1 00:00:05,606 --> 00:00:10,645 Speaker 1: You're listening to a mother mea podcast. 2 00:00:11,046 --> 00:00:14,525 Speaker 2: Hello, old friend, I'm Annalie Todd, host of Mumma MIA's 3 00:00:14,605 --> 00:00:17,125 Speaker 2: new podcast, She Built That, and I'm dropping into you. 4 00:00:17,246 --> 00:00:19,566 Speaker 2: That's incredible feed because I think you're going to love 5 00:00:19,605 --> 00:00:22,966 Speaker 2: this just like That's Incredible. It's a co listening podcast 6 00:00:23,006 --> 00:00:25,285 Speaker 2: for you to enjoy with your kids. She Built That 7 00:00:25,486 --> 00:00:28,886 Speaker 2: is all about courageous women who've turned their dreams into reality. 8 00:00:29,086 --> 00:00:32,086 Speaker 2: These women didn't just dream big, they built their futures. 9 00:00:32,366 --> 00:00:36,606 Speaker 2: Each episode, I sit down with inspiring female entrepreneurs, athletes, 10 00:00:36,646 --> 00:00:40,446 Speaker 2: and game changers who've created something extraordinary from the ground up. 11 00:00:40,645 --> 00:00:44,285 Speaker 2: We take you on a journey through storytelling with beautiful soundscapes, 12 00:00:44,605 --> 00:00:47,205 Speaker 2: diving deep into their winds, the hard times, and the 13 00:00:47,245 --> 00:00:50,726 Speaker 2: moments that sparked everything for them. So gather up the kids, 14 00:00:50,885 --> 00:00:53,406 Speaker 2: stick around, and if you love what you hear, make 15 00:00:53,446 --> 00:00:55,725 Speaker 2: sure you subscribe to She Built That wherever you get 16 00:00:55,726 --> 00:00:58,406 Speaker 2: your podcasts for more incredible episodes. 17 00:00:58,806 --> 00:01:02,526 Speaker 1: Enjoy. 18 00:00:59,526 --> 00:01:08,446 Speaker 2: Hello, future Builders, and welcome to She Built That, the 19 00:01:08,526 --> 00:01:12,806 Speaker 2: podcast where we discover incredible women who didn't just dream big, 20 00:01:13,246 --> 00:01:17,286 Speaker 2: they built their futures. Each week, we uncover the stories 21 00:01:17,326 --> 00:01:20,926 Speaker 2: of remarkable women who didn't just reach for their dreams. 22 00:01:21,086 --> 00:01:27,046 Speaker 2: They engineered, assembled and blasted off towards them. I'm your host, 23 00:01:27,126 --> 00:01:31,366 Speaker 2: Annalise Todd, mumma MIA's lifestyle writer and just for today, 24 00:01:31,846 --> 00:01:36,126 Speaker 2: your mission control. But let's not launch until you've had 25 00:01:36,246 --> 00:01:39,646 Speaker 2: a little challenge. Can you guess which out of this 26 00:01:39,766 --> 00:01:45,366 Speaker 2: world builder we're featuring today? Adults in the room, don't 27 00:01:45,406 --> 00:01:48,206 Speaker 2: hold back. This is a competition, after all. 28 00:01:49,486 --> 00:01:51,366 Speaker 1: Clue number one. 29 00:01:51,406 --> 00:01:55,486 Speaker 2: This Stella guest grew up gazing at the Southern Hemisphere's stars, 30 00:01:56,046 --> 00:02:02,126 Speaker 2: wondering not if, but how she might visit them one day. 31 00:02:03,086 --> 00:02:09,366 Speaker 2: Clue number two. She's Alia's first locally trained female astronaut 32 00:02:09,766 --> 00:02:13,966 Speaker 2: and has also completed training with the European Space Agency. 33 00:02:16,326 --> 00:02:21,006 Speaker 2: Clue number three. She's passionate about helping girls and kids 34 00:02:21,365 --> 00:02:25,366 Speaker 2: break through atmospheric ceilings and has made it her mission 35 00:02:25,405 --> 00:02:30,086 Speaker 2: to get more young ossies excited about science, engineering and 36 00:02:30,125 --> 00:02:33,606 Speaker 2: building their own futures. Can you guess who it is? 37 00:02:39,085 --> 00:02:43,565 Speaker 2: So did you get it? If you guessed Catherine Barnell Peg, 38 00:02:43,766 --> 00:02:46,006 Speaker 2: you're orbiting right on target. 