Your Bad-Ass Masterclass: by Fighter Pilot Michelle Curran | #05

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and former drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard to share in an incredible and authentic conversation with former combat Veteran, Thunderbird Soloist, Motivational Speaker, and 2 Time Author, Michelle “MACE” Curran.

Spectators would frequently call Michelle a “Bad-Ass” after seeing her fly with the Thunderbirds, and while she’ll be the first to humbly deny it, it’s hard to disagree. She has done some incredible things that most people could never imagine doing. Brian and Duck quickly dive into the bravery that is required to jump into these positions, and learn a lot about what the word “bravery” means to a person like Michelle.

It’s really a perfect fit for the “Harder to Breathe” Podcast, because since leaving the Thunderbirds, Michelle has turned her focus toward speaking about the importance of vulnerability. She talks openly about the struggles she faced as one of the only women in history to achieve her rank in the Thunderbirds, and how she oftentimes found herself trying to hide the fact that she was struggling– even when it would have benefited her to reach out to others.

The recurring word that comes up throughout the discussion is “Authenticity”, and you’ll see why right away. Michelle, Ryan, and Duck have a conversation here that flows effortlessly, despite their differing backgrounds. Michelle is able to make her incredible and action-packed life seem relatable to everyone, and it’s proof that even the most “elevated” of us are still human beings, with human problems and human emotions.

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:20 Today’s Guest: Michelle Curran

0:03:51 Duck’s Free Therapy: Setting Yourself Apart

0:10:57 Watching Adam Levine’s Growth into Superstardom

0:14:28 The Weirdest Time in Maroon 5’s History (The Awkward “Audition”)

—--

0:18:03 Launch-Day for Michelle’s New Book: “What’s Your CallSign?”

0:20:45 The Meaning Behind Fighter Pilot Callsigns

0:22:45 The Inspiration for the Book

0:25:39 The Origin of Michelle’s Callsign

0:27:06 The Culture of Life as an Airforce Pilot & Imposter Syndrome

0:31:11 The Advice Michelle would Give Her Younger Self

0:36:12 The Importance of Reaching Out to Others Early On

0:40:31 Building the Courage to Conquer Your Inner Critic

0:44:49 Parallels Between Ryan and Michelle’s Experiences

0:52:18 Michelle’s Course: “The Bad-Ass Masterclass”

0:54:48 Fears that Michelle Carries to this Day

0:56:04 What’s Next for Michelle

0:57:59 The Challenges of Writing a Book

1:03:09 Actionable Goals & Building Habits

1:06:42 What’s Fun For Michelle

1:09:09 Did Something Ever Go Wrong Up in the Sky? (The Vulture Story)

1:19:42 Wrap Up & Conclusion

More on Michelle “Mace” Curran:

https://macecurran.com/ - Official Website

https://www.instagram.com/mace_curran - Instagram

https://www.amazon.com/Upside-Down-Dreams-Michelle-Curran/dp/1637970757/ - Michelle’s First Book, “Upside Down Dreams”

https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Your-Callsign-Michelle-Curran/dp/1637972091/ - Michelle’s BRAND NEW BOOK, “What’s Your Callsign?”

Ready to Dive Deeper?:

https://www.ryandusick.com/

BenBella Books Author Page - https://benbellabooks.com/authors/dusick-ryan/

Amazon Book Page - https://www.amazon.com/Harder-Breathe-Memoir-Finding-Recovery/dp/1637742339/

WWSG Speaker Page - https://wwsg.com/speakers/ryan-dusick/

Psychology Today Therapist Profile - https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/937599

Stay Up to Date on the Podcast: @hardertobreathepodcast

Follow Ryan on Social Media:

IG - @ryan_michael_dusick

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-dusick-ma-amft-26460894/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ryan.m.dusick

Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/RyanMichaelDusick/

X / Twitter - @DusickRyan

Follow Duck on Social Media:

IG - @Newyorkduck

X / Twitter - @DuckMaillard