Make the Donuts

A closer look at today’s airline hiring slowdown—and what it really means for your aviation career. ✈️ Why the current slowdown reflects shifting market conditions, not a simple end to pilot demand and how long-term trends still point to ongoing need 📈 How retirements, airline profitability, fleet planning, and fuel costs interact to shape hiring cycles over the next decade 🎯 Thoughtful, experie...

In the season finale of Make the Donuts , Eric Sabiston sits down with legendary Marine Corps Captain Dale Dye — the man who changed how Hollywood portrays war. From Platoon to Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers , Captain Dye brought gritty realism and authentic military leadership to the big screen. In this powerful conversation, Captain Dye opens up about: His two tours in Vietnam and the...

Chris “Chowdah” Hill didn’t just command a ship—he commanded floating cities of steel, power, and people. As a naval aviator who rose to the rare distinction of leading not one but two U.S. aircraft carriers, Captain Hill knows exactly what it takes to inspire thousands under the most extreme conditions. From flying the E-2 Hawkeye to mastering nuclear power school, his career traces the long, bru...

Rob Gregory built his career at the center of modern publishing, leading some of the most iconic brands in media. He helped launch Travel + Leisure Golf during the Tiger Woods boom, served as publisher of Rolling Stone during the seismic shift brought by Napster and the iPod, and later became president of The Daily Beast and Newsweek under Tina Brown. His journey spans print, digital, and the crea...

Mark Greaney is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Gray Man series and co-author of seven Tom Clancy novels, including three written after Clancy’s passing. His acclaimed work has reached global audiences, with The Gray Man adapted into a major Netflix film starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans. In this episode of Make the Donuts, Erik Sabiston sits down with Mark to discuss his journ...

Cary Rickoff is a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot and a proud member of the Blue Angels, the elite flight demonstration team known for their precision, skill, and patriotism. With a background flying the F/A-18 and a passion for leadership and mentorship, Cary represents the highest echelon of aviation excellence. In this episode of Make the Donuts , host Erik Sabiston dives into what it really tak...

What does it take to fly critical patients across cities, highways, and helipads — and make life-or-death decisions midair? In this episode, Erik Sabiston sits down with veteran HEMS pilot and former naval aviator Scott Moak to uncover what life is really like inside the rotorcraft cockpit of a medical emergency. From weather calls to teamwork with med crews, and from simulator hours to FAA medica...

Kit Darby shares how he went from an Army fixed-wing pilot to a United Airlines captain and top industry mentor. He talks about choosing seniority over loyalty, surviving furloughs, and helping thousands of pilots land airline jobs — all while staying ahead of every industry curve. In this episode, Kit breaks down what really drives pilot hiring: retirements, fleet growth, and timing. He gets into...

In this episode, we’re joined by Susan Malerstein-Watkins, a longtime friend and one of Hollywood’s top Script Supervisors! We dive deep into the vital (and often overlooked) role of the script supervisor… The unsung hero who keeps continuity, tracks every detail, and ensures the director's vision stays intact. Whether you’re an aspiring script supervisor or an actor trying to understand set dynam...

In this episode we’re joined by Tony Dokoupil, CBS Broadcast Journalist and Author of ‘The Last Pirate’ . We discuss how growing up with a father in the drug business changed his life, and transformed him into the person he is today. We dive deep into his career at CBS, stories of growing up in a wacky world and favorite interviews of all time! Let me know what you think! Drop me a comment on Spot...

Welcome to the first episode of Make the Donuts, a show where I interview people from a variety of professions on their journey to success! In this episode, I am joined by my great friend, host of “Tall Tales with Taco Bell” and American Airlines pilot, Mitch “Taco” Bell! We go in depth on Taco’s career-to-date, digging in on how he became a pilot, a podcast host and an instrumental piece in helpi...