Kathy Sullivan Explores

Latest Episodes:

[Your Business In Space] Environmental Intelligence Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Your Business: In Space

Environmental Intelligence in Space with Dr. Kathy Sullivan

Dr. Kathy Sullivan is a distinguished scientist, astronaut, and explorer who has contributed to our understanding of space and the Earth’s oceans. As the first American woman to walk in space and a veteran of three NASA space shuttle missions, Dr. Sullivan has reached both the heights of outer space and the depths of our oceans.

As an accomplished geologist, she has explored the complexities of marine geology and geophysics, and her tenure as the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) solidified her reputation as a trailblazer in environmental intelligence.

Her profound experience offers invaluable insights into our planet's life support systems — the oceans, the atmosphere, and the interconnected environments that sustain us.

In this episode, Dr. Sullivan draws parallels between the life support systems of spacecraft and our own planet, illustrating the critical importance of environmental stewardship. With her unique vantage points from space and deep below the sea, she sheds light on the environmental challenges we face and the innovative technologies helping us to understand the roles we can play to help protect our home planet.

In this episode you'll discover:

• The vital role environmental intelligence from space plays in daily life, from weather forecasting to agricultural planning.

• How satellites have transformed from mere storm spotters to advanced observers, capable of intricate environmental assessments.

• The importance of understanding and maintaining the life support systems of our 'spaceship' Earth, paralleling those in spacecraft.

• Dr. Sullivan’s perspective on the potential environmental impact of rocket launches and the increasing frequency of space travel.

• The need for continuous innovation and research to advance our knowledge of Earth and space environments.

• Insights into fostering a new generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers to lead future environmental intelligence efforts.

Quote:

"The only thing we actually do all by ourselves is have the start of a good idea. Everything beyond that requires connecting that idea with other people."

- Dr. Kathy Sullivan

Episode Links:

Check out Kathy’s website

Listen to over 100 episodes of Kathy’s Podcast ‘Kathy Sullivan Explores…’ Now part of the Inter Astra Podcast Network!

Follow Kathy on LinkedIn

NASA

NOAA

Credits:

Production by CxS Partners LTD

Executive Producer: Toby Goodman

Audio & Sound Design: Lee Turner

Artwork: Ryan Field

Join the #1 community for equitable access to the business of space:

https://interastra.space/

Farewell for Now Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Dear Explorer,

On June 10, 2021, I launched the Kathy Sullivan Explores podcast. Many of us were under some form of a lockdown back then, and the podcast has helped me connect in ways that were previously impossible to imagine. Through our journey together, we’ve explored science, art, space, and memorable moments in my life all while speaking to brilliant guests. It has truly been an incredible privilege to share stories, insights, and inspiring conversations with you all.

In this episode, I want to express my deepest gratitude to you all for joining me on this remarkable journey of exploration via podcast. I also outline the different episode categories you can continue exploring on the podcast website and explain how you can stay connected and be the first to get updates on my future projects and endeavors.

“This farewell doesn’t have to be the end of our journey together. Continue on, Explorer, learning and sharing in the spirit of curiosity, adventure, and discovery.” - Kathy Sullivan

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● Charlie Bolden’s pathway to space and other remarkable episodes in the “Space” category

● Conversations with creatives and how they forged artistic careers

● Exploring the sea and other oceanic gems from Helen Scales, Tim McDonald, Victor Viscovo, and others

● Career and leadership insights from Glen Maroney and Yvette McGee Brown

● Conversations on exploring the world with Elizabeth McCormick, Jeffrey Kingsley, and Alastair Humphreys

● Memorable moments from my life—from wearing a baked potato to presenting an Oscar to George Lucas from space

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “From business leaders, writers, artists, fellow explorers, scientists, divers, and astronauts, their wisdom and experiences have left an indelible mark on our collective exploration.” - Kathy Sullivan

● “Astronauts stand on the shoulders of many hundreds of other space professionals.” - Kathy Sullivan

Explore the podcast by theme:

● Space

● Creativity

● Sea

● Memorable Moments

● Career and Leadership

● Places

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Visit my website at kathysullivanexplores.com to sign up for seven astronaut tips to improving your life on earth and be the first to discover future episodes and learn about more exciting adventures ahead!

