Best Rescue Helicopter Operations Podcasts (2025)

1
From SWAT Hits to Outlaw Roads: An FBI Agent’s 20-Year Crime Crusade | Mark Sewell | Mike Drop 247 Pt. 2 1:16:57

24h ago1:16:57

1:16:57

In Episode 247, Part 2, Mike continues his gripping conversation with former FBI agent Mark Sewell, diving deeper into the high-stakes world of federal law enforcement. From hazardous SWAT missions to infiltrating outlaw motorcycle gangs and battling organized crime, Sewell shares raw, unfiltered stories from his 20-year crusade against America’s t…

1
Episode 21 - All Flight Paths Lead to Louisville: Inside the 2025 ECHO Conference 1:05:53

1d ago1:05:53

1:05:53

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this special episode, we are joined by Ashley Chitty, ECHO’s marketing director and one of the driving forces behind this year’s much-anticipated ECHO Conference in Louisville! We’re diving deep into what makes this…

1
Episode 61: The CAPCOM: Earning the Elsie MacGill Award, flying the CH-146 Griffon, and working with NASA in Houston Part 2 - Erin Edwards 51:59

2d ago51:59

51:59

What does it take to pass selection for one of Canada’s most elite aviation units — 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron? How do you earn the coveted role of SOF Aircraft Commander? And what happens when you trade a military cockpit for a mission control console at NASA? In this episode, we sit down with Captain Erin Edwards, a trailblazing Can…

1
Are We Being Infiltrated Through the Southern Border? | Mark Sewell | Mike Drop 247 Pt.1 1:17:37

2d ago1:17:37

1:17:37

In this explosive episode of Mike Drop, Mike Ritland sits down with national security expert Mark Sewell to tackle what they argue is America's most urgent and misunderstood threat: the southern border. The $46.5 Billion Wall fuels the conversation and rips the curtain off not just cartel violence or illegal crossings—but the hidden danger of stude…

1
Delta Force Operator Reveals Why the War in Iran Was Inevitable | Mike Drop Episode 244 5:17:26

8d ago5:17:26

5:17:26

In this explosive Mike Drop episode, Mike Ritland sits down with Dale Comstock—former Delta Force operator. Dale rips the band-aid off America’s foreign policy failures and reveals the raw, no-BS reality behind military operations that were supposed to “save” the world—but only made things worse. He shares brutal takes about leadership, mindset, su…

1
EXPOSING The Quiet Split Between UK And US Forces | Mike Drop 246 4:00:04

8d ago4:00:04

4:00:04

In this episode of the Mike Drop Podcast, I sit down with Ant Middleton—former UK Special Forces operator and one of the most unfiltered voices out there—to dig into the truth behind the special relationship between the US and UK. We go way beyond the headlines, from the trenches of World War I to the modern battlefield, talking about the real brot…

1
Episode 20 - High Fidelity Simulation on a Low Fidelity Budget Part 2 50:33

8d ago50:33

50:33

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode, we dive into the world of simulation training in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) with special guest Jonathan Corolla. From high-fidelity mannequins to low-cost, high-impact solutions, we explor…

1
Episode 60: The CAPCOM: Earning the Elsie MacGill Award, flying the CH-146 Griffon, and working with NASA in Houston Part 1 - Erin Edwards 53:34

9d ago53:34

53:34

How does a MARS Officer and Ship’s Team Diver become a Special Operations helicopter pilot? What does it take to get through the intense rigours of Phase III helicopter training — and then make the leap to 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron? In this episode, we sit down with Captain Erin Edwards, a SOF Aircraft Commander, recipient of the pre…

1
Unconditional Surrender or Else? Trump on the Brink of War | Mike Drop Episode 245 3:42:56

15d ago3:42:56

3:42:56

The war in Afghanistan didn’t end when the last C-17 lifted off from Kabul. That was just the beginning of the fallout. It was a trillion-dollar failure, and that failure didn’t just disappear—it sent shockwaves across the Middle East. Now, with Israel and Iran staring each other down and the world edging closer to full-blown war, we’re seeing the …

