When Women Fly

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Shaesta Waiz is an American pilot, the first female certified civilian pilot born in Afghanistan and the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft (new records being set every year). This is a fascinating and unfolding story about rising from adversity and discovering what is possible.

Flying is closely linked to freedom and opportunity. If you could circumnavigate the globe in an aircraft with one message, what would it be?

Shaesta has a  burning desire to help others like her – underserved as a youth - to work hard, never give up and follow their dreams.  As an Earthrounder (a unique and rare breed of pilot, setting themselves apart from the more conventional modes of air travel, possessing one unifying achievement: piloting a light aircraft around the entire world), Shaesta's story is layered with grit and determination alongside a deep desire to serve.

This is a conversation about overcoming obstacles, creating opportunities, embracing a dual identity, pursuing a big dream, and resetting in a new chapter of life.

Hear about Shaesta’s journey, her grace and commitment to serve, and how she uses her platform to inspire and encourage young women around the world to seek education in STEM and pursue their passions.

Shaesta started Dreams Soar to share her story with girls and young women around the world, to let them know it is possible to achieve their dreams, regardless of the challenges and traditions they may face.

Topics Include: 

• Growing up as an Afghan refugee in the US
• Gender roles and what she saw possible as a young girl
• What sparked a love of flying
• Why and how she planned her trip around the world
• Highs, lows, endurance and lice
• Challenges and doubts, trusting intuition
• Mental health and aviation 
• Working towards a goal
• Importance of STEM education and access for women  
• And other topics...

Shaesta Waiz was born in Afghanistan at a refugee camp during the Soviet-Afghan War in 1987. Her family came to the United States and grew up in California. Although it wasn't until graduating high school that Sheasta dreamed of an aviation career, she accomplished a great deal in short order.  She is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the first certified civilian female pilot from Afghanistan. She earned a record for being youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft.  Shaesta is the founder of Dreams Soar, a woman’s ambassador program where young women interested in an education in aviation and engineering are mentored and supported.

Resources Mentioned:
Chicago Tribune Article:  https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1987-07-05-8702190664-story.html
Dreams Soar: http://dreamssoar.org/
Shaesta’s Podcast, “Aviate”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aviate-with-shaesta/id1577977608

Stay Connected:
Drop Us A Message on PodInbox: https://podinbox.com/whenwomenfly
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Socials: @whenwomenfly
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Mandy’s hope of becoming a fast jet pilot in the Royal Air Force was once an impossible dream. When Mandy first became interested in flying, women were not permitted to fly in the military.

But the tides turned for Mandy when the rules were finally changed to allow women to fly on the front lines. Her dream was now within reach, but the challenges had only just begun.

Mandy’s story is one that is already having an impact on future generations. In this episode, you will hear Sylvia and Mandy talk about the early influences that led to her career in aviation, building mental resilience, deciphering between when to be a leader and when to be a team player, training versus being in combat, transitioning to motherhood, and so much more.

Topics Include:
- Handling loss and setbacks
- Framing cognitive diversity as a strength
- Incremental learning
- Overcoming imposter syndrome
- Followership skills
- How compartmentalizing can benefit high-achievers
- Building a sense of camaraderie
- Mandy’s experience with training for the Royal Air Force
- Finding purpose through giving back
- And other topics...

Mandy Hickson is a former Royal Air Force pilot. She was the only female pilot on her Front Line Tornado Squadron, flying multi-million dollar fast jets. Mandy has also operated in hostile environments, including patrolling the ‘No Fly’ zone over Iraq.

Mandy has been the keynote speaker at hundreds of events and is an inspiration to women in the UK and beyond. As a trained Human Factors facilitator with the Civil Aviation Authority, Mandy uses her in-depth knowledge of aviation, calculated risk-taking, and decision-making under pressure to deliver tactical lessons from the cockpit to the boardroom.

Books Mentioned:
An Officer, Not A Gentleman, by Mandy Hickson
The Grit Factor, by Shannon Huffman Polson
Black Box Thinking, by Matthew Syed

Connect with Mandy:
Mandy’s Website
Instagram: @mandyhicksonspeaker
Twitter: @MandyHickson
Facebook
Youtube

Stay Connected:
Drop us a message on PodInbox: https://podinbox.com/whenwomenfly
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Socials: @whenwomenfly
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When Nikki Stone injured her back in 1996, the pain was so excruciating that she couldn't stand for more than 15 minutes at a time. Bedridden by her spine injury, Nikki was advised by 10 different doctors to give up on her dreams of Olympic gold as it was unlikely she would ever ski again.

