Send us a text 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 Afric...
Aug 05, 2021•27 min
Send us a text 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 espe...
Jul 29, 2021•28 min
Send us a text 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...
Jul 22, 2021•27 min
Send us a text 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 wa...
Jul 15, 2021•11 min
Send us a text 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, bullyin...
Jul 08, 2021•57 min
Send us a text 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 ma...
Jul 01, 2021•59 min
Send us a text 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 ou...
Jun 24, 2021•59 min
Send us a text 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 unfol...
Jun 17, 2021•56 min
Send us a text 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 f...
Jun 10, 2021•58 min
Send us a text 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...
Jun 03, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Send us a text How can we break through our perceived limitations and pursue our ambitions and dreams? How do we manage the assumptions that others project onto us? Being born without arms has not deterred Jessica Cox from being an ambitious dream chaser. In this episode, Sylvia is joined by Jessica to discuss the remarkable life she's created for herself as a pilot, martial artist, athlete, and keynote speaker. Jessica shares with listeners how we can dig deep and cultivate the resiliency neede...
May 27, 2021•52 min
Send us a text How can we take action and make a difference in our communities? What would it look like to live in integrity with our deepest spiritual beliefs? In this episode, Sylvia is joined by Ashaba Faridah to discuss interweaving our personal and spiritual lives, finding ways to give back and be of service, what flying can teach us about life, and much more. Ashaba Faridah grew up on the outskirts of Kampala city, Uganda. She is one of a small handful of female pilots in Uganda and is the...
May 20, 2021•49 min
Send us a text What will it take to raise more women into leadership positions? How can men and women show up as allies to create meaningful and lasting change? In this episode, Sylvia is joined by Linda Lindquist-Bishop to discuss how we can set up the women of today to be successful in leadership positions, what it means to choose love over fear in our relationships and in our lives, why racing sailboats is the best leadership development strategy, and much more. Topics Include Innate versus l...
May 13, 2021•1 hr 19 min
Send us a text Sylvia is joined by dance ethnologist, flying trapeze artist and executive coach Dr. Edy Greenblatt, Ph.D., to 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 should learn to work with our fear rather than against, and much more. Topics include: Defining resilience Work as enrichment to life vs. work as depleting The myth...
May 06, 2021•56 min
Send us a text In this episode of When Women Fly you'll meet first-generation Alaskan and distinctively awesome person, Jamie Klaes, Director of Aviation for Alaska EXCEL, a nonprofit that provides resources and skills for rural youth across Alaska. She also flies Medevac missions to rural villages in remote areas and is a backcountry flight instructor in remote Alaska – on floats and skis. She was a dog sledding guide, Former Mayor of Bettles and spent summers as tour pilot around Denali, the l...
Apr 29, 2021•58 min
Send us a text This week, to celebrate Earth Day, Sylvia is joined by Shannon Switzer Swanson, a National Geographic Explorer, marine social ecologist, and surfer to probe the intersection of storytelling, research, art and science. They talk about 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 work with conservation and she continues to ask difficult questions, such as: “Can coastal commu...
Apr 22, 2021•51 min
Send us a text In this episode, Sylvia is joined by Melissa Burns, a professional aerobatic pilot, display skydiver, B.A.S.E. Jumper and mom. As a pilot and athlete, she was the youngest female member of the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Team in history and competed for 10 years. Melissa was named the Fastest Woman in the World at the World Champion Wingsuit Jumping Race in Norway and has numerous Skydiving World Records. She is Assistant Professor of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aer...
Apr 15, 2021•1 hr 17 min
Send us a text In this episode, Sylvia is joined by Canadian Sasha Gollish, professional runner, performance engineer, speaker and educator. They discuss lessons on and off the track, balancing work and play, diversifying your sport, making choices not sacrifices, navigating academia as an educator, deconstructing personal narratives, daily doses of nature and adventure, and much more. Sasha also loves to ski and is passionate about making fast turns on the track and on the slopes. She shares wh...
Apr 08, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Send us a text Sylvia is joined by Lindsay Bourgoine, the Vice President of Programs and Operations for Protect Our Winters , POW, a community of athletes, scientists, creatives, and business leaders advancing non-partisan policies that protect our world today and for future generations. Have you ever wondered how your passion for the outdoors can help save it? They discuss how individuals influence collective change, the impact of leveraging athletes' authority on the environment, the opportuni...
Apr 01, 2021•58 min
Send us a text In today's episode, Sylvia is joined by Melissa Lowe to talk about being a pioneer in the sport of skydiving. She shares openly how she has integrated entrepreneurship, skydiving, yoga and family with her history, personal struggles, lessons on what has worked and a unique perspective on role models, mentors and confronting angst and fear. They talk about comradery and loss in a tight-knit community, and much more. Melissa holds 23 skydiving world records and is a licensed pilot, ...
Mar 25, 2021•59 min
Send us a text 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,...
Mar 18, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Send us a text 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 othe...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Send us a text 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 insp...
Mar 04, 2021•51 min
Send us a text 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 ins...
Feb 25, 2021•52 min
Send us a text 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 afte...
Feb 18, 2021•59 min
Send us a text 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...
Feb 11, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Send us a text 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 i...
Feb 04, 2021•55 min
Send us a text 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 ...
Jan 28, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Send us a text 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 Sout...
Jan 21, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Send us a text 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 infl...
Jan 14, 2021•49 min