39 00:02:47,685 --> 00:02:48,005 Speaker 1: Today. 40 00:02:48,046 --> 00:02:52,406 Speaker 2: We're talking about engineer and Ozzie astronaut Katherine Bannell Peg, 41 00:02:52,726 --> 00:02:56,606 Speaker 2: who's building a launchpad for the next generation, So buckle 42 00:02:56,685 --> 00:03:02,846 Speaker 2: up for liftoff, because after this break your voyage begins. 43 00:03:05,525 --> 00:03:13,926 Speaker 2: A rocket sits silent on the launchpad, steam swirling in 44 00:03:13,965 --> 00:03:19,046 Speaker 2: the pale morning light. But inside the crew room, Catherine 45 00:03:19,046 --> 00:03:24,845 Speaker 2: Barnell pegs half pounds louder than the countdown clock, her 46 00:03:24,846 --> 00:03:28,645 Speaker 2: hands tremble, drawing tight the sleeves of her flight suit. 47 00:03:29,245 --> 00:03:33,206 Speaker 2: This is it the moment she spent a lifetime building towards. 48 00:03:33,965 --> 00:03:38,046 Speaker 2: But also the doubt sneaks in like gravity. Would she 49 00:03:38,126 --> 00:03:40,926 Speaker 2: make the cut? Would she prove she belonged up there 50 00:03:41,206 --> 00:03:55,446 Speaker 2: in that rare company of astronauts. Picture this a young 51 00:03:55,526 --> 00:03:59,446 Speaker 2: girl in Australia looking up at the night sky, dreaming 52 00:03:59,686 --> 00:04:03,726 Speaker 2: every single star could be a stepping stone, asking herself 53 00:04:04,006 --> 00:04:06,046 Speaker 2: what any nine year old on Sidney and these northern 54 00:04:06,086 --> 00:04:10,045 Speaker 2: beaches would think about. You know, if black holes are invisible, 55 00:04:10,366 --> 00:04:13,166 Speaker 2: how do we even know that they're not just intergalactic 56 00:04:13,286 --> 00:04:16,445 Speaker 2: vacuum cleaners sucking up all the lost socks in the universe? 57 00:04:18,846 --> 00:04:21,726 Speaker 2: And can I train my goldfish to be the first 58 00:04:21,966 --> 00:04:26,286 Speaker 2: fish astronaut if I build it a tiny lego fish helmet? Also, 59 00:04:26,606 --> 00:04:28,366 Speaker 2: how much bench you might would I need to survive 60 00:04:28,445 --> 00:04:29,726 Speaker 2: up there completely? 61 00:04:29,765 --> 00:04:30,406 Speaker 1: Normal stuff. 62 00:04:31,966 --> 00:04:36,806 Speaker 2: That was Catherine Barnelle peg endlessly curious and always tinkering. 63 00:04:37,325 --> 00:04:40,926 Speaker 2: She wasn't just asking why, she was asking how do 64 00:04:41,046 --> 00:04:43,765 Speaker 2: we get there? And Spira thought for Mum and Dad, 65 00:04:43,806 --> 00:04:46,445 Speaker 2: who had so much life admint on their plate. They 66 00:04:46,486 --> 00:04:49,286 Speaker 2: hadn't had time to consider if the universe was expanding, 67 00:04:49,726 --> 00:04:51,846 Speaker 2: but they watched Katherine in awe. 68 00:04:52,126 --> 00:04:54,005 Speaker 3: I used to like lying on the grass in my 69 00:04:54,086 --> 00:04:57,286 Speaker 3: backyarden in the northern Beaches of Sydney where I grew up, 70 00:04:57,286 --> 00:04:59,965 Speaker 3: and I get bindies all over my shirt most evenings, 71 00:05:00,046 --> 00:05:03,326 Speaker 3: and I used to just look up at the spectacular 72 00:05:03,366 --> 00:05:06,166 Speaker 3: sky and it was my mum. It said to me, 73 00:05:06,286 --> 00:05:08,326 Speaker 3: you know, some of those lights, they're not just fire 74 00:05:08,325 --> 00:05:13,086 Speaker 3: away stars, some planets, whole worlds that we've never had 75 00:05:13,126 --> 00:05:16,166 Speaker 3: anyone see up close before. And as a young kid, 76 00:05:16,406 --> 00:05:18,845 Speaker 3: you're full of beautiful navity about the world. And I 77 00:05:18,926 --> 00:05:21,526 Speaker 3: just wanted to be one of the people that gets 78 00:05:21,565 --> 00:05:24,445 Speaker 3: to go plant my feet in that dirt and look 79 00:05:24,445 --> 00:05:27,366 Speaker 3: at those new horizons. For myself, I thought that sounded 80 00:05:27,445 --> 00:05:29,005 Speaker 3: like an incredible adventure. 