{"podcast":{"title":"Behind the Prop","slug":"behind-the-prop-1368553","podcast_index_feed_id":1368553,"rss_url":"https://feeds.simplecast.com/eMZPyKiE","website_url":"https://www.behindtheprop.com","image_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/13ea6631-3592-4dcd-a7a5-4c1f30debaba/b093a7b3-bca6-4514-993a-278f75c55ea8/3000x3000/behind-the-prop-logo.jpg?aid=rss_feed","author":"Bobby Doss","episode_count":201,"summary":"Behind the Prop is the Podcast for anyone involved in aviation from general aviation to professional pilots. Our hosts Bobby Doss is the owner of a flight school in Houston, Texas, and Wally Mulhearn is a pilot for a major airline and is also a designated pilot examiner (DPE) based in Houston, Texas. Weekly they tell stories, share lessons and tips from behind the prop. Together they have over 24,400 hours of flight time (Wally has over 24,000 of those) and collectively they provide very unique perspectives on general aviation, airplanes, and all things aviation.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-16T00:17:01.890156+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-prop-1368553"},"episode":{"title":"E196 - The Soft Skills That Actually Make Great Flight Instructors","slug":"e196-the-soft-skills-that-actually-make-great-flight-instructors","published_at":"2026-06-15T11:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-prop-1368553/e196-the-soft-skills-that-actually-make-great-flight-instructors","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-prop-1368553","url":"https://www.behindtheprop.com/episodes/e196-soft-skills-great-flight-instructors-CsKGGWzy","audio_url":"https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/d04e2d21-df48-4a78-9eaf-c91d2256e6a4/episodes/c30f23b5-d281-4e51-97de-594a8eca38a4/audio/b0646f32-6be4-481d-87d1-c9b4a812a18b/default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=eMZPyKiE","summary":"In this episode of Behind the Prop, hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn dive deep into the essential soft skills that set exceptional flight instructors apart from the rest. They explore why teaching ability often outweighs raw flying proficiency when it comes to developing great CFIs, emphasizing the need to hire teachers rather than just pilots. The discussion highlights how emotional intelligence plays a critical role in the cockpit, helping instructors connect with students of all ages and backgrounds while adapting to individual learning styles. Bobby and Wally share insights on managing student progress, fostering accountability, and maintaining clear communication under pressure. They stress the value of effective debriefs and how these moments build trust and accelerate learning. Real stories from their experiences illustrate the shift from demonstrating skills to creating environments where students can learn through guided practice and even mistakes. The conversation also covers professionalism and leadership, reminding instructors that they serve as role models who shape the next generation of pilots. Listeners will walk away with practical strategies to improve their teaching approach, from using lesson plans and objectives to balancing knowledge with empathy. Whether you're a new CFI or a seasoned instructor, this episode offers valuable takeaways for elevating flight training.","meta_description":"In this episode of Behind the Prop, hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn dive deep into the essential soft skills that set exceptional flight instructors a…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3119,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/behind-the-prop-1368553/episodes/e196-the-soft-skills-that-actually-make-great-flight-instructors/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-prop-1368553/e196-the-soft-skills-that-actually-make-great-flight-instructors.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}