You Are A Big Deal with Becca Jay: Recent Episodes
Becca Jay
This podcast highlights the imperfect greatness of humans who are a big deal. Episodes will include conversations with people who are doing important work in the world, choosing courage over comfort, and embracing their power. I’ve spent my entire life doing some form of movement and getting curious about how people show up. Over the years I have learned that seeing people and listening to their stories is such an empowering form of connecting. Mom, partner, advocate, personal trainer and athlete Becca Jay talks all things human with people who are leaning into life and who keep showing up.
An oracle is traditionally a person, place, or medium through which divine or wise guidance is believed to be revealed. This usually comes in the form of insight or advice.
Oracle decks and guidebooks are flexible, intuitive tools used to channel insight, guidance, and clarity, composed of illustrated cards that convey messages without adhering to a fixed structure. Each card typically features imagery and messages designed to evoke intuitive responses. The meanings are often open-ended, encouraging personal interpretation
Oracle decks are used for reflection, meditation, and connecting with inner wisdom. They help users explore emotions, clarify intentions, and receive gentle guidance. Many people use oracle cards as a journaling prompt or to check in with their emotional state. They are focused on empowerment, gently nudging toward deeper awareness and alignment with your inner truth.
I walk you through an oracle deck card draw and guidebook reading.
Take what resonates and leave the rest.
This particular reading is from the guidebook I have co-created, with art by my sister-in-law, Brenna. When it is published, you'll be able to have some fun with our deck and guidebook. More info to come! Stay tuned.
If you'd like more of these, reach out via my email: getuptraining@gmail.com or via IG @beccajay.almanutrido or through my website: almanutrido.com
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Keep showing up.
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
This episode is a small snapshot of my parenting journey in the midst of my own growing and expanding.
There is SO much more to say about this parenting experience.
Grateful for my boys for showing me some blind spots and shadows to work through.
Looking forward to their own expansion on their own journeys.
Parenting is a beautiful and challenging responsibility that I do not take lightly.
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Ellie Jay!!
Ellie does all the things and is a ball of wisdom and joy.
222 - Women Who Run with the Wolves
We chat about:
Using your body in a spiritual way and working with our body.
Collaborating with our ego and our body.
Performing as a professional dancer and teaching dance classes for littles at a studio.
She started dancing from the age of 3 or 4 and new dancing was part of her purpose in life.
The soul connection with dancing.
Connection through dancing without speaking the same language.
Connecting with the soul of the music.
Finding peace in daily life.
Having two hip surgeries that changed her perspective and helped her learn how to heal and process.
Not putting her worth and identity into her dancing.
There is nothing she can do that will add or take away value from her.
Taking more risks; releasing perfectionism.
Creating a company that could pay artists and dancers to perform and find community and joy in movement.
Event planning, theater events, pop up events.
Existing in collaboration and community.
Being embodied.
Having deep conversations.
Working hard to be where she's at.
Find Ellie on IG @ellie__jay
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Jamichael is a wise soul who is elevating the collective energy by doing the things he loves and being who he is.
We chat about:
Loving water and soaking in the water; the soothing experience of water
Octopuses
Scuba diving
The Soul of an Octopus book
Seeing the progress that comes with running
Anxiety and panic attacks have gone away since running consistently
Running helped him have a lot less worry
Gratitude that lasts
His challenge: 50 days, 1000 miles in Mount to Coast H1 shoes
@mounttocoast shoes promoting longevity in shoes, made for longer shoes
Putting care into himself: pedicures, facials, working on his body
Not worrying about what other people think; being comfortable with yourself
Lots of hobbies: crochet, art, cooking, sewing, painting, running, nutrition
Superpowers of being able to be determined and dedicated and creative; wisdom
Being present
Inspiring people
Having multiple ladders next to him helping people climb with him!
Loving run clubs and the community involved
Dreams/Limitless potential: grab a pair of shoes and fly around the world and just run, experiencing different cultures; running with people and inspiring
He wants people to know that he is not just a runner. He is also a creator!!
Dreams/Creative potential: combining his creativity and running together: an art/running festival; paintbrushes/murals drawing as you are running along a 5k distance, painting what you see in community
You can't force the people around you to be a part of your life.
Being willing to grow and change and releasing others to be on their own journey
Curiosity about why life is so short; wanting more life to live
Food as gratitude: loving burgers
*FYI: tiny bit of reception/connection blips in the beginning
Find Jamichael on IG @jamichaelsteen
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Check out Episodes 94, 95, 96, & 98 if you haven't already!
I talk about:
The journey of healing.
Looking at the shadow with compassion and without judgment.
Our healing is mutual.
I feel things intensely.
Going through, transforming and evolving.
Loving the hard parts along with the great parts.
Extending grace to myself more consistently.
Embracing feeling deeply.
I am the through; I want to be a clear, open and aligned channel.
Intuition - a whisper from your soul; a gentle nudge, a sudden clarity, a deep sense of resonance; it is remembered
Bodywork is the intentional practice of engaging with the body as a sacred vessel for healing, transformation, and energetic alignment. It encompasses a wide range of hands-on and movement-based modalities that aim to release tension, restore balance, and awaken the body's innate intelligence. I experience bodywork as a dialogue between the physical, emotional, and spiritual layers of being.
I am a channel through which these wisdoms and divinely guided energy flow. During our sessions we notice without judgment and with compassion.
Reiki – Energy is information that moves. I believe that all healing is self-healing. It originated in Japan and the Japanese word REIKI is translated as universal life-force energy. Rei translates as sacred, soul, spirit, wisdom of the universe. Ki is the life-force energy flowing through every living thing. Reiki is a healing tool and is guided by my Soul/Higher Self, working holistically affecting the physical body, mind, emotions, and spirit, harmonizing the whole. Everything is energy and all energy is interconnected. Reiki is Divinely guided and always works for the highest good. Reiki supports you being involved in your own healing and taking responsibility for your own health and well-being.
Incorporating myofascial release, acupressure, lymphatic drainage, joint range of motion, cranial therapy, always inviting Reiki
Find more info about any of this, check out my website almanutrido.com
IG @beccajay.almanutrido @youareabigdealpodcast
Support the Podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
Subscribe: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/support
For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Max was my very first episode back in October of 2022 so I thought it fitting to have him as my guest on my 100th episode!!!
PLEASE go back and listen to his unbelievable voice on Episode 1. It brings a little ache to my heart to hear his sweetness and to see how much his voice has changed and also, how it has stayed the same in some ways...
I love this kid.
What a beautiful soul.
We chat about:
River surfing
Playing LAX
Hiking 14ers
Being an entrepreneur
Fishing and other hobbies
Starting his sophomore year of high school
Check out his YouTube channel to see how he strings and dyes a LAX head, some LAX highlights, river surfing footage and some 14er commentary: https://www.youtube.com/@MaxLax21/
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
Subscribe: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/support
For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
This is my FIRST Reunion episode!
I first interviewed Nicol on Episode #54 in November 2023.
We recently reconnected and discussed how cool it would be to have people back on the podcast to see what has changed in one or two years...so here we are!!
Nicol is all about wellness and connection.
She believes in showing up and helping others do the same.
Nicol has a book that she is updating: Time to RISE Get Fit and Stay There
She has created Gratitude Journals so grab those and her book at Barnes and Noble!
We chat about:
Elevating collective growth
Her RISE sessions
Being an exercise specialist
Surrounded by good people
Connecting with people and understanding why they think the way they think
The importance of finding what makes you happy
Practicing being gentle with self
She hosts a podcast called The Risers Hub Podcast The Riser's Hub with Nicol - Podcast - Apple Podcasts; The Riser's Hub via YouTube
Find Nicol on IG @seenicrun @therisershub
https://www.therisershub.com/
nicolhodges.com
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
So much new learning!
I talk about:
The beauty of ancient wisdom that I don't believe is meant to be exclusive AND it IS meant to be respected. The sacredness of this wisdom must be acknowledged.
EMPOWERMENT TOOLS/RESOURCES
Elevating consciousness
These are not belief systems
The growth comes when we look at our shadow/not-self without shame and judgment
Accepting personal responsibility for growth
Deconditioning requires deep inner work
Befriending your shadow
Yin and Yang - Shadow and Light - We need them both
EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED AND EVERYTHING IS INFORMATION TO SUPPORT OUR GROWTH!!
Native American Astrology, Western Astrology
Indigenous wisdom of the stars
Difference between astronomy and astrology
Difference between western astrology and Native American astrology
Native American astrology: Connecting with the rhythms of nature; holistic view of the cosmos
Challenging Eurocentric perspectives and fostering more inclusive narratives
Enriching our shared understanding of the universe
Hopi people and their unique understanding of the stars
The Hopi zodiac - based on the position of the stars in the sky at the time of the winter solstice
Western zodiac - based on the position of the sun in relation to the Earth at the time of your birth
Everything in the universe is inter-connected
Check out the book: You Are The Medicine by Asha Frost
Connect with me: almanutrido.com and on IG @youareabigdealpodcast & @beccajay.almanutrido
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
Subscribe: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/support
For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
It's as if we have known each other for years and just caught up where we left off.
That's how it felt the first time I met Meg.
And even in this podcast, we agree that it was like friends catching up.
I LOVE it when that happens!
Meg is a middle school teacher, a high school xc and track coach, a partner, a friend, an encourager, an impactor, a volunteer-who-drives-uhauls-and-goes-up-rocky-dirt-roads-and-is-ubiquitous-at-races, a bright yellow light, an ultrarunner and a world record holder.
We chat about:
A beautiful picture from a kiddo she taught her first year.
Going into coaching to be able to provide something she didn't have.
Creating a positive environment for kids to learn about a healthy lifestyle.
Superpowers.
Breaking everything into smaller steps.
Hopi Distance Project.
The importance of strength training.
Some of the toughest races are the best lessons.
Flexible view on failure: what can you take from the "failures".
Connected and teeny tiny.
Meg volunteers everywhere all the time!! She is the ubiquitous volunteer. Not only does she do these incredible races, but she shows up in a different way as a support for others.
Community and showing up for each other through volunteering and giving back.
You can only be where you are at.
Yes, Meg wins and podiums at long, hard races. She is a world record holding ultrarunner. What stands out to me about her, though, is how she shows up in the world beyond the races. Go, Meg, GO!!!
Find Meg on IG @_megeckert to see all the ways she shows up in the world.
@mounttocoast
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
In this episode I go into a little bit more detail about the Gene Keys and the overlap of Gene Keys and Human Design.
The Gene Keys is a synthesis of practical wisdom guiding you to a deeper understanding of yourself!
The intersection of ancient wisdom!!
*EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING has something beautiful hidden inside them.
Let's bring that beauty forth.
Expansion or contraction.
Shadow and light.
Move at your own pace and practice trusting your intuition.
Digest over time.
I revisit the profile I created for myself often, using it as a guide and a remembering and a tool for moving into my alignment and expansion.
Life's Work, Evolution, Radiance, Purpose
What I'm here to do; What I'm here to learn; What keeps me healthy; What deeply fulfills me
It's all information to help you SHINE!!!
I help guide you to remembering what is already in within you.
Soul remembering.
It all comes back to love.
Request a profile or find more info here: almanutrido.com
May your soul be nourished.
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
I expand more on Human Design and my own profile.
I briefly explain the 5 different designs: manifestor, manifesting generators, projectors, generators, and reflectors.
None of this is a box. It's all information to guide you to your most aligned self.
Genetic blueprints...user manuals.
Take what resonates. Leave the rest.
Permission to be YOU!
Human design chart and getting started.
I am an emotional projector design with 1/3 profile lines.
I dive into what it's like to be a projector.
Digestible pieces of information.
Information that empowers.
Living in alignment.
If you'd like to connect with me or have a profile guide created for you, check out my website: almanutrido.com
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
This is a little bit different episode.
I briefly introduce human design and expand on how it came into my awareness and ended up supporting me in this current stage of my journey.
*Supporting and understanding my boys.
*Creating digestible guidance via profile creations.
*I am here to guide and teach and support healing.
*Transitioning from teaching in public school to being a full-time mom to being a movement guide to bodywork and healing guidance.
*I talk about anxiety, depression, miscarriage, mental health.
*My body was telling me things and I wasn't listening.
*How human design empowers me and helps me to feel seen and has guided me toward more alignment.
*Staying home with the boys and how aligned that was for me.
*It's all connected.
To connect with me, check out my website: almanutrido.com
IG @beccajay.almanutrido
In following episodes I will explain my particular design along with gene keys, my astrological signs, and my intuitive guidance, along with how my bodywork practice connects with all of it.
May your soul be nourished.
Support the show
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Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Luke and I talk about:
*his connection to Earth and the flow state that comes when he is moving with the land
*acknowledgment of his calmness and discernment
*getting curious about what brings him alignment in daily life
*going through recovery and healing
*letting go
*deconditioning; getting unstuck from old patterns
*rational mind versus our knowing...deep inner knowing, listening to his gut
*the importance of authentic and intentional connection
*joy of running through the mountains and following that joy
*using his life experiences to support teens and young adults, especially through movement in the mountains
*therapeutic value in running and in nature; EMDR therapy parallel to running
Book rec: Be Here Now by Ram Dass
CONNECT with Luke on IG @_lukesparks
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Luke interviews me!
The tables have turned.
Luke drops some excellent wisdom and a metaphor that blew my mind!
Have a listen if you're curious;)
Apologies for the weird podcastle AI interruptions. It's dumb and I don't know how to undo it. Just a heads up.
Find out more about what I do at https://almanutrido.com/
or on IG @beccajay.getuptraining
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Aisha McAdams!
“We are what we imagine. Our very existence consists in our imagination of ourselves. Our best destiny is to imagine, at least, completely, who and what, and that we are. The greatest tragedy that can befall us is to go unimagined.”- N. Scott Momaday
We chat about:
*Photographer // Co-Founder of Rhoam Creative Studios
*A curious creator, a photojournalist and freelance photographer based in Boston but globally on the move.
*A passion to communicate and create a platform to share the stories around us.
she published we appreciate your interest, however* (2021).
*her work is driven by stories found within sport and recognized for its intimacy.
*see things as she saw things as a child
*motherhood
*photography as observation
*human empathy & intimacy, humans in vulnerable places/spaces
*High school coach & unconditional love - SHOUT OUT!!!
*starting therapy intentionally
*Less than 1% of creative agencies are owned by women
*founded Rhoam so that more marginalized voices, perspectives, and unique stories can be shared and heard, in a safe environment, through creative work with the brands that we partner with.
*photographing Groundhog Day events
*practicing slowing down
*Circle of 8 Redwoods
*synchronicities!!!
aishamcadams.com & IG @ai.shoots
Support the show
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Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Farhana Huq!!!!!!
CREATOR | COACH | EXPLORER | FOUNDER
Farhana Huq is an Executive and Leadership Coach, Surfer, Global Explorer, and Founder of Surf Life Executive Coaching and Brown Girl Surf
We chat about:
*Being curious enough to go take a risk and try something
*Driven by passion and curiosity
*a desire to uplift and make humanity better through ideas that promote social good
*willingness to take a leap and do something, even if she fell flat on her face
*growing up playing in the forest and fishing, doing arts and crafts, music and movement, martial arts
*feeling like she didn't fit in; developing a rich internal world
*C.E.O. Women
*passion for the idea and working toward solving problems
*creating opportunities
*the creation of Brown Girl Surf
*Grand Cafe: GRAND CAFÉ English - Grand Café English: Learn English Through an Immigrant Entrepreneur's Journey | ELL Learning Series
*STARFISH!!!!
*JUST START!!
*their sustainable skin care line via Brown Girl Surf
*time flies when you are passionate about things
*letting go of an idea as important, giving it space and time, and coming back to it
*reclaiming
*how does what you are doing right now helping or leading us to a better place
https://www.farhanahuq.com/
IG@browngirlsurf
IG@farhana_huq
browngirlsurf.co
Support the show
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Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Jennifer Danese
You are loved.
You are light.
You are valued.
You are worthy.
You are enough.
You are needed.
You are amazing.
You are beautiful.
You are authentic.
You are cherished.
You are unstoppable.
*please be aware: we discuss childhood sexual abuse
We chat about:
*Jennifer's beautiful pictures of the landscape, flowers, witnessing
*climbing mountains as a way to help quiet the mind
*"she was so powerful not because she wasn't scared, but because she went on so strongly, despite the fear."
*continuing to keep getting back up, surviving when it's really hard
*surviving childhood sexual abuse, facing it and healing THROUGH it
*Jennifer's encouragement to talk about it, SHARE, TELL someone if you have ever experienced sexual abuse; silence keeps it stuck within; find community
*ask for help
*the experience and journey beyond climbing Mt. Aconcagua
*"I am worthy simply because I am"
IG @jenniferd___
Support the show
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Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Mark A. Lopez, Ph. D
Joy in a smile that reaches far beyond his face
We chat about:
*mental health and wellness challenges
*intentional about joy
*hidden properties of music
*song line: "keep your head to the sky" by Earth, Wind and Fire
*Movement Es Medicina - building a movement around the hidden properties of the active lifestyle; motivating people to prioritize wellness, whatever the modality is
*“Prioritizing wellness, health and movement is a revolutionary act to me”
*being our best selves is a revolutionary act
*constantly in states of healing
*“We are our ancestor’s wildest dreams.”
*Be Brown and Be Proud; being a product of the Chicano movement; being our authentic selves; standing on the shoulders of giants
*healing our ancestors; always in a state of healing
*fellowship
*first generation college graduate; breaking down barriers
*Upward Bound program
*DJ SuperMarkRock
*getting out of his own way
*hitting the record button
*Recuerda tu por qué - Remember your WHY
*Grace for self
*Book recommendation: The Art of Happiness by the Dali Lama
Find Mark on IG @supermarkrock ; supermarkrock@gmail.com
Look for him in a TedTalk someday and/or speaking to large groups of people in stadiums and such
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
We are LAUGHING!!!!!!
If you need to laugh today, this podcast is for you.
No, it will not all make sense, but you will somehow understand why it's so funny.
Laugh with Mel and me asap!
-
We chat about:
laughing so hard all the time
knowing each other for over 25 years
Mel has solved your drink-ordering problem - INI - you are welcome
acupuncture with Nance
Mel's future in acupuncture and school counseling
mind and body and spirit connections
Mel's experience as a caregiver for her aging parents and all the things that come with it
Mel's top 5 suggestions/knowings/learnings related to care for aging parents
Mel's new YouTube channel serving the world via hair: https://www.youtube.com/@HelloGorgeousHair25
SUBSCRIBE & LIKE
"Picasso didn't give us a paint by number to learn how to paint" -Mel
speaking of...
face murals
Find Mel: IG @solonmelmarie
https://www.youtube.com/@HelloGorgeousHair25
Support the show
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Samuel Delgado
Connected with Earth
Bread maker
Poet
Creator
Photographer capturing the layer beneath
Clever wordsmith
Funny in a witty funny funny way
Deep thinker
Artist
Creative
Runner
Friend
Curiosity-follower
Light
-
We chat about:
“You are something the whole universe is doing in the same way that a wave is something that the whole ocean is doing.” The Tao of Philosophy 6: Man In Nature – Alan Watts
learning about food and the space and experience people create
opportunity from failure
following curiosity and finding a door to get there
"I don't want to be transient with people" - Sam
wanting to be a chef, transitioning to baking, and now to running
baking from home and doing pizza pop ups
running for Sam: discipline, joy, community
photography and capturing the thing that captures his attention
his parents: loving, caring, generous
opening up to people and opening to learning
fostering connections
moving with awareness and action
heart open, slow down, don't rush through life
we are all contributing
"we are the Earth experiencing itself" -Sam
Opening up to people opens to opportunities
rose of Jericho
Find Sam on IG @trout.roe
Support the show
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Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Support the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051242/supporters/new
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Raheem Sisson & Jeff Armstrong are two strong leaders in the running community.