81 00:05:30,846 --> 00:05:33,525 Speaker 2: Even as a kid, Catherine wasn't afraid of things that 82 00:05:33,606 --> 00:05:38,965 Speaker 2: looked impossible. While other kids collected dolls, Katherine collected space 83 00:05:39,086 --> 00:05:43,246 Speaker 2: facts and model rockets. She dragged her family into backyard launches, 84 00:05:43,565 --> 00:05:47,286 Speaker 2: those fizz pop bottle rockets that sometimes soared, sometimes fluttered. 85 00:05:48,086 --> 00:05:51,205 Speaker 2: But as she grew up, the world told her space 86 00:05:51,366 --> 00:05:55,005 Speaker 2: isn't for girls like you. There were no Aussie girl astronauts, 87 00:05:55,445 --> 00:05:58,885 Speaker 2: no easy blueprints, just blank pages. 88 00:05:58,486 --> 00:06:00,326 Speaker 1: And a univers sized what if. 89 00:06:01,206 --> 00:06:03,766 Speaker 2: I asked Catherine how she stayed passionate when the path 90 00:06:03,765 --> 00:06:05,006 Speaker 2: ahead was so uncertain. 91 00:06:05,565 --> 00:06:08,765 Speaker 3: I just thought that going to space would be the 92 00:06:08,846 --> 00:06:11,885 Speaker 3: greatest adventure I could hope to have for my life. 93 00:06:11,966 --> 00:06:15,085 Speaker 3: So at school, all of our years asked to write 94 00:06:15,126 --> 00:06:17,926 Speaker 3: down three options for what we might like to be 95 00:06:18,246 --> 00:06:21,445 Speaker 3: when we grew up, and I just wrote astronaut and 96 00:06:21,526 --> 00:06:23,926 Speaker 3: left the other two blank because for me, what else 97 00:06:24,445 --> 00:06:28,206 Speaker 3: is there that comparees absolutely nothing. I was fortunate that 98 00:06:28,325 --> 00:06:31,445 Speaker 3: my school and my parents they didn't make fun of 99 00:06:31,486 --> 00:06:33,806 Speaker 3: me or anything for that. Instead, they said, we'll go 100 00:06:33,885 --> 00:06:37,246 Speaker 3: and figure out what that would actually take, probably hoping 101 00:06:37,325 --> 00:06:39,926 Speaker 3: i'd see a bit of sense and how unattainable that is. 102 00:06:40,246 --> 00:06:43,126 Speaker 3: And yes I did see it's unlikely, but it was 103 00:06:43,206 --> 00:06:45,486 Speaker 3: just really exciting for me, and I was full of 104 00:06:45,526 --> 00:06:48,885 Speaker 3: optimism about the future. But I did know. At that time, 105 00:06:49,166 --> 00:06:53,366 Speaker 3: Australia didn't even have a space agency, let alone a 106 00:06:53,406 --> 00:06:56,406 Speaker 3: pathway to being an astronaut. So I knew it would 107 00:06:56,445 --> 00:06:58,526 Speaker 3: be a hard and long road. I knew my life 108 00:06:58,526 --> 00:07:03,726 Speaker 3: would probably have to be overseas, and that's what I 109 00:07:03,726 --> 00:07:04,405 Speaker 3: thought it would be. 110 00:07:07,926 --> 00:07:12,126 Speaker 2: Undeterred, Katherine made her own plans. She stacked on knowledge 111 00:07:12,206 --> 00:07:18,246 Speaker 2: like mission patches, maths, science engineering, each one marking another 112 00:07:18,286 --> 00:07:22,326 Speaker 2: step towards the stars. Meanwhile, some grown ups are still 113 00:07:22,366 --> 00:07:24,965 Speaker 2: struggling to press mute on a video call. But no 114 00:07:25,126 --> 00:07:30,726 Speaker 2: judgment here. You are seen At school, Catherine's curiosity sometimes 115 00:07:30,766 --> 00:07:35,006 Speaker 2: set her apart. While others worried about being cool, Katherine 116 00:07:35,166 --> 00:07:36,726 Speaker 2: dreamed about being capable. 