Send us a text How do you show up in an uncertain world? Show up for yourself. This episode about preparation, presence, and presentation. As our lives are unpredictable, we see over and over how showing up moves us closer to our dreams and breaks the girdle of paralysis. This week, Sylvia talks to Vanessa Blakeley, a certified pilot by 17 and one who was enthralled by flying from an early age. However, during her junior year of college, a family tragedy changed the trajectory of her life and ca...
Jun 21, 2022•56 min
Send us a text In this companion episode, we explore the topic of growth – specifically, the growth mindset. Growth can be scary, and yet, it is so necessary for us to achieve our dreams! The growth mindset concept seems to be everywhere these days, from the boardroom to the classroom and beyond. In this episode, we discuss how cultivating a growth mindset allows us to embrace difficulties and challenges, and how our brains learn through effort and persistence. We also dig into "15 Ways to Becom...
Jun 17, 2022•8 min
Send us a text As part of our Season III relaunch this week, we are revisiting a few 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. This is the story of an athletic prodigy. It’s also the story of how setbacks become catalysts for change, how determination fuels a dream, and how a drive for adventure can evolve. And it is a story of risk-taking, mountain life, and personal re...
Jun 15, 2022•1 hr 9 min
Send us a text Merryl Tengesdal is one of aviation's most fascinating women. With accomplished careers in both the Navy and the Air Force, Merryl’s perhaps most notable achievement is being the only African American woman to fly the United States Air Force's U-2 aircraft, a spy plane used for specialized high-altitude reconnaissance missions. Flying the U-2 requires grit, confidence, and extreme focus, all qualities that have earned Merryl the privilege of sharing the spy plane’s nickname, The D...
Jun 13, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Send us a text In this companion episode, we explore the life of Bessie Coleman – the first black woman in the world to earn a pilot's license. Bessie's story is one of grit and determination. Being barred from flight school in the US because of her race and gender, Bessie made her way to France to learn to fly. During her training, she witnessed a fellow student crash and lose their life, but even this would not deter her. Listen in to learn about the life of Bessie Coleman, and be sure to chec...
Jun 10, 2022•9 min
Send us a text As part of our Season III relaunch this week, we are revisiting a few 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 is joined by Linda Lindquist-Bishop a World Champion Sailor. She is a tireless competitor, thinker, strategist, and advocate for women in sport. This conversation is real talk about courage, positioning women of today to b...
Jun 08, 2022•1 hr 15 min
Send us a text Michelle “Mace” Curran is known for her impressive thirteen-year career as a fighter pilot flying F-16s. She went on to serve three years as the only female pilot for Air Force's elite demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds, where she was only the second woman to fly as the Lead Solo in the Thunderbird demonstration since the team’s creation in 1953. It may seem like Michelle always was self-assured and confident, but throughout her journey, Michelle faced feelings of self-doubt...
Jun 06, 2022•1 hr 9 min
Send us a text As a child, Carole Hopson spent hours lying on the grass in her grandparents’ backyard watching the planes arrive at Philadelphia International Airport. However, it took decades for Carole to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot. Today, Carole flies a Boeing 737 for United Airlines as a First Officer. Black women make up less than one percent of all certified pilots, and Carole is one of them. Carole’s story is one of inspiration, bravery, chasing dreams, and taking risks. Before ...
Jun 06, 2022•57 min
Send us a text Every woman harbors the spirit of flight. We talk about it, one story at a time. Our guests include superstar athletes, world champions, aviators, and women who chart their own courses. Join us each week and connect with women who dare to pursue their dreams and fly. Welcome to our third season of When Women Fly! 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. Be bold,...
Jun 06, 2022•5 min
Send us a text In 2011, award-winning executive creative director Libby DeLana challenged herself to walk every day for 30 days. It has now been ten years since Libby took on this challenge, and she hasn't missed a day! Libby has walked 25,000+ miles, which equates to walking around the circumference of the earth and then some. These daily walks have transformed Libby’s life. She has been able to slow down and reconnect with herself and the world around her. She has discovered how walking allows...
