1. It seems as though
the communication issuesCopy !req
2. between first officers and captains
in regards to assertivenessCopy !req
3. is possibly the number one
contributing factorCopy !req
4. to commercial airline crashes
in history.Copy !req
5. And it has not been solved.
And there have been steps made by...Copy !req
6. John in his work over the years
and others in the industry.Copy !req
7. However, both of us feel
that the solutionsCopy !req
8. and current pilot training
are far from sufficient.Copy !req
9. Would you agree?Copy !req
10. You could— Why don't you say
that the training could be improved?Copy !req
11. The training could be improved
because right now, it's terrible.Copy !req
12. - No, I wouldn't go that far.
- Okay.Copy !req
13. There is a void
in some training programs...Copy !req
14. - You said it was bad.
- It is bad.Copy !req
15. - The outcome is bad.
- It's bad.Copy !req
16. All right, so this needs
to be better scriptedCopy !req
17. on the point of what the problem is,
a possible solution,Copy !req
18. and asking for the committee toCopy !req
19. request the FAA
to conduct a research project...Copy !req
20. Ever since I began this mission
to help stop planes from crashing,Copy !req
21. I've always known that all roads
would lead to Washington, D.C.Copy !req
22. So, I had been rehearsing
my approach with actorsCopy !req
23. who had done in-depth research
into every lawmakerCopy !req
24. on the Congressional Aviation
Subcommittee.Copy !req
25. Getting this issue on their radar
was the best shot I hadCopy !req
26. at effecting real change.Copy !req
27. And that's why we need the help
of this committee...Copy !req
28. - Yes.
- ... and of this Congress...Copy !req
29. - Yes.
- ... to try to drive the FAACopy !req
30. towards the research, and...Copy !req
31. Because if you do nothing,
people will die.Copy !req
32. - Right?
- That's correct.Copy !req
33. Months ago, I learned
that Warner Bros. Discovery,Copy !req
34. the parent company of HBO,
has a special department of lobbyistsCopy !req
35. that have sway with politicians
in Washington.Copy !req
36. I was put in touch with them,
and their lobbyist saidCopy !req
37. that he would reach out to the chair
of the Aviation Subcommittee,Copy !req
38. this man, Louisiana Congressman,
Garret Graves,Copy !req
39. to see if he would meet with me.Copy !req
40. Here's my problem, Mr. Fielder.Copy !req
41. It's the money.Copy !req
42. But my theory on how
this cockpit communication issueCopy !req
43. could be solved was proving
difficult to explain.Copy !req
44. I think we all struggle with things
from time to timeCopy !req
45. where it's hard for us
to be the peopleCopy !req
46. we ideally want to be
in every situation.Copy !req
47. And the social pressures
are on everyone, including pilots.Copy !req
48. I shared the story of how
a real co-pilot like ColinCopy !req
49. was able to overcome
his fear of social consequences,Copy !req
50. and ask his crush for a kissCopy !req
51. just because I gave him
a scene descriptionCopy !req
52. and told him he was now playing
a character instead of himself.Copy !req
53. All this takes
is a document being sentCopy !req
54. to captains and first officers
before the flight.Copy !req
55. So, if there was an acknowledgment
between the two pilotsCopy !req
56. that they were in a scene together,
they'd be able to lean on that factCopy !req
57. in the aftermath of speaking up
or being too assertiveCopy !req
58. or taking the controls.Copy !req
59. "Oh, I was just playing the character
that the FAA told me to play."Copy !req
60. Is that...Copy !req
61. Yes, and put that
into aviation speak,Copy !req
62. CRM, Cockpit Resource Management.Copy !req
63. This takes it a step
and a half further.Copy !req
64. This is better, is what we're saying.Copy !req
65. Okay. So, we've looked at it.Copy !req
66. Nathan has invested
a lot of his own time and money,Copy !req
67. - and we've brought it—
- Well, not my own money, but...Copy !req
68. - The network's money, yes.
