On this episode of The Adrenaline Zone, Sandy and Sandra delve into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) with guest Gilman Louie. As a former video game designer turned venture capitalist, Gilman brings valuable insights into the current state of AI, including the emergence of Generative AI and algorithm Chat GPT, which can generate text that seems indistinguishable from what a human could produce. Together, our trio touches on the potential risks and benefits associated with AI's continued...
Apr 27, 2023•38 min•Ep. 36
High Sea Hazards with CAPT Cynthia Robson Captain Cynthia Robson finds herself in The Adrenaline Zone today to discuss with Sandy and Sandra the exciting world of operating merchant ships at sea and details from her career in the field. Along the way, she also touches upon such topics as the risks associated with piracy, the challenges of rough weather, and the unique difficulties that come with being a woman in a male-dominated industry. The complexity of operating different types of ships, the...
Apr 20, 2023•39 min•Season 4Ep. 35
This week, Sandra and Sandy host Lt. Col. Ed Yeilding, a former SR-71 pilot who famously flew the plane on over 90 worldwide reconnaissance missions. Their discussion begins with a look at the development of the SR-71 and how it was a response to the need for better photographic reconnaissance during the Cold War. From there, Yeilding goes on to share his experience of growing up in Florence, Alabama, how he became an Air Force pilot, and the unique construction and design of the plane that allo...
Apr 13, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 34
David Duncan, CEO of Silver Oak Cellars, joins Sandra and Sandy on the podcast today to discuss the art, science, and risks of winemaking. Their conversation covers topics such as the difficulties associated with winemaking, the risks involved, and the sustainable practices and technological advancements that are shaping the industry. David shares his family's entrepreneurial background, recounts how he was drawn to the farming aspect of winemaking, and describes the process of making wine, from...
Apr 06, 2023•36 min•Season 4Ep. 33
In this episode of The Adrenaline Zone, Sandra and Sandy sit down with former Acting/Deputy Director of the CIA and host of the Intelligence Matters podcast, Michael Morell - a man with a wealth of experience on the analytical side of the CIA, advising presidents and other senior leaders during crises and critical national security decisions. Together, our hosts seek to uncover the risks involved in the intelligence business as Michael shares his story of how he entered the field and his experie...
Mar 30, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 32
Sandra and Sandy are back and today they welcome professional adventurer, Jeb Corliss, to the podcast for a truly fascinating conversation. Jeb has dedicated his life to BASE jumping, and wingsuit proximity flying, and our hosts begin by reviewing some of his impressive accomplishments in these areas. They also chat with Jeb about his childhood, how he became interested in skydiving and base jumping, and the mindset required for these activities. Jeb reveals that he lost his dreams during his te...
Mar 23, 2023•48 min•Season 4Ep. 31
Risky Business with Serial Entrepreneur Tom Noonan In today’s episode of The Adrenaline Zone, Sandra and Sandy Winnefeld welcome serial entrepreneur Tom Noonan to the podcast. Tom shares his experiences starting businesses from scratch and offers insights and lessons learned for those interested in taking risks to achieve success. He discusses the importance of having a good idea, the value of surrounding oneself with a strong team, and the need to adapt and pivot in the face of challenges. Tom ...
Jan 12, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Professional bull rider Shane Proctor joins Sandy and Sandra on the podcast today to discuss both the dangers and thrill of his exciting sport. Often referred to as the "most dangerous 8 seconds in sports," bull riding requires riders to stay on the bull for at least 8 seconds while holding onto a rope and with one hand free. In this episode, Proctor, who hails from Grand Coulee, Washington, shares his journey into the sport, and discusses the injuries he has sustained and the challenges he face...
Jan 05, 2023•43 min•Season 3Ep. 29
In today’s episode of The Adrenaline Zone, Sandra and Sandy welcome veteran ski patroller, avalanche expert, and Assistant Director of Ski Patrol on Aspen Mountain, Samantha Haberman, to the podcast. Together, they delve into the intricate and high-stakes world of ski patrol and avalanche control, the physical and mental challenges of working in harsh, high-altitude environments and the importance of risk management in her line of work. Their conversation also touches on Haberman's personal jour...
Dec 29, 2022•39 min
In today’s very special episode, Sandy and Sandra are joined for the first segment by the one and only Santa Claus to discuss his annual toy delivery and the risks associated with it. Santa explains the logistics of North Pole operations and the challenges they have faced due to labor shortages and supply chain issues. While so many details of Santa’s operation are understandably considered classified, he is able to shed some light on the incredible work he, Mrs.Claus, and the elves perform each...
