How Volunteer Pilots Are Changing Lives Across America

This week, we are flying with a purpose. We recently connected with a team of inspiring individuals who work to make a resounding impact in their communities. Galley Gang, let’s remember that even our smallest acts of service can truly create a ripple effect that inspires change.

In this episode, we are joined by Reid & Alé from Elevated Access—a non-profit organization that connects individuals who need to travel for gender-affirming care and abortion care with their growing network of volunteer pilots. Enjoy an immersive, eye-opening conversation about aviation, inclusion, and making a positive impact in our world.

Donate or volunteer here: Elevated Access

Chapters:
[0:00] Welcome to Episode #35!
[0:56] Meet Reid & Alé, Elevated Access 
[1:42] Alé & turbulence
[3:53] Reid & a crazy 24-hour flight
[7:42] Alé in entering the world of aviation
[8:46] What is Elevated Access?
[11:05] The Process 
[13:18] Types of care people are traveling for
[17:17] The lack of access
[20:56] Vetting process for volunteer pilots
[23:53] Misconceptions about Elevated Access
[25:31] A purpose supported by airlines!
[29:34] What makes their work more important than ever?
[35:36] Reid & Alé’s meaningful stories  
[39:39] The aviation industry and inclusion
[50:26] Let’s be supportive and more compassionate
[59:50] Words of wisdom 
[1:03:07] Support the cause!
[1:05:35] Let’s play Cross-Checked!

Transcript

Welcome to Episode #35!

0:00

We rag on pilots so often. And it's so just beautiful and heartwarming to know that these are people that we work with that are doing something good. With someone that's been working in the reproductive justice space for so long, it's always been under attack. And gender affirming care has always been under attack. We don't need to know what kind of appointment you're doing. We just need to know that you're going to an appointment and that you need this care. I remember when Ro fell, I was working like 15-hour days trying to get all these flights because we had no idea what was going to happen on the other side. Passengers walk on, they see that and they go, okay, I'm not in this the hands of someone who doesn't give a shit about my life. Like I someone at least sees me to some degree. People see you as a person, they're going to save your life. Aviation

Meet Reid & Alé, Elevated Access

0:56

has always been about connecting people, but today we're talking about a side of aviation that many people may not know exists. Our guests today, Reed and Ale, from a nonprofit organization called Elevated Access, are helping connect people to critical healthcare through volunteer flights and travel coordination across the country. It's an important conversation about advocacy, LGBTQ plus visibility, healthcare access, and the very human side of travel that we do not talk about enough. Welcome, Reed and Ale to our studio. We're so happy to have you on two guys on a plane. Welcome, friends. Thanks so much for having us today. We're really excited to be here. Yes, absolutely. Normally we open our shows by talking about something crazy that's happened in our week of flying. But when we have guests, we like to ask about a crazy experience you've had while traveling. So what's

Alé & turbulence

1:42

some of it, what's the craziest thing that's ever happened to you on an airplane? Oh, I feel like I've I've traveled a lot. So I've been across the country, I've been to many different places. I really, I think the most crazy thing has always been turbulence. I had turbulence where someone across the aisle held my hand. Stranger just like put out his hand and just held it because I think he was more freaked out than I. And then we just never saw each other again. Once the turbulence stopped, he let go of my hand and we just pretended to not make eye contact at all for the rest of our life. It does. People come together in those situations like more intensely than you expect them to. You're like, these people are best friends now because of this experience that they had together, whether it's a good experience or a bad experience. Um, but yeah. Are you afraid of turbulence? Is that a thing for you, or were you? I hate admitting it, but I am I am. I hate that. And I've tried like literally so much, it doesn't even make logical sense. But I think turbulence is hard, is it feels more intense nowadays. I was like, fears don't have to make sense, and it really is more intense. The weather, the way the weather's changing, it has been happening more often, and I feel more intensely than it did 20 years ago. Thanks to climate change for that. Oh, right. That's real, right? It's real, yeah. I've heard that. Yeah, yeah. It's it really has changed things. Yeah, and now it'll only get worse, turbulence. So love that. As the temperatures rise, we'll see more turbulence and worse turbulence. So I am ready. Yeah. I always tell people who are actually afraid. I'm afraid of bridges for like zero reason. I've never been on one that's fallen, but I'm terrified to be on them to the point where like windows are rolled down, seat belts off, like we're ready to go off this bridge. It's never gonna happen, but we're ready. Like it's a normal game. Yeah. I was just trying to qualify that like fears don't have to be explained. I've never been on one that like just fell over, but I'm terrified of them the same. Not even roller coaster. Absolutely not.

Reid & a crazy 24-hour flight

3:53

I read you used to fly. So do you have a crazy flight attendant moment or passenger moment that you want to probably the craziest flight that I ever worked was working New York LaGordia to DFW, and we had a flight that took us a full 24 hours to get from New York LaGuordia to DFW. You have to tell me how it took you 24 hours. So we took off. There was some weather forecasted, and we ended up diverting, and we diverted to like Memphis, maybe somewhere around there. And we tried to take off several times and eventually ended up canceling for the night in Memphis. We came back to the airport the next day, and we had probably like two-thirds of our passengers still there, still riding it with us. We went to take off. There was still weather going on, and so they had routed us some super long route, like down around New Orleans, and then right before we were supposed to take off, they shortened our route, so then we had too much fuel on board. Oh my goodness, like one thing after another. But then all the fuel trucks were full, so we couldn't get the fuel off of our plane. So we waited around for that forever. We finally, finally took off from Memphis and then we diverted again. To where? To Alliance, west of DFW. Um my god. So by the time we landed there, a bunch of our passengers bailed and just got off the plane. We're like in bus range at this point. Yeah, it's not even worth it anymore. Just put me on a bus and drive me over. They're like, just come get me where we are. And so by the time we landed, it was 24 hours later. I love the overfueling issue because so many people think this is just so easy. Like, just go run up, like go sit at the end of the runway and like run up the engines. It doesn't work that way. They like literally have to pump the gas back off the plane. The plane, yeah. What because the the plane was too heavy at that point because we were going on a direct routing and they had given us enough gas to go all the time. And depending on how much gas they have, you if you like just you can't like just run up the engines because it's not safe to sit there with a brake and the engines on. Because what if something fails and then the airplane, so they have to like pump the fuel back off? It's very obvious. My understanding of it. I'm learning stuff all the time. No, yeah. It's it's such a complex world, obviously. You know that. And uh those stories are the kind of stories where people are like, Oh, what's the craziest thing that's ever happened? And they don't expect you to say things like that, right? Because they're like, I can't comprehend how that would even happen. Right. Yeah, fueling and things like that. It's it's crazy. I used to say that it was like always a miracle we ever got a single plane off the ground. Like once you realize you're not gonna be able to do it. I talk about many people. We talk about it a lot. It's not magic. Everyone thinks it is, it's not magic, but there's a lot of math that goes into all of this. A lot of math, a lot of departments, a lot of workers. I mean, it is there are just so many moving pieces to it. Um, and we see it on a much smaller, you know, scale for us, uh with the work that we do. But yeah, when you talk about commercial flights, it's really a miracle that any plane ever goes, much less all of them and the intricate dance that it is. Um, yeah. I I continue to be surprised every day, and it's one of those jobs where it's like you shouldn't be surprised anymore. You should be numb to the amount of surprises that you have to encounter. But every day there's like a new fresh set of hell waiting for you where you're like, Oh, I didn't think this could happen to me. This could go on, yeah. Like I was expecting X, Y, and Z, but what is this? Like, what has just occurred? There's definitely some of the maintenance issues that you'll encounter and run into. You're like, oh, I didn't know that could break. How long did you fly? Um, almost 10 years. Okay, yeah. So you you had a wide array of experiences. Yeah, I definitely got to see a lot. Good, bad, and ugly. Yeah. Yeah. That's um, Ale,

