Beyond The Sky - A North Star Aviation Podcast

Soaring as a Piper Ambassador

In this episode of the Beyond the Sky podcast, host John Hogue sits down with flight student Lou Pritzik to discuss her journey from a first-generation pilot to becoming a Piper Ambassador. Lou shares insights into her rapid flight training, the unique opportunities provided by her ambassadorship, and the importance of finding community in aviation.

Making Training Fun: Mentorship and Milestones

Join host John Hogue on the Beyond the Sky podcast as he sits down with Maddie Luebke to discuss her remarkable journey from a serendipitous discovery flight to flying for Endeavor Air. Maddie shares her experiences navigating flight training at Minnesota State University (MSU), participating in the Air Race Classic, and serving as president of the Women in Aviation club. This episode dives into the importance of mentorship, strategies for avoiding burnout, and why making training fun is essential for long-term success in the cockpit.

The Purple Tails Races in the Sky!

In this episode, host John Houg talks with the MSU Woman's Air Race team: The Purple Tails! Ariana Moore, Marlee Walker, and Angie Guzik share their racing experience and whit it means to be a part of the Purple Tails and represent women in aviation!

Fast-Tracking Flight Training: Lessons from Abraham Ferber

In this episode of Beyond the Sky, host John Houg sits down with pilot student Abraham Ferber, who accomplished something most aviation students take nearly twice as long to complete—earning his instrument rating in just one semester. Abraham shares how social media unexpectedly sparked his interest in aviation, the mindset and study habits that helped him accelerate through training, and the challenges he faced along the way. Whether you're a current flight student, considering aviation as a career, or simply fascinated by the journey of learning to fly, this episode offers insights, motivation, and practical takeaways from someone who pushed the limits of what’s possible in flight training.

Learning to Fly — Lessons, Laughs, and Real Cockpit Moments

In this episode of Beyond the Sky, the conversation blends real flight training knowledge with fun, honest stories from the cockpit. From how pilots get started to the moments when training gets intense (or humbling), this episode breaks down what flight training is really like — with insight, humor, and a few “you had to be there” moments along the way.