Nicole Stott has spent her life exploring. 

A former NASA astronaut, aerospace engineer, artist, author and OMEGA ambassador, Nicole has completed two spaceflights, a spacewalk, spent 104 days living aboard the International Space Station and even trained by living underwater for nearly three weeks in NASA's Aquarius habitat. 

But Nicole's journey into space began much closer to Earth. 

After losing her father in a small plane crash as a child, she became fascinated by flying, engineering and understanding how things work. That curiosity eventually led her to NASA, where she spent more than a decade working as an engineer before being selected as an astronaut. 

In this episode, Helen Smith sits down with Nicole for a conversation about curiosity, resilience, creativity, teamwork and the perspective-shifting experience of seeing Earth from space. 

Nicole reflects on the moment she first looked out the window of the International Space Station, why astronauts train underwater, the psychological realities of living in extreme environments, and how viewing Earth from orbit changed the way she thinks about humanity. 

She also shares why she believes creativity and science belong together, how she became the first person to create a watercolor painting in space, and why that experience eventually inspired her to launch the Space for Art Foundation, helping children in hospitals, refugee centres and vulnerable communities use art as a tool for connection and hope.  

At its heart, this is a conversation about perspective and the belief that we're all connected by the same thin blue line of atmosphere surrounding our planet. 

This episode covers: 
Nicole's childhood and early fascination with flying 
The impact of losing her father in a plane crash 
Following a path from engineering to NASA 
Becoming an astronaut after working behind the scenes at NASA 
Living underwater as preparation for spaceflight 
Teamwork and leadership in extreme environments 
The "Here's How We Can" mindset 
Life aboard the International Space Station 
What it feels like to see Earth from space for the first time 
Why astronauts become obsessed with watching Earth from the window 
Experiencing 16 sunrises and sunsets every day 
Painting the first watercolor in space 
Why creativity and science belong together 
The role of art in wellbeing and human connection 
Founding the Space for Art Foundation 
Working with children in hospitals, refugee centres and vulnerable communities 
The importance of curiosity throughout life 
The future of commercial space exploration and returning to the Moon, plus the journey to Mars 
Why Nicole believes we're all crewmates on a planetary spaceship 

Check out the Space For Art Foundation here 

Learn more about OMEGA's Space Legacy here 

Stay up to date with Marie Claire Australia on Instagram @marieclaireau 

🎧 Listen to You're Gonna Want to Hear This and follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify   

👀 Watch and subscribe to You're Gonna Want to Hear This on YouTube 📺 for full episodes and clips. https://www.youtube.com/marieclaire 

Credits: 

Host Marie Claire Editor Georgie McCourt and Helen Smith

Supervising Producer Helen Smith 

Edited By Helen Smith 

Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain 

With thanks to our amazing team at Marie Claire   

You're Gonna Want to Hear This is a production of Marie Claire and Are Media https://www.marieclaire.com.au/life/youre-gonna-want-to-hear-this-podcast/

