Liz Booker welcomes fellow Coast Guard aviator Ashley Leppert to share her powerful journey of resilience, healing, and purpose. Ashley, a former flight mechanic, opens up about her service during Hurricane Harvey, her battles with PTSD and autoimmune disease, and how her faith and writing became beacons of recovery and inspiration.

Through candid storytelling and deep reflection, Ashley discusses the complexities of military life, the often-overlooked challenges faced by women in uniform, and her path to personal growth after leaving the service. Her memoir, The Hurricane Within, captures the emotional turbulence of her journey and the unwavering strength she discovered along the way.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• 🚁 Ashley’s harrowing experiences during Hurricane Harvey
• 💥 Confronting PTSD and navigating life with an autoimmune disease
• 💬 The challenges and rewards of serving as a woman in the Coast Guard
• 🛫 Transitioning from military to civilian life with grace and grit
• ✝️ How Ashley’s faith became a cornerstone of her healing
• 📖 The story behind The Hurricane Within and her writing journey
• 🎤 Ashley’s new chapter as a speaker, life coach, and advocate for resilience

In this inspiring episode, host Liz Booker sits down with Kodey Bogart, decorated combat veteran and former Blackhawk pilot, to talk about her debut children’s book, The Firefighting Pilot, part of the Helo Girls series. With a rich background in medevac missions, aviation safety, and helicopter operations, Kodey brings her real-life experiences to life through storytelling aimed at young readers.

✨ Kodey shares:

• Her path from military aviator to children’s author
• What inspired her to create The Firefighting Pilot
• The value of representation in children’s literature
• How her experiences in aviation and combat shaped the narrative
• Why it's important to introduce kids to careers in STEM and aviation

Whether you're a fan of aviation, passionate about children’s books, or simply love hearing from women breaking barriers, this episode offers a powerful look at how lived experiences can fuel creative storytelling and inspire the next generation.

📚 Learn more about Helo Girls and how Kodey is empowering young readers—one helicopter mission at a time.

In this episode of the Military Aviatrix podcast, host Liz Booker sits down with author and trailblazing former Navy pilot Loree “Rowdy” Draude. Together, they honor the remarkable milestones women have achieved in naval aviation and discuss the lessons that come from breaking barriers.

Loree shares stories from her memoir, She's Just Another Navy Pilot, offering a candid look at her time in the cockpit and the challenges she overcame. She also dives into her latest self-help book, Soar into Joy, which delves into the importance of self-awareness, openness, appreciation, and responsibility — the pillars of personal growth and authentic leadership.

Whether you're a fellow veteran, aspiring aviator, or simply someone seeking inspiration, this episode is a must-listen. Discover how Loree's journey continues to uplift and empower others, and why leadership isn’t just about rank — it’s about rising to your own potential.

In this episode of the Military Aviatrix podcast, host Liz Booker welcomes former Army Apache helicopter pilots Laura Pangallo Fryer and Morgan Samuels. These two trailblazing aviators share their journey from military aviation to becoming authors and illustrators of the empowering children's book, Be Something Epic.

Laura and Morgan discuss their experiences serving as women in a male-dominated field, the challenges they faced, and the lessons they learned along the way. They also dive into the creative process behind their book, which aims to inspire young girls to explore careers in aviation and beyond.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about resilience, representation, and the power of storytelling to shape future generations.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Laura and Morgan’s path to becoming Apache helicopter pilots
• The challenges and triumphs of being women in military aviation
• How Be Something Epic was born and what it means for young readers
• The impact of storytelling in inspiring the next generation

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🚁✈️ In this interview, Liz sits down with author and retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain Martha LaGuardia-Kotite to talk about her incredible career, culminating in her role as the Commandant’s Press Secretary. They dive into her inspiring books:

📖 So Others May Live: Saving Lives, Defying Death

📖 Changing the Rules of Engagement: Inspiring Stories of Courage and Leadership from Women in the Military

📖 My Name is Old Glory: A Celebration of the Star-Spangled Banner

Her work highlights trailblazing women in aviation and the military, including Kelly Mogk Larsen, the Coast Guard’s first female rescue swimmer, Vice Admiral Vivien Crea, the first female Vice Commandant of any U.S. military service, and Nichole Malachowski, the first woman Thunderbird pilot. Plus, the inspiring stories of Senator Tammy Duckworth and NASA Commander Pam Melroy.

