with Kelly Girardi
Mel Robbins interviews astronaut and bioastronautics researcher Kelly Girardi about how she went from a coat check job at the Explorers Club to flying a science mission to space. Kelly explains her mindset around expanding what you believe is possible, intentionally designing your reputation, and balancing motherhood with a demanding and unconventional career. She also shares, in detail, her ongoing IVF journey, recurrent pregnancy loss, and why she chooses to be transparent about her struggles in real time to reduce stigma and help others feel less alone.
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Actionable insights and wisdom you can apply to your business, career, and personal life.
You can intentionally design your reputation by choosing the qualities you want to be known for and consistently behaving in ways that make those adjectives true, no matter how small or unglamorous your current role is.
Reflection Questions:
Sustaining motivation over long periods of time is more important than figuring everything out quickly; when you hit a brick wall, you should change your approach rather than abandoning your goal.
Reflection Questions:
Sharing your struggles with people who genuinely care about you does not make you a burden; it creates opportunities for connection, support, and relief from carrying everything alone.
Reflection Questions:
Your mindset about what is possible-captured in the quiet confidence of "why not me?"-can expand your opportunities, especially when it's grounded in humility and a willingness to work hard over time.
Reflection Questions:
People will judge you whether you play small or play big, so it is more rational to live in alignment with your values and aspirations than to contort yourself trying to avoid criticism.
Reflection Questions:
There is no age or stage at which you lose the ability to reinvent yourself; paying attention to what drains you versus what energizes you can help you chart a new direction.
Reflection Questions:
Episode Summary - Notes by Kendall