Nicole Stott has spent her life exploring.&nbsp;
A former NASA astronaut, aerospace engineer, artist, author and <a href="https://www.omegawatches.com/en-au/world-of-omega/exploration/our-space-legacy">OMEGA ambassador</a>, Nicole has completed two spaceflights, a spacewalk, spent 104 days living aboard the International Space Station and even trained by living underwater for nearly three weeks in NASA's Aquarius habitat.&nbsp;
But Nicole's journey into space began much closer to Earth.&nbsp;
After losing her father in a small plane crash as a child, she became fascinated by flying, engineering and understanding how things work. That curiosity eventually led her to NASA, where she spent more than a decade working as an engineer before being selected as an astronaut.&nbsp;
In this episode, Helen Smith sits down with Nicole for a conversation about curiosity, resilience, creativity, teamwork and the perspective-shifting experience of seeing Earth from space.&nbsp;
Nicole reflects on the moment she first looked out the window of the International Space Station, why astronauts train underwater, the psychological realities of living in extreme environments, and how viewing Earth from orbit changed the way she thinks about humanity.&nbsp;
She also shares why she believes creativity and science belong together, how she became the first person to create a watercolor painting in space, and why that experience eventually inspired her to launch the <a href="https://www.spaceforartfoundation.org/">Space for Art Foundation</a>, helping children in hospitals, refugee centres and vulnerable communities use art as a tool for connection and hope.&nbsp;&nbsp;
At its heart, this is a conversation about perspective and the belief that we're all connected by the same thin blue line of atmosphere surrounding our planet.&nbsp;
This episode covers:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Nicole's childhood and early fascination with flying&nbsp;</li>
<li>The impact of losing her father in a plane crash&nbsp;</li>
<li>Following a path from engineering to NASA&nbsp;</li>
<li>Becoming an astronaut after working behind the scenes at NASA&nbsp;</li>
<li>Living underwater as preparation for spaceflight&nbsp;</li>
<li>Teamwork and leadership in extreme environments&nbsp;</li>
<li>The "Here's How We Can" mindset&nbsp;</li>
<li>Life aboard the International Space Station&nbsp;</li>
<li>What it feels like to see Earth from space for the first time&nbsp;</li>
<li>Why astronauts become obsessed with watching Earth from the window&nbsp;</li>
<li>Experiencing 16 sunrises and sunsets every day&nbsp;</li>
<li>Painting the first watercolor in space&nbsp;</li>
<li>Why creativity and science belong together&nbsp;</li>
<li>The role of art in wellbeing and human connection&nbsp;</li>
<li>Founding the Space for Art Foundation&nbsp;</li>
<li>Working with children in hospitals, refugee centres and vulnerable communities&nbsp;</li>
<li>The importance of curiosity throughout life&nbsp;</li>
<li>The future of commercial space exploration and returning to the Moon, plus the journey to Mars&nbsp;</li>
<li>Why Nicole believes we're all crewmates on a planetary spaceship&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Check out the <a href="https://www.spaceforartfoundation.org/">Space For Art Foundation here</a>&nbsp;
Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.omegawatches.com/en-au/world-of-omega/exploration/our-space-legacy">OMEGA's Space Legacy here</a>&nbsp;
Stay up to date with Marie Claire Australia on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/marieclaireau">Instagram</a>&nbsp;@marieclaireau&nbsp;
🎧 Listen to&nbsp;You're&nbsp;Gonna&nbsp;Want to Hear This and follow us on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/youre-gonna-want-to-hear-this/id1849312864">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2Vsxq2nZIMJLnywOXfuxqZ?si=bb7ec5eac4184752">Spotify</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
👀 Watch and subscribe to You're&nbsp;Gonna&nbsp;Want to Hear This on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/marieclaire">YouTube</a>&nbsp;📺 for full episodes and clips.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/marieclaire">https://www.youtube.com/marieclaire</a>&nbsp;
Credits:&nbsp;
Host Marie Claire Editor Georgie McCourt and Helen Smith
Supervising Producer Helen Smith&nbsp;
Edited By Helen Smith&nbsp;
Head of Vodcasting Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
With thanks to our amazing team at Marie Claire&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.marieclaire.com.au/life/youre-gonna-want-to-hear-this-podcast/">You're&nbsp;Gonna Want to Hear This</a>&nbsp;is a production of Marie Claire and Are Media&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marieclaire.com.au/life/youre-gonna-want-to-hear-this-podcast/">https://www.marieclaire.com.au/life/youre-gonna-want-to-hear-this-podcast/</a>

Who’s on your celebrity fantasy dinner party list? Marie Claire have got access to the biggest celebrities and fascinating favourite people you love.  With unique pairings, the type of conversations where fun and frankness is always in style. Trust us…you’re gonna want to hear this! 

Who&rsquo;s on your celebrity fantasy dinner party list? Marie Claire have got access to the biggest celebrities and fascinating favourite people you love. &nbsp;With unique pairings, the type of conversations where fun and frankness is always in style. Trust us&hellip;you&rsquo;re gonna want to hear this!&nbsp;

You’re Gonna Want To Hear This

Former NASA astronaut Nicole Stott shares the lessons she learnt from spending 104 days in space, living underwater, painting in orbit and viewing Earth from above. She talks about curiosity, grief, teamwork, creativity, her partnership with OMEGA, the future of space exploration, and why she believes we're all crewmates on a shared planetary spaceship.

Nicole Stott Spent 104 Days in Space. But Never Planned to be an Astronaut

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/0f4532c8-3dd9-4a7d-9287-b4ec00062e59/transcript