They elevate, amplify, support, educate, show up, affirm, walk through, and create community.
-
Raheem is the captain of the Denver chapter of Black Men Run. Jeff is the international captain and international ambassador and chief motivational officer of Black Men Run.
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We chat about:
Raheem is head captain of the Denver BMR chapter from Harlem, NY.
Jeff is originally from Eldorado, AK.
Jeff and his love/hate relationship with running
helping African American men be healthy
Why there is a need for Black Men Run? Because the numbers don’t lie:
Among Blacks age 20 and older, 44.4% of men have Cardiovascular Diseases
In 2009, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) caused the deaths of 21,051
Black males have a risk of first-ever stroke that is almost twice that of whites
Heart disease is the #1 cause of death for African American males
giving Black people a sense of hope
building a healthy brotherhood with unity and camaraderie
being there for one another
"it's not about being the fastest or being the best, it's about bringing your best" -Raheem
working through mental health issues together
BROTHERHOOD of love!!! Having each others' back.
walking THROUGH conversations
bridging generations
meditation, yoga, words of affirmation and how these tools contribute to helping through runs
Jeff is the CMO (chief motivational officer) - creating competitive juices within the members and the chapters; motivating people to get out; he is focusing on encouragement and engagement
showing up and showing out
breaking stereotypes; tearing down bricks from the wall
running connects people
Raheem - hearing from Mother Nature and connecting to Earth, getting away from the distortion
Jeff - runs for his body; diagnosed with Lupus in 2007; Lupus has to deal with him; he keeps showing up for himself
Raheem - Preacher, Dream, leader, bringing the best out of people so they could be the best version of themselves
Jeff - being on an elevated level in life mentally, physically, spiritually, financially; perseverance; being a good example for his family and for others
"You never know who's watching" - Jeff - "the next breath is not guaranteed"
COME AS YOU ARE!!!
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Find Jeff Armstrong: https://blackmenrun.com/
FB @JeffBArmstrongSr
IG @Jtweez010
Find Raheem Sisson: Head-Captain – raheem.sisson@blackmenrun.com
BlackMenRun on youtube
IG @BlackMenRunDenver
IG @InspiredFitnessGroup
IG @HarlemChildNYC
IG @BlackMenRun
FB @RaheemSisson
Heylo page on Black Men Run page
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Mariah is an advocate, community-builder, connector, wisdom sharer, joy and peace shiner, curious learner, healer, growing, grounding, leader, change-creator.
Mariah Zavala was born in Fresno, California and grew up in Tucson, Arizona. She brings a rich cultural tapestry to her endeavors, with roots in the Oaxacan, Puerto Rican, and Indigenous communities, as a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. Mariah completed her Bachelor’s in Public Health, with a minor in Biology at NAU. Community-oriented, Mariah serves on the Indigenous Commission for the City of Flagstaff and the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run of Northern Arizona. She’s an ambassador for the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and manages nonprofit initiatives, including enriching summer rafting experiences for Pascua Yaqui youth. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, and soaking in bodies of water under the sun with her dog Sugar, barefoot (when appropriate).
We chat about:
her remarkable mom, Margaret, and the challenges growing up
the inspiration of her Grandmother who was murdered when her mom was 12
barriers that Mariah continues to rise above and take away
the importance of building community
Pasqua Yaqui Youth Rafting Expedition
how the outdoors has helped her heal
If you put good out, it will come back
wake up wednesday
being an ELEVATOR
abundance of love and gratitude
creating opportunities for kids
Cocodona 251.9 mile race coming up in honor of MMIR and raising funds for her rafting trip
waterbending
things get better...helping people come out of the dark tunnel
*keep coming back to your why
IG @mzavala77726
Mariah Zavala - Mountain Mojo Group in Flagstaff, Arizona
https://mountainmojogroup.com/team/mariah-zavala/
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For more info check out almanutrido.com and follow Becca Jay on
IG @beccajay.almanutrido & @youareabigdealpodcast
Danny Awang!!!
"I love visual media as a way to share the experience of life and create a visual and emotional conversation to better understand the world and each other as humans."
We chat about:
sharing his own life experience through photo or video
polaroids
crew and support importance in ultrarunning or long-distance sports
it's always worth asking - people can say yes or no
cycling as a way to spend time outside and explore
Czech Republic
dreaming of documenting the journey of road or mountain cycling athletes going into the 2025 Olympics!!!
Love First tattoo- come from a place of love before anything else
backpacking, being still, sitting by a lake...as a separate space from filmmaking
if you never ask, you'll never know
music suggestion: Promise by Ben Howard
shared experience as a beautiful aspect of this life
Find Danny and reach out to collaborate on IG @danny.awang
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Today's episode is all about Reiki.
I talk about all the things and still have a lot more to say but I believe this covers the basics. Even though there is nothing basic about Reiki;)
Have a listen and please send any questions my way getuptraining@gmail.com
I will do my best to answer them or point you in the right direction.
You can also send me a message on IG @beccajay.getuptraining
I chat about:
Jeanette K. Musser Gruenhagen IG @jeanettekmgruenhagen or www.jeanettekmgruenhagen.com has been an important guide for me on this journey.
following my curiosity
I don't have to understand everything
surrendering to what comes and unattachment to outcomes
Dr. Mikao Usui
Reiki - universal life force energy
everything is energy; everything is connected
working through my own stuff and my own healing
being a hollow bone
looking at the hard parts of myself was so hard and so good and beautiful
the privilege to heal and to practice Reiki
moving the stuck stuff
my daily Reiki practice
what if there is so much possible beyond what we can see
trusting and surrendering to the things I can't explain and don't understand and being okay with the discomfort
distant Reiki works the same as in-person Reiki sessions
what a Reiki session looks like
always working for your highest and greatest good
intention
higher selves
*and lots lots more!!
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Bobcat!
A beautiful soul
Authentic kindness offered
Gifts overflowing
We chat about:
filmmaking and documentary realm
passion about human stories and connection
understanding how story is passed on
finding a better word than "storytelling"
knowing that he is made to be doing what he is doing; an extension of who he is
capturing the hard and beautiful moments and allowing the emotions that come with them
the responsibility that comes with sharing stories
non-attachment
upcoming film screenings!!
bringing people together through film
Learning patience and persistence
being a lover of music and how it is a big part of who he is
his musical talents: drumming, banjo, piano, guitar, all the things
finding the song that connects and evokes feeling
support live music, hire live musicians
knowing for sure that he is valuable and that he has a place and a purpose
Check out Bobcat's films at Fielder Films fielderfilms.com
http://fielder.studio and on IG @bobcatdavis
The Hardrock 100 film about Luke Jay will be on his website;)
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Luke Jay
Love of my soul
Unbelievable dad and athlete
Kind and good to the core
Elevator of energy
Juggler of job, training, dadding, and husbanding
Available to growth
You're the wind beneath my wings
We chat about:
waiting 9 years to get into the Hardrock 100 mile race
getting into Western States and being 3rd on Hardrock Race and choosing to let Western States go
letting go as a good lesson
getting the voicemail from RD Dale about moving off the waitlist
being a present dad, hanging out with me, working a full-time job, growing as a soul, and training for a very hard hundred
figuring out a way to make it work
not willing to give up certain things to gain certain things
"usually the path of least resistance doesn't come with as many rewards"
movement as necessary for his soul
it's not all or nothing
being more wise with training; training by feel
enjoying the moment and drawing energy from the people
being present in all the moments
megaphone!!!!!
Check out Luke on IG@lukejay180
And follow along as he jogs the @hardrock100run
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Brenna Hughes
Friend and supporter
Curiosity overflowing
Leaning in to all the things
A mothering force
Artist and creator
We chat about:
Brenna is my brother's wife!
processing through art
watercolor - out of control - the water creates the movement
the intention, meaning, and symbolism of Brenna's art: how she sees and experiences people as she creates
the release of control as there is more opportunity here; "this will do something that I could not have predicted but I'm here for it"
"together yes, alone no"
ruminating in contrast to imagination
what is the age in adolescence when you first experience how someone else perceives you????
being mirrors
finding balance and harmony
valuing presence; it still matters what is happening right in front of me
how to be here in this way right now
business start-up and creation: www.simplysetspaces.com
how Brenna and Sarah reinvision a space for the purpose of calm and order, so people can be who they most truly are in that space: elevating, connecting, empowering, healing spaces
it's bigger than the space
connecting with people as one of Brenna's superpowers
Light-worker!! When we share our gifts it affects everyone and lifts everyone up!
the caretaker role and how big and deep and wide it is
the lessons that arise when cancer comes into your home
the loneliness that exists when going through...
wanting to help but not being able to
writing notes, intentional thoughts, holding someone without the constant questions
what does thoughtfulness look like for this individual
D1 YAPPER!!!!!
the aftermath of experiencing cancer
your experience is up to you!
No one can learn your lessons for you!
if not here, then where? - the privilege of being with her dad when he died, watching his physical body fall silent and seeing his essence rise up from him
*love and connection is everywhere
Book recommendation:
Poetry: Andrea Gibson; Rumi
Reach out to Brenna @ brenna.c.hughes@gmail.com
When in Davis, check out Simply Set Spaces www.simplysetspaces.com; Avid Reader in Davis: www.avidreaderbooks.com and Mishka Cafe: www.mishkacafe.com
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Erin Scallen!!!!!
Empowered woman rising
Resilient, resourceful, radical
Independent thinker and grower and mover, leaning in to surrender
Nature nourishes her spirit
We chat about:
surprising herself with how fast/strong/badass she is
making sure the first thing is JOY!!!!
self-awareness and growth
being empathetic
learning to listen
relationship with surrender; practicing surrender in smaller moments
accepting and leaning into the messy things that weren't part of the original plan
empowering women related to finances
spending, saving, investing and how it aligns with YOUR values
shout out to Brad
be clever with money, especially credit cards
Tips: 1. do a budget spreadsheet (be honest with yourself and judgment-free)
2. make sure the money is sitting in the right place
3. contribute to retirement
4. investment portfolio (betterment.com)
*lead with empathy, lead with love
When in Golden, CO check out Cafe 13! In Old Town Golden, check out Denver Beer Co and Spirits Wine Provisions.
Find Erin (mostly her dog, Dusty) on the IG@cowboy_dusty
Check out NPR Life Kit Podcast: Start a financial self-care routine and betterment.com for investing info.
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Alicia!!! Back again! Check out Episode #42 if you missed our first conversation;)
Radiating light
Healing benefitting all
Full of love and joy
We chat about:
Earthships are models of sustainable housing
Using the sun for solar power and rainwater for all the watering of the people and the plants
Earthships are made out of recycled and upcycled materials
water is used at least four different times
necessity of mindfulness
power of the sun
being active during active seasons and more still during the still/dormant seasons
the idea of doing and productivity
permission to rest
journey of body healing
using the beautiful energies from all of the plants and all that is around us
this is still here because there is something to heal!!!!!
could it be simple?
how do I heal me, my family, my ancestors, ALL of Us because we are all connected and your healing brings my healing?
an attitude of curiosity
what women carry
believing that we are limitless
trusting that you are exactly where you need to be
can we let go and be in receiving mode which brings in abundance
amplification of energy and intention
tapping into the magic
releasing old stories
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Porfidia!!!
Powerful woman
Organizing for good
Remembering and honoring
Feeling deeply
Indigenous artist
Devoted to care for people
Intentional being
Advocate for Earth
We chat about:
growing up drawing, painting, doing leatherwork and pottery
making sustainable wood jewelry
feeling safe with trees
old growth wood
bringing attention to different causes through the stories of your work
the joy of making; the intention involved in the creation of a piece of art
ideas and visuals come to her during her runs
trusting what comes to her
being a middle school counselor
boundaries
We Can't Get What We Want in the Energy of What We Don't Want
Toots and the Maytals
seek to understand more; get curious about the why
there is a story in the jewelry and there is education in her art
Shout out to Front Range Timber www.frontrangetimber.com - Greg!!
Find Porfidia at modernancientdesign.org and IG @modernancientdesign
Find more on youtube @ https://www.youtube.com/@modernancientdesignllc.9913
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Libby Kelley!!!!!
Resilient mother
Courageous helper of all
Athlete, strong and fierce
We chat about:
resilience, not getting stuck, moving forward
being a single mom of 2
lineage of strong matriarchs
healing yourself by helping others
Libby as a helper
22 years as a surgical nurse
one of her superpowers and gifts is being able to put people at ease and connecting with people before and during surgeries
empathy, compassion, grace, energetic connection
asking for help
Libby as a patient advocate/guide/support. YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! Ok, go!!
professional horse rider
going through a hysterectomy at the age of 46 and the challenges the come before, during and after; the mental toll and the necessity for mental health support for women pre and post this experience; the grieving process that comes along with the hysterectomy
being your own advocate until there are more advocates available to support you
judgment-free care and support
ask "what are all of my options?"
her greatest accomplishment is being a mom. AND she is proud of the person she is.
Lib lives on Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Apsáalooke (Crow), Salish, Tséstho’e (Cheyenne), Niitsítpiis-stahkoii ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ (Blackfoot / Niitsítapi ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ) land.
Connect with Libby on IG @_lkelley6 and her new business @cuteasabuttonmt
When in Bozeman, MT go to Rise and Shine Bakery www.riseandshinecafeandbakery.com
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We Run Long core team: Alissa Lay, Pilar Arthur-Snead, Ayako Sawanobori, Kelsey Long, & Rebecca Bowman
Working toward equity
Everyone invited and included, taking up space
Representation matters
Understanding how we are interconnected
Native lands
Leading the way in amplifying diversity at races and beyond
Ongoing advocating for safety, inclusivity and respect in trail running spaces
Nizaadgoo na’dijaa – Navajo for We Run Long
Go team go
We chat about:
how welcoming and community-focused We Run Long is
Libby Jones at the Active Joe
Kesley and Caleb at Freestone Endurance
making spaces safer and better
people are trying to find their community within the running space
when you show up, you are loved, supported and cared for
Race directors need to educate themselves and be intentional about actions, not placing the burden of educating on a person of color; understand the community, understand the need, put forth the effort; do some unlearning
communicate and make sure people are heard
wanting to see more people of color at trail races
seeing different communities supporting each other
showing up for each other in all the ways
getting to a point where you can show up to races/spaces and not even being able to count the number of people of color that are there because it doesn't need to be highlighted anymore because the spaces are so diverse
Dirtbags Run - Grounding Climbs
We Run Long on IG @werunlong
Ayako on IG @ninjayako @antiracistrunclub
Kesley on IG @longcommakelsey
Rebecca on IG @groundingclimbs
Alissa on IG @queen_the_momchine
Pilar on IG @vphotoblogger_themindfulrunner - themindfulrun coaching training
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Jeanette Gruenhagen is BACK!!!!!
Joy-filled lover of people
Energetic co-creator
A guide for souls
Noticing, listening, facilitating
Exponential curiosity to explore, learn, share and grow
Tending to the relevant energies
Toward integration of all
Expansion, compassion, alignment, LOVE
We talk about:
Dr. David Hawkins - Power Versus Force
Wondering
Being an active participant of trying to heal
Freedom is the most important thing for all of us
Personal, collective, galactic evolution and the need to be free
Our choices have a history
Go back and keep healing and then be free-er to be soul-free
Choosing to do it alone or do it with connection to the Divine
Slow movement toward resourcing, healing, integrating
Scale of consciousness as a tool
Victimhood
Owies/Triggers that come up and how it's never about others; it's always about going inward and asking: what is this? what is this telling me?
If we are struggling there is stuff to tend to
We all can do anything; when you think you can't, you can't.
The soul is always saying yes
Use a helper: do you see something that I don't see
kinesiology - muscle testing
the ego body will always choose to self-protect; it's here to help us to survive and we are grateful, AND...
Resourcing: drawing beyond the human to help heal
Integrating polarities
the body and psyche are amazing
reach to the spiritual to resource so we can resolve the soul
what is the next relevant thing?
can we move energy from our emotional bodies
the discomfort is the invitation
how I feel has everything to do with me
wondering with your kids
Letting our kids know that they are not here to take care of us; they are here to love themselves and they are free to be themselves
Read Jeanette's wonderings at her substack: Jeanette K.M. Gruenhagen | Substack
https://substack.com/@jeanettekmgruenhagen
And PLEASE set up a session (remote and in-person options available) with Jeanette as soon as you can to talk about all the things and learn and grow and expand!!!!! Your soul will be so pumped: jeanettekmgruenhagen.com
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JayCee Beyale!!
Honor Mother Earth
Art as an act of service
Interrelated
We chat about:
sand paintings as part of ceremonial practices
owning the power and strength in who he is as an individual already
interest in graffiti and street art as a kid
introspection and healing come from giving that to the art and then taking it away
being of service with his art
music is an important part of his process
what he often speaks about and shares comes from his Buddhist practice
minimizing language AND occupying space
where you are standing is a place of purpose and centering
Lacrosse is a game played by northeastern and midwestern tribes created to keep them in shape, prepared for anything that was to come and to honor who they are and where they come from; it is communal and a traditional and sacred game; it has become appropriated and JayCee would like people to understand the history of the game
getting comfortable asking for help and learning how to say no
Protect your yes
*he is here on this planet to be of service to help others realize their true potential and their happiness
JayCee lives on Tséstho’e (Cheyenne), Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, hinono’eino’ biito’owu’ (Arapaho), Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) land.
Vinyl record recommendation:
Cortex (funk, jazz, soul)
Find JayCee on IG@jcbl1 @modernancientdesign @redlinedenver and through NDN Collective NDN COLLECTIVE
When in Colorado, check out Paradise Found Records & Music @paradise_found_records, Wax Trax Records @waxtraxdenver and RedLine Contemporary Art Center www.redlineart.org
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Marisol Cobos!!!!
World traveling joy
Adventurer giving back
Full life living full
We chat about:
learning and growing from her experiences, especially her most recent time in Tanzania
her word for the year = surrender
letting go and seeing what happens
climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro as a personal pilgrimage
sharing energy with little kids
embracing being out of her comfort zone and little structure
the hard transition coming back from her time in Africa and the tidal wave of emotions that came
hakuna matata – no worries
pole pole – slowly slowly; learn to take things in and appreciate it all
being malleable
the importance of asking how to pronounce peoples’ names
Marisol – mar y sol – sea and sun; de Los Angeles – sun and sea of the angels = Marisol
breaking bread: community, connection, conversations, sharing love through FOOD!
her intention with food and her connection to the nourishment and the beauty
Food is an art form for her
Marisol takes people on food journeys; she is a food curator, consultant and flavor guide
The 5 Fs: Faith, Family, Friends, Food, Fitness
ask WHY
strength in vulnerability
before meals, grounding herself and giving thanks for the nourishment
Marisol lives on Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, hinono’eino’ biito’owu’, and Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ land
Book Recommendation:
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Find Marisol on all the socials @marisol_c
When in the Denver area, check out Just BE Kitchen www.justbekitchen.com & Barcelona www.barcelonawinebar.com
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Amy Macy!!!
**Aesthetic genius
Mom of many talents
Youthful energy and glow
Master of counseling the next generations
Action-taker
Creativity overflowing
Yes she can and she will**
We chat about:
there is dark and light, all at the same time, and we need both
what comes to us naturally
figuring out what is our light
curating beautiful spaces
what comes easily and naturally to you
demolition divas
there is never a right, exact moment
helping kids/youth/young adults to see that it is okay to take risks
mountain biking versus pulling down huge decks
we need all the mindset; there is a place for all the things
reframing
perfection is the enemy of good and makes everyone do nothing
setting the bar nice and low
parenting: the highs would not be as highs and lows would not be as low
bring as much humor and laughter in as you can
teaching kids how to be in their bodies
embodiment as playing to get to a place of being present
you have to choose every day to love again
being okay being the messy, unmanicured you
what do you want your life to look like
most everything is out of our control
loving the women in her life
Amy lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ and Tséstho’e land.
