Welcome back to Space for All — the podcast where we spotlight the trailblazers shaping STEAM fields across the globe. This week, we're soaring into the world of commercial aviation with Raja Katz, a long-haul airline pilot and fierce advocate for representation in the skies.

Raja takes us through her journey from gliding at age 15 to flying the cutting-edge Airbus A350. We talk about: ✈️ What it takes to become a commercial pilot 🌍 Her experiences flying across the globe — and handling turbulence (literally and figuratively) 👩‍✈️ Elevate Her and why representation in aviation really matters 💬 Breaking stereotypes and bringing feminine energy to the flight deck 🎶 Plus: the ultimate Swiftie crossover, including Raja’s Taylor Swift theme song

This one’s got heart, humor, and high-altitude vibes.

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👩‍🚀 Learn more about Cosmic Girls Website: https://cosmicgirls.org

🌟 Follow Raja Katz Instagram: https://instagram.com/raja_in_the_sky TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@raja_in_the_sky

🎧 Thanks for listening — don’t forget to rate, review, and share the pod with your fellow dreamers and doers!

In this episode of Space for All, I sit down with Amy Imhoff, digital marketing expert, events manager, and passionate Star Trek advocate. We dive deep into how Star Trek has shaped the space industry, inspired diversity, and influenced real-world technology.

🌟 Topics we cover: ✅ How Star Trek has impacted STEAM, representation, and leadership ✅ The “Janeway Effect” & the power of women in leadership ✅ Star Trek-inspired tech: what’s real and what’s still sci-fi? ✅ Challenges facing women in aerospace & the fight for inclusivity ✅ The state of the space industry today and why diversity matters

This episode is a must-listen for Star Trek fans, space enthusiasts, and anyone passionate about the future of STEAM!

🎧 Listen now! And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast!

In this episode of the Space for All podcast, host Valerie McKiernan interviews Emily Calandrelli, also known as "The Space Gal." Emily shares her inspiring journey from growing up in West Virginia to becoming an MIT engineer, Emmy-nominated science TV host, author, and soon-to-be astronaut with Blue Origin.

Emily discusses how her pursuit of financial security led her to engineering, which blossomed into a passion for space exploration. She talks about hosting "Xploration Outer Space," creating "Emily's Wonder Lab" on Netflix while nine months pregnant, and the challenges she faced as a woman in STEM media. Despite industry biases, she has become a prominent advocate for women and girls in science.

Emily announces her upcoming spaceflight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket, fulfilling a lifelong dream. She also shares her efforts to improve parental leave policies in the aerospace industry, her advocacy for accessible education, and her plans to launch "Emily's Science Lab" on YouTube.

Tune in to hear Emily's insights on making science accessible, empowering the next generation, and her exciting journey to the stars.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Valerie McKiernan's journey began in the heart of the aerospace industry, working at her family’s aerospace business from a young age. After college, she took an exciting detour as a TV producer for CNBC Business News, where she discovered her love for television production. Over the past decade, Valerie made her way back into the Aerospace Industry and is now blending her two passions to inspire and attract more people to Space.  In addition to being the host of Space for All, Valerie is a Senior Business Development Manager for Coherent Corp.

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmckiernan/

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Join host Valerie McKiernan in this episode of the Space for All podcast as she interviews Dr. Mindy Howard, the CEO and founder of both the Cosmic Girls Foundation and Inner Space Training. Dr. Howard shares her inspiring journey from aspiring astronaut to leading initiatives that empower young women in the space industry.

Discover how she transitioned from working in the oil and gas sector to founding Inner Space Training, the world's only mental preparedness program for commercial astronauts. Dr. Howard highlights the importance of mental resilience in space travel and addresses the psychological challenges astronauts face.

Learn about the Cosmic Girls Foundation's mission to encourage girls aged 14 to 19 from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in space and STEM fields. Through the "Six Girls, Six Continents" competition, the foundation offers training in STEAM education, life skills, and astronaut skills, with one lucky girl winning a trip to space.

Tune in to hear about the challenges women face in the space industry and how Dr. Howard is working to build a robust pipeline of female talent in aerospace.

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ABOUT THE HOST: Valerie McKiernan's journey began in the heart of the aerospace industry, working at her family’s aerospace business from a young age. After college, she took an exciting detour as a TV producer for CNBC Business News, where she discovered her love for television production. Over the past decade, Valerie made her way back into the Aerospace Industry and is now blending her two passions to inspire and attract more people to Space.  In addition to being the host of Space for All, Valerie is a Senior Business Development Manager for Coherent Corp.

