She Explores: Recent Episodes
Ravel Media
Come find inspiration with women in the outdoors. Interviews, in-the-field recordings, and listener submissions make up a tapestry of episodes covering themes such as solo hiking and camping, entrepreneurship, outdoor equity, aging, conservation, motherhood, chronic illness, and more as they intersect with outdoor experiences. Hosted by Gale Straub.
This is the last episode of She Explores. In it, we say farewell, reflect on endings, and invite past guests of the show to share the lessons they’ve learned in the outdoors over the last few years. Through these women’s stories, we’re reminded how important it is to have the space we need to show up as ourselves when we’re spending time outside.
Thank you to everyone who has touched the show over the years: the listeners, our guests, our collaborators, and our advertisers. It’s been an honor to hold your stories.
READ THIS BLOG POST if you want to learn more about our decision, and what the team is up to next.
Featured in this episode: Jaymie Shearer, Shon’t, Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe, Sydney Williams, Gabaccia, Noël Russell, Hailey Hirst, Tori Duhaime.
She Explores is Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe’s new album, Frangipani & Daisy Chains
- Gale’s website: GaleStraub.com
- Full Quote from Helen Bright, aka “Bright Wanderer” on endings
- Our new book, Women and Water
- Women and Water, the Audiobook
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.
Mugdha Flores is proof of where your passion for science and the natural world can take you. From playing in tide pools as a child in Southern India, to mapping the undiscovered corners of the ocean, to surveying salmon as they make their long journey to the Pacific. For Mugdha, all her exploration has resulted in a deeper connection with the environment, and herself.
Mugdha is a marine biologist turned science communicator championing community engagement and finding joy in the outdoors.
This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Mugdha Flores
She Explores is Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Mugdha Flores
- Instagram: @mugsie_b
- Organizations and some subject matter mentioned on the episode:
- The Ocean Exploration Trust & Nautilus Live
- Mugdha’s Essay on She-Explores.com about her time aboard the E/V Nautilus
- More About the Study of Fish or Ichthyology
- Learn about Kochi, India
- Our new book, Women and Water
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.
When Irene Marcoux was growing up and playing at her local pool, she didn’t dream of becoming a mermaid. She was a mermaid. Those early days of freedom and play were her gateway to a life in the water. And because she’s a big believer in the fact that every BODY can dive - Irene is all about helping others embrace their inner mermaid too.
Irene is a safety focused mermaid with over 30 years of aquatics education experience, a PADI Course Director & PADI Freediving Instructor, a PADI Mermaid Instructor Trainer, a First Aid Instructor & Instructor Trainer, and a Certified lifeguard, National Lifeguard Instructor Trainer & Examiner. She’s also training for the 2024 synchonized swimming world championships.
This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Irene Marcoux
She Explores is Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Irene Marcoux
- Instagram: @irene_la_sirene
- Website
- Our new book, Women and Water
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.
A life-changing rappelling accident lead Antoinette Lee Toscano to choose to live the life of outdoor adventure she’d always dreamed of. And since then, she’s dedicated herself to helping others make it easier to shape their lives for the better, too.
Antoinette Lee Toscano is an outdoor industry consultant, writer, philanthropist, and motivational health and wellness speaker. In the Women & Water book, she shares how paddlesports have played a role in her ongoing healing for a Traumatic Brain Injury, spine injury, and PTSD.
This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Antoinette Lee Toscano
She Explores is Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
Sponsored by Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Antoinette Lee Toscano
- Instagram: @antoinetteleetoscano
- Website: AntoinetteToscano.com
- Blog: New Normal Big Life
- Our new book, Women and Water
- Mentioned in conversation:
- The American Adventure Sports Club
- AdventureTV
- Antoinette’s Articles on Culturs Mag
- Diversify Whitewater
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsor Links
- Danner: Learn more about the new Danner Mountain 600 hiking boots
Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.
