To fly a plane, pilots must prove to the Federal Aviation Administration that they’re physically and mentally fit. But when it comes to mental health, the rules are complicated and, some say, outdated.
Pilots who need antidepressants are limited to a short list of approved medications and must take a mandatory six-month leave. Even common diagnoses like anxi ... Show More
Jul 8
What Military Service During “Peacetime” is Really Like
Ray Christian joined the U.S. Army in 1978, as a way to get his life started. He became a paratrooper, an infantryman, and a drill sergeant. He also endured trauma and found that getting out of the service was more challenging than he expected. This week, Ray discusses why he sig ... Show More
57m 22s
Jul 1
Baywatch Made Me World Famous. My Stalker Stole My Privacy.
Alexandra Paul always loved connecting with fans. She had many, from her breakout role in the 1983 horror film Christine to her years playing a lifeguard on Baywatch. In 2011, Paul's career was slowing down, but it was also the year that she met her biggest fan: a woman who would ... Show More
56m 1s
Jun 24
Allison Williams on Botox, Privilege, and Gen Z’s Love of Marnie From ‘Girls’
On June 11th, actress Allison Williams joined Anna live onstage at the Tribeca Festival in New York City for a conversation that was equal parts introspective and hilarious. Allison talked about everything from botox and how it impacts her work (and the faces she’s able to make t ... Show More
1h 16m
Mar 2025
The Sunday Read: ‘Why Airline Pilots Feel Pushed to Hide Their Mental Illness’
Troy Merritt, a pilot for a major U.S. airline, returned from his 30th birthday trip in Croatia in October 2022 — sailing on a catamaran, eating great food, socializing with friends — and cried. This wasn’t back-to-work blues but collapsed-on-the-floor, full-body-shaking misery. ... Show More
47m 52s
Nov 2024
90. How to abolish the 3rd class medical, with Brent Blue
The success of BasicMed proves the third class medical is obsolete—that’s according to senior AME Brent Blue. He covers a wide range of medical topics in this episode, including how to fill out the FAA medical application, what the latest rules are on mental health treatment, and ... Show More
38m 51s
Aug 2024
OB346: Big Brother is Watching You
Episode 346 Show Notes Topic of the show: On this week’s show, AG and RH discuss ADS-C and the information available to non-US controllers, busy tracon controller communication issues, and a mountain of Patron feedback. We also share our views and opinions about a recent inte ... Show More
1h 18m
Nov 2023
Hear Me Out: Psychiatry Alone Can’t Heal You Completely
On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… great, but not enough.
Mental health is on a lot of minds as we enter the holiday season — a time when we know many people struggle.
So this week, we talk candidly about what it means to treat mental illness… and what it should mean, if we want ... Show More
41m 24s