The Cleard Podcast

Destiny Allred is a flight instructor, aspiring airline pilot, and self-described boat burner. After spending years on a path toward a career in pre-med and kinesiology, Destiny made the decision to walk away from everything she had planned and go all-in on aviation. No backup plan. No safety net. Just a commitment to making it work. In this episode, we talk about her upbringing, growing up as a t...

Lt. Col. Matt Russell, callsign “Pimptastic,” is a U.S. Air Force F-16 test pilot, instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School, and one of the people helping shape the future of fighter aviation. Russell has over 21 years in the Air Force flying the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon and Northrop T-38 Talon, attended the United States Air Force Test Pilot School in 2011, and has spent more than a...

Christian Davis is the airport manager at Spanish Fork Municipal Airport (KSPK) and Vice President of the Utah Airport Operators Association. KSPK recently implemented landing fees and it sparked backlash in the GA community. Some pilots weren’t happy. Some left. So we sat down and talked about it. In this episode, Christian explains why the fees were introduced, how they’re tracked, where the mon...

Before Alex Mangum began maintaining a well-known, privately owned UH-60A Blackhawk here in Utah, he was a specialized A&P mechanic who had developed an incredible career: 10 years of service in the Coast Guard, moving from the USCGC Chase Engine room (conducting fishery patrols in AK) to flying dangerous search and rescue (SAR) missions coast to coast; 10 years of service in the Air National...

Ever wondered what flying for a major regional airline is actually like? We bring you two radically different perspectives from the flight deck based right here in the demanding Salt Lake City hub. We sit down with Captain Jeff Garn , a 30-year airline veteran whose seniority number is currency- something worth more than gold. He breaks down why seniority is everything and goes hard on the need to...

Jason Clark is the Founder and CEO of FLT Academy, a massive flight training operation that grew from a side project into Utah's largest Part 141 flight school, training hundreds of pilots with a modern fleet and strategic airline partnerships. We dive deep into the aviation training world with Jason, covering: ​The Unorthodox Start: How a Computer Science guy with a motorcycle shop decided to sta...

In this raw, solo episode of Cleard, Drew dives deep into the ongoing U.S. government shutdown—now at 27 days as of October 28, 2025—and its devastating ripple effects on air traffic controllers, with a spotlight on Utah's skies. From the vast Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center to towers in Ogden, Provo, and St. George, controllers are working unpaid overtime amid chronic shortages, l...

Think flying is a boys’ club? Think again. In this episode of Cleared , we spotlight the Utah 99s —a powerhouse group of women aviators defying gravity and stereotypes. We dive into what it takes to become part of this fearless flying sisterhood, the challenges of navigating a male-dominated industry, and why community is key for women in aviation. Whether you're an aspiring pilot or just love a g...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Pete Sipos — a former Air Force flight surgeon and current FAA Medical Examiner — for an honest, no-fluff conversation about mental health in aviation . We talk openly about ADHD, anxiety, depression , and the fears many pilots have about losing their medical if they speak up. Dr. Sipos breaks down what’s truly disqualifying, what’s not, and how pilots can adv...

Alex and Trent Sevenson join us as they share their 40-hour journey from Spanish Fork to the East Coast in their Cessna 182. From navigating the Washington SFRA and visiting Kitty Hawk, to landing at Put-In-Bay, this episode covers it all. Tune in for a great story of adventure, brotherhood, and aviation outside your local traffic pattern

In this episode of Cleard , Drew sits down with Captain Fred Celest and Keith Olive , SEAT Base Manager in Tooele, to talk about the world of aerial firefighting . From the unique challenges of flying Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) to what it takes to coordinate ground and air crews on active wildfires, Fred and Keith share first-hand insight into the operations that keep communities safe. Whet...

Smoke in the cockpit, one-way canyon strips, and launching elite firefighters into burning wilderness — welcome to the world of a smokejumper pilot. In this episode of the  Cleard Podcast , Drew sits down with  Jordan Silver , a Forest Service pilot based in McCall, Idaho. Jordan shares what life is really like flying Twin Otters and a 206 for the nation’s smokejumpers — from long days at base, to...

What happens when you chase the dream of becoming an airline pilot as a full-grown adult — and then the industry hits pause? In this episode, we sit down with Jed Malmberg, a CFI-turned-airline-hopeful, and his wife Carrie, to talk about the real-life turbulence of flight school in your 40s. From getting fired to airline hiring freezes, financial strain to emotional resilience, we explore the high...

In this roundtable episode of the Cleard Podcast, we bring together a stacked panel of aviation voices: corporate pilot Brad Fuller, FLT Academy CEO Jason Clark, Alina Pringle of West Desert Airpark, Matt Kalm from West Desert Aviators, and GA/backcountry pilot Jordan Blakely. We dive into the growing tension in airport patterns caused by high-volume flight school traffic — what’s working, what’s...

This week on Cleard, I'm joined by Bret Kobe, the no-nonsense, all-heart owner of Scud Air Solutions. If you've spent any time around Utah aviation, you've probably run into Bret. Fresh off flying a Cessna 180 nicknamed "Beastwagon" to Oshkosh and back, Bret shares stories from the trip, why he still loves making that long haul, and what keeps him passionate about general aviation after all these...

In this episode of the Cleard Podcast, we sit down with Paul Merrill — a Utah UH-60 Blackhawk pilot with deployments in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Paul shares firsthand stories from the battlefield, and how his military aviation experience shaped his journey into the civilian world. We dive into his transition into entrepreneurship with On The Ball Coffee and Glidepath Aviation , and wrap up with...

In this special episode of Cleard , we sit down with Senator Edwin "Jake" Garn — a decorated pilot, former U.S. Senator, and the first sitting member of Congress to fly in space. Widely regarded as the godfather of Utah aviation, Garn shares stories from his remarkable life, including his early days as a Navy pilot, his time flying reconnaissance missions with the Utah Air National Guard, and his...

Welcome to the very first episode of Cleard — a podcast dedicated to aviation in Utah. In this kickoff episode, host Drew Siegel shares his personal aviation story, the meaning behind the name Cleard , and the mission of the show. Whether you’re a student pilot, career aviator, or just someone who loves airplanes, this podcast is for you. Learn what to expect in future episodes, how to get involve...