1
Episode 19 - High Fidelity Simulation on a Low Fidelity Budget Part 1 49:43

15d ago49:43

49:43

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode, we dive into the world of simulation training in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) with special guest Jonathan Corolla. From high-fidelity mannequins to low-cost, high-impact solutions, we explor…

1
Episode 59: The Seeker: Fixed Wing Search and Rescue and flying the CC-115 Buffalo and CC-130H Hercules Part 2 - Dan Conway 1:06:33

16d ago1:06:33

1:06:33

What did it take to fly Search and Rescue in the venerable (but aging) CC-115 Buffalo? What does it feel like to return to 3CFFTS as a seasoned pilot, ready to learn about the world of instructing? What's it like to be taught by your former students as you learn to fly the CC-130H Hercules? Today we sit down for part 2 of our interview with Major D…

1
Episode 18 - Healthy Providers, Stronger Outcomes: The FIT for Flight Mindset Part 2 1:12:28

22d ago1:12:28

1:12:28

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosts Blake and Mike sit down with guests Michelle Kline and Vince Dravecky for a much-needed conversation on wellness in the EMS profession. Together, they dive into the of…

1
Episode 58: The Seeker: Fixed Wing Search and Rescue and flying the CC-115 Buffalo and CC-130H Hercules Part 1 - Dan Conway 59:34

23d ago59:34

59:34

What is it like to attend RMC and go through flight training in the RCAF? Why was the CC-115 Buffalo in Comox a desirable posting even with the airplane entering its sunset years? Major Dan Conway is the current Deputy Commanding Officer (DCO) of 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Greenwood NS, and soon to be the DCO of 3CFFTS in Portage la Prair…

1
Bullet Magnet Green Beret Chuck Ritter | Mike Drop Episode 243 3:43:21

29d ago3:43:21

3:43:21

Charles 'Chuck' Ritter is a Retired U.S. Army Special Forces Sergeant Major Green Beret. Having served multiple combat deployments - 17 in total - to areas including Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, & Syria, Chuck has an extensive military career spanning over 27 years in service, primarily with the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). He was blown up by …

1
Episode 17 - Healthy Providers, Stronger Outcomes: The FIT for Flight Mindset Part 1 1:05:19

29d ago1:05:19

1:05:19

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosts Blake and Mike sit down with guests Michelle Kline and Vince Dravecky for a much-needed conversation on wellness in the EMS profession. Together, they dive into the of…

1
Episode 57: The Culture: The Evolution of Culture in the Canadian Armed Forces and flying the CH-146 Griffon Part 3 - Jeannot Boucher 1:04:30

1M ago1:04:30

1:04:30

What does it take to take on the responsibility of being the Chief of Staff Chief Professional Conduct and Culture (COS CPCC) in the wake of the larger culture change effort that the Canadian Armed Forces has pursued over the last 10 or more years? Why is culture change necessary, and what does it even mean within the context of the military? Major…

1
Legendary SEAL Team 6 Operator Chris Fettes | Mike Drop Episode 242 4:52:20

1M ago4:52:20

4:52:20

Chris Fettes is a former U.S. Navy SEAL who served for 13 years with SEAL Team 10 and the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). He deployed to combat zones in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, where he served as a sniper and earned a Bronze Star at JTAC. A notable marksman, Fettes once made a 900-yard sniper shot on an enemy in Somalia, a…

1
Episode 16 - Past, Present & Future: ECHO's Blueprint for Supporting Public Safety Aviation 1:18:54

1M ago1:18:54

1:18:54

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with Jody Gregory, ECHO president, and Joe Zarek, ECHO vice-president, to discuss the many intricacies of this community-driven organization dedicated to support…

1
Episode 56: The Culture: The Evolution of Culture in the Canadian Armed Forces and flying the CH-146 Griffon Part 2 - Jeannot Boucher 50:04