Book recommendation:
Go As A River by Shelley Read
Check out ALL the places in the Salida, CO: Howl Mercantile, Yolo, Sweeties, Amicas
Find Amy at www.macycollegeconsulting.com and on IG @littleladybigdrill and a website to come: "Curate". Call or text her to hire Amy to support a beautiful, peaceful, curated home that is emblematic of your values.
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Monica Rosenke!!!
Empowers humans
Intuitive movement guide
Changing narrativesWe talk about:
embodiment practice
sacred intuition
living with a very rare, INCURABLE type of cancer and LIVING!!!!!!
navigating a sight-threatening brain tumor
countering harmful ideologies
enjoyment and loving of body
being a healer
radical healing: soul, mind, body, spirit
deconstructing religion and diet-culture indoctrination
work WITH your body
reclaiming power and healing from body shaming messages
movement is a tool to help you connect with your body
waking up as an act of gratitude
"my life today feels yellow"
"our bodies are a beautiful, sacred piece of art"
“I knew I would work to champion women to fully embrace their already magical body and empower them to reclaim their power and heal from body shaming messages hurled at women by media and our society.”
Monica lives on K’ómoks, ɬaʔamɩn gɩǰɛ (Tla’amin), Homalco, We Wai Kai, We Wai Kum, Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ land in Comox, British Columbia, CA
Book recommendations:
Woman Who Glows in the Dark by Elena Avila
Embers by Richard Wagamese
Find Monica on IG & FB @monicarosenke.wellness
monicarosenke.com
When in Comox check out The Pines (an in-home yoga studio and more); Martine's Bistro martinesbistro.com
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Libby Jones
Leader as race director and mom
Inclusive inclusive inclusive
Big on representation
Beautiful connector of peoples
Yay for hugs!
Joy
On an ultrarunning journey
New tattoos, please
Empowering athletes
Safe for all
We chat about:
how Libby is a walking art gallery
physical (often hidden) conditions that can sometimes feel like betrayal
being a child genius with a photographic memory and how these contribute to her superpowers (there are many)
taking self-care seriously and not justifying basic self-care as an indulgence
her brain as a pogo stick of thought and that being a superpower
asking for help and receiving the grace of help
more isn't always better, sometimes more is just more
sometimes things need to end in order to let other things grow
haters can be so loud and mean and hurtful
the importance of collaboration with other Race Directors
*all are welcome versus actively invited
Libby will live on Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga and Kanienʼkehá꞉ka (Mohawk) land in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
TV show recommendation:
The 100
Find Libby and more info about her races: www.theactivejoe.com
PLEASE check out the ABOUT section on this website. It is a beautiful model of policies for all the people and all the RDs to check out!
Dinosaur Valley Endurance 100 mile run
IG @libbyruns @TheActiveJoe
Check out the Trail Mix Fund trailmixfund.org
When in Dallas, TX, check out Trailhead Running Supply trailheadrunningsupply.com
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Izabela Brodzinska
Courageous woman
Fierce mother working non-stop
Intelligent force
We chat about:
how Iza is first and always a mom
she is a curious person who loves people and says "each person is a walking story"
she views each person with curiosity and believes each person has something interesting and valuable to share
Iza shares about being a Polish immigrant and she feels like she lives between two worlds AND she feels strongly rooted here in Colorado
Individualism in contrast to community and care of the whole
She wants to believe that people have good hearts AND there is still a lot of work to do
Iza says the humanities are underestimated and how important literature is and how it's food for our soul
She tells us not to be afraid to take risks and keep moving forward
*Iza believes everyone can teach us something
Iza lives on Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa (Lipan Apache), Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendation:
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
Direction America by a collection of Polish authors; one of the short stories is by Iza.
Visit Curate when in Centennial, CO and support local artists and artisans: curatemercantile.com
Find Iza on FB @izabelabrodzinska
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TJ Bottom!!!!!!
Full of Gratitude
On a journey that lifts all
Abundance of light
We talk about:
moving away from "I am"; no more "what do you do"
being a dad and experiencing a love that he never imagined
referring to our people as "teammates" and "partners" and maybe we get curious about new words
spirituality - what it is for TJ
tattoos - a full back piece
illness and gratitude
measuring life in aid stations (t-shirt and hat idea) - you're welcome
not asking "how are you" - instead ask, "what's your favorite color, today?"
your spouse is not your swiss army knife
pausing and 5 senses
*tell your people you love them
TJ lives on Timpanogos, Newe Sogobia (Eastern Shoshone), Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ land.
Book recommendation:
Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell
Look for TJ on IG @tjbottom
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What a hoot for you today!
Just some of my thoughts about things and such.
Thank you for listening!!
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Becky Croft (she/her) is an advocate, a runner, a menopausal athlete, a certified RRCA coach and Chi Running instructor in Oklahoma. She is a member and mentor for team Game Changers. She is a Leader of She Runs This Town, Tulsa, OK chapter. Becky is a Brooks Running Endorsed Athlete and a board member for ReNew Earth Running. She works with athletes all around the world. Her primary focus is on Masters + Menopausal athletes, however, she enjoys connecting with runners of all abilities, celebrating their victories, and helping them achieve their best through coaching + workshops. It is her goal to not only help brand new runners finish their first 5k, but for veteran athletes to reach their goals, while remaining strong + healthy. She has endured several surgeries, 2 rounds of menopause, and eventually a full hysterectomy at the age of 38 caused by Endometriosis. Becky empowers masters athletes and women navigating peri-menopause to unlock their full potential through personalized run coaching. She says NO to intermittent fasting for menopausal athletes and gives very important reasons why.
She talks about the importance of representation and resources for menopausal athletes. Becky talks about being very careful about the information you read/get about menopause. Stay curious and reach out for support. She says that menopause doesn't have an age and that it's not something scary; it's a natural transition. Partners need to LISTEN to the person having the experience and "listen to understand and not listen to fix it" because it's nothing to be fixed. Becky talks about the importance of including surgical menopause in part of the discussion. She shares how important running has been to help her work through all the things. Becky emphasizes the importance of periodizing your training and including strength training as part of your movement practice.
Becky lives on Osage, Mvskoke, Quapaw, Caddo, Kiikaapoi, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendations:
Change Maker by John Berardi
Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kaster
Next Level by Stacy Sims
Roar by Stacy Sims
When in Tulsa, OK check out The Gathering Place which is the largest privately funded park in the U.S.
Find Becky here:
IG & FB @coach.croft and @hustle.run.thrive
www.instagram.com/Coach.croft
website: hustle.run.thrive (hustle-eat-thrive.myshopify.com) - Look for her GUIDE here!!!
RRCA Run Coach
Game Changers Coach + Mentor
Chi Running Instructor
She Runs This Town Tulsa Chapter Leader
Renew Earth Running Board Member
https://www.nativewomenrunning.com
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Laura Cardon (she/her) is a mom, a partner, a coach, a runner and an advocate. She fell in love with trail running after moving to Colorado in 2013. Since then, she hasn’t run particularly fast or far, but is most passionate about helping others discover the joy of trail running. She has her B.S. in Public Relations, Advertising and Applied Communication from West Virgina University from which she graduated early Magna Cum Laude! She worked as a Communications Manager for Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) launching a GOCO internship program and collaborated with grant program staff to transform the organization's relationship with its two largest stakeholders: Colorado Lottery and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. She was also Project Manager with a Communications Background. Laura is a UESCA-certified run coach, works part-time at Runners Roost Golden, coaches beginner trail runners with Life’s 2 Short Fitness and creates beginner-friendly guides to the outdoors at her company Outdoor Beginner: OutdoorBeginner.com. Laura founded Outdoor Beginner in 2014 to fill the gap in beginner-friendly guides for trying new outdoor activities. Outdoor Beginner started as a blog and has grown into in-person coaching services and events in the Denver metro area. She blogs about hiking, running, camping, outdoor kids, winter sports and travel. Laura offers in-person and virtual options and her programs, which do not address weight loss or dieting, are open to all genders, sizes, abilities, and identities. She plans and coaches in-person 5k Your Way courses to help people get a positive and safe start to the sport, including securing brand partnerships to make the course free for all participants. Laura empowers, inspires, connects and leads. She is a force!
Laura describes parenting as the entire spectrum of human emotions and how her kiddo is the hardest boss she has ever had. She shares how she was looking for an inclusive running group that supported all runners of all paces, not wanting to get left behind and wanting to have some fun. Laura is open about her post-partum depression and how she leaned in to taking care of herself in a way that she initially resisted. A piece of advice for those who want to help is to offer specific help or just drop something off, send something over, anything that takes away the need for the person to make decisions. We talk about taking away the stigma of medicating. She talks about going into coaching and wanting to be the coach that SHE wanted as she entered trail running. Laura sees a need and does something about it, which led to her creation of Outdoor Beginner, giving tips about all the things related to beginning something. Laura hopes for people to NOT run as a form of punishment, but instead to run to find joy. Laura is so cool and empowering. She is the fertile soil from which beginning runners grow. Check out the hummingbird and the fire story. Just chills....
Laura lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ and Tséstho’e land.
Book Recommendation:
Master Of Change by Brad Stulberg
Find Laura on IG and FB @outdoorbeginner and on her website at Beginner Friendly Run Coach Homepage - Outdoor Beginner outdoorbeginner.com
When in Golden, CO check out the food truck La Huacha https://www.lahuacha.com/
and Barrels and Bottles Brewery barrelsbottles.com
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Robyn Moreno (she/her) is a mama, a wife, a proud Tex-Mexican, a storyteller, a spiritual seeker, and a champion of women and Latinxs everywhere. She is a leader, an author, a certified yoga teacher, a trained life coach and Curanderismo practitioner. She is on a journey of re-discovery and reclamation of both her culture and herself. Robyn highlights the stories and issues that are not being told about women, Latinas, and people of color during her work at publications like Glamour, InStyle, and Woman’s Day, as well by serving as the Founding Hamptons Editor for PureWow; the Founding Contributing Editor for Cosmo for Latinas; Editor-In-Chief of TheFetching.com; and the Editor-In-Chief and Co-President of Latina Media Ventures. She is an Emmy-nominated TV host who has learned that “You can’t be what you can’t see” nor can we change what we don't acknowledge. She was a contributor to Today for more than 10 years and a brand personality with two other books around lifestyle themes and identity—Borderline Personalities and Practically Posh — She is adept at harnessing the power of voice and personality on every major media platform from TV to online. She has been invited to the Obama Whitehouse, the Sundance Film Festival, and SXSW Interactive. Robyn has interviewed powerhouse women from Rihanna to Latina activist Dolores Huerta, Jennifer Lopez to Hillary Clinton, and beyond! Her latest book, Get Rooted, is a journey of re-discovery & reclamation of both her culture and herself. She is a thought leader who creates and elevates empowering stories about Latinxs and women of color via her popular podcast “Get Rooted with Robyn Moreno”. She was nominated for an Emmy as the host of Plum Daily Hamptons (a nationally syndicated lifestyle show). Robyn’s favorite things are her family, being in nature, and eating tacos, not necessarily in that order. She is a Tejana living in the Hudson Valley of NY with her family. Robyn is a mentor, an advocate, a facilitator of healing and growth and an empowerer.
Robyn shares about how she is a big fan of people and how we need each other to walk this "slick, slippery path." She talks about the power of re-claiming and re-watering, honoring, self-trust and guidance and blossoming from within. Robyn connects with her ancestors and believes that they are always trying to connect with us, whispering and guiding us. She feels more in her Ser, her knowing, when she connects with her ancestors. Her connection keeps her rooted, "our roots connect". Robyn shares about the importance of staying with your own healing and looking at yourself and holding a mirror and how the staying is her work. "Healing is a lifelong remembering - release, reclaim, and root back again and again."
"Corazon cura corazon" - heart heals heart
Robyn is learning how to receive help and the reciprocity involved.
Book recommendations:
Woman Who Glows in the Dark by Elena Avila
Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
When in Hudson Valley, NY check out Split Rock Books www.splitrockbks.com
The Daydream Collaborative Clinic www.daydreamclinic.com
Find Robyn, more info about her book, newsletter, workshops/retreats/meditations at www.robynmoreno.com ; IG @robynnmoreno
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James McClung (he/him) is a self-taught artist, an adventurer, a traveler and skateboarder. Seeking inspiration from his life and travels, his original art features an array of thought-provoking visuals, such as those found in the landscapes of Joshua Tree, the Central Valley of California, the solitudes of New Mexico and west Texas, the streets of Amsterdam and Stockholm, New York and India, LA and the outskirts of the Coconino Navajo County in Arizona. James established himself as an artist in the contemporary art and graphic design communities by working with clients such as Riverside Art Museum, The Cheech: Center for Chicano Art & Culture, Stereo Skateboards, Life & Thyme, and Parliament Chocolate, among others. Through raw talent and an admirable work ethic, James consistently delivers beautiful and timeless content with unique style. He hopes his paintings show that there is a big world out there that has a different point of view than where you or I come from and that there is something to learn from other cultures or cities. Most of the work James does is driven and inspired by places he has traveled and how images from these places correlate to what life experiences he is going through at the time. James is all about collaboration and community. He believes that the intersection of art, community and social change are more important than ever.
James talks about painting from his life and what is going on in front of him. He captures intimate moments in his paintings and new ways to look at his own life. James connects art, skateboarding and running and notes how they all are a process to achieve one outcome. He sees skateboarding as performance art. He sees running more as a dance. James speaks about the influence from a teacher that showed him the confidence he needed to pursue art. He asks himself what his art means to his life and he wants to create a story with his paintings. James is real about how painting is not always fun and how he is his worst critic, and running allows him to shut his mind off and clear his head. He is done trying to paint this world outside of his daily life. He is still learning to appreciate himself and not be so hard on himself. James lives on Yuhaaviatam/Maarenga’yam (Serrano), Tongva, and Cahuilla land.
Book recommendations:
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Find James @jmsmcclng and jamesmcclungart.com Order Prints!!!!
When in Redlands, CA, check out The Running Center www.runningcenters.com &
The Overland theoverlandbar.com
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Yatika Starr Fields (he/him) is a Painter, a Muralist, an Artist, a creative person, an ultrarunner, an advocate and an activist. He grew up in an artistic family in Oklahoma and is part of the Cherokee, Mvskoke (Misscogee) (Creek) and Osage Nations and is also a Bear clan member. He currently lives and works in Tulsa in conjunction with the Tulsa Artist Fellowship. While attending the Art Institute of Boston from 2000 to 2004, he became interested in Graffiti aesthetics, which has been integral to his knowledge and process, along with Landscape painting, and continues to influence his large-scale projects and studio works. Yatika has been featured in Juxtapoz Magazine, American Art Collector, Cowboys & Indians, Art focus Oklahoma, ARTINFO, PASATIEMPO, The New Mexican, Phoenix New Times, Oklahoma Gazette and Vision Project. He has participated in over 43 solo and group exhibitions at venues across the U.S. and Europe. Through Yatika’s artworks, he encourages individuals to have an enhanced understanding on indigenous culture because of the way they are misrepresented in society. Yatika runs Ultramarathons several times each year. He has finished his first ultra the Holler 50k in Oklahoma. He has also completed the 90 mile Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) TDS trail race in the Alps with 9,100-meters of elevation change. He has also completed the Black Canyon 100k. In 2022, he completed the Western States 100 mile run. His experience at Western Sates is the subject of the short film, Know To Run produced by Rising Hearts. He says there is a connection between his running and his painting. Yatika is an image-maker and thinker. He is intentional, aware, curious, passionate, eloquent and a powerful voice.
Yatika speaks about how he doesn't like to prefabricate ideas prior to creating his pieces. He paints on instinct and lets his art unfold. We talk about how being still in the movement. Yatika says stillness doesn't need to be defined as static, but it is more of an internal mindset. He shares about Graffiti art taught him a lot about style and courage. His experience at Standing Rock was powerful and he was part of the solidarity in a profound way. Yatika speaks about how running helped him get better and feel better. Yatika says, "running is an art form; painting is an art form; your body is an art form; movement is an art form. These are all things that are both shared between the brush and the legs and the mind. Running is colorful; painting is colorful."
Yatika lives on Osage, Mvskoke, Quapaw, Caddo, Kiikaapoi, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendation:
Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan
The Red Man's Bones by William Tomicki
Check out Yatika at www.yatikafields.com IG @yatikafields Garth Greening Gallery in NYC
When in Tulsa, OK, check out Burning Cedar Sovereign Wellness www.burningcedar.org IG @burningcedartulsa
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Jinghuan Liu Tervalon (she/her) is a mother runner based in the Los Angeles area. She is a partner, an athlete, an advocate and a leader. Her love of running started after she became a mother in 2007; she started training with the Fortius Altius Citius Training (FACT) group after her second child was born in 2016. She has completed 15 marathons and you can see her running on the road, trail and track in the Pasadena/Altadena area. She is a firm believer that anyone can be a runner, no matter your size, ability, background, or history. She works in consumer insights and marketing in the consumer packaged goods industry. She is also a freelance writer for Runner's World, Women's Running magazine and Trail Runner Magazine. Her writing covers the range of profile stories, performance-based topics and book reviews. Jinghuan serves on the board of Bras for Girls, a 501c organization that gives bras to girls to help them thrive in sports. She is also part of an athlete advocates group with Rising Hearts, founded by Jordan Marie Whetstone. She recently spoke at TRE (The Running Event) on building kinship in the running community. Jinghuan is also on the advisory board of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition. She was a semifinalist for the Brooks Runfulness Project and is a Oiselle Volée member who won $25,000 and hopes to bring visibility to the AAPI community through her book that has not yet been published (PUBLISHERS NEED THIS BOOK). While she's not working, running or writing, you can find her spending time with her teenage son, her daughter, husband and huskie. Jinghuan is on a racial awakening journey, doing anti-racist work in both the corporate world and the running community, while busting the model minority myth. She is a leader, taking up space, using her voice and impacting the world for good.
We talk about parenting and the importance of leaving ego at the door and being curious. She wants to teach her kids to love, both others and themselves. Jinghuan shares about her anti-racist work in the corporate world, uplifting women of color, especially in leadership positions. She writes about stories that are not discovered and that are often discarded. Jinghuan has taken more of an interest in how we conduct scientific studies. She wants to go deeper and see how these studies are lacking good study samples related to female bodies and more specifically how different races go through menopause differently. This is information that is LACKING and Jinghuan is learning into the research and knowledge, especially for women of color. She is hoping to have her book published; it profiles BIPOC runners making a big impact on running. LET'S GET THIS PUBLISHED ASAP!!!! Jinghuan shares about the importance of stewarding your own story and challenges everyone to be able to tell their own story.
Jinghuan lives on Tongva land.
Book recommendation:
Up to Speed by Christine Yu
Hunger by Roxanne Gay
Border Vista by Anni Liu
Find Jinghuan on IG @sandychannel and click on her LinkTree for access to her important articles and stories.
Check out Run With Us Pasadena when in Pasadena, CA www.clubrunwithus.com !
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Mauricio (Mau) Diaz (he/him) is a storyteller, an ultrarunner, an adventurer, and a connector. He is an entrepreneur, CEO and co-founder of Aire Libre, a Mexico City-based creative project that hosts immersive running experiences in exotic corners of the world. Mauricio is a lululemon ambassador and a Beyond Running podcast host. He has his BA in Digital Marketing from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey / ITESM. He has a Certificate in Chinese Foreign Policy and Chinese Society and Culture from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He values community and taking a stand against passive roles. He embraces a diversity of ideas and experiences and encourages people to question our own values and open our minds to new ways of thinking and being. Mauricio values connection rather than competition. He is a community builder and hopes for running to foster deep transformations with a strong focus on cultural immersion. Mauricio is curious, present, intentional, reflective and playful.