Olivia VanDamme’s hope is that one day, in her older years, she’ll be at the beach, covered in seaweed and still contributing to community science. Olivia has always felt comforted, alive, and happy in the ocean. And as an educator, poet, singer, environmentalist, surfer, and more – Olivia celebrates that in everything she does.
On this episode, Olivia shares an original poem, “Tu Perteneces! Nadar Mija” which helps paint the picture of the role the ocean plays in her life – all while bursting with song and joy. We learn how Olivia straddles worlds by virtue of being herself, why she loves geography, how being an educator has informed her environmental life, and how we can all get involved in collecting data that helps shape the future of the lands and waters we recreate in.
This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Olivia VanDamme
She Explores is Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Olivia VanDamme
- Instagram: @olivialomasi
- Our new book, Women and Water
- Mentioned in conversation:
- Seawitches Zine
- California Academy of Sciences
- PGMOne
- Dina Gilio-Whitaker
- Krista Comer
- REU Summer Internship at Smithsonian
- Get involved with community science through the resources Olivia mentioned:
- iNaturalist
- City Nature Challenge
- Snapshot Cal Coast
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.
Eden Elgeti is a wild and pool swimmer in the United Kingdom, and is featured in our new book, Women and Water. The first line in her profile is, “I often joke through winter that I’d be more than happy to not swim and just turn up for the post-swim coffee and cake.” Of course, she goes on to share that she has always swum when given the opportunity, and it’s taken her so many places, literally and figuratively.
There’s something so beautiful about Eden’s relationship with the water. It’s her constant companion. There’s a lot that we admire about Eden - her ability to choose what’s right for her, and to keep checking in to make sure she’s still on the same page with herself. In this episode, we talk about how swimming shows up for her today (and vice versa), why she’s taken a break from her social media account “@thetransgenderswimmer” and the community she’s found swimming in London.
This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Eden Elgeti
She Explores is Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Sponsored by Danner Boots
Resources
- Eden Elgeti
- Website: https://thetransgenderswimmer.co.uk
- Our new book, Women and Water
- Register for our Virtual Book Launch Event
- Mentioned in conversation:
- Watch Eden, a short documentary film
- Sponsor links
- Danner: Learn more about Danner Mountain 600: https://danner.com/mountain-600
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.
Bonnie Tsui's book, Why We Swim, dropped at a time when we were all looking for guidance on how to move our bodies in ways that took us out of our heads and into our element. But its message is continuous. Why We Swim is a must-read whether you think of yourself as a swimmer or not. It takes you to the source of our innately human relationship with water and weaves together history, science, and her own personal story to propel us on the journey.
We wanted to start this Women and Water series with my conversation with Bonnie because she is truly an expert on why we gravitate to the ocean, lakes, and other waterways that provide us with so much. Bonnie shares more about Why We Swim, her own start to swimming, how swimming helps us feel free, and so much more.
This is the first in a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Bonnie Tsui
She Explores is Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Bonnie Tsui
- BonnieTsui.com
- Instagram: @bonnietsui8
- Twitter:
- Why We Swim
- Bonnie’s childrens book: Sarah and the Big Wave
- Our new book, Women and Water
- Mentioned in conversation:
- Caroline Paul
- Florence Williams’ The Nature Fix
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’ll take the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. And you’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more.
But today, we’re bringing you a special episode of Wild for Scotland, a show hosted by Kathi Kamleitner. It’s truly a piece of audio art, and it’s an ode to the wonder to be found beneath the water’s surface. She created it in collaboration with Fran Turauskis and musician Jen Austin.
This episode inspired by Kathi’s time on a snorkeling residency on the Argyll coast in Scotland. A snorkeling residency sounds like an absolute dream - and Kathi’s experience resulted in beautiful, poetic reflections. Kathi’s audio poem within, titled Hope, was also commended by the Climate Creatives Challenge.
If you enjoy this listen, we know you’ll love Wild for Scotland. It’s a show that’s known for its immersive storytelling, and while this episode is no exception - it’s particularly artful in its execution. Wild for Scotland is a welcome escape for anyone, whether they’ve been to Scotland, plan to travel there one day or are just looking for a relaxing armchair adventure.