Two years later at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Nikki would go on to become the first American to win a gold medal as an inverted aerial skier, solidifying her future as a US National Ski Hall of Famer. Nikki's story is one of determination, grit, and a never give up attitude. Today, she encourages others to realize their passions, triumph over obstacles, and take risks to reach extraordinary goals.

In this episode, Sylvia and Nikki discuss the turtle metaphor for doing hard things, what she called the Turtle Effect. They discuss what it was like to take big risks during the Olympic games, the importance of dreaming big when setting goals, why accomplishment does translate to happiness, and much more.

Topics Include:
- Early dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal
- Working with fear as an athlete
- Grandma's quote, "The brave do not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all."
- Trying new things to stoke old passions
- Connecting to childhood dreams
- Using questions to steer your life
- Becoming a mother
- The truth about happiness
- And other topics...

Nicole 'Nikki' Stone is a former American Olympic skier. She competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, and is best known for being the first American to win a gold medal as an inverted aerial skier. In her career, Nikki has won 35 World Cup medals, 11 World Cup titles, 4 national titles, 2 year-long Aerial World Cup titles, and a World Championship title. She also became the first pure aerialist ever, male or female, to become the year-long Overall Freestyle World Cup Champion. Nikki was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 2003.

Nikki now travels the world as an inspirational speaker sharing her secrets to success. Nikki was honored with the title of International Professional Speaker of the Year by the American Speakers Bureau Corporation. She encourages and inspires her audiences to find their "Turtle Effect" by realizing their passions, triumphing over obstacles, and taking risks to reach extraordinary goals that may initially seem unattainable.

Resources Mentioned:
https://www.nikkistone.com/
When Turtles Fly by Nikki Stone: https://www.amazon.com/When-Turtles-Fly-Secrets-Successful/dp/1600376754

Stay Connected:
Drop Us A Message on PodInbox: https://podinbox.com/whenwomenfly
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Socials: @whenwomenfly
Signup for AIR BORN, our monthly newsletter! A letter from Sylvia will show up in your inbox, with links to her latest conversations and insights.

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Join Sylvia in her first ask me anything episode of Season 3 as she responds to audience questions about her life, flying, and the metaphor of flight.

In this episode, Sylvia shares what it was like growing up in the Midwest. She shares how the seed was planted early in her life to eventually live in a French-speaking country, what it was like traveling abroad with her husband and three kids, how becoming a mother changed her approach to flying, and more.

Topics Include:
- The early life of Sylvia Winter
- Walking through the world with flight as a metaphor
- Trusting your gut
- Sylvia's history as a runner
- Confronting fears
- Risk tolerance as a mother
- The experience of flow, and its relation to flight
- And other topics...

Resources Mentioned:
Drop Us A Message on PodInbox: https://podinbox.com/whenwomenfly
http://elizakerr.com
Don't Trust Your Gut: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Trust-Your-Gut-Really/dp/0062880918

Stay Connected:
Drop Us A Message on PodInbox: https://podinbox.com/whenwomenfly
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Socials: @whenwomenfly
Signup for AIR BORN, our monthly newsletter! A letter from Sylvia will show up in your inbox, with links to her latest conversations and insights.

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Today's guest is Eliza Kerr from Yosemite, California. Eliza has been leading people on adventures in the outdoors for more than 30 years in Tibet, Nepal, Alaska, Colorado, and Yosemite. She is a leading light, climber, surfer, yogi, guide, mom, and just an awesome soul. Her story is about a connection with the outdoors in both body and mind.

Eliza is also the co-founder of Balanced Rock whose mission is to inspire health and wellbeing through deepening connection to nature and spirit through workshops, trips, and community programs. She is a certified Ayurvedic specialist and practices Ayurvedic medicine in Yosemite.

In this episode, Sylvia and Eliza discuss Eliza's transition from the midwest to Yosemite, how her studies in Nepal influenced her life journey, risk versus reward in adventure sports, recovering from severe injuries, building a tribe of strong women, and much more.

Topics Include:
- Facing fear as a climber
- Connecting with our authentic selves
- Processing the death of loved ones
- The birth of Balanced Rock
- Moonstone Retreat Center
- Living a life of kindness and gratitude
- Detaching from the digital world
- And other topics...

