101 Persevere and Become: How to Unlock Life's Outsized Returns

This compilation episode is for mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and women everywhere who are challenged by work, life, and everything in between. It’s for women pushing to make a difference amid pressure and self-doubt and for those who need support along the way. It’s for anyone who has felt vulnerable but still found the courage to push forward. It is for you.

In this special episode, we are featuring four inspiring guests who talk about creating resilience in a high-pressure world, the need to pause and focus on mental health, and how to find happiness and balance amid life’s most difficult challenges.

Dr. Edy Greenblatt, a Harvard-trained educator, transformational coach, entrepreneur, and aerial artist, talks about the myth of work-life balance and how to handle the things that restore and deplete us.

Shaesta Waiz, the first female certified civilian pilot from Afghanistan and the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in 2017, on the need to pause, regroup, and reset after big accomplishments instead of rushing to the next big thing, as well as eliminating the stigma around mental health in aviation.

Mandy Hickson, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and former royal Air Force Pilot of the fast-jet Tornado, discusses her #1 tool for dealing with high-pressure situations and the importance of acting how we want to feel.

Nikki Stone, the first American inverted aeriel skier to win gold at the Olympics, talks about the false sense of security that accomplishments bring and how true happiness must be found in all you do – even in moments of failure.

This episode challenges the bounds of what’s expected from us and shines a light on what we all bring to the table. I hope it helps you find balance, reflect, and take inventory of the strength you carry every day, no matter the circumstances.

Topics Include:
- Different ways to cultivate inner strength
- Identifying and managing what restores and depletes you
- The need to pause and process your past before focusing on a new goal
- The taboo around mental health in aviation
- Real tools for handling high-pressure situations
- How to shift your feelings through actions
- Finding happiness in what you do, regardless of the challenges
- And more…

Resources Mentioned:
Episode 29: Dr. Edy Greenblatt
Episode 58: Shaesta Waiz
Episode 91: Mandy Hickson
Episode 02: Nikki Stone
Restore Yourself, by Dr. Edy Greenblatt https://www.amazon.com/Restore-Yourself-Antidote-Professional-Exhaustion/dp/0981929915
When Turtles Fly,by Nikki Stone: https://www.amazon.com/When-Turtles-Fly-Secrets-Successful/dp/1600376754

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Our culture repeatedly tells us that the goal is to be the best, and to be the best you need talent or perseverance... but this message could be misleading. What if success isn't found in being the best but in becoming the best? What if becoming the best led to talent, perseverance, and hope instead of the other way around?

In this short solo episode, Sylvia flips the script by discussing how becoming the best is truly where our story, growth, and success lie. She joins us to talk about pushing through rejection, doing the work, living the ups and downs, and learning from the messes to become the most talented version of our true selves.

In this episode, Sylvia talks about:
- Noticing how seasonal changes affect work, goals, and adventures
- The importance of facing rejection with perseverance
- The power of persistence
- How luck and relationships play a part in being the best
- Becoming talented and persistent through hard work, grit, failure, and reflection
- And more…

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Welcome to Episode 100 of When Women Fly! To celebrate we go back to where it all began,  Episode 1 with skydiver, life coach and writer - the amazing Melanie Curtis. True success—the kind you can sustain over time—demands a different relationship with ambition and action. Mel takes a deep dive into serving a higher purpose and how that gives meaning to life, a healthier, more sustainable model rooted in elevating the human condition.  We reflect on the last 2 years, current lives and future goals. 

Melanie Curtis has jumped out of an airplane over 12,000 times, written three books, and co-founded the all-women Highlight Pro Skydiving Team. She’s also a vulnerable person who gets nervous in front of a new crowd, has experienced extreme heartbreak, and struggled for a long time to find a sense of belonging within her home community.

Melanie is a sought-after life coach, podcast host, speaker, author, professional skydiver, and entrepreneur. She is a champion for growth, healing, and inclusion and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Women’s Skydiving Network nonprofit.

