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Today, we highlight Refilwe Ledwaba in the fourth episode of our Summer Series. Refilwe is a social entrepreneur, pilot, and educator. She is Founder of the Girls Fly Programme in Africa, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young women to pursue careers in STEAM fields and to foster innovation in their communities.

Sylvia and Refilwe talk about the messiness of change and complexity of transformation both personal and cultural. Refilwe speaks to growing up in apartheid South Africa, the digital divide in rural areas, the reality of being an only, oversized overalls, the emotional roller coaster that comes with public praise, failure and scrutiny, the spirit of Ubuntu, how interdependence informs her mission, the power of role models, and much more.

Topics Include:

• The art of the pivot in a mission-driven organization
• Accessibility and the digital divide that hinders disadvantaged communities 
• The invitation to personal transformation that COVID offers us
• Failure and expectations
• Introspection and self-discovery
• Getting clear on the"why" that drives your actions
• Calibrating definitions of success to align with your deeper purpose
• Staying true to your mission during tumultuous times
• The art of resiliency
• And other topics...

Refilwe Ledwaba is a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot, a flight instructor, an advocate for women's rights and a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation goalkeeper who made history by becoming the first black female pilot to fly for the police service in South Africa. She teaches young pilots in training how to operate aircraft. She also runs the Girls Fly Programme in Africa (GFPA), a foundation with a focus on introducing elementary and high school students to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Ledwaba grew up in Limpopo, a province in the northeast of South Africa. Her mother, a teacher, raised seven children alone. She says her upbringing influenced her chosen path.

Guest Links:
https://www.gfpafoundation.org/
https://www.areye.africa/
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn: @gfpafoundation, @areyestories
#gfpafoundation #areyestories

Resources Mentioned:
Our full episode with Refilwe: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1423273/7342762
TED - The Danger of a Single Story: https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story

Instagram: @refilwe_led
Facebook: Refilwe Ledwaba
Linkedin: Refilwe ledwaba

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Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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Email – [email protected]

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Today we highlight Kikkan Randall in the third episode of our Summer Series. Kikkan is an American Olympic champion cross-country skier, mother, breast cancer survivor, and so much more. Here we highlight the athletic mindset, stigmas around mental health in our culture, and what it takes to pursue excellence in any field.

She speaks to motivation, grit, excellence, patience, and the importance of a healthy mindset.  An advocate for active lifestyles and active parenting it is especially fun to talk about the flipside of accomplishments and titles and dive into her insights into vulnerability, slowing down, consistency, and team building.

Topics Include:

• The psychological edge that accompanies world-class athletes
• Competing in the 2002 Olympics at age nineteen
• Becoming a mother between Olympics
• Winning the Gold Medal at the 2018 Olympics 
• Beating breast cancer
• Balancing passions and careers
• And other topics...

Kikkan Randall 5X Olympian, gold medalist PyeongChang 2018, “Get-Activist”, and Mom Athlete. Kikkan is an American, Olympic champion cross-country skier. She has won 17 U.S. National titles, taken home 17 U.S. Championships, made 16 podiums in the Stage World Cup. She was the first American female cross-country skier to take a top ten finish in World Cup competition, to win a World Cup race and to win a World Cup discipline title. In addition, she finished the New York City Marathon clocking 2:55:12, just one year after her final round of chemotherapy for stage 2 breast cancer. As an active lifestyle proponent, she is also an Ambassador for Fast and Female, an empowerment workshop program for young girls. And, fun fact, she began skiing to stay in shape for cross-country running.

Resources Mentioned:
www.kikkan.com
IG: @kikkanimal
Fast and Female
ACTIV Against Cancer
US Cross Country Skiing

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Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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Email – [email protected]

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In today's episode, we celebrate pioneering women by revisiting Patty Wagstaff and cheering for Wally Funk. The original recording with Patty took place in the Fall of 2020 and pushed out as Episode 5 - a long form interview well worth a revisit. Today we have compiled a highlight episode that speaks to Patty’s work, wit and passion for flying alongside some of the less known aspects of what motivates her and how she focuses. Never a dull moment, always a next move, and nearing 70, Patty will impress, endear and inspire you.  You can watch her air show performance at AirVenture Oshkosh 2021.

This week would not be complete without a shout out for Wally Funk. Regardless of when you are listening to this, marking this moment on the When Women Fly podcast is like staking territory and claiming space in our current culture for the phenomena of when women fly. Wally Funk symbolizes women rising into what is deserved and earned. Also, the integration of allies and shifting systems dismantle barriers-to-entry and give seats at the table, literally give seats on the rocket ship, and give a platform for women to be seen and heard.