- We've brought it to this point.Copy !req
69. We've brought it to this point.Copy !req
70. But I knew it would be hard
to overcomeCopy !req
71. the committee's skepticismCopy !req
72. when the only evidence
of this working was footageCopy !req
73. of a co-pilot kissing his crush
on the cheek,Copy !req
74. and not even going for the mouth.Copy !req
75. You're gonna have
to forgive me, Mr. Fielder.Copy !req
76. I'm not following.Copy !req
77. You're saying you want pilots
to kiss each other?Copy !req
78. They're— No, it's— No—Copy !req
79. Pilots are not gonna be
kissing each other,Copy !req
80. so don't get hung up
on the kiss thing.Copy !req
81. That's just to demonstrate...Copy !req
82. It's not about the kiss,
it's about the change in behavior.Copy !req
83. John had warned me
that my background as a comedianCopy !req
84. - might be my biggest liability.
- So, they're gonna challenge you.Copy !req
85. So, that's why you need
to do your homework.Copy !req
86. Challenge me how?Copy !req
87. Also, Mr. Fielder, where does
your sense of altruism come from,Copy !req
88. where all of a sudden
you wanna save lives?Copy !req
89. You're known for pranking,
for causing pranks.Copy !req
90. I don't know what you're talking
about with this prank stuff.Copy !req
91. - I really don't. I think...
- Well, that's what you doCopy !req
92. - for a living as an actor, isn't it?
- Excuse me, sir.Copy !req
93. I think you have
a misunderstanding of my work.Copy !req
94. If we were before
a real committee in Congress,Copy !req
95. you would've been thrown out already.Copy !req
96. So we're gonna be front—
we're gonna go before...Copy !req
97. - Okay. Yeah, I—
- ... the American public,Copy !req
98. and you don't want it
to look like a jokeCopy !req
99. if you wanna deliver a good program.
And this is... It's...Copy !req
100. I began studying footage
of other comediansCopy !req
101. who went before Congress
to discuss serious issues.Copy !req
102. Now we'll turn to Mr. Seth Rogen.Copy !req
103. Mr. Rogen, welcome.
And please proceed.Copy !req
104. And to my surprise,Copy !req
105. they often began by trying
to make everyone laugh.Copy !req
106. First, I should answer the question
I assume many of you are asking.Copy !req
107. Yes, I'm aware this has nothing to doCopy !req
108. with the legalization of marijuana.Copy !req
109. As evidence, I would like
to submit a video of my colonoscopyCopy !req
110. into the congressional record.Copy !req
111. And I would like to thank
Ranking Member Patrick McHenryCopy !req
112. for taking the time
to Google who I am.Copy !req
113. But I started to realize
this might be a strategy.Copy !req
114. Everyone expects a comedian
to be funny.Copy !req
115. So, by getting a joke
out of the way early on,Copy !req
116. it allows people
to take the serious stuff seriously.Copy !req
117. There is no way to prevent, cure,Copy !req
118. or even slow the progression
of Alzheimer's disease.Copy !req
119. Maybe this is what I was missing.Copy !req
120. Thank you so much
for having me, Mr. Chairman,Copy !req
121. Ranking Member.
It's an honor to be hereCopy !req
122. in front
of the Aviation Subcommittee.Copy !req
123. You know, the last time
I had to answerCopy !req
124. to a transportation authorityCopy !req
125. was when I got caught masturbating
on that bus.Copy !req
126. But in my defense,Copy !req
127. the driver did keep telling me
to "get off," so...Copy !req
128. All right, well,
that was just a little jokeCopy !req
129. to, you know, lighten the mood there.Copy !req
130. And now we're gonna...
In all seriousness,Copy !req
131. I do wanna speak about
an issue that's become...Copy !req
132. deeply important to me,
which is aviation safety.Copy !req
133. But I instantly realized something
was wrong with this rehearsalCopy !req
134. when no one in the room laughed.Copy !req
135. Hey, I was just wondering,
did you find that joke funny?Copy !req
136. - Absolutely.
- The bus joke?Copy !req
137. - I love that bus joke.
- Oh, yeah? Okay.Copy !req
138. Cool. 'Cause I noticed
you didn't laugh.Copy !req
139. - I didn't know.