She Explores will be back next week with a brand new episode highlighting all things Women and Water.
Noami Grevemberg is a leader in the world of vanlife, and the founder of Diversify Vanlife, a platform that highlights less-heard voices in vanlife, road travel, and nomadic communities. It’s also a resource that helps break down barriers to accessing life on the road, a lifestyle that Noami and her husband Dustin embarked on in 2016.
We chatted with Noami towards the end of 2022, when she was coming off a much-needed vacation after finishing her first book, Living the Vanlife: On the Road Toward Sustainability, Community, and Joy. It’s part memoir, part how-to guide, in which Noami shares the nitty gritty of their travels with candor, grace, and humor.
The start of the book tells the story of how Noami immigrated to the US from Trinidad at just 16, and how she built a life for herself all on her own - from entering college at 25, to climbing the corporate ladder as an environmental scientist. All that hustle took its toll, and by her early 30’s Noami was ready for a change. While she wouldn’t have envisioned vanlife for herself when she flew to America as a teenager, it’s a life she was able to choose for herself. And it’s one that she wants others to be able to pursue too.
This conversation with Noami is the perfect way to start a new year as we talk about resparking creativity after coming off a big project, realigning yourself with your values, what it took for her to create this book, and what aspiring vanlifers will gain from reading it when it’s available this summer.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Noami Grevemberg
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Noami Grevemberg
- Website
- @irietoaurora on Instagram
- Plus Sized Outdoors YouTube
- Noami Grevemberg
- Pre-Order Living the Vanlife
- Pre-Order Women and Water
- Diversify Vanlife
- Website
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.
When writer Florence Williams’ 25-year marriage falls apart, it sets her on a journey to explore the science behind loneliness. Photographer Alexandra de Steiguer has spent the last quarter century spending her winters solo as a caretaker in the Isle of Shoals. With the help of these two creatives, we explore what spending time alone means for ourselves, our creativity, and our connections to the communities around us. This week, we're sharing an episode of Creative Fuel, a podcast that Gale's co-producing and more importantly - a show that we know you'll love.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Florence Williams and Alexandra de Steiguer
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Head over to CreativeFuelCollective.com for more creative inspiration, prompts, online workshops and a robust creative community.
Creative Fuel is Hosted by Anna Brones
Creative Fuel is Co-Produced by Anna Brones & Gale Straub
Theme Music is by cleod9 music
Featuring:
- Alexandra de Steiguer:Alexandra de Steiguer is a photographer, writer and musician who spends every winter as the caretaker of Star Island in the Isles of Shoals. Nine miles off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire, this rocky, windswept place provides great inspiration for her creative endeavors. She is drawn to the solitude and beauty of the deserted islands, and captures the environment in stunning black and white photographs, personally printed in her traditional darkroom. She is a two-time artist fellow of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the author of Small Island, Big Picture: Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to See.
- Links:
- Alexandra de Steiguer
- Links:
- Florence Williams: Florence Williams is a journalist, author, and podcaster. She is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine and a freelance writer for the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, The New York Review of Books, Slate, Mother Jones and numerous other publications. She is also the writer and host of two Gracie-Award-winning Audible Original series, Breasts Unbound and The Three-Day Effect, as well as Outside Magazine’s Double-X Factor podcast. Her public speaking includes keynotes at Google, the Smithsonian, the Seattle Zoo, the Aspen Ideas Festival and many other corporate, academic and nonprofit venues. She is also a fellow at the Center for Humans and Nature and a visiting scholar at George Washington University, her work focuses on the environment, health and science. Her books include The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative and Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey.
