These podcasts are available in two formats:

  • An MP3 version for downloading to your MP3 player (or listening from your own computer). Download by right clicking on the link, and saving the file to your own computer. This is the preferred method of listening to them.
  • A version converted to Flash, for playing direct from this web site.

The audio quality is generally better if you use headphones to listen to these.

All podcasts are copyright of the interviewee, and Judith Mole. However, you are welcome to download the MP3 versions for personal use only, and to provide links to this page (i.e. not to the podcast directly) from your own web site. For any other use, you need to check first with judithm@directlearn.co.uk

You can now subscribe to our podcasts via iTunes. See Subscribe links on the right for more info.

If you have any suggestions for podcasts (content and/or interviewees), or any other comments, please do contact us by email.

Podcast title
MP3 version
Flash version
Flying Triangles with Kai Coleman. After achieving huge open-distance XC flights in the UK, Kai started turning his attention to triangle flying and has done so successfully for the last few years. In this podcast, Kai talks about his experience of flying triangles and gives some advice on planning, GPS use and just going for it! See Kai’s triangle flight from the Wrekin and Graham Steel’s flight from XClent. 23 minutes. (July 2010) Download podcast (17Mb) Listen online
Improving your flying with Judith Mole. In this podcast I talk about some of the strategies I have used to become a better pilot in a structured way over the last eighteen months. You can also read Dave Thomas’ article to see how he became a better XC pilot by reading it here (right-click to download). 18 minutes. (June 2010) Download podcast (17Mb) Listen online
Making the most of blue thermal days with Dave Thomas. Dave has been flying various aircraft since 1979 and has a huge amount of XC experience. He excels on blue thermal days and in this podcast he explains how they work and how to make the most of them. He uses a flight at the Malverns to illustrate his points. If you would like to see the terrain he describes, you can view Dave’s tracklog and Judith’s tracklog from the day in Google Earth. 45mins. (April 2010) Download podcast (43Mb) Listen online
Competing in the British Paragliding Nationals with Martin Dockerill, Wendy Griffiths and Simon Twiss. In this podcast Martin, Wendy and Simon talk about why they decided to enter the competition, what they learned, and they also provide some tips for others thinking of entering for the first time. 16mins. (January 2010) Download podcast (15Mb) Listen online
Advanced Thermalling with Kelly Farina of Austrian Arena. This podcast doesn’t explain what a thermal is or how to find one, but it explains the common mistakes people make and how to rectify them. It is aimed at people experienced in thermalling, who want to improve their technique. 15 mins. [Excuse the quality of this podcast - it was recorded remotely, but the content makes up for the poor audio!] (January 2010) Download podcast (14Mb) Listen online
Winter Flying with David Thomson (Border Crossings). If you think winter flying is the same as summer flying just colder, think again. There are lots of differences (meteorological, how the wind works, assessing conditions, etc.), which change the way we fly in the winter months. In this podcast David talks through his observations over the last 15 years. 27 minutes. (December 2009) Download podcast (25Mb) Listen online
Paragliding Guiding with Toby Colombé (Passion Paragliding), Adam Hill (Frontier Paragliding) and Kelly Farina (Austrian Arena). This podcast discusses what guiding is about, and how you can make the most of your guided holiday. 20 minutes. (November 2009) Download podcast (19Mb) Listen online
Paragliding: A new pilot’s perspective with Melise Harland. Melise recently qualified and in this podcast she discusses her progress to date, explains some of the things she’s learnt and illustrates the advantages of having a plan. 25 minutes. (August 2009) Download podcast (23Mb) Listen online
The Red Bull X-Alps: The Inside Story with Tom Payne. In this follow-up podcast about the Red Bull X-Alps, Tom talks candidly about his experiences, joys, aches and pains of the race. 42 minutes. (August 2009) Download podcast (40Mb) Listen online
Paragliding and the Mind with Tony Spirling. Tony is a long standing sail plane, hang glider, paraglider pilot and psychologist. In this podcast he explains how the brain works and how you can use it to optimise your flying performance. 39 minutes. (July 2009) Download podcast (36Mb) Listen online
Preparing for the X-Alps with Tom Payne. Tom is taking part in the Red Bull X-Alps for the first time in 2009. This podcast is an informal chat about his preparation and strategies for the race. A further podcast on his experiences will be available after the event has finished. 35 minutes. (June 2009) Download podcast (33Mb) Listen online
An XC flight from the Malverns – three different perspectives with Wayne Millichope, Geoff Minshull and Judith Mole. This podcast is a discussion between us about the flight, the decisions, the mistakes made, and the lessons learned from the day. You can view or download our tracklogs to see the flights. Wayne’s tracklog. Geoff’s tracklog. Judith’s tracklog. 40 minutes. (May 2009) Download podcast (37Mb) Listen online
Alpine Flying with Tom Payne. Tom has lived in the French Alps since 2003. Here he talks about strategies and characteristics of alpine flying, including how to plan an XC in the Alps, meteorology and tips and tricks. 32 minutes. (May 2009) Download podcast (30Mb) Listen online
SIV/Pilotage with Pat Dower, Geoff Minshull and Judith Mole. This podcast describes the experience of an SIV course, the benefits of undertaking such a course and the lessons learnt. See the resources page for some videos, and here for the write up of our course. 18 minutes. (May 2009) Download podcast (17Mb) Listen online
Coaching, with David Thomson of Border Crossings. David is the chief coach for the Lanarkshire and Lothian Soaring Club in Scotland. In this podcast he discusses the subconscious and its influence on pilot behaviour and progress, as well as general coaching. 31 minutes. (February 2009) Download podcast (29Mb) Listen online
Mental training, with Anja Kroll. In this podcast, Anja (twice the PWC women’s champion) talks about becoming a competition pilot and some of the strategies she used to become one of the top female pilots in the world. She also discusses mental training and how it can be used to benefit all pilots. (More information about Anja is on her website, http://www.anjakroll.ch/ – mostly in German, some articles in English). 25 minutes. (November 2008) Download podcast (24Mb) Listen online
XC tips from Kai Coleman, former British distance record holder. Kai also discusses some of his favourite sites in the Long Mynd area. (Formerly two podcasts, now merged into one). 19 minutes. (June 2008) Download  podcast (18Mb) Listen online
Flying 100km with Richard Westgate from Simply Gradient. Richard is a paragliding world record holder, and did four flights over 100km in the UK  in six weeks in June/July 2008. In this podcast, Richard talks about those four flights, and general tips on flying long distances. 26 minutes. (August 2008) Download podcast (25Mb) Listen online
Flying in competitions, by Nicky Moss from Axis UK. Spanish Women’s Champion, ex-British team member. 18 minutes. (July 2008) Download podcast (17Mb) Listen online
First competiton season, by Martin Knight. Martin talks about his first season flying competitions, the BPC, and offers advice to people considering entering competitions for the first time. 26 minutes. (August 2008) Download podcast (20Mb) Listen online
Getting your confidence back after an accident, by Judith Mole. Relatively early in my hang gliding career, I broke my arm at Lord’s Seat in Derbyshire. In this podcast, I talk about the steps I took to regain my confidence. 11 minutes. (July 2008) Download podcast (10Mb) Listen online
You’ve got your CP – what next? Mark Dann runs Beyond Extreme, and is a highly experienced paraglider pilot and instructor. This podcast is aimed at new pilots, who have just completed their CP. 18 minutes. (September 2008) Download podcast (16Mb) Listen online

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