Alé in entering the world of aviation

7:42

what brought you into the world of aviation? How did you get into elevated access and all of that? I was working for an abortion practical fund, which is really uh an abortion org that does like booking hotels, flights, buses, trains um based in Texas. Okay. And we worked with elevated access. And I was like, I want to work for a trans led org, being a trans person myself. And I ended up meeting a former person that used to work at Elevated Access. And then I just manifested it. Honestly, I was just like, I want to work here. This is what I want to do. And so when I left my old job, I took like a couple months off just to like be and exist. And then I saw a job opening and I applied, and now I'm here. Fate, totally fate. I remember when I first learned about elevated access, I think it was maybe a year ago now. I was like fuming because I was like, how did I not know about this organization? Because I was like, this is incredible. Like this combines everything that I am passionate about. And you guys are doing such incredible

What is Elevated Access?

8:46

work. So tell us first and foremost, what is elevated access? What do you guys do? How does it work? All that sort of fun stuff. Yeah. So Elevated Access is a nonprofit organization, and we primarily work to support folks who are traveling for gender-affirming care and abortion care through a network of volunteer pilots. Um, and so our pilots fly not big planes, but really small planes like Sessmas and Pipers and help people get from point A to point B. And so we are that transportation piece for folks who have to travel for care. Um and yeah, um, what was the second part of the question? Um I think the second part of the question was how you how you guys got involved in it. And I'll let you kind of answer this a little bit. But read, what brought you into this world? So I like I mentioned, I flew for almost 10 years and stopped flying during COVID. I took, you know, one of the leaves that was offered and ended up not coming back and um worked for a couple of kind of startup organizations. And um then when I saw elevated access, much like you when you heard about it, I was like, this is everything that I care about. Um and I was so excited to see an opportunity to get back into aviation um and to use some of you know aviation skills that I had built up being a flight attendant and to do it for something totally different. Um, so being able to work um, you know, in aviation, but to do something that is so meaningful and that has such a direct impact. I feel like I often say that I feel really spoiled because we get to, you know, sit there and the work that we do and watch people get to the care that they need. It's really gratifying and really rewarding. Yeah, definitely. I started my career in the uh nonprofit world before aviation. I was working with the hungry and homeless in DC and I was coordinating service learning programs for youth, and we'd kind of network with different nonprofits in the DC metro area to do that sort of stuff. And then when I started flying, I was like, I love this. I love aviation, but something's missing. Like I'm missing that piece of like human connection and the actual gratification of being able to like walk away from your work and say I did something helpful or I did something for somebody. Um, in in a more meaningful way than like, you know, I help them with their flights or whatever. Um, so I I think it's really awesome what you guys are um what what you're doing.

The Process

11:05

So tell us a little bit about what the process looks like for someone who is coming to elevated access for help. Yeah. So Ali and I both work in the flight coordination department. So we actually do the flight coordination. Uh we work primarily by referral. So we have over a hundred partner organizations that we work with, um, anywhere from abortion practical support funds to clinics themselves to community providers, community centers. Um, so they will refer passengers to us who need to travel for care. Um, and then we receive those referrals. And the only information that we really need in order to make a flight happen is the number of passengers, their weights, the destination and departure time, and a time and place. Um, and we can use that information and match with our volunteer pilots. Um, so we have an actual map of the United States with all of our pilots plotted all across the US. Um, and so when we receive that point A to point B, we actually look at the map and look at our pilots and send the request out to our pilots. And our pilots will raise their hand and say, Yes, I can do that. Um, and then all we need is a first name and a phone number. That's so cool. I feel like you make it sound so simple. And there has to be so much behind the scenes coordination that you two are doing, your whole team is doing. Um, how many pilots are there involved in this first? I think we have roughly 500 pilots that are vetted with planes. That's amazing. Um, yeah, it's and it's growing every day. Absolutely. And same with our partnership. So we part of my job is to create those partnerships with other like clinics providers, all those folks. And that is also growing, which means we're also gonna get more passengers. Yeah, which is great. I mean, ultimately you want to keep growing. That's correct. Um, so wait, how many partners were there? We have over a hundred partner organizations, 500 pilots. Okay. And we've trying to grasp the scale. I mean, that's that's huge. Yeah, we've flown over 3,600 passengers on over 3,000 flights, over 2.2 million miles so far. That's such incredible work. We'd be working. Yeah, right. As you should. I mean, these are such important missions that you guys are doing. What um, so

Types of care people are traveling for

13:18

tell us more about what types of care people are traveling for for people that might not know. Yeah, so uh we do so it's gender-affirming care. We I love one of the things I love about elevated access is we don't require, like, um, we don't need to know what kind of appointment you're doing. We just need to know that you're going to an appointment and that you need this care. And we do that same with abortion. I don't know how many weeks you are. I don't know anything. I just know that you have an appointment and you need to get there. Um, so that's what we've been doing right now. Um, we're broadening out to do some broader perinatal support. So it's gonna be like birth work, um, getting doulas, uh, flying doulas to like rural areas that are needing support with birth access because it's one of the things that is happening in this country as well. So, like the broader repro world is needing support in every every angle possible. And like midwives are under attack in this country, doulas are under attack. So, and then rural folks and like immigrants are the folks that usually and black folks are the folks that need the care the most, um, and trans folks, of course. And so we are trying to get providers, midwives, and folks to those rural spaces um to get them the support they need as well. But it is a very slow process. So don't get too excited. It's it's building. Um, right now I'm in the phase of networking with folks, like creating those seeds, creating those connections, figuring out how the model of care will look like. Um, it's a lot, but I love it. I think it's amazing too because I feel like, especially in this day and age, there's so many questions asked and so many strings attached in a lot of these situations. So I think it's really great that you guys kind of have a policy where it's like you're telling me that you need something. You have an appointment. I don't care what it is or what it's about, but you're telling me there's something important happening for you in your life on your journey, and we're here to help you. Like we're gonna show up and do that. There's no like it has to be this, it has to be that. There's no expectations. I mean, these people are going through enough. They're going through enough. I mean, that's that's really that's very much how we see it is that folks should not have to travel for care. They should not have to leave their homes, coordinate child care, take time off work, all of these other pieces that they're having to prepare just in order to receive care that they should be able to access where they live. And so we want to make that process as simple as possible, as painless as possible as we can, and make our piece as easy as possible for the passengers. And so, you know, our goal is is you know, traveling is not easy, flying by plane is not easy. I don't want to make that, you know, but we want to make it as simple as possible. Um, so especially when our passengers are flying with our volunteer pilots, we, you know, prepare them an itinerary. It looks, you know, not quite the same as you might get from an airline, but it basically looks like that. You know, here's the you know, spot you're going to meet at the airport, here's what time you're gonna meet your pilot, here's your pilot's, you know, name and phone number, here's where you're going to arrive, you know, make it as simple and as kind of easy to navigate and easy to access as possible. Um and it, you know, and I think one of the things that folks maybe don't always realize is that just because abortion or gender-affirming care are legal in your state, that doesn't mean that they're accessible where you live. So we still have folks who have to travel, you know, in legal states to get egg care. Um so you know, this is a bigger issue than I think some folks realize. Um, and it is a growing issue. Like Ale mentioned, you know, when restrictions are placed on abortions, that makes regular perenatal care that much harder to access. Providers leave the area because they're not able to practice and able to, you know, provide the care that they know is appropriate and necessary. So they leave the area and then all of a sudden there's no care available. Um, so this is a growing issue. We're trying to find the folks who need support and help and trying to make it as easy as possible for them. Yeah, that's