Topics Include:

• Blue Origin and Wally Funk's spaceflight with Jeff Bezos
• How to join Patty for a ride in her show plane
• Winning U.S. National Aerobatic Championship and defending the title
• Motivation to be a "first woman" champion
• The mindset of an elite performer and neurodiversity
• Finding focus and being attentive while ADD
• Stigma around learning and thinking differences
• Committing to excellence and persistence
• And other topics...

To Patty Wagstaff the sky represents beauty, freedom and challenge. A six-time member of the US Aerobatic Team, she is the first woman to win the title of US National Aerobatic champion and one of the few people to win it three times. Patty continues to fly airshows worldwide, and when not flying, she leads an active lifestyle and enjoys working out, riding horses, hanging out with her dogs and her parrot, Buddha, or at the beach. She loves good restaurants, music, reading, and cooking too!

Her latest venture is producing a series of educational and instructional videos on aerobatics with Sporty's Pilot Shop in Clermont, Ohio, with its first two releases “Introduction to Aerobatics” and “Basic Aerobatics” newly released. 

Patty Wagstaff Airshows, Inc. and Patty Wagstaff Aviation Safety LLC are based in St. Augustine, Florida.

Resources Mentioned:
https://pattywagstaff.com
Fly With Patty – https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=15&v=raJ17MKOwaI&feature=emb_logo
Wally Funk – https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/science/wally-funk-jeff-bezos.html

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Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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Email – [email protected]

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Flying into the wind is a tried-and-true way to get off the ground more quickly. But, there are times when taking off is just not a good idea: the crosswinds are too strong for you or the aircraft’s limitation, the runway too short, the visibility too poor, the load to heavy, or the density altitude too high. And these are times we calculate the risks and ultimately decide it could be better, wiser to stay grounded and watch the weather pass. I feel like we have spent 16 months watching the weather pass, calclating and recalculating risk. 

And then, the weather passes, the winds are calm, the day clears – and have you forgotten how to fly? 

In this episode, Sylvia introduces the Summer Series and the shorter summer format.  We break from the usual interview format to check-in. As always, you will hear story, reflection and practical advice about flying, the sense of flight and what it means to defy the laws of the familiar, persistent and somewhat limiting laws of gravity. 

Highlights include:

• Introduction to the Summer Series format
• Taking off into the wind
• The pros and cons of being grounded
• "Meh" 
• Seasonal changes and adjusting patterns
• A passage from "On Extended Wings" by Diane Ackerman
• And a few more gems...

Sylvia Winter is the Host and Creator of the When Women Fly podcast and community. To find out more about the the podcast visit the website or find us on social media.

Review and share this or any episode that resonates with you. Believe in the transformative power of story, just share an episode and you will have amplified a story that just might spark a pivotal moment for someone 

Give us some feedback,  help spread the word and grow what you have come to listen to here – a celebration of women and the spirit of flight.

Let’s keep learning together. Be bold. Be brave. And FLY!

Book Mentioned: On Extended Wings by Diane Ackerman

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I dare you to not be inspired by what Dr. Cecilia Rodriguez Aragon has done with her life. In today’s episode Cecilia shares her story of moving through fear, learning to fly and dismantling the perceived limitations that gripped her imagination. For little girls and women aspiring to achieve great things, it’s the story of overcoming incredible barriers and achieving your dreams. And for the rest, it’s a reminder of the consequences of unexamined implicit bias, privilege, bullying, and negativity.

The slow therapy of discipline, repetition, and consistency alongside the ability to literally turn the perspective of the world upside down in aerobatics – marks when she really started to soar.

An uplifting conversation, we draw on references to her recent memoir Flying Free: My Victory over Fear to Become the First Latina Pilot on the US Aerobatic Team that tells the exhilarating story of how she broke free from her own fears to become a champion pilot.

We dive into how she went from timid, fearful daughter of immigrants to daredevil airshow pilot while raising children and asking hard questions of the data science industry.

 Cecilia’s multiple talents include champion aerobatic pilot, many times author, fluency in 4 four languages and professor in human centered data science. Her innovative research, and a stint at NASA designing software for Mars missions, led President Obama to call her “one of the top scientists and engineers in the country.”  

Topics Include:

• The impact of childhood teachers and role models
• Intersectionality ( American - Chilean - Filipino )
• Growing up first-generation American
• Bullying and intergenerational trauma
• Examining “selfish” 
• Speaking your truth
• Earning a place on the US Aerobatic Team
• Competing in France and patriotism
• Innovative mentoring using online networks
• The influence of teacher expectations in determining our success
• The field of Human-Centered Data Science
• And other topics...

Dr. Cecilia Aargon is the director of the Human-Centered Data Science Lab at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on enabling humans to explore and gain insight from vast data sets. She has over 200 publications in data science, human-computer interaction, visual analytics, computer science, and astrophysics. Following a passion for flying unusual attitudes, she won a bronze medal at the 1993 U.S. National Aerobatic Championships and the 1994 World Aerobatic Championships. She has over 70 trophies in regional aerobatic competitions at the Unlimited level and was California State Unlimited Aerobatic Champion in 1990.

