Episode 09: Where the Veil Is Thin: Wonder, Belonging, and the Power of Possibility

Episode 10: Reclaiming the Narrative: Identity, Inclusion, & Science

🎙️ Episode Description What does it mean to belong in science when you don’t fit the mold? In this conversation, Aisha sits down with Maynard Okereke, also known as The Hip Hop M.D., to talk about navigating identity, culture, and creativity in STEM. Maynard shares his journey from engineering to science communication, and how his love of music and storytelling became a bridge to connect with communities often left out of the science conversation. They explore code switching, systemic barriers, and how cultural connection can be a powerful teaching tool.  For anyone interested in creating a more inclusive, authentic future in STEM, this episode offers reflection, real talk, and hope. 🔗 Universal Inclusion Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/universal_inclusion/ [https://www.instagram.com/universal_inclusion/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-inclusion-ui/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-inclusion-ui/] 🕛 Time Stamps / Chapters 00:00 – Introducing Maynard Okereke How his engineering background and creative drive sparked a new path. 02:46 – Redefining who belongs in science Why embracing creativity and culture is key to inclusion. 06:33 – Learning through mistakes Maynard reflects on growth, failure, and staying motivated. 08:49 – Code switching and self-expression Navigating identity and language in academic and professional spaces. 13:28 – Culture and the classroom The importance of representation, relevance, and connection in education. 20:55 – The pressure of being “the only one” Stories about race, belonging, and making space for others. 26:37 – Representation and responsibility Why visibility matters and how mentorship can change lives. 35:04 – The DEI landscape in STEM Reflections on recent backlash, and why equity work must continue. 41:29 – Small actions, big impact Maynard’s advice on how to support others and stay in the work. 👤 Guest Bio Maynard Okereke is a civil engineer turned award-winning science communicator. As The Hip Hop M.D., he brings STEM to life through cultural relevance, media, and performance, with a focus on engaging underrepresented youth. His platform, Hip Hop Science Show, has been recognized for its impact across education and social media.  🔗 Guest Links Website: hiphopscienceshow.com [http://www.hiphopscienceshow.com/] Instagram: @hiphopscienceshow [https://www.instagram.com/hiphopscienceshow] 📄 Transcript https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pQhzjxozhwQfbVEWbqs3hdwJTTeVq0W1/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111008271018771016545&rtpof=true&sd=true [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pQhzjxozhwQfbVEWbqs3hdwJTTeVq0W1/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111008271018771016545&rtpof=true&sd=true]

Episode 09: Where the Veil Is Thin: Wonder, Belonging, and the Power of Possibility

