Women in the Cockpit with Raja Katz
Space for All
Welcome back to Space for All — the podcast where we spotlight the trailblazers shaping STEAM fields across the globe. This week, we're soaring into the world of commercial aviation with Raja Katz, a long-haul airline pilot and fierce advocate for representation in the skies. Raja takes us through her journey from gliding at age 15 to flying the cutting-edge Airbus A350. We talk about: ✈️ What it takes to become a commercial pilot 🌍 Her experiences flying across the globe — and handling turbulence (literally and figuratively) 👩✈️ Elevate Her and why representation in...
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Star Trek, Space, and the Power of Representation with Amy Imhoff
Space for All
In this episode of Space for All, I sit down with Amy Imhoff, digital marketing expert, events manager, and passionate Star Trek advocate. We dive deep into how Star Trek has shaped the space industry, inspired diversity, and influenced real-world technology. 🌟 Topics we cover: ✅ How Star Trek has impacted STEAM, representation, and leadership ✅ The “Janeway Effect” & the power of women in leadership ✅ Star Trek-inspired tech: what’s real and what’s still sci-fi? ✅ Challenges facing women in aerospace & the fight for inclusivity ✅ The state of the space industry...
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From MIT to TV: A conversation with The Space Gal
Space for All
In this episode of the Space for All podcast, host Valerie McKiernan interviews Emily Calandrelli, also known as "The Space Gal." Emily shares her inspiring journey from growing up in West Virginia to becoming an MIT engineer, Emmy-nominated science TV host, author, and soon-to-be astronaut with Blue Origin. Emily discusses how her pursuit of financial security led her to engineering, which blossomed into a passion for space exploration. She talks about hosting "Xploration Outer Space," creating "Emily's Wonder Lab" on Netflix while nine months pregnant, and the challenges she faced as a woman...
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Empowering Young Women for Space—An Interview with Dr. Mindy Howard
Space for All
Join host Valerie McKiernan in this episode of the Space for All podcast as she interviews Dr. Mindy Howard, the CEO and founder of both the Cosmic Girls Foundation and Inner Space Training. Dr. Howard shares her inspiring journey from aspiring astronaut to leading initiatives that empower young women in the space industry. Discover how she transitioned from working in the oil and gas sector to founding Inner Space Training, the world's only mental preparedness program for commercial astronauts. Dr. Howard highlights the importance of mental resilience in space travel and addresses the...
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Behind the Lens: Capturing the Humanity of Space Exploration with Michael Soluri
Space for All
In this episode of the Space for All podcast, host Valerie McKiernan interviews photographer Michael Soluri, who shares his journey into documenting space exploration. Michael discusses how his unscripted work focuses on the unsung heroes behind space missions, such as engineers, technicians, scientists and astronauts, and his unique approach to capturing their tools and humanity. He reflects on key projects like NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto and the last Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission. Michael also talks about his upcoming involvement in the Dragonfly mission to Saturn's...
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Unlocking Space: Alma Okpalefe on Advocacy, Awareness, and World Space Week
Space for All
Join us on this episode of the Space for All podcast as we chat with Alma Okpalefe, Executive Director at the World Space Week Association. Alma shares her remarkable journey from studying law to becoming a key figure in the space industry. Discover how a chance encounter with space law shaped her career, and listen as she reveals the global impact of World Space Week. Tune in for insights on space’s role in addressing climate change and the importance of raising awareness for the future of space exploration! “Space for All” is brought to you by the Women’s Aerospace Network (WAN)...
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Unlocking New Frontiers: A Conversation with Maria Demaree
Space for All
In this episode of the Space For All podcast, Valerie McKiernan chats with Maria Demaree, Vice President of National Security Space within Lockheed Martin Space. Maria shares her journey from growing up in a STEM-focused family to leading a critical division at Lockheed Martin. She offers advice for women aspiring to leadership roles in aerospace, emphasizing the importance of leading from where you are, constantly learning, and not disqualifying yourself from opportunities. Additionally, Maria highlights Lockheed's initiatives to foster diversity, the significance of space in daily life, and...
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Exploring the World of Exoplanets with Dr. Emily Rickman
Space for All
Have you ever wondered what lies beyond our solar system? In today’s episode, Dr. Emily Rickman, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, discusses her journey in the field of exoplanet research. She fell in love with physics and engineering as a child and later developed a passion for astrophysics and astronomy. Dr. Rickman lets us in on the captivating wonders of exoplanets, explaining that: Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars other than our Sun. There are different types of exoplanets, including rocky terrestrial planets and giant gaseous planets. ...
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Breaking the Aerospace Ceiling: Snehal Bhamare’s Success Story
Space for All
What does it take to be a successful woman in STEM? Prepare to be inspired as our host Valerie McKiernan sits down for an uplifting conversation with Aerospace Engineer and Texas A&M graduate, Snehal Bhamare. From her early fascination with aircraft and space to her thriving career at Boeing, Snehal shares her incredible journey, offering key career advice and valuable insights. If you liked this episode, check out this powerful and inspiring episode next: Passion and Perseverance: Rania Toukebri in Aerospace Follow Snehal: Instagram: LinkedIn: Listen...
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Avoiding Catastrophic Failures through Accent Modification with Dr. Pierson
Space for All
"Space for All" podcast, hosted by Valerie McKiernan, brings you empowering conversations and inspiring journeys from across the aerospace industry. In this episode, we feature Dr. Pierson, the Aerospace industry’s first speech pathologist and founder of Alpha Speech. Dr. Pierson walks us through how the industry’s gaps in language requirements are leading to catastrophic failures both here on Earth and in Space. From Pilots to Astronauts, Dr. Pierson explains how accent modification can ensure these professionals are understood the first time, ensuring...
info_outlineRania Toukebri was inspired by her family’s involvement with NASA and her passion for space from a young age. Despite coming from Tunisia, a country without a prominent space program, she pursued her dream and became a space systems architect and senior team leader. Rania’s journey through the aerospace industry is marked by her determination, innovative mindset, and dedication to mentoring others. In this episode, Rania shares her insights on overcoming challenges, the importance of mentorship, and the limitless possibilities within aerospace.
CONNECT WITH RANIA:
Rania’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rania-toukebri/
Rania’s Instagram: @astro_raniatkb
“Space for All” is brought to you by the Women’s Aerospace Network (WAN)
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:
WAN’s LinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/womensaerospace
WAN’s Instagram: @womens.aerospace
WAN’s TikTok: womensaerospace
ABOUT THE HOST:
Valerie McKiernan's journey began in the heart of the aerospace industry, working at her family’s aerospace business from a young age. After college, she took an exciting detour as a TV producer for CNBC Business News, where she discovered her love for television production. Over the past decade, Valerie made her way back into the Aerospace Industry and is now blending her two passions to inspire and attract more people to Space. In addition to being the host of Space for All, Valerie is a Senior Business Development Manager for Coherent Corp.
CONNECT WITH VALERIE:
Valerie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valmckiernan/
Valerie’s TikTok: AerospaceVal