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Hosted by The Foundation for Aviation Safety · news · EN-US
In June of 2018, warning bells went off for Ed Pierson, a Senior Manager at Boeing's 737 Factory. The production environment he helped oversee was becoming increasingly chaotic, leading to worrisome lapses in quality and safety. Months later, when two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft crashed in separate incidents, killing over 300 people, Pierson took action as a whistleblower, determined to shed light on the potential role played by production defects. Today, as a leading safety advocate in aviation, Pierson continues to push Boeing and Federal authorities to fully investigate and fix the 737 MAX. Join him as he discusses the latest safety-related news; chats with a fascinating array of whistleblowers, safety experts, policymakers, and business leaders from around the globe; and explores how all of us can keep our communities safer by heeding our own warning bells.
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Contact path
Public web form
Booking probability
30%
Guest openness
Selective
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Signup to Generate a PitchIn June of 2018, warning bells went off for Ed Pierson, a Senior Manager at Boeing's 737 Factory. The production environment he helped oversee was becoming increasingly chaotic, leading to worrisome lapses in quality and safety.
Recent episodes include "Episode 33: Dirty Socks, The Airline Smell That Could Be Making You Sick" (14 July 2026, 76 minutes), "Episode 32 Part II: Air India 171 Crash Investigation - International Cover-up?" (6 May 2026, 56 minutes), and "Episode 32 Part I: Air India 171 Crash Investigation - International Cover-up?" (6 May 2026, 44 minutes).
Warning Bells publishes roughly every few months, with episodes averaging 56 minutes across 37 episodes.
Booking probability for Warning Bells is 30%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Warning Bells requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Warning Bells's contact route on record: public web form.
The strongest fits for Warning Bells are Aerospace. Warning Bells has a news audience.
Warning Bells is a news podcast with 37 episodes published.
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
Episode #33
While the airline industry dismisses strange cabin odors as harmless "dirty sock smells," the terrifying reality is that toxic fumes can leak straight into your lungs. This isn't a comfort issue, it's a chemical...
Episode #32
(Part 2 of 2) When 260 people died aboard Air India Flight 171 and on the ground, the world was given a simple explanation—but what if it’s not only wrong, but a deliberate effort to deflect the truth? In this two-part...
Episode #32
(Part 1 of 2) When 260 people died aboard Air India Flight 171 and on the ground, the world was given a simple explanation—but what if it’s not only wrong, but a deliberate effort to deflect the truth? In this two-part...
Episode #31
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171—a Boeing 787-8—went down just moments after takeoff. Within weeks, a preliminary report pointed the finger at the pilots, citing fuel cutoff switches that allegedly "transitioned"...
Episode #30
Join Ed and Joe on Warning Bells as they welcome Charles Hoefer for a chilling deep dive into a case that ties a brand-new RV factory to the illicit production of critical flight components, reveals troubling government...
Episode #29
The Boeing 737 MAX exposed a catastrophic failure in the U.S. aircraft certification system — two crashes, 347 lives lost, and a crisis of confidence that shook aviation to its core. The FAA promised reform. Instead...
Episode #28
In this episode of Warning Bells, Foundation for Aviation Safety’s Ed Pierson and Randy Klatt examine how leadership—or the lack of it—shapes aviation accident investigations. Drawing lessons from recent tragedies...
Episode #27
Join host Ed, Joe, and Randy as they sit down with Juan Browne—airline captain, Air Force veteran, and the voice behind the Blancolirio aviation channel—for an unfiltered conversation about transparency in aviation...
Episode #26
In this episode of Warning Bells, Ed Pierson welcomes Petter Hörnfeldt—better known as the Mentour Pilot—to discuss aviation safety, pilot trust, and the critical role of transparency in an evolving industry. Alongside...
Episode #25
Every day, millions of passengers board planes, trusting that someone, somewhere, is keeping them safe. But behind the polished image of commercial aviation lies a hidden, bureaucratic process—managed quietly by the FAA...
Episode #24
The FAA continues to fail in their oversight of Boeing’s manufacturing operations. Boeing whistleblowers have been complaining for years about the illegal removal of thousands of quality control inspections on...
Episode #23
The National Transportation Safety Board’s mission is making transportation safer. One of the ways the NTSB carries out this mission is by conducting objective, thorough investigations. The mission of the Department of...
Episode #22
What happens if a new or old airplane is found to have a defect, especially a dangerous defect that risks the safety of the airplane? As a passenger, when you purchase an airline ticket you understandably expect the...
Episode #21
Ok we admit it, no one will believe this story—but it is true. Why and how did Boeing remove thousands of quality control inspections on individual airplanes, before and after the two MAX crashes, without the FAA’s...
Episode #21
Ok we admit it, no one will believe this story—but it is true. Why and how did Boeing remove thousands of quality control inspections on individual airplanes, before and after the two MAX crashes, without the FAA’s...
Episode #20
The supply chain problems at Boeing are not limited to getting parts from thousands of suppliers delivered on-time. The problem is also the quality of some of the parts, and because Boeing routinely violates its own...
Episode #19
Join Ed as he welcomes Jessica Edwards Taggart, a former Boeing manufacturing and quality control employee, to the Warning Bells podcast. Jessica held several positions in manufacturing and quality over the course of...
Episode #18
Join Ed as he discusses the state of commercial aviation with legendary pilot Captain Sully Sullenberger and aerospace safety engineer Joe Jacobsen. The trio also delve into a wide range of topics from recent incidents...
Episode #17
Why are people fearful of bringing up bad news? Is it safe and worth it to speak up? Join Ed for a thoughtful discussion on workplace culture with author Stephen “Shed” Shedletzky. Shed is the author of SPEAK-UP CULTURE...
Episode #16
After the harrowing incident occurring on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, and the many developments that have followed since, Ed Pierson talks first person.
Recent guests on Warning Bells. Study who booked and why before you pitch.
Blancolirio
leadership speaker, coach and author of Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up, Shed Inspires
former club captain, Wycombe Wanderers
former Green Beret, 18 Delta medic, author of Beyond the Battlefield, president of Machine Mentality, American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA)
PitchCentric classifies Warning Bells under these industries. Guests from them are the closest fit, and each links to the best podcasts in that industry.
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