1M ago50:04

50:04

What does it feel like to deploy as the Commander of Task Force Jerusalem in support of OP PROTEUS in the West Bank? What does it take to take over various commands in the Tactical Helicopter force? What goes into developing a defence policy update like "Our North Strong and Free" (ONSAF)? Today we sit down for part 2 of our chat with Major-General…

1
Colombian Hostage RESCUED After 5 Years | Mike Drop Episode 241 4:06:15

1M ago4:06:15

4:06:15

Marc Gonsalves is an American who was held hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) from February 13th, 2003 to July 2nd, 2008. A former imagery analyst in the U.S. Air Force, Marc was working as a civilian military contractor on a drug surveillance mission in Colombia when his single-engine plane crashed in the jungle. Upon bei…

1
Episode 15 - Maintaining the Mission - Part 2 1:08:02

1M ago1:08:02

1:08:02

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. Welcome back to another episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, where we dive into the people, partnerships, and behind the scenes work that keep our helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operations running. Today,…

1
Episode 55: The Culture: The Evolution of Culture in the Canadian Armed Forces and flying the CH-146 Griffon Part 1 - Jeannot Boucher 57:35

1M ago57:35

57:35

What was it like to deploy to Afghanistan as the Deputy Commanding Officer of Canadian Helicopter Forces in Afghanistan (CHFA)? What was the Tactical Helicopter role in Afghanistan at the time and how violent was it in 2009? Today we sit down with Major-General Jeannot Boucher, Chief of Staff Chief Professional Conduct and Culture (COS CPCC). Jeann…

1
SpaceX Astronaut Scott 'Kidd' Poteet | Mike Drop Episode 240 3:41:53

2M ago3:41:53

3:41:53

Scott "Kidd" Poteet is a retired United States Air Force lieutenant colonel and a commercial astronaut. He was the pilot for the Polaris Dawn mission in September 2024, a privately funded human spaceflight operated by SpaceX. Having previously served 18 years in the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel, Scott transitioned to the USAF Thunderbirds…

1
Episode 14 - Maintaining the Mission - Part 1 1:04:19

2M ago1:04:19

1:04:19

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. Welcome back to another episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, where we dive into the people, partnerships, and behind the scenes work that keep our helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operations running. Today,…

1
Episode 54: The Jet Jockey: Supersonic Stories: Flying the CF-188 Hornet in the Cold War Part 2 - Dan "Alf" McWilliams 1:18:44

2M ago1:18:44

1:18:44

What was it like to be one of the first cadres to fly the might CF-188 Hornet? What did it feel like to operate in Europe on the edge of the Iron Curtain during the Cold War? What was it like to deploy in support of the Gulf War? Dan "Alf" McWilliams is a retired RCAF Fighter pilot who operated during the Cold War. Today we sit down and talk about …

1
Episode 13 ECMO on the Move: Revolutionizing Pre-Hospital Cardiac Care Part 2 55:20

2M ago55:20

55:20

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. Buckle up as we take you behind the scenes of some cutting-edge advancements in emergency medicine and critical care transport. In this episode, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with Kevin Rixmann, clinical supervi…

1
Episode 53: The Jet Jockey: Tutor Tales: Flying and instructing on the CT-114 Tutor Part 1 - Dan "Alf" McWilliams 1:12:26

2M ago1:12:26

1:12:26

What was it like to live in Germany on a NATO base during the Cold War as a teenager? What does it feel like to follow in your dad's footsteps and achieve your dreams to become a jet pilot? What was it like to instruct at "The Big 2" Moose Jaw when there could be up to 30 CT-114 Tutors flying at once? Today we sit down with Cold War fighter pilot D…

1
AH-64 Attack Helicopter Pilot Dan McClinton | Mike Drop Episode 239 3:19:20

2M ago3:19:20

3:19:20

'Danger Pig' CW4 Dan McClinton is a retired U.S. Army AH-64D Apache Helicopter Pilot with 24 years of service. A decorated aviator with three combat tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dan started his career flying UH-1H helicopters in El Salvador before pivoting to the Apache airframe as a Pilot and Battalion Tactical Operations Officer …