- What?Copy !req
140. - I didn't know.
- Didn't know what?Copy !req
141. If I was supposed to laugh.Copy !req
142. I mean, you're not supposed to laugh.Copy !req
143. I mean, you're not supposed
to do anything.Copy !req
144. You're just supposed
to act like a human, you know?Copy !req
145. - Okay, cool.
- So, if you find something funny,Copy !req
146. - then— then laugh, yeah.
- Just go for it.Copy !req
147. - Okay, awesome.
- If you find it funny.Copy !req
148. - Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, yeah.
- Okay, cool. Thank you so much.Copy !req
149. Thank you.
I'm sorry, what was your name?Copy !req
150. - Nathan.
- Troy.Copy !req
151. - Troy. Thank you, yeah.
- Thank you.Copy !req
152. - Thanks, Troy. Okay.
- Thank you.Copy !req
153. Hey, everyone. Just a little reminder
in case there's any confusion.Copy !req
154. We're all playing
like human beings, right?Copy !req
155. So, if you as a human
find something funny,Copy !req
156. it's okay to laugh.
However, your version of a human.Copy !req
157. So, just... Yeah. Got it?Copy !req
158. Okay. Good.Copy !req
159. The last time I had to answer
to a transportation authorityCopy !req
160. is when I got caught masturbating
on that bus.Copy !req
161. But in my defense,Copy !req
162. the driver did keep telling me
to "get off."Copy !req
163. Okay. Good, good.Copy !req
164. I just don't want anyone
to force a laugh.Copy !req
165. So, if your, you know,Copy !req
166. if your body
naturally wants to laugh,Copy !req
167. just make the sound
that that would make.Copy !req
168. But the fake laughs
aren't really helpfulCopy !req
169. 'cause I'm trying to figure out
what works and what doesn't.Copy !req
170. Let's go one more time. Yeah.Copy !req
171. But before I could
fully figure things out,Copy !req
172. I got an email
from the Warner Bros. Lobbyists,Copy !req
173. saying that
Congressman Graves's officeCopy !req
174. declined a meeting with me,Copy !req
175. stating, "They didn't think
it was the right fit for them."Copy !req
176. I started to wonder
if they Googled me.Copy !req
177. Because if they did,Copy !req
178. all they would have discoveredCopy !req
179. is nothing but a man acting
like a complete fool.Copy !req
180. Every public opportunity
I've had in my lifeCopy !req
181. to convey sincerity,
I instead turned into a joke.Copy !req
182. Is this a new look
that you're— you have?Copy !req
183. It's just me.Copy !req
184. I couldn't help myself.Copy !req
185. And now, when lives were on the line,
it was coming back to haunt me.Copy !req
186. But as I kept searching GoogleCopy !req
187. for any trace of something serious
about myself,Copy !req
188. I stumbled upon
an article someone wroteCopy !req
189. about how this show, The Rehearsal,Copy !req
190. reflected their experience
with autism.Copy !req
191. It was an odd perspectiveCopy !req
192. since this show
had nothing to do with autism.Copy !req
193. But as I kept Googling,
I realized it was everywhere.Copy !req
194. This show seemed to be embraced
by a specific groupCopy !req
195. that I didn't know anything about.Copy !req
196. But most interestingly,Copy !req
197. this group appeared
to take me seriously.Copy !req
198. They found the show
to be a rare representationCopy !req
199. of the way they think,
even though that was never my intent.Copy !req
200. Aside from Graves,
the lobbyists told me there was onlyCopy !req
201. one other Congressperson
on the committeeCopy !req
202. that could grant me access
to a hearing.Copy !req
203. Complacency is a luxury
we cannot affordCopy !req
204. when it comes to aviation safety.Copy !req
205. The committee's Ranking Member,
Tennessee Congressman, Steve Cohen.Copy !req
206. And when I looked him up,
I discoveredCopy !req
207. that he happened to be a member
of the Congressional Autism Caucus.Copy !req
208. And as an autism advocate,Copy !req
209. he had been pushing legislation
in support of several groupsCopy !req
210. in that community.Copy !req
