STEM, Speaking Up, and Redefining Motherhood: Emily Calandrelli (The Space Gal) on Breaking Barriers and Raising Science-Loving Kids

The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

Dr. Mona Amin

Medicine, Kids & Family, Health & Fitness, Parenting

4.9 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 3 December 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What does it look like to raise kids who believe they belong in science, who feel confident speaking up, and who see women as leaders in fields that have long pushed them out? I first came across Emily Calandrelli’s work years ago on social media, and her mix of joy, honesty, and curiosity pulled me in immediately. Her voice reminded me that advocacy doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful and that our kids are always watching how we chase our own dreams. She is now one of my favorite examples of what it means to model confidence and curiosity for the next generation. On today’s episode, Emily and I talk about finding her way in a male-dominated STEM world, what she learned from losing her Netflix show, and how creating her own YouTube series changed everything. She also shares the story behind her viral TSA moment, how it sparked federal legislation, and what it meant to finally launch into space after dreaming about it for two decades. We discuss: ✔️ How representation in STEM shapes kids’ beliefs about what’s possible ✔️ Why speaking up matters, even when it’s uncomfortable ✔️ The pressure mothers face when they pursue big goals ✔️ What her spaceflight taught her about wonder and perspective ✔️ How parents can spark scientific thinking and curiosity at home To connect with Emily Calandrelli follow her on Instagram @thespacegal and check out all her resources at https://www.thespacegal.com/ 00:00 Intro 00:51 Welcome + How Emily Sparked TSA Policy Change 01:50 Raising Confident Science-Loving Kids 03:22 Emily’s Path From MIT to TV 05:03 Breaking Into Science Media as a Woman 06:25 Losing a Netflix Show and Starting Over 09:30 Building Emily’s Science Lab on YouTube 11:22 Redefining Success Beyond Algorithms 14:44 Motherhood, Identity, and Letting Go of Guilt 18:36 The Spaceflight Story She Worked 20 Years For 22:31 How She Funded Her Own Ticket to Space 24:11 What Seeing Earth From Space Feels Like 25:00 The Gendered Backlash After Her Spaceflight 31:01 The TSA Incident That Went Viral 32:31 Turning Viral Attention Into Real Legislation 38:12 STEM Representation for Kids Today 43:13 How Parents Can Model Curiosity at Home 46:47 Why Meeting Girls in STEM Fuels Her Work 49:21 Closing Thoughts + Where to Find Emily Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	women I've noticed when they achieve what is in their lives, like the pinnacle of success,
0:07.1	the dream that they've always dreamed. I've noticed in many different industries,
0:11.8	it can never just be like a parade after the Super Bowl where people are happy for them.
0:17.9	There always has to be some sort of discussion around like whether they they deserve it,
0:23.8	whether or not they were annoying when they achieved it. Or not they like, you know, there's always some
0:30.0	sort of evaluation of it. And so there's no freedom to be excited. There's always the obligation to be strong, even in this
0:41.6	moment of success, which I find really frustrating and annoying. Welcome to the Pete's Doc Talk
0:53.4	podcast. It's Dr. Mona here. and today's episode is one I've been
0:56.6	excited to share for quite some time. Not many people can say they turned a personal problem or
1:02.0	situation into national legislation. But aerospace engineer, women in STEM advocate, and mom
1:07.8	Emily Calendrelli did just that. You probably know her as at the space gal.
1:12.9	Three and a half years ago, she was hassled by TSA for traveling with a breast pump without her baby.
1:17.5	Instead of letting it slide, she spoke up. Her experience helped spark the Babes Act update, led by
1:22.7	Senator Tammy Duckworth, which now requires TSA to follow clear rules when screening breast milk
1:27.7	formula and pumping gear, and to keep the guidance current so parents aren't put at risk
1:32.4	or hassled at airports. The Chamber of Mothers supported the effort as an advocacy partner,
1:37.9	and at the time of recording this introduction, the bill has passed the Senate and the House
1:42.4	and is headed to the president's desk for signature,
1:44.7	and I hope it's signed into law by the time this episode airs. But this episode is about so much more
1:49.8	than that moment. What does it look like to raise kids who believe they belong in STEM, science,
1:55.0	technology, engineering, and math, who feel confident speaking up, and who see women as leaders
2:00.4	and feels that have pushed them out for so long.
	...

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