Press Play with Madeleine Brand
What it was like being the only Black man to be a professional hot air balloon pilot
Hot air ballooning is a sport — there are races and festivals dedicated to it. The competition has remained mostly white in its 200-plus year history. However, Bill Costen is the world’s first African American hot air balloon master pilot.
By Madeleine Brand • • 10m ListenHot air ballooning is a sport — there are races and festivals dedicated to it. The competition has remained mostly white in its 200-plus year history. However, Bill Costen is the world’s first African American hot air balloon master pilot. His career and life are the subject of a new documentary directed by his daughter Chantal Potter. The film is called “Balloon Man.”
Bill and Lynda Costen pose in the basket with their 1-year old son Jarrell. Photo courtesy of “Balloon Man” film.
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UC Davis and Long Beach ramp up COVID protection for residents- 0:00Gov. Newsom and Biden administration to open some of the first federal vaccine sites in LA and Oakland
- 8:58Long Beach mayor on rapidly vaccinating residents, from health care workers to teachers and food workers
- 20:46Inside the UC Davis COVID bubble, where testing and support is free
- 29:55Many universities are dropping SAT and ACT scores requirement during pandemic — or permanently
- 40:21What it was like being the only Black man to be a professional hot air balloon pilotYou’re reading this
The full episode
5 of 5UC Davis and Long Beach ramp up COVID protection for residents- 0:00Gov. Newsom and Biden administration to open some of the first federal vaccine sites in LA and Oakland
- 8:58Long Beach mayor on rapidly vaccinating residents, from health care workers to teachers and food workers
- 20:46Inside the UC Davis COVID bubble, where testing and support is free
- 29:55Many universities are dropping SAT and ACT scores requirement during pandemic — or permanently
- 40:21What it was like being the only Black man to be a professional hot air balloon pilotYou’re reading this