The lack of access

17:17

it's such a ripple effect that I think people don't realize. It's like, okay, there might be compassionate people in this one community, but if there's no support for the work that these people are doing, like you said, they're gonna leave these communities and then you're leaving people stranded with no access to the support. And I think especially us, you know, in our like little city bubbles, we take it for granted that the these sort of resources are generally more available to people like us and people in cities, and you forget about people in these communities where there's such a lack of access. Yeah, and one thing that I have definitely learned in this job that I think I didn't realize is just how rural some folks can live. Oh, yes. Um so um one of the things that I also didn't know before this is that there are small airports probably within roughly every 30 miles or so across the US. Um, and those small airports can be a lifeline. Um so probably learned airport codes that we never even learn in training and flight. I'm so proud of that. Yes, definitely. I have learned so many small airports um in so many different places, and even in these big cities too, there are small airports. Um, so we're not flying folks in and out of you know, JFK, but of course, um, but we might be flying them in and out of Peterborough instead. Um, so yeah. Yeah, I think a lot of like California, when when we do conferences or things like that, people are like, oh, California access is so easy. And I'm like, no, absolutely not. Like California is a really big state, like going from place to place is complicated within like Los Angeles itself, like getting from one part of Los Angeles to another part of Los Angeles to these clinics, and then like I think of like Pennsylvania, where a lot of clinics and spaces have lost funding also. And so it's like that accent, it it definitely is not just like these these red states, as we like to talk about, but it's yeah, it's the entire United States, absolutely. Yeah, I definitely think people fail to realize that. You know, you get in the like hype of the media and like what's happening in the red states and what's happening in these rural places and what's happening and it's like a lot of times it's happening everywhere, and you just don't realize it because that's not what the narrative is at the moment or whatever the media might be might be pushing. Yeah, one of my favorite kind of passenger stories to share is a passenger that I helped in a blue state, in a very blue state, um, who was living in a small town without a car um on the coast. And it was about a two and a half hour drive to the clinic that they needed to go to over the mountains. This passenger didn't have a car, didn't speak English. Um and what if I no way to access their appointment without one of our pilots? It was a 25-minute flight for our pilot. I was able to pick the passenger up and fly them right into the city and even drive them that last little bit to the clinic when they were able to access care and then drive fly them right back home. Um if it hadn't been for our pilot, I don't know how that passenger would have gotten to the care that they needed. Um that's in, you know, one of the bluest states in the country. Um so there are access issues everywhere. Um and it's really incredible um how folks are stepping up to help people get to care. So the pilot drove this person as well. Yes. Like it's just I we rag on pilots so often, just in our in our world as flight attendants, but also on the show. And it's so just beautiful and heartwarming to know that these are people that we work with, you know, that are doing something good outside of themselves, spending their own money, using their own resources to help people that might not otherwise get the care that they're

Vetting process for volunteer pilots

20:56

I was gonna ask that earlier because you all keep referring to them as vetted pilots. And I think that that's an important point because they're not just anyone waving their hand, like they clearly go through some sort of process to make sure they align with your oh, absolutely. Yeah, tell us more about the vetting process for the pilots. Um they apply um usually with either they can do it online and or they can do it in person, like at conferences or things like that. Um, in if it's in person, it'll be one of our staff members that asks the questions. Um and it's sort of an array of questions around like um now. I have to what are the array of questions? I'm just blowing out. Are you? Well, clearly they align with your values. And the values of the people that you're trying to assist get to the healthcare access. And then we have two references. So you have to have references. We also select social media. We're like we're all through we're good looking at everything. Um I mean you should. These are trans folks, these are the folks that need to feel as safe as humanly possible. And like Reed said, they've been through enough. Like I'm not gonna be putting them through more. Yeah. And I would say, I mean, our pilot roster is, you know, definitely gonna be the pilots who have the highest EQ, you know. I mean, I can definitely rag on a pilot too and uh, you know, met my share while flying. Um but these pilots, I mean, they really do have a, you know, a higher emotional intelligence, I think, than maybe some pilots do. Um, you know, they've, you know, stepped up and said, hey, this is something that I want to do. This is something that I care enough about. I'm willing to give my plane, my time, my money. Um, and they are really invested. They are super motivated, um, really excited to be helping and really eager to help. Um, and it's been really cool to meet our pilots. Some of them are commercial airline pilots, some are hobby pilots, some are doctors, some are um, you know, student pilots who are looking to gain time. It's a great way to gain time for any pilots who might be listening who are, you know, looking to get on at the airline. Um I didn't think about that. Yeah, no, that's hours. Exactly. Flight hours are always important. Awesome way to get flight hours. Um, and it looks really good on an application. Sounds like you might be looking for volunteers. Always looking for volunteers. We definitely have at least a couple pilots that listen to us. So hopefully some more traffic comes your way. So yeah. Or if you, you know, find yourself as a pilot on the layover, be sure to talk about elevated access. We love that style. Yeah. Yes, definitely. Yeah. And you guys have bag tags now, I heard there's a rumor. So get your elevated access swag, talk about it on the plane. You know, word of mouth and aviation is everything. So just word of mouth, period, right is how anything gets done. But I mean, flight attendants especially know how to gossip. So we're gonna get them gossiping about elevated access. The repro world is not that different. Yeah, that's that's probably very true. Um,

Misconceptions about Elevated Access

23:53

what are some like misconceptions that you feel like people have about the work that you guys are doing with elevated access? I think the biggest one um is that what we're doing is illegal or not allowed. Um everything we do is totally legal. It's on the up and up. Um so we're fully compliant with all laws as far as we understand them and our legal representation understands them. Um, there is nothing to prevent anybody currently from assisting somebody in accessing abortion or gender-affirming care. Um, so there have been attempts, you know, but all of those laws have been put on hold or being blocked by the courts. Um, so everything that we're doing is totally legal. And um, you know, I think that's one of the biggest misconceptions that we hear. And I think that's really intentional by folks who would try to limit our rights. They want people to think that they don't have access and don't have options. Um that it is perfectly legal to travel for an abortion or for gender-affirming care. It's perfectly legal to assist somebody in traveling. Um, so everything that we're doing is legal and yeah, within the bounds of the law. Right. And of course, you know, people who don't support this kind of work, they want that to be part of their narrative. Oh, it's illegal, oh, they're doing horrible things, oh, everyone should go to jail. You know, it's like they love that sort of narrative of like, okay, we're not, you know, we're not doing this, this is legal, whatever. And it's like, you're just just just tell us you don't care about people, you know. It's like just just be honest with yourselves about who you are. Um, what uh

A purpose supported by airlines!

