Safety Chats Podcast

Hosted by Todd Thomas and Anne Marie Sollazzo

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to Portside Safety Chats, a podcast for people responsible for keeping flight operations safe, compliant, and moving forward. Hosted by Todd Thomas and Anne Marie Sollazzo, each episode features practical conversations about safety management, reporting, and real-world challenges across aviation. Tune in for timely topics, thoughtful insight, and clear takeaways you can actually use, all in under 30 minutes.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 3, 2026Episode 514 min

The Safety Conversations Aviation Leaders Need to Hear

In this episode of Portside Safety Chats, the team recaps major themes from BASS 2026, including gaps in TCAS RA reporting, the importance of proactive safety data, and why accountable executives should attend safety conferences alongside their safety teams. Learn how leadership visibility, training, and engagement can directly influence SMS effectiveness and organizational safety culture.Contact Safety Chats Tweet us at @BaldwinAviationConnect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwin-aviation-safety-&-compliance/ Follow on Facebook @BaldwinSafety Email us at baldwin@portside.coLearn more about Safety Management System’s at www.BaldwinSMS.com Thanks for listening and stay safe!

May 5, 2026Episode 423 min

More Reports, More Insight: Unlocking the Power of ASAP

In this episode of the Portside Safety by Baldwin podcast, we explore why ASAP reporting is one of the most powerful and underused tools in aviation safety. The team discusses what low reporting really means, the barriers that prevent employees from speaking up, and how operators can build trust, simplify reporting, and turn insights into action. More reports don’t mean more problems; they mean better visibility into your operation.Contact Safety Chats Tweet us at @BaldwinAviationConnect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwin-aviation-safety-&-compliance/ Follow on Facebook @BaldwinSafety Email us at baldwin@portside.coLearn more about Safety Management System’s at www.BaldwinSMS.com Thanks for listening and stay safe!

March 30, 2026Episode 326 min

SMS Is a Team Sport: Culture, Communication, and Leadership in Aviation Safety

Meet Ryan Smith, Portside’s newest safety manager, as he shares his journey from the U.S. Air Force to civilian aviation. In this episode, the team explores why SMS is a team sport, how to build a strong safety culture, and practical ways to encourage reporting and trust across your organization.Contact Safety Chats Tweet us at @BaldwinAviationConnect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwin-aviation-safety-&-compliance/ Follow on Facebook @BaldwinSafety Email us at baldwin@portside.coLearn more about Safety Management System’s at www.BaldwinSMS.com Thanks for listening and stay safe!

March 2, 2026Episode 221 min

Safety Chats: SMS in the Maintenance World

Anne Marie Sollazzo sits down with Jermaine “Caddy” Cadogan, President of Convergent Performance and former U.S. Marine Corps aviation maintainer, to discuss Safety Management Systems (SMS) in the maintenance world. They explore why maintenance teams often experience cultural resistance to formal SMS tools, how risk is managed differently in the hangar versus the flight deck, and what leaders can do to create real buy-in. The conversation highlights practical integration, ownership, and the importance of designing SMS with maintainers, not just for them.Contact Safety Chats Tweet us at @BaldwinAviationConnect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwin-aviation-safety-&-compliance/ Follow on Facebook @BaldwinSafety Email us at baldwin@portside.coLearn more about Safety Management System’s at www.BaldwinSMS.com Thanks for listening and stay safe!

February 4, 2026Episode 118 min

Beyond the ERP Binder: Building Real Emergency Readiness

An Emergency Response Plan is more than a document - it’s a living system.In this episode of Safety Chats, Senior Safety Managers Anne Marie Sollazzo and Todd Thomas discuss what real emergency readiness looks like beyond the ERP binder. Drawing from real-world experience, they explore common gaps in emergency planning, the value of drills and lessons learned, and why preparation can’t wait until after everything else is built.Contact Safety Chats Tweet us at @BaldwinAviationConnect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwin-aviation-safety-&-compliance/ Follow on Facebook @BaldwinSafety Email us at baldwin@portside.coLearn more about Safety Management System’s at www.BaldwinSMS.com Thanks for listening and stay safe!

November 7, 2024Episode 513 min

Navigating the Unpredictable: Why Complex Systems Defy Prediction

In this episode, Jason Starke explores the unpredictability of complex systems, using the example of raising children. Drawing on insights from John Gall’s System Antics, he challenges the concept of “predictive safety” in aviation, emphasizing that while we can’t fully predict complex systems, monitoring risk controls can help identify issues early. This discussion encourages safety practitioners to measure effectiveness for continuous improvement in organizational safety.Contact Safety Chats Tweet us at @BaldwinAviationConnect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwin-aviation-safety-&-compliance/ Follow on Facebook @BaldwinSafety Email us at baldwin@portside.coLearn more about Safety Management System’s at www.BaldwinSMS.com Thanks for listening and stay safe!

October 29, 2024Episode 419 min

Is Safety Culture Measurable Without Surveys?

Jason Starke explores an intriguing question: Is it possible to measure an organization’s safety culture without relying on a formal survey? Jason shares insights and practical observations from his experience and proposes key indicators to gauge safety culture effectively. Tune in to learn more about the impact of leadership engagement, the physical environment, and communication practices on organizational culture, along with how these elements can reveal the strength of a safety culture.Contact Safety Chats Tweet us at @BaldwinAviationConnect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwin-aviation-safety-&-compliance/ Follow on Facebook @BaldwinSafety Email us at baldwin@portside.coLearn more about Safety Management System’s at www.BaldwinSMS.com Thanks for listening and stay safe!

October 17, 2024Episode 319 min

Beyond the Numbers: Statistics That Drive Safety

Jason Starke dives into the world of statistics and how it plays a vital role in safety management. Whether it's understanding standard deviations, running t-tests, or using correlation coefficients, Jason breaks down complex concepts into practical, real-world applications for safety managers. You'll learn how to make sense of data, set meaningful alert levels, and turn statistical analysis into actionable safety insights. Contact Safety Chats Tweet us at @BaldwinAviationConnect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwin-aviation-safety-&-compliance/ Follow on Facebook @BaldwinSafety Email us at baldwin@portside.coLearn more about Safety Management System’s at www.BaldwinSMS.com Thanks for listening and stay safe!

October 8, 2024Episode 212 min

The Leadership Trap: How Over-Commitment Can Harm Safety

In this episode, Jason dives into a topic inspired by an article about Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior. He explores how a strong commitment to an organization can sometimes lead to unintended consequences—specifically, actions that may be unethical or unsafe, all in the name of benefiting the organization. Jason breaks down the differences between strong organizational citizenship and safety citizenship, urging leaders to foster safety-oriented behaviors.Contact Safety Chats Tweet us at @BaldwinAviationConnect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwin-aviation-safety-&-compliance/ Follow on Facebook @BaldwinSafety Email us at baldwin@portside.coLearn more about Safety Management System’s at www.BaldwinSMS.com Thanks for listening and stay safe!

October 2, 2024Episode 113 min

Hazards vs. Risk: The Power of Semantics in Aviation Safety

In this episode of the Safety Chat Podcast, Jason delves into the critical importance of semantics in aviation safety, particularly focusing on the distinction between "hazards" and "risk." He explains how words like these, though often used interchangeably, carry specific meanings that are vital to understanding and improving safety management systems.Contact Safety Chats Tweet us at @BaldwinAviationConnect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/baldwin-aviation-safety-&-compliance/ Follow on Facebook @BaldwinSafety Email us at baldwin@portside.coLearn more about Safety Management System’s at www.BaldwinSMS.com Thanks for listening and stay safe!