Episode 311 - Optimizing Flight with Neuroscience: Jamie Wood on Sleep, Focus & Burnout Prevention

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS , in partnership with Vertical Valor magazine . Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Hangar Z Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter! This special episode was originally recorded for the Vertical MRO Podcast. The information in the recording was so valuable, I felt the Hangar Z community needed to hear it. Ronnie Ries, a co-host of the Vertical MRO Podcast, and I, sit down with Jamie Wood, CEO and founder of the bio-technology platform Autonomic . Jamie is changing the way people think and learn about their brains. Through neuroscience-based products and cutting edge technologies, her mission is to elevate human potential by bringing personalized brain health solutions to the masses. Jamie’s work focuses on supporting driven individuals in high-demand environments that rely heavily on their cognitive abilities. This includes helicopter pilots, tactical flight officers, maintenance engineers, executives, leaders, employees, athletes, and students. Jamie is a speaker, mentor, brain performance expert, and researcher. Having bootstrapped her brain performance technology company and brought a scientifically proven cognitive enhancement solution to market, Jamie understands the unique demands placed upon the brains of highly driven individuals in high-performance environments. Jamie has worked with some of the most exciting up-and-coming leaders in tech, gaming, extraction, marketing, student organizations, and big data. Jamie has led groundbreaking research studies looking at brain health in high-stress environments using Mobile EEG, and sits on the cutting edge of brain health technology working alongside world leading neuroscientists. She has worked with over 100 founders and is a sought after speaker for Fortune 500 companies and top tech conferences including the Vertical MRO Conference. During the conversation we explore the critical role of cognitive performance in aviation maintenance and operations. Jamie shares her work with aviation maintenance colleges and organizations, where she has built effective programs to help address burnout and improve focus and mental sharpness. Together, we unpack how fatigue, hydration, nutrition, and sleep, directly affect safety and high performance in the hangar and beyond. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about human performance, aviation safety, and creating an environment that empowers teams to thrive. Thank you to our sponsors Canyon AeroConnect , Precision Aviation Group and Summit Aviation .