25:31

aside from obviously the support of pilots, what support have you received, if any, from the airline industry, from aviation, like are any airlines supporting your work or aircraft companies or or anything like that? Uh Piedmont um gave us, I believe, credits or mileage. Mileage. There we go. We need a donation, a generous mileage donation. Um, but that is one thing we so we if we're not able to match with a volunteer pilot, we will use airlines as a backup option for our passengers. Um, and we do book a good amount of commercial flights. Um, so we've not had a ton of airline support, but we certainly would be interested in more airline support. Um yeah. So um, but yeah, we you know definitely work with airlines and book airline tickets for our passengers when we need to. And so that definitely is an option and something that we're open to. We can always take um, you know, voucher donations, things like that. So uh so it's mostly been are you using like well miles from Piedmont, obviously, but like are you guys footing the bill basically for the tickets? You're not getting mileage donations from a lot of people, yeah. No, we don't know other than it's all free for anyone, which is so disappointing because I at one point in my flight attendant career, I was on the community giving team at my airline, and uh coming from the nonprofit world, I was very excited to be part of this. I was like, okay, you're granting nonprofits donations and doing all this stuff, that's amazing. And then you get to the other side of the table, and I'm like, oh, your brains work so differently on the corporate side than on the nonprofit side. Because for me, it was like, okay, I was on the side where we applied for grants and we were looking for funding and things like that. And then to get on this side where they were like, okay, we have a hundred grand to spend on nonprofits in this community. How are we gonna spend it? And then watching them sort through the different proposals and being like, Well, do we really want to be funding literacy or like whatever? And you it was just mind-blowing to hear these people that you think are they're so like top level at that airline, and you're like, This is so disheartening that you were just like whittling it down to these basic things and deciding who is worthy of support and who isn't. And so those conversations were as really frustrating to me. But with that being said, they were always like, they don't need money, we'll give them miles. So in my head, I'm like, why aren't they giving you miles? Because they talked about how miles were not worth as much as the dollar, and they'll give miles to anybody. So, like, being on that side of the conversation, I'm like, these airlines better start showing up and giving you miles because we need all the support we can get here. Yeah, airlines if you're listening, miles, right? And we know there's at least two CEOs of airlines that have listened to this podcast. And if you're listening, show up and donate because I just it's it's frustrating to to be on that side of the table and to be like, I'm just asking for basic support, and then to have them be like, Well, your mission is it doesn't align with us or whatever garbage they're spewing at the moment. Like it's it's frustrating. So absolutely, anyways. Totally went off on a tangent there. Oh, I love it. But I was like, my side of things, like I've been on both sides of that table, and it's it's insanely frustrating to to witness. So I can only imagine when you guys are searching for support, how frustrating that process is. Yeah, and we book a lot of tickets. We have a half a million dollars budgeted for airline tickets this year. Um, so we book a lot of tickets. Um, we would certainly be open to working with specific airlines if um, you know, if any of them are listening and want to to support. But yeah, we will gladly accept um donations if folks have, you know, flight certificates they'd like to donate. We can accept those too. Um, those are easy to transfer. Um, so we'll we'll take anything that folks are willing to give us and you know, yeah. Um, so

What makes their work more important than ever?

29:34

this obviously is such important work, gender-affirming healthcare and all of the work that you're doing. What why now do you feel like it's more important than ever? Because I feel like our country, our society, we're moving in a very dark direction, it seems. But so tell tell us why, talk a little bit more about why this is so important right now for trans folks and for people looking for that gender-affirming healthcare. Well, I think if you don't have control over your body, what do you have control over? If you don't have bodily autonomy and control over making decisions about your own body, then you don't have any rights. Um, and so I think that this is, you know, sort of one of those canary in a coal mine situations where we have to really look at ourselves and say, you know, people's uh ability to make choices over their own body is under attack and is heavily under attack. And uh this is just such a pressing issue and such an urgent issue. Um, and that's why I love the work that we do is that we give people back their bodily autonomy and and and it's it like I said, I feel selfish sometimes because we get to literally watch the plane fly across the sky and see people get to the care that they need. Um, and it's it's immensely rewarding. Um, but we are seeing these attacks and they are relentless. Um you know, trans rights and abortion rights and you know, parental rights are under attack immensely. And um yeah, we're able to to really give people back their bodily autonomy, we're able to allow people to have those choices and that. Um, and so I think it's just so important right now. Um I it that's always a hard question for me because especially with someone that's been working in the reproductive justice space for so long, it's always been under attack. And it's like gender affirming care has always been under attack. And I think I think I mean like forever. And um, I was I remember when Roe fell, I was booking flights right before it fell. Like I was working like 15 hour days trying to get all these flights because we had no idea what was gonna happen on the other side. And and so we were just like panicking, just working and working and working. But I mean, so many folks within that space knew what was about to happen. And like this has been from the other side on the more conservative or like red, however we want to say that. It's been it's been an ongoing plan. It's been a long time coming. And and I I appreciate the attention it is getting now. It's getting worse, absolutely. But like even when it was quote unquote like more accessible, that's it's never been accessible for like black folks or immigrants. Um, like getting getting gender-affirming care and abortion access is it's never been easy. Um, because also uh these appointments cost so much money. Getting an abortion is really, really quite expensive. Um, and a lot of times people, when they're seeking, like, for example, abortions, and I'm I'm talking mostly on the abortion side because I'm the associate director of perinatal care. So I talk about abortion access all the time. I'm a doula. So like I know, I know my stuff more around in that realm. And I mean, folks are having to talk to someone who can fund their abortion and then talk to someone who can't get their travel done, and then talk to someone who's trying to get their a babysitter for their kids. Like it's it's always been super chaotic. Um and I I enjoy the attention um because that means I get to say those things that I just said, um, and really reiterate that. But I I am grateful. I am grateful to be in the org I'm in. I'm grateful to be doing this work. But even saying that feels so icky to me because it's like, this shouldn't exist. This is this shouldn't be happening. Um and I would love to live in a time where it doesn't, but in the in the meantime, um, I'm happy to get people to where they need to go and try my darndest to make it easier. So that's why it's so important like to make to collaborate with other clinics and folks to take down like one of those folks that they have to contact, like take it down a notch and only have to contact two folks instead of like five. Yeah. I mean, even you you hit the knell on the head, like even asking that question, I felt that like little bit of ickiness because it's like I shouldn't even be like, oh, it's it's you know, very present in the media right now. It's like that's not a good thing in a lot of ways because this just means it's a bigger issue than ever, and uh it like even the media can't bury it. That's how big of an issue it is. But at the same time, it is highlighting a lot of really important issues that have been ongoing for marginalized communities for so long, like especially abortion. Like if people just don't realize how much stigma there is about it. People assume it's someone who made a mistake, who did something wrong. And it's like this there are so many reasons out of someone's control for them to be in this situation. Absolutely. And I get so frustrated when I hear the judgmental passes that people make on these situations because it's like you just you do not know someone's story. Absolutely. So shut up. Yeah, you know, like don't make those assumptions, don't don't make that judgment when it's not your story to tell. Absolutely. And so yeah, I can only imagine that you are very much happy about the extra attention here, but also like really tired of this narrative, you know, and really tired of battling uphill against all. Absolutely, absolutely. I'm I'm grateful though. Like I keep saying, like, I'm grateful to do this work, but it's a little frustrating. But I'll I'll I'll get on a tangent anytime today. Well, we are here for the tangents all day and every day because you know, these things are just not being said enough. Um, people are not having these conversations. Um, but speaking of