We talk about the beautiful, mystical experience of connecting with his dog, Aire. Mauricio shares about his gifts of curiosity, spark, and connecting/community. His curiosity is led by his passion and by his heart guidance. Mauricio's parents encouraged him to go and experience the world and he has done that ever since. He shares about how storytelling is about the connections you make and the feelings you can produce. During an ultra race, he experienced a connection to one-ness that was full of energy in the desert and evoked an emotion of thankfulness. He talks about how distance and time are secondary to running. Aire-Libre is storytelling and connection through movement. PLEASE check this out!! They design movement experiences for all levels across the world. "Discover the world through movement." He is practicing setting boundaries and limits and being able to say "No". Mauricio is curious...what comes next?... He is grateful that he is able to take the next breath and it will be okay; it will always be okay!
"Life is the total sum of each of your individual experiences." -Mauricio Diaz
Mau lives on Chumash and Tongva land in LA when not in Mexico City.
Book recommendation:
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Find Mau on IG @maudac and more about Aire-Libre @airelibre.earth or airelibre.earth
When in Mexico City check out hermanoskoumori.com IG @hermanoskoumori
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Sue Morgan (she/her) is a life partner, mom, nana, daughter, sister, and friend. She is an MS (Multiple Sclerosis) awareness advocate, chief crew extraordinaire, painter, reader, music lover, adventurer and runner. Sue grew up in northern Michigan and both of her parents were music teachers. She never participated in organized sports growing up but was happy to cheer on friends. Sue has a BA in Sociology and an MA in Human Resources Development. After college, she moved to Boulder, where she met and married her husband, Bill, who is also from Michigan. Colorado has been her home for most of her adult life. She retired in 2020 after almost 35 years of working in HR at the state, county and municipal level. After Bill was diagnosed with MS in 2010, and could no longer run, Kaitlyn asked if Sue would run a 5K with her and that’s how she got started running. Sue, Bill and Kaitlyn are involved with an organization called MS Run the US. Sue has summited 14 of the Colorado 14ers and hopes to complete her 120th race this year. Sue is a force and a badass.
Kaitlyn Yonke (she/her) is a partner, an athlete, a trail and ultrarunner, a run coach, artist and an adventurer. She is a para athlete guide, and an advocate for inclusion, accessibility and a cure for MS. Kaitlyn went to school at CSU for Music and is a Music Therapist at Continuum of Colorado, Inc. for adults and kids with developmental disabilities. She loves the 100 mile running distance and has completed Leadville, High Lonesome and White Rim Road in Canyonlands and holds a few FKTs. She runs for Runner’s Roost and Speedland and is Head Coach for Run Infinite. Kaitlyn supports people as a friend, a pacer, crew member, encourager and presence. She is showing up
for a cure for MS in a consistent and powerful way.
Bill Morgan (he/him) is a loving husband, dad, grandpa, mischief maker, and friend. He is an MS warrior, cheerleader extraordinaire, avid reader and para-athlete. He grew up in Detroit Michigan and his love of bicycles started at a young age. Bill started racing bicycles in high school and continued in college. He also rode one of the bike centennial routes in 1978 which was 3000 miles across the country. Bill graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in Computer Science and then moved to Colorado to be a ski bum and luckily met Sue shortly after moving, got a job and then they married. He spent 30 years developing software for business and sales and retired soon after he was diagnosed with MS. After he was diagnosed and could no longer run, Kaitlyn kept looking for ways to keep him active. While he could still ride his bicycle, Bill, his son, Nick, Kaitlyn rode the MS 150 for several years. He is interested in anything and everything to keep physically active, to keep his body moving. Eventually, Kaitlyn found the MS Run the US Relay and they were all launched on a new path. Bill doesn’t give up. He is a go-er and a fighter and keeps showing up for himself and his family.
Book recommendations:
Kaitlyn's: Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey & Musicophilia by Oliver Sacks
Sue's: Mitakuve Oyasin: We are All Related by Allen C. Ross-Ehanamani
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Bill's: Biology of Belief by Dr. Bruce Lipton
From Bill: "Today is my new 100%".
From Kaitlyn: "MS is not a disability sentence and you can still do big things."
From Sue: "We are living THROUGH it, not with it."
Find Bill on IG @bill,trikes4ms
Find Sue on IG @mamasueruns and FB @Sue Best Morgan
Find Kaitlyn on IG @kkroo917 @mom.dot.artwork @run_infinite
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Gina Lucrezi is a partner, a leader, a connector, a trail runner, an ultrarunner and founder of the online journal and community called Trail Sisters which started in 2016. She is a women’s rights advocate dedicated to making impactful, equitable progress within the outdoor recreation industry. She believes in the importance of public stewardship and gives back to her local community as the Mayor Pro Tem of Buena Vista, Colorado, a member of Chaffee County Search & Rescue North and a board member for the Hardrock 100. Gina received her BA in Television and Film from DeSales University and her Masters in Sport Management from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. Two years after earning her Masters in Sport Management, in 2008, Gina moved to Southborough, Massachusetts, to work as a marketing manager for inov-8. Later, in 2011, she relocated to Carbondale, Colorado, where she took a seat with “Trail Runner Magazine” as the Advertising Sales Manager. Over the years, she also took roles as the Business Development Manager at iRunFar and Athlete Manager for Red Wing Shoes. At the time when Trail Sisters launched, Lucrezi lived in Boulder, Colorado, and worked as a contractor for Julbo, Ultimate Direction, and Vasque, doing marketing, team management, and athlete management. She is a 10x Division III NCAA All-American, Division III NCAA National Champion for Indoor 1500 meters. She is a USATF Trail 10k Champion, 2012 Team USA 1st place World Long Distance Champion, and 2x Winner of the Leadville Silver Rush 50 mile held at 10k + feet. Off the trail, Gina is most likely developing more projects for Trail Sisters with her husband Justin, or playing with her Airedale, Erza. Gina is a powerhouse, a force, one who empowers and keeps showing up.
We talk about how Gina helps guide the town of BV as the Mayor Pro Tem. She talks about transitioning from field hockey to cross country and loving it; "running took a hold of me." We talk about being female in sport and seeing how there was more tradition and celebration around men's sports. She is honest about feeling left out and asking why don't WE have the things/access/awards that the men had? We talk about the importance of education and education as power, empowerment, advocacy. "An educated person can be a confident person." Gina talks about her challenge with the word "safety" and how it often is accompanied by fear; she wants to encourage awareness as opposed to fear and ultimately create a welcoming and accessible space. More conversation. More collaboration. She talks about growing up with ADD and learning how to harness it and embrace it as a superpower. Gina believes in the strength and power of women!
Gina lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ land.
Book recommendation:
Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
When in BV, check out Deerhammer Distillery www.deerhammer.com
Find Gina on IG @trail_sisters and @ginalucrezi
https://www.trailsisters.net/
https://www.instagram.com/trail_sisters/
https://www.facebook.com/trailsisters1/
https://www.strava.com/clubs/trail-sisters-251925
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Maddy Ahlborn (she/her) is a painter, a poet, playwright, photographer and performer. She uses surrounding context as a catalyst for projects and allows the idea to dictate the medium in her artistic practice. She attended TUFTS University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA where she earned her BFA. She earned her MA from Adams State University, where she was promptly offered a teaching position after graduation. In her time in the SLV thus far, Maddy has worked as a motel housekeeper, the Teen Director at the local Boys and Girls Club, an Adjunct Instructor in the arts at Adams State University, a journalist for local news and media outlet Alamosa Citizen, which lead her to apply to San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO!) where she currently works full time as the non-profits grant writer. Maddy also just began her own business called "The Church Project," which is a community art center located in the 100-year-old church in Monte Vista. She has written 2 books (unpublished) titled "Notes on Home" (unfinished) and her more recent writings, "Notes on Dirt Roads" a project which began almost 3 years ago when she began to run on various dirt roads around the SLV to cope with an unexplainable experience. She has been running ever since. Maddy shows up as a strong voice, an advocate, an empowerer and an action-taker. Her root values of art, outdoors and community make her a powerful force for good and positive change.
Maddy talks about writing to overcome insecurity and uses her writing as advocacy. SLV GO coalition is a replicable meeting hub of idea-generating, making dreams happen, and working to elevate marginalized voices: “High tide raises all boats.” Maddy answers her own question: How do you want to change the world?...Through language. Maddy runs to think and to feel and to get lost and she incorporates her writing and photography into her running. As she explores playwriting, she holds on to something she learned: theater is for change and theater is for empathy. Words of wisdom from a friend: Progress happens at the speed of trust. She remembers this as she embarks on the new journey of owning the Church Project, a community-based art center open to all. She speaks about the importance of community voice in driving initiatives forward. Word of mouth spreads like wildfire, so spread the word about SLV GO and all that they do for the community and the greater good. Maddy wants people to lean into their own talents and explore how they are a creative person. Maddy mic drops with the statement: “vague questions prompt creative answers”. She is learning how to accept herself for where she is now, “all of life is a transition”.
Maddy lives on Pueblos, Diné Bikéyah and Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ land.
Book recommendations:
Walk by Jonathon Stallz https://www.instagram.com/jstallz/
Outside Lies Magic by John Stilgoe
San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO!) IG: @slvgo; Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8LVlJtuXtlVZdcQWpk1tfw ; website: slvgo.com The Church Project IG: @montechurchproject ; website: https://infochurchproject.wixsite.com/my-site
Maddy's personal website: https://maddyahlborn.wixsite.com/fineart
Check out Maddy at maddyahlborn@slvgo.com and on IG @madeleine.r.ahlborn @slvgo
Check out vali3theater.
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Nicol Hodges (she/her) is a mom, a competitive runner, an advocate, a community leader, a certified life coach, author, and an award-winning creative professional. She has a BA in Environmental Sciences and a BA in Apparel Construction & Design. She has been an assistant and community engagement manager, a creative project manager, a global creative manager, and a product development manager. She has been in product design for over 25 years. Her fitness background started in 2008 and has led to fitness classes, fitness blogging, videos, fitness modeling and a fitness apparel company. Her blog, SeeNicRun, now influences others to live a healthier lifestyle and improve physical, mental and spiritual health. Running is the core of the blog but there is so much more, particularly for active women. Nicol has been a competitive runner for 35 years. She was a nationally ranked high school 400-meter runner and an 8-time Big 12 championship runner for the University of Missouri, Columbia. After track ended, she started running in local 5K events with girlfriends and was immediately hooked. Nicol is also a nationally ranked duathlete (run-bike-run) and went to Nationals at the age of 49! In high school and college, running track taught her discipline and training techniques. As an adult, running has improved Nicol’s mental health and helped her move through challenging seasons. Now, Nicol is running for justice. She is an ambassador for TheRidersHub. To fuel her passion for fitness and wellness, Nicol hosted community runs throughout the San Diego area shedding light on the importance of women’s mental and physical health. She serves as a source of inspiration by sharing her own experiences as a mother, runner, and fitness enthusiast at SeeNicRun.com. Nicol is also the co-founder of Unity Runners and the core founder of “Black Women Rock 5k Run”. She has been a podcaster for the Rise and Run podcast, is a contributing writer for several platforms such as Office Worker Health, 92128 Magazine, Encinitas 4 Equality, and has recently authored her first book, Time to R.I.S.E. Get Fit and Stay There! She has been highlighted by RIDC for her inclusion, high energy and love for celebrating her community and has been spotlighted in Well and Good, Runner’s World and “Humans of Hoka”. By day she is the mastermind behind creative projects and the ringleader of an excellent team of associates. By night she slips into her super hero tights and runs like the wind. Running is Nicol’s passion and she pairs it with advocacy and community. She keeps showing up and using her voice!
Nicol is a woman with agency and works to build community and bring people along with her, empowering them to continue to RISE. She is an entrepreneur and enjoys building stuff out of nothing. Nicol is good at communicating and pulling everyone together to make things work. She works to do everything for a purpose and is a catalyst for other peoples' success. Nicol celebrates people and wants them to feel taken care of and experience their own rising. Nicol shares about the importance of letting go and slowing down. Nicol challenges people to ask how someone is doing and to mean it and hold space for the answer.
Nicol lives on Piscataway and Nacotchtank (Anacostan) land.
Book Recommendation:
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Find Nicol at www.nicolhodges.com or seenicrun.com
Check out the Lip Bar thelipbar.com The Lip Bar - Vegan Beauty with Easy to Use Products
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Mercedes Siegle-Gaither (she/her) is a partner, an athlete, an ultrarunner, a volunteer and an outdoor lover. She is a trail and ultrarunner ambassador for Salomon ProSquad and for the Feed. She is a Merrell Global Trail Team athlete starting in 2024. She finished the Leadville 100 mile race this year 2023 among other outstanding efforts. Mercedes is a Supervisory Forester at Colorado State Forest Service. She has competed in stage races, including the Golden Trail World Series. She does VK challenges and has several FKTs. She has been a Wildlife Biology Technician, an Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator, a Park Ranger, and a Graduate Research Assistant and President of the Graduate Student Association at Mississippi State University. Mercedes received her BS in Biology from the University of Wisconsin La-Crosse. She has her MS in Forestry from Mississippi State University. She works hard. She competes with strength and courage! She aims to inspire people to be the best they can be.
We talk about Mercedes' path that led her to being a forester and how she is embracing her leadership role, especially as a female. She shares how it's important for people to know that fire isn't bad. Forests need the fire. She speaks about the Women's Forest Congress (www.womensforestcongress.org) and the goal of empowering more women and educating people about women's experiences in the forest. Mercedes shares how she dabbled in running when she was younger and then discovered that she enjoyed running when she got to Australia and was able to run to the ocean. She talks about growing from not thinking she could run fast up mountains to seeing how she absolutely can and does really well doing it! Mercedes talks about how she was inspired to finish her 100 mile race because she saw all these amazing people who just kept moving: "Doing it together even though we were not together". Love!! She talks about tunnel vision on the pain and dark places and still finishing 100 miles!!! Mercedes shares about the importance of empathy and how it is so applicable in many aspects of life.
Mercedes lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Diné Bikéyah and Pueblos land.
Book recommendation:
The Power of Kindness by Pierro Ferrucci
Find Mercedes on social media @runsciencecedes
Check out 7000 Feet Running Company Salida. Co shop.7kft.co IG @7kftco when in Salida, CO!
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Marnie Gonzalez (she/her) is a wife, a mother, a hiker, a mover, a teacher and a student! She is an adventure chicken, a traveler and a lover of languages and cultures. She is an advocate and uses her voice and gifts to support refugees transitioning to life in the U.S. She received her BA in Spanish Language and Literature from Fort Lewis College and her MA in Teaching from Metro State University Denver. She currently works as an English Language Development Teacher in Denver, supporting emergent bilingual students in their English language development via intentional language bridging using multiple modalities. Marnie is curious, asks questions, works hard and is intentional about leaning in to the tough human layers in order to heal and grow. She shows up for others in an authentic and available way. She is a force and a supporter of many.
Marnie shares how she was able to experience adventure and see what she was capable of on the trail during a multi-night backpacking trip. We discuss meditation and therapy and the practice that goes along with both. Marnie has pivoted as an educator and makes language learning meaningful despite the systemic inequities that still exist in education. She is passionate about making room for people and speaks about how we can't control where we are born! Marnie had a life-changing experience when she realized she had a skillset that could be used beyond what she was currently doing. She talks about the systemic problems that are not empowering to those seeking asylum in the U.S. and how there are solutions that would make the process more dignified and supportive if some very simple changes could be made. Marnie is a lighthouse for refugees and asylum-seekers. She is invested in the people she encounters and she is authentically herself in her interactions.
Marnie lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book Recommendation:
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Check out Marnie via email: emgonzalez2@msn.com
When in the Denver area, check out Tacos Selene tacosselenecolorado.com and East Moon Asian Bistro www.eastmooncentennial.com
Also, consider supporting and learning more about the following:
Colorado hosting asylum network www.hostingasylum.org
Papagayo VIVE Wellness International Rescue Committee https://help.rescue.org/donate
Lutheran Family Services www.lfsrm.org
Jewish Family Service https://www.jewishfamilyservice.org
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Ti Eversole (she/her) is an Apache/ Diné trail runner, storyteller, aspiring photographer, and outdoor brand strategist based in Durango, Colorado. She is a partner, a mountain biker, an adventurer, a writer and one of my ReNew Earth Running teammates. Ti began running at the age of 10, participating in local fun runs before joining the XC team in middle school and high school. Since then she has found her true passion lies in ultra distances, and recently completed her first 50-miler at the Antelope Canyon Ultra on her Diné homelands. Running has allowed Ti to connect more deeply with her culture and the lands that comprise her home in the Southwest. In more recent years, she has found ways to tie her love of the sport to causes that she is passionate about. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ti raised over $5,000 for non-profit Adopt A Native Elder by summiting the four sacred mountains of the Diné, which helped to provide food and supplies to native elders living in remote areas. Her current projects are focused on climate change and Indigenous land stewardship, and with the support of the ReNew Earth Running Team and the Protect Our Winters (POW) Bike Alliance, Ti’s goal is to build a more sustainable future for the next generation and beyond. When she’s not running around in the mountains or desert, you will find her mountain biking, rafting, snowboarding, writing, or baking. Ti is strong, intentional and an advocate who continues to show up!
Ti is vulnerable about her relationship with her grandmother and how much of an impact she had on Ti. She talks about dedicating her 50 mile race to her grandmother and how the morning of the race there was a light rain: "A light rain is a female rain". Ti's grandmother was strong and a caretaker who sacrificed so much to make sure her family was supported. She shares how baking is a way for her to share her love and connect. Ti was able to support Native elders by providing food, access to vehicles and access to so many resources to help them survive. She connected supporting her elders to her movement by summiting the four sacred mountains of the Diné, respecting the summits, making an offering and moving intentionally making sure she was moving in a balanced way. Ti speaks about the importance and beauty of the solar eclipse and being respectful of Diné traditions. In Diné belief, eclipses are an intimate moment between the sun and the moon and we should give them time on their own as they pass, letting nature move. We talk about rebounding from injuries and using recovery time to reframe, reset and rest. Ti is learning to be gentle with herself, a good practice.
Ti lives on Diné Bikéyah, Pueblos and Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ land.
Book recommendation:
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins
Follow Ti on IG @run.wander.ride and look for a blog from her soon!
When in Durango, check out WeFill wefillcolorado.com
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Shawn Gruenhagen (he/him) is a partner, a dad, an athlete, former futbol player, a friend, a mentor, and an aspiring farmer. He is a connector, a collaborator, an entrepreneur, an artist, a creative and a creator. He cares for Earth and is an active gardener. Shawn is a leader, a teacher, a learner and a BIG fan of baseball and Back to the Future. He grew up in Southern Minnesota and has been in Denver since 2000. Shawn has a BFA in Graphic Design and Photography from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, a BFA in Photography from the College of St. Scholastica and a BFA in Graphic Design from CCU. He was an Independent Sales Rep for Vans for just under 17 years and has recently transitioned to a collaboration role. Shawn is deep and wide and full and kind.
Shawn talks about growing up in Minnesota and the impact of his dad on his interest in farming and agriculture, as well as on the importance of connecting to and with people. He connects with his dad, who passed away in 2019, by doing the things that his dad taught him. Shawn is in the process of learning more about a grain called Kernza, regenerative agriculture and the protection of the land by using perennials. Upland Collaborative is Shawn's new adventure in storytelling and he talks about working with the Land Institute and Sustain-A-Grain and building connections. We talk about the SUMMER OF SHAWN! A first on the podcast: we have someone who sends in a voice message with a question!!