211. I wasn't known
as an aviation authority,Copy !req
212. but maybe by mistake,
I was an autism authority.Copy !req
213. Could this be my pathCopy !req
214. to getting taken seriously
in Washington?Copy !req
215. To becoming a man
who touches othersCopy !req
216. on a deeper level?Copy !req
217. A man who is seen
as an inspiration to humanityCopy !req
218. and not just a punchline?Copy !req
219. So, to find out how
to better speak on the issue,Copy !req
220. I arranged a meeting
with Dr. Doreen GranpeeshehCopy !req
221. from the Center for Autism
and Related Disorders.Copy !req
222. Everything from understanding
someone else's perspectiveCopy !req
223. - to telling a joke to—
- You teach that?Copy !req
224. We teach all of that.Copy !req
225. That's why Rehearsal
is so amazing to watchCopy !req
226. because that's what we do.Copy !req
227. We practice things that we knowCopy !req
228. are going to be
very socially difficult for them.Copy !req
229. Yeah, it's interesting
how the show resonatedCopy !req
230. with this group specifically
because you know, as humans,Copy !req
231. you know, I feel like it's just how
our brains work, right?Copy !req
232. We all wish we could practice
for our lives, you know?Copy !req
233. It's universal.Copy !req
234. To a large extent, yes.Copy !req
235. I mean, not everyone thinks
of every possible thing.Copy !req
236. - Right.
- But I guess what you're doingCopy !req
237. in The Rehearsal is so important
for everyone elseCopy !req
238. to know what it's like
to have autism.Copy !req
239. Right? A lot of times people assume
that if you're autistic,Copy !req
240. you have a lot of very severe issues.Copy !req
241. But there are people
who are diagnosed as autisticCopy !req
242. who are only just tryingCopy !req
243. - to fit in socially—
- And everyoneCopy !req
244. - has trouble with that. It seems.
- Everyone has that.Copy !req
245. This is what's so unique
about the show,Copy !req
246. is that you took it
to a whole different level. You know?Copy !req
247. - Right.
- And I think it's really niceCopy !req
248. to highlightCopy !req
249. for the neurotypical population,Copy !req
250. "Hey, this person
could also be autistic."Copy !req
251. - Right.
- You know.Copy !req
252. And you wouldn't know it necessarily,
because they've learned over timeCopy !req
253. to do all the things
they have to do to fit in.Copy !req
254. Or it could be,
they could not be autistic,Copy !req
255. and just like all of us wanna,Copy !req
256. you know, practice
for a life situation.Copy !req
257. Definitely also true.Copy !req
258. To give me a better sense
of how this group thinks,Copy !req
259. she showed me a demonstration
to explainCopy !req
260. how an autistic person's brain
differs from the rest of us.Copy !req
261. This is a test called,
"Reading the Mind in the Eyes."Copy !req
262. And this is a very well-known,
and valid, reputable test.Copy !req
263. And it asks the question,
"How do you think these eyes feel?"Copy !req
264. - Or, "What is the person thinking?"
- Okay.Copy !req
265. And autistic people
have a very hard timeCopy !req
266. figuring out
what someone else is thinking.Copy !req
267. Okay. All right.Copy !req
268. So, how would you rate these eyes?Copy !req
269. As playful, comforting,
irritated, or bored?Copy !req
270. Okay, yeah.Copy !req
271. Yeah, definitely...Copy !req
272. comforting, or...Copy !req
273. - Yeah. Or bored.
- Comforting...Copy !req
274. Bored or comforting.Copy !req
275. Or maybe playful?Copy !req
276. - But—
- Is it—Copy !req
277. - Yeah.
- Let's put one and see what happens.Copy !req
278. - We'll put comforting.
- Yeah.Copy !req
279. - Oh, okay.
- Playful.Copy !req
280. Playful? All right. Yeah, so...Copy !req
281. I see, yeah. I guess it's...Copy !req
282. Next one.Copy !req
283. Which word describes
what they're thinking and feeling?Copy !req
284. Oh, yeah. The images
are pretty low-res, huh?Copy !req
285. - It's a difficult one.
