Episodes
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Lexie and I talk about what it takes to build a fantastic community, and what that community can mean for you.
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Evan Turner is an undisputed champion of FPV racing. He is also incredibly wise beyond his years and owns his own FPV company. His frame is the go to racing frame and almost all of the top pilots fly it.
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Missing episodes?
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Brendan Schulman is the VP of Policy and Legal Affairs for DJI North America. He has worked hand in hand with the FAA over the last 5 years to help craft UAS policy and to keep as many protections for FPV and model aircraft as possible. In this episode we talk about how the FPV and UAS communities can interact with the rules and regulations of the FAA in a way that could be beneficial for all. But, most importantly, he paints a human face on the FAA, something which I've never seen before and is of quite a bit of value.
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Benoit Finck is one of the stars in cinematic FPV. In this interview he talks about how he charges for his work and he also talks about how he gets, manages and maintains clients.
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Ahren Ciotti and I both suffer from different mental illnesses. For Ahren, the struggle has intensified recently, especially with the pandemic, but we are both "making it". In this episode we talk about our experiences with mental illness and ways that we cope. We also talk about the good sides of mental illness and the toll that our mental illness takes on those around us. It's a surprisingly light-hearted and fun episode and I hope that you're going to enjoy it!
Time stamps
00:00 Intro and Housekeeping
02:03 Interview Start
04:59 Mental illness backstory
10:03 Off your meds
17:22 Unemployment and depression
21:44 Anxiety is different than depression
28:12 Tools for coping with mental illness
54:39 Mental illness is a super power
1:07:18 It's hard on those around us
1:25:44 Finding mental health care -
Chad Kapper is a serial entrepreneur. In his time he has started and sold 3 successful businesses. Whether you love it or hate, Rotor Riot has left an indelible mark on the FPV community, and that is exactly how Chad Kapper created it to be.
In this episode we talk about leadership, community and how others perceive you as a leader. We also talk about Chad's next endeavor, a thing called Hack Make Mod ([https://www.hhttps://www.hackmakemod.com. -
Bruce's Patreon and YouTube
https://www.patreon.com/rcmodelreviews
https://www.youtube.com/user/xjet
https://www.youtube.com/user/RCModelReviews
My Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
The Michael Rollins Show Podcast
https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-michael-rollins-show
Instagram
@themichaelrollinsshow
The FAA is the rule-making body for all airspace in the United States. They are well within their rights to control and restrict that airspace in any way that they'd like. They are doing just that as they start using the rule-making process to limit further the ways in which any RC controlled aircraft can be flown in the US.
The FPV hobby will be impacted greatly by the new set of rules that are to take effect in 2023. The hobby is already moving towards sub-250g aircraft to avoid the requirement for remote ID, and further regulations may show up at a moments notice. So what do we do?
In this episode, Bruce and I talk about how and why the FAA may divide the airspace and what arguments they may make in order to further control it. We also talk about what we can do to fight against it.
I hope that you enjoy it. This will obviously be a contentious one, so, as they say, let's keep it civil.
Decoder with Nilay Patel
https://www.theverge.com/22225238/trump-social-media-ban-platform-moderation-tech-regulation-daphne-keller-interview -
Working for yourself is not for the faint of heart. It can lead to intense anxiety if things don’t go well, and unease into the future because not much can be known all the time. But working for yourself has an allure that transcends these things. When you work for yourself you call the shots; you decide where the ship goes; you are your own boss and you answer to no one else. That is a powerful thing, indeed.
Lexie Jansen (MaiOnHigh) and Gab707 (of DRL fame) have both worked for themselves for a while, now. They “hustle” on the daily, and they “rise and grind” all year long. But they do so because they love it.
In this conversation we talk about what it’s like to work for yourself. We talk about the challenges and trials they face regularly. And when it’s all said and done, neither one would have it any other way.
You can find Lexie here: https://www.youtube.com/user/MaiOnHigh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maionhigh/
You can find Gab here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Gab707
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gab707_fpv/
Gab’s 1MM view flight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pSKo2N8WGY&t=5s
Creator Spotlight today is Optimize Drone: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd6nRZXtxfvoaEFQg8t5AZg
0:00 Lexie is kidnapped
11:20 Spanish Mafia Skit
57:14 Interview Intro
5:17:25 What pushed you to go full-time?