In this episode, Sylvia and Melanie talk about:
- How uncontrollable situations teach you agility, compassion, and resilience
- Using skydiving to elevate women, amplify ideas, and inspire others
- Showing up to new places and listening to different viewpoints
- How to decide if something is worth your time and effort
- Learning how to spot and listen to your intuition
- The importance of identifying and eliminating limiting beliefs
- Melanie's book How to Fly: Life Lessons from a Professional Skydiver
- Embracing the unexpected
- Leaving your zone of confidence to grow
- Melanie’s struggle to feel at home in her community and how she overcame it

Melanie Curtis is a sought-after consultant, coach, speaker, author, and entrepreneur with over 12,000 skydives under her belt. She is also the co-host of the Trust the Journey podcast, Executive Director of the Women’s Skydiving Network nonprofit, and co-founder of the Highlight Pro Skydiving Team.
As a leader in skydiving and professional development, Melanie has set world records and been mentioned in Forbes, Thrive Global, and CBS Sunday Morning. She has also authored three books: One Positive Thought Can Change Everything, With Our Whole Broken Hearts, and How to Fly.

Resources Mentioned:
How to Fly, by Melanie Curtis: https://www.amazon.com/How-Fly-Lessons-Professional-Skydiver/dp/B097RZ9C93 
Mark Brand LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-brand-92916867/?originalSubdomain=ca 
Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Pray-Love-Elizabeth-Gilbert-audiobook/dp/B000FDFY9O

Connect with Melanie:
Website: www.melaniecurtis.com
Instagram: @melaniecurtis11
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-curtis-74ab3540/ 
Trust the Journey podcast: : https://trustthejourney.today/

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Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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This is an episode for all women everywhere. If you are finding motherhood hard, this episode is for you. If you are finding it hard to mother yourself, this episode is for you. If you aren't sure motherhood is right for you, this episode is for you too.

In this special compilation, we are featuring five rockstar guests who tell their stories of becoming moms. 

Sonya Looney, professional mountain biker and entrepreneur, talks about shifting her perspective and finding out what's really important in life.

Kikkan Randall, Olympic Gold Medalist in nordic skiing and cancer survivor, on how having a child made her more in love with her sport, changed her body, and allowed her to come back stronger than ever.

Kimmy Fasani, pro snowboarder, entrepreneur, and cancer survivor, on the myths of motherhood and the realities of balancing work and family life.

Belinda Baggs, environmental surf activist and ambassador for Patagonia, discusses sharing her passion with her son and what it was like to go from never wanting kids to becoming a mom.

And Marissa Colclasure, first Officer Pilot, skydiver, and Wingwalker, talks about the power of doing something that sets your heart on fire while the kids are watching.

This is an episode about self-discovery and self-actualization. I hope this compilation raises questions and provides support for you, wherever you are on your journey.

Topics Include:
- Finding clarity on the important things in life
- Questioning the value of "achievements"
- Deciding to have kids or not
- Deciding when to have kids
- How pregnancy affects our bodies
- Myths of motherhood
- The realities of balancing work and family life
- Sharing your passions with your kids
- And other topics...

Resources Mentioned:
Episode 87: Sonya Looney
Episode 22: Kikkan Randall
Episode 55: Kimmy Fasani
Episode 8: Belinda Baggs
Episode 36: Marissa Colclasure

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Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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Archetypes. Fleeing. Freedom. Flight. And the roles we play. How do we break out of the limiting versions? And why has it always been important for women to express authentic and uncut versions of themselves.

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 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
- Exceptionism and why it holds women back
- Wonder Woman, duality and the conundrum of love
- 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:
Women Who Fly: Goddesses, Witches, Mystics, and other Airborne Females, by Serinity Young Ph.D.
The Secret History of Wonder Woman, by Jill Lepore

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Shannon Huffman Polson is continuously challenging herself to move out of her comfort zone, whether it’s by flying attack helicopters, climbing the tallest mountain in North America, or speaking in front of hundreds of people. This time, it’s by moving with her family from Washington state to a village nobody’s ever heard of in the mountains of France. And no, she does not speak French… yet, anyway.

