WAI On Air Podcast
WAI On Air Podcast is produced by Women in Aviation International and expands the organization's On Air content into audio. Each episode goes behind the scenes of the aviation and aerospace world to meet women shaping its future. Guests include pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, aerospace executives, and innovators. The show celebrates their stories, challenges, and triumphs while aiming to empower the next generation and honor aviation pioneers.
Episodes
Changing Course: Natalee Johnston | S2E21
Meet Natalee Johnston, the first female pilot in the Royal Australian Navy. Natalee grew up on a farm in Western Australia and joined the Navy at 17. In 1998, after completing her undergraduate studies and military flight training, she became the Royal Australian Navy's first female pilot — and the only one for eight years. Over a 24-year naval career, she served as a helicopter instructor, op
United in Safety: Sasha Johnson | S2E20
Meet Sasha Johnson, Vice President of Corporate Safety at United. Sasha oversees a remarkably broad safety portfolio at United — worldwide aviation safety, ground safety, quality assurance, medical, workers' compensation, managed care, business continuity, family assistance, and emergency operations. Before stepping into this role, Sasha spent five years as United's managing director of in
Straight Up Lifting Others: Nicole Battjes | S2E19
Meet Nicole Battjes, owner of Rainbow Helicopters, the largest air tour company in Oahu, Hawaii. Nicole founded Rainbow Helicopters in 2011 at just 27 years old, starting with herself and a single helicopter. Today, the multi-island Part 135 air carrier has grown into a thriving multi-million-dollar company with 55 team members and a fleet of 10 helicopters. With more than 13 years of industry and
9,000 People, One Mission: Alex Marren | S2E18
Meet Alex Marren, retired senior airline and transportation executive, most recently chief operating officer of Air New Zealand. Alex brings more than 35 years of success across the aviation, automotive, travel, and transportation industries. As COO at Air New Zealand, she led a team of 9,000 aviation professionals, driving safety, service, and transformation through technology and process. Earlie
Changing the Equation: Nelda Lee | S2E17
WAI On Air Podcast – Season 2 Episode 17 , “Changing the Equation” is live! 🎙️✈️ Meet Nelda Lee, a trailblazing flight test engineer with 45 years at McDonnell Douglas and The Boeing Company. Nelda was responsible for flight and ground test engineering on all four military aircraft manufactured in St. Louis — the F-15 Eagle, AV-8 Harrier, T-45 Goshawk, and F/A-18 Hornet — and served as the Level 2
Space2Inspire: Dr. Sian Proctor | On Air S2E16
Meet Dr. Sian ProctorBorn just after Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, Sian calls herself a "celebration baby" — and that connection to space has shaped her path ever since, even when it wasn't a straight line to NASA. When NASA said no at age 39, she didn't give up. She became an analogue astronaut, kept pushing, and eventually earned her seat on Inspiration4, the first all-civ
Change Equals Opportunity: Jim Keyes | On Air S2E15
Meet James “Jim” W. Keyes, a global business leader, philanthropist, educator, artist, musician, commercial pilot, and modern renaissance man. He is the former CEO of two globally recognized Fortune 500 companies, 7-Eleven, Inc, and Blockbuster, Inc. His other business interests cover a broad range of industries including retail, consumer products, technology, new space, energy, and advanced nucle
Safety is No Accident: Wendy Morse | On Air S2E14
Meet Capt. Wendy Morse, a United captain and the first woman to serve as an ALPA national officer bringing more than 35 years of union experience to her role. She exemplifies a “see it, be it” leadership role model for girls and young women entering aviation — particularly the piloting profession. As national safety coordinator, Wendy oversees the Association’s Air Safety Organization (ASO), the w
Leading the Lines: Jacqui Key| On Air S2E13
Meet Jacqui Key, vice president of domestic line stations at United Airlines, where she oversees U.S. line station operations across the country.With 20+ years in the industry, Jacqui brings a wealth of experience and perspective to this conversation.Previously, Jacqui held leadership positions as the managing director of domestic line stations, managing director of premium solutions and recovery,
Rethink Impossible: Jessica Cox | On Air S2E12
Meet Jessica Cox, the world's first licensed armless pilot. Adaptability has defined Jessica Cox's life. Refusing to see herself as different, she mastered everyday tasks with her feet and continually defied expectations. Her lifetime of adapting led her to become a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo and the world's first licensed armless pilot.Jessica's journey, from dreaming o
CNN's Pete Muntean on Aviation, Loss, and Finding His Path | On Air S2E11
Pete Muntean is a CNN correspondent based in Washington, D.C. A pilot and flight instructor, he covers aviation and transportation as well as general assignment stories for the network.Pete came to CNN in 2020 after a decade in local news. He was the transportation reporter for WUSA9 in Washington, D.C. where he detailed chronic safety problems on the Metro public transit system and led the statio
Changing Course: Amy Tomlinson |OnAirS2E10