Don't miss this deep dive into courage, leadership, and history! 🇺🇸✨ #WomenInAviation #MilitaryLeadership #InspiringStories

In this episode of the Military Aviatrix podcast, host Liz Booker welcomes author Mary Jennings Hager to discuss her powerful memoir, 'Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman's Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front.' Mary shares her inspiring journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, detailing her experiences in combat, the fight for women’s roles in the military, and the importance of storytelling in healing. Tune in for an enlightening conversation about resilience, courage, and the transformative power of sharing our stories.

In this episode, Liz sits down with Samantha Arrington Sliney, co-author of the empowering children's book "All the Things Our Mommy Can Do." Discover the stories of women breaking barriers and redefining gender roles in traditionally male-dominated fields. Samantha shares insights into her career as a Judge Advocate and her impactful work with the Department of the Air Force Women's Initiatives Team. Listen in to explore how policy changes can influence culture and inspire the next generation of aviators.

What if you could step inside the mind and experiences of an incredible woman who bravely served as a helicopter crewman in the British Air Force? Would you be captivated by her tales of deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, or her journey as the only female crewman in her unit for five years? Join us in a powerful conversation with Liz McConaghy, author of the memoir "Chinook Crew Chick", as she pulls back the curtain on her extraordinary 17-year career.

Engage with us as we explore mental health, resilience, and the power of story-telling with Liz. This episode promises insight, inspiration, and a candid conversation you'd not want to miss.

Liz Booker is a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot and writer for young adults. She hosts the Aviatrix Book Club and the Aviatrix Book Review Website and Podcast. This episode is a rebroadcast of the Aviatrix Book Review in collaboration with Coming Home Well. You can find Liz @LiteraryAviatrix on social media.

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

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In this interview Liz Booker talks with USAF Academy graduate, F-16 combat veteran pilot, former no. 3 Thunderbird demonstration team pilot, and boy-mom Caroline ‘Blaze’ Jensen about her sweet new picture book, Thundermouse, her career, and how she managed one of the most visible and demanding jobs imaginable as the mother of a toddler. Blaze is the granddaughter of a WWII SPAR (Women's Coast Guard Reserve) and a Coast Guard Grandfather, and daughter of a U.S. Marine, but we’ll forgive her for joining the Air Force. She was inspired by Top Gun and guided by the legacy of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and is currently the Board President-Elect of the WASP Museum in Sweetwater, Texas. Her illustrious Air Force career also included a stint as a Congressional Liaison. Blaze is a motivational speaker for hire and offers mentoring to aspiring and junior military aviators.

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!

Liz Booker @LiteraryAviatrix talks with fellow retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot Darcy Guyant @dolph_and_gwen about his picture book, Into the Storm: The Coast Guard Adventures of Dolph and Gwen. Darcy started his aviation career in the US Army and transitioned to the Coast Guard, which hires about a third of its pilots from other services through their Direct Commission Aviator program. In retirement, Darcy has become a beloved volunteer at his local elementary school, where the teachers encouraged him to write a book for young readers. The result is a picture book inspired by a search and rescue case he flew on during his active duty time, with a twist intended for his granddaughter: female pilot Gwen at the controls of her eager helicopter Dolph. They and their crew combine leadership, teamwork, and courage to help rescue the fishermen in distress, and show young people they can make a difference in the world.

Liz Booker is a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot and writer for young adults. She hosts the Aviatrix Book Club and the Aviatrix Book Review Website and Podcast. This episode is a rebroadcast of the Aviatrix Book Review in collaboration with Coming Home Well. You can find Liz @LiteraryAviatrix on social media.

Tune into our CHW Streaming Radio and the full lineup at cominghomewell.com

Download on Apple Play and Google Play

Online-Therapy.com ~ Life Changing Therapy Click here for a 20% discount on your first month.

Thank you for listening! Be sure to SHARE, LIKE and leave us a REVIEW!