meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
What'sHerName

THE FLY GIRL Ruth Nichols

What'sHerName

Dr. Katie Nelson and Olivia Meikle

Society & Culture, Documentary, History

4.8538 Ratings

🗓️ 14 January 2019

⏱️ 41 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Ruth Rowland Nichols was a pioneer of early aviation, the only woman yet to hold simultaneous world records for speed, altitude, and distance, the first woman to attempt a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean, the founder of the Relief Wings branch of the Civil Air Patrol and one of the most famous pilots of the 1930’s (even more famous than her friend and rival Amelia Earhart). Her courage and daring made her a national icon, but she is barely remembered now by the country that once praised her as its most famous “fly girl.” A full transcript of this episode is available here. Thanks to Highbridge Audio for generously allowing us to use excerpts from the Fly Girls audiobook, read by Erin Bennett. Our guest, New York Times Bestselling author Keith O’Brien, is a former reporter for the Boston Globe and a frequent contributor to National Public Radio. His work has appeared on shows such as All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and This American Life. He has also written for the New York Times Magazine, Politico, and Slate, and is the author of Outside Shot: Big Dreams, Hard Times, and One County’s Quest for Basketball Greatness. He lives in New Hampshire. Music for this episode was generously provided by Amanda Setlik Wilson, Jeremy Dittus, Jeff Cuno, The Melody Weavers, and the New Hot 5. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Now, are all the traitors present?

0:02.5

Let's get started, shall we?

0:04.5

From rags to riches.

0:05.8

I'm so sick of this.

0:07.0

Working like a dog and being treated worse.

0:09.1

Yorkshire to New York.

0:10.7

Or climbers, you and me.

0:12.4

A life dedicated to revenge.

0:14.4

Let's make this an occasion to remember.

0:16.9

A woman of substance on Channel 4.

0:19.1

Stream now.

0:19.8

This episode is sponsored by Girls Cancrate.

0:22.7

Girls Cancrate is a unique subscription box,

0:25.1

inspiring girls to believe that they can be and do anything.

0:28.6

How do they do it?

0:30.0

Like us, Girls Cancrate believes that real women make the best heroes.

0:34.0

And every month, they deliver them to your doorstep.

0:45.3

Music heroes. And every month they deliver them to your doorstep. Happy New Year, Katie. Happy New Year. I've had a very lovely break. Me too. It's been very

0:53.1

relaxing. Today I'm going to tell you about an amazing woman.

0:59.6

She was the very first woman to attempt a transatlantic flight. She was the only woman to hold

1:08.5

simultaneous world records for speed, altitude, and distance. Cool. She was the only woman to hold simultaneous world records for speed, altitude, and distance.

1:12.6

Cool.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Dr. Katie Nelson and Olivia Meikle, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Dr. Katie Nelson and Olivia Meikle and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.