Resources Mentioned:
Connect With Cecilia – https://linktr.ee/CeciliaAragon
Book – Flying Free by Cecilia Aragon (https://www.amazon.com/Flying-Free-Victory-Become-Aerobatic/dp/1665088087)
https://CeciliaAragonAuthor.com/
https://www.instagram.com/CeciliaRAragon/
https://twitter.com/CeciliaRAragon
https://www.facebook.com/CeciliaAragonAuthor/

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Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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Email – [email protected]

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Books, writing and the Literary Aviatrix. Today’s guest, Liz Booker, a consummate leader, shares what drives her dedication to amplifying the voices of women in aviation and her ingenuity. With just a GED, she worked herself up the ranks from a non-rate enlistee in the US Coast Guard to lieutenant commander, and eventually attended Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

She knows a thing or two about navigating adversity, flying under pressure, leading the way for women in the male-dominated fields, rising in the ranks (from barnacle scraper to senior military representative), transforming a personal passion into a community project, and books, books, and more books about women and flying. 

Sylvia and Liz talk about what happened in 2020 that made community building so needed and relevant and the importance of a positive mindset. Liz shares the need behind amplifying the voices of women in aviation any how she promotes books, authors, and discussions via the Aviatrix Book Review website and Facebook Group Aviatrix Book Club.

Topics Include:

• Women, visibility and access
• Leveraging social media to build community
• Collecting 500 + book titles on women in aviation
• The power of vulnerability 
• Leadership and how to be an effective leader
• Balancing career and family planning as a working mom
• Planning as a critical organizational structure
• Building virtual social communities
• Mentorship
• Kiteboarding, seaplanes, and the Paris Airshow
• And much more...

Liz Booker is now a full-time writer working on her first novel and living in Florida with her family and dogs. She spent 28-years as a US Coast Guard helicopter pilot and cycled up to various positions such as national security expert, human resources manager, counter-narcotics and trafficking mission operator and foreign diplomat. She is experienced in networking and mentoring women and underrepresented professionals to help them achieve their goals. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Liz Booker – https://linktr.ee/literaryaviatrix
Instagram - @literaryaviatrix
Aviatrix Book Review Podcast – https://www.buzzsprout.com/1568443
On-Ramps and Off-Ramps by Sylvia Ann Hewlett – https://www.amazon.com/Off-Ramps-Ramps-Keeping-Talented-Success/dp/1422101029

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Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest – @whenwomenfly
Email – [email protected]

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How can we break away from the traditional confines of motherhood and integrate our passions with our family life? What can flying teach us and our kids about navigating the twists and turns of this wild life?

Marissa Colclasure helps to redefine what we think of as the “typical” mom. A single mother of three, Marissa has found a way to integrate her love for flight and adventure with her work and family responsibilities.

In this episode, Sylvia and Marissa discuss how pursuing our passions can influence our loved ones, the light we become for the world when we lean into what sets our heart on fire, navigating the inevitable turbulence in life and in the air, and much more.

Topics Include:

• The early impact of losing her father, the pilot, in a plane accident
• Skydiving, flying trapeze, silks, and wing walking
• The motherhood /  adventure balance and risk mitigation
• What flying can teach us about everyday life
• STEM / STEAM projects and how we get hands-on with kids
• Building a Pietenpol plane as a family
• Accessibility and access for women in aviation
• Becoming a high-conflict divorce coach and why
• And other topics...

Marissa Colclasure has over 18 years of experience as a flight instructor. Captivated by the romance of flight, her belief is that flying is an art and pilots are the poets destined to write their own stories. When not flying barefoot in a tailwheel, she’s adventuring with her three kids, flying trapeze, hiking, and traveling.

Resources Mentioned:
IG – @barefoot_flying_mom
Book – Becoming Better Grownups: Rediscovering What Matters and Remembering How to Fly

West Coast Aerobatics teaching in a Super Decathalon, Cessna 170 and soon online a Stearman
https://flywca.com/

Those going through a high conflict divorce and where to find coaches. https://www.onemomsbattle.com/

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Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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Email – [email protected]

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Let's take a deeper look at women who fly, modern feminism, and how adventurous women are  stitched into a narrative about freedom and control ranging widely through myth, religion, and iconography - this story of 'sky-going females'.

In this episode, Sylvia talks to Serinity Young PhD about her astonishing study into women and flight chronicled in the 2018 book, Women Who Fly: Goddesses, Witches, Mystics, and other Airborne Females. To take the concept of airborne women and unfolds a deep and thought provoking investigation into the recurrent motif of women free from earthly constraints and empowered with the ability of flight, Serinity speaks to a timeless human aspiration to be unbound, free, and powerful.

