Rephonic
Artwork for So There I Was
Aviation
Military Aviation
Vietnam War
Marine Corps
Air Traffic Control
a-10
Harrier
Flight Training
Naval Aviation
Aviation Safety
Military Training
World War II
Blue Angels
Prisoner Of War
Navy
F-18
Coast Guard
Iraq
Gulf War
Air Force

So There I Was” is a weekly aviation podcast and YouTube show featuring true pilot stories from fighter pilots, airline captains, helicopter pilots, and other military and civilian aviators. “So – There I was.” It’s how ALL great aviation tales begin! Join hosts Fig and Repete as they bring in some great aviation raconteurs to relate the glamorous, hilarious, poignant, tragic, and incredible tales... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes239Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
AviationComedyComedy InterviewsLeisure

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Artwork for So There I Was

Latest Episodes

Why Smart Pilots Do Dumb Things is the title of Heater’s paper. It helped save the Red Eagles. However, this episode opens with a different lesson: never look at your ten o’clock at Groom Lake. CJ “Heater” Heatley is back! We promoted him to four-sta... more

YouTube

“Clara Ship” is what A-6 Intruder pilot Duker radioed when he couldn’t even see the carrier. Forget the ball. He couldn’t find the boat. Duker went from zero stick time to Navy jets through ROTC at USC. In flight school, food poisoning hit so hard hi... more

YouTube

Navy P-3 pilot Derek "DA" Adametz beat a collapsed lung and Hodgkin's lymphoma, then fought the waiver board all the way to squadron command.

YouTube

F-100 pilot Ike flew 195 combat missions with an iron sight and nerves of steel. He takes us from night close air support to a 50-pound-fuel landing to the 1986 Libya raid.

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Fighter Pilot Podcast
Fighter Pilot PodcastTucker "Cinco" Hamilton, Retired U.S. Air Force Fighter Test Pilot
The Afterburn Podcast
The Afterburn PodcastJohn "Rain" Waters
"There I was..." An Aviation Podcast
"There I was..." An Aviation PodcastAOPA Air Safety Institute

Recent Guests

CJ Heatley
Retired U.S. Navy aviator, Red Eagles pilot, photographer and author
United States Navy
Episode: Why Smart Pilots Do Dumb Things Episode 235
Derek Adams
Guest (veteran Navy pilot, author of Unbreakable Wings)
Former Navy, Author
Episode: Unbreakable Wings Episode 233
Jeff Manturnak
Sticks's brother-in-law, delivered the eulogy read at Sticks's memorial service
Sticks family (reader at memorial)
Episode: Semper Gumby: Remembering Sticks Episode 228
Stanley Stretch Curran
Stretch, a past guest on the show, contributor of a story
So There I Was community
Episode: Semper Gumby: Remembering Sticks Episode 228
Tyler Hall (Chuck)
Tyler Hall, Sticks's son; author of the letter read at memorial service
Family of Sticks
Episode: Semper Gumby: Remembering Sticks Episode 228
Chuck Howard
Vietnam-era helicopter pilot, MedEvac and test pilot; author of Tales from the Cockpit
Episode: I Never Exceeded 5' Episode 227
Chill Rob
Chill Rob, author of Flight Path, An Irreverent Aviation Tale
Flight Path author, guest on episode
Episode: Flight Path: He Who Dies with the Most Laugh Wrinkles Wins Episode 225
Larry Hall
Coast Guard veteran and helicopter pilot who shares Coast Guard aviation experiences and historical perspectives
United States Coast Guard
Episode: Race to the Shear Switch Episode 224
Captain Ben Cascio
Captain, United States Marine Corps; Silver Star recipient
United States Marine Corps
Episode: Seeing it Through Episode 222

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 348 ratings
  • Great resource for writing!