Eliza Kerr has been living in Yosemite since graduating Phi Beta Kappa from UC Berkeley in Conservation and Resource Studies in 1993. She has been leading people on adventures in the outdoors since 1989, working for NatureBridge (formerly Yosemite Institute), Outward Bound in Colorado and Alaska, Where There Be Dragons in Tibet, and Wild Women Workshops in Alaska and Yosemite. Eliza co-founded Balanced Rock in 2007 and since then has served as an instructor. She has served as both President and Vice President of the Board of Directors.

Eliza first discovered yoga in 1991 while living and studying in Nepal and India. Since then, she has been a passionate practitioner, studying a variety of styles including Iyengar, Bikkurim, and Ashtanga with Pattabhi Jois and her primary teacher, Richard Freeman. Eliza has been teaching a blend of these styles in Yosemite since 1995 with an emphasis on breath, flow, and joy. She was certified as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist from the California College of Ayurveda in 2000 and also holds Ayurvedic certificates from the American Institute of Vedic Studies, Rishikesh College of Ayurveda, the Kripalu School of Ayurveda, and the Ayurvedic Institute. She is currently practicing Ayurvedic medicine in Yosemite.

Resources Mentioned:
http://balancedrock.org
http://elizakerr.com

Stay Connected:
Signup for AIR BORN, our monthly newsletter! A letter from Sylvia will show up in your inbox, with links to her latest conversations and insights.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Socials: @whenwomenfly

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Sonya Looney is a professional mountain biker and racing cyclist who has competed in over 20 countries and has over 25 career wins including a World Championship, UCI Wins, and USA National Championships.

With such an impressive resumé, you may be surprised to hear Sonya say that achievements don't lead to happiness, and that the validation she sought as a professional athlete pales in comparison to the community she's found and the relationships she's formed – particularly as a mother.

Sonya is still out competing and winning races, but her mission has shifted from achievement to helping people be better every day – no matter the medium.
 
In this episode, Sylvia and Sonya discuss her journey to becoming a professional mountain biker, wellness in the context of high-intensity pursuits, seeking validation from the right sources, having the courage to pursue your dreams, and so much more.

Topics Include:
- Balancing motherhood and professional goals
- Focusing on identity rather than outcomes
- Calculating risk as a young mom
- Personal growth and behavior change
- Working with negative thoughts
- Breaking undesirable habit loops
- Prioritizing consistency over perfection
- And other topics…

Sonya Looney is a professional mountain biker and racing cyclist who has raced in over 20 countries and has over 25 career wins and course records in 11 countries including World Championship, UCI Wins and USA National Championships. As one of the largest social influencers in mountain biking in America, Looney is a brand ambassador for 10 brands.

Sonya is also a health and performance coach and travels as a keynote motivational speaker where she talks about success and failure, overcoming fear, and the power of choice. Sonya is also the founder of a lifestyle brand, Moxy & Grit, and hosts the podcast The Sonya Looney Show.

Resources Mentioned:
The Sonya Looney Show podcast: https://www.sonyalooney.com/podcasts/
TEDx Talk: By Bike - Defining Success at 17,769 Feet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYiflJvxTac&t=1s
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin: https://gretchenrubin.com/books/the-four-tendencies/intro/
The Craving Mind by Dr. Judson Brewer: https://www.amazon.com/Craving-Mind-Cigarettes-Smartphones-Hooked/dp/0300223242
 Unwinding Anxiety by Dr. Judson Brewer: https://www.amazon.com/Unwinding-Anxiety-Science-Shows-Cycles/dp/0593330447/

Connect with Sonya:
Sonya’s Website: https://www.sonyalooney.com/
Sign up for Sonya’s Newsletter: https://www.sonyalooney.com/#subscribe
Instagram: @sonyalooney

Stay Connected:
Signup for AIR BORN, our monthly newsletter! A letter from Sylvia will show up in your inbox, with links to her latest conversations and insights.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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Today's episode features Shannon Switzer Swanson, a National Geographic Explorer, marine social ecologist, and surfer who explores the intersection of storytelling, research, art, and science.

As part of Season III, we are revisiting some of our favorite episodes that grapple with big life themes, break down the components of change, and dive into strategies that are relevant and applicable to you today.