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google I Amazon Music.

The Actor’s Craft with Jane Alexander Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

Jane Alexander is an actress, author, and former Chairperson of the National Endowment of the Arts. In 1969, Jane received a Tony Award for her performance as Eleanor Bachman in the Broadway production of The Great White Hope. Jane received her first Emmy nomination for her role as Eleanor Roosevelt in Eleanor and Franklin. Over her career, she has received two Primetime Emmy Awards—as well as nominations for eight Tony Awards, four Academy Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards—and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1994. Today, Jane is involved in conservation efforts and has served on the boards of the Wildlife Conservation Society, the National Audubon Society, and Project Greenhope, among others. She is the author of Wild Things, Wild Places and Command Performance.

Today, you’ll hear Jane discuss how she grew up loving the beauty of the land while living in Massachusetts. She shares how watching a ballet performance for the first time sparked her love for theater and the performing arts. She outlines her process for inhabiting a character or a role and describes how she studied her role as Eleanor Roosevelt in Eleanor and Franklin. Jane also highlights what it’s like to be an understudy, details her experience serving as the chairperson of the National Endowment of the Arts, and offers advice to young people about pursuing their passion.

“The whole business of exploration—which caught me as a child in the outside world, exploring the sunken garden—transitioned to the exploration of the mind and the human body in acting.” - Jane Alexander

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● Jane’s background and early years in Massachusetts

● How Jane’s parents reacted to her pursuit of theater as a career

● Her studies in mathematics and computer programming

● Her time at the University of Edinburgh and performances as Ophelia in Hamlet and as Nora in The Plough and the Stars

● What it was like to hang out with Dudley Moore and John Gleeson as university students

● Jane’s experience as an understudy and what stand-ins do when they’re not performing

● Her first leading roles and focus on the classics

● Jane’s process for inhabiting a role or character

● Why Jane declined to be part of The Actors Studio

● How Jane played Eleanor Roosevelt in Eleanor and Franklin

● Handling negative receptions of performances

● Jane’s service as the chairperson of the National Endowment of the Arts

● Today’s public support for the artsand Jane’s work in conservation

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “Art is part of everybody’s persona and privilege.” - Jane Alexander

● “We are put on this Earth to witness and experience all the joy that we can give to each other—that includes the things that grow and live.” - Jane Alexander

Connect with Jane Alexander:

● Jane Alexander Website

● Book: Command Performance: An Actress In The Theater Of Politics

● Book: Wild Things, Wild Places: Adventurous Tales of Wildlife and Conservation on Planet Earth

● Jane Alexander on Twitter

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google I Amazon Music.

The Life of a Participatory Adventurer and Journalist with Jim Clash Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Jim Clash is an American participatory adventure and business journalist, author, and fellow and director of Explorers Club. Since joining Forbes as a staff writer in 1993, Jim has skied to the South Pole, flown in a MiG-25 at Mach 2.6 to the edge of space, and climbed the Matterhorn. His other adventures include driving the Bugatti Veyron at its top speed of 253 miles per hour and, most recently, flying with the US Navy Blue Angels in their F-18 fighters. He is the author of Forbes to the Limits and The Right Stuff. Jim holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland.

Today, you’ll hear Jim describe his life as a participatory adventurer and journalist. He recounts his adventurous, geeky childhood building his own radios and antenna and why he switched his major from Physics to English while studying at the University of Maryland. He explains why he decided to return to journalism after a career in the advertising industry. He discusses his ventures to the peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro and Everest and his journey to the North Pole. You’ll also learn about the common characteristics among the successful and great people he has interviewed and gain insight from his life lessons.

