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267: Susan Tate Ankeny, Author of American Fly Girl, Captures the Story of American Hero Hazel Ying Lee

Casual Space

Release Date: 05/23/2025

286: Eyes to the Stars with Dr. Steve Hawley, NASA Shuttle Astronaut show art 286: Eyes to the Stars with Dr. Steve Hawley, NASA Shuttle Astronaut

Casual Space

What does it take to go from studying the universe… to flying through it? On this episode of Casual Space, Beth welcomes Dr. Steven A. Hawley—NASA astronaut, space shuttle veteran, and author of his new book, Eyes to the Stars, A Memoir for the Space Shuttle Generation. Listen to enjoy the remarkable journey of a young astronomer from Kansas who never expected to become an astronaut—and what happened when he said “yes” anyway. Steve shares the quiet but powerful decisions that shaped his career: staying open to opportunity, embracing uncertainty, and trusting preparation when timing...

info_outline 285: Did the 285: Did the "Project Hail Mary" Film Stick the Landing? / ft. Dr. Danny Jaques

Casual Space

An earlier version of this episode got corrupted on export, so the audio cut out part of the way into the episode. That has been fixed in this version. Apologies for the inconvenience! - Dr. Danny Jaques, a 36-year veteran science educator, Space Camp Hall of Famer, and founder of Danny's Rocket Ranch, joins Beth for a review of the Project Hail Mary film adaptation. A lifelong educator who has taken nearly 600 students to Space Camp and spent decades bringing science to life in the classroom, Danny brings a perspective to this conversation that you simply cannot get anywhere else. Beth and...

info_outline 284: Etched in Crystal: Putting 3,237 Stories Onto a Lunar Rover show art 284: Etched in Crystal: Putting 3,237 Stories Onto a Lunar Rover

Casual Space

Josh Hanes, whose work at Uplift Aerospace focuses on expanding access to space through student-centered education and immersive experiences, returns to the show with major updates on what's happened since STORIES of Space submitted its community database at the end of 2025. https://www.upliftaerospace.com Beth and Josh celebrate two landmark achievements: the successful laser engraving the story database from STORIES of Space into a 5D crystal along with over 3,000 messages from students, teachers, and community storytellers around the world, an extraordinary archival medium capable of...

info_outline 283: How Will Project Hail Mary Make the Leap from Book to Silver Screen? show art 283: How Will Project Hail Mary Make the Leap from Book to Silver Screen?

Casual Space

Have you read “Project Hail Mary,” by Andy Weir? No spoilers in this episode, as Beth reviews three of the main characters, and wonders how they will make the leap from page to the silver screen.

info_outline 282: Five STORIES Going to the Moon show art 282: Five STORIES Going to the Moon

Casual Space

The deadline for submitting stories to the Moon on MISSION 06 with STORIES of Space has been extended to December 28! In this episode, Beth selects & shares five recently submitted stories that will be sent to the Moon. Hundreds more will be sent to the moon along with these inspiring stories. Will yours be one of them?  You have until December 28 to submit your story at     About STORIES of Space  Stories of Space is a non-for-profit organization that collects personal narratives about space, and sends them into space. MISSION 06 will take stories to the lunar surface,...

info_outline 281: STORIES of Space is Going to the Moon with Uplift Aerospace show art 281: STORIES of Space is Going to the Moon with Uplift Aerospace

Casual Space

This week on Casual Space, Beth is joined by two extraordinary guests: Josh Hanes, CEO of Uplift Aerospace and Dr. Sian Proctor, astronaut, artist, educator, and founder of Space2Inspire to share an announcement that’s truly out of this world. Josh, whose background spans physics, advanced propulsion concepts, and aerospace leadership with a mission to expand access to space for all through innovative education and immersive experiences, explains how Uplift’s journey has grown from astronaut training to student-centered lunar missions. Dr. Proctor, best known as the first African-American...

info_outline 280: The View from the Launch Pad: Steve Matier on Building Canada’s Spaceport show art 280: The View from the Launch Pad: Steve Matier on Building Canada’s Spaceport