In this episode, Sylvia and Shannon discuss modern-day "exploration" and the role of women and the BIPOC community in redefining it. Shannon is not discouraged or dissuaded by the complexities in her conservation work. She continues to ask difficult questions such as: “Can coastal communities manage their resources in ways that both sustain prosperous livelihoods and a healthy environment.”  What is the win-win formula?

Fun fact: Shannon is the granddaughter of one of the pioneering women pilots of the mid-1900s.

Topics Include:
- Photography, storytelling, and research
- How our perception of time affects choices around sustainability
- What it means to be a modern-day explorer
- Female role models
- Extensive field research in Central Sulawesi
- Building trust and participatory research methods
- National Geographic programs and getting your start
- Maintaining relationships while traveling
- Balancing work and family life
- Advice for women adventurers
- And other topics...

Resources Mentioned:
Femininities in the Field: Tourism and Transdisciplinary Research: https://www.amazon.com/Femininities-Field-Tourism-Transdisciplinary-Research/dp/1845416503
An interactive website for folks interested in knowing where aquarium fish come from and how to keep an aquarium that doesn’t harm the world’s reefs, check it out at https://reeftoaquarium.com/

Connect with Shannon:
Instagram: @ShannonSwitzerSwanson
Twitter: @S3Oceans
Facebook: @S3Oceans
LinkedIn: @shannonswitzerswanson
Interview with Shannon

Want to connect with us? Visit us online!
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
IG: @whenwomenfly
FB: @whenwomenfly
Twitter: @whenwomenfly
Pinterest: @whenwomenfly

Stay Connected:
Signup for AIR BORN, our monthly newsletter! A letter from Sylvia will show up in your inbox, with links to her latest conversations and insights.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Socials: @whenwomenfly

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Amelia Rose’s parents wanted her to have an aspirational name — one that she could live up to. So, with her dad’s surname, she was given the name Amelia Rose Earhart.

Growing up, her name often prompted questions. Is she related to the Amelia Earhart? Will she become a pilot? Finally, after a genealogy test and a newfound inspiration for flight, Amelia Rose thought she was able to answer YES to both of these questions.

Years later, however, the news broke. In a “gotcha” moment of journalism, Amelia’s coworker at a news station uncovered that she had no relation to the American Hero, Amelia Earhart.

The news couldn’t have come at a worse time. Amelia Rose was preparing for an around-the-world flight and was now being called a fraud, a liar, and a fake. The embarrassment of it all had her questioning if she should proceed or quit on the dream she had worked so hard for.

In this conversation between two female pilots, Sylvia and Amelia discuss what it means to embody a role model, setting boundaries, Amelia’s around-the-world flight, how to overcome challenges in personal and professional settings, and so much more.

Topics Include:
- Amelia’s experience with news and anchoring
- Women in aviation
- How to develop a skill stack
- Focusing on what you can control
- Giving back in aviation
- The Fly with Amelia Foundation
- Struggling with fear and doubt
- The power of partnership in pursuit of your goals
- Imposter Syndrome
- Overcoming the fear of rejection
- And other topics…

Amelia Rose Earhart is the youngest woman to fly around the world in a single-engine aircraft. In 2014, Amelia flew a Pilatus PC12-NG 28,000 miles, crossing the equator six times, through fourteen countries to complete a circumnavigation of the globe.

Amelia has been a passionate aviatrix since her first flight lesson at the age of twenty-one, a seeker of all things adventurous and is an accomplished public speaker, spending the last 8 years working as a television news anchor, covering breaking news, traffic and weather in Denver and Los Angeles. Amelia was given the Amelia Earhart Pioneering Achievement Award in 2013 and in 2014 was named by the Jaycees as one of the “Top Ten Young Americans”.

Resources Mentioned:
- Amelia’s Website: http://www.ameliaroseearhart.com/
- Amelia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ameliaroseearhart
- The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer: https://www.amazon.com//dp/1572245379

Stay Connected:
Signup for AIR BORN, our monthly newsletter! A letter from Sylvia will show up in your inbox, with links to her latest conversations and insights.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Socials: @whenwomenfly

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Today's episode features dance ethnologist, flying trapeze artist, and executive coach Dr. Edy Greenblatt.

As part of Season III, we are revisiting some of our favorite episodes that grapple with big life themes, break down the components of change, and dive into strategies that are relevant and applicable to you today.

Sylvia and Edy discuss what people get wrong about work-life balance and burnout. Edy shares with listeners what flying trapeze and dance can teach us about business and relationships, what we can do to avoid burnout, why we need to work with our fear rather than against it, and much more.