- Yeah, yeah. Just cause they're—Copy !req
286. Terrified, arrogant,
annoyed, or upset.Copy !req
287. Right.Copy !req
288. Okay, yeah.
So I think I get it, yeah.Copy !req
289. - Which one would you choose?
- So, you're saying these peopleCopy !req
290. have trouble with this,
you're saying? That's the point...Copy !req
291. - Yes, that's right.
- ... you're trying to make?Copy !req
292. Okay, well, that makes sense.
Yeah. I don't know. It looks—Copy !req
293. Yeah. Choose what you think on this one.Copy !req
294. Yeah. Terrified, maybe. It looks— Yeah.Copy !req
295. Yeah, okay. So, upset. All right.Copy !req
296. - I get it.
- But this is a very difficult testCopy !req
297. - 'cause it's very, very subtle.
- Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure.Copy !req
298. And even, like, we would disagreeCopy !req
299. - perhaps on this.
- Right.Copy !req
300. All right, cool. Yeah.
Was there anything else with thisCopy !req
301. - you wanted to show me or... Okay.
- Nope. That's it.Copy !req
302. I felt like I got
the gist of this autism stuff.Copy !req
303. So, it was time
to tell Dr. GranpeeshehCopy !req
304. the real reason I was here.Copy !req
305. Just to be fully candid,Copy !req
306. I'm trying to get in
with this lawmakerCopy !req
307. who is a supporter
of autism awareness.Copy !req
308. - Great.
- And...Copy !req
309. You know, since I'm sort of like...Copy !req
310. a "thought leader" maybe in this... area.Copy !req
311. I don't know if you—
That's not the term I would use.Copy !req
312. - But would you use that term for me?
- Yes.Copy !req
313. - Yes.
- Like a thought leader justCopy !req
314. - because of the show and stuff?
- Yes.Copy !req
315. So, I was wondering if there was anyCopy !req
316. maybe opportunity for, like,
an official relationship.Copy !req
317. 'Cause that I think might help me...Copy !req
318. - have some credibility with him.
- Right.Copy !req
319. He'd be like, "Oh, you're—
Whoa. That's legit." Or whatever.Copy !req
320. I told Dr. Granpeesheh more
about my primary goal this seasonCopy !req
321. with aviation safety.Copy !req
322. It's related to, like,
their communicationCopy !req
323. - in the cockpit.
- Okay.Copy !req
324. But we built this whole airport.Copy !req
325. That's amazing.Copy !req
326. But when I described
the types of rehearsalsCopy !req
327. we were doing with pilots,
she got excited.Copy !req
328. We have to actually practice
quite a bit with our kidsCopy !req
329. in order for them
to be able to smoothlyCopy !req
330. go through an airport experience.Copy !req
331. - Oh, really?
- Because the soundCopy !req
332. in airports is really loud,Copy !req
333. and they have to go
through the security line,Copy !req
334. and all of that is very, very scary
for a child with autism.Copy !req
335. Oh, okay.Copy !req
336. But a set like this
would obviously be incredible.Copy !req
337. To use with the—Copy !req
338. To practice.
To rehearse with our children.Copy !req
339. So, that when they go
on their actual flight...Copy !req
340. Right.Copy !req
341. they're good.
And they can handle it.Copy !req
342. Right, yeah.Copy !req
343. I just sort of—
I made a commitment to myselfCopy !req
344. we weren't gonna use any kids
in the rehearsals this season.Copy !req
345. - Yeah.
- Oh, right.Copy !req
346. Some people were a little... Yeah.Copy !req
347. Just from...Copy !req
348. - The previous show?
- ... what happened last season. Yeah.Copy !req
349. - Yeah.
