Caroline Paul

Caroline Paul

Listen to the Episode

Show notes

Caroline Paul—former San Francisco firefighter, lifelong adventurer, and pilot—joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about her new book, Why Fly (launching February 24). We talk gyrocopters, paragliding, trikes, the “rat-tat-tat” rhythm of humor and terror in pilot stories, and the way aviation can become both refuge and mirror when relationships shift and life asks us to find our footing again.

In This Episode:

Why the title is Why Fly

Caroline’s flight path: Cessna training → paragliding → weight-shift trike → gyrocopter

What a gyrocopter is, how it flies, and why it stole her heart

“Pilot error” as a framework for accountability, learning, and humility

The wonder of flight: scale, perspective, and the quiet, tearful moments that catch you by surprise

Why girls are often trained to be cautious—and how bravery can be taught

Tower communication vs. relationship communication

Featured Book: Why Fly — Caroline Paul

Caroline’s Other Titles:

Fighting Fire (memoir)

The Gutsy Girl

You Are Mighty

Tough Broad

Lost Cat

East Wind Rain

About Caroline Paul

Caroline Paul is a former San Francisco firefighter, author of eight books, and a lifelong pilot and outdoor adventurer. Her writing explores bravery, wonder, risk, and what we learn when we choose to step outside our comfort zones.