Lessons From the Cockpit: Why Culture Eats Checklists for Breakfast
In this episode, we sat down with Jeff “Odie” Espenship and had an incredible conversation around safety culture. The former A-10 Warthog pilot is the founder of Target Leadership.
Listen as he shares hard-earned lessons from 10,000 feet up—and rock bottom. We talk truths in safety, leadership, and the split-second choices that shape a legacy.
What You’ll Learn:
- From Cockpit to Culture: How Odie went from airshows to safety keynotes—and why culture eats checklists for breakfast.
- The Shortcut That Changed Everything: The devastating true story of one small deviation and the origin of Jeff’s mission.
- Normalization of Deviance: Why “just this once” is never just once.
- Leadership Is Emotional: If you want people to care about safety, start with empathy—not enforcement.
- What Real Leadership Looks Like: It’s not about titles. It’s about doing the right thing when no one’s watching.
This episode isn’t just for safety pros. It’s for anyone who makes decisions that could cost someone else everything. Odie’s message is clear: The real danger isn’t risk. It’s routine. And the best leaders lean into protecting their teams from falling into the trap of complacency.
Learn more at TargetLeadership.com
Find Odie on LinkedIn: Jeff “Odie” Espenship
Explore More From Here
- How Strong Safety Cultures Are Built—and Broken
Culture isn’t a slogan—it’s a system. Learn the hidden factors that make or break a safety-first environment.
- “It Won’t Happen to Me”: Why Overconfidence Puts Workers at Risk
Confidence is good. Overconfidence is dangerous. Discover the psychology that leads to risk—and how to interrupt it.
- The Most Dangerous Phrase in Safety: “We’ve Always Done It This Way”
Tradition is no excuse for stagnation. Challenge outdated norms before they become fatal habits.
Other Podcasts
- All Posts
- #EmergencyPreparedness
- 2025 safety trends
- 360 Immersive
- 360immersive
- 6S Safety
- accident prevention
- accidental careers
- adjustable workstations
- adult education
- AI automation
- AI implementation
- AI in business
- AI in operations
- AI in Safety
- AI podcast
- AI strategy
- AI transformation
- Alberta safety courses
- Allan James Moore
- artificial intelligence
- asking for help
- audit findings
- audit readiness
- automation in safety
- automation strategy
- avoidable injuries
- awareness
- Aztec Safety
- back strain
- BambooHR integration
- behavior-based safety
- Behavioral Safety
- biometric sensors
- BIS Podcast
- BIS Safety Podcasts
- BIS Safety Software
- BIS Safety Spotlight
- black holes
- Blame Culture
- BP Texas City Explosion
- Brave Leadership
- Brett Burkard
- burnout
- business automation
- Canadian OHS
- Canadian safety
- Canadian safety history
- Canadian safety standards
- carbon monoxide
- Carolynne Heron
- CCOHS
- chemical
- chemical vapors
- chronic injuries
- chronic pain
- cloud-based safety tools
- Coming Soon
- community safety programs
- Competency in Safety
- complacency in safety
- Compliance
- compliance courses
- Compliance In Canada
- compliance issues
- Compliance Reporting
- compliance tools
- compliance training
- compliance vs protection
- Construction advocacy
- Construction education
- Construction industry
- construction safety
- construction safety training
- continuous improvement
- continuous safety improvement
- corporate culture
- corporate training
- corrective actions
- crane
- CSA standards
- Customer Spotlight
- Customer Spotlight Kevin Swinden Global Hazmat Safety Culture Hazmat Management Dangerous Goods Competency in Safety Workplace Risk Mitigation BIS Training Clients Canadian EHS
- customized training
- daily trip inspection
- Damage Prevention
- Dangerous Goods
- dangerous goods classification
- Danny Sellers
- data-driven safety
- Decision Analysis
- defect management
- defect tracking
- defensive driving
- digital compliance
- digital forms
- digital safety
- digital safety tools
- digital safety transformation
- digital transformation
- DMS features
- document control
- document management system
- Dr. Joanna Pagonis
- Dr. Tom Krause
- driver file management
- driver training
- driving instructor program
- DTRMS
- e-learning
- e-learning tools
- early intervention
- education technology
- EHS
- EHS digital solutions
- EHS tools
- Einstein
- electrical safety
- Emergency Action Plan
- emergency preparedness
- emergency response
- emergency supplies
- emotional training
- employee behavior
- employee engagement
- employee health
- Employee Readiness
- employee safety
- employee training
- Energy Isolation
- ergonomic consulting
- ergonomic design
- ergonomic risks
- ergonomics
- Evacuation Procedures
- evidence collection
- EWI Works
- exoskeleton
- exoskeletons
- failure analysis
- fall protection
- field experience
- field safety
- field safety services
- Fire Drills
- fire prevention
- Fire Safety Training
- first aid kit
- first week on the job
- first workplace injury
- fleet management
- fleet safety
- FMEA
- freight
- frontline safety
- future of work
- Global Hazmat
- gravitational waves
- hand injuries
- handling hazardous materials
- hands-on training
- hazard analysis
- Hazard Awareness
- hazard communication
- hazard prevention
- hazard recognition
- Hazardous Energy Control
- Hazmat Management
- Health & Safety Podcast
- health and safety
- hearing loss prevention
- hearing protection
- heavy equipment safety
- hidden workplace hazards
- high voltage systems
- HR automation
- HR software
- human factors
- human in the loop
- Human Performance
- human vs machine
- human-centered design
- human-centered safety
- humor in safety
- ICBC certification
- immersive learning
- Imposter Syndrome
- incident data
- incident investigation
- incident prevention
- incident reporting
- industrial AI
- Industrial Hygiene
- industrial safety
- Infrastructure Risk
- injury consequences