- But...Copy !req
350. I thought you took pretty good care
of the child actors.Copy !req
351. You as the kind of "acting parent"
in that role.Copy !req
352. With our parents,
like, if you have a parent,Copy !req
353. if I have a parent that I see
who definitely has autism themselves,Copy !req
354. sometimes the parents
have a very hard timeCopy !req
355. figuring out what their kids need.Copy !req
356. You know, just like that episode,
the last episode.Copy !req
357. Like, they can't really understand
their emotions,Copy !req
358. the emotions of their own children.Copy !req
359. And that leads to a lot of issues
for their kids.Copy !req
360. But at the same time, I feel like
you did a great job, honestly.Copy !req
361. Because you provided
that level of attachmentCopy !req
362. that made him feel like
he could call you "Daddy."Copy !req
363. You know? Look at that side of it.Copy !req
364. Okay.Copy !req
365. Well, maybe I could try it out.
See how it goes.Copy !req
366. Come on in.Copy !req
367. This looks— Oh, wow. This—Copy !req
368. The world can be a scary place
in ways not all of us can easily see.Copy !req
369. My name is Kai. I'm a kid,
and I'm ten years old.Copy !req
370. Excellent, Kai.
It's very nice to meet you.Copy !req
371. I've never been to Colorado.Copy !req
372. You've never been to Colorado?Copy !req
373. And I guess for some people,Copy !req
374. rehearsing is a way of coping
with all that.Copy !req
375. How are you feeling?Copy !req
376. - I'm happy.
- You're happy?Copy !req
377. Okay, good. Good.Copy !req
378. Without a rehearsal,
life can be a struggle.Copy !req
379. I left a package for you with Sam.Copy !req
380. - Oh, what's in the package?
- Invitation to the board,Copy !req
381. - invitation to the honoree event.
- Oh, great. Okay.Copy !req
382. - Okay.
- Yeah.Copy !req
383. As the newest board memberCopy !req
384. of the Center for Autism
and Related Disorders...Copy !req
385. - Nathan's Airport!
- Nathan's Airport!Copy !req
386. I was able to secure a meeting
with Congressman Cohen.Copy !req
387. This was my one shot to get in front
of the Aviation Subcommittee.Copy !req
388. So, you'd think that
for a conversation so important,Copy !req
389. I wouldn't dare go into it
without a thorough rehearsal.Copy !req
390. But it might surprise you to learn
that for someone like me,Copy !req
391. rehearsing actually isn't essential.Copy !req
392. I like to do it,
but it's not something I need to do.Copy !req
393. It's more of an exercise. A bonus.Copy !req
394. Like a fun, helpful tool.Copy !req
395. That's why I'm going
into this meeting completely cold.Copy !req
396. I can function just fine
without rehearsing.Copy !req
397. - Hi.
- Hi.Copy !req
398. - You are Nathan.
- I'm Nathan.Copy !req
399. - I'm Steve.
- Steve.Copy !req
400. Pleasure. Honor to meet you.
Thank you for having me.Copy !req
401. - Where are you from?
- Vancouver, Canada.Copy !req
402. Oh, I love Vancouver.Copy !req
403. - Yeah.
- What a great town.Copy !req
404. - I went there...
- Thank you.Copy !req
405. probably back
in about 30 years ago.Copy !req
406. And I forget the places I stayed,
but it was just delightful.Copy !req
407. There was one place
that was up where they—Copy !req
408. It's the eagles, and lots of wind,
and whales and...Copy !req
409. The whole Alaska experience.Copy !req
410. - Yeah.
- Yeah.Copy !req
411. Well, it's an honor to meet you,Copy !req
412. and... and...Copy !req
413. you know, thank you, I wanna say,Copy !req
414. for all your contributions
and advocacyCopy !req
415. for the autism community.Copy !req
416. Yeah. It's become more
and more awareCopy !req
417. for more people
about how many people have itCopy !req
418. and the problems they have
in navigating society.Copy !req
419. And you're also
on the Aviation Subcommittee,Copy !req
420. I understand.Copy !req
421. Yes, I'm the Ranking Member
of the Aviation SubcommitteeCopy !req
422. on Transportation.Copy !req
423. And I've been on Transportation
for 18 years now.Copy !req
424. Eighteen years? Wow.Copy !req
425. And through— through my—
through my...Copy !req
426. You know, in my time in aviation,
I've actually learned and realizedCopy !req
427. that there's a connection
between autism and aviationCopy !req
428. - that I'd love to, um, kind of—
- Share.Copy !req
429. Share, yeah.
Tell you a little more about...Copy !req
430. - Please.
