --> 00:12:07.142 your community. It's awesome. 264 00:12:07.246 --> 00:12:09.798 >> Bryan: Yeah, for sure. And then of course the other thing I'm going to miss is 265 00:12:09.814 --> 00:12:12.742 just the adventures and the variety of experiences 266 00:12:12.806 --> 00:12:15.782 and seeing the world for free and all that kind of 267 00:12:15.806 --> 00:12:16.370 stuff. 268 00:12:17.270 --> 00:12:18.730 >> Melissa: So what's next for you? 269 00:12:19.230 --> 00:12:22.022 >> Bryan: So the short answer is, I don't know, but I think 270 00:12:22.046 --> 00:12:24.990 that's okay, at least at first. It's going to take some time 271 00:12:25.030 --> 00:12:27.862 to kind of get my feet under me, figure out 272 00:12:27.966 --> 00:12:30.890 what else do I want to do and 273 00:12:31.470 --> 00:12:34.328 go pursue that. But I think, like I 274 00:12:34.344 --> 00:12:37.320 said, I think it's okay at first to not be sure what you're going 275 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:39.660 to do, especially with a medical release, 276 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.456 because the release was unplanned. The release was something we knew was 277 00:12:43.488 --> 00:12:46.488 probably coming, but it wasn't part of my plan. So it kind 278 00:12:46.504 --> 00:12:49.432 of makes sense that I'm not ready to go with this second 279 00:12:49.496 --> 00:12:52.456 career, and I'm trying to kind of give myself grace with that 280 00:12:52.488 --> 00:12:55.280 and take some time to figure that out. In the short 281 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:58.104 term, I'm basically just going to focus on getting better, 282 00:12:58.272 --> 00:13:01.248 staying in good shape physically, because I know that that also leads to 283 00:13:01.264 --> 00:13:03.990 better mental health for me and doing the podcast. 284 00:13:04.490 --> 00:13:07.434 >> Melissa: I'm sure your listeners are excited to hear more podcasts 285 00:13:07.482 --> 00:13:08.002 coming. 286 00:13:08.146 --> 00:13:09.070 >> Bryan: I hope so. 287 00:13:09.970 --> 00:13:12.682 >> Melissa: What are the biggest challenges ahead you see for restarting the 288 00:13:12.706 --> 00:13:13.270 show? 289 00:13:13.930 --> 00:13:16.826 >> Bryan: Initially from behind the scenes? I'm definitely going to be rusty 290 00:13:16.858 --> 00:13:19.790 in terms of conducting interviews, editing, 291 00:13:20.170 --> 00:13:22.890 getting the show online, just all the little things that it takes 292 00:13:22.930 --> 00:13:25.842 to make a podcast happen. It is a lot of work, 293 00:13:25.906 --> 00:13:28.866 and there's going to be some steep learning curve 294 00:13:28.898 --> 00:13:31.820 again with just getting things back online. The other 295 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:34.692 two things that I see as a challenge, which luckily the audience can 296 00:13:34.716 --> 00:13:37.532 help with both. The first is regrowing the audience. 297 00:13:37.636 --> 00:13:40.332 I can only imagine that in seven months, a 298 00:13:40.436 --> 00:13:43.140 fair number of people have given up on the show or thought 299 00:13:43.180 --> 00:13:45.564 that it's not coming back or lost interest. 300 00:13:45.652 --> 00:13:48.564 So obviously you, the audience, can help 301 00:13:48.612 --> 00:13:51.516 us by spreading the word that the show's 302 00:13:51.548 --> 00:13:53.972 back online, by telling some friends about it, 303 00:13:54.076 --> 00:13:57.012 telling people, you know, who may be interested in aviation, 304 00:13:57.076 --> 00:13:59.792 or especially with aviation within the 305 00:13:59.816 --> 00:14:02.448 RCAF about the show. The 306 00:14:02.504 --> 00:14:04.660 third challenge is 307 00:14:05.280 --> 00:14:08.176 going to be coming up with new ideas, new 308 00:14:08.208 --> 00:14:10.792 ideas for shows, which again, the audience can help 309 00:14:10.856 --> 00:14:13.824 by suggesting guests, topics, 310 00:14:13.912 --> 00:14:15.100 all that kind of stuff. 