When Women Fly

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In this episode, Sylvia talks with Kikkan Randall, a trailblazer in women's sport. They talk about the athlete frame of mind and how it shows up in countless ways from training, team building and competing to fighting cancer, balance and life pivots. Challenges seem to embolden Kikkan. She is candid as she reflects on her journey in sport, life and leadership. She inspires us all to step out of our comfort zone and show up for our dreams, take small actions that serve large goals, give to earnest causes, live life to its fullest and have fun along the way! Enjoy this conversation...

Topics Include:

• Being an Alaskan kid with an active family
• Kikkan's early affinity for sports
• Collaboration and competition in a team culture
• Drawing up a plan for big goals, step-by-step
• Recovering from setbacks and low points
• The performance plateau before a breakthrough
• Becoming a mother between Olympics
• Winning an Olympic Gold Medal
• Breast cancer
• Why sharing stories of vulnerability are important
• Running a 2:55 New York Marathon 
• Leadership and activism with Fast and Female and AKTIV against cancer
• New directions after a successful athletic career
• And much more....

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

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In today's episode, Sylvia is joined by Meagan Davis, Air Force Chaplain, entrepreneur, aviatrix, mentor and creator of Women Rock Wings.  Meagan shares her story from early influences growing in Brooklyn to being called to chaplaincy and learning to fly. They discuss the power of faith, her belief that women were born to soar, and the transformative influence of community. 

During the month of March, Women's History Month, we lean into the power of community by affirming each other’s knowledge and credibility, perhaps what we collectively need most. Meagan is changing the narrative of all women by elevating the voices and using her platform to highlight an adage, "The Future of Flight is Female", an assertion to continue progressing together in all fields.

Topics Include:

• Growing up in Brooklyn and maternal role models
• The influences of being from a matriarchal family
• Finding a path to the Air Force at age 20
• Grit and perseverance–knowing you are more than enough
• Transitioning from aircraft electrician to chaplain
• Misconceptions about the military
• Positive mindset, happiness and joy in the face of adversity
• The power vulnerability has to foster connection
• Creating Women Rock Wings
• Being kind to yourself
• And much more ...

Resources Mentioned:
IG: @womenrockwings

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

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This month of March, we celebrate women's history by leaning into stories where the collective energy of women speaks to the incredible influence of sisterhoods and allies. We talk to women who are deeply involved in creating, nurturing and growing communities.

In today's episode, Sylvia is joined by Carolyn Gardner, the Volée Team Manager at Oiselle, about the community building power of running. They discuss early experiences of intimidation in running groups and how that inspired Carolyn to make a difference, the adaptations and unforeseen wins during COVID, the power of sharing women's stories, and much more. 

Topics Include:

• Growing up in the Chicago
• An early fondness of sports
• The connection between sports and resilience
• Pivoting during COVID
• The Womxn Run the Vote Virtual Relay
• Creating inclusive spaces
• The power of sharing women's stories
• Learning to use your voice
• Connecting into your local community
• And other topics

Resources Mentioned:
www.oiselle.com
www.girlsontherun.org
I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike by Mary Cain

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

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In today's episode, Sylvia speaks with Alaskan glacier pilot, artist, and mother Leighan Falley. Leighan shares with listeners how growing up in the grandeur of Alaska shaped how she engages with the world, her experience as a female pilot, and how she balances her life as an artist, pilot, and mother.

Topics Include:

• Bypassing early gender assumptions
• The legend of the White Wind of Denali
• Transitioning into motherhood
• Attention for being a female pilot
• Using your platform to inspire young women
• Bush pilots vs glacier pilots
• Balancing work, family, and creative expression
• How challenge and adventure fortifies our resilience
• Finding gratitude during COVID
• Embracing the beginner's mindset
• And much more...

Resources Mentioned:
IG: @leighanfalley
What Unites Us by Dan Rather

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

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Anchorage-based nordic skier Rosie Brennan flew to victory in back-to-back World Cup races in December of 2020 on the World Cup cross country skiing circuit in Europe. She became the second American cross-country skier to win back-to-back World Cup races. Rosie joins us on today's episode to share her experience and to discuss making history, the Tour de Ski, the trickle-down effect of female accomplishments, diversity and inclusion in winter sports, what it takes to comeback after setbacks, and much more.

Topics Include:

• Finding a way to thrive and train during COVID
• Doing less to accomplish more
• The FIS Tour de Ski
• Winning back to back world championships
• Balancing being strong-willed and forgiving
• The trickle-down effect of women accomplishments
• Diversity and inclusion in winter sports
• Fast and Female–empowering girls through sport
• Recovering from loss
• Finding release through movement
• And other topics...

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Resources Mentioned:
www.rosiebrennan.com
www.voiceinsports.com
Fast and Female
IG: @rossignolnordic
IG: @rosiebrennan

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

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This episode is an uplifting conversation with Captain-Crystal Stout, an entrepreneur, innovator, balloon pilot and Founder of the Dream Catcher Balloon Rides. Captain-Crystal has a clear and powerful passion for giving back and serving others especially individuals with physical challenges or disabilities. She has found a way to adapt her aircraft and use her love of flight to change lives. 

