In this high-flying episode of Very Caliente, Pablo and Jennie sit down with Jacqueline Ruiz — author of 38 books, speaker, nonprofit founder, and Latina pilot known as Pilotina. Twice a cancer survivor before 24, Jacqueline turned her brush with mortality into rocket fuel for a life of service and legacy. From learning to fly at 31 to documenting 120 Latina aviation stories for permanent museum exhibits, this episode is a masterclass in faith, urgency, and what it really means to manifest your dreams.
Podcast Title:
Very Caliente
Hosts:
Pablo Alsina & Jennie López
Episode Title:
E017 - Soaring Beyond Limits - Books, Aviation & Legacy with Jacqueline Ruiz
Summary:
In this high-flying episode of Very Caliente, Pablo and Jennie sit down with Jacqueline Ruiz — author of 38 books, speaker, nonprofit founder, and Latina pilot known as Pilotina. Twice a cancer survivor before 24, Jacqueline turned her brush with mortality into rocket fuel for a life of service and legacy. From learning to fly at 31 to documenting 120 Latina aviation stories for permanent museum exhibits, this episode is a masterclass in faith, urgency, and what it really means to manifest your dreams.
Main Topics:
Intriguing Quotes:
"I want to be closer to the skies because if I have a prayer, it'll get there quicker." – Jacqueline Ruiz
"You went from being strapped to a plane to being the pilot in command. Those wings were my wings." – Jacqueline Ruiz
"One single idea can change the paradigm." – Jacqueline Ruiz
"Gratitude is the greatest force to achieve every single one of your dreams." – Jacqueline Ruiz
"It takes the same energy to dream small as to dream big — so dream big and do the work." – Jacqueline Ruiz
"There's power in what we say and what we believe." – Pablo Alsina
Key Moments:
[00:00:45] – Jennie introduces Jacqueline Ruiz: author, speaker, pilot, and publisher
[00:01:28] – How "Pilotina" was born — combining pilot and Latina identity
[00:01:48] – Two cancer diagnoses before 24 and the urgency that changed everything
[00:03:00] – Taking her first discovery flight at 31 and going from terrified to pilot in command
[00:03:53] – Why Latina representation in aviation matters more than ever
[00:04:30] – One idea, 120 stories: creating the only Latina aviation collection in history
[00:04:53] – Two permanent museum exhibits for Latina aviators — a first in 100+ years
[00:06:13] – The raw numbers: less than 1% of pilots are Latina
[00:07:30] – The planes she's flown: Remos, Cessnas, Piper Arrows and more
[00:09:09] – Jennie asks about the cancer journey that launched it all
[00:10:00] – Waking up from surgery with a tube in her liver — and thinking about finals
[00:12:13] – 38 books, a nonprofit, millions in impact — all fueled by a sense of urgency
[00:13:04] – Pablo on the power of positivity vs. just happiness
[00:15:44] – Renewing her contract with God daily through acts of kindness
[00:16:30] – Jennie reveals Jacqueline is her book publisher
[00:17:06] – Defining success as the intersection of profit and impact
[00:18:03] – Her nonprofit: mentoring 12–25-year-old Latinas across five countries
[00:19:14] – Pablo on manifesting + work: you can't just wish on a star
[00:19:53] – Passing her sommelier Level 1 exam — and learning English from shampoo bottles
[00:21:48] – Jennie's closing call to action: rewatch this one and take notes
[00:22:11] – Find Jacqueline at @PilotinaOfficial on Instagram
Notable Guests/Resources:
Jacqueline Ruiz — Author of 38 books, international speaker, nonprofit founder, and Latina pilot
📸 Instagram: @PilotinaOfficial
✈️ Creator of the only Latina aviation story collection in history (120 stories)
🏛️ Permanent exhibits at museums in Maryland and Kansas
📚 Publisher and founder of Fig Factor Media
🌎 Nonprofit mentoring Latina youth in Belize, Panama, Medellín, Mexico, Colombia & the U.S.
🏆 Grant recipient from the Obama Foundation
Special Announcements:
✈️ Follow @PilotinaOfficial to catch Jacqueline's adventures in the air and around the world.
📚 Dreaming of writing your own book? Reach out to Jacqueline's publishing company.