🎙️ Episode Description In this episode, Aisha sits down with Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen, a linguist and astrobiologist who’s challenging everything we think we know about space exploration. Sheri shares what it’s like to float in zero gravity, why science fiction helped her imagine a future that includes her, and how space could be more accessible, creative, and human if we stopped designing it for just one kind of person. They talk about disability, language, aliens, and why people with disabilities aren’t a problem to solve. It is the future we need. This episode is about more than rockets. It’s about who gets to dream big, show up fully, and shape the world beyond Earth. 🔗 Universal Inclusion Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/universal_inclusion/ [https://www.instagram.com/universal_inclusion/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-inclusion-ui/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-inclusion-ui/] 🕛 Time Stamps / Chapters 00:00 – What If Sight Wasn’t a Prerequisite for Wonder?  Sheri reflects on awe, sci-fi, and why blind people absolutely belong in the space conversation. 02:46 – Science Fiction, Soundscapes & Star Trek  How growing up blind shaped her relationship with space and why imagination creates possibility. 05:19 – Would We Even Recognize Extraterrestrial Intelligence?  Sheri breaks down how alien language, bodies, and senses might differ radically from ours. 08:40 – We Can’t Be Arrogant in the Universe  From dolphins to AI, why respecting Earth’s intelligence is a practice for meeting others. 11:55 – Disability Studies in Space Is Not Optional  Why excluding disabled people is not only unethical, it’s scientifically short-sighted. 15:04 – Masking & Meritocracy: The Hidden Pressures in STEM  How many neurodivergent folks feel forced to hide their needs just to belong. 17:31 – What Zero-G Taught Her  Sheri shares what it really feels like to float and why these flights are far more than tourist toys. 20:55 – Designing for Disabled Bodies in Space  How microgravity challenges traditional assumptions and opens design opportunities. 25:19 – Redefining “The Right Stuff”  Sheri flips the narrative: disabled people aren’t fragile – they’re fierce. 30:37 – Why Disabled Kids Leave STEM  The stories we tell in early education matter and they can push brilliant minds out of science. 33:59 – Science as Birthright, Not a Privilege Sheri’s final message to disabled youth: this world is yours too. Science is for you. 👤 Guest Bio Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen is a professor of Linguistics at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She has served as the Library of Congress/NASA Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation. Her research focuses on the human factors of space exploration, especially the inclusion of disabled people in spaceflight. She’s a vocal advocate for disability justice, accessibility, and shifting who we imagine as the future of space travel. 🔗 Guest Links Website: https://sheriwellsjensen.com/ [https://sheriwellsjensen.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-wells-jensen-03222a278 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-wells-jensen-03222a278] 📄 Transcript https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-x4DfE0SL6V1mS4ikh95EEkxi7uNiD3Y/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111008271018771016545&rtpof=true&sd=true [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-x4DfE0SL6V1mS4ikh95EEkxi7uNiD3Y/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111008271018771016545&rtpof=true&sd=true]

Episode 08: Resilience in Orbit: Riyam Ojaimi on Identity and Equality

🎙️ Episode Description In this moving and energizing episode, Aisha is joined by Riyam Ojaimi, a rising voice in the space and science communication world, to talk about the power of resilience, representation, and reimagining access to the space industry. From experiencing racism in Sweden to launching her own global space education platform, Riyam shares how her lived experiences and quiet strength have fueled everything she does. They discuss the roots of SpacePoint, why open-source access matters, and how she built a team of hundreds from a single vision.  Along the way, Riyam and Aisha dig into identity, burnout, working twice as hard to be seen, and the unspoken mental weight of navigating STEM as a racialized woman. This episode is a reminder that you don’t need permission to take up space - you just need to begin. 🔗 Universal Inclusion Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/universal_inclusion/ [https://www.instagram.com/universal_inclusion/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-inclusion-ui/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-inclusion-ui/] ⏱️ Time Stamps / Chapters 00:00 – A New Kind of Space Leader Riyam’s story begins - fueled by resilience, racism, and a childhood dream of Saturn. 02:46 – Not “Swedish Enough” for the Science Club What it feels like to grow up excluded and how it shaped her mission to create belonging. 06:31 – The Cost of Constant Resilience Why showing up strong every day is draining and how burnout creeps in when you’re always proving you belong. 10:00 – The Power of One Role Model A single woman in STEM. Two loving parents. And the moment Riyam realized her dreams were valid. 15:23 – Excellence with a Side of Guilt Being high-achieving doesn’t shield you from imposter syndrome. In fact, it often makes it worse. 20:55 – Building SpacePoint: Science for the Rest of Us What started as a solo project became a 200+ person global platform; redefining what access really looks like. 30:41 – Saying No to Unpaid “Opportunities” Why internships must respect your time - and how SpacePoint is modeling what ethical mentorship looks like. 38:16 – Too Young? Too Different? Perfect. Still in undergrad, already doing space medicine. Reframing youth as an asset and challenging ageism in STEM. 👤 Guest Bio Riyam Ojaimi is an aerospace medicine researcher and pre-medical student at the University of Toronto, where she explores the effects of spaceflight on brain energy metabolism. She’s also a science communicator and astronomy influencer with a fast-growing social media presence, dedicated to making space science more accessible and relatable. She is the Founder and CEO of SpacePoint, an open-source global platform that breaks down barriers in science communication, empowering underserved communities and inviting new voices into the space dialogue. Riyam is passionate about education, women in STEM, and building a future where space truly belongs to everyone. 🔗 Guest Links IG: @riyamojaimi LinkedIn: Riyam Ojaimi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/riyamalojaimi] TikTok: @riyamojaimi IG: @spacepointltd Website: thespacepoint.com [https://www.thespacepoint.com/] 📄 Transcript https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_93bIwAWXIWuowdWmZefD-weVZfIugej/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111008271018771016545&rtpof=true&sd=true [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_93bIwAWXIWuowdWmZefD-weVZfIugej/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111008271018771016545&rtpof=true&sd=true]