Reid & Alé’s meaningful stories

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people's stories and the things that they're going through, are there any meaningful stories either of you have to share without revealing any personal details about someone? But like people you've worked with um who have maybe had their stories shared or whatever the case may be, um, that you you want to share without giving away too much. So I'll start. Um, one of my kind of favorite, this isn't a specific story so much, but um, one of my favorite things and one of my favorite ways to help people. Um, so I'm a dad, I have three kids, they're six, four, and two. Um, so I do a lot of super bored all the time. Super bored. A lot of downtime. A lot of downtime, you know, just twelve my thumbs. Um, but so I get it. I get dad life, I get parent life. I understand, you know, how overwhelming it can be. And one of my favorite things that we're able to do is actually to make travel a lot easier for families who are traveling with young kids. Um, it's infinitely easier for our passengers to go to an FBO, which is kind of like a private airline terminal for small planes that most airports have. It's way easier for a family with small kids to go show up at an FBO, walk right out to the plane and meet their pilot, pop the car seat in the plane, get up and go and land where they're landing, rather than to have to go to the airport, go through security, check the car seats, deal with the stroller, travel, you know, up and down five miles at Atlanta or whatever. At least. At least, right? You know, and then get where they're going and do it in reverse, have to deal with a taxi or car seat, you know, and the, you know, all of that. Um, it's so much easier for those families to travel with one of our pilots, to have the pilot there waiting on them, you know, not have to deal with security, not deal with any of that. Um, so that makes me really happy to know that we're able to make that travel that much easier for that family and to make it so much easier for them to get where they have to go. Um, so that really is meaningful to me and and really impactful when I'm able to help a family like that. Um, I think I think my favorites have always been, I think, because I'm a child of an immigrant. So, like folks, especially um, my dad's from Honduras, and I really love supporting monolingual Spanish speakers because they are always so grateful. That's just like a culture. We're always just like, I think also within the United States, if you um are an immigrant, a lot of times we're taught to be really small, to not really exist too loud to like being also terrified of going to the doctors. Like, I'm terrified of going to the doctors. Um, and I got that from my dad and like just the amount of surveillance that can happen at doctor's appointments and being able to guide someone through that process and really hold space for them to have all the feelings that they deserve to feel, the fullness of their fear, the fullness of all the stuff. Um, those are my favorites. Um, and the first time flyers, I I have anxiety, so like I know what that's like. And I'm like, I hear you. That's not, you know, it's here, it's real, but it's not really, you know what I mean? Like it's it's it's it's great to do that. And then I think I love supporting families as well. I have a soft spot for for families. Um, I want to be a future parent, so I'm gonna also live in chaos eventually. Yeah, three kids. I mean, that's that's gotta be nonstop chaos around the clock. Oh, all the time. Yeah, it is a zoo in my house. Yeah, that's that's beautiful though. I mean, being able to help people that you see yourself in too is also, I feel like, so healing for your inner self, where it's like, okay, if someone had done this for me or shown up for me in this way when I was younger or whatever the case may be, like it's just such this like you feel complete in that moment where you're like, okay, this is this is good. I feel seen, I feel you know, whatever. Um, what are how do