13:16:04 Who did you seek wisdom from?
19:09:11 What is the best thing about notoriety (or is there a good thing about it)?
33:25:27 Since you work for yourself, how do you keep motivated?
45:28:26 How do you diversify your income streams and is there one that is more stable than others?
59:40:25 Is there a consistent income stream that allows you to branch out creatively?
01:08:11:02 What are the things that keep you up at night?
01:15:12:17 What wisdom would you tell anyone that wants to go down this path? -
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themichaelrollinsshow/ (@themichaelrollinsshow)
With the delivery of the FAA Remote ID rule the foreseeable future of FPV has been defined, but the writing has been on the wall for a while now. While we all hope that some way will be made available for us to continue flying the ways that we have grown to love, it’s always wise to be prepared.
A few folks have started pushing innovation into the sub-250g space. Tommy Tabija (Ummagawd) and Bob Roogi (KababFPV) are two of the folks with the most coherent ideas on how to get HD footage in something resembling modern FPV flight with a sub-250g package.
The truly intriguing thing is that Tommy and Bob are approaching it from the exact opposite ends. Tommy wants to get to 249.9g and still have a 5” quad, while Bob has started as small and light as he can and is working up. The results of both of their efforts are truly fascinating.
You can find Tommy here:
https://www.youtube.com/c/ummagawdFPV
https://ummagawd.com/
You can find Bob here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4yjtLpqFmlVncUFExoVjiQ
https://fpvcycle.com/
Extra information from the episode:
Bob’s Tiny Drone: https://youtu.be/T6OBImq09dE
RDQ Fighting the FAA: https://www.racedayquads.com/pages/faa-legal-battle-to-save-fpv
Unsolvable Math Problem: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-unsolvable-math-problem/
FAA sub-250g Part 107 Rule is unconfirmed -
You can find my Patreon at:
https://patreon.com/michaelrollins
Kevin Haelterman is one of the two cofounders of LuGus Studios, the creator of LiftOff. Kevin and I chat at length about the values that FPV simulators bring to FPV, especially in the current times when getting together in person is incredibly difficult.
FPV simulators do more than just help you fly better. They allow new pilots to get their start. They allow entire communities to hang out virtually. They allow racing to happen asynchronously. They give a creative outlet to those that want to do more than just fly. -
Boris B is the creator of Betaflight. Forked from Cleanflight, Betaflight has become the predominant FPV flight controller firmware. Boris, as the creator, lead and one of the primary contributors, had an incredible hand in creating the flight experience that we have today.
In this interview he talks about what led him to create Betaflight, how he had a hand in innovating not only FC firmware, but also other things in flight we take for granted now-a-days.
The support of my patrons helps keep these interviews coming. You can find my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins -
For everything we do, especially the things we love, there is a pay off. That pay off, or set of pay offs, keeps you coming back for more, even in the face of adversity. In FPV drone flying we spend precious time building, tuning and flying FPV drones, but we also smash them into things at high speeds. Which means we have to go back to building.
And yet, for all of that, we still fly. Even if it's over and over, we still fly.
Nurk and I explore why we do and the things that keep us going.
You can find my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
You can find Nurk here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPCc4i_lIw-fW9oBXh6yTnw -
Mr. Steele and I sit down to talk about using FPV drones as a means of obtaining awesome and unique shots in films. The practice of using FPV Drones in serious videography is new and is still gaining acceptance, but it is likely here to stay. Steele opens up about what it's like, what crazy things he's done, what gear he brings and how much he likes it. Hope you enjoy!
You can find my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
You can find Mr Steele here (as if you don't already follow him):
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrSteeledavis -
Thomas Bitmatta has been flying RC since he was 12. He's now 20. Back around 2014 he switched over to quads and fell in love with that as his main type of flying. He initially just enjoyed the racing until one day he took one lap in a three lap race against the best pilot in the area. That turned something on in his brain and he realized he wanted to be better. The next few months saw him progress rapidly until he ended up in Dubai.
