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 impossibl...

 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 Hop...

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 o...

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 (https://www.lindakass.com/)●     Gramercy Books (https://www.gramercybooksbexley.com/)●     Book:

 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 (https://dabirilab.com/)●     

 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 vi...

 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 (https://www.mbari.org/person/christopher-a-scholin/)●     Chris Scholin on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-scholin-5283111a/)●     MBARI on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/monterey-bay-aquarium-research-institute-mbari-/) 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,

 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 choreograp...

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 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesjustiz/)●     Book: Specific Impulse Spaceship Not Required I’m Kathy Sullivan,

Glen Moroney is an entrepreneur and the owner, operator, and CEO of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. At its inception in 1986, Scenic began offering tours to the Great Ocean Road in Warrnambool, Australia, and expanded into providing extensive land jo...

 When was the last time you watched people at a sporting event, ceremony, or concert—having the experience of a lifetime, yet mainly holding their phones or cameras up to film it all? It’s as if capturing pictures and videos is more valuable or important than the experience itself, and so they live everything through their camera screens. While certain moments in our lives prompt us to reach for our phones or cameras to capture that unfolding event and immortalize it into a visual memory, doing so comes with a cost. It takes us out of the actual moments—out of fully living the experience. In this episode, you’ll hear about the value of fully immersing yourself in the present. I share what I learned from reading The Inner Game of Tennis and from playing a detective video game. I also reflect on returning to the curiosities of our eight-year-old selves and how our lives might be enriched more by being fully in the moment. “Be here, now. Put your phone down and take all your surroundings in through every one of your senses. How richer will your life be if you can resist the screen and be fully in the moment?” - Kathy Sullivan This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores: ●     Living life through screens●     Why performing theater companies ask the audience not to film or record shows●     Going back to our eight-year-old selves●     The challenge to explore with a sense of play●     The sense of safety and security in reminiscing bygone days●     How I learned to see without judgment by playing a video game Resources Mentioned: ●     Book: The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance by W. Timothy Gallwey Our Favorite Quotes: ●     “Explore with a sense of play—of freedom. Be your eight-year-old self again, shut off the self-talk, and just be. Just do.” - Kathy Sullivan●     “Be here, now—not in the past, not in the future, but genuinely interested in and absorbing where you are now, who you’re with, and taking it all in without an opinion.” - Kathy Sullivan 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 (http://kathysullivanexplores.com)kathysullivanexplores.com (http://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 (https://open.spotify.com/show/6Zm2OXyikDFw7jaSfcfRx7) I (https://www.stitcher.com/show/kathy-sullivan-explores-podcast)