Breaking Sterile
A storytelling podcast about flight attendants working for a major American international airline. Professionalism is the baseline. Humanity is what actually gets us through the day. breakingsterile@breakingsterile.comOpinions are our own and do not reflect the views or endorsements of our employer. P.S. we love our day jobs!
Human Moments Above the Clouds: Care, Crew, and Courtesy at 35,000 Feet
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Matthew and Cody chat about life as flight attendants, airport food and prices, and memories from training, layovers, and passenger rifling through galley items. A medical incident involving sedative medication prompts a conversation about flight attendants as first responders and the emotional toll of handling onboard emergencies. Amid practical crew insights, the hosts share lighthearted travel anecdotes.
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From Whoppers to Wingtip: Narita, New Year & more Flight Attendant Confessions
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Cody recounts his unlikely aviation start at a Burger King in Anchorage and a repeat trip to Narita, touching on Chinese New Year in Japan, unexpected faith moments, and dealing with earthquakes. The episode also tackles flight attendant realities — radiation exposure, uniform complaints (I want sneakers), and airplane restroom etiquette.
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BREAKING STERILE THEME SONG!
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Here it is, the BREAKING STERILE THEME SONG! Yes, it was made with AI - (yes, we know, but we are also broke, and Matt had fun making it)...
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Palm Trees, Onsen Dreams & Friendly Boarding
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Matt and Cody return with warm laughs and aviation chatter. Cody shares highlights from the NGPA Industry Expo in Palm Springs and his excited steps toward becoming a pilot (sunglasses and flight bag optional). Matt fondly recalls his first Narita trip — wandering a beloved supermarket, soaking in an onsen, and surviving the joyful sensory overload of Don Quixote — plus the camaraderie of working a 12-hour international flight. They wrap up with a clear look at Southwest Airlines’ new seating policy and what it means for passengers. Tune in for travel dreams, good stories, and lighth...
Weight, Wellness & Wings
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Matt and Cody take off with a light, fast-paced episode covering fuel and passenger weight (including GLP‑1 effects), life on GLP‑1s, hydration and traveling with your own pillow, trash on planes, airline mergers, interesting airline call signs, passport stats, and what to wear when non‑revving. Expect crew anecdotes, and turbulence-free advice for passengers.
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Wide Bodies, Old Birds, and Early-Morning Van Chatter
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Cody and Matthew open with legacy carrier fleet updates and Matthew’s 737 MAX 10 sighting at Boeing Field, then discuss widebody versus narrow-body life — why Matthew feels “special” on widebodies and why tall Cody struggles on narrow-body aircraft. They share stories about the Boeing Museum and defunct airlines, laugh about Albuquerque→Phoenix distance surprises, praise the Flighty app for tracking oldest/newest planes, celebrate the joys of bidding, confess to becoming “slam-clickers,” and complain about relentless hotel‑to‑airport van chatter.
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Layovers, Latte Logic and New Beginnings
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Matthew and Cody gently unpack the quirks of in‑flight beverage service—how crews juggle hot drinks at altitude and the delightfully weird ways passengers order coffee. Matthew opens up about a tender career pivot from indie film casting director to flight attendant, while Cody shares a face‑palm interview outtake that might’ve cost him an airline invite and the tale of a baffling adults‑only party invite. Expect warm, candid stories, plenty of laughs, and thoughtful reflections on careers in the skies.
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Extended Cut – Headphones On, Awareness Off
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In this special extended episode of Breaking Sterile, we dig into passenger safety, earbuds vs. announcements, pets in the cabin, and the curious phenomenon of being invisible in uniform. It’s a longer ride, but worth it, as we talk through what it takes to keep flights safe, calm, and (mostly) sane while the world scrolls by.
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Safety and Hygine
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In this episode, Matthew and Cody talk safety, hygiene, and the things we wish everyone knew before boarding. From car seats and baby changing tables to lav etiquette and why shoes are always a good idea, we cover the basics with humor, honesty, and a little cabin-crew wisdom.
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Pilot Episode - Why We Fly and the Interview
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Why do we fly? In this pilot episode, flight attendants Matthew and Cody share why they became flight attendants and what it really takes to get hired at a major American international airline. From the flight attendant interview process and training to nerves, ambition, and first steps on the line, this episode explores how a career at altitude truly starts.
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Teaser
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Welcome to Breaking Sterile!
We met on day one of flight attendant training — and the rest is turbulence. In this teaser episode of BREAKING STERILE, we give a quick, hilarious look at that first day, the real training behind the smiles, and the winding paths that led us back to each other. Expect funny, raw moments and the start of the conversations that dig past announcements to the people who make them. P.S. the dog barking in the background is Noah — Matt’s Golden Retriever. Tune in for a tast...