Jan 04, 2022•55 min
Send us a text In this end-of-the-year bonus episode, Sylvia shares why she took her first break in publishing new episodes this December. She discusses what listeners can expect in 2022, the difficulty of balancing child-rearing with aging parents, and more. Want to connect? Visit us online and signup for the monthly WWF newsletter! Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/ Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest – @whenwomenfly Email – hello@whenwomenfly.com...
Dec 31, 2021•11 min
Send us a text In this short solo episode, host Sylvia Winter connects with listeners on the topic of perceived limitations. With a little investigation, we often find these limitations are nothing more than a figment of our imagination. But how can we see this for ourselves? Sylvia also discusses the healing power of Yoga and invites you to join her and Nathania Stambouli for a FREE five-day Yoga workshop. The workshop will run December 27th-31st. Grab the details by clicking the link below. Re...
Dec 07, 2021•13 min
Send us a text In today’s short episode, Sylvia discusses balancing productivity and wellness. She discusses the story of the golden goose, pacing yourself on life’s journey, and the transformative power of story. Stay tuned for our lineup of new guest episodes, coming soon! In the meantime, take a moment to revisit your old favorites and to catch up on missed episodes. Enjoy the holiday season, and don’t forget to make time for yourself. Previous Episodes Mentioned: 004 Eliza Kerr: https://www....
Nov 30, 2021•6 min
Send us a text Where is your growth edge? What action can you take today to push yourself outside of your comfort zone? Sylvia takes questions from When Women Fly listeners in this first installment of the Ask Me Anything series. She explores finding your growth edge, stepping outside our comfort zone, and how committing to a practice that challenges us can push us towards growth. Topics Include: Insights gleaned from Sylvia’s conversation with Nathania Stambouli How Sylvia finds guests for the ...
Nov 23, 2021•17 min
Send us a text 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. 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 – unders...
Nov 16, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Send us a text This is the story of an athletic prodigy. It’s also the story of how setbacks become catalysts for change, how determination fuels a dream, and how a drive for adventure can evolve. And it is a story of risk-taking, mountain life, and personal reflection that characterize what it takes to ski and fly in the backcountry. For pro-skier Caite Zeliff , the derailing of her career as a ski racer was an opportunity to reconnect with herself and become the athlete she was always meant to...
Nov 09, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Send us a text A heartfelt and honest conversation with Ashleigh Thompson - a Red Lake Ojibwe tribal member, avid trail runner, rock climber, snowboarder, scholar and archaeologist - about aligning values and advocating. Ashleigh shares her stories about the problematic myths of the land and Indigenous people, intergenerational trauma, and systemic mindsets connected with the term “public land”. We dive into how the current discourse on land can directly work against creating inclusive and respe...
Nov 02, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Send us a text What happens when you have two very big but different dreams vying for your focus? Do you choose one? Or do you risk pursuing both and in doing so commit to a bigger conversation? This was the dilemma faced by today’s guest—a woman who knows a thing or two about what it takes to face the odds, execute physical comebacks and establish herself as a legend in the world of snowboarding. Meet Kimmy Fasani — Snowboarder. Voice for female athletes. Mother. Mountain Baker. Author. Directo...
Oct 26, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Send us a text Mandy Hoffman seems to do it all. Balancing being a flight attendant, business owner, and mother of two children may seem like an impossible task. Her secret? Put your oxygen mask on first! In this episode, Sylvia and Mandy discuss finding the courage to stand up for what you believe in and pursue your dreams. They discuss the complicated balance of wellness, how Mandy’s online fitness program Strong Flight is helping people meet their fitness goals, body positivity and body shami...
Oct 19, 2021•53 min
Send us a text In this episode, we talk to Olga Custodio about finding success in a male-dominated profession, balancing family and professional life when pursuing career goals, why accessibility is the key to mentorship, and much more. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Olga Custodio didn’t give up on her dream of serving her country when she was repeatedly blocked from enlisting in the military. Ten years after her first attempted she was finally accepted into the US Air Force, becoming the first Lati...
Oct 12, 2021•58 min
Send us a text When Michelle Snow was young, there was no professional basketball league for women in the United States. Despite no clear path to success, and despite her doubters, Michelle dreamed that she would one day realize her dream of making a career as a professional basketball player. And did she ever! On November 30, 2000, Michelle’s fate of making it to a professional league was sealed when she became the first woman to dunk in a nationally televised basketball game. She hasn’t slowed...