- ... the stuff I've discovered.Copy !req
431. Okay. So...Copy !req
432. Now, I know these
are some of the reportsCopy !req
433. you guys normally—Copy !req
434. These are like crash
investigation reports, right?Copy !req
435. I got Representative Cohen
up to speedCopy !req
436. on the problem I had discovered.Copy !req
437. This dynamic between captains
and first officers is one of—Copy !req
438. maybe the leading cause
of commercial airline crashesCopy !req
439. in history.Copy !req
440. It's not the sole cause of the crash,
but had someone asserted themselves,Copy !req
441. the plane might not have gone down.Copy !req
442. I wondered where that went to.Copy !req
443. - What?
- Autism...Copy !req
444. - Pilots.
- Well...Copy !req
445. I guess it was sort of a transition, but—Copy !req
446. - It was a transition, yes, yes.
- Just because—Copy !req
447. But there's an interesting connectionCopy !req
448. with autism
because people with autism,Copy !req
449. or those living struggle sometimes
in interaction.Copy !req
450. And...Copy !req
451. Sorry, I had this all thought out.Copy !req
452. Hold on.Copy !req
453. One sec.Copy !req
454. Okay. Are you familiar with a termCopy !req
455. in the autism community
called "Masking"?Copy !req
456. No.Copy !req
457. "People with autism
sometimes use maskingCopy !req
458. to avoid being judged
rather than showingCopy !req
459. what they're feeling inside."Copy !req
460. "They avoid expressing thingsCopy !req
461. because they don't wanna
rock the boat socially."Copy !req
462. - You understand?
- Yeah.Copy !req
463. Okay. Sorry, I... This is like...Copy !req
464. I feel like it's less engaging
when I'm reading, but...Copy !req
465. - Okay.
- I usually do things off the cuff,Copy !req
466. - but reading is good.
- Okay.Copy !req
467. "It's been proven that
when non-autistic peopleCopy !req
468. know someone is autistic,Copy !req
469. they tend to judge them
less harshly."Copy !req
470. "And that knowledge allows
the person with autismCopy !req
471. to drop their mask
and to be themselves."Copy !req
472. "And that's because
they now have permissionCopy !req
473. to play a different character,Copy !req
474. a character who is actually closer
to who they really are."Copy !req
475. "I've discovered that pilots
do a form of maskingCopy !req
476. of their own where they're afraidCopy !req
477. to show their true selves
to each otherCopy !req
478. during critical moments of flight."Copy !req
479. Does that make sense?Copy !req
480. It's kind of convoluted, but I'll take it.Copy !req
481. So, let me just—Copy !req
482. "Here you'll see two real pilots,
a captain and first officerCopy !req
483. who both work for Southwest Airlines,
demonstrating how this would work."Copy !req
484. And Southwest isn't affiliated
with this, by the way.Copy !req
485. They're just helping me
on their spare time.Copy !req
486. Okay.Copy !req
487. "When the pilots arrive
for their flight,Copy !req
488. along with
their pre-flight bulletins,Copy !req
489. they're each digitally sent
a one-page documentCopy !req
490. with a character description,Copy !req
491. and two short lines of dialogue
to memorize each."Copy !req
492. "The pilots will be assigned
one of two characters."Copy !req
493. "The first officer is assigned
the role of 'First Officer Blunt.'"Copy !req
494. "First Officer Blunt is a pilot
who loves speaking up."Copy !req
495. "He's honest, almost to a fault,Copy !req
496. and not afraid to take over
the controls if necessary."Copy !req
497. "And most importantly,
he's a great pilot."Copy !req
498. "The captain of the flightCopy !req
499. is assigned the role
of 'Captain Allears.'"Copy !req
500. "Captain Allears loves feedback,Copy !req
501. and is not afraid to admit
when he's wrong."Copy !req
502. Now, Blunt is the captainCopy !req
503. - or the first—
- First officer.Copy !req
504. He's the first guy.
And Allears is the other guy.Copy !req
505. - Allears is—
- So, it's a perfect world,Copy !req
506. - 'cause the captain's got all ears.