“Journalism is about truth and advertising is like a pyramid—you take a little point and pile layers and layers on it until you get an obfuscation of truth. In journalism, you narrow it to the point, which is truth.” - Jim Clash

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● Jim’s background, fascinating childhood, and life in Japan

● His stint in advertising and being a drummer for a rock band

● Uncovering truth and how Jim realized that journalism was his life’s calling

● The Rat Experiment, climbing the Matterhorn and Kilimanjaro, and Jim’s passion for mountain climbing

● The Hillary Step traffic jam on Mount Everest

● Skiing to the South Pole and other adventures in Jim’s life as a participatory adventurer and writer

● How Jim procures his adventure gigs

● The common characteristics of extraordinary people

● Understanding the difference between real and perceived risk

● Resisting peer pressure and other life lessons

Resources Mentioned:

● Book: Seven Summits by Dick Bass, Frank Wells, and Rick Ridgeway

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “Extraordinary people understand that there’s a difference between real and perceived risk.” - Jim Clash

● “If you think differently, don’t go along with the crowd. Don’t always bow to peer pressure—do what you think is right. - Jim Clash

Connect with Jim Clash:

● Jim Clash on LinkedIn

● Jim Clash on Instagram

● Jim Clash on YouTube

● Jim Clash on Twitter

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google I Amazon Music.

The Inventiveness of Fiction with Linda Kass Jul 13, 2023

Show notes

Linda Kass is the acclaimed author of Tasa’s Song (2016) and A Ritchie Boy (2020). Her latest book, Bessie—a fictional portrait of Miss America 1945, Bess Myerson—will be released in September 2023. She is also the founder and owner of Gramercy Books, an independent bookstore in Columbus, Ohio. Trained as a journalist, Linda began her career as a magazine reporter and correspondent for regional and national publications such as Columbus Monthly, TIME, and The Detroit Free Press. Linda is known for her advocacy in education, literacy, and the arts and has served in leadership roles on the boards of Bexley Schools, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and The Ohio State University among many others. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a Master’s in Journalism from The Ohio State University.

Today, you’ll hear Linda reveal her life's remarkable twists and turns through stints working in medicine, education, journalism, and freelance writing. She describes how a family history writing project and a chance meeting during an outing with her book club moved her to become a novelist. She explains what makes Columbus, Ohio a unique place to be in. You’ll also hear about the ultimate value of reading and writing and why Linda was compelled to write her most recent book about the first Jewish Miss America, Bess Myerson.

“Inhabit the character. Imagine what they would think, feel, and do in a scene—how they would relate to other circumstances. Walk in their shoes. That becomes the inventiveness on the page of fiction, but then it’s grounded in all of that authentic, true history underneath it.” - Linda Kass

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● The young Linda Kass and her life growing up in central Ohio

● Linda’s time at Eastmoor High School and how it led her to become a journalist

● Her work as a physical therapist while studying journalism in graduate school

● The genesis of Linda’s life as a writer, teacher, and freelancer

● What brought Linda back to Columbus after living and working in Detroit

● How Columbus has changed since the late 80s

● The creative writing project that began Linda’s career as a historical novelist

● What creative nonfiction is and how it helped Linda tell her parents’ stories

● Poland and modern-day Ukraine in the context of World War II

● How a Catholic family helped Linda’s mother and her family during World War II

● The research and writing process involved in creating Tasa’s Song

● The art of inhabiting a character while writing

● What led Linda to write her book on Bessy Myerson

● The value of reading and writing

Resources Mentioned:

● Book: The Bright Forever: A Novel by Lee Martin

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “Read, because when you enjoy that experience you want to read more. When you read, you learn more, and when you learn you can be an empathetic human being that understands yourself and the world better.” - Linda Kass

● “To tell a real human story is more treatful and effective than coming up with just a fact-by-fact biography.” - Linda Kass

Connect with Linda Kass:

● Linda Kass Website

● Gramercy Books

● Book: Bessie

● Gramercy Books on Instagram

● Gramercy Books on Facebook

● Gramercy Books on Twitter

● Linda Kass on Instagram

● Linda Kass on Facebook

● Linda Kass on Twitter

● Email: Linda@lindakass.com

● Email: gramercyinfo@gramercybooksbexley.com

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google I Amazon Music.