- Links: Florence Williams
Resources Mentioned & Places to Learn More
- Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence Williams
- The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams
- Big Picture: Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to See by Alexandra de Steiguer
- Learn more about Alexandra’s time on Star Island in the short film Winter’s Watch and the documentary Wild\Life: the Quiet Island of Alexandra de Steiguer
- Star Island
- How Social Isolation, Loneliness Can Affect Heart Health, Cognitive Abilities
- Prolonged Social Isolation and Loneliness are Equivalent to Smoking 15 Cigarettes a Day
- Restore Your Brain with Nature // David Strayer
- The 3-Day Effect: How Nature Calms Your Brain audio series
- Can Solitude Make Your More Creative?
- The Science of Silence: How Solitude Enriches Creative Work
Victoria Amico would say that hiking 100% ruined her life, but in the best way possible. Seven years ago, she thought she knew what she wanted in her career and devoted her whole self to achieving her goals. But then hiking came along and forced her to examine what she really wanted. In the process, Victoria ended up learning how to choose herself and take up space with her body on the trail.
Victoria shares how she got started hiking (and the transformation it inspired), why 100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail was the right number this year, why she started her social platform Plus Sized Outdoors, and her hopes for everyone out there listening.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Victoria Amico
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Victoria Amico:
- @plus_sized_outdoors on Instagram
- Plus Sized Outdoors YouTube
- Victoria Amico:
- Mentioned in this episode:
- @chilltash
- @samortizphoto
- @unlikelyhikers
- @fatgirlshiking
- @kweenwerk
- @ashleysadventure
- Hiking My Feelings
- Episodes of She Explores featuring Hiking My Feelings Founder Sydney Williams:
- Lightening Trauma’s Invisible Weight on the Trail
- A Big Exhale
- If you enjoyed this episode, we think you’ll like “Owning Her Body on the Trail” featuring Beth Bradley.
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Danner: Learn more about the Inquire Collection at Danner.com/inquire
Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.
Whether she’s rock climbing or sailing, McKayla Bower is motivated by always moving forward. And by setting her sights on becoming the first trans woman and queer person to circumnavigate the world solo in her sailboat Swirl, she’s moving forward in more ways than one.
We talk about what inspired the trip, how McKayla is preparing for the journey, the kinds of marine life she will encounter, and the big why behind this big endeavor.
Featured in this episode: McKayla Bower (she/her)
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner Boots
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: McKayla Bower
- Website: WhoisMcKaylaBower.com
- Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsors
- Danner: Learn more about the Inquire Collection at Danner.com/inquire
Music is licensed through podcastmusic.com unless otherwise noted.
Music also by Josh Woodward.
Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
A hello, what we've been up to, a new podcast Gale's working on called "Creative Fuel", and a fresh episode of She Explores comes back next week.
Resources
- Follow Creative Fuel wherever you get podcasts
- Creative Fuel on Apple Podcasts
- Creative Fuel on Spotify
- Follow About the Journey wherever you get podcasts
- About the Journey on Apple Podcasts
- About the Journey on Spotify
- She-Explores.com
Music by Josh Woodward
How do you navigate your femininity in a male-dominated space like environmental fieldwork research? For Julia Bingham, it's been an exploration of self.
Julia is an interdisciplinary marine scientist and currently a PhD candidate at Duke University. Her research is focused on improving conservation and fishery management through local communities’ knowledge and values. But her discipline hasn’t always been the social sciences. She’s been engaged in field based coastal research in one form or another for nearly 10 years. In undergrad and post grad, their fieldwork had them on rocky shores, mudflats, beach dunes, forested streams, salt marshes, and onboard research boats.
This is all important to know because today Julia’s sharing their story of navigating femininity in the field. And whether you’re also in environmental sciences or part of a wholely different profession or pasttime that has made you feel pressured to fit in, that has made you question what makes you “you”, Julia’s words will resonate.
Note: there are a few mentions of sexual harassment and sexual assault in this episode.
eatured in this episode: Julia Bingham (she/they)
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Julia A. Bingham: Instagram & Twitter
- Read the abridged version of Julia's essay on She-Explores.com
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Steph Jagger and her mom, Sheila, took a camping road trip together in 2016 across the Rocky Mountains. So often, the purpose of a road trip, or spending time in the outdoors, is to get away from it all. But in this instance, Steph was driving towards something many of us might rather avoid: her mom had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia. And while Alzheimer's is something that’s hard to talk about, odds are good that you have personal experience with this degenerative disease or another one that’s similar.
