When Women Fly

Every woman harbors the spirit of flight. We talk about it, one story at a time. Our guests include superstar athletes, world champions, aviators, gritty moms, and women who can't be ignored. Join us each week and connect with women who dare to pursue their dreams and fly.

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Episodes

012 Grit & Optimism with Shannon Huffman Polson - Pilot, Veteran, Author

Send us a text In this first episode of 2021, Sylvia talks with Alaska native and speaker Shannon Huffman Polson about her journey as a thought leader on grit and resilience. She served as one of the first women to fly the Apache helicopter in the US Army and earned her MBA at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth before writing The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World and founding The Grit Institute where she coaches people on ...

Jan 07, 2021•1 hr

011 Special New Year Episode

Send us a text In this short New Year's Eve Episode, Sylvia reflects on the complexities and challenges we've gone through collectively in 2020. Sylvia opens up about the formation of the When Women Fly podcast, shares a bit of her backstory, touches on the powerful metaphor of flight, and discusses the value of telling stories. ... Resources mentioned: Diane Ackerman On Extended Wings www.dianeackerman.com Elizabeth Lesser Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Chang...

Dec 31, 2020•16 min

010 Handstands & Helicopters with Leigh Coates - Yogi, Pilot, Entrepreneur

Send us a text In this episode, Sylvia talks with pilot and yogi Leigh Coates about practice, migration, flying, commitment, acceptance, and much more. Her journey is one of a trailblazer bringing dreams to reality and finding a way to pursue a core calling. We talk flying in Alaska, practicing yoga on-the-job, enduring a devastating injury, and using setbacks to comeback with more determination and moxie. We also talk about being an entrepreneur, using photography to share on IG, and the value ...

Dec 23, 2020•58 min

009 Peaks & Powder with Lexi duPont - Big Mountain Skier, Pilot, Filmmaker

Send us a text Sylvia is joined by Lexi duPont , a professional big mountain freeskier, filmmaker, and pilot from Sun Valley, Idaho. She was a Freeskiing World Tour and Red Bull Cold Rush contender, who has been featured in several films such as Warren Miller’s Wintervention and Future Retro . Shaped by Descent is a beautiful story of Lexi's 10-year obsession with the amazing terrain and unparalleled descents in the mountains of Alaska. Topics Include: Growing up in Sun Valley, Idaho Her mom, th...

Dec 16, 2020•1 hr 1 min

008 Oceans & Activism with Belinda Baggs - Patagonia Surf Ambassador

Send us a text Sylvia is joined by Belinda Baggs, a world-renowned Australian longboard surfer, mother and surf ambassador for Patagonia. She campaigns as an athlete and climate activist using photography and film to magnify her message. Belinda, who offers a perspective on what we can do to help, is passionate and deeply tuned into this environment she considers her happiest place, the ocean. Topics Include: Longboard surfing Climate activism Surfing as an art form and a lifestyle Harnessing fe...

Dec 09, 2020•51 min

007 Comradery & Backcountry with Kim Havell - Professional Skier, Guide, Writer

Send us a text Sylvia connects with high school friend, Kim Havell, of Jackson Hole, Wyoming - a mountaineer, professional skier, and mom. Outside Magazine named Kim as a “Preeminent Female Ski Mountaineer of our Time” in 2012. She was listed by Backcountry Magazine as one of “37 Most Important Women in Backcountry”. She has a lineup of past and present sponsors including Salomon and Osprey. Kim shares how she made her way in the mountain sport world, and her transition into parenthood. Topics I...

Dec 02, 2020•55 min

006 Growth Mindset & Service with Bethany Miller - Pilot, Veteran, Author

Send us a text In this episode of When Women Fly, Sylvia is joined by Bethany Miller to discuss living without limits. Bethany is a social scientist, aviator, businesswoman, and self-defined flux agent. Topics Include: - Growth vs fixed mindsets, and how they relate to resiliency - How Bethany forged her own career path, from aviation to businesswoman to author - Playing on the career jungle gym instead of climbing the career ladder - The evolution of work in the post-2008 economic environment -...

Nov 25, 2020•1 hr 8 min

005 Fire & Air with Patty Wagstaff - National Aerobatic Champion

Send us a text Sylvia is joined by Patty Wagstaff to discuss her journey to becoming a US National Aerobatic Champion. Patty was the first woman to achieve this title, a feat she repeated twice thereafter, and has garnered worldwide recognition for her aerobatic routines. Topics Include: Growing up abroad, traveling young Defying expectations of traditional gender roles Learning to fly after an accident while working in Alaska Resiliency, finding a mentor Becoming the first woman US National Aer...

Nov 18, 2020•46 min

004 Connecting Nature & Spirit with Eliza Kerr - Climber, Surfer, Ayurvedic Specialist

Send us a text Sylvia connects with climber, surfer, and ayurvedic specialist Eliza Kerr. Eliza is a founding member of Balanced Rock, and Moonstone Retreat Center. Topics Include: Eliza's transition from Illinois to Yosemite Studying in Nepal Teaching at the Yosemite Institute Facing fear as a climber Risk vs reward in adventure sports Connecting with our authentic selves Processing the death of loved ones Recovering from severe injuries The birth of Balanced Rock Creating a community of women ...

Nov 11, 2020•46 min

003 Growth & Wisdom with Enid Otun - First Female Chief Pilot in Nigeria

Send us a text Sylvia connects with Enid Otun to discuss overcoming childhood trauma and learning to fly. Enid was the first female chief pilot in Nigeria, and hosts the podcast If Women Were Meant To Fly, The Sky Would Be Pink. Topics Include: Being bold. Refusing to be a victim Addressing and working through past traumas Post-traumatic growth and resilience Learning how to accept praise Learning to accept success after years of trauma Taking responsibility for your life Doing the work required...

Nov 11, 2020•53 min

002 Ups & Downs with Nikki Stone - Olympic Gold Medalist in Aerial Skiing

Send us a text Sylvia is joined by US National Ski Hall of Famer Nikki Stone. Nikki became the first American to win a gold medal in inverted aerial skiing in the 1998 Winter Olympics. Topics include: Early dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal Working with fear as an elite athlete Grandma's quote, "The brave do not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all." Recovering from injury, being told to quit, resilience The turtle effect and metaphor Trying new things to stoke old passions Co...

Nov 11, 2020•37 min

001 Love & Hilarity with Melanie Curtis - Professional Skydiver, Author, Coach

Send us a text Sylvia is joined by professional skydiver, author, and podcast host Melanie Curtis. Melanie has completed over 11,000 jumps and has been a leading figure in the sport of skydiving for more than twenty years. Topics Include: Melanie’s first skydiving adventure Facing the fear of death Love and hilarity being the most important things in life Creative self-expression as our greatest contribution Busting false assumptions about pursuing the professional skydiver dream Normalizing men...

Nov 11, 2020•58 min

000 Welcome to When Women Fly!

Send us a text Welcome to the When Women Fly podcast! In this introductory episode, host Sylvia Winter shares what listeners can expect in forthcoming episodes. Want to connect with us? Visit us online! Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/ Instagram: @ whenwomenfly

Oct 28, 2020•2 min

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