Casual Space

This week on Casual Space, Beth welcomes back a very special guest: Stephen Matier, President & CEO of Maritime Launch Services, to celebrate Canada’s history-making commercial suborbital launch completed at the end of November. Fresh from the launch pad in Canso, Nova Scotia, Beth and Steve sit down to reflect on the extraordinary milestone for Canada’s growing space sector and share the personal, behind-the-scenes stories that made the mission unforgettable.   You can both listen AND watch this conversation on YouTube, where Beth shares exclusive launch-day footage,...

info_outline 279: The Everyday Adventure That Changes Everything with Jessica DeAngelo show art 279: The Everyday Adventure That Changes Everything with Jessica DeAngelo

Casual Space

This week on the Casual Space Podcast, I’m joined by my friend, adventurer, and all-around visionary Jessica DeAngelo — founder of Hike to Become®, author of the international bestseller The Wild Advantage, and the leader behind a movement that encourages us to step outside (literally) to find the clarity, creativity, and calm we keep trying to chase indoors. Jessica works with leaders from companies like Amazon, Nike, and Uber to help them break out of the boardroom mindset and reconnect with the part of themselves that already knows the answer. Her 31-day outdoor awareness challenge and...

info_outline 278: From Spacewalks to Service: Astronaut Mike Foreman on a Career of Service and Exploration show art 278: From Spacewalks to Service: Astronaut Mike Foreman on a Career of Service and Exploration

Casual Space

What does life after space look like for an astronaut? For Mike Foreman, it looks like community, connection, and continuing to serve — just a little closer to Earth. Mike is a retired NASA astronaut, a U.S. Navy veteran, and the current Mayor of Friendswood, Texas. Over the course of two Space Shuttle missions — STS-123 and STS-129 — Mike logged more than 637 hours in space and completed five spacewalks (that’s over 32 hours working outside the spacecraft!) helping to deliver and assemble parts of the International...

info_outline 277: Launching from Nova Scotia: STORIES of Space MISSION 03 show art 277: Launching from Nova Scotia: STORIES of Space MISSION 03

Casual Space

In this exciting new episode of Casual Space, Beth is joined by Alex Martin to share all the details about STORIES of Space MISSION 03, launching soon from Canada’s first commercial spaceport in beautiful Nova Scotia! Together, Beth and Alex talk about what it takes to prepare for this historic suborbital mission — from planning and partnerships to payloads and the people who make it all possible. Listeners will get an insider’s look at how stories (your submitted stories) are being sent to space, connecting us all to exploration in a deeply personal and creative...

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Hazel Ying Lee was a fearless pilot and a true aviation pioneer — the first Asian American to fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots. But for decades, her remarkable story was left untold, until now. 

In this episode, author Susan Tate Ankeny tells us how she uncovers Hazel’s legacy in her book, American Fly Girl. Through rich research, Susan brings Hazel’s courage, wit, and determination back into the spotlight — where it belongs.

This conversation is a tribute to hidden heroes and the storytellers who make sure we don’t forget them.

This conversion captures
*Hazel’s fearless entry into aviation during a time of extreme racial and gender barriers
*Susan’s journey researching and writing American Fly Girl
*The emotional impact of giving a voice to overlooked heroes, including her father’s own WWII legacy
*Why stories like Hazel’s still matter — and what we can learn from them today

About Susan Tate Ankeny
Susan Tate Ankeny is the author of American Fly Girl and The Girl and the Bombardier, powerful narratives that uncover the lives of unsung World War II heroes. The daughter of a bombardier who was shot down over France in 1944, Susan grew up immersed in stories of aviation, survival, and resilience. Her father’s passion for flight became her own, leading her to join several World War II aviation historical societies and dedicate herself to preserving these vital histories.

Through meticulous research, heartfelt storytelling, and a deep reverence for those who came before, Susan brings history to life—one remarkable story at a time.

You can learn more about Susan and her work at https://susantateankeny.com. Her books are available wherever stories take flight.

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it! 

Exploring space one story at a time just isn’t enough? Same here. That’s why I created Extra Space, a newsletter on LinkedIn with even more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and human stories from the edge of exploration.

Check it out here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7326279375165837312/

Send your story to space, or to the sea with MISSION 05 at https://www.storiesofspace.com/ 

Join us in-between our episodes of Casual Space on the socials, 

And finally, if you know of a great guest, topic or event you would like to hear featured on an episode of Casual Space, send me an email at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.