311 00:14:15.760 --> 00:14:18.380 >> Melissa: So now that you're out of the military, 312 00:14:18.680 --> 00:14:20.980 how will this change the show? 313 00:14:21.880 --> 00:14:24.752 >> Bryan: So I think to the audience, hopefully it will 314 00:14:24.776 --> 00:14:27.598 be fairly transparent, like, there won't be 315 00:14:27.774 --> 00:14:30.694 a big change, like in terms of the quality of the show, 316 00:14:30.862 --> 00:14:33.846 in terms of how often it comes out. I'm hoping to keep all that kind of stuff 317 00:14:33.878 --> 00:14:36.734 the same, but potentially, I'm hoping that 318 00:14:36.782 --> 00:14:39.750 now that I'm out, there will be a little less red tape 319 00:14:39.830 --> 00:14:42.822 in terms of me accessing certain guests. And I 320 00:14:42.846 --> 00:14:45.622 believe I should have access to some fairly. I don't want to give 321 00:14:45.646 --> 00:14:48.502 anything away yet because I'm not sure what's going to come 322 00:14:48.526 --> 00:14:51.310 together, but I think I should have access to some fairly high 323 00:14:51.350 --> 00:14:54.026 level guests in terms of people 324 00:14:54.098 --> 00:14:57.042 positioned fairly senior in the RCAF. So hopefully we should 325 00:14:57.066 --> 00:15:00.058 have some really cool guests for the audience to listen to soon. 326 00:15:00.194 --> 00:15:00.300 Awesome. 327 00:15:00.300 --> 00:15:03.258 >> Melissa: Uh, any other future plans 328 00:15:03.274 --> 00:15:04.218 for the podcast? 329 00:15:04.354 --> 00:15:07.314 >> Bryan: Basically, the plan is to keep it going as before, as long 330 00:15:07.322 --> 00:15:09.978 as we have enough content. I'll keep putting out episodes every two 331 00:15:10.034 --> 00:15:13.010 weeks, but we recognise that once we cover 332 00:15:13.050 --> 00:15:16.026 all the fleets, we've kind of picked a lot of the low hanging 333 00:15:16.058 --> 00:15:18.898 fruit. And it's going to be harder to 334 00:15:18.914 --> 00:15:21.772 come up with unique ideas for shows. So it may 335 00:15:21.796 --> 00:15:24.740 come to a point where we need to slow down and put out episodes monthly 336 00:15:24.780 --> 00:15:27.380 just to sort of give us time to come up with 337 00:15:27.420 --> 00:15:30.260 ideas. But again, that's where the audience can help with suggestions 338 00:15:30.300 --> 00:15:33.228 in bringing forward guests, so you can reach out to 339 00:15:33.244 --> 00:15:35.204 the show with topic ideas and guest ideas. 340 00:15:35.252 --> 00:15:38.188 Toddpilotproject on all social media and 341 00:15:38.244 --> 00:15:41.040 thepilotprojectpodcastmail uh.com dot. 342 00:15:41.900 --> 00:15:44.516 >> Melissa: So in case you didn't know or your 343 00:15:44.548 --> 00:15:46.948 listeners, the RCAF has a podcast. 344 00:15:47.004 --> 00:15:49.396 Now. Why should people listen to your 345 00:15:49.428 --> 00:15:50.200 podcast? 346 00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:53.120 >> Bryan: So the first thing I'd point out is that we aren't in 347 00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:55.720 competition. I actually was involved with that 348 00:15:55.760 --> 00:15:58.648 show. It wasn't my idea, but I was involved with the 349 00:15:58.664 --> 00:16:01.584 early stages of it, and I actually hosted one of their first episodes. 350 00:16:01.712 --> 00:16:04.624 It's a cool show, but it's focused 351 00:16:04.672 --> 00:16:07.488 on the RCAF as a whole. So 352 00:16:07.544 --> 00:16:10.200 not just pilots, it focuses on all 353 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:12.848 trades, all walks of life within the RCAF, which I think is 354 00:16:12.864 --> 00:16:15.712 great. But our show is more pilot focused, is the 355 00:16:15.736 --> 00:16:18.476 goals of the show are to help pilots in 356 00:16:18.508 --> 00:16:20.972 training and to help pilots succeed and to learn. 357 00:16:21.116 --> 00:16:23.812 So I think we offer fundamentally different 358 00:16:23.876 --> 00:16:26.652 things, but like I said, we're not in 359 00:16:26.676 --> 00:16:29.140 competition. And I think more podcasts on 360 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:31.852 RCAF Aviation is a good 361 00:16:31.876 --> 00:16:32.440 thing. 