In Her Orbit

We’re joined by Dr. Erika Wagner, Lead of U.S. Business Development at The Exploration Company. Erika walks us through her journey from a space-obsessed kid to earning her PhD at Harvard/MIT and helping lead the MIT Mars Gravity Biosatellite Program. She shares how her career has evolved through innovation work at the XPRIZE Foundation and more than a decade at Blue Origin, where she supported research payloads and emerging commercial space markets. Erika also talks about her newest chapter a...

We're joined by Sirisha Bandla, commercial astronaut, aeronautical engineer, and advocate for the next generation of space professionals. Sirisha walks us through following her dream of going to space from earning her degree at Purdue University, persevering through early career rejections, to finally launching to space with Virgin Galactic’s Unity 22 mission. She also talks through navigating life after achieving your dream, and her newest endeavor, her own podcast, Star Tales & Cocktail...

Shawn is joined by Amber McIntyre, Senior Director of Civil Space at the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). Amber shares her journey from a career in diplomacy and public service to shaping U.S. and international space policy at NASA, the State Department, and the White House. She discusses her work on the Artemis Accords, the importance of collaboration across agencies and nations, and how space exploration represents the best of humankind. --- Hosted by Shawn Linam Produced and edite...

Sharon Caples McDougle shares her journey from the U.S. Air Force to becoming the first Black woman suit technician, Crew Chief, and Manager in NASA’s Crew Escape Equipment department. She opens up about suiting up Dr. Mae Jemison for her historic 1992 mission, leading the first all-female suit tech crew, and breaking barriers throughout her career. --- Where to find Sharon: Instagram Linkedin Facebook TikTok Youtube Twitter Sharon's Website The Wise Channel --- Hosted by Shawn Linam Produced...

CEO of Stellar Solutions and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Janet Grondin shares her path from small-town Iowa to leading a woman-owned small business. She reflects on pivotal moments such as growing up watching her father build a plane in their shed, her early work on the Delta rockets and GPS modernization, and her transition to industry. --- Where to find Janet: LinkedIn Stellar Solutions --- Hosted by Shawn Linam Produced and edited by Sicily Seitz --- Supported by Qwaltec --- Find I...