Share
Travel, at its best, changes the way we see the world. Join us each week as we dig into stories from people who took a trip—and came home transformed. Travel Tales by Afar is your ticket to the world, no passport required.
…
continue reading
Manage episode 485607040 series 2954969
Content provided by Shaesta Waiz and Michael Wildes. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Shaesta Waiz and Michael Wildes or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.
This is Aviate with Shaesta, and we’re opening Season 7 with a force of clarity, grit, and hard-earned wisdom. Sharon Preszler—trailblazer, retired Air Force fighter pilot, and advocate—joins us for a rare and brutally honest conversation on gender, performance, and the cost of systemic resistance in aviation today.
As the first woman to become combat-ready in the F-16, Sharon didn’t just break a barrier—she carried the weight of proving an entire generation’s worth. In this conversation, she opens up about the pressure, the skepticism, the “death by a thousand cuts” moments—and why we need to push back against the narrative that DEI lowers standards.
We talk performance, bias, representation, and the reality facing women in uniform now, as DEI programs are pulled back, stories are erased, and long-earned progress is threatened.
If you’ve ever been told you’re “just a diversity hire,” if you’ve felt the need to outperform just to be accepted, or if you care about building a military and aviation community that truly reflects the best this country has to offer—this episode is for you.
Major Themes & Concepts
✅ Belonging must still be proven through performance
✅ DEI removes barriers—not qualifications
✅ Sharon’s journey from fighter pilot to advocate
✅ Being the “first” means constant scrutiny
✅ Inclusion is key to retention and trust
✅ DEI rollback is harming readiness and morale
✅ Legacy systems exclude qualified talent
✅ Systemic bias still shapes who advances
✅ We need facts—not fear—in these debates
✅ Leadership pipelines still favor familiarity
✅ Historic bias still shapes modern outcomes
✅ Progress is fragile—but worth defending
Chapter Breakdown
00:00 – You must change the system yourself
01:27 – Why this conversation matters right now
04:46 – Flying the F-16 under pressure and protest
08:03 – What inclusion really looks like in uniform
10:19 – Who defines “qualified” in aviation today?
13:59 – DEI rollbacks and historical erasure
18:35 – Data reveals who’s truly advancing
22:46 – Is the system neutral—or just comfortable?
29:18 – Microaggressions and lasting emotional cost
36:44 – Advice: Define success, perform relentlessly
Connect with Sharon Preszler
Website: sharonpreszler.com
LinkedIn: Sharon Preszler
Follow Shaesta Waiz
Website: shaestawaiz.com
LinkedIn: Shaesta Waiz
Instagram: @shaesta.waiz
TikTok: @shaestawaiz
Production, Distribution, and Marketing
By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group
LinkedIn: Massif Studio & Production
Website: www.TallawahWorldwide.com
LinkedIn: The Tallawah Group
For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected].
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
80 episodes
))