Dec 22, 2022•38 min
It Is Brain Surgery with Neurosurgeon Dr. Ralph Dacey Neurosurgery is one of the most demanding medical fields, with practically no margin for error when operating. One small miscalculation can have profound effects on the patient. As a neurosurgeon and former chair of the Washington University Department of Neurosurgery, today’s guest, Dr. Ralph Dacey, knows all about this pressure and responsibility. He begins the episode by outlining the demanding and competitive route into neurosurgery, incl...
Dec 15, 2022•36 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Under the Ice with Submarine Commander Sean Flanagan Chatting with Sandra and Sandy today is Sean Flanagan, former captain of the USS Pasadena, a nuclear powered submarine that sails in the Arctic Circle. When operating military machinery under ice caps and keels, some reaching 200 feet deep, the term ‘Cold War’ takes on a new meaning. Since 2009, the U.S. has maintained a national presence in the Arctic to protect our interests throughout the region, and Flanagan’s experience doing so is just w...
Dec 08, 2022•37 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Himalayan Odyssey with Hyatt Chairman Tom Pritzker The Himalayas are a massive mountain range in Central Asia that inspire awe and respect in anyone who visits. Humans have been living in their shadows for centuries, and the region is rich in culture and history. As well as being Chairman of Hyatt Hotels and The Pritzker Organization, Sandy and Sandra’s guest today, Tom Pritzker, is also a recognized archaeological expert on a particular section of the western Himalayas and Tibetan art and cultu...
Dec 01, 2022•42 min•Season 3Ep. 24
On this episode of the Adrenaline Zone, Sandy and Sandra are joined by storm chaser Hank Schyma, aka Pecos Hank. Unlike most who go indoors when thunder roars, Schyma does the exact opposite. When a severe storm warning crosses his path, he packs up his car with film gear and heads off to rendezvous with the storm. Today he talks about all things Mother Nature, from hunting for hotspots and the unexpected dangers of storm chasing to TLE’s and Hollywood’s hokey interpretation of the job. Opening ...
Nov 24, 2022•42 min•Season 3Ep. 24
On today’s episode, Sandra and Sandy are joined by professional baseball catcher Yan Gomes of the Chicago Cubs. Yan is one of the best in the game, having spent ten years of his thirteen-year career in the major leagues, including as a world champion with the Washington Nationals in 2019. He kicks off the episode by sharing his journey from growing up in Brazil with a family of athletes to finding his feet in the US through baseball and finally heading to the University of Tennessee before becom...
Nov 17, 2022•40 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Today on The Adrenaline Zone, Sandy and Sandra welcome Rebecca Brock Dixon, founder of the*gameHERs, a media platform and social network for women who game. In this episode, Rebecca lets us into the world of esports, what it takes to start a business, and why what she’s doing with gamers is changing the sport. First up, Rebecca shares how she got into gaming herself, having started in the corporate professional world before moving into entrepreneurship and getting drawn into esports by the huge ...
Nov 10, 2022•41 min•Season 3Ep. 21
On today’s episode of The Adrenaline Zone, Sandy and Sandra welcome Captain Amy Bauernschmidt, the first woman to ever serve as the Executive Officer and then as the Commanding Officer of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. Amy starts the conversation by taking us all the way back to her beginnings and telling us about her journey of becoming a naval aviator. During the time she spent at the Naval Academy, Amy got a chance to go through different types of training and see many aspects of the Navy. Sin...
Sep 15, 2022•40 min•Season 2Ep. 20
On today’s episode of The Adrenaline Zone, Sandy and Sandra interview two-time World Champion skier and lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Chris Davenport. Widely recognized as one of the top skiers in the world, he is the first person to ski all fifty-four of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks in less than one year. Chris starts the conversation by talking about his earlier skiing experiences. As he recounts, he was exposed to all the joys of being outdoors very early on so the passion for outdoor activiti...
Sep 08, 2022•39 min•Season 2Ep. 19
On today’s episode of The Adrenaline Zone, Sandy and Sandra welcome Dr. Jess Cramp, a marine biologist and shark researcher. Jess is also the founder of Shark Pacific, which is a non-profit organization for studying and protecting sharks. Jess kicks off the episode by telling us about her exciting journey from quitting a high-paying job to beginning an adventure of her lifetime –sharks’ preservation. She also opens up about her childhood and how it helped her learn she should always listen to he...
Sep 01, 2022•35 min•Season 2Ep. 18
On this week’s episode of The Adrenaline Zone, Sandy and Sandra are joined by former army doctor and infectious disease physician Matt Hepburn, who led the COVID-19 vaccine development effort with Operation Warp Speed. Matt opens their conversation by sharing how his parents instilled in him a sense of service to others and his country that led him to a career in military medicine, taking him from the ROTC in college to working across the US government. He speaks in detail about his work with DA...
