--- title: "Meet the People Changing How We Think About Drones: Inside ‘The Unmanned Podcast’" description: The Unmanned Podcast explores how drones and technology shape real careers and public safety, sharing human stories and practical lessons each week author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief) date: 2025-06-27T09:41:50.000Z updated: 2026-03-31T13:00:07.830Z canonical: https://richwoman.co/article/meet-the-people-changing-how-we-think-about-drones-inside-the-unmanned-podcast image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/dunhkmskw6m-2.jpg categories: Lifestyle content_type: Feature region: Global publication: Rich Woman Magazine --- Sarah settles into her favourite chair, coffee in hand, and taps play on her phone. She’s not a tech expert, never worked in aviation, but something about a podcast called ‘The Unmanned Podcast’ caught her attention. Within minutes, she’s hearing real people talk about flying drones for work – not the complicated technical bits, just what it’s actually like. Josh Olds, president of the Unmanned Safety Institute, hoped exactly this would happen when his team launched their weekly podcast series. ‘We’re talking about drones, but really we’re talking about people, safety, and the tech that’s changing how we fly,’ he explains. ## Why Drones Matter Now Drones aren’t just expensive toys or military equipment anymore. They’re quietly becoming part of everyday life in ways most people don’t realise. Public safety teams use them to find missing hikers, firefighters rely on them to see through smoke, and [search and rescue crews](https://richwoman.co/article/captain-laura-einsetler-a-woman-who-explores-a-world-of-possibilities-beyond-the-sky) send them into dangerous areas before risking human lives. New jobs are appearing – roles that didn’t exist five years ago. Someone needs to operate these drones, teach others how to use them safely, and figure out the rules for flying them around people and buildings. People looking to switch careers or young adults trying to find their path have fresh opportunities. ## What Makes This Podcast Different Most drone content online feels like it’s written by engineers for other engineers. The Unmanned Podcast takes a different approach. Instead of diving into technical specifications, it focuses on the humans behind the technology. Each episode brings together people from different backgrounds – teachers, first responders, career changers, safety experts. [The conversations cover real stories](https://richwoman.co/article/turning-the-mic-up-on-real-talk-and-health-prevention-how-podcasts-revolution-moves-the-needl) about how this technology fits into actual work and life, not just what the machines can theoretically do. Matt Hernandez, who hosts the show and serves as USI’s VP of Enterprise Partnerships, describes it as ‘translating complexity into clarity’. The goal isn’t to turn listeners into drone experts overnight, but to help them understand where this technology is heading and how everyday people are part of that story. ## Who’s Behind the Mic Josh Olds brings years of experience in aviation safety to the conversation. As president and CEO of USI, he’s watched the drone field grow from a niche hobby into something that’s changing how we think about flying. His background gives him insight into both the technical challenges and the human side of making new technology work safely. Hernandez has spent his career helping organisations understand how to use drones effectively. He brings in guests from across the spectrum – educators who are teaching drone skills, first responders who use them in emergencies, and people who’ve completely changed their career paths to work with this technology. The show deliberately includes voices from different backgrounds because drone work isn’t limited to people with aviation degrees. Community colleges are creating drone programmes, and people from all sorts of previous careers are finding opportunities in this field. ## What You’ll Actually Hear Instead of getting bogged down in technical acronyms, episodes focus on practical questions. What’s it like to pilot a drone during a wildfire? How do you train someone who’s never flown anything before? What safety rules actually matter when you’re working around people? The conversations cover workforce development – how people learn the skills they need and what organisations look for when hiring. They explore real-life safety challenges, like how to navigate around airports or what to do when weather conditions change unexpectedly. Guests share stories about cool projects they’ve worked on, career changes they’ve made, and lessons learned from mistakes. [It’s the kind of content that helps listeners understand](https://richwoman.co/article/angel-tuccy-shifting-the-media-narrative) not just what drones can do, but what it’s like to work in this field. ## Why Should You Care? Learning about drones matters because they’re becoming part of the infrastructure around us. Emergency services use them to respond more quickly to accidents and natural disasters. Understanding how they work and who operates them helps make sense of changes happening in your community. For parents, this represents a legitimate career path their children might consider. Drone-related jobs range from part-time side work to full-time careers in public safety, and the field is still growing. Even if you never plan to fly a drone yourself, knowing more about how they’re used helps when you spot one overhead or read news about drone policies. It’s part of understanding how technology is changing the world around us. ## Where to Find It The Unmanned Podcast releases new episodes every Wednesday on YouTube, along with Spotify and Apple Podcasts. The 12-episode debut season is designed to be accessible whether you’re a complete beginner or someone already working in the field. Podcast beginners can start with any episode, adjust playback speed if the conversation moves too quickly, and listen while doing other activities like walking or commuting. The show avoids heavy technical jargon, making it easier to follow along even if you’re new to aviation or drone topics. Just like Sarah in her chair with her morning coffee, anyone can join this conversation. Learning about drones and the people who work with them isn’t reserved for tech insiders – it’s for anyone curious about how the world around them is changing.