117 00:07:37,566 --> 00:07:39,726 Speaker 1: Of course, there were setbacks. 118 00:07:39,486 --> 00:07:43,326 Speaker 2: Hard equations, hard days, times when it felt like everyone 119 00:07:43,326 --> 00:07:45,846 Speaker 2: else moved ahead on a clear path while she was 120 00:07:45,886 --> 00:07:48,046 Speaker 2: always having to prove herself. 121 00:07:47,646 --> 00:07:49,646 Speaker 1: Again and again and again. 122 00:07:50,446 --> 00:07:54,646 Speaker 2: But every failed attempt was a lesson, Every experiment gone 123 00:07:54,686 --> 00:08:01,366 Speaker 2: wrong was secretly another step right. Growing up, Katherine built 124 00:08:01,606 --> 00:08:04,966 Speaker 2: literally and figuratively. She joined any club that would let 125 00:08:05,006 --> 00:08:09,806 Speaker 2: her in beds experiment or create science bears, coding teams, 126 00:08:10,246 --> 00:08:15,286 Speaker 2: even a robotics group with only two other girls. I 127 00:08:15,366 --> 00:08:18,646 Speaker 2: really wanted to know what kept her showing up, especially 128 00:08:18,686 --> 00:08:19,726 Speaker 2: when others doubted her. 129 00:08:19,966 --> 00:08:23,566 Speaker 3: I did my year ten work experience with the CSIRO 130 00:08:23,886 --> 00:08:27,366 Speaker 3: at Parks Radio telescope the Dish about the same time 131 00:08:27,526 --> 00:08:29,246 Speaker 3: the movie came out the dish. 132 00:08:29,086 --> 00:08:31,166 Speaker 1: I knew what the day year on the NATA of 133 00:08:31,206 --> 00:08:31,566 Speaker 1: sending it. 134 00:08:31,766 --> 00:08:33,646 Speaker 3: That's fine, they're renting the dish, but how about a 135 00:08:33,646 --> 00:08:34,526 Speaker 3: bit of respect. 136 00:08:34,886 --> 00:08:37,366 Speaker 2: Two Way Street wouldn't worry about it. 137 00:08:37,566 --> 00:08:38,966 Speaker 1: We're a professional unit. 138 00:08:39,246 --> 00:08:42,606 Speaker 3: And I realized doing my week long work experience there 139 00:08:42,646 --> 00:08:46,806 Speaker 3: that these people that travel around the world and take 140 00:08:46,966 --> 00:08:51,766 Speaker 3: data looking at faraway stars and galaxies in big telescopes, 141 00:08:51,766 --> 00:08:55,446 Speaker 3: they're just normal people and they're not superheroes, and they're 142 00:08:55,486 --> 00:08:59,206 Speaker 3: just people that work hard at their goals and do 143 00:08:59,366 --> 00:09:01,726 Speaker 3: something that they enjoy. And that made it seem far 144 00:09:01,846 --> 00:09:02,766 Speaker 3: more realistic. 145 00:09:03,886 --> 00:09:06,406 Speaker 1: High school ended, and Catherine didn't. 146 00:09:06,165 --> 00:09:12,006 Speaker 2: Follow the crowd. She blazed her own trail. She studied 147 00:09:12,045 --> 00:09:15,285 Speaker 2: space engineering, diving into a field where the odds were 148 00:09:15,326 --> 00:09:20,406 Speaker 2: even higher and the challenges tougher. But space isn't just science. 149 00:09:20,966 --> 00:09:24,805 Speaker 2: It's never giving up on yourself, even when nobody else can. 150 00:09:24,646 --> 00:09:25,766 Speaker 1: See what you see. 151 00:09:26,206 --> 00:09:30,526 Speaker 2: After years of building her skills, her confidence, her community. 