How a U.S. Soldier Became A Flight Attendant with Keturah Johnson from the Association of Flight Attendants

In this special Veterans Day episode, we sit down with the incomparable Keturah Johnson—combat veteran, flight attendant, and International Vice President of AFA-CWA. As the first queer woman of color and veteran elected to serve in this powerful union role, Keturah shares her extraordinary journey from the tarmac to the battlefield to the picket lines. She opens up about her military service during “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” her fierce advocacy for trans rights, and the fight for visibility and equity in aviation.This conversation is full of heart, truth, and power. We dive into what it means to wear the uniform—both in the military and in the skies—as a queer person of color, and how union activism is helping change the future of the flight attendant profession. Keturah brings receipts, realness, and the kind of candid insight that will leave you inspired (and maybe a little fired up). You don't want to miss this one.Watch this episode on YouTube!Episode Highlights:[0:21] Introducing Keturah Johnson and why she’s the perfect Veterans Day guest [1:20] That time Keturah met Joe Biden at the airport—aviators and all [2:42] From catering planes to the National Guard—Keturah’s journey into the military [5:00] Deployed to Afghanistan: surviving combat under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” [7:04] “Don’t clap for veterans—vote for them.” Keturah gets real about systemic neglect [10:57] Growing up in Kenya and how that shaped her global worldview [13:20] Losing her locks in the military and reclaiming identity through union activism [21:57] Fighting for uniform choice and pushing back from day one [24:22] Union leadership 101—stepping into power and demanding representation [27:44] Why diverse leadership matters and the power of being unapologetically visible [30:50] The importance of visibility through pins, pronouns, and showing up [32:47] Becoming the first queer woman of color elected to high AFA office [35:06] Dealing with respect and disrespect—how Keturah keeps going [38:24] Speaking up at work: real advice for taking action and using your voice [41:07] Building union power and the HRE committee’s biggest wins [44:43] Advice to new flight attendants: wear your pin and speak up [45:15] Keturah’s go-off moment—protect trans folks, respect veterans, and support women’s sports [46:29] Cross-Checked lightning round—window or aisle, Philly pride, and G Flip shoutouts!Text us or leave us a voicemail! Join us for an unforgettable Christmas Markets adventure through Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in December 2026! Experience festive markets, charming medieval cities, holiday treats, and the magic of three countries in one incredible trip...View the Itinerary + Book Your Spot✈Join our official community for exclusive merch, early access, behind-the-scenes footage, and more! As independent podcasters, we rely on audience support to keep our show going. We couldn't do it without you!Join the Galley Gang on Patreon✈Have a funny, wild, or heartwarming travel story from a flight that you’re dying to share with us? Submit your story at the link below and we could feature your story on an upcoming episode of the show!Submit Your 'Galley Gossip' Story✈This episode was brought to you by StaffTraveler, the #1 non-rev app! If you travel on standby and are looking to make your journey easy and stress-free, check out StaffTraveler for free in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.Download StaffTraveler