WAI On Air Podcast

Meet Dr. Sian Proctor
Born 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-civilian mission to orbit the Earth — becoming the first woman commercial spaceship pilot, the first Black commercial astronaut, and the first artist selected to become an astronaut.
Sian discovered art and poetry during COVID-19 as an outlet during one of the hardest periods of her life — and that creativity has become central to how she sees her role as a scientist and astronaut. Her artwork Seeker sold for $100,000, and her poem "Space2inspire" flew to space.
As founder and chief inspiration astronaut of Space2inspire, Sian is guided by her motto: "space to inspire." She uses art and media to build a J.E.D.I. space — Just, Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive — believing that concept matters as much on Earth as it does in space. With over 25 years of experience as a geoscientist and STEAM communicator, she teaches students from age 17 to 75 and continues reaching into new frontiers — from spaceflight to art to laser cutting to augmented reality.
🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
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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 nuclear. He sits on several public company boards and serves as a board adviser to a venture capital firm and a number of start-up companies. Jim Keyes has experience in successfully leading multinational corporations with a deep understanding of global and local franchise operations. His creativity, innovation, and adoption of leading-edge technology contributed to the successful transformation of both public and private organizations. He is a seasoned executive, known internationally for leading transformational change. Keyes is a respected philanthropist who combines his passion for business, education, and technology to advance education for all mankind. As a founding director of the Dallas Education Foundation and founder of the Education is Freedom Foundation, he has helped hardworking youth across the country realize their dreams by raising over $450 million for fellowships and scholarships. His bestselling book, Education is Freedom: The Future Is in Your Hands, celebrates the power of education to help individuals become engaged and active participants in the democratic process and make a positive impact on their communities.  🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music 📲 Follow us on Spotify: WAI On Air Podcast  #WomeninAviationInternational #IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast #AviationPodcast

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 world’s largest nongovernmental aviation safety organization. With a team of more than 425 of the union’s pilot representatives, she leads the ASO, which operates the union’s safety, security, pilot assistance, and jumpseat programs.
 
During her four-year term as first vice president, the current aviation safety and security landscape is changing systemically, as regulators in the United States and around the globe define aviation standards for the new era. These opportunities include how airline pilots safely share the airspace with new entrants, such as spacecraft, drones, and electric vertical lift operators, to name a few.
 
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Wendy flies the Boeing 787 for United and previously was a corporate pilot and instructor for Precision Airlines.
 
🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music

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#WomeninAviationInternational #IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast #AviationPodcast

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, and managing director of customer service at the Chicago O'Hare hub.
Beginning her career at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Jacqui later moved to Ronald Reagan Washington National where she led the station as general manager.
Jacqui has a Bachelor of Science from Springfield College and resides in the Chicagoland area.

Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music
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#WomeninAviationInternational #IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast #AviationPodcast

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 of flying on the playground to achieving extraordinary feats, epitomizes the limitless potential of an adaptable mindset. She founded Rightfooted Foundation International (RFI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to arm children born with bilateral limb difference with the skills and tools needed to live independent and fulfilling lives. Through their unique programs, Jessica is leading the charge in changing perceptions of people with disabilities while advocating for accessibility and inclusion. This effort includes her Life With Feet channel on YouTube, which to date has more than 1.7 million views and 10.2K subscribers.🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. 📲 Follow us on Spotify: WAI On Air Podcast #WomeninAviationInternational #IamWAI #WeAreWAI #Aviation #Aerospace #WAITogether #WAIOnAir #WAIPodcast #AviationPodcast #Rightfooted #ImpossibleAirplane #VansRV10