FOLLOW THE HOST:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmckiernan/⁠

TikTok - ⁠@AerospaceVal

In this episode of the Space for All podcast, host Valerie McKiernan interviews photographer Michael Soluri, who shares his journey into documenting space exploration. Michael discusses how his unscripted work focuses on the unsung heroes behind space missions, such as engineers, technicians, scientists and astronauts, and his unique approach to capturing their tools and humanity. He reflects on key projects like NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto and the last Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.

Michael also talks about his upcoming involvement in the Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon, Titan, and the Artemis lunar exploration project. Additionally, he introduces his personal project, Cave Art Continuum, where he explores the artistic parallels between rocket launch burn marks under Apollo era launch pads and prehistoric cave art. Throughout the episode, Michael emphasizes the connection between art and science, making space exploration more relatable and inspiring.

SUPPORT WAN: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/womensaerospace/  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@womensaerospace LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/womensaerospace/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/WomensAerospace 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Valerie McKiernan's journey began in the heart of the aerospace industry, working at her family’s aerospace business from a young age. After college, she took an exciting detour as a TV producer for CNBC Business News, where she discovered her love for television production. Over the past decade, Valerie made her way back into the Aerospace Industry and is now blending her two passions to inspire and attract more people to Space.  In addition to being the host of Space for All, Valerie is a Senior Business Development Manager for Coherent Corp. FOLLOW THE HOST: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmckiernan/ TikTok - https://tiktok.com/AerospaceVal To explore more and join our community, check out WomensAerospace.com

Join us on this episode of the Space for All podcast as we chat with Alma Okpalefe, Executive Director at the World Space Week Association. Alma shares her remarkable journey from studying law to becoming a key figure in the space industry. Discover how a chance encounter with space law shaped her career, and listen as she reveals the global impact of World Space Week. Tune in for insights on space’s role in addressing climate change and the importance of raising awareness for the future of space exploration!

“Space for All” is brought to you by the Women’s Aerospace Network (WAN)

For more information regarding World Space Week, go to WorldSpaceWeek.com

SUPPORT WAN: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/womensaerospace/  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@womensaerospace LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/womensaerospace/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/WomensAerospace 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Valerie McKiernan's journey began in the heart of the aerospace industry, working at her family’s aerospace business from a young age. After college, she took an exciting detour as a TV producer for CNBC Business News, where she discovered her love for television production. Over the past decade, Valerie made her way back into the Aerospace Industry and is now blending her two passions to inspire and attract more people to Space.  In addition to being the host of Space for All, Valerie is a Senior Business Development Manager for Coherent Corp. FOLLOW THE HOST: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmckiernan/ TikTok - https://tiktok.com/AerospaceVal To explore more and join our community, check out WomensAerospace.com

In this episode of the Space For All podcast, Valerie McKiernan chats with Maria Demaree, Vice President of National Security Space within Lockheed Martin Space. Maria shares her journey from growing up in a STEM-focused family to leading a critical division at Lockheed Martin. She offers advice for women aspiring to leadership roles in aerospace, emphasizing the importance of leading from where you are, constantly learning, and not disqualifying yourself from opportunities. Additionally, Maria highlights Lockheed's initiatives to foster diversity, the significance of space in daily life, and the critical role space plays in national security. Whether you're an engineer or not, Maria's insights will inspire anyone looking to find their place in the aerospace industry.

“Space for All” is brought to you by the Women’s Aerospace Network (WAN) SUPPORT WAN: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/womensaerospace/  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@womensaerospace LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/womensaerospace/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/WomensAerospace 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Valerie McKiernan's journey began in the heart of the aerospace industry, working at her family’s aerospace business from a young age. After college, she took an exciting detour as a TV producer for CNBC Business News, where she discovered her love for television production. Over the past decade, Valerie made her way back into the Aerospace Industry and is now blending her two passions to inspire and attract more people to Space.  In addition to being the host of Space for All, Valerie is a Senior Business Development Manager for Coherent Corp. FOLLOW THE HOST: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmckiernan/ TikTok - https://tiktok.com/AerospaceVal To explore more and join our community, check out WomensAerospace.com

Have you ever wondered what lies beyond our solar system? In today’s episode, Dr. Emily Rickman, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, discusses her journey in the field of exoplanet research. She fell in love with physics and engineering as a child and later developed a passion for astrophysics and astronomy. Dr. Rickman lets us in on the captivating wonders of exoplanets, explaining that:

• Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars other than our Sun.