362 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:36.340 >> Melissa: When do you expect the first episode of the, uh, 363 00:16:36.356 --> 00:16:38.920 podcast to be released? After this one. 364 00:16:39.540 --> 00:16:42.132 >> Bryan: So we're going to start releasing episodes again on the 365 00:16:42.156 --> 00:16:44.660 30 July and every two weeks after 366 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:45.280 that. 367 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:48.620 >> Melissa: All right, now, before we wrap up, I've got a few 368 00:16:48.660 --> 00:16:51.440 retirement jokes for everyone, including you. 369 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:54.400 Um, great. Brian doesn't know I'm doing this. 370 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:57.628 I mean, he does. Cause I told him I was gonna do it, but he doesn't know what 371 00:16:57.644 --> 00:16:58.520 I'm gonna say. 372 00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.920 >> Bryan: I can't wait. 373 00:17:00.900 --> 00:17:03.852 >> Melissa: All right, why did Brian 374 00:17:04.036 --> 00:17:06.720 decide to retire so young? 375 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:08.652 >> Bryan: Uh, why? 376 00:17:08.836 --> 00:17:11.660 >> Melissa: Because he finally reached his cruising altitude in 377 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:14.518 life. Oh, my gosh, that's the 378 00:17:14.534 --> 00:17:17.414 worst one. The next year, better. All right. 379 00:17:17.542 --> 00:17:20.062 Why did Brian decide to retire? 380 00:17:20.206 --> 00:17:20.894 >> Bryan: Why? 381 00:17:21.062 --> 00:17:23.530 >> Melissa: Because he was tired of always winging it. 382 00:17:26.270 --> 00:17:29.170 All right, last one. Why did Brian 383 00:17:29.510 --> 00:17:30.890 decide to retire? 384 00:17:31.230 --> 00:17:33.670 >> Bryan: So they're all the same joke with different punchlines? 385 00:17:33.710 --> 00:17:34.238 >> Melissa: Yeah. 386 00:17:34.374 --> 00:17:35.446 >> Bryan: Okay. Why? 387 00:17:35.638 --> 00:17:38.574 >> Melissa: Because he realised life's too short to always have his head in 388 00:17:38.582 --> 00:17:39.610 the clouds. 389 00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:43.076 >> Bryan: Oh, my gosh. I said I was trying to gain listeners, 390 00:17:43.108 --> 00:17:44.200 not lose them. 391 00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:45.900 >> Melissa: Come on, those were good. 392 00:17:46.020 --> 00:17:48.820 >> Bryan: It was fine. All right, Melissa, 393 00:17:48.860 --> 00:17:51.772 thank you so much for taking the time from your busy schedule to hang 394 00:17:51.796 --> 00:17:54.468 out and do the show with me. I'm really excited for 395 00:17:54.564 --> 00:17:57.484 releasing a bunch of shows and for getting this back on 396 00:17:57.492 --> 00:17:58.200 the road. 397 00:17:58.580 --> 00:18:00.760 >> Melissa: Oh, uh, thanks for having me. It was fun. 398 00:18:01.540 --> 00:18:04.540 >> Bryan: All right, that is going to wrap up our reintroduction 399 00:18:04.620 --> 00:18:07.522 episode. For our next episode, listeners 400 00:18:07.546 --> 00:18:09.930 will remember a former guest we had named Scott 401 00:18:09.970 --> 00:18:12.906 Harding. We caught up with Scott when he was just finished his 402 00:18:12.938 --> 00:18:15.786 phase three multiengine flight training about six months ago. 403 00:18:15.858 --> 00:18:18.722 So we'll be hearing all about phase three multiengine flight training 404 00:18:18.786 --> 00:18:21.270 and a little bit about where Scott is heading next. 405 00:18:21.810 --> 00:18:24.410 Do you have any questions or comments about anything you've heard in this 406 00:18:24.450 --> 00:18:27.330 episode? Would you or someone you know make a great guest 407 00:18:27.370 --> 00:18:29.962 for the show, or do you have a great idea for a topic for the 408 00:18:29.986 --> 00:18:32.930 show? You can reach out to us at Pod pilot 409 00:18:32.970 --> 00:18:35.102 project on all social media or the 410 00:18:35.126 --> 00:18:38.110 pilotprojectpodcastmail.com dot. We 411 00:18:38.150 --> 00:18:40.958 love hearing from our listeners. We'd also like to take a 412 00:18:40.974 --> 00:18:43.798 moment to thank all of you listeners for coming back and having a 413 00:18:43.814 --> 00:18:46.470 listen to the show. We know it's been a while, so we really 414 00:18:46.510 --> 00:18:49.446 appreciate your time. In the meantime, you can help us get that audience 415 00:18:49.518 --> 00:18:52.158 back by liking and following us on social 416 00:18:52.214 --> 00:18:55.182 media, sharing the show with your friends, and following and 417 00:18:55.206 --> 00:18:57.334 rating us five stars wherever you get your 418 00:18:57.382 --> 00:19:00.022 podcasts. That's all for now. Thanks for 419 00:19:00.046 --> 00:19:02.890 listening. Keep the blue side up. See ya.