Shawn's wisdom nuggets: "the deepest deep breath"; "yes-ANDing"; "not everything has to be a way"; "you don't have to know all the rules"; "what's the point of what we're doing"; "books as placeholders throughout my life"; "less for-sure-ness"; "not always searching for the certainty"
Shawn lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendations (as a peak at seasons of Shawn's life):
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Crazy Horse by Larry McMurtry
The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
Wild Mind by Bill Plotkin
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Church of the Wild by Victoria Loorz
Shawn encourages you to shop small and local whenever you can:
Bear Creek Distillery bearcreekdistillery.com
Vital Root ediblebeats.com
Vitamin Cottage
Find Shawn on IG @shawng
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Louamy Sepulveda (she/her) is a partner, an advocate, a therapist, a comedian, and a friend. She is a rapper, a wellness guide, an encourager, an empowerer and a connection-creator. Louamy describes her health and wellness journey as a beautiful off-the-rails ride. She has experienced many moments that felt like quicksands of deep stuckness, as well as colorful moments where chambers of new breath unlocked. She has shifted her perspective from being weight-loss obsessed, to working towards a healthy and peaceful life. She describes herself as a rookie when it comes to this new way of living.
Louamy's first real hike was in 2021. She hiked up Mt. Tamalpais in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was a 9 mile hike with 2000 ft elevation change. As a Bronx native, that was a huge deal for a girl that didn't want to walk up the block to the bodega. Life has been filled with firsts for these past several years. She is currently living in Philly, as a new resident in a new city. She has been a psychotherapist and has been working in community mental health for 8 years. She received her MS from Pace University. Louamy is a gastric sleeve surgery recipient, a romantic at heart, and has been sober for 1,372 days.
Louamy is a forever learner of new ways. She can be loving and compassionate to her body after being so mean to it for a long time. She prays to remain teachable and willing through life's twists and turns. She is a lover of music, art, dance, and comedy. As a proud Puerto Rican, she does this freedom work for her lineage- the ones before her and the ones to come. Grateful for every breath and every step, Louamy knows it's just the beginning. Louamy is powerful, strong, brave, bold, determined, diligent and kind. When she asks you how you are doing, she really wants to know. Louamy is a force and a beautiful, bright energy.
Louamy talks about life being more colorful instead of so black and white. She is honest about being tired of not remembering before she got sober. Louamy is more intentional about being in the present moment, relinquishing self-centeredness and understanding that we can't do this life journey by ourselves. She talks about staying sober is all about taking it day by day, praying, connecting with other people and having support. Lou consistently checks in with herself every morning to see what comes up for her and what she needs for the day. Louamy beautifully says that this journey is finding the middle, not living in extremes and not wanting to put everything in a box. She has been witness to people changing and states that it requires work and action. "What are you doing and also, what are you not doing?" AND having compassion for yourself in the process. We talk about how there is so much generational pain...where does it go? If one person doesn't stop the continuation, it continues and it is SO important for us to help stop the cycle. Louamy says it's an inside job to shift the narrative. "This work is not only for me." Louamy is a HOPE-GIVER and a healer and she teaches people that they can have power over their lives. "Healing people heal people." She remembers that her body has shown up for her for all of these years. Louamy knows for sure that it gets better! "If we get better, it gets better."
Lou lives on Lenapehoking land.
Book recommendation:
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Get Rooted by Robyn Moreno
Find Louamy @therapist.comedian.rapper
Look for all of Louamy's wisdom on this IG page.
When in Philly, check out Uncle Bobbie's Coffee and Books www.unclebobbies.com
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Jamie Hudspeth (she/her) is a daughter, sister, and an Auntie. She grew up in southern Indiana playing in the woods with her two brothers and sister. She loves to read, cook, bake, hike, ski, bike (almost anything outdoors) and enjoys doing these activities with family and friends. She is a lover of all animals and a keeper of plants. She is a healthcare provider and uses her training to be a source of knowledge and an advocate for those in need. In 2021, her family experienced a tragic loss: the wrongful death of her father, after a routine surgery. Despite this loss, she continues to strive to see positive in the world, maximize her time doing activities she loves, spend time with her family, and hopes to propagate love, kindness, and encouragement for others. Jamie is an empath and is intentional about seeing the good in the world. She speaks up and shows up for people and communities by using her voice and actions. She sees a need and does something about it. Jamie has a beautiful connection with Earth and a respect for all beings. She is a ripple creator who drops wisdom on the regular.
Content warning: we speak about death and loss of a parent
Jamie shares about the importance of seeing people as they navigate the challenges of the healthcare system. In her position as a pharmacist, she has also taken on the role of advocate. We discuss the challenge and attempted balance that exists to both trust doctors and be your own advocate. Jamie is very vulnerable about the pain, ache and grief that accompanies her daily as she continues to process the loss of her dad, Greg. She shares about the importance of honoring her dad's life by continuing to show up and seek justice for her dad. I get fired up about the lack of accountability for those involved in her dad's wrongful death. Jamie speaks about how therapy and movement have helped her process through the grief and anger she experiences. We talk about her mom, Georgia and about the BISON (metaphor, look up the story of the bison) and plants and connection to Earth. Jamie is full of so much gratitude and she keeps showing up for life.
Jamie lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendations:
Tracks by Robyn Davidson
Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery
Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Find Jamie @jmehudspeth
When in Colorado, check out Get Up! Training ;) and online store:
BEYOND BUCKSKIN www.beyondbuckskin.com
PLEASE READ these articles:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/06/18/tb-bone-product/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/08/04/tb-outbreak-tuberculosis-bone-graft/
*If you have a connection that could support Jamie and others, please reach out.
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Imrul Mazid (he/him) is an advocate, a partner, a runner, a fundraiser, a supporter, a writer, a poet, a justice-seeker, and an action-taker. Imrul moved to the SF Bay Area from Canada in 1992. He lived at the base of a 1600-ft mountain where he would hike and later trail run. After racing in middle school and high school, Imrul logged less than 21 km over 21 years. His freedom journey started in 2018, when he ran a 5K and fundraised for the Asian Prisoner Support Committee. In September 2022, Imrul raised over $2000 through a Philadelphia 5K, Running Down the Walls. Incarcerated folks participated by running inside prisons, while supporters ran on the outside. All contributions went to Philly Muslim Freedom Fund (PMFF), which directly uplifted 15 women returning citizens. In the process, he ran down his internal walls and unlocked a wellspring of ideas for 2023. He received his BA in Economics and Sociology from UC Davis, his Master of Science from the University of Pennsylvania and his MA in Sociology and Education from the Teachers College of Columbia University. He is trained in social justice philanthropy, grassroots fundraising, and grantmaking processes. He is currently a Community Development Manager for Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC). Today, Imrul is a proud middle-of-the-pack runner striving for his first marathon (and still fundraising!). His training is increasingly wrapped in joy, soaked in gratitude, and drawn from wells of love and compassion. It has been a pleasure for me to be a part of Imrul’s freedom journey. Imrul is a powerful and empathetic voice for good and justice. He works hard and shows up in beautiful, intentional ways.
We talk about Imrul's freedom journey and how running has served as a vehicle for freedom. He has been drawn to issues related to decarceration and abolition and uses running as advocacy. Imrul works hard to de-emphasize himself and uplift those who have been oppressed. He speaks about the importance of reading and learning and growing, devouring everything to do with Black-centered freedom stories. Running has become an unconditioning for Imrul and lots of unlearning and humility. He acknowledges the "ists" that used to hurt his pride and ego. Imrul challenged himself to sit in discomfort as he shared his writing via spoken word poetry. Running for him has to be for something bigger than himself. As a Muslim, during Ramadan, Imrul has been able to connect with Creator and has felt more aligned as he fasts from both food and water, which makes things quite a bit more challenging when you add running in during that time. Imrul combines movement, advocacy and his voice through writing.
"Sculpt society in a more just orientation and to be fair and just with myself." -Imrul
Imrul lives on Lenapehoking land.
Book recommendation:
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
When in South Philly, check out Hardena (www.hardenaphilly.com)
Learn more about Imrul's story (www.imazid.com) and follow his marathon build-up on IG @im.runner14
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Miki McConaha (she/her) is a mom, a partner, an advocate, an ultrarunner, a plant-based athlete, an educator, a cross country coach, and a race director. She is a cook, a baker, a gardener, a snowboarder, a skier, a hiker of mountains including many a 14er in Colorado. Miki was born and raised in Colorado and played sports throughout her life, Soccer was her number one sport but she played volleyball in HS too. She was a goalkeeper because she didn't like running much and liked the importance of the role. Miki received a scholarship to play goalkeeper at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC, which she did for 4 years. She then took a volleyball class and mid-way through the class, Miki was offered a scholarship to play her 5th year on the volleyball team. She graduated with a BS in Psychology. Post college, she worked as a community correction case manager, followed by a division of youth corrections security officer. Miki quit to go back to school to get a Master’s in teaching and has been a teacher for the past 7 years. She recently created a run club at her school which was able to raise money to get kids shoes and also participate in the BolderBoulder. Miki finished her first 100 mile race in Leadville last summer. She is an empowerer, an advocate and a doer of all the things.
Miki shares about how her work in the youth correction facility translates into her work as an educator and coach. She was able to hold space for kids and see them and listen to the horrible and hard stories they were living. Miki always showed up trying to do what was best for kids. She talks about how she became a teacher so she could be somebody for kids who don't have somebody. Just beautiful. Miki shares how she started out disliking running and now she runs ultras! She shares about the commitment and the excitement of finishing the Leadville 100. Miki is still working to find the "balance" of running, parenting, working, and doing all the things. We talk about failure and the importance of using failure as growth and not naming ourselves as failure. "Failure doesn't define me. It's going to help make me better." - Miki
Miki is a race director and empowers kids to run and not quit.
She is a ripple creator!
Miki lives on hinono’eino’ biito’owu’, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendation:
Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty
Check out Miki on IG @miki.mcconaha10 and FB Miki McConaha
When in Arvada, check out So Radish in Old Town www.soradish.com and The Golden Burro in Leadville, CO www.goldenburro.com
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Teri Ruthe (she/her) is a mom, a grandmother, a partner, an advocate, a friend and a mentor. She has been a Physical Therapist Assistant since 1995 and a Certified Lymphedema Therapist since 2017. She has worked at Summerlin Hospital since 2009 in Rehab and Acute care. Teri has studied Martial Arts since 1998 and is a Kempo 3rd Degree Black Belt. She bought her first Martial Arts studio in 2000, started teaching in 2001 and bought her second studio in 2002. She served as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer for 2 years (2005-2007), advocating for foster children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect. In February of 2003, at the age of 35, Teri was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. This year, 2023, is 20 years as a survivor. Teri shows up for her co-workers, family, and friends and is the person you want in your corner.
We talk about her journey with Martial Arts and how she is continuing to this day! She discusses the importance of martial arts and self-defense being shared in schools and with youth. Teri was part of the foster system growing up and she wanted to be able to support others. She is a caretaker and a helper and is practicing filling herself up and resting so she can continue doing her very hard and rewarding job. Teri talks about how hopelessness that people experience manifests in their bodies and how she takes on the role of motivator in order to help give hope! We talk about the importance of community and a team at work, especially in the profession of healthcare. Teri shares about the whirlwind experience of her breast cancer journey that started at age 35. She understands that teachers are all the things around us.
Teri lives on Southern Paiute and Chemehuevi land.
Book recommendation:
Yes You Are Good Enough by Trish Taylor
Check out Teri on FB Teri Ruthe and IG @gidget530
When in Las Vegas, check out The Silver Stamp www.silverstamplv.com
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Starla (she/her) is a partner, an athlete, a professional cyclist, an empowerer and co-creator of Distance To Empty. She is a planner, a dreamer, a teammate and a survivor! She has endured some very difficult health challenges and continues to show up for herself, her teammates and for the Distance To Empty athletes. Starla leans in and is on a journey to be in the present moment. Hope you enjoy this conversation. Pinkies up!
Today’s podcast looks a little different. I joined as co-host with my buddy, Travis Macy, on his podcast, the Travis Macy show @travismacyshow. We talk about Starla's 15 year pro racing experience and how she redefined who she was. She talks about how a doctor dismissed her serious symptoms and belief that something was wrong. Eventually lesions were found on her spine and brain and a very challenging journey to healing began. Starla empowers Colorado-based women to get on bikes and to show up for themselves. She is navigating the ups and downs of high and low energy levels and is embracing the mental challenges that come with listening to her body now. We talk about the importance of having fun with racing and how that will often contribute to a good race. You can be competitive AND have some fun!!
Starla lives on hinono’eino’ biito’owu’, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Check out Starla on IG @starlat or get lots of great info about her and Distance To Empty on her website:
Starla Teddergreen – The Official Site of a Professional Cyclist (starlateddergreen.com)
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Jason Cartwright (he/him) is a dad, husband, runner, skier, mountain biker, paddleboarder, camper, and an entrepreneur. He gets his love of fitness and the outdoors from his dad who is still rippin' the slopes of Wolf Creek at 79 years old. Jason escaped Maryland in 1999 and moved to Durango to go to Fort Lewis College with the idea to find a way to make a living in the outdoor industry. There he met and fell in love with his wife, Jessie, and after graduating they moved to her hometown, Denver. She began her teaching career and he started working at the REI Flagship store downtown, along with a few other jobs. He was offered a gig for the holidays at the neighborhood wine shop and has been in the wine business for nearly 20 years. Jason is the creator of Phun Bar: handmade, small batch, great tasting and easy to chew and swallow bars made with real ingredients. He is working to make Phun Bar a reality and leave the wine industry for good.
We talk about how Jason wanted something different from his job in the wine industry and took a risk jumping out on his own. He speaks about the importance to him of creating a product, Phun Bar, that he wanted to eat while training and then expanded to sharing his creation with friends. Jason hustles and enjoys the hustle as he works to get his product into the hands of as many people as he can. His intention, though, is to be present and to enjoy life as it is. His daughter, Harper, came up with the clever name and Phun Bar continues to expand. Jason shares how he enjoys connecting with people and how confident that he is on the right path for himself. He talks about the greatness and hardness of parenting and how amazing it is to watch his kids grow.
Jason lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book Recommendation:
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Check out Jason on IG @phunbar and www.phunbar.com
Join him for Weekly Phun Runs on Wednesdays at 8am at
Panorama Park 34th Ave & Fenton in Wheat Ridge, CO!
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Alicia Law (she/her) is a partner, a healer, an advocate, an Earth supporter, and a hiker of trails. She is a lover of all things outdoor, yoga, plants, music, and travel. Alicia lives near Taos, NM in an off-grid sustainable house called an earthship. Her spiritual journey began with an evangelical Christian upbringing. Later, in her 30s, she realized spirituality is far more expansive than one religion so she began learning other religious and spiritual practices. Currently, meditation, prayer, journaling, crystals, oracle, and tarot are what she enjoys for spiritual connection. She loves learning and trying new avenues to commune with Spirit and align with her highest self. She believes we are here to remind each other of who we are, to expand our consciousness, and to heal. Alicia wants to heal the world by unconditionally loving herself and others and then helping them to do the same. Her heart is especially called towards the healing of her sisters of all ages. Alicia is a seeker, a connector, a teacher, a learner and a charismatic bearer of good and positive energy. She is light and love and I am grateful to know her.
We talk all things plants and earthships. Alicia shares about her sustainable living and the way she embraces being a steward of the land. We talk about the mixture of Christianity and mysticism and how she has grown to embrace her curiosity, which has existed in her for her entire life. She talks about the rigidity of the Christian religion and how it didn't allow for her curiosity or her sexuality. Alicia speaks about wanting to heal and help people and navigating the contradictory teachings she received. She is such a good teacher and learner, open to what comes. Alicia wrestled about where she belonged, being gay, and how she kept coming back to God is love. She realized that her loving a woman doesn't hurt anyone and actually gave her freedom and peace! Alicia understands now that SHE IS OKAY and even more than ok and that God is so much more expansive than we will ever understand. She talks about her experience receiving tattoos as almost like a spiritual practice. Alicia is an advocate for women and girls and wants them to ALWAYS feel safe. She is AMAZING, people. She is healing for past generations and future generations. Just wow!!! Look for an earthship healing center someday that she brings into existence.
Alicia lives on Pueblos, Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ and Tigua land.
Book recommendations:
All About Love by bell hooks
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Thich Nhat Hahn
Pema Chodron
PLEAZZZZZZZ reach out to Alicia if you have questions about all things spiritual and healing. She is brilliant, full of grace and a beautiful teacher: alicial.h.law@gmail.com
When in Taos, NM, check out Wild Leaven Wild Leaven Bakery | New Mexico – The Wild Leaven Bakery LLC www.wildleavenbakery.com
When in Denver, check out Urban Sanctuary ( www.urbansanctuary.love ) and Blood Math (see Morgan Torah- https://www.bloodmathematics.com)
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Candace Gonzales (she/her) is a partner, a friend, an ultrarunner, a connector, an advocate, and a writer. She is the Office Manager of the Brighton Regional Office of the Colorado State Public Defender. Her team represents indigent defendants accused of a crime in state court. The work she does is righteous as she helps support the fight for her clients, the people that many in society have turned their back on. Her team, which she calls the true gladiators, sees the humanity of people and gives them a voice. Candace has written several articles for Trail Sisters (Candace Gonzales, Author at Trail Sisters®) and Rising Hearts and is a Running with Purpose Team Member of @rising_hearts. She has run distances from 5ks to 50ks and her trail name is Tough Cookie. She has also been called the Running Poet. She runs in community with Trailtinos @trailtinos and Bprunco @bprunco. Candace is powerful voice, speaking up for diversity, representation and inclusion in the running community.
Candace shares about her miscarriage and the grief that flows in and out. She talks about the importance of normalizing this experience and keeping it from being a taboo topic. "Miscarriage is not your fault and you are not alone." Candace is vulnerable about how a lot of her writing is about grief and how running, during her grieving, was the only thing that was normal for her. Running helped her heal.
She shares how she experiences gratitude consistently on her run and she also uses her runs for advocacy and fundraising. Candace is a connector and wants to support people having access to trails and feel welcomed! She is the madrina of Trailtinos and is such a leader and sharer of positive energy. Representation is important and she wants to write a kids book that is representative, cultural-based and nature-based. Go Candace!! When she races, she runs as advocacy and to bring awareness.
ripplecreator
Candace lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ and Tséstho’e land.
Book recommendation:
So Far From God by Ana Castillo
Check out Candace on IG @candacegonzo and FB @CandaceGonzoStock
Find her articles @rising_hearts and @trailsisters
When in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, check out Bprunco www.berkeleyparkrunningcompany.com
"It's not just about running for them. It's about community." - Candace
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Rob Barlow (he/him) is a partner, a mountaineer, and ultrarunner. He holds the current supported FKT for the self-powered (no car) hiking of Colorado's 100 highest mountains, biking between mountain ranges (105 peaks, 2100 miles, 300,000’ vertical gain, 70 days). He has completed the Nolan’s 14 in under 60 hours. Rob has been to the top of a Colorado 14er 517 times (there are 58). Rob has also summited Mt. Rainier (Washington State, 14,410’) via the Kautz glacier (Alaska Grade II/III); Iztaccihuatl (Mexico, 17,159’), Pico de Orizaba (Mexico, 18,490’), and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, 19,341’). He was a lawyer with the Denver District Attorney’s Office and recently started his own law firm. Rob has also raised money for the American Lung Association.
Rob and Max discuss multiple fourteener routes and efforts during different months of the year. Rob talks about failure as part of the human process and it's the consequence of putting yourself out there and trying. He has learned to listen better to his body and has grown to be okay being vulnerable and being willing to rely on others.
Rob lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ land.
Book recommendation:
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Check out more about Rob: barlow.rl@gmail.com & IG @rlmbarlow
When in Grand Junction, CO, check out: Grass Roots Cycles www.grassroots-cycles.com
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Jennie Himes (she/her) is a mom, a partner, a friend, athlete, an ultrarunner, and a dog mama. She is a lover of ghost towns, mountains, trails, fall leaves, and adventures. Jennie has hiked 23 of Colorado’s 14ers and completed her first 50k race last year and has many more ultras and trail runs in her future. She is a first responder working 911 dispatch and supervisor of Park County Communications, taking care of humans and keeping her cool during very intense situations. Jennie is an ambassador for Bigger Than The Trail, an organization that is using trail running as a platform to advocate for mental health, coming alongside individuals and providing educational support and treatment options. Jennie shows up for people in a beautiful way. She is strong, determined, curious, and fierce. She perseveres and she rises. All the time. Jennie is authentically herself and an amazing human being.