The aviation industry and inclusion

39:39

you feel like the aviation industry? What do you think we're doing well in terms of inclusion and things like that? And what do you think we need some serious work on? I know this is a loaded question. Oh, I got so many thoughts. Like as a flight attendant, I get frustrated because I see like people with disabilities or people from marginalized communities just get mistreated over and over and over again. And as much as we pride ourselves in being a diverse uh industry and community, uh we're troubled in so many ways. And I feel like I there's so much more that can be done. So my question is really like, what do you think we're doing well? And what where do you think we can improve? How even for flight attendants, like what can we do better for passengers? Oh, um, I'm disabled. I use uh a cane and then I do wheelchair service at the in the airport. That is that is tough one. I feel so much compassion and like also sadness for disabled folks that are having to travel. It's a nightmare. And I would say I would love this is like an ask for pilots and flight attendants to be more to challenge what is what's the inside voice saying? You know what I mean? What are you thinking of disabled folks? How can you combat some of that? Like what what are your also your misconception about disabled folks? Do you think disabled folks deserve the amount of care that they like that they need? Um, I mean, I think we're really, we're raised in a society where we are meant to be really small and not to take up too much space. And it takes a lot of bravery to use a cane, to use a wheelchair to be very much like, I actually need help and I deserve it, period. End of sentence. Um, and I've received some rude comments. It's it's even from flight attendants who are like annoyed that I was taking too long. Or, you know, and I'm just like, I go at the pace that I go. You don't have to sit there and be annoyed because I'm not going any faster. Um for you though, because so many people, like you said, were were told to like not take up space and not to be a burden and not to ask for help. So good for you for being like, no, this is what I'm doing, this is what I need, this is where I'm at. Deal with it. Yeah. Like I I wish more people had that voice because I do get frustrated watching fellow flight attendants be like, oh, we're waiting forever for this wheelchair person, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Like, we're trying to go home. And I get that it's frustrating in the work moment you you're done with your day, whatever, but also show some compassion for human beings. Yes. That's what we're there for. Right. Compassion, taking care of human beings on their journey, wherever that may be. Period. Yeah, I think that's the biggest thing to me is, you know, and I think we all know this, and I knew this when I was flying too, that I mean, flying sucks, right? It's a miserable experience for most everybody. Um, and I think just, you know, remembering that that when you're standing at the door greeting folks, that everybody's coming from so many different places, you know. I mean, I think, and it's it is good to just have that reminder that, you know, yes, some folks are going on vacation, but some are going to a funeral, some are going to, you know, receive health care that maybe they're scared about receiving, or maybe they're really excited about receiving. Maybe they just had surgery and are in a lot of pain traveling home. Um, you know, I think that just you we don't know where people are at on their journey and we don't know what they've encountered before they get to that front door of the plane, and um we don't know what they're gonna encounter when they step off the plane. And so just trying to be mindful of that and having that sort of unconditional welcome, I think is it can really make a huge difference in the experience of your passengers. She and I talk about that a lot. And you know, we literally had we recorded an episode a few weeks ago about like pins and how important those are just for visibility. Like wearing a pride pin makes somebody feel so much more welcome on a plane just for that reason alone, despite the disabilities. And I'm sorry that that's been your experience because I I hate that for you. But I echo Rich, thanks for taking up your space and telling us what you need and how what you want out of your experience because it's important. More people need to do that because we're reliant on an antiquated systems. Yeah, and until people stand up and say, this doesn't Don't work for me, the systems are never going to get better. So take up more space in that area. Yeah, I've appreciated the flight attendants that were like, girl, don't be rushed. I'm like, I'm not gonna anything. Because I'm like, I can come off like I'm tough, and you know, I'm tough. But like, I'm crying on the inside. I'm just like, okay, thank you so much. I love it. I mean, I'm working on it. I'm working on it. Um, but it it makes it makes all the difference for someone to say, go slow or like just to be seen, just to be acknowledged. It makes all the difference. My mom uses a wheelchair around airports just because she doesn't walk as well. And it's just, I always put myself in her shoes when I'm traveling with her. Like, how do I want her treated in this moment? And that's how I choose to, I mean, I try to advocate for people on airplanes in that, in that manner because I don't always do it successfully, but um, I try really hard to put myself in that shoes when I'm traveling with her. How do I want her treated in this moment? Absolutely. People fail to like put themselves in those shoes. I think it's hard for people because we have passengers who are disabled as well and need extra care or are coming back from like a surgery and need to use a wheelchair or more space, or they just need more space. And I think it's hard when folks are young and disabled. I think there's I think it's hard for our brains to be like, sometimes bodies need extra support and we're young. Like, yeah, yeah. But that doesn't mean I think there's, yeah, I think I've gotten a lot of input from older folks. Um, sometimes just like random people in the airport, they'll just come, what's wrong with you? What's your disability? I'm like, well, uh, you'll have to do that. It doesn't matter. Yeah. Who said you need help? It's our job to provide that help. Period. So stop to walk up and be like, hey you, what's your deal? What are you doing? But it is it is easier to understand why an elderly person needs a wheelchair and the assistance that they need. It's really hard to see a 10-year-old and be like, but why do you need it? What are you doing? Yeah, I get frustrated because it's such a I was a special ed major in college, and my one of my first jobs is teaching in a school with kids with disabilities. And so like it just infuriates me because I feel like from such a young age, I had a lot of training and knowledge. And I'm not saying I know everything about the disability community, so don't take it as that. But I feel like I had this context going forward in my life of like people face different challenges and have different abilities and whatever the case may be. And then I get into the aviation world where it's very cut and dry. It's like, okay, this is what a person in a wheelchair needs, this is a person with a cognitive disability and what they need, and that those are the rules. And it's like, but there's so much more nuance than that. And every single person, even if it's, you know, okay, people with Down syndrome, every single person with Down syndrome has a different need or ability or whatever the case may be. Like you can't just compartmentalize and generalize these communities of people. And I think that's what was so frustrating for me in joining aviation was you have these policies in place and you see the way everyone treats everyone in a very transactional way, of like, this is what we're doing for this person, and that's that. And it's like we were trained to be compassionate, empathetic people that take care of people. And then you're telling me, no, there's no time for that. We're boarding, it's it's quick, move it along. And it's like, wait a minute, I don't understand. You either want me to care about people or you don't. Like, what is the rule here? And I feel like there's such a lack of training for flight attendants, for pilots, for gate agents, for all the people about helping people in in certain communities. And it, I get yeah, very enraged. Well, I was gonna make that point earlier because I really want to believe that when people ask you what your disability is, they're really trying to vocalize what help, what assistance do you actually need? But they don't ask the question right. Instead, they ask what your disability is. Instead of saying, I see that you're disabled, what assistance can I offer you? They say, What's your disability? So they can like process how it's just because we're it's a lack of training in that aspect for us. I never thought about it. I'm not making excuses for cleanup, just so you know. Because I have also, I have like I have like five phrases that I just like kind of rotate out and I'm just like, okay, I'll try this one today. Yeah, um, but yeah, I've never that's actually very helpful. So I can on like I can be more direct. I'm pretty direct, but I can like be even more direct. Trying to ask. Yeah, what are you really trying to? And maybe I should ask that. Like, what what question do you really ask me? See what's in your mind. What help I need here? Let me do this. Then let's do this this way. But absolutely works. It's it is a lack of training for all. There's such a lack of training. And even though I know the airlines are trying, and like every year I go to recurrent training and I see some new training on something, and it's almost like we put this session into the training because we felt like it was needed. But the people that need to listen are too much. Never the ones that are never the ones that listen. The people that need to listen are never the ones that hear the information. And the people that care are already being compassionate enough and adequate enough to grasp these situations in the moment. So it's like, what do we do here? How do we bridge these gaps? How do we make this better for everybody? Because we're obviously doing something that's not working. Yeah, I mean, that's what I appreciate our pilots so much because they're the pilots that are doing the work. They're the pilots that are asking these questions. Um, and even when like I have like feedback that may be a little uncomfy for a pilot, I feel like they're really present to that because we're not perfect. I mean, like, I think all of us need to be comfortable with conflict and feedback and all of these things because we're we all have the we're all raised in the same systems. We all have the stuff. I mean, I have internalized ableism, and it took me, I don't know, years when I really needed to use a cane to actually use a cane. So it's, you know, I I try my best to come and when I give feedback to give it so compassionately. Um, but sometimes it's not always received that way. I mean, you're it's so true that we all have these internalized beliefs based on the way we grew up. Like you have to see past that. You have to like understand that it's in you, it exists in you, correct? Address it and be like, nope, we're not doing that. We're gonna think and feel and act a different way than we were told to believe by media and parents and whatever the case may be, and like go be nice people, go be compassionate people. Um,