Topics Include:
- Defining resilience
- Work as enrichment to life vs. work as depleting
- The myth of work-life balance
- Why we need to reframe fear
- How the flying trapeze changes everything
- Identifying the activities that deplete and restore us
- Investing in meaningful relationships
- And other topics...

Dr. Edy Greenblatt, Ph.D., PCC is a transformational coach-educator, resilience pioneer, integration visionary, and entrepreneur.  As Founder and President of Execu-Care Coaching & Consulting, Inc. she creates radically innovative interdisciplinary, multi-method interventions that help leaders, teams, and organizations learn, grow, laugh, and energize while they rise to meet demanding performance goals.  Her blended solutions can include interactive classroom sessions, aerial arts and flying trapeze, embodied and peer coaching, world dance, WATSU, coach supervision, ethnographic analyses, interactive online support, and offsite resilience retreats.

Resources Mentioned:
Flying Trapeze Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLaUz9dh0HU
Book – Restore Yourself by Edy Greenblatt
Book – The Female Advantage: Women's Ways of Leadership by Sally Helgelson
Book – Women Don't Ask by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever
Multi-Media Series – Fusion: How World-Class Innovators Create the Unexpected by CJ Meadows

Connect with Edy:
LinkedIn – @dredygreenblatt
Email – [email protected]
Website – https://edygreenblatt.com/

Stay Connected:
Signup for AIR BORN, our monthly newsletter! A letter from Sylvia will show up in your inbox, with links to her latest conversations and insights.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Socials: @whenwomenfly

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What makes one an icon, an idol, an exemplar? What defines our heroes? What does honor and greatness teach us—and why does it matter?

Amy Spowart is the president and CEO of the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF), where she has worked for over 20 years. Amy grew up in a rural town in Pennsylvania with dreams of traveling the world. At age 21, she took her first flight, but it was years later when she started working as the Special Projects Officer and Historian for the NAHF that she fell in love with aviation.

Amy believes that learning about historical figures encourages the leaders of tomorrow to pursue their passions today. Through the NAHF, Amy shares stories of astronauts and aviators to inspire children and adults alike.   

While leading the NAHF, Amy has raised capital, created new programs, grown awareness, and more. Recently the NAHF partnered with PBS for “Discovering Flight,” a curriculum that teaches elementary-age students about aviation and aerospace through STEAM concepts. Amy is passionate about celebrating aerospace and aviation heritage and helping the next generation learn about opportunities in aerospace and aviation. 

In this episode, Sylvia and Amy talk about Amy’s path to becoming the President and CEO of NAHF, the NAHF’s collaboration with PBS and the curriculum rollout, and the 2022 NAHF’s inductees.

Topics Include:
- Stories about pioneers of flight like Bessie Coleman, Eileen Collins, Joe Engles, Jacqueline Cochran, and more. 
- Amy’s role as CEO of NAHF
- Why we all need heroes, children especially
- Why history matters for today
- How to develop future careers in aviation and aerospace
- How to support women in aviation
- The future of aviation
- Challenges overcoming work/life balance
- How sacrifice is necessary for the pursuit of greatness
- Accomplishments of 2022 inductees Willa Brown, Margaret Hamilton, Geraldine Mark
- And other topics…

Amy Spowart is the President and CEO of the National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF), where she currently directs the production of Discovering Flight: Learning with the National Aviation Hall of Fame in collaboration with PBS. Amy is a member of the Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB), she is a 2019 Collier Selection Committee member, and is on the board of directors for the Academic Decathlon of Ohio.  Amy graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wright State University with a double major in History and Classical and Ancient Studies. 

Resources Mentioned:
National Aviation Hall of Fame: https://www.nationalaviation.org/
NAHF 2022 Inductees: https://www.nationalaviation.org/the-national-aviation-hall-of-fame-reveals-theclass-of-2022/
How to Nominate for NAHF: https://www.nationalaviation.org/nominations/
Women in Aviation International: https://www.wai.org/
Final Flight, Final Fight by Erin Miller: https://www.amazon.com/Final-Flight-Fight-Grandmother-Arlington/dp/1733560602

National Aviation Hall of Fame:
https://www.facebook.com/National.Aviation.Hall.of.Fame
https://twitter.com/NAHF
https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-aviation-hall-of-fame
https://www.instagram.