Meet Amy Tomlinson—the Blue Angels' first female weapons system officer— who leads drone delivery at Amazon Prime Air. Amy has over 25 years of leadership and management experience including a strong background in instructing, mentoring, and program/project management. Her skills include combat operations, flight training, team building, planning, risk management, data analysis, public speakin
First. Fast. Fearless - Beyond the Thunderbirds: Caroline "Blaze" Jensen | On Air S2E9
Meet Caroline "Blaze" Jensen, a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, a retired fighter pilot, and veteran. She is a highly experienced leader, command pilot, instructor pilot and evaluator. During her time in the Air Force, she accumulated over 3,500 hours in Schwitzer 2-33 gliders, Cessna 172, T-37B Tweet, T-38 Talon, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. She was the first femalereserve
From Vision to a Global Aviation Network: Dr. Peggy Chabrian | On Air S2E8
Meet Dr. Peggy ChabrianDr. Peggy Chabrian is the founder of Women in Aviation International and retired as WAI president/CEO in September 2019. She grew the organization from its first conference attended by 150 people in 1990 to an organization representing thousands of women in all aspects of aviation today. A long-time aviation enthusiast and professional aviation educator, Peggy is a 2,800-hou
Keeping the Brand Strong: Diana Birkett Rakow of Hawaiian Airlines | On Air S2E7
Meet Diana Birkett Rakow of Hawaiian AirlinesAs chief executive officer of Hawaiian Airlines, Diana Birkett Rakow is responsible for the performance and advancement of the Hawaiian Airlines brand and Alaska Air Group’s business in Hawai‘i — including Honolulu, the combined company’s second largest international hub after Seattle. She also leads Air Group’s sustainability and venture investment str
Leading the Fight Against Wildfires: Jennifer Draughon, President of Neptune Aviation | On Air S2E6
Meet Jennifer Draughon, she leads a dynamic team of aerial firefighting experts as president of Neptune Aviation. She began her aviation career at Boeing, where she worked at the flight-testing field in quality assurance. With more than 25 years of industry experience, Jennifer is recognized as a leader in aerial wildland firefighting. Under her leadership, Neptune is innovating in the rapidly evo
Answering the Call: Lynda Coffman on Leading Women in Aviation International | On Air S2E5
Meet Lynda Coffman, CEO of Women in Aviation International (WAI). She leads the business development and strategic direction of the 20,000-member strong nonprofit organization while partnering with the board of directors and overseeing staff and daily operations. Prior to joining WAI in January 2024, Lynda served as vice president of United Airlines and president of United Ground Express, a wholl
From First Female Thunderbird Pilot to Advocate: Nicole Malachowski | On Air S2E4
A 2019 National Women's Hall of Fame inductee and former Presidential appointee, Col. Nicole Malachowski (USAF, Retired) has over 21 years of experience as an officer, leader, and fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Upon her commission into the military, she was competitively selected to fly combat aircraft and embarked on an adventure among the first group of women to fly modern fighter jets. Ni
WAI Podcast S2 E3 - Stephanie Chung
Stephanie Chung is not just the #1 international best-selling author of ALLY Leadership, How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You: she's also a force of strategic innovation, a beacon of change, and a titan in the world of business growth and human capital management. With over 30 years of experience, Stephanie has cultivated a reputation for turning challenges into opportunities and transforming g
WAI Podcast S2 E2 - Joan Sullivan Garrett
Meet Joan Sullivan Garrett, founder of MedAire and a pioneer in aviation telemedicine. Working as a critical-care flight nurse in the early 1980s, Joan was regularly called into high-stakes emergency evacuations in remote regions. A life-altering mission to rescue victims of a traffic accident in rural Arizona inspired her to reimagine how medical care could be delivered in inaccessible environmen
WAI Podcast S2 E1 - Stephanie Goetz
Meet Stephanie Goetz, a businesswoman, leadership coach, philanthropist, professional pilot, TEDx speaker, and professional singer.Stephanie Goetz is a modern-day Renaissance woman. She is an award-winning former news and sports anchor at NBC, CBS, and ABC, a businesswoman, executive communication, leadership coach, philanthropist, professional pilot, TEDx speaker, and professional singer. As a ke
WAI Podcast Season 1 Wrap-Up
As we wrap-up 2025, WAI Director, Communications Kelly Murphy, and Communications Coordinator Suprina Kaur, take our listeners on a reflective tour of the 13 episodes of the Season 1 WAI On Air podcast. A special thanks to this year’s strategic partners, Amazon and United, for their generous support during the WAI On Air Podcasts. 😍🎙️🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.📲
S1 E13 - BETA Technologies
Meet the mother-daughter duo Katie and Willa Clark, BETA Technologies.Learn more about the various backgrounds and talents the Clark family brought together to build Vermont-based BETA Technologies—an aerospace company manufacturing electric flight.You’ll meet the mother-daughter duo Katie and Willa Clark, featured on the cover of Aviation for Women Q2 2025 issue, and hear how the power of family
S1 E12 - Jackie Ruiz, Latinas in Aviation