Content warning: we discuss cutting, alcoholism, and briefly disordered eating
Jennie talks about growing up with an alcoholic father and how it impacted her throughout her life and how having her son saved her life. She is vulnerable about how she processed through her anger in ways that did not serve her. Jennie talks about her relationship with her mom, Ann, and how her mom never gave up on her. The mountain is Jennie's refuge and grounding place, a place she can disconnect. Jennie looks forward to strengthening her body and experiencing the Grand Canyon, doing the Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim in October. Exploring is calming for her and supports her mental health. Jennie is an advocate for mental health awareness, accessibility to counseling, and the importance of asking for help. She shares the challenge for her to feel good enough and the effort required to create positive self-talk.
Jennie lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ land.
Podcast recommendations:
Smartless
Archair Expert
Find Jennie on IG @corunninggirl and on FB
Check out Bigger Than The Trail: https://www.bttt.run and on IG @biggerthanthetrail
*Is someone close to you dealing with depression, anxiety, or any other mental health related issues? Bigger Than The Trail works to financially support those in need of help by connecting them with free counseling services so they can begin to find hope, clarity, and peace.
When in Fairplay, check out Asian Fusion asianfusionny.com
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Sara Zapata (she/her) is a mom, partner, runner and advocate. She was born and raised in Yanaguana, also known as San Antonio, Texas. Sara uses her social media platform to intersect her love for running and advocacy for causes that are important to her, including the Black Lives Matter movement, equality for our LGBTQIA+ community, Land back initiatives, MMIWG2S awareness, migrant rights, Autism Awareness & Acceptance, and normalizing breastfeeding. She strives to always listen and learn from these communities. Her learning is continuous, which is why she is proud to be a part of three amazing run groups that support her advocacy efforts. These include the Rising Hearts Running With Purpose team, the ReNew Earth Running team, and the Dirtbags Run team. Sara’s hope is to show her kids that it's okay to speak up about the things that are important to you, even when it seems like you're the only one.
Sara talks about the importance of speaking up and not being complicit. She speaks about how she wanted to find runners of color and join communities of runners who run for advocacy like @rising_hearts, @renew_earth_running and @dirtbagsrun. She leans into discomfort and uses her voice and movement as part of collective action. Sara talks about breaking running down into doable chunks and how she leans into trying things because she sees other people doing them and believing she can do those things, too. Her younger son is on the autism spectrum and she talks about how important it is to accept people as they are and not trying to fit people into boxes.
"The moment we're in is not forever" - Sara
Sara lives on Jumanos, Coahuiltecan, Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa, and Tonkawa land.
Book recommendation:
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Check out Sara on IG @sara_zzzz
When in San Antonio, check out her sister's plant business @greenthumb gal
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Peter Downing (he/him) is a partner, a dad, an ultrarunner, race director, volunteer, trail advocate and athlete. He has been in the outdoor industry for nearly four decades. He is a relationship-builder, a community-engager, and an entrepreneur. Peter has been a director of an innovative teacher-training program, a Peace Corps volunteer science teacher in Ghana, West Africa, an educator, a practicing attorney, and a marketing professional. He has won and finished in the top at numerous ultra and trail races, including the Leadville 100 (2nd and 4th place finishes), four wins at the Collegiate Peaks 50, and a seventh-place finish at the Pikes Peak Marathon with an impressive time of 4:00:39. Peter is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He received his BA from Colgate University and his MA from the University of Denver. Peter is owner of Spark, LLC and Co-Founder and Executive Director of Suffer Better, a Colorado-based 501c3 nonprofit, launched in 2014, that offers the community of endurance athletes opportunities to give back to preserve and protect their natural environment and support local communities through running events, educational programs and grants. Peter is a connector and works to inspire the growing endurance community to accomplish bigger things. Suffer Better has helped build latrines in Kenya, supported Special Olympics, raised money for breast cancer and men’s health, given to challenged athletes and urban youth. They now put on organized mountain events to raise money for protecting and preserving our precious public lands and for improving the quality of our air. Peter is a positive energy in the world.
Peter talks about how he runs to regroup and deal with all the things. We agree that community support is a powerful component of the running community. Peter speaks about how Suffer Better expanded to become a non-profit with the focus on giving back and supporting community efforts. He shares the importance of giving your all and then giving back: 110 = give 100% and give 10% to the community. Peter emphasizes the need to support the environment, ensuring that our kids and their kids can still have these beautiful places on which to move. He hopes for his races to grow and to be more inclusive, accessible, and diverse. Peter talks about doing things together, collaborating, enjoying the beauty of the land and protecting Earth and how we have to do it together. All of us together can make a difference as long as we keep showing up. Peter emphasizes the importance of volunteering and how impactful it can be both for others and for the volunteer. We talk about reciprocity when it comes to trail running: give, receive, give, receive, taking care of the trails and land, get perspective, and have gratitude for the work done to create the trails we enjoy.
Shout out to Mary, Nanc and Jeff!
"Giving your all in all you do and giving back." - Peter Downing
Peter lives on Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, hinono’eino’ biito’owu’, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ land.
Website: https://sufferbetter.com Email: bossman@sufferbetter.com
IG: @sufferbetter
FB: @sufferbetter
Support @upforairseries
Book recommendation:
Into the Silence by Wade Davis
When in the Denver area, check out BPRUNCO @bprunco www.berkeleyparkrunningcompany.com
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Ayako Sawanobori (she/her) is a runner, an advocate, an outdoor adventurer, food lover, traveler, and non-profit professional in San Francisco. She is the Associate Director of Mayor’s Youth Employment and Education Program. Ayako is co-leader of @antiracistrunclub, a member of Dirtbags Run and volunteers as a youth coach with @GOTRbayarea (Girls on the Run). Ayako was a competitive gymnast during her childhood and a sprinter throughout high school and college, followed by endurance running in her 30s. She received her degree from Tufts University in International Relations. Ayako advocates for diversity and representation in the outdoor industry and everywhere!
Ayako talks about running as healing and how she was able to run Boston with a charity bib as a way to honor her mom, memorial racing for her mom. She speaks about how her entire family was able to support her as she completed a marathon in her birthplace of Tokyo. Ayako tells about how her dad is a professional spectator and supports her in all of her running adventures. We talk about how important how running is a way of healing and creating change. She talks about how coaching girls with the GOTR program provided healing and growth for her. Ayako works with an organization called Back on My Feet and has a reciprocal relationship with the people she works with. We talk about races full of white people and how hard it is to be in spaces that don't feel welcoming or safe. Explicit invitations of "we want you here" are needed. There is work to do in the running community. It is possible, and it is still rare...a long way to go and there is hope. Ayako speaks the challenges related to her traumatic spine injury and how important it is for her to keep moving. "The more I move, the better I feel." #ripplecreator
Ayako lives on Ohlone, Ramaytush, and Muwekma land.
Book recommendation:
Just read more!
Check out Ayako on IG @ninjayako @antiracistrunclub
When in San Francisco check out A Runner's Mind arunnersmind.com and Renegade Running renegade-running.com
Support the showYou are a big deal.
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Dr. Meredith Merkley, DO, FAAP (she/her) is a partner, an athlete, an ultrarunner, ReNew Earth Running team member, an advocate, an activist, a creator, a connector, an organizer, a writer, a reader, a dog mama, and a board-certified general pediatrician. She has a B.S. In Biology, completed her medical degree at Ohio University and her pediatric residency at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. After finishing residency, she completed an academic fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital before starting her full-time practice in outpatient general pediatrics. Meredith is an expert in infant, school-age, and adolescent healthcare and enjoys participating in community health education. She co-founded Adolescent Primary Care Clinic at Star House, a drop-in center for unstably-housed youth in Columbus, Ohio. She is co-founder and co-director of Run Wild Trail Camp, a non-profit youth camp that brings together members of the community to empower, educate and support youth through running and time outside in Denver, Colorado. Meredith has over 15 years of experience working with youth and youth organizations, and she is thrilled to be a part of the effort of RWTC to educate the community about the environment and the great sport of trail running. She has been running since the fourth grade and has gradually developed a love for running, an appreciation for the communities it has led her to and the beautiful places it has allowed her to explore. Meredith plans to complete the Rim to Rim to Rim, a 100k, and the Run Rabbit Run 100 mile race later this year.
foamerupper
Content warning: we briefly talk about an eating disorder
Meredith talks about the importance of community for her and how running is healing. She shares how she became interested in Biology and the human body and how she wants to help educate young people about their long-term health and well-being. Meredith shares about the privilege of being a part of her patients' journeys and the growth she is able to see. She talks about running as healing and the perspective that comes with it.
"How do I take care of myself enough to be able to take care of others?" - Dr. Meredith
Meredith lives on Hopitutskwa, Pueblos, Ndee/Nnēē, Hohokam land.
Book recommendation:
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Running While Black by Alison Mariella Désir
Check out Meredith on IG @meremerkley & @runwildtrailcamp and find her running for #landback @renew_earth_running. You can also find her at mmerkley@runwildtrailcamp.org & (https://www.runwildkidscamp.com/)
When in Flagstaff, check out White Dove Coffee
Check out Bprunco www.berkeleyparkrunningcompany.com
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David Hughes (he/him) is a dad, a husband, a coach, a host, a teammate, and a friend. He is a connector, a soccer player, a community-minded caretaker, a business-owner and my brother. Dave could be considered the unofficial mayor of Davis, California as he supports the community in all the ways. He maintains the baseball fields, hosts gatherings at his house with his wife, Brenna, and coaches his boys’ baseball teams. He is a mentor and all-around fun guy. Dave has a BA from Cal State San Marcos and owns his own business: True Heat Solutions NorCal which he started in 2019. He is a leader, an entrepreneur, a hard worker, and one of the most intentional dads I know. He has a positive mindset and is full of integrity.
Dave talks about how starting his own business has taught him so much. He speaks about the challenge with his job to not take things personally and the benefits of the flexibility so he can be with his boys as much as he can. He created his business so he can work from anywhere which allows him to coach his boys and be present with them daily. Diaper daredevils is a thing. Shout out to Brenna, David's wife, and all the building of community she does, as well as all the loving intention and action she has taken to support David as he goes through chemo to fight the Hodgkin's Lymphoma that currently exists in his body. Dave trusts the experts and when he received the information about his cancer, he was ready for the next steps so he could keep living his life. He shows up for himself and his family and is approaching the navigation through this intuitively. Dave refers to Brenna as his guardian angel, dialed in, taking care of ALL THE THINGS, which gives Dave confidence that he will beat cancer.
David lives on Miwok and Patwin land.
Book recommendation:
Dogman Books and Cat Kid Comic Club
When in Davis, CA check out Woodstock's Pizza
https://woodstocksca.com
Dave is not on the social medias.
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Jake Fedorowski (they/them) is a runner, podcaster, reader of non-fiction, drinker of coffee and wine and a walking encyclopedia of musical theater. They are an advocate for non-binary inclusion in the running industry and a consultant for events that are committed to navigating this work. Jake is the author of The Guide to Non-binary Inclusion in Running and founder of Run Beyond. Jake went to college for musical theater performance but discovered the production side of theater and went into opera stage management when they graduated. They joined the board of the Seattle Frontrunners, an LGBTQI+ running and walking club which is part of the International Frontrunners. They started advocacy work internally, but soon realized that the running industry in general was not particularly “inclusive and welcoming of the non-binary experience.” Jake uses their voice in many beautiful ways.
Jake talks about how important it was for them to connect with the Frontrunners community and the land upon which they move and run. They are amazed and in awe when they look around, filled with gratitude and appreciation of what they have. Jake talks about dreaming about being on Broadway and how there has always been music: listening, choir, piano lessons, theater, and musical theater. With their parents' support, they decided to do something that they are passionate about instead of going to medical school. They love the storytelling of country music and they enjoy changing lyrics of songs as a creative variation. Music as healing. Jake writes lyrics and would love to collaborate with someone who could create with them! Running for Jake started in college as a way to reconnect with movement and currently helps them stay active and take care of their mind. We talk about getting comfortable being with yourself. They discuss the misgendering that occurs at races and they are working to change things with the hope that non-binary divisions become the norm instead of the exception. Jake speaks about the importance of creating authentic solutions and changing the culture of the running industry. **“To disrupt is to interrupt that which creates, maintains, or legitimates systems of oppression.” - Jake
Jake lives on Duwamish, Suquamish, Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Snoqualmie, Muckleshoot, and Stillaguamish land.
Book Recommendation:
Running While Black by ALISON MARIELLA DÉSIR
The Guide to Non-binary Inclusion in Running by Jake
Check out Jake on IG @jakefedorowski & @runbeyonthebinary; TicToc @Jake Fedorowski; Twitter @Jake Fedorowski**jake.fedorowski@gmail.com
nonbinaryrunning.com
When in Seattle, check out The Queen Ann Bottle Shop www.qabottleshop.com & The Elliot Bay Book Company www.elliottbaybook.com
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Shyra Leah Rojas (she/her) is a mom, a friend, a daughter, a sister, aunt and an athlete. She is a Registered Nurse currently taking care of young humans at Children’s Hospital in Colorado. She has a BS in Nursing and has supported families and kids for the past 15 years. Shyra is a caretaker and a courageous human who loves people fiercely. She is open-minded and even-keeled. Shyra is the friend you can call for anything and she will love you through it without judgment. She is intelligent and brave, kind and fierce. Shyra is one of the best!
Content warning: we talk about the loss of a child
Shy is able to navigate a lot of things at once in a very calm way. She talks about the greatness of seeing how resilient kids are. Shyra speaks to the importance of paying attention to how she feels so she can take good care of herself and taking rest days to fully rest. Shyra is able to shift her perspective to the positive often. She talks about how she didn't even have to ask for help with support for her and her son; her parents just showed up for them. Shyra speaks about how sometimes we just don't have a choice when hard things in life happen, so we have to figure out how to keep living and showing up. She talks about remembering her first born and being able to frame his death in a way that acknowledges the existence of hard things that happen, but she doesn't hold things tightly, She is a full circle processor. Shy speaks to how important friends and family are to her.
Shy lives on Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, hinono’eino’ biito’owu’, Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, and Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa land.
Check out Shyra on FB @shyraleahrojas and on IG @rojasshyra
When in Frederick check out Mountain Cowboy Brewing Company www.mountaincowboybrewing.com
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Aisha Jordan-Johnson (she/her) is a mom, a partner, an advocate, ultrarunner, Dirtbags Run team member, and a smiling ripple creator. She has been featured on the cover of UltraRunning Magazine and contributed to an article in Mid Strike Magazine. Aisha is a runner of all the races and winner of many a 5k. She has placed in the top 3 in multiple ultras including 3rd female overall at the New Orleans 50k and 3rd female in the 5 Trials-Jupiter Ridge Sand Spur Ultramarathon. She has also completed 138 miles for the Voodoo Ultra. Aisha is the Executive Assistant at Clayton County Government and was an ambassador for INKnBURN (pivoted recently to ShoyuDrip). She is a lover of color and a lover of art and sends out all the light and good energy wherever she is.
Aisha talks about having a good time when running. Her smile is contagious and I laughed so much throughout this conversation. She loves connecting with others on her runs and at the gym and spreads her positive energy everywhere she goes. Aisha talks about how it is interesting and fun as she goes along with her daughters on their teenage journeys. She speaks about pulling from her mom and dad's wisdom when it comes to engaging with her kids. Aisha says "you make it what you want it to be" as you exist on this Earth. Aisha is all about FUN!!! And it shows in her bright smile. Waking up, five senses and moving brings her gratitude and it is beautiful.
Aisha lives on Mvskoke (Muscogee) and Hitchiti land.
Book recommendation:
Wild Sea by Octavia Butler
Check out more about Aisha on IG @sunny_runner_aj and FB @Aisha Jordan-Johnson
When in Atlanta, GA check out Sevananda Natural Foods Market sevananda.coop
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Annie Hughes (she/her) is an athlete, a baker, a teammate, a professional ultrarunner and a Sharman Ultra Coach. She grew up running cross country and track in Wisconsin and went on to run for Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado for two years before discovering her love for exploring in the Colorado mountains and trail running. Annie is sponsored by Hoka, and in 2021, she became the youngest woman to ever win the Leadville Trail 100. She also won the Moab 240 in 2022 placing 3rd overall, and she broke the course record by 14 hours at the Cocodona 250. She then went on to place 1st female, 2nd overall, set a new course record, and became the first woman to finish the High Lonesome 100 in under 24 hours. Annie lives and trains in Leadville, Colorado. She leans in to digging deep, working hard, and putting in long and high efforts. She is strong and gritty, curious and kind and is willing to engage with others whether it’s receiving or giving advice or support. Annie hopes to inspire others to test their own limits in whatever medium they are most passionate about and to also realize that they are capable of accomplishing the seemingly impossible.
Annie talks about paying to attention to how she is feeling and planning her running around how she feels. We talk about rest days, knowing your body and what your body needs. Annie speaks about how she likes more unstructured, intuitive training and having more control over her movement. We talk about Annie's mentor, Olga, who offers up wisdom and support partnered with self-trust. Annie went from burnout to long days running in the mountains, connecting to the natural world around her. Advice from Annie for young runners is to not take running too seriously. She says to enjoy their time and have fun with it.
"Your body is your thought!" -Annie's mom!
Annie lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ land.
Book recommendation:
Run Fast Eat Slow by Shalane Flanagan & Elyse Kopecky
Netflix Show: Inventing Anna
Podcast: Fake Heiress
Find out more about Annie on IG @annie.a.hughes
When in Leadville, check out Treeline Kitchen www.treelinekitchen.com & High Mountain Pies www.hmpies.com
and Harperrose Studios and Gallery & Goods www.harper-rose.com
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Katie Belk (she/her) is a mom, a runner, a friend, a teammate, a storyteller and my sister! She has been an Occupational Therapist for the past 15 years, taking care of people and supporting their healing, movement, retraining and growth. She received her BS in kinesiology from UNLV and her MS in occupational therapy from Touro University. Katie ran track and cross country in high school and college and has left me in the dust since forever. She has sped through many 5ks, half-marathons and marathons including the Boston Marathon in 2013 with a time of 3:33. Katie is a hard worker and is the one you want working with you when you come out of surgery. She is one of the most generous humans I know and the best sister ever.
We talk about the importance of self-care as Katie is a full time OT and full time mom who recognizes that if she is going to be able to give to others, she has to take care of herself first. Katie talks about the importance of good coaches and how they have had a lasting impact on her as a runner. We talk about the challenges of completing the Boston Marathon and how the bombing at the end of this race in 2013 created challenges for her in following races and also a catalyst for growth. She plans to eventually do a 50 miler someday. Katie talks about seeing people every day who have physical limits and pain and how much gratitude she has to be able to move her healthy body daily. She shares how therapy has helped her get through all the things!
ripplecreator
Katie lives on Southern Paiute and Chemehuevi land.
Book recommendation:
Drama Free by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Check out Katie on IG @ktbelk and FB @Katie Belk
When in Las Vegas, check out Annabellas Restaurant in Las Vegas.
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Kelsey Banaszynski (she/her) is a partner, ultrarunner, advocate, outdoors woman, backpacker, fly fisher, gardener, food scientist and project manager. She started running ultras in 2016 and has multiple finishes from 50k-100ks. She is the Sr. Contract Manufacturing Manager at Campbell Soup Company. She received a BS in Food Science and a Masters of Science in Nutrition from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has helped to educate kids on the importance of nutrition through the use of a hands on curriculum geared toward low-income families. She developed new recipes that met the cultural needs of participants while staying within the Nurture guidelines for nutrition, cost, and preparation. She is the Operations Director and Co-Owner of the High Lonesome 100 mile race. She has been with the High Lonesome team since 2016 and took over the aid stations in 2017. Kelsey’s role is the second busiest job of the race, spending hundreds of hours each year planning, preparing, and executing the complicated logistics of over a dozen backcountry aid stations. She travels around during the race, visiting each aid station to make sure everyone - from runners to volunteers - are well taken care of. She’s also the Race Director of the West Line Winder. She has written articles for Ultra Running Magazine and has been vocal about the necessity of policies in races that offer more opportunities for women to register for the race, in addition to promoting inclusivity for transgender and non-binary participants.