Episode 07: Towards a Just Future: Accessibility as a Practice, Intergenerational Equity, and Ethics in Space

🎙️ Episode Description In this episode, Aisha sits down with AJ Link - space law expert, human rights advocate, and outspoken champion for accessibility - to explore what it really means to build an inclusive future, both on Earth and beyond. From mining ethics to the moon as our cultural ancestor, they tackle some of the space industry’s hardest questions: Should we even be going to space? Who decides? And what happens when capitalism, colonialism, and the cosmos collide? AJ’s powerful insights challenge the mainstream space narrative and offer a deeper lens through which to view space exploration. This isn’t just about rockets… It's about the soul of humanity. This episode is for anyone who cares about ethics, inclusion, and leaving behind something better than what we inherited. 🔗 Universal Inclusion Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/universal_inclusion/ [https://www.instagram.com/universal_inclusion/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-inclusion-ui/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-inclusion-ui/] Time Stamps / Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & Intro Meet AJ Link, and why he’s pushing space law to center justice and inclusion. 04:35 – Why Do So Much? The philosophy behind planting trees for future generations. 06:18 – What Accessibility Really Means Beyond ramps and restrooms: access as a human right. 09:03 – Don’t Wait for Them to Ask Why inclusive infrastructure has to be built before it’s needed. 10:38 – Let’s Talk Space Law What happens if a company violates ethics in space? 15:22 – Should We Even Be Going to Space? AJ challenges the default narrative of exploration and entitlement. 19:49 – Who Will Really Benefit? Mining, exploitation, and the myth of shared space wealth. 22:37 – What Does a Just Space Future Look Like? AJ’s vision for intergenerational equity, and why he’s not sure we’re ready. 28:18 – Respecting Celestial Bodies Why the Moon isn’t just a rock, and what cultural reverence really looks like. 36:12 – Labor in the Final Frontier From AI to space mechanics: who’s going to do the dangerous work? 39:15 – The Ethics of Exploration Humanity’s biggest decisions are being made now - are we even thinking it through? 41:00 – Advice for Aspiring Space Lawyers You don’t need a JD to advocate for ethical space futures. 43:00 – The Beauty of Space Still Matters A final reminder of why space moved us in the first place. 👤 Guest Bio AJ Link is a space law scholar, disability justice advocate, and co-founder of the Palestine Space Institute. As a passionate champion for accessibility and ethics in aerospace, AJ challenges mainstream narratives about who belongs in space and why. Openly autistic and deeply committed to equity, AJ holds a Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School and a Master of Laws in Air and Space Law from the University of Mississippi. He was the inaugural director of the Center for Air and Space Law Task Force on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Aerospace and currently teaches space law at Howard University. AJ is also the founding president of the National Disabled Law Students Association, serves on the board of AstroAccess, and collaborates with organizations like Black in Astro, Jus Ad Astra, and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. His work spans policy, education, and grassroots activism—with a vision for a future that’s as just as it is interstellar. 🔗 Guest Links * Instagram:@knilirabaj  * www.linkedin.com/in/jabarilink [http://www.linkedin.com/in/jabarilink]  * https://www.newdisabledsouth.org/ [https://www.newdisabledsouth.org/] * https://jusadastra.org/Home.html [https://jusadastra.org/Home.html] * https://www.blackinastro.com/ [https://www.blackinastro.com/] * https://astroaccess.org/ [https://astroaccess.org/] * https://autisticadvocacy.org/ [https://autisticadvocacy.org/] * https://www.palestinespace.org/ [https://www.palestinespace.org/] * https://ndlsa.org/ [https://ndlsa.org/] * https://ndlpa.org/ [https://ndlpa.org/] 📄 Transcript https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gps1h4Y93WB7EXlO-uGyywkQyYWa3GGo/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111008271018771016545&rtpof=true&sd=true [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gps1h4Y93WB7EXlO-uGyywkQyYWa3GGo/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111008271018771016545&rtpof=true&sd=true]