Let’s be supportive and more compassionate

50:26

what are some ways that you think that we can be helping people who are seeking gender-affirming care and abortions and um, you know, gender affirming surgeries and things like that? What what are ways that we as just flight attendants, passengers, people in the world, can be doing better to support people and to be more compassionate? I think um one of the things is you know being vocal with your support. Um, and that's one of the things that I would say too, especially to pilots. Um, you know, challenge the stuff you hear in the flight deck. Like if you don't agree with it, push back. Like, don't let the pilot you're flying with think that every other pilot thinks that way. Don't let your flight attendants think they think that because we hear what's going on up there. Right. Exactly. Yes, yeah. Um, so you know, be willing to be brave and speak out. Be willing to say, hey, I don't agree with that. Hey, what do you mean by that? Hey, that doesn't match. You know, like that's offensive to me. Um, it takes bravery to do that. And I especially know when you're in a locked small room with someone, it takes even more bravery. Um, but you do have the power to let other pilots and let other folks know that their beliefs are not the universally held ones. Um, and I think that that really can make a huge difference. Um I think that we are in a place and in a society where you can have those conversations. You can stand up for your beliefs. You don't have to convince somebody else of your beliefs, but you can be proud of your beliefs and your views and you can stand up for those. And I think that that alone can make a huge difference. Um I think starting there, especially for our pilots who might be listening or who might be tuning in, um, I think that's a huge difference. And then I think for the broader community, I think um still speaking up and showing your support can make a huge difference. I think especially for some of our folks who are seeking gender-affirming care, I think it's such a huge makes such a huge difference just to know that we exist and that they're not alone. Um I think that is a huge, huge impact for some of our passengers, just knowing that they're not traveling alone, that they have support in us that we're there for them and cheering them along and receiving the care that they're getting. But they may be otherwise wholly alone. Um so just knowing that there are folks out there who support them and who are encouraging them and who want them to get the care that they need can make a huge difference. I think speaking out is such an underrated and underappreciated like a method of helping, you know, like there's so many situations, like you said, where you're in these small rooms or you're in a confined space with somebody, and it's like even having say you're in a galley with two other flight attendants talking, and someone says something, and you're like, Oh gosh, that just rubbed me the wrong way, even just saying it out loud, like, hey, you know, that was kind of uncalled for, inappropriate, or whatever, like the power in that is so much greater than I think people realize. Like, I think about this trip that I had, um not to judge a certain group of people, but they were just they had very antiquated beliefs about trans people, about um genderqueer people and people who identify differently than they're used to. And one of the flight attendants brought up how one of our like male flight attendants was wearing the female collection uniform, and they were like, Oh, it's just like what are you doing? You're a dude in a dress. Well, like that's gross. And I immediately rage is like filling, I'm like bubbling over. And before I can even say something, this super senior mama who I thought was so conservative and so close-minded, goes, shut the fuck up. And I was like, whoa, I was like, I was ready to fight. And she was like, That's not your life, that's not your choice, that has nothing to do with you, don't understand anything about it. And she just like popped off on this woman, right? And I was like, Thank you for this whole interaction. Because, like, this is what we need is we need more people just speaking up and saying, No, like it's not okay to say those things, it's not okay to feel that way. Like, it's not your life, it's not your choice. And how much better did you feel knowing that you weren't alone and your beliefs because somebody else spoke up? Every time I see her name on a crew list, I'm like, oh, I'm with her. She's fantastic. Um she'll fight for anybody. Like I'm safe. I'm safe here today. Yeah, exactly. And I think that's what's so meaningful too is you know, we table at a lot of events at conferences like at Oshkosh Airventure and at other events like the organization of Black Aerospace Professionals Conference and Women in Aviation Conference. Um, but when we're at these events and tabling, it amazes me how many people come by our booth and maybe they're not a pilot at all, but they want to tell us about, oh, my cousin, oh, I had an abortion. I had to drive, you know, like I remember one woman who was, you know, was from Idaho, and she said, you know, I had to drive like 10 hours by myself to get my abortion. And she was just so touched to walk past our booth and see us there at this aviation event. You know, she wasn't expecting to encounter that. And so just knowing that we exist, I think, can be really meaningful and impactful for people, even if they don't need our services, knowing that we're out there can still make a huge difference. So knowing that there's somebody out there who uh supports you, who believes in you, who isn't gonna let people talk shit about you makes such a huge difference. So I think that that is just you know, a huge start to say, hey, I'm there, I support you. Hey, you know, I think it's great that people can get abortions. Hey, everybody deserves to have access to care. Um, those statements can make make a huge difference for somebody who's listening. I can't even imagine. Like as a white man, like I can't imagine some of these situations. Like going through an abortion, obviously, is an insane, intense personal, emotional process. And then having to go through the travel and dealing with the hoops that people have to jump through now and and laws changing and things like that. Like, I can't imagine what all that added stress does to your brain. Oh, it it impacts it so tremendously. And I mean, folks are traveling home usually in pain. Yeah, they're uncomfortable, they're on these flights in pain for gender-affirming care and abortions. Like they don't feel well, and then to possibly add the extra layer that you're gonna deal with discrimination. Like, come on. That's what I'm always telling people. I was like, you know, leverage your privilege. Uh like I've I always talk about the fact that I'm like a light-skinned person, and that means I have certain privileges that other people do not. So you I am damn well going to use this voice and really remember that I have power. I may not have all the power it because I'm not a white person, I'm not cis, all that stuff, but that doesn't mean I'm exempt of power. Like I don't have any. And so like I really like to remind people, I'm like, you have power, find it, figure out where it is, and then use it. Use it because you you can make the difference. I know it doesn't seem like it. And you get, I mean, speaking up is terrifying. I I start sweating, okay? Like it's not cute, but I know that like I know when people stood up for me in airports or situations, it is I've been in tears. Just like you have to like really like fight back standing up and using your privilege is sometimes as easy as wearing a pen that says ask me what my pronouns are. Just so you can have a conversation around it. Like, you don't have to like, I mean, you can use your privilege in so many different ways. Yeah, absolutely. And even yelling, that's not you can yell. I mean, or people probably should yell honestly. The way our brains work when we get yelled at is really not gonna get you anywhere, but it'll make me feel really good. I mean, I personally wear a pronoun pin uh on my uniform, and it has opened so many conversations just around it. Of course, yeah. Because I mean, I just just what are my pronouns? Ask me between the people who feel safe on the airplane because they see it, uh because they know they have an ally on the plane, and the people who don't understand why that pin is there, the amount of like calm conversations that I've been to have been able to have with like coworkers or passengers who see it who may have thought, Well, you look like a white dude. Why are you wearing a pronoun pin? Babe, you are a white pin. I know the same. But why, as a white dude, do you need to wear an ask me pin? Yeah, like yeah, yeah. No, you look like a white dude. Why are you asking? Why are you wearing a pin that says ask me? Yeah. You're so right though. I can't I can't even count the amount of times I've worn either like a Pride pin or a trans flag or a Black Lives Matter pin, and someone's been like, Thanks for seeing me. And it's like, I didn't even do anything different today. Like I just wore a pin that I liked and believed in. Like passengers walk on, they see that and they go, Okay, I'm not screwed. I'm not in this the hands of someone who doesn't give a shit about my life. Like, yeah, I someone at least sees me to some degree. Yeah. And it does make a difference. And it is life-saving. I think about like folks, you know, that possibly like have complications. Like, if people see you as a person, they're going to save your life. And so, like, it is that is life-saving work.

Words of wisdom

59:50

So, for people that might be listening or watching that don't feel so emboldened to speak up for themselves, any advice or words of wisdom or whatever. Um, for someone who just feels powerless in this crazy world that we're living in where it feels like every day is like a new impending doom or story or law change that is actively hurting people. What what words of wisdom would you give someone going through that right now? I don't ever want people to feel urged or to shame themselves because they're not out on the streets, you know, doing the thing. Um I I think following people on Instagram, like following us on Instagram, doing things that feel feel small, but are so like all the things that we're talking about, I think that's huge. And I think doing I always urge folks to do internal work. Like I keep saying that, but like the internal work is where where the healing is. That is like we do our internal work, then we can show up for others better. We can, then they're showing up for others better. And it's like this gorgeous ripple effect. And so if like I've been in phases um in my work, like doing this work, but also like in the work that I do in my personal life. I've taken phases where I needed to take the back seat and I needed to dive a little bit into myself because I've been called out a little bit. And I'm like, okay, well, maybe we don't do that right now. Maybe, maybe I need to read a little bit more, watch a little bit more, or lean into therapy or whatever it is that I'm doing. Um, so I just think like honor where you're at and and strive to do one thing. I like that. I love that. And therapy is good for everyone. So you know, I I recommend that. Yeah, highly recommend. I'm totally inaccessible. And I like that you're focusing on like just do pick the one thing. Yeah, like don't overwhelm yourself with I need to change the world, blah, blah, blah. Do like one thing that you can commit to to make it better. And I think too, everybody has to pull it their own thread, right? You can't do all the things for all the things. And so finding the thing that is meaningful for you, that you are able to do and that's sustainable for you, I think matters. And maybe it's not around these issues in particular, but everything really is connected. And we need everybody doing their own work. And so, whatever that work is for you, whatever feels doable and meaningful and like it, you know, is impactful for you, is making a difference. Um, and so I think that that's really important. This work is all interconnected, and um, if everybody shows up and does the thing that they're able to do, then we will be able to untangle this mess. And to think about the fact that they want us to be frozen. I mean, the forces that be, they want us to be frozen, they want us to be debilitated by our anxiety, by thinking that you know, we can't make a change. Um, it's purposeful. And the amount of information we're receiving that is overwhelming every single sense we have, it's again purposeful. And so that one thing really like, even if it's just like I walked outside and I practice pronouns, you know what I mean? Like, that's that's huge. Yeah, yeah.

Support the cause!