Topics Include:

• How the Dream Catcher Project came to be.
• Adapting an aircraft for better accessibility.
• The "what's it going to take?" mentality.
• Inspirational stories of Dream Catcher participants. 
• Finding your purpose, and living it every day.
• Hot air balloon competitions.
• How COVID has impacted pilots and business owners. 
• Women empowering other women. 
• Wingwalking school and an Airbnb "Air-Bed-and-Balloon"
• Waking up with joy in your heart.
• And much more..

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Resource Mentioned: 
IG: @balloonprogram 
http://www.dreamcatcherballoon.org/ 

Want to connect with us? Visit us online! 
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/ 
Instagram: @whenwomenfly

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Sylvia is joined by diversity advocate and outdoor enthusiast, Judy Kasiama. Judy is the founder of Colour the Trails, a Vancouver based outdoor community that is aiming to change the lack of diversity and representation for Black and Indigenous People of Color. They provide opportunities for BIPoC individuals and allies to hike, ski, snowboard, snowshoe, and kayak. Judy is the magic behind the growing movement allowing people of all shades and shapes to feel welcome and capable in the outdoors. She makes connections through networks of brands, businesses, and organizations to facilitate opportunities, break barriers and create accessibility in outdoor spaces. 

Topics Include: 

• Early years in D.R. of Congo followed by life as a refugee ...
• Growing up living in different countries...
• The importance of nature and access... 
• Intersectionality and being self-aware... 
• Working with rural communities in East Africa... 
• Limitations of nonprofits, and alternative business structures...  
• The development of Colour the Trails...  
• Performative allyship and how to avoid it... 
• Building authentic relationships with BIPOC communities... 
• The benefits of physical challenges and adventures... 
• The power of persistence... 
• Film and media, to highlight important topics and support Colour the Trails
• And other topics... 

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Resources Mentioned:
IG: @colourthetrails
@jujumil
http://www.colourthetrails.com/
#colourthetrails

Want to connect with us? Visit us online!
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Instagram: @whenwomenfly

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In this episode, Sylvia talks with pilot, visionary and strategist Ivy McIver, the Director of the SR Product Line at Cirrus Aircraft. Ivy talks about parachutes in airplanes, where planes can go and how they can change your life, why training is so critical, the importance of collaboration in the design process and bringing outrageous innovations to market. They also dig into the psychology of endurance multi-sports and how lessons learned from extreme physical challenges can be applied in other areas of life.

Topics Include:

• Laser focus in pursuit of a dream as a child and Top Gun
• Adapting to circumstances and the tyranny of minimum height requirements
• General aviation and the adventure that profits
• Moving job titles from computer programer, to salesperson, to innovator and influencer
• Working in a male-dominated industry
• Extreme endurance sports such as completing 10-day races
• Lessons learned from team adventure races
• Overcoming the fear of failure
• Risk tolerance in relationships
• And other topics...

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Resources Mentioned:
http://www.cirrusaircraft.com/

Want to connect with us? Visit us online!
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Instagram: @whenwomenfly

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Sylvia is joined by social entrepreneur, pilot, and educator Refilwe Ledwaba.  Refilwe is the first black woman from South Africa to fly a helicopter and she is also the first black woman to fly for the South African Police Service. Most recently she founded  the Girls Fly Program in Africa, a nonprofit designed to shape, empower, enable and support the next generation of changemakers and problemsolvers in the aviation and space industry.

Topics Include:

• Growing up in apartheid South Africa 
• An upbringing surrounded by strong women
• The importance of seeing people that look like you in positions you aspire to
• Giving recognition to the changemakers that came before us
• The burden of being “the first”
• The danger associated with breaking glass ceilings
• Pre and post apartheid
• The spirit of ubuntu ~ "I am because we are"
• Transforming community through mindset and education
• Flying into remote villages in Africa to run workshops in STEAM and design 
• Becoming an Obama Foundation Fellow and a Gates Foundation Goalkeeper
• Pivoting during COVID to serve a community with minimal internet access
• The problem of access and the digital divide
• Pausing to heal and self-reflect during quarantine
• And other topics...

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www.gfpafoundation.org
www.areye.africa

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin
@gfpafoundation
@areyestories

Instagram @refilwe_led
Facebook: Refilwe Ledwaba
Linkedin: Refilwe ledwaba

#gfpafoundation #areyestories

Want to connect with us? Visit us online!
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Instagram: @whenwomenfly

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Sylvia is joined by entrepreneur, pilot, and watchmaker Abingdon Mullin. A successful businesswoman and a mentor, Abingdon drew inspiration from her love of flying to build the lifestyle brand Abingdon Co. The founder of the Abingdon Foundation, Abingdon has channeled her influence into empowering women to pursue their dreams in STEAM (science, tech, engineering, art and math) fields and enabling ventures in entrepreneurship.

Topics Include:

• Abingdon's eclectic background and influences
• Goal setting, shooting for the moon, internal motivation
• How a free food event turned into a lifetime of flying
• The entrepreneurial spirit–building a lifestyle brand
• Lessons learned as a young entrepreneur
• Building business relationships
• Her appearances on Wild Flying Alaska, and ABC's Shark Tank
• Scaling the Abingdon Co. brand
• The Abingdon Foundation and empowering entrepreneurs
• Nurturing the spirit of adventure in other women
• And other topics...

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Resources Mentioned:
https://theabingdonco.com
https://abingdonfoundation.org

Want to connect with us? Visit us online!
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Instagram: @whenwomenfly