• There are different types of exoplanets, including rocky terrestrial planets and giant gaseous planets. 

• The first exoplanet was discovered in 1995, and since then, over 5,000 exoplanets have been discovered. 

• There are various methods used to detect exoplanets, such as the radial velocity technique, the transit technique, and direct imaging.

Tune in to discover more about exoplanets, including what makes them so fascinating and why space explorers are so eager to find them. If you liked this episode, get inspired with this one next: Breaking the Aerospace Ceiling: Snehal Bhamare’s Success Story

“Space for All” is brought to you by the Women’s Aerospace Network (WAN) SUPPORT WAN: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/womensaerospace/  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@womensaerospace LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/womensaerospace/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/WomensAerospace 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Valerie McKiernan's journey began in the heart of the aerospace industry, working at her family’s aerospace business from a young age. After college, she took an exciting detour as a TV producer for CNBC Business News, where she discovered her love for television production. Over the past decade, Valerie made her way back into the Aerospace Industry and is now blending her two passions to inspire and attract more people to Space.  In addition to being the host of Space for All, Valerie is a Senior Manager for Coherent Corp. FOLLOW THE HOST: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmckiernan/ TikTok - https://tiktok.com/AerospaceVal To explore more and join our community, check out WomensAerospace.com

What does it take to be a successful woman in STEM?

Prepare to be inspired as our host Valerie McKiernan sits down for an uplifting conversation with Aerospace Engineer and Texas A&M graduate, Snehal Bhamare.

From her early fascination with aircraft and space to her thriving career at Boeing, Snehal shares her incredible journey, offering key career advice and valuable insights.

If you liked this episode, check out this powerful and inspiring episode next: Passion and Perseverance: Rania Toukebri in Aerospace

Follow Snehal:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snehal.s.bhamare/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snehalbhamare/

Listen on the go:

• Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@womensaerospace

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/space-for-all/id1747133748

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0C07iywd89LvOvhfcWjR7A?si=JEGgDtnrTrii2FiQHMC84g

“Space for All” is brought to you by the Women’s Aerospace Network (WAN)

FOLLOW WAN:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womensaerospace/

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@womensaerospace

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/womensaerospace/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/WomensAerospace

ABOUT THE HOST:

Valerie McKiernan's journey began in the heart of the aerospace industry, working at her family’s aerospace business from a young age. After college, she took an exciting detour as a TV producer for CNBC Business News, where she discovered her love for television production. Over the past decade, Valerie made her way back into the Aerospace Industry and is now blending her two passions to inspire and attract more people to Space. In addition to being the host of Space for All, Valerie is a Senior Business Development Manager for Coherent Corp.

FOLLOW THE HOST:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmckiernan/

• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/AerospaceVal

To explore more and join our community, check out https://www.womensaerospace.com/.

"Space for All" podcast, hosted by Valerie McKiernan, brings you empowering conversations and inspiring journeys from across the aerospace industry. 

In this episode, we feature Dr. Pierson, the Aerospace industry’s first speech pathologist and founder of Alpha Speech.

Dr. Pierson walks us through how the industry’s gaps in language requirements are leading to catastrophic failures both here on Earth and in Space.  From Pilots to Astronauts, Dr. Pierson explains how accent modification can ensure these professionals are understood the first time, ensuring miscommunications are no longer behind unwanted flight delays, error-related expenses and even loss of life – as they are today.    

CONNECT WITH DR. PIERSON:

Dr. Pierson’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alpha-speech/

Alpha Speech: https://www.alpha-speech.com/

“Space for All” is brought to you by the Women’s Aerospace Network (WAN)

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

WAN’s LinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/womensaerospace

WAN’s Instagram: @womens.aerospace

WAN’s TikTok: womensaerospace

ABOUT THE HOST:

Valerie McKiernan's journey began in the heart of the aerospace industry, working at her family’s aerospace business from a young age. After college, she took an exciting detour as a TV producer for CNBC Business News, where she discovered her love for television production. Over the past decade, Valerie made her way back into the Aerospace Industry and is now blending her two passions to inspire and attract more people to Space.  In addition to being the host of Space for All, Valerie is a Senior Business Development Manager for Coherent Corp.

CONNECT WITH VALERIE:

Valerie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmckiernan/

Valerie’s TikTok: AerospaceVal