She couldn’t afford to fly for nearly two years. Today, she commands an airliner.

Captain Mariah Graham joins KT on Straighten Up and Fly Right to share how she fought through financial setbacks, confronted self-doubt, and built the community that helped her reach the captain’s seat.

Hear how asking for help unlocked $10,000 for her training, why one thunderstorm changed her judgment in the cockpit, and how she stopped letting past struggles define her future.

CHAPTERS
00:00 A dream bigger than self-doubt
00:30 Meet Captain Mariah Graham
04:08 Discovering a path to the cockpit at 12
07:09 Why she chose Embry-Riddle
08:34 Facing independence, training struggles, and bias
12:52 Advocate for yourself and find your people
18:55 Keep the faith—and do the work
20:52 Knowing when to move on
22:11 Teaching pilots in Washington, D.C.’s restricted airspace
25:33 Trying to beat a thunderstorm: a lesson that stuck
31:17 When a student flares at 100 feet
35:24 What helps flight students succeed?
37:57 Why students quit—and how money shapes the decision
42:56 From flight instructor to her first airline job
44:36 Refusing to let past struggles define her
48:12 Stepping into the captain’s seat
51:20 Find a mentor. Be a mentor.
53:13 Growing as a captain and helping others improve
55:16 KT on enjoying the career he worked to build
57:18 Stay grounded in faith and community

Which part of Mariah’s journey hits home for you? Tell us in the comments.

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Straighten Up and Fly Right
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