What Nature Can Teach Us with John Dabiri Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

John Dabiri is a MacArthur Fellow and Centennial Chair Professor at the California Institute of Technology. John’s research focuses on unsteady fluid mechanics and flow physics, with particular emphasis on topics relevant to biology, energy, and the environment. While serving as a Professor of Aeronautics and Bioengineering at Caltech from 2005 to 2015, John was also the Director of the Center for Bioinspired Wind Energy, Chair of the Faculty, and Dean of Students. From 2015 to 2019, he served as a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and received his Master of Science in Aeronautics from Caltech, where he also earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering with a minor in Aeronautics. In addition to his work at Caltech, John serves on President Biden's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, among other advisory boards.

Today, you’ll hear John and I explore what nature can teach us about engineering systems, heart health, and optimizing wind farms. He describes his life growing up in Toledo, how a summer internship introduced him to the world of jellyfish, and how studying jellyfish quickly morphed into the focus of his life’s work. He recounts stories from his stint as a technical consultant for Nope (2022)and shares his thoughts on the sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, and its portrayal of academic life at Caltech. You’ll also gain insight into solving the diversity problem in physics and engineering and why tapping the curiosity of young minds can inspire more students to pursue STEM.

“Curiosity is a unique lens by which we can explore the world around us, and the outcomes from that would be the technologies that could revolutionize climate, space, and medicine.” - John Dabiri

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● John’s background and family history

● How John’s parents navigated their identity and race in America

● Carrying forward Nigerian traditions

● John’s high school experience and why he chose Mechanical Engineering for his college path

● How he transitioned from an undergraduate degree in Mechanical engineering to a doctoral in Bioengineering with a minor in Aerodynamics

● How John wound up studying jellyfish after pursuing an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering

● Why mentors play an important role in a PhD student’s life

● What jellyfish can teach us about submarines, heart health, and wind farms

● What it’s like to receive the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship award

● Why Dr. Jellyfish can’t swim

● The Big Bang Theory’s portrayal of academic life at Caltech

● Working with Jordan Peele for the 2022 movie, Nope

● Solving the diversity problem in physics and engineering

● How we can inspire more young people to join STEM

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “The application of tech is a nice motivation, but we can tap into the curiosity of a five-year-old to draw them into science, even if there’s no immediate application.” - John Dabiri

● “I fell in love with taking the same mindset I used in taking apart video games and cars into understanding how biological systems work—how these very simple bags of water in a jellyfish can swim through the ocean.” - John Dabiri

Connect with John Dabiri:

● Dabiri Lab

● John Dabiri on LinkedIn

● Email: jodabiri@caltech.edu

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google I Amazon Music.

Celestial Visions Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

You’ve probably heard or read something about the “new space age” unfolding around us. While this new era of space exploration is raising important questions—like who sets the rules and who owns what—it’s also inspiring grand visions of the future. I don’t have a crystal ball or some super secret source of insider intelligence, but it’s clear that two grand visions are strongly influencing a lot of the enterprises involved in the new space age: one of preserving humanity and the world, and one of escaping it all.

In this episode, I explore two of the leading visions emerging at the dawn of the new space age. You’ll hear about Jeff Bezos’ purpose for Blue Origin and his plan to build space stations where people can live and work. I share Elon Musk’s mission to colonize Mars and discuss what “lifeboat syndrome” is. You’ll also learn how the work of philanthropists started aviation and spaceflight and gain insight into the role of ordinary people like you and me in the future of the new space age.

