All Fire No Smoke Podcast

Nicole Malachowski, the first woman Thunderbird pilot, joins to share her remarkable journey of resilience and leadership. She opens up about breaking barriers in the military, honoring the legacy of the WASP, facing censorship, and the power of mentorship, authenticity, and allies in driving change.

Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. All episodes are recorded with permission.

© 2025 All Fire No Smoke Podcast. All rights reserved. For media inquiries, guest submissions, or more information, visit https://shows.acast.com/all-fire-no-smoke-podcast

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Nicole Malachowski, the first woman Thunderbird pilot, joins to share her remarkable journey of resilience and leadership. She opens up about breaking barriers in the military, honoring the legacy of the WASP, facing censorship, and the power of mentorship, authenticity, and allies in driving change.

Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. All episodes are recorded with permission.

© 2025 All Fire No Smoke Podcast. All rights reserved. For media inquiries, guest submissions, or more information, visit https://shows.acast.com/all-fire-no-smoke-podcast

This content is f...

In Part 2 of our conversation, our hosts continue exploring Heather 'Princess' Fox’s journey and her connection to Merryl. Building on last week’s insights, Heather dives deeper into leadership communication—sharing advanced strategies for leading large teams toward bold goals, while staying grounded, authentic, and human throughout the process.

Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. All episodes are recorded with permission.

© 2025 All Fire No Smoke Podcast. All rights reserved. For media inquiries, guest submissions, or more information, visit https://shows.acast.com/all-fire-no-smoke-podcast

T...

This week, our hosts explore the inspiring journey of Heather 'Princess' Fox and her unique connection to Merryl. Heather shares powerful insights on leadership communication, offering practical strategies for guiding large teams toward ambitious goals—while staying authentic, approachable, and human every step of the way.

Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. All episodes are recorded with permission.

© 2025 All Fire No Smoke Podcast. All rights reserved. For media inquiries, guest submissions, or more information, visit https://shows.acast.com/all-fire-no-smoke-podcast

This content is...

In this episode of All Fire No Smoke, Dragon Lady Merryl Tengesdal sits down with CFI and business jet pilot, and entrepreneur Amber Brierly for a wide-ranging conversation about aviation, community, and the fundamentals of flying — recorded in the unique setting of a Falcon 7X cabin (because why not?)

Amber shares her journey from growing up in New Zealand to becoming a U.S. citizen and building a career in business aviation and general aviation. Together, Merryl and Amber explore the challenges of transitioning between different aircraft types, the critical importance of stick-and-rudder skills in the ag...

In our State-of-the-State Mid-Season Check-In, hosts Caroline "Blaze" Jensen and Merryl "Dragon Lady" Tengesdal share personal updates, discuss the challenges of navigating current events, and emphasize the importance of self-care and resilience. They reflect on their experiences in the military, the impact of small interactions, and the significance of personal growth.

Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. All episodes are recorded with permission.

© 2025 All Fire No Smoke Podcast. All rights reserved. For media inquiries, guest submissions, or more information, visit https://shows.acast.com/all-fire-no-smoke-podcast Duration: 00:31:04

Fighter Pilots on Merit, Mentorship, and the DEI Debate

In this episode, Ryan “Motor” Riley and Caroline “Blaze” Jensen—former Thunderbirds, combat pilots, and longtime wingmen—get real about diversity, equity, and inclusion in military aviation in their experiences flying together and the careers that followed. Drawing from deployments, flight training, and years in elite squadrons, they explore what truly matters in building a lethal, unified force: trust, mentorship, and performance under pressure. From challenging assumptions to advocating for a wide talent pipeline without lowering standards, Merryl, Motor, and Blaze offer an unfiltered take on what diversity should look...

Flying the F-16. Leading the Thunderbirds. Fighting for instructors.

Ryan “Motor” Riley pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like to fly one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world and perform precision maneuvers with the Thunderbirds. But this episode goes beyond the stick and rudder. Riley talks about the weight of leadership, balancing egos and morale, and what it meant to be the guy who spoke up for instructors when others didn’t. From flying the F-16 and T-38 to championing the T-6 as a more capable training platform, Motor shares how every ro...

Erasing History? Why the Military is Quietly Removing Stories of Trailblazing Women and People of Color

This episode confronts a disturbing trend: the quiet removal of pioneering service members’ stories—like that of Betty Preszler, the first woman to fly and eject from the F-16—from official military websites. We explore why these narratives matter, how they’ve inspired generations, and what’s at stake when they’re erased. Preszler and fellow voices argue that far from dividing units, these stories build pride, resilience, and a more inclusive force. From leadership struggles to recruiting impact, this discussion sheds light...