We talk about the importance of taking risks and feeling safe to fail. Kelsey talks about trusting herself and how that trust empowered her to be able to try things and figure things out along the way. She speaks about how impactful her teachers were in her embracing of risk-taking. Shout out to all the teachers!! Kelsey shares about how the High Lonesome 100 race started out with the worst weather year ever and has gradually built to the amazing race and well-oiled machine that it is. They are always looking for how to grow and build an inclusive, welcoming and equitable race. It is important to her to grow and update things related to the race as the world changes. She is all about growth and adjusting.
Kelsey lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ land.
Book recommendation:
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
Check out Kelsey on IG @kelsbana and @highlonesome100 www.highlonesome100.com
When in Buena Vista visit SPARK Provisions www.sparkprovisions.com
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Mario Castaneda (he/him) is an ultrarunner, traveler, adventurer, explorer, photographer, plant-based athlete, and team member of Rocky Mountain Runners @rockymountainrunners. Mario is a Quality Assurance Engineer, passionate about building a sustainable and low-carbon future. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado – Boulder. He has a Masters Degree in Sustainable Energy from the University College Cork. He has taught physics and English in a summer camp to children at the primary and secondary level in Valencia, Spain. Mario has a big smile on the trails and has a positive energy that draws you into the best ever hug!
We talk about all the positive energy and gratitude Mario brings to running. He speaks about how running has taken him to such beautiful places and he has been able to capture some of those places on his camera to create the incredible pictures he takes. Mario is a ripple creator, spreading his smile from person to person. He loves being in community and is happy around people. Volunteering for races is important to him and he is excited about the upcoming races he is doing, including the @highlonesome100. Someday you may be able to purchase his prints. Fingers crossed!!
ripplecreator
Mario lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, and hinono’eino’ biito’owu’ land.
Book recommendation:
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Check out Mario on IG @mapec89
When in Boulder, check out Peak State Coffee @peakstatecoffee wherever you get your coffee!!
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Shannon Kiebler (she/her) is a mom, wife, friend, athlete, author, and entrepreneur. She is a math coach, workshop creator, classroom innovator, educator, nationally recognized speaker, and business owner who specializes in ALL things math. Shannon is a tennis lover (Shannon the Cannon), coffee enthusiast, snowboarder, camper, reader and Jesus-lover. She is builder of The Math Genius Squad and founder of Empower Consulting. She has more than 20 years of teaching experience and helps elementary teachers through online trainings, live workshops and modeling lessons. Shannon is creative, and one of the most hard working and determined humans I know.
We talk about Shannon's love of tennis and how it helps her take a mental break from all the ideas constantly swimming through her head. She talks about how she knew she wanted to be a teacher since first grade and how her first grade teacher made such a positive impact on her. Shannon is full of ideas and is a problem solver and has really been an entrepreneur throughout her life. She is aware of what isn't working and takes the necessary steps to make things work better for everyone, especially for teachers and students. She meets needs that aren't being met. Shannon talks about how hard it is sitting in the not-knowing. We talk about the safe space Shannon creates for teachers and students. She empowers. She is a multiplier/ripple creator.
"There has got to be a better way." - Shannon the Cannon
"I am already there." - Shannon
Shannon lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendations:
High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
Atomic Habits by James Clear
How to Be an Antiracist By Ibram X. Kendi
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Everything Is Figure Outable by Marie Forleo
Check out Shannon on IG @empowerlearngrow and @skiebler;
Twitter @ShannonKiebler; YouTube @empowerlearngrow;
www.empowerlearngrow.com or https://empoerconsulting.org for more info and to order her book Itty-Bitty, Teeny-Tiny Tumblers Go To SchoolWhen in the Littleton, CO area, check out 52Eighty Distillery 52eightydistilling.com
Thyme & Honey www.thymeandhoneymercantile.com
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Reverend Katie Aikins (she/her) is a wife, a mom, a sister, an aunt, a singer, a drum player, and a lover of music. Katie also enjoys baking, movement outside and playing soccer anytime she can. She is a pastor at Tabernacle United Church in Pennsylvania. She has lived in Iceland and has returned often as an adult, leading art and music programs for Icelandic youth. Katie completed a B.A. in Theology at Colorado Christian University and a Master of Divinity at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. Upon graduating from seminary, Katie stayed in Atlanta for several years and served as co-pastor at Mercy Community Church, a congregation of mostly poor and homeless members. At Mercy, she led worship, Bible studies, and addiction recovery meetings. Katie also served as Associate Pastor at Druid Hills United Methodist Church where she focused on creating opportunities for spiritual nurture, social justice, and community building among young adults. She was ordained at Mercy Community Church in 2009 and received standing as a minister in the United Church of Christ in 2011. Katie advocates for the church to live out its call to be a sanctuary for all people, especially those most excluded in our society. While living in Atlanta, Katie visited regularly on death row in Jackson, Georgia and continues to work for the abolition of the death penalty as one form of the powers of death and dehumanization in our midst. She is one of my most favorite people in the whole world.
Katie and I talk about what it was like growing up as a missionary kid and how it influenced her transition into being a pastor. She talks about her time in Iceland and its impact on her life. We speak about what it's like being a mom and how there will be different challenges for their kiddo in this current world that we live in. We get really excited about bread-baking and yeast!
Katie lives on Lenapehoking land.
Find Katie and her services at www.tabunited.org and on FB @ Katie Aikins
When in Philly, PA, check out Honeysuckle Provisions www.honeysuckleprovisions.com
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Kriste Peoples (she/her) is an advocate, an activist, an empowerer of womxn. She is a runner, an adventurer, a leader, a meditator and meditation teacher. Kriste is a producer, a speaker, a facilitator, and a panelist at outdoor summits and conferences. She is a writer, a change-maker, a women’s trail running coach and an outdoor guide. Kriste is an Altra Running Athlete and Ultimate Direction ambassador. She is also a Lifes 2 Short Fitness coach and Trailblazers outdoor guide, Trailblazers Instructor and Program Director at Women's Wilderness. Kriste motivates women to take up space on and off the trails, inspiring new narratives of wellness and adventure. She thrives at the intersection of workouts and wonder in nature. Her work in the field of equity and inclusion in nature combines her passions of speaking and facilitating instructional workshops that connect underrepresented communities to new, empowering narratives of engagement and adventure. She gives voice to an experience of women and people of color in the outdoors.
Kriste talks about dismantling old stories and the greatness of moving our bodies on trails and in nature. She speaks of experiencing the embrace of nature and how she was inspired to create space for womxn to start where they are and that trail running, backpacking, and movement in general is for everyone. Room for us all. We talk about the potential for big companies to learn from outdoor enthusiasts who aren't the podium finishers and how no one should question their right to be in a space. Kriste asks about how we are feeding the system and how we can work toward dismantling it.
"A practice of mindfulness and meditation allows me to have my emotions so my emotions don't have me." -Kriste Peoples --- BOOM!
"I am Safe. I am Well. I am Here." -Kriste
Kriste lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, hinono’eino’ biito’owu’ and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendation:
Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation Through Anger by Lama Rod Owens
Check Kriste out at www.kristepeoples.com;
IG @kristepeoples; linktr.ee/kristepeoples
When you are in the Denver area, check out Urban Sanctuary https://www.urbansanctuary.love
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Hillary Osborne (she/her) is a mom, a wife, and an ultrarunner (finisher of 8 ultras) including the Leadville 100. Hillary has a BA in Psychology and a BS in Exercise Science. She is an NSCA Certified Personal Trainer and UESCA Ultra Running Coach. Hillary is owner of and coach at Blaze Strength and Endurance. She is an artist, a creative, a baker, a maker of quilts, bags, clothing, earrings, and more. She is a human who encourages and empowers others to achieve their big goals. She is a positive force in the world.
We talk about changing the story we tell ourselves about DNFs (Did Not Finish) and not being defined by running. Hillary talks about the importance of finding what works best for you in relation to movement and goals. Maintaining a positive relationship with running by making intuitive decisions instead of always forcing yourself to push through. She talks about finding our limits, whatever that looks like for you and your body and how we get to define our challenges.
Hillary lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendations:
Roar & Next Level by Dr. Stacy Sims
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstein
Find Hillary at IG @strongwithblaze and her website: www.strongwithblaze.com
Group runs with Hillary every second Sunday! RSVP on her website.
When you are in the Lakewood/Golden area, check out Hello Coffee.
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Rio Lakeshore (he/him) is a father, writer, learner, LA-based trail dancer, and advocate who brings a blend of mindfulness and perspective into the running community, nurturing the notion that the movement of running belongs to everyone. He is a meditator and intention-setter. Rio is curious about the intersection between art and "sport" and he moves through the world with gratitude and appreciation of Earth and her gifts. He works within his community to bring more awareness about the benefits of running and supports an organization that will work to get a track built at LA High School, which still only has a dirt track. Rio is also working on his own non-profit, Youth to Trail, which will help support kids in lower socioeconomic situations experience trails, running, nutrition, and more. He is supported by @roarkrunamok and is an ambassador for @runasyouare.
Rio and I talk about the importance of evolving and learning. He is a student of life. He talks about how trail running is more of a dance than it is a sport; it's a flow. Rio started running at age 13 when he would have to run 10 miles to and 10 miles from school as a kid. He speaks about always being a spiritual person and having an appreciation for the ground beneath his feet. We talk about the reciprocity of energy and intention-setting. Environment as an art place. Rio talks up about The Speed Project and the beauty of the movement throughout this unsanctioned human movement event. He speaks about how access to and knowledge of the outdoors in South Central LA is very limited and how important it is for that to change.
Rio lives on Chumash and Tongva land.
Book Recommendations:
The Mindful Athlete by George Mumford @gtmumford
Be Here Now by Ram Dass
Check out Rio on IG @rio_lakeshore and storytelling with @roarkrunamok. Support Rio's non-profit Youth to Trail!!! Check out @usal.project www.usalproject.com
Also support Compton Cowboys & Ebony Surf Club.
When in L.A., check out all the local street vendors. Support their hard work!!!
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Luke Jay (he/him) is a partner, dad, friend, coach, athlete, ultrarunner, and creative. He has an eye for design and has created several pieces of art for our house and for some lucky friends. Luke runs real fast and has completed nine 100 mile races and many ultras of varying distances. He was the 2nd American finisher at UTMB in 2021. He won the High Lonesome 100 in 2019 and finished 3rd overall in 2022. He has multiple podium finishes at other 100 mile races and won the San Juan Solstice 50 mile in 2017. He has completed Nolan's 14 in under 60 hours. Luke has coached our son Max’s flag football team for the past 7 years and spends a lot of his free time engaged with our boys, whether it’s wrestling with them, ping ponging, playing catch, snowboarding or running. He is a present dad and kind human who is a friend and mentor to many. Luke is one of my favorite people in the world!
We discuss how Luke learned from a young age to take risks and try things, not thinking of making mistakes as failures but as ways for him to learn and grow. Luke talks about embracing the high points during races and having apathy toward the low spots. He speaks to how he prepares himself to deal with adversity during his long efforts even though there is a lot out of your control. Control what you can and then roll with it. Take adversity as it comes and have a sense of humor. Luke would advise younger people going into running and/or ultras to be patient and to spend a good amount of time on mental training along with the physical training.
Luke lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
Book recommendation:
Do Hard Things by Steve Magness
If you are in the Denver or Littleton area, check out @corvuscoffee / www.corvuscoffee.com ; Middle State Coffee @middlestatecoffee
Check Luke out on Instagram @lukejay180 or follow his team page @hereandnowruncrew.
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Jordan Marie Whetstone (she/they) is a mom, a wife, a runner, advocate, a community organizer, a voice, a connector, a public speaker, a filmmaker, a heart worker, a changemaker and a storyteller. She is a Professional Athlete Advocate who runs for justice for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, Black Lives, Asian Lives, and Lives taken or experiencing racial, social and climate injustice. Jordan is a member of the Kul Wicasa Lakota and a citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. Jordan is the founder and organizer of Rising Hearts, an Indigenous led grassroots group designed to elevate awareness of Indigenous issues and the intersectionality of all movements impacting Brown, Black and Indigenous communities. The group helps to uplift and center Indigenous voices and efforts, while building collaborative partnerships to accomplish equitable and just treatment of all people and the Earth through targeted organizing and advocacy. Participating in prayer runs is an important part of Jordan’s activism. These runs raise awareness for specific Native causes and they are healing for Jordan and help her recenter her focus on her loved ones. She is a fourth generation Brings Three White Horses runner and continues this family legacy. She represents Indigenous athletes and relatives working to uplift and center Indigenous, Black, and Brown voices within these communities and spaces to demand justice, visibility, and respect as it intersects across all climate - racial - social - and economic justice movements.
We talk about pregnancy, parenting, partnership and presence! Jordan talks about how grateful she is for her partner, family and friends who have been able to share moments together as a village, in community. Jordan shares about the importance of a new template for filmmakers to follow, one that is taking care of ALL people involved in production. She is all about elevating voices and collective action.
Rising Hearts, Founder & Executive Director
Co-Director & Producer, Run To Be Visible & Know to Run featuring @yatikafields
Co-Director & Producer, Running on Native Lands Ep. 1 (in post)
Story Producer, Running With Purpose, Limitless
Executive Producer & Creator, With Purpose
Justice for MMIR, Advocate & Organizer
PTM Foundation, Community Advisory Board Member
Runner's for Public Lands, Council member
The Outdoorist Oath, Founding Member
J.E.D.I., Consultant & Advocate
ReNew Earth Running, Board Member
For more about Jordan visit: jordan@rising-hearts.org; www.risinghearts.org,
IG: @ nativein_la & @rising_hearts
Jordan lives on Monacan, Manahoac, Sapponi Lands / Virginia.
To learn about the lands you live, work and gather upon go to https://native-land.ca
Book recommendation:
Fresh Banana Leaves by Jessica Hernandez, Phd @doctora_nature
Check out the book Notable Native People by Adrienne Keene
Jordan is highlighted on page 31! She is also in several other books so LOOK FOR HER!
When in Virgina, check out The Perch www.thelistareyouonit.com/openings/the-perch
When in L.A. check out The International Indigenous Youth Council of LA indigenousyouth.org
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Jeanette Gruenhagen (she/her) is a mom, partner, advocate, athlete, former downhill ski racer, tennis phenom, and woman of the year in college. She is an energy worker, a healer, and an intuitive. J has a Master of Arts in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been practicing and empowering lives for 16 years, currently supporting humans from her safe space: Jeanette Gruenhagen Quantum Therapy. She works with people who feel mentally, emotionally, relationally, financially, or spiritually blocked- providing a way through to their potential, abundance, and joy. Through peoples’ intention and through her modalities she facilitates co-creating phenomenal results. Jeanette is full of energy and light and is a lover, supporter, and connector of humans. She has and shares much wisdom and I have learned an incredible amount from her.
Jeanette talks about how she has always believed in people and has been inspired by everyone. I think one of her superpowers is thinking everyone is cool. She speaks about how we research what we are drawn to and how that has shifted over time for her because she is always open and always curious. Jeanette is always wondering and asking "how do we heal?" which motivated her to wonder about why people are "falling into the river" in the first place. We talk about how everything is energy and how energy is information that moves. She speaks about choice and redefining words for ourselves. When she works with people, she encourages them to be aware of their intention and to be open to wondering and moving toward alignment with their highest self. There are layers and layers; there is no magic pill AND everyone has the capacity to do this. Jeanette talks about how it is wise to let people help us. She is open and encouraging and provides guidance with humility and SO MUCH LOVE.
Jeanette lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ land.
PLEASE, people, reach out to Jeanette on IG @jkmgquantum or at www.jeanettegruenhagenlpc.com - She can support you and empower you in a way you have probably never experienced and it is SO INCREDIBLE. She has helped me find healing and growth. Find out for yourself.
Book recommendation:
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy
When in the Wheat Ridge area check out Bakery Four www.bakeryfour.com ; IG @bakery.four
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Kelly Newlon (she/her) is a partner, advocate, a runner, chef, and founder of Real Athlete Diets (RAD) based out of Boulder, Colorado. She is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America/Hyde Park and has cooked in professional kitchens as a line cook and/or pastry chef since she was a teenager. Kelly has over a decade of work focusing on chocolate has made two birthday cakes for Julia Child!!! She has been running since age 5 and prefers dirt over road. Kelly loves Great Danes and St. Bernards. She is passionate about giving back to her community as often as she can and works hard to fuel the endurance sports community. Kelly also heads up a CSA. She creates beautiful and nourishing food that also supports the care of the Earth, as well as local farmers and artisans. Kelly speaks for hope and sends out positive energy, encouragement and love to all the people.
Kelly talks about knowing her worth, valuing herself and trusting her intuition. She speaks about how important it is for her to leave time open on her schedule that does not get filled: "Just because my calendar is free, does not mean I am available." Kelly discusses her love for connecting people with food, using food as her gear, and she is brilliant at it. Growth, for Kelly, is serving her community. Collaborating with people who are taking care of Earth and humans is a passion of hers:
@thirstproject
@protectourwinters
@sufferbetter
@footprintsrunning
Kelly lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱, Tséstho’e, and hinono’eino’ biito’owu’ land.
Book recommendation:
The Storytellers by Dave Grohl
Find Kelly on IG @radboulder or at www.radboulder.com
When in Boulder, Colorado check out:
PR Labs (www.prsportslab.com)
Moxie Bread Company (https://www.moxiebreadco.com) IG @moxiebreadco
Support the showYou are a big deal.
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Laura Cortez (she/her) is a partner, trail runner, community builder, advocate and guardian of Selena the dog. She grew up playing soccer in San Antonio. Her experience playing soccer led her to running. Laura walked on to the track team at the University of North Texas where she connected with people through running. Feeling the draw toward longer distances, Laura pivoted toward trail running where she thrives! Her first trail race was a 30k!! In 2020, Laura co-founded Trailtinos, a trail running group that supports Latinx, Hispanic, Afro, and Indigenous peoples in the Denver area with a mission to promote community, visibility, support and diversity in the outdoors. She is also the co-founder with Meredith Merkley of the Run Wild Trail Camp (RWTC) for youth ages 8-11 in the Denver area. The day camp connects kids from underserved and historically excluded communities with environmental education through running. One goal is to increase participation in sports, particularly running. Laura connects community, environmental stewardship and trail running. She currently works as an editorial email strategist. Laura is an athlete with The North Face Athlete Development Program @thenorthface @thenorthface_trail.
Laura talks about the importance of being durable and being able to pivot when things don't go exactly as planned. She speaks so highly of her friends and the way they authentically and beautifully show up in the world. Laura shares about how it helps her to remember that moments in life, especially hard ones, are temporary and how that mindset has been transformative for her. We talk about imposter syndrome and how to work through the self-talk. She talks about the realization that life just keeps happening like a running treadmill and that can be a very challenging thing to know, especially when navigating loss.
Laura lives on Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), Tséstho’e (Cheyenne), Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, and hinono’eino’ biito’owu’ (Arapaho) land.
Book recommendation:
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Check out Laura on IG @mamita_laurita, @trailtinos, @runwildkidscamp, @thenorthface @thenorthface_trail @bprunco
If you are in the San Antonio area check out Indy Coffee Club (www.indycoffeeclub.com) IG @indycoffeeclub
If you are in the Denver area, check out St. Mark's Coffee House (www.stmarkscoffeehouse.com)
Support the showYou are a big deal.