From Sanskrit myths and apsaras to the Wonder Woman comics, from Dante's guide in Paradise (the winged Beatrice) and Freud's interpretation of dreams of flying, to the winged goddess of victory in Greece, Serinity masterfully weaves together a global history of women in flight. She talks about the symbolism of fleeing - by flying - the constraints of patriarchy.

They discuss legends, myths, rituals, sacred narratives, and artistic productions all while shining a light on how airborne women have been both influenced and been understood by society and religious traditions and much more.

Topics Include:

• The archetype of flying women
• The depiction of ariel women in captivity starting in the dark ages
• Witches, shamans, mystics, goddesses
• “Exceptional women” 
• Wonder Woman, duality and the conundrum of love
• Untold stories, 'herstories', and Cornelia Fort 
• Amelia Earhart, more than a mystery
• Female power and sexuality.
• And other topics...

Serinity Young Ph.D. is a Research Associate at the Department of Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History. She is a professor of Classical Middle Eastern and Asian Language and Cultures at Queens College in New York. Young is the author of several books including Women Who Fly: Goddesses, Witches, Mystics, and other Airborne Females where she examines the motif of the flying woman as it appears in a wide variety of cultures and historical periods, in legends, myths, rituals, sacred narratives, and artistic productions.
 
Resources Mentioned:
Book – Women Who Fly: Goddesses, Witches, Mystics, and other Airborne Females by Serinity Young Ph.D.
Book – The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
...

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How can we stay true to ourselves when the neat boxes society organizes us in are stifling? What are dreams and passions if not our guide and confidant? What are the costs and the rewards of a passion-driven life?

In today's episode, Sylvia talks to Sarah Halas, flight instructor and mountain guide from Truckee, California.  Sarah shares her story of finding flying amongst other pursuits that would  bring her deeper into mountains.  Challenging assumptions and defying gender roles from the beginning, Sarah has built her life around a love for exploring and physically pushing limits of endurance, alongside a passion for travel, language, and culture.  Join us as we dive deep into the issues and practicalities around valuing transience, crafting a life rid of preconceived notions of womanhood, trusting yourself to color outside the lines, and so much more.

Topics Include:

• Early adventures abroad
• The lasting influence of international travel
• Becoming a mountain guide
• The challenges of aviation school
• A life-changing trip to Antarctica
• Discovering a passion for pilot training
• Intuitive flying
• Self-care
• Designing a values-based lifestyle
• Truckee Flight Training
• And other topics...

Sarah Halas has been a professional pilot for over a decade. Hailing from Truckee, California, Sarah is the owner of Truckee Flight Training where she offers a full range of flight lessons from private pilot training to mountain flying courses and instrument training.

Website:  Www.truckeeflighttraining.com 
IG:  @sarahhalas @truckeeflighttraining

...

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Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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Email – [email protected]

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What institutional barriers are (still!) holding back world-class female athletes, and what can we do about it?

In this episode, Sylvia is joined by Tara Geraghty-Moats, the Nordic combined women’s World Cup champion in 2021, the first season females were granted a World Cup. The sport, which pairs up ski jumping with a pursuit-start skate ski race, was an original men's event in the first 1924 Winter Olympic program. However, as an Olympic sport, Nordic combined remains the only sport, today, that women cannot compete in and are blocked from participating in despite their exceptional physical accomplishments. Sylvia and Tara discuss the challenges and successes faced in her career as a female athlete and an advocate for gender equality.

As we look at ways in which women fly and impediments fixated on denying women opportunities to elevate themselves, this story of gender inequity is dismal but Tara is spirited, optimistic and always ready to pivot, ski, race, and fly on skis - so watch out!

Topics Include:

• Growing up in Vermont on skis
• Environmentalism and sustainable living
• The gender pay gap for elite-level athletes
• Concentration and balance during high-pressure performances
• The institutional barriers blocking the nordic combined women in the  Winter Olympics 
• Access and visibility for female athletes
• Advocacy for marginalized groups 
• And other topics....

Tara Geraghty-Moats, who won the inaugural FIS Nordic Combined World Cup in Ramsau, Austria and took home the Overall Crystal Globe for the season in 2021. Geraghty-Moats grew up in West Fairlee, Vermont and has been competing on the Ski Jumping World Cup circuit since 2014.

The most successful female Nordic Combined athlete of the last few years, USA’s Tara Geraghty-Moats, has decided to put her career in Nordic Combined on hold in favour of studying and returning to biathlon.

She is a passionate gender equality advocate and will soar, regardless the obstacles.

Resources Mentioned:
Tara's IG – @tarageraghtymoats
Book – WOLFPACK by Abby Wambach

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Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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Email – [email protected]