Meet Jackie Ruiz, founder of Latinas in Aviation.Jacqueline calls herself a visionary social entrepreneur. Born in Mexico City, she moved to the United States at age 14, where she learned English and German. She has created two successful, award-winning companies, established two nonprofit organizations, published 16 books, created over 10 products, and held dozens of events around the world in ju
S1 E11 - Taylor Deen, Blimp Pilot
Meet Taylor Deen, one of the few female Goodyear blimp pilots in the world.Taylor Deen is one of the few active female blimp pilots in the world. At 37 years old, she has achieved the role of chief pilot with the Goodyear Blimp, logging more than 2,500 hours of lighter-than-air (LTA) flight hours and 3,000 fixed-wing hours. She earned her pilot license in 2005 and continued training to become a Ce
S1 E10 - Jennifer Homendy
Meet The Honorable Jennifer Homendy, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair.Jennifer L. Homendy is the 15th Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation, including rail, transit, roadway, marine, pipe
S1 E10 - Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair
Meet The Honorable Jennifer Homendy, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair.Jennifer L. Homendy is the 15th Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation, including rail, transit, roadway, marine, pipe
S1 E9 - Michelle "MACE" Curran
Meet Michelle "MACE" Curran, a former United States Air Force fighter pilot with nearly 2,000 hours of F-16 flying time. Michelle “MACE” Curran channels her unique perspective into relatable storytelling in her newly published book The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower. A WAI conference attendee and keynote speaker, Michelle’s lessons learned will empower
S1 E8 - United Airlines Panel Discussion
Ever wonder what jobs are available at an airline? Learn more about the various opportunities available during this episode featuring a United Airlines panel discussion. Nikisha Ramsey – Director, Early Careers and Talent Partnerships Veronica Leacock Borchardt– Calibrate Partnerships Manager Kate Bufton – DEN Flight Operations Manager, Captain B737 Houa Vang – DENVV Manager Ramp Tower Operations
S1 Episode 7 - Rick Leach
Meet Rick Leach, President and CEO of GoJet Airlines A long-time aviation industry veteran, Rick has worked in the industry for 44 years in numerous airline leadership roles as well as being a board member of the Regional Airline Association (RAA.org). His airline career began after college with Air Illinois and shortly thereafter, he was recruited by Jet America Airlines, to start as a customer s
S1 Episode 6 - Maj. Gen. Regena Aye
Meet Maj. Gen. Regena Aye, Civil Air Patrol’s national commander and the corporation’s CEO. As Civil Air Patrol’s 26th national commander, she is a major (two-star), the highest-ranking CAP officer. She leads CAP’s nearly 70,000 members across the United States in fulfilling the nonprofit organization’s three primary programs of emergency services, cadet programs, and aerospace education. Her more
S1 Episode 5 - Theresa Claiborne
Meet Theresa Claiborne, the first Black woman in the U.S Air Force and retired United B787 CaptainTheresa Claiborne retired in May 2024 from United Airlines as captain of the Boeing 787 with 23,000 flight hours. Theresa is a pioneer as the first Black woman pilot in the U.S. Air Force, where she served as the first Black woman to command and instruct in the KC-135 Stratotanker during her seven yea
S1 Episode 4 - Alison (Ali) Faddis
Meet Alison (Ali) Faddis, Director of Global Aviation Operations for Amazon Air.She brings extensive aviation leadership experience to Amazon Air to oversee Network Control Center, Aviation Standards and Training, Aviation Safety, and Air Carrier Operations teams. Ali’s career began as a pilot at Horizon Air, where she advanced to serve as FAR Part 119 Director of Operations and System Chief Pilot
S1 Episode 3 - Jonna McGrath
Meet Jonna McGrath, Vice President of Airport Operations for United Airlines Denver hub. She oversees the safe execution of all aspects of the operation at United's fastest growing hub. She has more than three decades of aviation industry experience after beginning her career with United as a frontline agent. She's passionate about building a positive culture for employees and an exceptional exper
S1 Episode 2 - Mary Miller
Mary Miller, a longtime executive at Signature Flight Support, retires after a remarkable 40-year career advocating for business and general aviation. She began her aviation journey in 1981 at Butler Aviation as a Customer Service Manager at Washington National Airport. Rising through the ranks, she became Director of Customer Service in 1987, then Director of Sales and Customer Relations. When Bu
S1 Episode 1 - Rebekah Seifer
Meet Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Rebekah Seifer, who grew up on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where living close to the water inspired her commitment to humanitarian service. She received her commission from the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in 2012, earning a Bachelor of Science in Marine and Environmental Sciences with honors. Since then, she has logged over 3,000 flight hour
WAI Podcast- Trailer
Each episode will take you behind the scenes of the aviation/aerospace world to meet the remarkable women shaping its future. From pilots and engineers to air traffic controllers, aerospace executives, and innovators, On Air celebrates the stories, challenges, and triumphs of women (and men) across every corner of the aviation industry— all aimed at empowering the next generation and honoring the
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