152 00:09:30,926 --> 00:09:35,806 Speaker 2: Catherine's tenacity paid off. She became one of the very 153 00:09:35,966 --> 00:09:40,805 Speaker 2: first Australian women selected for astronaut training. This was her 154 00:09:40,926 --> 00:09:48,406 Speaker 2: liftoff moment, Bound for the European Space Agency. She trained 155 00:09:48,405 --> 00:09:54,126 Speaker 2: in everything survival, engineering, teamwork. It's a bit like family camping, 156 00:09:54,366 --> 00:09:57,766 Speaker 2: but with less arguing over ten poles and more zero gravity. 157 00:09:58,165 --> 00:10:02,086 Speaker 2: Catherine wasn't just learning the science of space, but discovering 158 00:10:02,126 --> 00:10:06,006 Speaker 2: the power inside herself to lead and remember that challenging 159 00:10:06,006 --> 00:10:10,446 Speaker 2: moment at the start, the self doubt that never vanished entirely. 160 00:10:10,846 --> 00:10:15,325 Speaker 2: Astronauts always live with uncertainty, but every time Catherine zipped 161 00:10:15,405 --> 00:10:18,366 Speaker 2: up her suit, she was building more than just a Korea. 162 00:10:18,926 --> 00:10:21,766 Speaker 2: She was building a new path for anyone who'd ever 163 00:10:21,806 --> 00:10:25,886 Speaker 2: looked up and wondered if they could belong. Catherine explains 164 00:10:26,006 --> 00:10:28,886 Speaker 2: what the training was like and how she overcame the 165 00:10:28,926 --> 00:10:30,566 Speaker 2: moments when she wanted to give up. 166 00:10:30,886 --> 00:10:34,766 Speaker 3: The training itself is incredible and this training for us 167 00:10:34,846 --> 00:10:38,206 Speaker 3: was thirteen months, just over a year. And the main 168 00:10:38,285 --> 00:10:41,846 Speaker 3: destination for astronauts in space today is International Space Station 169 00:10:42,165 --> 00:10:44,966 Speaker 3: and then in future to the Moon. So up there 170 00:10:45,006 --> 00:10:47,846 Speaker 3: with the scientists in the sky, the hands ears of 171 00:10:47,926 --> 00:10:50,526 Speaker 3: scientists on the ground doing every kind of science you 172 00:10:50,526 --> 00:10:53,606 Speaker 3: can imagine. I remember on the first day arriving at 173 00:10:53,646 --> 00:10:56,445 Speaker 3: the Astronauts Center with the five others in my class. 174 00:10:56,566 --> 00:10:58,366 Speaker 3: You know, it was made very clear to us that, 175 00:10:58,686 --> 00:11:01,726 Speaker 3: you know, our bodies are now guinea pigs the scientists. 176 00:11:02,206 --> 00:11:05,886 Speaker 3: We did space food lessons. We learned about nutrition. Now 177 00:11:05,926 --> 00:11:08,726 Speaker 3: in space you can eat many kinds of foods. It's 178 00:11:08,726 --> 00:11:10,206 Speaker 3: a lot better than it used to be. It used 179 00:11:10,246 --> 00:11:12,726 Speaker 3: to be tubes and cubes, and now it's more like 180 00:11:12,806 --> 00:11:17,405 Speaker 3: camping food. You just can't eat anything that creates crumbs 181 00:11:17,446 --> 00:11:20,406 Speaker 3: because it would float around and get your ears or 182 00:11:20,446 --> 00:11:23,206 Speaker 3: your mouth, or your nose or some equipment. You also 183 00:11:23,246 --> 00:11:26,366 Speaker 3: can't have any drinks that are fizzy because if you 184 00:11:26,405 --> 00:11:28,886 Speaker 3: think on Earth, there's an up and a down, and 185 00:11:29,566 --> 00:11:31,526 Speaker 3: in your stomach the liquids at the bottom and the 186 00:11:31,526 --> 00:11:33,966 Speaker 3: airs at the top, and when you burp, the air 187 00:11:33,966 --> 00:11:36,766 Speaker 3: comes out the top. In space, there's no upple down, 188 00:11:37,165 --> 00:11:39,966 Speaker 3: so everything's mixed together, so if you burp, it gets messy. 