As one of the first women to fly Apache helicopters in the male-dominated U.S. Army, Shannon is a person who continuously chooses courage over comfort. Some of her accomplishments include leading two flight platoons, climbing Mount Denali, writing five award-winning books, and founding The Grit Institute.

In this episode, we dive into Shannon’s story of adventure and risk, including the challenges she faces and the successes that come along with them. She shares the struggles of moving abroad with young children, the tensions of integrating into a new culture, and how we can find a sense of belonging in an unfamiliar place.

Sylvia and Shannon dig into what they wish they knew before moving abroad, why they did it, and what they’ve learned from their journeys so far. They also discuss the immense benefits of leaving your comfort zone, living on your own terms, and pursuing a fulfilling life.

Topics Include:
- How to find your sense of belonging
- Overcoming loneliness to find confidence and inspiration
- The difficulties of moving abroad with children
- How shared challenges can bring us together
- The ups and downs of learning a new language
- Recognizing loss
- The importance of stories for identity
- And other topics…

Shannon Huffman Polson is a helicopter pilot, author, scuba diver, mountain climber, keynote speaker, consultant, wife, mother, and much more. Known for being one of the first women to fly the Apache attack helicopter in the Army, she has made a way where there were none time and time again. Her most recent book, The Grit Factor, describes what a woman needs to succeed in a male-dominated world.

After a decade in the armed forces, Shannon graduated from Dartmouth with her MBA. She has since worked as a keynote speaker, lecturer, and consultant for companies like Microsoft and the Guidant Corporation. Her latest adventure includes moving with her husband and two children from Washington state to the mountains of France on her quest to live the richest life possible.

Resources Mentioned:
The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World, by Shannon Huffman Polson: https://www.amazon.com/Grit-Factor-Resilience-Male-Dominated-Organization/dp/1633697266

The Grit Institute: https://shannonpolson.com/about/the-grit-institute/

^^Code for 15% off Shannon's Going for Grit Course: whenwomenfly 

Connect With Shannon:
https://linktr.ee/shannonhpolson
Family Blog: https://painauchocolate.substack.com/
Newsletter: https://facingthewind.substack.com/
LinkedIn and Instagram @ shannonhpolson

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Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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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 programmer, 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...

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

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After discovering her passion at an early age, Jan was determined to put her heart, mind, and soul into riding. She knew that riding was her calling and had no doubts that she would become one of the best in the sport.

Everything came into question, however, after a riding accident and subsequent stroke that left Jan unable to speak. Jan was quick to reject the doctors who told her she would never ride again, and she hasn't stopped persevering since.

In this conversation, Sylvia and Jan discuss what it takes to continue to pursue your dreams, even after setbacks. They discuss how to be strong-minded, using different perspectives to discover our blind spots, the importance of having people in our corner, and much more.

Topics Include:
- Jan’s early riding career
- Our relationship to fear
- How self-awareness leads to better choices
- Jan’s road to recovery
- Diversity of cognitive learning
- Shared decision-making
- How to persevere in the face of adversity
- Mentorship
- Why you shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes
- And more…

Jan Byyny is a top-ranked international rider. Her career highlights include representing the U.S. at the Pan American Championships, where she won team gold and individual bronze. Jan also has numerous top ten placings at Rolex Kentucky, Foxhall, Jersey Fresh, Bromont and Morven Park CCIs, and won the 2013 USEF National 3-star Championship at Fair Hill. In addition, she has competed at Burghley, Badminton and Blenheim in England and Pau in France.

Jan owns and manages Surefire Farm, a lesson, sales, and training business in Purcellville, Virginia. Her focus is selecting, training, and competing event horses. Jan is also active in the United States Eventing Association as an advisor to the Young Riders and Juniors Committee, is a Level IV ICP instructor, serves on the United States Equestrian Federation’s Eventing Sport Committee as an Elected Athlete and in 2017 was named a USEF Eventing Selector.

