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Aisha Bowe
Who's paying for the mattress topper? You mean the beanbag chair? Aren't we getting a mini fridge? Can we create a pool on PayPal? It lets us collect the money before we buy. Ooh, yes, that's smart. Glad we can agree on something easily.
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Pool split and Send Money with PayPal. Get started in the PayPal app, a PayPal account is required to send and receive money. A balance account is required to create a pool.
Interviewer
My next guest is a former NASA rocket scientist, entrepreneur and global STEM advocate. Oh, and did I mention she will make history as one of six women on billionaire Jeff Bezos 11th Blue Origin NS31 space flight on April 14th. Please welcome the one and only Ms. Aisha Bowe. How are you? How's everything?
Aisha Bowe
I'm good.
Interviewer
It's nice to finally meet you. First of all, I'm very, very proud of you. Congratulations on all your success. And I'm especially proud because you're working in partnership with my alma mater, Winston Salem State University. Yes, tell the audience about that, please. Let's touch on that first.
Aisha Bowe
Listen, we could not go to space without Winston Salem. When I embarked upon this mission, it was important for me to conduct science and and to do it with a world class institution like Winston Salem. I long admired their astrobotany lab from when I was at NASA. And I am privileged to have the opportunity to genetically sequence plants in space with them.
Interviewer
How do you feel about this? I mean, they say this is the ladies time. I mean, with all the ladies going on this historic trip. Who'll be joining? Tell the audience who'll be joining you on this flight.
Aisha Bowe
Sure. I'm joined by Gayle King, Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Carrie Anne Flynn and Amanda Wynn.
Interviewer
Now those ladies that elected to join you, what kind of advice have you given them? I'd like to know this because you know, Gayle is usually one that gives advice, not takes. I know she's a friend of mine and she's so bossy. I say that affectionately. What are the kind of things you told her about what she's about to embark upon.
Aisha Bowe
Pleasance, planning and preparation. Right. I look at this similar to athletics. It's important to visualize, it's important to prepare and to be in the moment. We're getting ready to go on a journey that almost everyone who has gone on it has come back forever changed. And for people around the world who are writing me, who are engaging with the mission and seeing a little bit of themselves in us, it's important that we show up, we meet the moment.
Interviewer
Tell the folks out there about yourself in terms of who you are and how this all came to be. I mean, when we think about. I mean, there's a lot of aspirations. People are very aspirational in this day and age. But you don't see too often somebody engaging in this kind of stuff where you're going up in space, girl, you're going above the earth, crying out loud. I mean, how did all of this come to be?
Aisha Bowe
Yeah. I'm the person who never thought that I would be here. I started out as someone who wasn't high performing in high school. In fact, I went to my community. Sorry. I went to community college.
Interviewer
Okay.
Aisha Bowe
And I didn't even apply to college. After asking my high school guidance counselor what she thought I could do, and she said, I think you'd better be. Better be off pursuing cosmetology. And, you know, hold on.
Interviewer
Cosmetology?
Aisha Bowe
Yeah. And, you know, I paused here because I'm looking at you and I'm looking at this. And this was all. It was all a dream. And I did not apply to college because I thought I wasn't smart enough to go. I did not have the dream of working at NASA because I thought that I couldn't make it. And so when I went to school, I said, you know what, Aisha? You're in community college, but you have taken everything that someone else has told you about yourself to be true, and it is not. And so let's focus only on what it is that you want to do. And what I wanted to do was wake up every day and look at my face and be proud. I want to look in the mirror and say that my black was beautiful. And I wanted to live a life that was a testimony. And so I said, I'm going to become a rocket scientist. And people laughed. I mean, they still laugh at me today. Spoiler alert. I'm like, google me, I'll wait. Right? But they laughed because they didn't think that I could do it. And so I Started my aerospace engineering degree with pre algebra in this community college. I went to Michigan Aerospace. I got a master's in space systems engineering. And then I went to NASA. And I said, I'm going to commit my life to telling people that being realistic is. Is the most commonly traveled path to mediocrity.