    I’m an author who writes political and military thrillers and modern fantasy, and this podcast helps me correctly characterize veterans and pilots in my work. The stories are great and provide snapshots of military life and combat that you can’t get anywhere else.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Espy Psyche
    United States4 months ago
  • For a couple of knuckleheads they do a great job of getting some awesome and entertaining stories out of their guests. If you are a fan of aviation or just enjoy a good story, this is your podcast.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Methane
    5 months ago
  • Harriers are the best

    I love laughing along to this podcast. I have such fond memories of working on Harriers and spending time at Cherry Point as an aviation industry employee from the UK.

    It also psychs me up for my PA28 flights at 2,000 ft round the British countryside 😜

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I love Harriers
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Awesome podcast!

    Really cool hearing my dad as a guest on the podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dont use crypro.com
    United States9 months ago
  • 2 Good!

    C-141 A & B loadmaster here. I so enjoy hearing the stories and the wisdom? Great Job guys. I so miss the Starlifter and relish the 20 years I spent in the tube of pain. Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NWC Tech Team
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests bring real-world flight insights and memorable moments.
The show blends history, danger, and humor, appealing to long-time aviation fans and newcomers alike.
Aviation storytelling with humor and camaraderie; hosts create a welcoming, entertaining space.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Smart Pilots Do Dumb Things Episode 235
Q: How did the Red Eagle program change fighter pilot training for the better, for the worse? What was good about it? What was bad about it?
Heatley says TOPGUN graduates initially struggled against unfamiliar MiGs, but Red Eagles gave them formation practice and debriefs that helped them recognize MiG vulnerabilities and return to training with better tactics. He said this improvement helped convince leadership to continue the program.
Why Smart Pilots Do Dumb Things Episode 235
Q: What would today's Heater say to the freshman or sophomore?
Heatley says aspiring pilots should make sure flying is truly their own passion and give it everything they have, because genuine commitment helps them persist through setbacks.
We Declined to Apologize for Returning Fire Episode 217
Q: Can you describe the Grenada operation from the cockpit?
X-Man recounts the two-wave plan, the peril of the ZPU-4, decision-making under fire, and the achievement of evacuating Rangers and rescuing students without casualties.
We Declined to Apologize for Returning Fire Episode 217
Q: What was the biggest challenge during flight school and initial Cobra training?
He recalls the demanding nature of Bulldog/HT‑setup, the terror of instructors, and the coping strategies (sticky notes, drills) that kept him awake and focused.
We Declined to Apologize for Returning Fire Episode 217
Q: What made you decide to pursue flight and join the Marines?
X-Man describes early exposure to aviation through family, school experiences, and a calling to fly, leading him into Marine training and the Cobra community.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About So There I Was

What is So There I Was about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A high-energy aviation storytelling show that blends veteran perspective, humor, and expert interviewing. Episodes center on first-person tales from Harrier pilots, military aviators, and civilian flyers, often weaving in behind-the-scenes culture, training, and memorable missions. The format is conversational, with two veteran hosts guiding conversations with a rotating roster of seasoned aviators and storytellers, making complex aviation jargon accessible and the history of flight engaging for both enthusiasts and industry professionals. Notable strengths include deep dives into specific aircraft eras (notably the Harrier), a strong sense of camaraderie, and a steady stream of guest storytellers who bring action, humor, and authenticity t... more

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How many subscribers and views does So There I Was have?

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Which podcasts are similar to So There I Was?

These podcasts share a similar audience with So There I Was:

1. Fighter Pilot Podcast
2. The Afterburn Podcast
3. I Learned About Flying From That
4. Ask the A&Ps
5. "There I was..." An Aviation Podcast

How many episodes of So There I Was are there?

So There I Was launched 4 years ago and published 239 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact So There I Was?

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What guests have appeared on So There I Was?

Recent guests on So There I Was include:

1. CJ Heatley
2. Derek Adams
3. Jeff Manturnak
4. Stanley Stretch Curran
5. Tyler Hall (Chuck)
6. Chuck Howard
7. Chill Rob
8. Larry Hall

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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