Oct 05, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Send us a text Amberly Brown is no stranger to flying her body thousands of feet above the ground. A skydiver, surfer, photographer, and native Alaskan, Amberly has spent her life finding the edge and pushing limits. In today's episode, Amberly speaks to the fragility of life and the resilience required to take on risks. She shares what she's learned from multiple near-death experiences, personal loss, taking action and chasing her dreams, and so much more. A big thanks to Amberly for sharing he...
Sep 28, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Send us a text What happens when we find the courage to follow our heart, pursue a dream, and fly? Nathania Stambouli may just have the answer for us. Our first episode of Season II features Nathania Stambouli, Founder of Yogi Flight School and a devotee of transformation. Nathania is in the business of changing lives as a yoga instructor, retreat leader, and small business coach. In this episode, Sylvia and Nathania debunk misconceptions about yoga and who yoga is for. They discuss why everythi...
Sep 21, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Send us a text Welcome to Season II of the When Women Fly podcast! As we transition from summer to fall and celebrate the autumn equinox, we acknowledge the persistence of transformation and change. Equal dark and equal light, the time when everything starts to shift and we let go. Through all the ruptures of the past year and more we have been given so much to learn and callings to live differently. But how to do that and how to begin? We have a rockstar lineup of shows in store for you. In thi...
Sep 21, 2021•8 min
Send us a text Sylvia connects with listeners to close out Season I of the When Women Fly podcast, and to introduce Season II launching Tuesday, September 21st. In our nearly 50 episodes and 10,000 downloads, this project has continued to iterate and take on new meaning. A special thanks to each one of our guests, our listeners, and everyone who has shown up to make this project possible. Join us for Season II as we continue to share the stories of women who are shining examples of what’s possib...
Sep 16, 2021•8 min
Send us a text Today, we highlight Sasha Gollish in the ninth installment of our Summer Series. Sasha is a professional runner, engineer, speaker, and educator. She was named female athlete of the year in 2015 and has given talks on subjects ranging from engineering to resilience. In this episode, Sylvia and Sasha discuss engineering performance as an athlete, adventure outdoors, mindset, courage, fear and measuring success. Sasha shares her passion for making fast turns on the track and on the ...
Sep 09, 2021•22 min
Send us a text Today, we highlight Belinda Baggs in the eighth installment of our Summer Series. As a world-renowned Australian longboard surfer, mother, and surf ambassador for Patagonia, Belinda leverages her platform to fight for climate justice. In this episode, Belinda and Sylvia discuss the immediacy of the climate crisis. Belinda shares how her nonprofit Save Our Coast is working to inform, inspire, and empower local communities to care for the coastal ecosystem. Belinda provides listener...
Sep 02, 2021•23 min
Send us a text Today, we highlight Shannon Huffman Polson in the seventh installment of our Summer Series. Having gleaned insights from serving in one of the most male-dominated organizations in the world, Shannon has become a thought leader on the subject of grit. Shannon teaches how to cultivate grit and resilience through introspection and knowledge of self. Shannon was one of the first women to fly an Apache helicopter for the US Army, and has since gone on to become an author and keynote sp...
Aug 26, 2021•30 min
Send us a text Today, we highlight Judy Kasiama in the sixth installment of our Summer Series. Judy is the founder of Colour the Trails , a Vancouver-based outdoor community that advocates for inclusive representation in outdoor spaces. Judy works with brand partners, businesses, and organizations to break barriers and create accessibility by subsidizing outdoor adventures and creating diverse content. Sylvia and Judy discuss intersectionality and the complexity of identity, rethinking the old p...
Aug 19, 2021•27 min
Send us a text Today, we highlight Melanie Curtis in the fifth installment of our Summer Series. Melanie is an a coach, speaker, author, entrepreneur and professional skydiver. She has jumped out of an airplane over 11,000 times and competed at the highest levels in the sport of skydiving, with numerous team world records. Melanie is a fierce champion for growth and inclusion. All of this has led Melanie to a powerful position of positive influence in her expanded career as a life coach, speaker...
Aug 12, 2021•26 min