Aug 25, 2022•39 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Sandy and Sandra’s guest this episode is Phil Reilly, a former CIA paramilitary officer who was the first American on the ground in Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Phil starts by explaining a little about the history and organization of the CIA and how the paramilitary fits into it. He also talks about the tough vetting process to get into the CIA and how recruits are analyzed to determine which area they’ll be placed in. Phil then shares his own journey to the CIA, including his ti...
Aug 18, 2022•38 min•Ep. 16
Sandra and Sandy are excited to welcome Andy Weir, renowned author of Project Hail Mary and, more famously, The Martian, to the podcast. Before he became a self-published, best-selling author, Weir spent two decades working as a software engineer, and it wasn’t until he was laid off that he actually got to pursue writing as more than just a hobby. And so The Martian was born. After creating weekly blog posts to share his work, thousands of his fans requested he publish it on Amazon - and the res...
Aug 11, 2022•44 min•Ep. 15
Jon Scheyer, former professional player and newly anointed head coach at Duke, joins the conversation with Sandra and Sandy today. He provides us with a sneak peak into the world of collegiate basketball, Coach K’s diligent and personal prep work, and his vision for the storied Duke basketball program. As long as he can remember, Scheyer has been competitive; maybe too much so, if you ask his mother. So it’s no surprise that he went on to have an illustrious career. From record breaking high sch...
Aug 04, 2022•41 min•Season 2Ep. 14
For her day job, Sarah Arnosky Ko is vice-president of Greater St. Louis Incorporated, where she helps bring the business community together in the Gateway City. But in her spare time, she’s known as Bricktator, a star player for the St. Louis-based Arch Rival Roller Derby team. Today, she joins Sandy and Sandra to give us all the lowdown on how roller derby works, what drew her to it, and why the sport is growing in popularity around the globe. First up, Sarah tells us about the origins of roll...
Jul 28, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 13
On today’s episode of The Adrenaline Zone, Sandra and Sandy are joined by Kate Dargan Marquis, who has made a career out of the complex and dangerous business of wildland firefighting. Kate kicks things off by discussing the structure of roles in the wildland firefighting world, the situations they respond to, and the training involved, including constant heat conditioning. She then steps back in time to share how she got into firefighting by volunteering as a smokejumper in the summer before co...
Jul 21, 2022•43 min•Season 2Ep. 12
On this episode of Adrenaline Zone, “Sandy” and Sandra welcome big wave surfer, Jamie Mitchell to the podcast to talk about his late start in surfing, the risk in big-wave surfing, and climate change. He opens up the episode by recalling his childhood growing up in Coffs Harbour in Australia and how he has been a fish out of water since he could remember - reading the ocean and its currents is almost second nature to him now. Although he surfed every once in a while as a child, he was predominan...
Jul 04, 2022•40 min•Season 2Ep. 11
On this episode of The Adrenaline Zone, hosts James “Sandy” Winnefeld and Sandra Magnus are joined by Dr. Ralph Harvey of the Antarctic Search for Meteorites Program, and Dr. Fraser Goff, Volcanology and Geothermal Systems Expert. Between them, Dr. Harvey and Dr. Fraser have seen some of the most dangerous places on the planet, albeit in very different ways. While Dr. Harvey spends weeks on end patrolling the desolate Antarctic landscape in search of Martian meteorites, Dr. Fraser takes expediti...
Jun 17, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 10
On this episode of The Adrenaline Zone, James “Sandy” Winnefeld and Sandra Magnus are joined by Diana Trujillo, JPL Flight Director for the Mars Perseverance Rover. Diana was born in Colombia and her journey to becoming the flight director for the Perseverance mission involved quite a bit of her own perseverance. She started school while still speaking very little English, but her intelligence was immediately apparent, and her commitment to her studies catapulted her to a degree in aerospace eng...
Jun 03, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 9
On this episode of The Adrenaline Zone, hosts James “Sandy” Winnefeld and Sandra Magnus are joined by Victor Vescovo, Undersea Explorer, Investor, and Former Naval Officer. Victor has tackled risk in just about every form, putting his life on the line in the military, and risking huge financial losses as a private equity investor. His latest endeavor, and the one he’s most excited about, is his journey to the bottom of the ocean. Time after time, Victor has traveled miles down into the ocean, wi...
May 27, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 8
On this episode of The Adrenaline Zone, hosts James “Sandy” Winnefeld and Sandra Magnus are joined by Alejandro Villanueva, Professional Football Player and former Army Ranger. Many young men dream of the opportunity to play in the NFL, and spend their whole lives training to become a professional athlete. For Alejandro, a career in football was an unexpected means to achieving a very different dream: earning his MBA. After graduating from West Point, becoming an Army Ranger, and completing seve...
May 20, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 7