Episode 06: Accessibility, Belonging, & Justice with Khristian Jones

🎙️ Episode Description In this week’s episode, Khristian Jones shares what building industry and creating space for others really looks like - beyond the buzzwords. She gets honest about how emotional intelligence - especially empathy - is at the heart of creating spaces and policies that make people feel seen, supported, and valued. Creating sustainable environments is not about checking boxes - it’s about making sure people feel like they actually belong, because they do! 🔗 Universal Inclusion Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/universal_inclusion/ [https://www.instagram.com/universal_inclusion/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-inclusion-ui/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/universal-inclusion-ui/] Time Stamps / Chapters 00:00 – Launching the Future: Origins & the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship Meet Khristian Jones and discover how her journey from engineer to changemaker led to co-founding a fellowship that's opening doors for Black students in aerospace. 19:58 – Just Apply: Breaking Barriers & Owning Your Story Khristian shares powerful advice on pushing past self-doubt, why authenticity matters more than perfection, and how resilience shapes careers in space and beyond. 27:19 – What DEIA Really Means Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility aren't just buzzwords. Khristian unpacks what they mean in practice—and why they’re essential for progress in STEM 37:00 – Emotional Intelligence in a Technical World EQ meets STEM: how emotional intelligence is a superpower in science and engineering, especially for leaders navigating high-pressure environments. 45:58 – Avoiding the Burnout Black Hole Khristian opens up about the realities of burnout in high-achieving spaces—and how to spot, manage, and prevent it. 53:13 – Recharging Right: How Khristian Fills Her Cup From boundaries to joy habits, Khristian shares how she re-energizes so she can keep leading, creating, and inspiring. 1:01:00 – Women in STEM: Thriving, Not Just Surviving A real talk about the wins, challenges, and growth of being a woman in the STEM world—and why community matters. 1:13:17 – Being Seen: Beyond Representation What does it really mean to be seen in an industry that hasn’t always made space for you? Khristian reflects on visibility, validation, and value. 1:13:17 – Real Talk: Advice for Women of Color in Aerospace Practical, heartfelt guidance for women of color looking to break into—and thrive in—the space and STEM industries. 👤 Guest Bio Khristian Jones is an Interiors Engineer at United Airlines, where she manages the Boeing 737 fleet. She holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University and began her career in the space industry through the Brooke Owens Fellowship, completing an internship at The Spaceship Company before going on to work as a Material Test Engineer at Virgin Galactic. Throughout her journey, Khristian has committed to inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals. During her time at Wichita State, she worked with the SEEDS (Science Engineering Educational Development for Students) program, where she found her passion for diversity advocacy in STEM. Khristian continues to champion justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion across the aerospace industry. As a co-founder and executive member of the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship, she works to provide meaningful career pathways in aerospace for students from historically excluded backgrounds. Her work ensures that young people—especially those who rarely see themselves represented in STEM—know that space is for them, too. 🔗 Guest Links * LinkedIn: Khristian Jones [https://www.linkedin.com/in/khristiantjones] * PGS Fellowship: https://www.pgsfellowship.org/ [https://www.pgsfellowship.org/]