189 00:11:40,446 --> 00:11:43,486 Speaker 3: So no fizzy drinks on orbit. The first lesson we 190 00:11:43,566 --> 00:11:46,646 Speaker 3: did was the toilet lesson how to use the space toilet, 191 00:11:46,766 --> 00:11:50,126 Speaker 3: And the answer is you use it carefully because it's 192 00:11:50,246 --> 00:11:53,006 Speaker 3: quite different from Earth. There's no seat because you don't 193 00:11:53,045 --> 00:11:55,206 Speaker 3: need to sit down. You're not heavy, there's no weight. 194 00:11:55,246 --> 00:11:58,086 Speaker 3: You float, but you have to aim properly and you have, 195 00:11:58,206 --> 00:12:01,285 Speaker 3: you know, a plastic bag that has to bag everything up. 196 00:12:01,806 --> 00:12:08,046 Speaker 3: Your number ones are recycles, so yesterday's coffee becomes tomorrow's coffee. 197 00:12:08,446 --> 00:12:12,086 Speaker 3: The number twos go are stored potentially for weeks to 198 00:12:12,366 --> 00:12:16,526 Speaker 3: months in a cargo area of the space station and 199 00:12:16,566 --> 00:12:19,805 Speaker 3: then are packed into a cargo vehicle and burned up 200 00:12:20,086 --> 00:12:22,606 Speaker 3: in the atmosphere. So if you look up and see 201 00:12:22,606 --> 00:12:25,886 Speaker 3: a shooting start, it might be not what you think. 202 00:12:27,646 --> 00:12:31,086 Speaker 3: I remember we did centrifuge training where they spun us 203 00:12:31,165 --> 00:12:32,926 Speaker 3: around and around and around at the end of a 204 00:12:32,926 --> 00:12:35,446 Speaker 3: long arm to go through the profile of launch and 205 00:12:35,486 --> 00:12:37,326 Speaker 3: re entry. And when you're at the top of a 206 00:12:37,405 --> 00:12:40,886 Speaker 3: rocket going up, the rocket has the backbits fall off 207 00:12:40,886 --> 00:12:44,166 Speaker 3: it in stages as the fuels you start, and when 208 00:12:44,165 --> 00:12:47,806 Speaker 3: that happens, you're in zero G between the stages and 209 00:12:47,846 --> 00:12:51,646 Speaker 3: on the centrifuge, they replicated this so it would feel 210 00:12:51,686 --> 00:12:55,366 Speaker 3: like you're actually tumbling and you feel the force through 211 00:12:55,405 --> 00:12:57,646 Speaker 3: your chest. It's like you've got six of you lying 212 00:12:57,646 --> 00:12:59,726 Speaker 3: on your chest. We felt up to six or so 213 00:12:59,846 --> 00:13:02,686 Speaker 3: g which is very heavy and it's quite hard to breathe. 214 00:13:02,766 --> 00:13:06,206 Speaker 3: You have to breathe in zips like to make sure 215 00:13:06,246 --> 00:13:09,045 Speaker 3: you can breathe through it. And afterwards, you know, I 216 00:13:09,045 --> 00:13:10,606 Speaker 3: had the biggest smile on my face. It was like 217 00:13:10,646 --> 00:13:13,726 Speaker 3: the best fairground right ever. But I was very very 218 00:13:13,726 --> 00:13:16,726 Speaker 3: dizzy and I like stood up, took a few steps 219 00:13:16,766 --> 00:13:19,606 Speaker 3: and walked right into a poll, which was really embarrassing 220 00:13:19,646 --> 00:13:22,726 Speaker 3: and it was on camera for all my class to see. 221 00:13:22,806 --> 00:13:26,206 Speaker 2: One small step in a training exercise, but one giant 222 00:13:26,285 --> 00:13:27,606 Speaker 2: leap For Australia. 