Interviewer
I had the pleasure of meeting your wonderful mama. She's standing right over there. I see where she gets there. I see where you get it from. Okay, let me just say that. Very, very complimentary, I might add. But here's the deal. Wasn't it your dad.
Aisha Bowe
Yeah.
Interviewer
That first mentioned to you or suggested that you might want to take this path? And if that is so, if that is so, what is it that he saw that you didn't see at that particular moment in time that made him make that suggestion?
Aisha Bowe
Well, my dad, who's from the Bahamas, decided that when he heard what the guidance counselor said, he would go and give her a piece of his mind. He was told not to come back.
Interviewer
So he did go and give her a piece of his mind.
Aisha Bowe
Yes, he did.
Interviewer
And they told him not to come back.
Aisha Bowe
Correct.
Interviewer
Okay. Okay.
Aisha Bowe
That's Pops. I love him already. You know, you cannot allow others to define you in life. And I want you to know that you are smarter than what they think you are, and you are better. And so he would challenge me at the dinner table. He would ask me to write, like, you know, write down equations and things, and then he would tear them up. And he would tell me that the only thing that someone can't take from you is the stuff that's in your mind. And he said, aisha, you can do whatever it is that you put your mind to. So go do the math. I will pay for it. You will take the class again. And so I started over. The classes I was taking in high school that I didn't do well in. I started over in community college because he told me that I could.
Interviewer
And I'm thinking about it along the way. He had to see something, as in terms of, it's one thing to believe in you because he loves you dearly and he believes that you have a level of intellect that they're underestimating. It's another thing entirely to see a particular gift. You gotta be gifted to do what you're doing right here. So you're clearly a gifted young lady. I'm saying, did he see that? Expertise in math, your interest elevated when it came to that subject. What was it?
Aisha Bowe
You know, I think he saw potential. Everyone needs someone who believes in them. You know, one of the things I loved about the Venus and Serena movie was that the father spoke power over them before they were champions. He was really deliberate about making sure that no one would tell them that they were going to be anything better than the best. And my dad, in that moment told me the same thing. It wasn't because I'd previously demonstrated it. It was because he saw potential. And I grew into my potential. Heck, I'm still growing into it. I went from being at NASA to running two companies to making education product, to being on the show talking to you. I'm still learning how to do. But what I stand for is the dream. I stand for the idea that there is no dream too big and nothing too audacious.
Interviewer
Was folks. Were folks derailing your dreams, or was your actions derailing your dreams because you didn't believe you were as nearly as focused as you ultimately became? Which was the biggest impediment to you getting to where you are today, in your estimation?
Aisha Bowe
I think I was the biggest impediment because I had to learn how to think. I had to learn how to view myself as a computer that needed to be pushed. New programming, Essentially, I control the narrative in my mind. And so if I consistently reinforce how I think and how I respond to the things around me, then I can change reality to be what it is that I want it to be.
Interviewer
How were you able to do that when you used the word reinforcement? Because I'm peeling apart some of the words that you're saying and you talked about reinforce. Well, that means it was there, but something inside of you was willing to put forth the due diligence, the level of tenacity, et cetera, that you were not willing to do in the past? Was the inspiration there because you wanted to make your daddy proud? Was the inspiration there because you wanted to debunk and ultimately dismiss what the teacher who refers you to cosmetology recommended? I mean, when we think about the word reinforced, it emanates from somewhere. Which was the motivation for you.
Aisha Bowe
I was tired of feeling bad. I wanted to feel good. When I woke up, I looked at my reflection and I didn't like what I saw. And when I really started to think of it, here was I had someone that loved me and thought I was so great, but I didn't think that way. I didn't feel that way. And I could not feel good without taking control of me. And so I said, I am strong enough to overcome whatever challenges are before me, and I do that every single Day, even to this day, I wake up, and before I start everyone else's day, I start mine. And I have affirmations, I have meditation, I pray, and then I get going.