Connect with Jan:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/janbyyny
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janbyyny/
Website: http://www.surefireeventing.com/

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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 stretching yourself thin?

Meet Kimmy Fasani — Snowboarder. Voice for female athletes. Mother. Mountain Baker. Author. Director of Storytelling @andmother_org. And so much more.

Kimmy Fasani has been a pioneer in women’s snowboarding since she became the first female snowboarder to land a double backflip in the park and the powder in 2011. In this episode, Sylvia and Kimmy discuss balancing family life with a busy career. Kimmy shares how she discovered the truth about happiness after having her first child, living life without limits, and how women can show up as their authentic selves in all areas of life.

This is a conversation about the ongoing journey of finding our way through incredible highs and the inevitable lows in our career and personal lives. Kimmy is a trailblazer and voice for women walking that tightrope between career and family. We get a candid unfiltered version of what the journey is like connecting with both the desire to have a family and the desire to get deep into adventures. This conversation allows us to not only look at progression and motherhood in a new way but also offers powerful insights into mindset and fear.

Topics Include:
- Balancing motherhood and a career
- Pressure and managing it as a professional athlete
- Finding connection in the physical world
- Experiencing loss and processing it
- Asking for help as a woman
- Owning your authenticity and being transparent
- Mentoring the younger generation of pro athletes
- Mindfulness and the importance of presence in the context of fear
- And other topics...

Kimmy Fasani is a legend in the world of snowboarding,  and an incredible athlete both on and off the slopes.  In 2016, Kimmy earned the women’s Rider of the Year and Video Part of the Year honors. Her cookbook, The Mountain Baker, launched in 2020. She is a vocal ambassador for Boarding For Breast Cancer, Protect Our Winters, LIV Bicycles, and Luluemon. Kimmy and her husband, Chris Benchetler- a professional skier married in 2011, are also Co-Owners in Dessert’D Organic Bake Shop, an organic/all-natural bakery with a storefront in Mammoth Lakes, CA. They are also co-owners of Juneshine Hard Kombucha and Marea Coffee.

Resources Mentioned:
Website: http://kimmyfasani.com/
Instagram: @KimmyFasani
&Mother: https://andmother.org/
Cookbook: The Mountain Baker – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085RDDM9Y/
Dessert’D Organic Bake Shop – https://www.dessertd.com/
Juneshine Hard Kombucha – https://juneshine.com/
Marea Coffee – https://mareacoffee.com/
The Five Love Languages – https://www.5lovelanguages.com/
Beautiful Flaws: Kimmy Fasani’s Breast Cancer Journey | Burton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOGbdq-af08

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In this solo episode, Sylvia shares what prompted her to move her family and three kids across the ocean to Switzerland. She digs into the challenges they've faced, her house rules for change, and three strategies she's developed for a happier, healthier, and more grounded approach to change.

Sylvia also responds to listener questions about her past, her current career ambitions, flying in Europe, and much more.

Topics Include:
- How COVID helped Sylvia reset and prioritize
- Moving across the ocean to Switzerland
- Sylvia's 3 house rules for change
- How travel clarifies the essentials in life
- Morning self-care
- The magical power of decluttering
- Professional pivots and creative work
- A reading list for change
- And other topics...

Resources Mentioned:
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308
How to Change, by Katy Milkman: https://www.amazon.com/How-Change-Science-Getting-Where-ebook/dp/B08KPFPSNS/
Atomic Habits, by James Clear: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break-ebook/dp/B07D23CFGR
Think Again, by Adam Grant: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Again-Power-Knowing-What-ebook/dp/B08H177WQP
The Next Great Migration, by Sonia Shah: https://www.amazon.com/Next-Great-Migration-Beauty-Terror-ebook/dp/B081NHNJ6T

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Drop Us A Message on PodInbox: https://podinbox.com/whenwomenfly
Email: hello@whenwomenfly.com
Website: https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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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.