223 00:13:28,045 --> 00:13:31,206 Speaker 3: Catherine Bearnell Peg is our country's first female is. 224 00:13:31,366 --> 00:13:36,045 Speaker 2: A mother of Foo from Adelaide and Australia's astronaut Katherine 225 00:13:36,126 --> 00:13:40,886 Speaker 2: Banell Peg. Today, Catherine Barnell Peg is a builder in 226 00:13:40,926 --> 00:13:44,846 Speaker 2: the truest sense. She's opened the launchpad for more Australian 227 00:13:44,886 --> 00:13:49,566 Speaker 2: girls to step into the future with stem skills, with curiosity, 228 00:13:49,726 --> 00:13:52,526 Speaker 2: with courage to go where no one from here has 229 00:13:52,566 --> 00:13:57,565 Speaker 2: gone before. An improved program, particularly from the humble beginnings 230 00:13:57,566 --> 00:14:01,366 Speaker 2: we all saw on the dish, and now she's inspiring 231 00:14:01,405 --> 00:14:06,526 Speaker 2: the next wave of space builders, speaking at schools, eating projects, 232 00:14:06,926 --> 00:14:10,486 Speaker 2: proving you can design your future, even when everyone else 233 00:14:10,566 --> 00:14:11,445 Speaker 2: is stuck on Earth. 234 00:14:11,926 --> 00:14:14,326 Speaker 3: Most people focus on the fact I'm a woman rather 235 00:14:14,326 --> 00:14:16,446 Speaker 3: than the fact time the first to represent Australia, and 236 00:14:16,966 --> 00:14:20,006 Speaker 3: I think that demonstrates that there's a conversation worth having 237 00:14:20,006 --> 00:14:22,726 Speaker 3: there about that women in stamm are in the minority. 238 00:14:23,086 --> 00:14:25,926 Speaker 2: So what advice would Catherine give to girls who dream 239 00:14:26,046 --> 00:14:29,126 Speaker 2: beyond borders, stars or expectations. 240 00:14:29,686 --> 00:14:32,846 Speaker 3: If any young person has a dream that they feel 241 00:14:32,846 --> 00:14:37,126 Speaker 3: strongly about, well that's fantastic. Having a dream to pursue 242 00:14:37,246 --> 00:14:40,766 Speaker 3: is an absolute joy. And if you think it's worthwhile 243 00:14:40,806 --> 00:14:42,926 Speaker 3: doing and you're willing to put in the effort, you 244 00:14:42,966 --> 00:14:47,446 Speaker 3: should absolutely pursue that dream without hesitation. Even if you 245 00:14:47,486 --> 00:14:50,046 Speaker 3: don't think you fit the stereotype. No, that just means 246 00:14:50,086 --> 00:14:53,886 Speaker 3: you add a different kind of value and you belong there. 247 00:14:54,286 --> 00:14:57,326 Speaker 3: I think that for those that are not sure what 248 00:14:57,366 --> 00:15:01,446 Speaker 3: their dreams are yet, there's plenty of time to think 249 00:15:01,526 --> 00:15:03,726 Speaker 3: through what you might like to dream of, and I 250 00:15:03,726 --> 00:15:06,886 Speaker 3: would encourage you to think about what matters to you, 251 00:15:06,966 --> 00:15:09,766 Speaker 3: what's important to you, Think about what you want to 252 00:15:09,806 --> 00:15:13,126 Speaker 3: contribute in your life, what problems you want to help solve, 253 00:15:13,206 --> 00:15:16,166 Speaker 3: what you might like to discover, and then figure out 254 00:15:16,166 --> 00:15:18,406 Speaker 3: your own path on the way to get there. That's 255 00:15:18,406 --> 00:15:20,766 Speaker 3: more important, I think than thinking about what you want 256 00:15:20,846 --> 00:15:23,326 Speaker 3: to be, think about what you want to contribute. You know, 257 00:15:23,566 --> 00:15:26,886 Speaker 3: fifty five years ago or so humans were walking on 258 00:15:26,966 --> 00:15:29,566 Speaker 3: the moon. They couldn't have imagined the world we'd be 259 00:15:29,646 --> 00:15:32,486 Speaker 3: in today. They didn't have the Internet, let alone Instagram 260 00:15:32,606 --> 00:15:35,606 Speaker 3: or influences. They didn't have three D printers, let alone 261 00:15:36,006 --> 00:15:38,806 Speaker 3: post it notes. Fifty five years or so from now, 262 00:15:39,326 --> 00:15:41,766 Speaker 3: young