“Where it all goes from here will be up to people like you and me and the kids and grandkids of our lives. They will inherit the lessons and building blocks from these initial lessons and have the opportunity to write an exciting new chapter in spaceflight and the future of humanity and our planet.” - Kathy Sullivan

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● The dawn of the new space age

● Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin’s vision for the future of outer space

● Elon Musk and his plans to colonize Mars

● The lifeboat syndrome

● How philanthropy drove the inception of aviation and spaceflight

Resources Mentioned:

● Book: The High Frontier: Human Colonies In Space by Gerard K. O'Neill

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “Stephen Hawking famously once said that humanity will not endure another thousand years unless it becomes a multi-planet species.” - Kathy Sullivan

● “It was the vision and private capital of philanthropists like Samuel Langley and Robert Goddard and the people they could draw to their cause that allowed everyone to envision what aviation and spaceflight could become.” - Kathy Sullivan

Related Episode:

● 108 | The New Wild West

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google I Amazon Music.

Unlocking the Secrets of the Ocean with Chris Scholin Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

Christopher A. Scholin is the President and CEO of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and has been a driving force behind groundbreaking research since 2009. He started his professional journey as a research assistant professor at the University of South Carolina at Columbia. Driven by a passion for merging molecular biology and ecology, Chris joined the esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (MIT/WHOI) Joint Program in Biological Oceanography. In 2021, he was honored with the Lockheed Martin Award for Ocean Science and Engineering from the Marine Technology Society. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology with Highest Honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master of Business Administration degree in Molecular Biology and Immunology from Duke University. Chris continues to engage in research projects and maintains an impressive scientific portfolio.

Today, you’ll hear Chris and I discuss his childhood fascination with the ocean and how it led him to pursue a career in oceanography. He explains how he accidentally became the CEO of MBARI and delves into his contributions to the development of advanced oceanic technology. He describes his early experiences with scuba diving, his interest in laboratory science and technology, and how he combined these interests to pursue a career in oceanography. He recounts his unconventional path into oceanography and discusses his exposure to molecular biology and biotech and how he saw these fields as a way to combine his passion for oceanography and technology. You’ll also learn about the challenges of working in ocean science and the importance of taking risks and being willing to make mistakes.

"Sometimes you gotta follow your heart. If it's something you wanna do, give it a try." - Chris Scholin

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● Chris’s childhood fascination with the ocean

● Learning to scuba dive in St. Louis, Michigan

● How a librarian changed the course of Chris’s career

● How Chris learned to follow his heart

● Applying molecular biology and biotech to oceanography

● What algae blooms can teach us

● How to differentiate between similar-looking organisms

● The legacy of David Packard on MBARI

● The upside of taking risks

● How mistakes can lead to important discoveries

● The challenges of overseeing senior scientists

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “Only about 30% of the sea floor of the entire earth has been mapped in any detail.” - Chris Scholin

● “The tide of popular opinion about whether it was even, even feasible was really against me. I just had to stand my ground and keep trying my best and proving it could work.” - Chris Scholin

Connect with Chris Scholin:

● Chris Sholin Website

● Chris Scholin on LinkedIn

● MBARI on LinkedIn

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google I Amazon Music.

Making Magic Happen On-Stage with Katy Psenicka Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Katy Psenicka is the Chief Choreographer and Chief Operations Officer of Shadowbox Live, America’s largest resident ensemble theater company based in Columbus, Ohio. Since joining Shadowbox Live in 1994, Katy has made choreography the anchor of her professional career, cultivating over 600 character-driven performing art pieces that tell stories through contemporary dance. A versatile performer herself, Katy has also been featured in several lead and supporting roles. Her most recent work includes the conceptualization and choreography of Madness and Lust and Broken Whispers, both of which won The Columbus Dispatch’s Best Show of 2016 award. Katy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Management from The University of Dayton.

