In this episode of Brews & Banter, Frank and Roman sit down with a truly trailblazing guest: Jessica Cox, the world’s first airplane pilot certified to fly with her feet. Born without arms, Jessica has shattered expectations not only in aviation but also as the first armless black belt in the American Taekwondo Association, a surfer, and a scuba diver. In this conversation, we discuss: Defying Gravity: How Jessica flies a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C, a vintage plane uniquely suited for her piloting style, and her journey to earning a Guinness World Record.The Impossible Airplane: Jessica’s current mission to build an RV-10—a custom-controlled experimental plane—with the help of volunteers and the EAA Chapter 898 in Toms River, NJ.Overcoming Fear: How she manages fear in the cockpit and her philosophy that "disability does not mean inability".Life Without Hands: Jessica demonstrates how she handles everyday tasks—from driving a car to pouring a drink—with incredible dexterity using her feet. Join us for an awe-inspiring conversation about persistence, creativity, and disarming your limits.Links & Resources Mentioned:Support the Build: Help match donations for the RV-10 project at TheImpossibleAirplane.com/match.The Book: Check out Jessica’s book, Disarm Your Limits, available on Amazon and Audible.
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In this episode of Brews & Banter, Frank and Roman sit down with a truly trailblazing guest: Jessica Cox, the world’s first airplane pilot certified to fly with her feet. Born without arms, Jessica has shattered expectations not only in aviation but also as the first armless black belt in the American Taekwondo Association, a surfer, and a scuba diver. In this conversation, we discuss: Defying Gravity: How Jessica flies a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C, a vintage plane uniquely suited for her piloting style, and her journey to earning a Guinness World Record.The Impossible Airplane: Jessica’s current mission to build an RV-10—a custom-controlled experimental plane—with the help of volunteers and the EAA Chapter 898 in Toms River, NJ.Overcoming Fear: How she manages fear in the cockpit and her philosophy that "disability does not mean inability".Life Without Hands: Jessica demonstrates how she handles everyday tasks—from driving a car to pouring a drink—with incredible dexterity using her feet. Join us for an awe-inspiring conversation about persistence, creativity, and disarming your limits.Links & Resources Mentioned:Support the Build: Help match donations for the RV-10 project at TheImpossibleAirplane.com/match.The Book: Check out Jessica’s book, Disarm Your Limits, available on Amazon and Audible.
#156 From Runway to Raceway: Gabby Downing’s Shift from Models to Motors
Brews & Banter
50 minutes
1 month ago
#156 From Runway to Raceway: Gabby Downing’s Shift from Models to Motors
This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank throw back a few cold ones with Gabby Downing — former high-fashion model turned full-throttle car builder, drifter, and content creator. Gabby shares the raw, honest version of her journey: from the glam of the runway to the grease-under-the-nails reality of wrenching on a 1987 Honda CRX with her late dad’s old toolbox. We dive deep into what made her trade heels for hydraulic jacks — how fixing that first rust-bucket car sparked a passion for racing, building, and self-reliance. Gabby walks us through her car history (CRX, Subaru WRX, BMW, and now a 1999 C5 Corvette drift build), the struggles of being one of the few women in the garage/racing world, and how she taught herself everything from mechanical work to social-media branding. Between laughs, real talk, and a few beers, we get the story behind her motto: “Clarity, goals, and donuts” — a little formula she says helped her stay true to herself, chase her passion, and build a life she loves. If you love cars, second chances, or just badass authenticity — this episode hits different. Buckle up, hit play, and enjoy the ride. 🍻
Brews & Banter
In this episode of Brews & Banter, Frank and Roman sit down with a truly trailblazing guest: Jessica Cox, the world’s first airplane pilot certified to fly with her feet. Born without arms, Jessica has shattered expectations not only in aviation but also as the first armless black belt in the American Taekwondo Association, a surfer, and a scuba diver. In this conversation, we discuss: Defying Gravity: How Jessica flies a 1946 Ercoupe 415-C, a vintage plane uniquely suited for her piloting style, and her journey to earning a Guinness World Record.The Impossible Airplane: Jessica’s current mission to build an RV-10—a custom-controlled experimental plane—with the help of volunteers and the EAA Chapter 898 in Toms River, NJ.Overcoming Fear: How she manages fear in the cockpit and her philosophy that "disability does not mean inability".Life Without Hands: Jessica demonstrates how she handles everyday tasks—from driving a car to pouring a drink—with incredible dexterity using her feet. Join us for an awe-inspiring conversation about persistence, creativity, and disarming your limits.Links & Resources Mentioned:Support the Build: Help match donations for the RV-10 project at TheImpossibleAirplane.com/match.The Book: Check out Jessica’s book, Disarm Your Limits, available on Amazon and Audible.