Interviewer
Does meditation really work? I've been. That's been referred to me on many, many occasions. I'm going like this. It's kind of impossible. That requires me to shut up and just sit there and empty my mind. And I just think there's a lot of things in life I could pull off. I don't know if I could pull that off. Can you pull that off? How hard is it to learn how to meditate?
Aisha Bowe
Listen, I like to meditate. And when I meditate, I like to do it in the Bahamas.
Interviewer
You know, I'm from the Virgin Islands now. My family's from St. Thomas Virgin Islands.
Aisha Bowe
Listen, I'm a pastor. Caring Bahamian.
Interviewer
How about that? How about that? But, I mean, I look at you now, and we all have to just stand down and marvel at the accomplishments that you've achieved to this degree. When I think about what you're doing moving forward, particularly with this mission, and how it's going to resonate not just in America, but throughout the world. As you go and you talk to young ladies throughout the country, because I know you do, what are the kind of things you say to them?
Aisha Bowe
I tell them that space is for all and not for some. I'm literally traveling with postcards that I've asked the students to write their dreams down on. Because my goal is to be a bedtime story. I want people to tell their children what it is that I did in the hopes of encouraging them to reach for the stars.
Interviewer
But you're going to carry these postcards from the students. Right. And I wanted to ask you what they're going to symbolize, but you're taking them up in space with you?
Aisha Bowe
Yes.
Interviewer
That what you're doing?
Aisha Bowe
You know, thanks to Lauren and Jeff, they're going back to the very same students who wrote them. And so they'll be stamped, flown in space, and then they're going to bring space back down to Earth.
Interviewer
Tell me about the significance of the American flag that you know you're going to take into space.
Aisha Bowe
When I first started working at NASA, I met a woman named Nancy Conrad. She's the wife of Pete Conrad, the third man to walk on the moon.
Interviewer
Wow.
Aisha Bowe
She became a very powerful mentor to me. And Pete's story is similar to mine. He was rambunctious, and he didn't necessarily fit in the traditional mold of school in the Beginning. Nancy saw that I wanted to go to space, and she mentored me along the way. And when the mission was confirmed, she said, aisha, I want to provide you with a symbol of the past because you are the future. And she asked the Museum of Flight in Seattle to go and get Pete's flag that he took to the moon with him on Apollo 12. And they sent it to me. And so I will have an opportunity to put that flag back in space. And then it will have been flown twice. And his legacy and my legacy will be shared in the museum.
Interviewer
How long you gonna be up there? Do you know?
Aisha Bowe
Long enough. Listen, my mom.
Interviewer
That's vague. That's vague, Aisha. I need specifics. You gonna be in space? You know, how long are you gonna be up there, then?
Aisha Bowe
Yeah. So the entire flight will be like maybe 11 minutes, right?
Interviewer
Really?
Aisha Bowe
Yes. And it's great because, one, that's enough to study how plants respond to microgravity. And two, my mom knows exactly when I'm coming home.
Interviewer
Did you just finish saying that? That 11 minutes is enough to study? Is that what you just said? 11 minutes? That's all you need?
Aisha Bowe
That's all you. Well, so when you're in microgravity, changes on the molecular level happen instantly, and so we're actually able to genetically sequence plants in that period of time. And this has implications for food security on Earth.
Interviewer
Well, you know, forgive this question. It's gonna sound a bit idiotic maybe, but I gotta ask. Cause, you know, we hear politicians all the time talking about taking us into space. They explore in space and what have you, and ultimately, one day we gonna live on Mars and stuff like that, and I don't pay much. You're the reason I'm paying attention to it now. Aisha, I'm gonna be honest with you. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be paying attention to this, you understand? But you got me interested. Are we to take that and embrace that seriously, that that is an objective and an agenda for astronauts and nas as it pertains to this country, this world and things from an exploration perspective. They're really, really plotting to do this.