In the flagship episode AFNS Season 2, we feature the first woman to fly the F-16: Sharon "Betty" Preszler. 

Betty “Sharon” Preszler was one of the first three women selected to fly fighter jets in the U.S. Air Force in 1993, going to to set a number of other firsts in a massive career in aviation. In our interview with her, she shares what it was like to break some of the first barriers for women in the fighter community, facing intense scrutiny and pressure with every decision. Preszler reflects on the importance of real leadership, the suppo...

[SKIP TO 1:15 TO SKIP INTRO]

Oh, you thought that was just a one-time thing? Ha! We're back! And, as is standard protocol, we're bringing the fire, but now this time with unfiltered, guest-driven episodes. Here's a fun, quick intro from our hosts to set the tone of SEASON 2 of All Fire No Smoke.

Stay tuned for our full-length episodes as we record guest interviews with the women and men who have paved the way for a stronger, QUALIFIED aviation industry today.

Views expressed by guests are their own and do not...

SEASON 1 FINALE

How does the right inspiration unlock your next move—no matter your age? Whether it’s a mentor, a movement, or a piece of media that sparks something inside you, the right fuel can change everything. In this episode, Blaze and The Dragon Lady talk about the power of surrounding yourself with the right influences, how to tap into relentless motivation, and --as ridiculous as it sounds--why the fire inside you is only as strong as the sparks you feed it. No excuses—just ignition.

Views expressed by guests are their own and do...

How does routine set you free instead of holding you back? In a world full of expectations, outdated traditions, and external pressures, trusting your gut can feel like breaking the rules. But real performance—whether in the cockpit, in business, or in life—comes from optimizing your own system, not forcing yourself into someone else’s mold.

In episode 7, Blaze and The Dragon Lady unpack the power of structure, routine, and mental agility, and why it's time to ditch the stigma around doing what actually works.

Views expressed by guests are their own and do not...

How does even the most experienced pilot get humbled in the cockpit? No matter how many flight hours or how many impossible maneuvers you’ve mastered, aviation has a way of keeping you on your toes. In episode 6 - Blaze and The Dragon Lady break down how even elite pilots can get schooled by the simplest training scenarios—and why, as women in aviation, the margin for error is razor-thin. From hard lessons in the sky to the relentless pursuit of excellence, this episode is all about resilience, precision, and proving yourself over and over again.

Views expr...

How do military aviators balance the high-stakes demands of their careers with the equally challenging responsibilities of parenthood? 

In episode 5: "Warfighter," our hosts dive head first into their simoltaneous experiences as military leaders and new mothers, sharing the wins and also the trials of navigating motherhood in the armed forces.

From timing the decision to have children to facing the cultural stigma around women in the military starting families, their stories reveal the strength, adaptability, and unwavering determination required to thrive in both roles.

D...

How do compassion and adaptability shape the path to leadership in military aviation? In this powerful conversation, our hosts share their experiences from the cockpit to the command room, offering insight into what it takes to lead with empathy and humility.

In Episode 5 of All Fire No Smoke, “We Ride at Dawn,” Blaze and Dragon Lady reflect on their historic careers and the lessons they’ve learned as women leaders in the military. They discuss standout moments of both great and poor leadership they witnessed, emphasizing the crucial nature of being approachable, humble, and leading by example. They a...

How much does a post-flight debriefing with an F-16 Aggressor Squadron relate to parenting?

What can an eleven year old learn about integrity from a high-altitude reconnaissance pilot?

Quite a bit, it turns out.

Episode 3 - Knock It Off - reveals what lessons in the cockpit carry the most distance in day-to-day life. Our hosts discuss why honesty and accountability are CRUCIAL in personal progress and growth, and how lessons from military flying informed the way they empower their children to be empathic leaders from the start.

Constructive criticism and feedback...

How does a woman in the military put a stop to being called "sir" one too many times? And do the life-support systems in a fighter jet cater to both men and women's "plumbing?"

In Episode 2 - Don't Call Me Honey, our hosts discuss how they helped their male counterparts see things differently and become thought leaders in supporting both men and women in their squadrons. They also dive in on what it was like joining the first generations of women to fly in the US Military after the combat exclusion policy was lifted.

They...

How did two women find themselves in some of the most prestigious and coveted flying roles in the United States Air Force? Whether flying inches apart from another fighter jet in close formation at 500mph, or taking reconnaissance images at 70,000 feet, our hosts spare no detail on their historic paths.

In Episode 1 of All Fire No Smoke, The Land of the Not Quite Right, Blaze and Dragon Lady dive into their backgrounds and childhoods, their inspirations to pursue military aviation, and how they view motherhood up against their vast lists of career achievements. There's...