Xyla Foxlin started flying as a teenager. By her twenties, she was piloting her own plane and building another from scratch. But when a private health crisis went public, she wound up in a battle with the FAA that could ground her for good.
Today we're bringing you this fantastic story from the podcast The Longest Shortest Time with Hillary Frank, which you should go subscribe to. And please check out Hillary's original audiobook, Wedlocked, a feminist thriller that I think you'll like. It comes out on October 20, but you can pre-order it here and you're in for a treat!
A heads up: this episode contains a reference to suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 in the U.S. or Canada.
Hillary Frank is the creator and host of The Longest Shortest Time, a podcast that tells surprising stories about parenthood and women’s health, named one of TIME's 100 Best Podcasts of All Time. She also created Here Lies Me, a critically acclaimed fiction podcast about middle school featuring Michael Chernus, June Diane Raphael, Rob Huebel, and W. Kamau Bell. Hillary got her start in public radio, filing stories for This American Life, All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Marketplace, and Studio 360, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Vox, and CNN.com. She is also the author and illustrator of three young adult novels and Weird Parenting Wins, a collection of essays and unusual yet effective parenting hacks. You can follow Hillary and the podcast on Instagram. Her latest novel, Wedlocked, a feminist thriller, comes out on October 20 and you can pre-order it here.
Xyla Foxlin is a mechatronics engineer, pilot, and creator whose work at the intersection of engineering and storytelling has reshaped how technical subjects reach mass audiences. With a BSE from Case Western Reserve University, her YouTube channel spans high-power rockets, custom camper builds, composite fabrication, math and physics explanations, boatbuilding, and the full-scale construction of an experimental aircraft of which she will be the test pilot. Foxlin has also emerged as a national voice for pilot mental health. After losing her FAA medical for seeking therapy, she led a campaign challenging regulations that deter aviators from seeking medical care. Following the release of her video "The FAA is in Crisis”, over 3,300 messages to 442 legislators were delivered. The Mental Health in Aviation Act was introduced in the House in April 2025, and was introduced into the Senate in November 2025.
Big thanks to Hillary for letting us feature this great story. You can find many more episodes of The Longest Shortest Time wherever you get your podcasts, or become a member of The Longest Shortest Time Club, for community, ad-free listening, and access to another podcast in the Longest Shortest universe, called You Know What.
We're back next week with the first episode of our series called The Way Back, which we can't wait to share with you.
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