Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast

Shelly Price

Shelly’s air disaster obsession started at a young age with the Challenger explosion, and since then she has followed air disaster stories with a fervor. After conquering her own fear of flying, Shelly now loves to travel around the world – especially on airplanes!

When she’s not podcasting with her cohost and spirit animal, Stephanie, Shelly loves to binge true crime podcasts, kickbox in an old barn, and hang with her family in a far, far away place called West Virginia (and, yes, that is a separate state).



Why a plane crash podcast?

I love intense stories, but I need to know why they matter. Our podcast gives us a chance to both tell a great story AND talk about why this terrible thing that's happened has changed the world in some way. We are all about finding the humanity in every disaster.

What is your dream vacation?

A year-long vacation around the world.

What is your favorite podcast?

Up and Vanished - anything that Payne Lindsey and Donald Albright do!

What are your top 3 hobbies?

Traveling, practicing martial arts, and doing yoga

Favorite holiday?

Christmas. I am the kind of person who puts up decorations right after Thanksgiving and leaves them up through the first part of January!

Favorite souvenir?

A large, blue centerpiece bowl my husband got me from Morocco.

Best travel memory?

Befriending the bartender of the only (at the time) wine bar in Dubrovnik, Croatia. We sat around drinking great wine and singing 90s grunge hits with him as he strummed away on the guitar. Amazing!

What would surprise people about you?

I once was afraid of flying.

How do you pick the stories you share on the podcast?

We choose stories that have either a compelling story from the POV of a person impacted or from the POV of its legacy and what we can all learn from it. I also love choosing stories where I can try and put myself in the shoes of the people a tragedy has impacted the most.

What is the best part of having a podcast?

The listeners- hands down. And whenever we hear from a listener. We love your stories just as much as the ones we tell!

Stephanie Hubka

Stephanie created a minor air disaster on a cross-country flight when her two-year-old fist latched onto a woman’s hair and pulled on it until she screamed. Although she’s (usually) better behaved now, even on long flights, her fascination with air disasters almost certainly stems from that moment.

Stephanie is a storyteller, a travel writer, and a fan of hot tea and good wine—both of which pair well with Take to the Sky. When she’s not flying around the globe for business or fun, she loves to explore the world around her home on the Virginia side of Washington, DC.


Why a plane crash podcast?

As a frequent traveler, I have always been facinated by everything that goes into the flight experience- especially when it comes to safety. I love that our podcast challenges me to learn about safety through the lens of some incredible stories while also giving us the chance to celebrate the people who make safe travel possible.

What is your dream vacation?

A cruise to the North Pole

What is your favorite podcast?

The Moth- I absolutely love storytelling, especially those that honor real-life experiences and perspectives.

What are your top 3 hobbies?

Writing, traveling, and baking

Favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving. I love the cooking, the time with family, and the pause to express gratefulness for what we have.

Favorite souvenir?

Two white tea cups given to me by a museum owner in Seoul, South Korea

Best travel memory?

Watching the sun set behind the Moai with a group of fellow travelers on Easter Island- then having a fun group dinner with fresh ceviche and local beer!

What would surprise people about you?

I always fly with a stuffed animal I got when I was 6 months old. He's been to every country I have visited!

How do you pick the stories you share on the podcast?

I'm a big fan of balancing stories that are well-known with stories many people may not know- there's a lot to learn from every disaster. And we LOVE listener recommendations!

What is the best part of having a podcast?

Building our community! We love hearing about what these stories mean to you- we read every message and story you send to us, and it means a lot to us to learn how these stories change you just like they change us.