Battle with the Bottle: The Staton West Story | Part 1

Battle with the Bottle: The Staton West Story | Part 1

Author: Casey Aviation July 25, 2025 Duration: 1:09:29

In this profoundly moving episode, Joe welcomes Staton West, a military veteran, commercial pilot, and friend, who shares his honest journey through alcoholism, military service, and recovery via the HIMS program. Staton discusses the pressures of military life, the emotional challenges of transitioning to civilian aviation, and how faith, community, and structured accountability were crucial to his sobriety. This is part one of a two-part conversation. Tune in next week for Part 2.

✈️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How addiction can take root in high-performance careers like the military and aviation
What the HIMS Program is and how it helps pilots return to the cockpit
The emotional and mental toll of leaving military life behind
The importance of faith, support systems, and mentorship in recovery
A message of hope, healing, and redemption for anyone facing addiction
This is more than a story of recovery; it's a story of resilience, transformation, and the power of second chances.
👉 If you’re a pilot, veteran, or someone walking through recovery, this episode is for you.

HIMS Program: https://himsprogram.com/about-hims/

🎧 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories that inspire and uplift.

Prefer watching instead of listening?
Catch the podcast on YouTube! 🎥 ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@caseyaviation


Hosted by Casey Aviation, The Malibu Guru is a conversation for a specific corner of the sky, centered entirely on the world of the PA46 aircraft, like the Malibu and Mirage. It’s less a formal broadcast and more like hanging around the hangar, listening in as seasoned owners and pilots share what they’ve learned the hard way. You’ll hear unvarnished discussions about the realities of buying one of these complex machines, the nuances of training, and the ongoing puzzle of maintenance and ownership. The focus here is on practical wisdom, drawn directly from the community that flies these planes every day. This podcast thrives on those real-world stories-the unexpected cross-country adventure, the troubleshooting tip that saved the day, the personal insights that manuals never provide. It’s for anyone with a hands-on interest, whether you’re actively searching for your own PA46, you’re already logging hours in the left seat, or you simply appreciate deep dives into aviation’s more niche passions. The dialogue is grounded, specific, and driven by the people who know these aircraft inside and out, making it a unique resource within aviation media.
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