Many Ways to Fly with Melissa Lowe - Skydiver, Yogi, Author
Sylvia is joined by Melissa Lowe to discuss being a pioneer in the sport of skydiving. She shares openly the way she integrates her entrepreneurship, skydiving, yoga and family with her history, personal struggles, lessons on what has worked and a unique perspective on role models, mentors and confronting angst and fear. They talk about comradery and loss in a tight-knit community, and much more. Melissa holds 23 skydiving world records and is a licensed pilot, yoga instructor, author, and mom.
Also a writer, The Sugar Alpha Chronicles are a series of books based on the life of the late skydiving pioneer and Melissa’s father, Roger Nelson's life as a drug smuggler, iconic figure in the sport of skydiving, family man, and eventually a convicted felon. He wrote these books while serving his 5 year prison sentence and smuggled them out of prison where after his death, Melissa was able to finish the project and get them published. A decade’s worth of research and finding out truths of her past as a drug smuggler's daughter this series brought the memoirs into fruition.
Topics Include
Growing up in a skydiving community drop zone
Being a drug smuggler's daughter
Breaking away from family mold
Getting sober and resetting identity
Influences from learning and practicing yoga
Stability and instability as a young adult
The experience of flying with your body
Processing loss
Wingsuit flying, Freestyle, Freefly and competition
The Highlight Pro Skydiving - the all-female demonstration jump team
Mission and media
World records, attempts and other successes
Entrepreneurship and leadership
Books Mentioned
Eat Wheat: A Scientific and Clinically-Proven Approach to Safely Bringing Wheat and Dairy Back Into Your Diet by John Douillard
Originally written by Roger, the series were not published until years after his death when Melissa picked up the dusty manuscript and turned them into books.
Melissa had to fill in some gaps through interviews of people involved in Roger’s life to finish up this true story of Roger’s adventures.
Sugar Alpha: The Life and Times of Señor Huevos Grandes by Melissa Lowe
Charlie Bravo: Descent into Darkness and Danger by Melissa Lowe
Connect with Melissa
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