Aisha Bowe
Well, we've been studying various elements of space travel for some time. We say we humanity, NASA, of course. And what we've realized is that space is a harsh environment. No surprise there. But what we learn in space has implications here on Earth. So if you can grow plants in space, you can grow them here in food deserts. You can help make sure that people get access to the next generation of Antibiotics and you can also make sure that they get wi fi wherever they are.
Interviewer
Gotcha. So you just utilizing that to bring it back to Earth to make sure we maximize our potential as a human race. As opposed to telling us we trying to move to Mars. That's what you're telling us?
Aisha Bowe
Exactly. Space for the benefit of Earth.
Interviewer
That moves me. I feel a lot better about that now. A lot more knowledgeable about it. How does one prepare for a space flight?
Aisha Bowe
Well, if you're an adrenaline junkie like me, you have a lot of fun while doing it. I just had the opportunity to fly an L39, which is a fighter jet. And I successfully completed some aileron roles and some high speed maneuvers and had a great time. But there is a commercial space flight regulation that kind of lays out preparation for space. And so I've gone from flying an acrobatic aircraft to hypoxia training to these fighter jets in high G forces, six G's. I love it. I absolutely love it. And so it's important to physically and mentally prepare.
Interviewer
I give you kudos, not just for your accomplishments, but because of your bravery. Because they tried to get me up in a fighter jet years ago and I told them to go to hell. Don't even think about it. Don't even think about coming my way with that nonsense. I'm comfortable on land, you understand? I'm not trying to do that. So you're braver than me. Aisha, listen.
Aisha Bowe
But I got the hookup. I know a Bahamian who's a fighter pilot. He owns the aircraft. Let's go.
Interviewer
No.
Aisha Bowe
Yes.
Interviewer
I'm not that brave.
Aisha Bowe
You can do it.
AT&T Voiceover
No.
Aisha Bowe
If I can do it, you can do it too.
Interviewer
I know I could do it, but it doesn't mean I ain't gonna be scared as hell when I'm doing. I might have a heart attack. You understand what I'm saying?
Aisha Bowe
But look, I think the fear is good. You feel the fear, you do it anyway. People ask me, are you nervous? It's like, yes, I'm getting in a rocket and going up. But on the other side of fear is everything I've ever wanted.
Interviewer
Will this mission be carried live?
Aisha Bowe
It will be.
Interviewer
It will be.
Aisha Bowe
It will be broadcast on blue origin.com.
Interviewer
Wow.
Aisha Bowe
On April 14th, you can tune in whether you're in a classroom or you are at home.
Interviewer
I want to go to a couple of other things before you depart. And I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule. I'm honored to have you here. It means a lot to me that you're here. And it means a lot to me that everybody's going to know even more about your story. You founded Stemboard, a startup specializing in engineering services for federal and private sector clients without any outside funding. In 2020, it landed on the Inc. Magazine's five the fastest growing privately owned U.S. companies. How were you able to do that?
Aisha Bowe
Dollar and a very supportive dog.
Interviewer
Really? Yeah, because just that simple.
Aisha Bowe
I was telling people that, look, I'm going to found a company. And they didn't know any people who look like me with my background who had founded companies and were successful. And so I decided that if you tell me that I can't do it, I'm going to do it. And over the last 12 years, we've been recognized for hiring veterans. We received a Hirevets award from the Department of Labor. We've had the opportunity to expand to five states and we've been on the ink list now twice. I couldn't. They said I can't. I did.
Interviewer
You did. You did. You're also doing great work to get kids to consider STEM careers through your edtech company lingo.
Aisha Bowe
Yeah.
Interviewer
Talk to me about that for a second. And who do you hope to reach?