- Yes.Copy !req
507. - I gotcha.
- It's— Yeah.Copy !req
508. "The pilots will use their time
in the pilot's lounge,Copy !req
509. where they currently do nothing,Copy !req
510. to engage
in a short scripted introductionCopy !req
511. that serves
to both get them into characterCopy !req
512. and confirm to each otherCopy !req
513. that they've each read
their character brief."Copy !req
514. Hey, good to meet you. I'm Blunt.Copy !req
515. I'm Allears.Copy !req
516. Can I ask you,
how does my uniform look?Copy !req
517. Looks a little tight, to be honest.Copy !req
518. I'm glad you mentioned that.
Thanks for telling me.Copy !req
519. "But those lines are it."Copy !req
520. "And they can just go back
to flying as themselves,Copy !req
521. but now, they have the excuse
of these charactersCopy !req
522. to take actions
that would normally beCopy !req
523. socially challenging for them."Copy !req
524. - Does that make sense?
- Yeah.Copy !req
525. "And through our experimentation,Copy !req
526. we found that pilots end up
actually bondingCopy !req
527. over how silly it all is..."Copy !req
528. If I come across strong,
that's— you know why.Copy !req
529. - I'll keep that in mind.
- Yeah.Copy !req
530. "... which actually improves
communication between them,Copy !req
531. and reduces tension
during simulated emergencies."Copy !req
532. We gonna deviate
from this storm up here?Copy !req
533. I think we can punch
through those clouds.Copy !req
534. I don't know, man.
That's a pretty fat storm.Copy !req
535. I'm just gonna— I'm just gonna go.Copy !req
536. You know what?
I'll take us around.Copy !req
537. - I have the aircraft.
- Really?Copy !req
538. I'm gonna deviate over to the right.Copy !req
539. That— Okay.Copy !req
540. Yeah, I'm a little blunt.Copy !req
541. I know that it was a little abrupt
the way I took it from you,Copy !req
542. - but you know me.
- Okay. Yeah, yeah.Copy !req
543. You see how he referenced
the character there,Copy !req
544. and it sort of eased the tension.Copy !req
545. I'm just kind of
a blunt guy sometimes.Copy !req
546. We gotta make sure
we get around this weather. You know?Copy !req
547. I like the feedback.Copy !req
548. - I like it. Thanks.
- Yeah.Copy !req
549. "With this, ego, fear, and judgment
all vanish from the cockpit."Copy !req
550. "It's an elegant, simple solution
that's easy to implement."Copy !req
551. "And for the first time,Copy !req
552. pilots can be free
to be who they want to be,Copy !req
553. and who they really are."Copy !req
554. So, let me speak before
the Aviation Subcommittee.Copy !req
555. You can see I've done the work.Copy !req
556. Let's get this on everyone's radar,
and, you know—Copy !req
557. And let's work together
to solve— save some lives.Copy !req
558. What do you think?Copy !req
559. You know...
Something to be considered.Copy !req
560. But I think that the pilots,
you know, the airlinesCopy !req
561. could be encouraged
to have a better relationshipCopy !req
562. between the pilot and the co-pilot,
and that would be good.Copy !req
563. - Okay.
- Great.Copy !req
564. - Thank you.
- Okay. Great.Copy !req
565. - Thank you.
- You're welcome, you're welcome.Copy !req
566. Okay. Good. Is there... Okay.Copy !req
567. Did you have any questions for me,
or anything else?Copy !req
568. Not really. Thank you.Copy !req
569. Okay.Copy !req
570. Good to see ya.Copy !req
571. Okay, great.Copy !req
572. - Thank you.
- Thank you.Copy !req
573. Thank you, thank you, thank you.Copy !req
574. Thank you, sir.
All right, I'll just clear out.Copy !req
575. Thank you for having me, and—Copy !req
576. - You're very welcome.
- Okay, great.Copy !req