Afterburn Podcast
Two former U.S. Air Force fighter pilots conduct long-form interviews with military aviation professionals about their careers, aircraft, and missions.
This is a long-form interview show where former fighter pilots talk shop with other military aviation insiders. The hosts' direct experience allows them to guide conversations beyond surface-level stories into the technical, tactical, and personal details of high-stakes missions, aircraft capabilities, and career trajectories. Episodes often feel like sitting in on a debrief, exploring the specific challenges and decisions that define a life in military aviation.
“Unlike many military podcasts, Afterburn's hosts are peers to their high-level guests, enabling uniquely granular conversations about specific aircraft, tactics, and career-defining moments. The focus is less on broad "war stories" and more on the professional mechanics and mindset of a warrior class, from handling in-flight emergencies to navigating military bureaucracy.”
Who hosts this show
The Afterburn Podcast is hosted by John "Rain" Waters and Mike "Flash" McVay, both combat-veteran U.S. Air Force fighter pilots. Waters, a former F-16 Viper Demo Team Commander, flew over 180 combat missions and now works as a commercial 777 pilot. McVay is a graduate and former instructor at the USAF Fighter Weapons School who has flown the A-10, F-16, and F-35. Together, they interview fellow warriors about the moments that defined their careers.
Credentials & credits
- John "Rain" Waters: F-16 Pilot, USAF Viper Demo Team Commander, Combat Veteran.
- John "Rain" Waters: B.S. in International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology.
- John "Rain" Waters: M.S. in Emergency Management, Jacksonville State University.
- Mike "Flash" McVay: A-10, F-16, F-35 Pilot, Combat Veteran.
- Mike "Flash" McVay: USAF Fighter Weapons School Graduate & Instructor.
- Mike "Flash" McVay: M.A. in Political Science, University of Nebraska.
Other ventures
- The Lowdown (weekly defense and aviation newsletter).
- Afterburn Defense (YouTube channel for defense news and analysis).
- E3 Aviation Association (co-founder).
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Rob "ZMan" Zettel | The Top Secret Fighter SquadronMay 29, 2026 · 1h 29m
- 02
- 03Stealth Plane: Maneuverability & Stealth Capabilities Explained #shortsApr 14, 2026 · 1 min
- 04Stealth Aircraft: Impressive Prototype, But Challenges Remain #shortsApr 13, 2026 · 48s
- 05Contested Environments: F-47 Tech & Past Military Mistakes #shortsApr 12, 2026 · 47s
- 06
Notable episodes
- 01"Shoot Them Down If They Don't Respond" — The 9/11 ROE Nobody Talks About | Col Roy "Deacon" Qualls
A firsthand account of being scrambled to protect Air Force One on 9/11 and receiving the unprecedented authorization to shoot down civilian airliners.
- 02Rob "ZMan" Zettel | The Top Secret Fighter Squadron
A deep dive into the top-secret "Constant Peg" program where American pilots flew Soviet MiG fighters to train U.S. forces during the Cold War.
- 03"Never Take the First No" | Maj. Gen. John "Trapper" Winters on 40 Years of Fighter Aviation
An unconventional career story of a pilot who went from navigator to a two-star general, offering candid insights on military bureaucracy and leadership.
What you'll be asked on this show
The show primarily uses a remote, split-screen video interview format. The hosts, John "Rain" Waters and Mike "Flash" McVay, are knowledgeable insiders who facilitate deep, conversational dives into their guests' careers. Episodes open with a high-energy montage of fighter jet footage and radio chatter, setting a distinct, immersive tone.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
- “What first got you interested in becoming a fighter pilot?”
- “Can you give us a 60-90 second elevator pitch of who you are and what you're doing today?”
- “What was your experience like in pilot training and the RTU (Replacement Training Unit)?”
- “What was your most harrowing or memorable sortie?”
- “How did you employ [specific aircraft] for its training purpose?”
- “What was it like going from [one aircraft] to [another]?”
Signature segments
- · Introductory montage with jet footage and radio chatter
- · "There I was..." stories (exclusive content for patrons)
- · Lower-third graphics identifying host and guest
- · Split-screen video interview format
- · Bro Chat (recurring roundtable discussion format)
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically decorated, often retired, military aviation professionals. This includes fighter pilots from various eras (F-4, F-15, F-16, MiG), wing commanders, special operators, and authors of military history and memoirs. They are seasoned experts reflecting on decades-long careers.
- Rob "Z-Man" Zettelon The Top Secret Fighter Squadron
- Roy "Deacon" Quallson "Shoot Them Down If They Don't Respond" — The 9/11 ROE Nobody Talks About
- John "Trapper" Winterson "Never Take the First No" | Maj. Gen. John "Trapper" Winters on 40 Years of Fighter Aviation
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is supported through listener contributions via Patreon and YouTube channel memberships, which offer ad-free episodes and exclusive content. While some episodes may feature host-read ads for brands like Aura, the primary revenue model appears to be direct audience support.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts of the Afterburn Podcast?
- The hosts are John "Rain" Waters, a former F-16 combat and demo pilot, and Mike "Flash" McVay, a former A-10, F-16, and F-35 pilot and USAF Weapons School instructor.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It is a long-form interview show featuring conversations with combat veterans, fighter pilots, and special operators about their careers and missions.
- What kind of guests appear on the show?
- Guests are typically highly experienced military aviation professionals, including retired generals, squadron commanders, and pilots with unique experiences like flying secret aircraft.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, the podcast releases new episodes on a weekly basis.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.
- How can I support the show?
- You can support the show via Patreon or by becoming a YouTube channel member, which provides access to exclusive content and ad-free episodes.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]About Us | The Afterburn Podcasttheafterburnpodcast.com
- [02]Afterburn Podcast - YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [03]The Afterburn Podcast on Patreonpatreon.com
- [04]MEET THE PILOT: JOHN 'RAIN' WATERS OF THE F-16 VIPER DEMO TEAMheritageflight.org
- [05]Still Flying and Serving, Just Not Active Duty - War on the Rockswarontherocks.com
- [06]The Lowdown Newsletterlowdownnews.us
- [07]Mike "Flash" McVay – Flying the A-10, F-16, and F-35: Insights from USAF Weapons School Instructorbleav.com
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