Aisha Bowe
Well, it sort of became this. Your one trick pony thing. Aisha. And I'm like, no. I feel like genius is evenly distributed. Opportunity, however, is not. And so how do I take what it is that I've learned and my resources and bring it to students all around the world? And that was through lingo. Many students had never been taught anything by a black woman that was technical in middle school or high school or college. And so we decided to make self paced coding kits. We started off by supporting Inroads and it bloomed from there. We in the last two years have delivered these kits into the hands of 10,000 students. Bowie State teaches us for freshman computer science. We've been bought in 10 countries. And I'm delighted to say that we've launched two new space themed lessons so that we can take this mission and we can take the inspiration and we can deliver that into skills that people can use to be employable in the future.
Interviewer
My last question to you would be this. I know you care about humanity, the human race. I know that you have a special affection for young ladies out there in this world trying to make it happen for themselves. But I imagine as a marvelous black woman, it's very, very touching considering the connections to HBCUs and beyond. What your accomplishments have meant and will continue to mean to young black ladies out there in the years to come. Can you talk about that for a second and how that vibes with your mission and your aspirations in life as you move forward?
Aisha Bowe
Yeah, I had the opportunity when I was at NASA to speak to Nichelle Nichols. And if you know Nichelle, you know her from Star Trek, but she also, well, she was the person who recruited the first class of African American astronauts with NASA. She used her star power to go out there and find many people who you read about in history. And for me, it's the story. I want to know that when I am gone that I have left this place better than when I received it. And for women, girls, people, we don't just inspire black people, we inspire all people, culture, everything around the world. And so for me to be here in this moment, I want to let people know while I would love it if you became a rocket scientist, what I want you to take from this is do not allow anybody to define you.
Interviewer
Aisha Bowe, the marvelous Aisha Bowe. Good luck. Continue to make all of us proud because you're certainly making me proud. Thank you so much for being here. My thanks to the one and only Aisha Bowe to all Female Blue Origin NS31 space flight is scheduled for April 14th. Be sure to check it out. Thank you so much.
Aisha Bowe
Thank you.
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Podcast Summary: The Stephen A. Smith Show – Interview with Aisha Bowe
Episode Title: Interview Only: Aisha Bowe, Former NASA Rocket Scientist Part of Historic All-Female Commercial Spaceflight
Release Date: April 8, 2025
Host: Stephen A. Smith
Guests: Aisha Bowe
In this enlightening episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, renowned host Stephen A. Smith engages in an inspiring conversation with Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist and entrepreneur. Bowe is set to make history as one of six women aboard Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin NS31 space flight scheduled for April 14th. The interview delves into Bowe's remarkable journey, her upcoming mission, and her efforts to inspire the next generation in STEM fields.
Aisha Bowe shares her extraordinary path from humble beginnings to becoming a pivotal figure in aerospace engineering. She recounts her academic struggles, highlighting that she did not initially perform well in high school and attended community college. Despite discouragement from a high school guidance counselor who suggested a career in cosmetology, Bowe's determination led her to pursue an aerospace engineering degree.
Aisha Bowe [03:48]: "When I went to school... I did not have the dream of working at NASA because I thought that I couldn't make it."
Her perseverance paid off as she earned a master's in space systems engineering from Michigan Aerospace and eventually joined NASA. Bowe emphasizes the importance of not letting others define one's potential, a lesson instilled by her father.
Aisha Bowe [06:40]: "Everyone needs someone who believes in them... What I stand for is the dream. I stand for the idea that there is no dream too big and nothing too audacious."
Bowe discusses the historic all-female Blue Origin NS31 mission, introducing her fellow passengers: Gayle King, Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Carrie Anne Flynn, and Amanda Wynn. She shares the advice she has imparted to her companions, emphasizing the importance of planning, preparation, and being present in the moment.
Aisha Bowe [02:46]: "Pleasance, planning and preparation... We're getting ready to go on a journey that almost everyone who has gone on it has come back forever changed."
A significant portion of the interview focuses on Bowe's personal challenges and triumphs. She reflects on the negativity she faced and how her father's unwavering belief in her potential was crucial in overcoming self-doubt. Bowe credits her internal resilience and disciplined mindset for her success.
