Skyward Podcast
Hi, I’m Mercedes the host of Skyward, a podcast to inspire and educate you in everything aviation and aerospace! I’m so happy you’re here. I started this podcast to share stories and facts about the amazing world of aviation and aerospace.
In each episode, I talk about exciting things like how to become a pilot, go to space, or chat with pilots, engineers, flight attendants, and people who love everything aviation and aerospace just like you! My goal is to inspire, educate, and help you love the skies even more.
Hit the Subscribe button to join my adventure and learn with me on Skyward!
Episodes
14 episodes
Can you join the RCAF with NO flight experience? | RCAF Maritime Helicopter Pilot From Zero Experience to CH-148 Cyclone Instructor
In this episode host Pilot Mercedes sits down with Captain Jason McGillis, an 18-year Royal Canadian Air Force maritime helicopter pilot and current CH-148 Cyclone instructor.Jason takes us from joining the RCAF straight out of high school ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:43:17
The First NASA-Funded Scientist to Run Experiments During Suborbital Spaceflight | Dr. Rob Ferl
What really happens to living cells in the very first seconds of weightlessness? In this episode of Skyward, host Pilot Mercedes sits down with Dr. Rob Ferl – Distinguished Professor and Director of the new Astraeus Space Institute ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:26:36
Go or No-Go? Essential Pilot Decision-Making Tips for Student Pilots
Struggling with go or no-go decisions in aviation? Join Pilot Mercedes on the Skyward Podcast as she breaks down the critical factors every pilot needs to consider before flying. From regulatory vs. personal minimums to the I'M SAFE checklist, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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18:33
Canadian Pilot Overcomes Diabetes Barrier | Air Canada Captain's Return & Flight Training Journey
Host Pilot Mercedes welcomes former Air Canada Captain & Lawyer Steve Steele to discuss his diabetes diagnosis that grounded him in 1986, the fight to allow insulin-dependent pilots in Canada (until early 2000s), simulator instruction in Ho...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:26:17
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Flight Training | Pilot Mercedes’ Tips for Aspiring Pilots
In this episode of Skyward Podcast, Pilot Mercedes shares the 5 things she wish she knew before starting flight training. Discover how to build an aviation community, prepare for transitions, balance well-being, stay resilient, and tackl...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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26:48
Dini Petty's Pink Helicopter News and Aviation Adventures
Pilot Mercedes chats with Dini Petty, legendary Canadian Pink Helicopter Pilot, beloved talkshow host, and author, about reporting breaking news mid-flight, her rise as a live TV star, and decades of aviation adventures.Dive into inspiri...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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46:10
From Dream to Sky: Pilot Mercedes’ Aviation Story
In this engaging episode of Skyward, host Pilot Mercedes is interviewed by her sister, Trinity Celeste, a fine art musician. Discover how Mercedes’ passion for aviation took flight, leading her from a childhood dream to earning her pil...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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34:06
David Cottrill’s Aviation Lessons & Flying Tips
Part 2 of Skyward Podcast features David Cottrill diving into aviation’s challenges, from navigating US and Canadian airspace to a high-speed Cessna Mustang test flight. Packed with pilot training tips, aviation safety insights, and stories fro...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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57:38
David Cottrill’s First Flights & Pilot Journey
In Part 1 of David Cottrill's story he shares his journey from a small-town dreamer to a licensed pilot. Hear gripping tales of his first flight in a Cessna 172, rigorous university training, and cross-country adventures with his wife and frien...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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38:18
Angel Flights & Mercy Missions: Soaring to Save Lives with Volunteer Pilots
Embark on an inspiring journey into the heart of Angel Flights and mercy missions, where volunteer pilots transform lives by providing free air transportation for patients seeking critical medical care. In this episode, we dive into gripping, r...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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26:36
Sky Queen of the '70s: An Air Canada Flight Attendant's Untold Story! Part 2
Skyward - Episode 4: Sky Queen - Janice Ward Part 2A former Air Canada stewardess who shares her thrilling journey from the 1970s to the 2000s. From navigating strict appearance rules to forging a sisterhood in the skies, her stories re...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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39:13
Sky Queen of the '70s: An Air Canada Flight Attendant's Untold Story! Part 1
Skyward - Episode 3: Stewardess Stories with Janice Ward. A former Air Canada stewardess who shares her thrilling journey from the 1970s to the 2000s. From navigating strict appearance rules to forging a sisterhood in the skies, her stories rev...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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38:01
Heritage, Friends, and Lessons | Alan Ash
Skyward - Episode 2: Heritage, Friends, and Lessons with Alan AshOn this episode of Skyward, Pilot Mercedes welcomes Alan Ash, an FAA commercial licensed and instrument-rated pilot from Florida. From his father’s passion for flying...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:02:24
Challenges And Triumphs | Alivia Chanyi
Join host Pilot Mercedes for the inaugural episode of Skyward, the podcast that lifts the curtain on aviation’s most captivating personal stories. In this episode, Mercedes welcomes, Alivia Chanyi, a First Officer at Jazz, a regional a...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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46:43