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AVIATE with Shaesta

AVIATE with Shaesta

By: Shaesta Waiz Michael Wildes
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 AVIATE with Shaesta brings some of the most interesting female aviators together- trailblazers, record-setters, mothers, adventurers, entrepreneurs- to have honest conversations about what it means to be a woman in aviation. Join Shaesta Waiz, the Youngest Woman to Fly Solo Around the World, as she goes around the world (via a podcast) and connects with the industry to have honest conversations about being a woman in aviation. AVIATE, which stands for Acknowledge, Vocalize, Inclusion, Act, Travel, and Evolve, are the themes guiding each conversation. AVIATE With Shaesta is sponsored by Atlantic Aviation.2021 Aviate with Shaesta Drama & Plays Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Katherine Moloney Built a Movement in Aviation — And It Started With 40 Women and Sandwiches

    Katherine Moloney Built a Movement in Aviation — And It Started With 40 Women and Sandwiches
    Mar 26 2026
    Katherine Moloney did not grow up thinking she would become a pilot, even though aviation was in her family. Her father flew, but she never saw herself in the cockpit and brushed off early signs that she might belong there. That changed when she started working at a flight equipment company on an airfield, where daily exposure to aviation turned curiosity into action. A helicopter trial lesson at Brighton City Airport changed everything. She signed up right away, earned her helicopter license at 19, later added a fixed-wing license, and kept chasing every part of aviation that felt new, challenging, and worth learning. That personal journey eventually led to Elevate Her Aviation. Katherine explains that while she had strong support from men in the industry, she still felt isolated because she rarely met other women in aviation. So she created the kind of space she wished she had herself. She booked a room, ordered sandwiches, invited as many women in UK aviation as she could find, and 40 showed up. What started as one gathering became a real community, and now Elevate Her is working across the UK and expanding internationally. In this conversation, she explains why general aviation matters so much, why cost remains one of the biggest barriers to entry, and why more accessible routes like cadets, gliding, and microlights can make a real difference. Later, Katherine gets specific about what inclusion actually means in aviation. Her point is blunt: women do not need special treatment, they need equipment, uniforms, and systems designed with them in mind. She talks about flight suits, helmets, life jackets, seat cushions, and even aircraft seating requirements that still fail many women on basic safety and usability. She also points to the bigger issue underneath it all: if women are pushed out by poor design, lack of support, or the pressure of motherhood and family life, the industry loses talent, experience, and future mentors. Her argument is simple. Better design is not cosmetic. It is a safety issue, a retention issue, and a leadership issue. CHAPTERS (00:00) Katherine’s path into aviation (01:26) The trial flight that changed it (05:12) Why Elevate Her was created (07:18) Why general aviation matters (08:10) The cost barrier to entry (10:40) Building community online (14:46) Why women start behind (18:28) Barriers beyond the UK and US (21:11) Better design, not special treatment (23:48) Retention, motherhood, and safety SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT KATHERINE MOLONEY LinkedIn: Katherine Moloney - Elevate(her) Aviation IG: Katherine Moloney (@moloneykatherine) Website: http://katherinemoloney.com/ MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email hello@MassifKroo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    27 mins
  • Katie Hill on eVTOLs, policy, and building aviation’s next chapter

    Katie Hill on eVTOLs, policy, and building aviation’s next chapter
    Mar 19 2026
    Katie Hill works at the center of aviation policy, government affairs, and advanced air mobility, and in this conversation she explains how she got there. She started on Capitol Hill working for Senator Moran, where mentors pushed her toward the commerce portfolio and introduced her to aviation policy. What began as a Hill assignment turned into a real calling once she started working on advanced air mobility and saw how policy could help shape an entirely new part of aviation. For Katie, joining Joby was not a career detour. It was the chance to help build the future she had already started working toward in government. She also breaks down advanced air mobility in simple terms: fast, quiet, short-distance electric flight for normal people. Katie explains how Joby’s aircraft is designed to connect places that are close enough to drive but far enough to waste time in traffic, like downtown Washington and Dulles. She talks about why noise matters, why integration into the current aviation system matters, and why safety has to stay at the center of every conversation about innovation and regulation. Her point is clear: this only works if the aircraft is safe, useful, and accessible. Later, Katie talks about the pace of life at Joby, the discipline of focusing on the three most important things each day, and how motherhood changed the way she thinks about work and impact. She shares what it was like balancing Joby, law school, and a new baby at the same time, and why being fully present in each role matters. She closes with advice for young women entering aviation: trust your instincts, find strong mentors, speak up for yourself, and do not be afraid to chase the opportunity that feels right before everyone else sees it. CHAPTERS (00:00) Why Katie chose aviation policy (02:01) How she found AAM (06:15) Explaining eVTOLs simply (10:17) Why regional access matters (11:30) Her role at Joby (16:29) Innovation and regulation (20:10) How big ideas take shape (23:00) Why access to flight matters (25:26) Motherhood, work, and balance (32:42) Advice for young women SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠⁠ MORE ABOUT KATIE HILL LinkedIn: Katie Hill - Joby Aviation MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email hello@MassifKroo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Pilot-Turned-Candidate Shelly DeZevallos Says Aviation Needs a Bigger Voice in Washington

    Pilot-Turned-Candidate Shelly DeZevallos Says Aviation Needs a Bigger Voice in Washington
    Mar 12 2026
    Shelly DeZevallos has spent decades working in aviation and public service, and in this conversation she explains why running for Congress felt like the natural next step. She argues aviation and policy are already deeply connected—from FAA modernization and ATC pressure to advanced air mobility and supersonic aircraft—and says the industry needs more people in government who actually understand how aviation works. For Shelly, the move into politics is not a departure from aviation but an extension of it. She also talks candidly about culture, leadership, and the role women play in aviation and policy. Shelly shares a story about mistakenly assuming another woman in the room was not a pilot—an experience that forced her to confront how deeply industry norms shape perception. She discusses why healthy aviation culture is built through small signals of respect, why more women do not step into oversight and policy roles, and how people can start building influence long before ever considering a campaign. Later, Shelly breaks down what campaigning has taught her: talk slower, listen better, and do not panic. She compares running for office to flying an airplane—stay steady, fly the plane, and keep moving forward even when things get rough. She closes with advice for anyone who wants to make a difference, whether through public office, aviation advocacy, safety work, government affairs, or simply taking the first step and refusing to quit. CHAPTERS (00:00) Why Shelly chose to run (03:07) Culture and belonging matter (05:30) A mistake that changed her (07:39) Campaigning vs. aviation (08:59) What surprised her most (10:20) Family behind the campaign (11:53) Why women avoid policy (14:20) Advice for stepping up (18:07) Aviation policy career paths (20:57) Take the first step SPONSOR ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Atlantic Aviation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠atlanticaviation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WORK WITH SHAESTA For bookings and inquiries, visit: ⁠https://shaestawaiz.com/book⁠ MORE ABOUT SHELLY DEZEVALLOS LinkedIn: Shelly Lesikar deZevallos MORE ABOUT SHAESTA WAIZ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shaestawaiz.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaesta Waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@aviateplatform⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaestawaiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@shaesta.waiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif & Kroo Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MassifKroo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email hello@MassifKroo.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    23 mins
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