Aisha Bowe [08:07]: "I think I was the biggest impediment because I had to learn how to think. I had to learn how to view myself as a computer that needed to be pushed."
She highlights daily practices such as affirmations, meditation, and prayer that help her maintain focus and positivity.
Aisha Bowe [09:09]: "I do that every single day... I have affirmations, I have meditation, I pray, and then I get going."
Bowe pays tribute to Nancy Conrad, the wife of Apollo astronaut Pete Conrad, who mentored her during her time at NASA. She speaks about the symbolic significance of carrying an American flag that Pete Conrad took to the moon, thus linking her mission to historical space exploration.
Aisha Bowe [11:03]: "I will have an opportunity to put that flag back in space. And then it will have been flown twice. And his legacy and my legacy will be shared in the museum."
The interview delves into the specifics of the Blue Origin NS31 mission. Bowe explains that the approximately 11-minute flight aims to study how plants respond to microgravity, which has direct implications for food security on Earth. She underscores that the mission's findings will benefit humanity by enhancing agricultural practices in challenging environments.
Aisha Bowe [12:22]: "When you're in microgravity, changes on the molecular level happen instantly, and so we're actually able to genetically sequence plants in that period of time."
Bowe also clarifies that the mission is not about colonizing space but leveraging space research to solve terrestrial issues.
Aisha Bowe [14:15]: "Space for the benefit of Earth."
Beyond her aerospace endeavors, Bowe is the founder of Stemboard, a startup specializing in engineering services, and Lingo, an edtech company focused on promoting STEM education among students. She highlights Stemboard's rapid growth and recognition, including landing on Inc. Magazine's list of the fastest-growing privately owned U.S. companies and receiving awards for hiring veterans.
Aisha Bowe [16:30]: "I was telling people that, look, I'm going to found a company... And over the last 12 years, we've been recognized for hiring veterans."
Through Lingo, Bowe aims to make STEM education accessible, particularly for underrepresented groups. She mentions delivering self-paced coding kits to 10,000 students across 10 countries and launching space-themed lessons to inspire future technologists.
Aisha Bowe [17:14]: "We decided to make self-paced coding kits... we have delivered these kits into the hands of 10,000 students."
Bowe emphasizes her commitment to serving as a role model, especially for young women and students from diverse backgrounds. She shares her initiative of carrying postcards from students into space, which will be returned to them with stamps from the mission, symbolizing the connection between space exploration and personal dreams.
Aisha Bowe [10:36]: "I'm literally traveling with postcards that I've asked the students to write their dreams down on... They'll be stamped, flown in space, and then they're going to bring space back down to Earth."
Her goal is to inspire children to envision themselves in STEM roles, fostering a sense of possibility and ambition.
Aisha Bowe [19:38]: "Do not allow anybody to define you."
Stephen A. Smith wraps up the interview by commending Aisha Bowe for her bravery, accomplishments, and dedication to empowering others. He highlights the significance of her upcoming mission and encourages listeners to witness history in the making on April 14th.
Stephen A. Smith [19:38]: "Aisha Bowe, the marvelous Aisha Bowe. Good luck. Continue to make all of us proud because you're certainly making me proud."
Perseverance Over Adversity: Bowe's journey from community college to NASA underscores the importance of resilience and self-belief.
Mentorship Matters: The influence of mentors like Nancy Conrad played a crucial role in Bowe's career and mission preparation.
Space Research for Earthly Benefits: The NS31 mission focuses on practical applications of space research to address food security and other global challenges.
Empowering Future Generations: Through Stemboard and Lingo, Bowe is actively working to make STEM education accessible and inspiring for underrepresented groups.
Symbolism and Legacy: Carrying a historic American flag connects her mission to the broader legacy of space exploration, bridging past achievements with future aspirations.
Aisha Bowe's story is a testament to overcoming societal and personal barriers, showcasing how passion and determination can lead to groundbreaking achievements. Her mission embodies the belief that space exploration is not an end in itself but a means to improve life on Earth and inspire future innovators.