people who are at school today will still be 263 00:15:41,806 --> 00:15:44,526 Speaker 3: in the workforce. We can't imagine that world, but we 264 00:15:44,606 --> 00:15:47,085 Speaker 3: can imagine what we want to contribute to it and 265 00:15:47,126 --> 00:15:49,446 Speaker 3: the kind of people we'd like to be as we do. 266 00:15:49,526 --> 00:15:52,206 Speaker 3: So I think that's a good way to frame things 267 00:15:52,246 --> 00:15:54,726 Speaker 3: to be purpose driven. For those that might want to 268 00:15:54,726 --> 00:15:57,766 Speaker 3: be an astronaut or work in stem, I'd say work 269 00:15:57,806 --> 00:16:01,446 Speaker 3: hard at school because performance does matter, but you don't 270 00:16:01,446 --> 00:16:03,206 Speaker 3: have to be top of your class. You just have 271 00:16:03,286 --> 00:16:05,286 Speaker 3: to put in the effort and apply yourself. And if 272 00:16:05,286 --> 00:16:08,686 Speaker 3: you're applying yourself to something you enjoy, you'll do better 273 00:16:08,926 --> 00:16:12,006 Speaker 3: because the effort and the grit has a higher purpose 274 00:16:12,126 --> 00:16:13,086 Speaker 3: that pulls you through. 275 00:16:13,766 --> 00:16:16,446 Speaker 2: So next time you stare at the sky or try 276 00:16:16,526 --> 00:16:20,966 Speaker 2: something no one else is doing. Remember Catherine Varnelle Peg, 277 00:16:21,566 --> 00:16:23,046 Speaker 2: She didn't just dream of. 278 00:16:22,966 --> 00:16:27,046 Speaker 1: Space, She built the path to get there. Building your 279 00:16:27,126 --> 00:16:31,206 Speaker 1: future takes heart, hustle, and a touch of stubbornness. You 280 00:16:31,246 --> 00:16:32,326 Speaker 1: don't have to fit a mold. 281 00:16:32,886 --> 00:16:35,646 Speaker 2: You just have to start stacking your talents little by 282 00:16:35,686 --> 00:16:39,686 Speaker 2: little until those dreams look possible. Your challenge this week 283 00:16:40,326 --> 00:16:43,806 Speaker 2: find something you care about and take a first step. 284 00:16:44,086 --> 00:16:47,086 Speaker 2: Write about it, draw a picture. What part do you 285 00:16:47,126 --> 00:16:49,606 Speaker 2: want to know more about, or just talk to someone 286 00:16:49,686 --> 00:16:53,965 Speaker 2: about your biggest what if? Dreams are built from questions? 287 00:16:54,406 --> 00:16:55,206 Speaker 1: Go ask yours. 288 00:16:57,246 --> 00:17:00,646 Speaker 2: Today's episode was written by Tom Lyon, who also did 289 00:17:00,686 --> 00:17:04,846 Speaker 2: our sound design. Our executive producer is Courtney Ammenhauser. The 290 00:17:04,926 --> 00:17:08,646 Speaker 2: producer is Tina Mattloff, and I'm your host, Annalise Todd. 291 00:17:09,086 --> 00:17:11,766 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to this season of She Built That. 292 00:17:12,246 --> 00:17:15,486 Speaker 2: We hope you've enjoyed our amazing stories. There could be 293 00:17:15,526 --> 00:17:19,086 Speaker 2: more to come watch this space in the meantime, Remember, 294 00:17:19,446 --> 00:17:30,086 Speaker 2: incredible girls don't just dream, they build happy building. Mamma 295 00:17:30,126 --> 00:17:33,286 Speaker 2: Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of the land. We have 296 00:17:33,406 --> 00:17:37,366 Speaker 2: recorded this podcast on the Gatagoul people of the Or Nation. 297 00:17:38,126 --> 00:17:40,926 Speaker 2: We pay our respects to their elders past and present, 298 00:17:41,326 --> 00:17:44,606 Speaker 2: and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and torrest Rate 299 00:17:44,686 --> 00:17:45,606 Speaker 2: Islander cultures.