1:03:07

So going back to your whole idea of okay, just pick the one thing, start with one thing. What is one thing that each of you would suggest that people can do to go support elevated access and the work that you're doing? Oh, you mentioned following you on Instagram, so we'll all do that already. What is the other thing that we can do? How can people get in involved and support? So, like I said, if you know a pilot, tell a pilot about elevated access and encourage them to volunteer. Um that's one thing that can folks can definitely do. Um otherwise, if you are interested in finding out ways, we do have a ground support team. So ground support volunteers. Um you can find out more about that on our website. So if you're interested in maybe you are a computer worker, we've got different kinds of you know, online support that we need help with, whether it's like databases or coding, or um, you know, if you do web design, we've got lots of different kinds of ways to support with that. Also in-person events, like I mentioned, we do table at a lot of different events. So we're always looking for volunteers for those events. Um, so there's lots of different ways to volunteer on the ground as well. So you don't have to be a pilot to help, is what you're telling me. Exactly. That's great because I cannot fly a plane. I could try. Um, I think my one thing is to talk about us. I always tell people that when we uh when we table, because that that's that's how we get pilots. I a friend of a friend of this and that. So I I love when people talk about us. And then I uh yeah, no, you said one, but I'm saying two. Um do it, live it up. Um, I would really love for folks that are doulas to to connect with us. I mean, we're really looking for doula's that are expansive, that are, that are familiar with doing like inclusive care. So trans care, uh abortion care, all the things. Um, so yeah. Okay, so we're looking for doulas and pilots. Where can they connect with you? On our website. Elevatedaaccess.org. Yeah. Honestly, the doula thing is not even something that like I would have thought of crossed my mind when thinking about how this whole process works start to finish. So that's incredible. I love the thought of like taking care to someone instead of taking them to care. I wouldn't, I it's such a mind-opening conversation that we've just had today. I thoroughly appreciate both of you being here so much. Yeah, thank you. Before

Let’s play Cross-Checked!

1:05:35

we go, can we play a little game that we like to play with all of our guests? Absolutely. So we do this game called Cross Checked, and it's a lightning round of questions, aviation related. Um, I'll you might be a little lost on one of the questions. That's all right. It keeps it keeps stumping people that aren't flight attendants or crew members. Um, but we're gonna ask you a lightning round of 10 questions, answer whatever. First thing comes to your mind, and then we'll see. Alright, so first question window or aisle? Window. Window. Definitely. Okay. All right. Gotta get cozy. Airbus or Boeing. Huh? Yeah. See that? This is the question we were like, uh, Ali, you might get stumped on because it's very much aircraft type situation. So definitely for working Boeing. Yeah. Oh, yeah. I love what I love. Uh hotel or Airbnb when you're traveling. I'm a bougie bitch. I say hotel. I say hotel, but we did stay at a really sweet Airbnb for our last staff retreat. And it had a karaoke stage with a disco ball. How do we crash those parties? Yeah, it was nice. So that was a pretty fun time, but yeah, usually a hotel. I like to slam click. Yeah. That's how we feel too. We're like hotels are great because they're consistent and reliable. But every now and then there's like a cute Airbnb that you're like, maybe. Um, okay, favorite city you've been to. Hong Kong. Yeah, definitely. It's on our list. Yeah, it's on our list. Oh, it's a tie between Tokyo and Chinquith Air, Italy. Oh, I didn't go to our list immediately. So doing some Googling later. Uh favorite airport. Ooh, SFL. Okay. Like a quiet room. Ooh, I would say O'Hare because they also have uh interface. Because just because it has like a lot of spaces for like yoga and stuff. Oh, okay. But like Tampa is real low-key for me. I like the Tampa airport. Tampa's very simple. Yeah, it's very simple to the point. It's a good thing when it comes to an airport. So I get that. I'm a Chicago fan too because of all the popcorn places. I was like, I'm just going for Garrett. I literally have a bag at home waiting for me right now. We love another simple airport though. Like very straightforward. Regionals do. So Albany is I used to love that airport so much. I love small cities. No hate for those. Is it my turn? Yes. Not crap. These lightning rounds go really well because we always go off on a tension. You're at number six. Um, least favorite airport. Atlanta. Atlanta. Yeah. You're our people. Yes. That's the correct answer. Uh go to Snackwell Flag. Ooh, those little Hawaiian pretzelly thingies. Oh, Maui Monk. Yes. Yes. I tell everyone about these, and I don't even work for the airline that serves them right now. They are so good. So good. Found a Trader Joe's knockoff the other day, the sweet Vodalia ones. They're not the same. Don't do that. They're not worth they weren't in. They weren't it. They were not in. That was a good one. But I thought they were gonna be very similar. They were not in. I was like, oh no. Read favorite snacks. Oh, my favorite, favorite travel snack. Ooh, probably a pistachio. Okay. Classic guy. You are. Yeah, I'm a classic guy. Obviously, shelled ones though, right? Because that's a mess. Yeah. You don't want to be dealing with that on the plane. Yeah. It's a mess. Road trip sure, but not on the plane. We're trying to be trying to be polite passengers. Trying. Uh, favorite song on your travel playlist right now. I'm so neurodiverse. I listen to the same shit over and over and over again. Which is give an artist. Uh uh. Too much pressure. Yeah, read. See, I've been going Zara Larson. I feel like that's a good good travel mix. Agreed. Yeah, Lush Life. You gotta I have been listening to a lot of Bad Bunny. Oh, Bad Bunny. Yeah, good choice. You can you can like swag through the terminal. Yeah, you can. Yeah. I would carpool somewhere with both of you. You have good music taste. Uh, one item that's always in your carry-on. A book. Yeah. Definitely. Um, I'm a I'm a travel pro travel pillow person. Okay. I am, I know. It's a little embarrassing, but I like it. I get in my window seat, I got the travel pillow. Then are we talking the neck pillow? Like the classic. Neck pillow, airpods in, out. Yeah. You mentioned it in the lobby too. I love this. Know who you are, you know? It's like own it. Yeah. I feel like I like always remember sometime during recurrent training, one of the instructors making fun of people with their neck pillows, but I am totally that person. We've probably made fun of them for sure. So welcome. Yeah. We only make fun of the ones who like use it as a packing hack to like stuff their dirty underwear in on the water. Yeah, I'm not like you're a former financial, you're not that crazy. Or am I? Oh, yeah. Different ways. Yeah. Okay, last one. Oh, is it my turn again? I'm really bad at this. Um, place you've always wanted to visit that you haven't been to yet. New Zealand. Oh, yes. That's our to-do list. Yes. Ooh, I would say Australia, but the size of those spiders really, really throws me off a little bit. For me as well. Yeah. Do I want to risk even being in the same continent as well? Yes. Like so many. That whole thing with dango's eating babies. I don't know. Yeah, they don't want that either. I'm old. The dango ate my baby. I'm old. I'll take it back there. Old? Is that old? It was like early 90s, wasn't it? Oh. Yeah, it's a little old. It's a little old. We're a little old. Collectively a little old. Well, we truly appreciate you all being here and talking to us about elevated access. We appreciate all the work that you're doing for so many people. Yes. Go to elevatedaccess.org, find out how you can volunteer, donate some money. If you have miles, give them that to do all the things. Wait, do you all take buddy passes? We do not take buddy passes. That's fine. Don't get buddy passes. That is so unreliable. I that would be like actually insulting to be like, here are my buddy passes. I was trying to think how flight it in a I do love the idea behind it. But I mean, we all joke that like giving someone a buddy pass is like a great way to not get where you're trying to get it. Exactly. So I'm like, let's not give them that. But there are so many ways you can support. Go to elevatedaccess.org. Thank you both so much for being here. Yeah, thanks for having us. Yeah, this has been great. Yeah, y'all are great. Love it. Awesome. All right, friends, join us next time for more humor, heart, and stories from our beverage cart.