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Podcasts featuring:
T.R. Matson
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In this week’s episode, I talk with my good friend Todd Matson. He wrote two books, Treason Flight and Vengeance Flight, under the name T.R. Matson loosely based on his 14 year career as a navy fighter pilot.
Since leaving the military, Matson has worked as a commercial pilot and flight instructor, but his latest career as an entrepreneur has been one of the most fulfilling for him.
Matson breaks down why he felt inspired to write a book and all of the hurdles that came along with it. He learned at a young age that if he stopped writing to please everyone else and just wrote like himself, he would be more successful and writing wouldn’t feel like such a chore.
We bring this conversation full-circle by discussing how the resilience he learned from his parents at such a young age, shaped who he is today. You just have to embrace your unique self and take one step at a time, reflecting each day about whether or not you accomplished what you set out to achieve.
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Our guest in this episode is LCDR "Wombat" Matson of the US Navy. He is our first commissioned officer we've on, and he does explain a few ways of how to become a commissioned officer. He spent 20 years between active duty and the reserves and spent his time flying the E-2 Hawkeye and eventually got the opportunity to switch and go fly the F/A 18c Hornet fighter jet. We get into the process of being able to change the type of plane he flew. He explains the process of landing on an aircraft carrier in both of his planes. He gets into his time on the Nimitz Aircraft Carrier, getting to fly an F-18 that was setup for airshow purposes, and get talks about his time as an instructor for other pilots.
He is now a pilot for a major airline in the US, and also trains there as well. One thing we talk about is during the transition to civilian life is and missing the camaraderie and trying to find that again.
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The Protectors Podcast ™ Presents T.R. Matson. T.R. is a combat proven pilot and author. In this episode, T.R. talks about flying, leadership, and his book TREASON FLIGHT.
About: T.R. Matson has more than two decades of Military and civilian aviation experience. He’s served in the U.S. Navy flying the E-2C Hawkeye and F/A-18C Hornet on combat tours, as well as multiple training tours as a T-45 Goshawk Instructor and Landing Signals Officer (LSO). On the civilian front, T.R. Matson flies for a major airline.
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Description: John talks to TR Matson — former US Navy fighter pilot with over two decades of experience in both military and civilian aviation. Beyond his aviation expertise, TR is also the author of two books: "Treason Flight" and "Vengeance Flight."
His remarkable journey includes serving as a naval aviator aboard the USS Nimitz, excelling as an E-2 Hawkeye pilot and piloting the FAA T-45 Goshawk. TR also held the esteemed role of Landing Signals Officer (LSO) during his military tenure. Currently, he serves as a pilot for a major US airline, all while cherishing his roles as a devoted husband and caring father.
Listen to this episode to learn more:
[00:00] - Intro
[03:45] - What caused Matson to join the Navy
[09:54] - Matson’s transition from military career to civilian life
[14:40] - A river that doesn’t move
[17:25] - About Matson’s books
[22:32] - The characters and plot of the books
[24:04] - Plans for future books and potential adaptations into screenplays
[26:20] - Balancing a busy life as a pilot, author, and family man
[30:15] - What TR does to improve his significant relationships
[34:48] - Matson’s definition of success
[36:35] - The makeup of a great leader
[40:21] - TR’s #1 daily habit
[41:53] - Earn your sleep
[50:57] - Book recommendations
NOTABLE QUOTES:
"Nothing grows in a comfort zone."
"I enjoy being uncomfortable. That's where I thrive. You know, put my back up against the wall, and I'm in my comfort zone."
"The average guy can accomplish things. You don't have to be a specially gifted athlete or academically to accomplish great things. If you work hard enough at anything you want to do, you can achieve anything you want to do."
"Self-reflection is huge. I don't think we do this as a society. I think we get caught up in things."
"A truly great leader is someone that you don't question. You just 100% accept, 'Yes, this person is somebody that I am going to fall in and ask.' And that is not an easy thing to become."
"People often talk about things like work-life balance. It's a misnomer. It's never in full balance, it's not possible. But you can have work-life harmony. That is possible."
"A truly great leader, at least in my experience, is someone that no matter what, you would follow anywhere."
"Relationships are all about being accountable to other people. But you can't be accountable to other people if you're not accountable to yourself first."
BOOKS MENTIONED:
How To Write: A Screenplay by Mark Evan Schwartz (https://tinyurl.com/HowToWriteAScreenPlayBook)
Books by Jack Reacher
Books by C.W. Lemoine
Learn How to Lead to Win by Mike Manazir (https://tinyurl.com/HowToLearnToLeadToWinBook) text goes here
Youtube channels featuring:
T.R. Matson
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Wags (Producer at Eagle Dynamics) and Wombat (Author, airline pilot, hornet pilot, and famous E-2 Hawkeye Pilot) join Mover and Gonky to discuss the upcoming F-4, Aliens, F-35 news, and more!
Every Monday at 8PM ET, Mover (F-16, F/A-18, T-38, 737, helicopter pilot, author, cop, and wanna be race car driver) and Gonky (F/A-18, T-38, A320, dirt bike racer, author, and awesome dad) discuss everything from aviation to racing to life and anything in between.
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Tonight's Topics:
- XQ-58 Valkyrie Flies Under AI Control
- The Past, Present, and Future of Flight Simulators
- DCS World Q&A
- Mental Health Minute – Resiliency
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Tonight's discussion:
Welcome and Introductions
F-22s Begin Training at Langley
Questionable Fuel Dumping?
T-7 Red Hawk Makes Its First Flight
Virgin Galactic Sending Rich People to Space
Days of Thunder Part Two?
NASCAR at Chicago