Today, you’ll hear Katy outline her creative processes for choreographing dances and creating shows. She describes what she was like as a child and explains how being situationally aware and energetic shaped her path toward becoming an artist. You’ll learn about how, between 4th and 9th grade, she put on a show in her family’s garage every summer. She also shares her ideas on storytelling and offers her advice to young, budding artists who are unsure of their journey.

“Don’t keep your light inside—let it shine. Let yourself have the freedom to share all your amazing gifts to the world. The world needs you, your skill, and your gifts.” - Katy Psenicka

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● Katy’s background and childhood in Cleveland, Ohio

● How Katy created and held shows in her family’s garage as a child

● Her high school experience and how her teachers inspired her

● How studying Communication at The University of Dayton gave Katy a glimpse into her life path

● The process of choreographing a dance and the interplay of music and motions

● How Katy and the Shadowbox Live team produced a show based on the story of Bonnie and Clyde

● Katy’s “moments” worksheet and show ideas currently simmering in her mind

● Current and future Shadowbox Live shows

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “Whatever it is you’re good at is applicable to every single thing you do in life. You have to put a filter on your lens and take what you know and apply it.” - Katy Psenicka

● “The road will reveal itself to you. You don’t need to stress about where it’s going. Just start working.” - Katy Psenicka

Connect with Katy Psenicka:

● Shadowbox Live

● Shadowbox Live on LinkedIn

● Shadowbox Live on Instagram

● Shadowbox Live on Facebook

● Shadowbox Live on TikTok

● Katy Psenicka on LinkedIn

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google I Amazon Music.

The Man Who Carried Space Shuttles with Charles Justiz Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

Charles Justiz, Ph.D., is a pilot, risk & safety consultant, and author of the sci-fi thriller, Specific Impulse. He is the founder and Managing Director of JFA Inc. and formerly served as the Chief of Aviation Safety at the NASA Johnson Space Center, where he established a crew resource management program, a safety management system, and a just culture approach. All of which have become industry standards.

During his 30-year-long career at NASA, Charlie has flown over 16,000 flight hours in over 100 different types of aircraft, chased Space Shuttles returning from orbit, trained every astronaut who has piloted and landed a Space Shuttle and ferried numerous Space Shuttles across the United States using a modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

Charlie joins me today to describe how he fell in love with flying and aviation in his early teens and shares how he became a pilot after studying Aerospace Engineering at the Air Force Academy. We talk about his path to becoming a NASA test pilot, and he describes how he became involved in music and theater production later in life and how writing Specific Impulse opened his unexpected artistic side. Charlie also advises making mistakes in one’s career and shares his thoughts on following a vision and pursuing seemingly unrelated career paths.

“There is no box; you define what the boundaries are.” - Charlie Justiz

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● Charlie’s childhood from Havana to Miami

● Where Charlie’s early love for flying and aviation came from

● The many Cuban revolutions

● Charlie’s experience learning about Spanish literature in high school

● Charlie’s road to the Air Force Academy and how he survived his freshman year

● How Charlie became an Air Force pilot

● Celestial navigation in the space age

● Flying exotic airplanes at NASA and training to ferry Space Shuttles with the 747

● Why the 747 is a pilot’s dream

● Charlie’s work as a risk & safety consultant

● How Charlie became involved in music and theater production

● What it means to be a theater producer

● Charlie’s thoughts on taking seemingly unrelated career paths

● Charlie’s next adventure in life

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “You may be wrong, and that’s okay. I’ve failed a dozen times in my career, trying to do stuff that was wrong, but it only made me smarter on the things that I did next.” - Charlie Justiz

● “All knowledge is valuable and important.” - Charlie Justiz

Connect with Charlie Justiz:

● Charlie Justiz on LinkedIn

● Book: Specific Impulse

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn | Google | Amazon Music.

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