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Michael Harralson (he/him) is a dad, a partner, runner, advocate, activist and founder of ReNew Earth Running. He moved to Minnesota from southern Indiana 19 years ago to pursue a career in Federal Indian Law. For the first half of his legal career he represented Indigenous parents in the child protection system, and then worked in-house for a Tribal government. He recently stepped away from his position as an administrative law judge and was recently sworn in as deputy judge for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, assigned to preside over the Band's Wellness Court. Michael began running in 2013 and joined running groups like Mile in My Shoes (2013-present) and Bigger Than The Trail (2020). He loves trail running but gets a vast majority of his miles around the lakes in Minneapolis. Michael brought his passions of advocating for Indigenous communities and running with purpose together to form ReNew Earth Running. The idea began with wanting to go beyond land acknowledgements and toward #landback. He believes that restoring land to the stewardship of Tribal Nations and Indigenous leadership will bring healing to those communities, the environment, and to the country as a whole.
We talk about how he was able to process his dad's death through running and how it's important to lace up your shoes and go. Michael talks about how important and fulfilling it is to spend time with his family. We discuss how great it is to be interconnected through movement and advocacy.
ripplecreator
Michael lives on Očhéthi Šakówiŋ and Wahpekute land.
Book recommendations:
The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley
Check out Michael on IG @mpharralson and @renew_earth_running
To learn more about Indigenous stewardship and Land Back efforts check out:
Cheyenne Kippenberger: Land Acknowledgement at inaugural Aspen Ideas Festival: Climate in Miami Beach, FL - YouTube
https://native-land.ca
@rising_hearts on IG
When you are in the Minneapolis area, check out:
1. Just GO TO THERE!
2. Mill City Running - www.millcityrunning.com
3. Birch Bark Books - https://birchbarkbooks.com
4. Lillie Nell - Choctaw / Native American Handmade Beaded Jewelry - https://lillienell.com
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Seonjoon Young (they/them/he/him) is a partner, an educator, and an advocate for LGBTQ+ equity and rights. They are an athlete, an ultrarunner (they completed their first ultra in April of 2022: Desert Rats 50k), a trail runner, a writer and a creative, especially when it comes to sewing and crocheting. They are a book lover and a crossword puzzle doer. SJ is a former nun, practicing 9 years in South Korea and graduated from Un Mun Monastic College, the largest nuns training temple in South Korea. Seonjoon was the first foreigner to matriculate and graduate from Un Mun Sa. They have a Masters of Divinity in Buddhist Ministry at Harvard Divinity School. SJ is co-guardian of Tori the dog and Trip the dog. They are a contributor to RUNN+ (Run beyond the Binary), a community for non-binary athletes to exist, participate, advocate and represent. SJ is full of energy and thought. Seonjoon's next movement goal for this upcoming year is to complete the R2R2R with our friend, Jennie Himes.
SJ and I talk about their learnings over the past few years as an educator. They speak about the importance of not taking on a dictator role, challenging hierarchy, releasing control and creating a safe space for young people to have autonomy. SJ shares about the necessity of running/moving outside and how important it is for spaces to be both welcoming AND inclusive.
Shout out to SJ's Run Coach Hillary Osborne @strongwithblaze.
SJ lives on Cheyenne, Oglala Sioux, Arapaho, and Ute land.
Book recommendations:
The Locked Tomb Series by Tamsyn Muir
Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
The Family Roe by Joshua Prager
Check out the article they wrote: Creating Community in Women's Trail Running for Nonbinary and Trans Athletes | Trail Sisters®
Check out Seonjoon on IG @seon_joon and RUNN+ @runbeyondthebinary
If you are in the Littleton area check out In Tea (https://in-tea.net) for a large variety of delicious tea.
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Meralee Hoffelt (she/her) is a mom, partner, music lover and athlete. She is a community organizer, educator and fierce advocate for equity and justice. She is a Judicial Law Clerk at Colorado Court of Appeals. Meralee is full of positive energy and is an incredible and fun human being who I very much hope ends up in a powerful decision-making role in office someday.
We discuss the value of mentorship and how Meralee's mentors over the years have had long-lasting impact. Meralee speaks about the importance of seeing people and how creating safe spaces for gathering is a good way to be able to get to know more about a person. She talks about her experience as an educator and she hopes to continue mentoring others in the way she was and is mentored.
Meralee lives on Ute, Cheyenne and Oglala Sioux land.
Book recommendations:
I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Check out Meralee on Facebook @Meralee Hoffelt and on LinkedIn.
When you are in the Littleton area, check out DIRT coffee (www.dirtcoffee.org) and Ballet Physique (https://theballetphysique.com)
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Sergio Avila (he/him): is a runner, crazy cat person, supporter of Toby the Tortoise (desert knowledge holder), wildlife Biologist and Detribalized Indigenous born in Mexico. He has lived in O'odham and Yaqui lands (Tuscon, Arizona) for almost 20 years. Sergio is an advocate and an activist who supports many runners either as a crew member or pacer. He is a ReNew Earth Running Teammate and Board member and a Running Industry Diversity Coalition Board member (RIDC). He runs to be visible and to support Land Back efforts. Sergio advocates for supporting social and environmental justice, protecting Native cultures, and protecting biodiversity.
Sergio talks about his experience with animals, going beyond scientific knowledge and embracing ancestral and Indigenous knowledge. We talk about his time in remote places observing and being in the presence of jaguars without necessarily seeing them. Sergio speaks about time on the trails with his dad and the memories he has that come up on the trails. He talks about the interconnectedness of his advocacy and running and how running is a way that Indigenous communities have communicated forever. Sergio elevates other voices by using his own voice in a powerful way. He is a supporter and he shows up in solidarity any time he can.
"In order to show up, men need to be comfortable breaking their own barriers. Men, step up, show up." -Sergio
Sergio lives on Tohono O'odham and Yaqui land.
Book recommendations:
Running While Black by Alison Mariella Désir
Raven Brings the Light by Roy Henry Vickers
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Check out Sergio running in Tuscon and on IG @sergio_concolor @renew_earth_running @runningdiversity
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Lindsey Herman (she/her) is an elite ultra and trail runner. She is a running coach and founder of Running Wild, her coaching business. During her undergraduate career she ran at Western Colorado University on the trail running team. Her goal is to build authentic relationships with athletes and uplift their goals no matter the size. Lindsey won the 2021 and 2022 Silver Rush 50 mile run, setting the new course record in 2021, and she was 2nd place at the 2021 Grand Traverse. She was the youngest female toeing the starting line this year at the Leadville 100 and she had a podium finish. She creates individualized training to support long-term health and happiness. Lindsey is a survivor; she is resilient. She is strong and she is enough.
*Content warning: We discuss eating disorders.
Lindsey talks about her love of competition, running and coaching. We talk about how influential David Roche @mountainroche has been in her life and how he is a constant support and empowerer. Lindsey shares about the eating disorder monster, her recovery process and how important it is to EAT ENOUGH!! She speaks about her “worth independent of anything else” and how she has the power to write her own narrative. She is very grounded and wise. SO wise. She is very intentional about seeing people and helping people to know that they matter, that they are loved and that they are enough.
Lindsey lives on Ute land.
Book recommendation:
Brave Enough by Jessie Diggins @jessiediggins
Find Lindsey on IG @long.run.lindsey and at www.runningwildtrail.com or
runningwildcoach@gmail.com
When in Gunnison, Colorado check out Wilder's Organic Market (www.wildersorganicmrkt.com)
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Ludgina Dieujuste (she/her) is a mom of 3, Jesus-lover, and a proud military spouse. She has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and is a Speech Language Pathologist. Ludgina has been running for 23 years and ran her first race after 10 years of running. She directed two 5ks that raised over $15k for families in need. She is an RRCA Certified Running Coach and a treadmill expert with a popular YouTube channel, Treadchic, that has a variety of free treadmill workouts for every level. Ludgina is a health and wellness fanatic, excited about getting others to move their bodies and realize that health and fitness are a life-long journey. She loves to cook and move her strong body. Ludgina is full of encouragement to keep you moving and she is a force for good, spreading joy and positivity!
ripplecreator
empowerer
We talk about looking at the positive, adjusting to what comes. Ludgina is an entrepreneur who is embracing opportunities that come her way. She speaks about her own fitness journey and her love for the treadmill. Ludgina exudes good energy and has fantastic hopes for the future. We are confident that she will be on Wellness Wednesday on The Today show some day!!
Ludgina lives on Oglala Sioux, Kaskaskia, Kiikaapoi, Myaamia, Sauk and Meskwahki-asa-hina land.
Book recommendations:
Keep Sharp by Sanjay Gupta
Becoming by Michelle Obama
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers
Check out Ludgina on IG @treadchic and on YouTube at Treadchic
When in St. Louis, stop by Lulu's Local Eatery https://luluslocaleatery.com
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Melissa Cornelius (she/her) is a mom, wife, friend, beauty professional and owner of Salon MelMarie. She is a prayer warrior, laugh creator, a fun instigator, the life of the party, the person most remembered by everyone. Mel is a human that can always find the positive and she is one of my most favorite people.
We talk about how psychology and counseling are interconnected with Mel's beauty profession. Mel and I discuss all things QVC and come up with some really good ideas for Shark Tank. She speaks about how important it is to see people and meet them where they are at and how she hopes to leave a good legacy.
Mel lives on Cheyenne, Oglala Sioux, Arapaho, Lipan Apache and Ute land.
Book recommendation: Mel sticks to music😉
Check out Mel on IG @salonmelmarie.
If you are in the Aurora or Parker area check out the LOCAL Parker or the LOCAL Southlands (thelocalcolorado.com) to support local Colorado merchants and artisans.
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Jae Berry (he/him) is a partner, hiker of mountains, chef, player of ultimate frisbee, former monk, guardian of Tori the dog and Trip the dog. He is a gentle and kind human filled with depth of thought and feels. Jae works and empowers as a middle school social worker!
Jae talks about his time as a monk in South Korea and how that time influenced much of how he moves through the world. He speaks about the challenges and beauty of his work as a middle school social worker. Jae talks about the importance of open-ended questions and how impactful it is to teach kids how to ask questions of themselves. I loved this conversation so much. I had several epiphanies and moments of whole-body chills.
***Content warning: suicide is mentioned in this conversation.
Jae lives on Ute, Cheyenne, Oglala Sioux & Arapaho land.
Book recommendations: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky &
Anna Karenina By Leo Tolstoy
Check out The Hungry Goat (goatontherocks.com) restaurant in Morrison, Colorado!
Support the showYou are a big deal.
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Kelsey Long (she/her) is a runner, athlete, activist, and my ReNew Earth Running teammate. Kelsey uses running as a form of advocacy. She is co-founder of Dirtbags Run: a team of 20 BIack, Indigenous and People of Color trail runners from around the U.S. seeking to expand their presence in the sport while honoring Indigenous lands and amplifying diversity at races and beyond. She and her team move to protect and heal her people and advocate for safety, inclusivity and respect in trail running spaces.
Kelsey speaks about the ongoing need for runners of color to feel included and that they belong on trails and in the running community. She speaks about the strong and powerful women who have inspired her and those who have been her cheerleaders and support as she has grown as a runner and advocate. Kelsey is hoping to get into Western States 100 and plans to do the Javelina Hundred next year. I hope we all can see her as a race director some day in the near future. Go Kelsey!
Kelsey is Navajo and lives on the Choctaw Reservation and on Osage, O-ga-xpa, Wichita, Choctaw, Kickapoo, & Tawakoni land in Oklahoma.
Book Recommendation: Running While Black by Alison Mariella Désir
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Eoin Colfer, Thomas Tidholm
If you are near Durant, Oklahoma and can swing by a small town called Calera, check out Fry Bread Express Food Truck!
Check out Kelsey “Run LONG” on the following platforms:
https://www.facebook.com/kelseylong
IG: @longcommakelsey, @dirtbagsrun, @renew_earth_running
https://linktr.ee/longcommakelsey
Support the showYou are a big deal.
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Lindsley Kump (she/her) is a mama, wife, fur baby mom, and a runner. She is an advocate and activist who elevates the BIPOC communities in the outdoor space where they can feel safe and welcomed, having equitable access to outdoor spaces and equitable leadership and employment opportunities within the outdoor industry. She started running again as an adult as a part of her weight loss journey and she quickly fell in love with distance running. She is originally from Hawaii but she has called Colorado home for the past 18 years. Lindsley has fallen in love with the mountains and trails. As a Black female runner, she looks to bring more inclusivity and representation to the running/trail running community in Colorado. Lindsley is a board member for Girls on the Run Rockies.
*Trigger warning: we talk briefly about eating disorders.
Lindsley and I talk about her running journey and how she was hesitant to go to a gym. She speaks about the importance of embracing your body and taking care of yourself. We discuss having a small community of people around you who supports and loves you. Lindsley drops lots of wisdom and mantras for you all to take with you: "Gratitude Turns What We Have Into Enough" - "It's Your Run" - "Let It Flow" - "Bend but Don't Break" - "Live in Your Truth". It's GOLD, people!
Lindsley lives on Cheyenne, Ute, Oglala Sioux and Arapaho land.
Book Recommendation: After the Rain by Alexandra Elle
Check out Lindsley on IG @lindsley_kump
and join her for a brunch run if you live in the Denver area: brunchrunning.com
Also, shout out to @margaret_t_spring Run Coach!
If you are in the Denver area, check out MATTER bookstore (www.shopatmatter.com)
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Follow Becca Jay on IG @beccajay.getuptraining
Ryder Jay (he/him) is a son, brother, friend, leader, runner, athlete, and mountain goat. He is a student, a learner, a question-asker, a challenger. Ryder is curious about the world and the people in it. He is very concerned with fairness and injustice.
We talk about all things running and how he prefers to be the chaser not the one being chased. Ryder talks about how he became inspired to hike mountains. He discusses the importance of time management and how he wants to use his time wisely.
Ryder lives on Ute, Cheyenne & Oglala Sioux land.
Book recommendations: anything by Rick Riordan and anything by Jaqueline Woodson, specifically Brown Girl Dreaming
Check out Virgilio's Pizzeria and Wine Bar (www.ilovepizzapie.com) when in the Littleton, Colorado area and Rosa Mexican Kitchen (www.rosalittleton.com) when in Roxborough.
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Follow Becca Jay on IG @beccajay.getuptraining
Natalie Tafoya (she/her) is a friend, a creative, a former yoga instructor and current practitioner, a creator of beauty, a scrum master, a motorcycle-rider, a soccer player, a fantastic dancer especially when it comes to rock-a-billy music. She is curious, always willing to and leaning in to learning something new. Nat is guardian of Buster Brown the dog. She is a badass and one of my very dear friends.
Nat talks about how she keeps showing up and she keeps trying. She speaks about the imposter syndrome that she experiences and how she continues to RISE!
Nat lives on Ute, Cheyenne & Oglala Sioux land.
Book Recommendations: First, We Make the Beast Beautiful by Sarah Wilson
& In Pursuit of the Almost by Phil Ginsberg
Check out Nat on IG @lil_soul_mama and @createbeautydenver
If you are in the Edgewater, Colorado area, check out Edgewater Public Market
(edgewaterpublicmarket.com). Inside the market is Stalk Market Co. which is FULL of rad plants and other items. Also check out Little Glass Art (https://littleglassart.co).
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Follow Becca Jay on IG @beccajay.getuptraining
Travis Macy (he/him) is a dad, husband, son, brother, advocate, speaker, pro-adventure racing athlete, ultra-runner (finisher of over 130 ultradistance races), burro racer, participant in the world’s toughest race: Eco Challenge Fiji. He is a former educator, endurance coach, podcaster and author.
Travis talks about his and his family's journey with his dad who is living with Alzheimer's. He is open about how hard it has been for him and for his family AND how he has hope. We talk about leaning in to challenges and our power to choose our response in the face of those challenges.
Travis lives on Cheyenne & Ute land.
Book recommendation: The Orchard by Peter Heller (or any books by Peter Heller)
Check out Travis on Instagram @travismacy or on his website: www.travismacy.com
Listen to his podcast: The Travis Macy Show
His books are The Ultra Mindset and A Mile at a Time.
Listeners get 30% off A Mile at a Time with code MACE on this site https://www.imaginebooks.net/products/a-mile-at-a-timeIf you are in the Salida, Colorado area check out 7000 FEET Running Store (IG @7kftco; www.7kft.co) and Absolute Bikes (@absolute_bikes_co; www.absolutebikes.com) and Subculture Cyclery (IG @subculturecyclery), Amicas Microbrewery and Pizza (www.amicassalida.com)
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Follow Becca Jay on IG @beccajay.getuptraining
Sara (she/her) is a partner, a creative writer, a rock climber, and one of my ReNew Earth Running (renewearthrunning.org) teammates. She holds 12 FKTs (fastest known times) and is an endurance athlete currently based in the mountainous west. Sara is an activist and advocate, using her movement to raise funds for various organizations. She obtained her B.A. in Creative Writing, with an emphasis in Poetry, from the University of California, Riverside. Her work has been published by Alpinist Magazine, The American Poetry Review, The Climbing Zine, and Boulder Weekly, among others. One of her essays received a Notable Mention in Best American Essays 2019. She thrives at the intersections of lyricism, body movement, craft, and identity, and is always in the process of unlearning and redefining her approach to self-love.
Book & magazine Recommendation:
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
The Truth about Stories: A Native Narrative by Thomas King
Orion Magazine
Creative Nonfiction Magazine
Check out Sara on Instagram @oyesaranda. For her full portfolio, visit her website at bivytales.com/portfolio. You can find her Adventure Resume and her monthly blog, Moonbox Notes, on her website as well.
If you are in the Durango, Colorado area, check out Durango Outdoor Exchange
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Follow Becca Jay on IG @beccajay.getuptraining
Amita Agrawal McClain (she/her) is a mom of two, advocate, activist, entrepreneur (creator of five different business), supporter and funder of Amrita Orphanage in Nepal, speaker of 5 languages, helper of all people, fantastic cook, a host to everyone, a creative, and one of the people in my life who has taught me so much about how to exist in the world.
Book recommendation: any books by Jhumpa Lahiri & Bravey by Alexi Pappas
Check out this local business in the Duluth/Atlanta, GA area: Good Word Brewing goodwordbrewing.com
And if you are in Nepal, check out any of the markets there.
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Follow Becca Jay on IG @beccajay.getuptraining
Max Jay (he/him) is a son, brother, leader, advocate, lacrosse player, mountain climber, runner, student, learner.
Max is a leader on his cross country and lacrosse teams. He has hiked 29 Colorado 14ers. He has won 4 championships with his flag football team. He enjoys reading and getting curious about the world.
Book recommendations: Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Max is not currently on social media so you won't be able to find him...yet.
If you are in the Denver or Littleton area, check out Palenque Cocina Y Agaveria in Old Littleton: palenquecya.com
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Follow Becca Jay on IG @beccajay.getuptraining
Becca Jay (she/her) is a mom of two boys and wife of Luke Jay. She can get fired up pretty easily and is practicing leaning in to discomfort. She is an advocate, personal trainer and athlete. Becca grew up playing soccer and still plays when she can. She loves doing any form of movement with her boys, especially hiking Colorado mountains and trails. Becca appreciates talking all things human with people who are leaning into life and who keep showing up. The land on which she moves and lives is the ancestral stolen land of the Ute, Cheyenne and Oglala Sioux.
Member of ReNew Earth Running team (IG @renew_earth_running): our mission is to protect and heal the environment by restoring land to Tribal Nations and Indigenous stewardship.
Personal training tips and more on IG @beccajay.getuptraining
Book recommendation: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Local business to check out when in the Denver/Metro area: DIRT coffee (www.dirtcoffee.org)
Shop at MATTER (www.shopatmatter.com)
You are a big deal.
Your story matters.
Keep showing up.
Follow Becca Jay on IG @beccajay.getuptraining