1
Episode 12 ECMO on the Move: Revolutionizing Pre-Hospital Cardiac Care Part 1 FOR REVIEW 52:53

2M ago52:53

52:53

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. Buckle up as we take you behind the scenes of some cutting-edge advancements in emergency medicine and critical care transport. In this episode, hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider sit down with Kevin Rixmann, clinical supervi…

1
Episode 52: The Commander: Commanding the RCAF and flying the CF-188 Hornet Part 2 - Eric Kenny 1:10:00

2M ago1:10:00

1:10:00

What is it like to command the RCAF? What is the RCAF good at, and what needs fixing? Who are our potential main adversaries and why? What challenges will we face as we pursue modernization? Have US politics (as of recording mid-March) affected our strategies with the F35 and other acquisitions? What does the future hold for the RCAF? We will talk …

1
Vice Admiral Navy SEAL Bob Harward | Mike Drop Episode 238 2:13:01

2M ago2:13:01

2:13:01

Robert "Bob" Harward is a retired United States Navy SEAL and a former Deputy Commander of the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) under General James Mattis. He served for 34 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in November 2013 as a Vice Admiral. As a Navy SEAL, he had extensive combat experience in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, and…

1
Episode 51: The Commander: Commanding the RCAF and flying the CF-188 Hornet Part 1 - Eric Kenny 1:01:10

2M ago1:01:10

1:01:10

What does it take to complete Canada's "Top Gun", the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course? What is it like to deploy to Bosnia or take part in the bombing campaign in Kosovo with real air-to-air and ground-to-air threats? What does it take to coordinate strikes in Afghanistan? How are we shifting from a counter-insurgency to peer-to-peer warfighting …

1
We Had Bin Laden And Let Him Go: Special Ops Veteran Exposes It All | Mike Drop Episode 237 2:43:45

2M ago2:43:45

2:43:45

Geoff Dardia joins Mike Ritland to expose the real story behind Afghanistan, the missed chance to take out Bin Laden, and how politics destroyed 20 years of sacrifice.Dardia is a former Master Sergeant and Green Beret who lived it for real — from kicking doors in hostile countries to hunting bad guys under night vision.Before that?He was supposed t…

1
Episode 11 ECHO Safety Team - Enhancing Safety across the Industry 1:16:30

3M ago1:16:30

1:16:30

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode we take you inside the world of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) aviation safety, where we are joined by members of the Echo Safety Team to dive deep into the critical role safety plays in HEMS o…

1
Episode 50: The Inferno: Aerial Firefighting in the Palisades Fires in California and flying the Canadair CL-415 Part 2 - Pascal Duclos 51:29

3M ago51:29

51:29

What did it take to get the Pasisade Fires under control in LA County, California in the winter of 2025? How does aerial firefighting compare in Quebec and California? In this final part of our 2 part series on aerial firefighting, we sit down once again with aerial firefighter Pascal Duclos. Pascal has been fighting fires across Canada and the Uni…

1
America's Sheriff Mark Lamb | Mike Drop Episode 236 3:28:17

3M ago3:28:17

3:28:17

Mark Lamb is the unapologetically bold, newly-retired Sheriff of Pinal County, Arizona, who made national waves for bringing old-school grit and modern media savvy to law enforcement. Serving from 2017 to 2024, Lamb wasn’t just a badge and a gun—he became a digital-era lawman, turning to YouTube to share raw, unfiltered police footage while regular…

1
Episode 10 - Fit for Shift: What Pilots Wish Crews Knew (and Vice Versa!) Part 2 1:08:23

3M ago1:08:23

1:08:23

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, Blake and Mike sit down with pilots Gene Reynolds and Matt Johnson for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what really makes air ambulance operations run smoothl…

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