- injury prevention
- injury prevention tips
- injury recovery
- injury reporting
- injury response
- injury response plan
- instructor development
- internal audits
- invisible dangers
- ISO standards
- Jeff Mulligan
- Jennifer Lastra
- job site accountability
- job site hazards
- job site risks
- job site safety
- Jody Young
- KBR Safety Training
- Kevin Swinden
- labor movement
- ladder safety
- Leadership
- leadership accountability
- leadership and empathy
- Leadership in Safety
- Leadership Management
- Lean Manufacturing
- Lean Workplace
- learning from incidents
- learning management
- lifting techniques
- LIGO
- Linda Miller
- LMS
- LMS features
- Lock Out Tag Out
- lockout tagout
- lone workers
- LOTO
- machine learning
- Machine Safety
- Maintenance Safety
- mental health at work
- MI Safety
- Mike Schwartz
- minor injuries
- movement in workplace
- MyZone AI
- Near Miss Reporting
- new workers
- no-blame investigations
- noise exposure
- nonconformance
- Northern BC
- NRCA
- NSC Standard 13
- occupational fatigue
- occupational hazards
- occupational health
- occupational safety
- occupational therapy
- OH&S
- OHS
- OHSA
- oil and gas safety
- omni-training
- onboarding safety
- online learning
- Online safety training
- operational efficiency
- Operational Excellence
- organizational culture
- organizational safety
- OSHA compliance
- OSHA standards
- outdated practices
- overconfidence
- overhead crane courses
- pain awareness
- personal protective equipment
- Pharmaceutical Safety
- physics careers
- pipeline safety
- podcast
- post-accident review
- post-incident protocol
- PPE
- PPE enforcement
- PPE improvement
- pre-trip inspection
- predictive analytics
- pretrip inspection
- preventive action
- proactive safety
- proactive safety measures.
- process improvement
- Professional development
- protective clothing
- psychological hazards
- psychological safety
- quality control
- quality management
- quality standard
- Real Safety Leadership
- real-time safety
- recordkeeping
- regulatory updates
- repetition in safety
- repetitive motion injuries
- respirator safety
- respirators
- risk assessment
- risk management
- risk mitigation
- risk prevention
- risk reduction
- road safety
- Robin Postnikoff
- ROI with AI
- root cause analysis
- root cause correction
- routine task risks
- safe habits
- safe work habits
- safety
- safety accountability
- safety advice
- safety article
- safety automation
- safety awareness
- safety best practices
- safety communication
- safety compliance
- Safety Conversations
- safety culture
- safety data
- safety data sheets
- safety documentation
- safety engagement
- safety follow-up
- safety gear
- safety gloves
- safety goggles
- safety habits
- safety incentives
- safety innovation
- safety insights
- safety inspection
- Safety Leaders
- safety leadership
- Safety Leadership Podcast
- safety legislation
- safety lessons
- safety management
- safety management system
- safety management systems
- safety metrics
- safety mindset
- safety motivation.
- safety myths
- safety planning
- safety podcast
- safety procedure updates
- Safety Procedures
- safety professionals
- safety reporting
- safety review process
- safety shortcuts
- safety software
- Safety Spotlight
- safety systems
- safety technology
- safety theater
- safety tips
- safety training
- safety transformation
- safety transparency
- Sarah Anderson
- Scott Lyall
- shipping documentation
- silent dangers
- silica dust
- Sinogap Solutions
- slow-building hazards
- smart helmets
- smart PPE
- smart safety systems
- smart safety tools
- space science
- Spencer McDonald
- Standardized Work
- storytelling and safety
- storytelling in safety
- supervisor training
- system safety
- TDG
- team communication
- teamwork
- tech and ergonomics
- tech in safety
- tech-enabled learning
- Thinking Driver
- Titan Environmental
- Total Recordable Injury Formula
- tough guy mentality
- toxic air
- training
- training courses
- training management
- training matrix
- training record management
- training records
- training software
- transportation
- transportation of dangerous goods
- Trust and Accountability
- unseen workplace threats
- user experience
- Utility Safety Partners
- vehicle safety
- version control
- veteran advice
- Virtual Reality
- VR safety training
- VR Technology
- wearable technology
- WHMIS
- witness statements
- women in leadership
- work-alone training
- work-related injuries
- worker accountability
- worker advocacy
- worker fatigue
- worker protection
- worker safety
- worker safety habits
- worker safety tips
- worker trust
- worker wellbeing
- workers' rights
- workforce compliance
- workforce management
- workforce training
- workplace accidents
- workplace air quality
- workplace best practices
- workplace certification
- workplace compliance
- Workplace Culture
- workplace hazards
- workplace health
- workplace incident response
- workplace injuries
- workplace injury prevention
- workplace mindset
- Workplace Organization
- workplace risk factors
- workplace risk management
- Workplace Risk Mitigation
- Workplace safety
- workplace safety culture
- Workplace Safety Leadership
- workplace safety rules
- workplace safety tips
- workplace safety training
- workplace stress
- workplace tiredness
- workplace wellness
- WSPS
July 22, 2025
Luca Filippo shares his journey through aviation and biology, plus what it taught him about safety culture.
July 8, 2025
Dr. Tom Krause shares lessons from decades in safety leadership—covering behavior-based safety, decision analysis, and why real change goes beyond...
July 3, 2025
Dr. Tom Krause shares lessons from decades in safety leadership—covering behavior-based safety, decision analysis, and why real change goes beyond...
June 24, 2025
Greg shows us all how to build trust when it’s tough, lead with humility, and form great teams in life-or-death...