You can find my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
You can find Thomas here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/teamkoryotkd
https://www.youtube.com/user/BMSWEB -
Thomas Bitmatta has been flying RC since he was 12. He's now 20. Back around 2014 he switched over to quads and fell in love with that as his main type of flying. He initially just enjoyed the racing until one day he took one lap in a three lap race against the best pilot in the area. That turned something on in his brain and he realized he wanted to be better. The next few months saw him progress rapidly until he ended up in Dubai.
You can find my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
You can find Thomas here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/teamkoryotkd
https://www.youtube.com/user/BMSWEB -
David "Skidoosh" Andrews knows and has flown with people all over the world. He lives in China (near Wuhan in the Hubei province) and has been flying FPV for a LONG time. You know what? It turns out that the FPV community is awesome, and he has lived that to its fullest. From being a sponsored racer to knowing all of the industry leaders, Skidoosh has managed to see the absolute awesomeness and joy of this community.
You can find my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
You can find Skidoosh here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVg12qrgjogSPA_C1eUAyoQ -
Evan Turner, aka HeadsupFPV, has taken the MultiGP Drone Nationals for two consecutive years. In this episode he recounts his progression from having his name put on the map at Sebring to taking the Nationals for the first time in 2018 to winning again in 2019. One thing he notes is that the competition is only getting better and times are only getting faster and tighter. Oh, and Vanover is both his friend and his nemesis. The amicable competitive nature of their relationship spurs both of them on to be better.
You can find my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
You can find Evan Turner here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfT16YYug053yF8eFNNefg
https://flyfive33.com/
Instagram: @flyfive33
Instagram: @headsupfpv
Facebook: Evan Turner -
Evan Turner, aka HeadsupFPV, has taken the MultiGP Drone Nationals for two consecutive years. In this episode he recounts his progression from having his name put on the map at Sebring to taking the Nationals for the first time in 2018 to winning again in 2019. One thing he notes is that the competition is only getting better and times are only getting faster and tighter. Oh, and Vanover is both his friend and his nemesis. The amicable competitive nature of their relationship spurs both of them on to be better.
You can find my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
You can find Evan Turner here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSfT16YYug053yF8eFNNefg
https://flyfive33.com/
Instagram: @flyfive33
Instagram: @headsupfpv
Facebook: Evan Turner -
National Suicide Prevention Hotline (US): 1-800-273-8255
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
If I ever meet Chad Nowak's friend Mark or his partner Candice, I will shake their hands and give them a huge hug. You see, Mark and Candice are one of the reasons we still have Chad with us today. In this episode Chad and I share about our struggles with mental health. Both of us talk about times we struggled with not only depression but also thoughts and plans of suicide. This one is heavy, folks. It's not "about" FPV, but we should all be aware that there are many around us in this community that are having a hard time or even suffering. Love on those people, it's one thing we can do.
If you are struggling, please, please reach out. You may not feel relevant, or like you're a burden. You may not feel like continuing on or that no one will miss you. You're wrong and the world would be a much sadder place without you.
As I consider my own struggles with depression and thoughts of suicide from the place where I am now I realize all of the things that I would have missed out on. My children, my wife, the magic of FPV, the wild ride I've had on YouTube. From the dark place you may be it seems impossible that the future could possibly exist, and even if it does it's full of misery and suffering.
That is not the truth. The time and the moment are hard, but life is out there waiting for you. Stick around to see it.
You can find my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
You can find Chad here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/FinalGlideAus -
Throughout this 4th season of DRL the question that everyone has been asking is whether or not Alex Vanover had what it takes to become the DRL World Champion. As it turns out, the answer is a resounding "yes". Alex and I talk about that final race, what it took to get there, whether the younger generation has an advantage over the older generation, and a whole lot more. Congratulations Alex, you deserve it.
You can find my Patreon here:
https://www.patreon.com/michaelrollins
You can find Alex Vanover here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV5_FNKj1x-EB4dGTUTltHA - Show more
