About this episode

Sylvia Jeffreys interviews astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg about her journey and insights on achieving extraordinary goals.

What does it take to dedicate decades of your life to a dream that feels out of reach? In this episode of The Pay Off, Sylvia Jeffreys sits down with 2026 Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australia’s first qualified astronaut, to explore what it really takes to pursue an extraordinary goal. From stargazing in her Sydney backyard to completing one of the world’s most demanding astronaut training programs, Katherine shares the mindset, resilience and curiosity that have shaped her remarkable career. She reveals what astronaut training is actually like, why humanity’s return to the Moon matters, and how space research is already improving life here on Earth. The conversation also explores Australia’s growing role in the global space industry, the country’s STEM skills challenge, and why Katherine believes inspiring the next generation—especially girls—to dream bigger has become one of her most important missions. She also shares an exclusive first look at Mission Sprouts, a new initiative bringing space-flown seeds into Australian classrooms. Whether you’re fascinated by space, navigating your own ambitious career goals…

People in this episode

Host: Sylvia Jeffreys

Guest: Katherine Bennell-Pegg

Topics covered

• astronaut training
• space exploration
• STEM education
• career goals
• resilience
• inspiration

Keywords

• astronaut
• space
• Australia
• career
• training
• inspiration
• STEM
• Moon
• education

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mission Sprouts

Places: Australia, Sydney

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