The Flip Side: Creativity Inverted
Join Kassi Kincaid for the Season 3 premiere of The Edge of Creativity Podcast with Michelle “Mace” Curran—former U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilot, combat veteran, and author of The Flip Side. Mace shares her journey from small-town beginnings to flying F-16s at supersonic speed, and how fear, failure, and vulnerability became the keys to resilience and creativity. From the cockpit to the stage, this episode is a masterclass in flipping perspective, leading with courage, and unlocking creativity under pressure.
The Flip Side: Creativity Inverted
What does creativity look like at 9 Gs, when one wrong move could end in disaster? In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Michelle “Mace” Curran—former U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilot, combat veteran, and author of The Flip Side—to explore how fear, vulnerability, and resilience can actually fuel creativity and leadership.
Mace shares how a small-town girl with zero flight experience became one of the world’s most elite fighter pilots—and how moments of failure, imposter syndrome, and doubt became turning points in her journey. From accidentally going supersonic as a rookie to flying inverted across stadiums of a million spectators, her story is a masterclass in perspective-shifting, courage, and unlocking creativity under pressure.
Whether you’re leading a team, chasing your next big idea, or navigating self-doubt, this conversation is a reminder: the most powerful breakthroughs often come when you don’t feel ready—but step forward anyway.
Episode Highlights:
(1:00) From small-town beginnings to the F-16 cockpit
(6:30) How she earned her call sign “Mace”
(13:15) Battling imposter syndrome in high-stakes environments
(19:40) The surprising role of vulnerability in leadership
(26:30) Why “flipping your perspective” changes everything
(34:00) Creativity beyond the arts—how adaptability = innovation
(38:50) A fighter pilot’s advice for anyone facing fear or self-doubt
This conversation with Mace is packed with insight, candor, and creative lessons for anyone ready to reimagine what’s possible.
Connect with Michelle “Mace” Curran & Order Her Book:
Website: https://www.macecurran.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macecurran/
Instagram: @mae_curran
Don't forget to share your takeaways! DM me on Instagram (@kassi_kincaid) with your biggest takeaway from the episode!
Be sure to subscribe here, so you don’t miss any of our upcoming episodes!