Those places that we are nervous to go are often the ones that call to us the most strongly. Or at a minimum, they tell us something about ourselves and what we need. In this episode, Steph shares about her trip, which she wrote about in her forthcoming memoir, Everything Left to Remember, what her mom continues to teach her, the benefits of sitting with grief, and an invitation to examine the relationships in your life that mirror the best parts of you.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Steph Jagger
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Uncruise Adventures
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Steph Jagger: @stephjagger on Instagram
- Website: StephJagger.com
- Pre-Order Everything Left to Remember (Available April 2022)
- Mentioned in this episode:
- Unbound: A Story of Snow and Self-Discovery
- Story on Journalist Stephen Glass
- Brandy Carlile quote: “There is nothing more real or more practical in this universe than mysticism. Remember that, and it’s usually sitting right smack in the middle of grief.”
- HFC WeAreHFC.org
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Uncruise Adventures: Save $500 to $750 per person on sailings in the Sea of Cortez and Spring in Alaska 7-night adventures on bookings made through April 15, 2022 at http://uncruise.com/pages/EXPLORE
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Ashley Adkins isn’t a scientist, she simply loves recreational caving and the opportunity it offers folks with non-science background to contribute to the ongoing documentation and understanding of underground ecosystems.
Listen as Ashley shares her experience getting into caving, which led to her very own dream seasonal job last summer. In a historically male-dominated activity that’s known for gatekeeping, Ashley wants us to know about the new generation of cavers of all genders and specialties that are changing the sport for the better.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Ashley Adkins
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Indeed
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Ashley Adkins: @ashandirons on Instagram
- Mentioned in this episode:
- Cave diver Jill Heinerth and her book, Into the Planet
- Microbiologist and cave diver Hazel Barton + CaveScience.com
- Rachel aka @PetzlPrincess
- New to caving? Find your local grotto here.
- Nashville Grotto
- Montana Conservation Corps Application Page
- If you enjoyed this episode, we think you’ll like ‘Shining a Light on Caving’ featuring Katt Greaser.
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Indeed: Indeed makes it easy to hire great talent. Get a $75 job credit before March 31, 2022 at Indeed.com/explores.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
A special announcement from host Gale Straub about the future of this show.
Prefer to read it rather than listen? Find the 3-minute transcript on the episode landing page (or linked in the Simplecast player).
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Journalist Heather Hansman digs deep into the past, present, and future of skiing in her new book Powder Days. Her love for the sport leaps off the pages, but that doesn’t stop her from looking at skiing through a critical lens as she explores its challenges and triumphs across an expanse of timely subjects: climate, accessibility, culture, and more.
We’re joined from the side of a ski hill by Tori Duhaime for this episode. Tori’s a lifelong skier and it’s the sport they choose above all else. While they grew up skiing in Durango, CO, Tori’s a recent transplant to Richmond, VA and has a newfound love for mom & pop ski hills that are found back east. Reading Powder Days got her fired up about a sport she wants to make more accessible for everyone to experience.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Heather Hansman & Tori Duhaime
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Uncruise Adventures
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Heather Hansman (she/her): Instagram @hhansman and Website
- Tori Duhaime (she/they): Instagram @ToriDuhaime
- Learn more about Powder Days and Downriver here!
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Uncruise Adventures: Save $500 to $750 per person on sailings in the Sea of Cortez and Spring in Alaska 7-night adventures on bookings made through April 15, 2022 at http://uncruise.com/pages/EXPLORE
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air bi-weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Sarah Dealy was not outdoorsy. But at age 20, during a severe bout of depression, she enrolled in a wilderness therapy program. By the end of the program, she wanted to become an “outdoor girl.”
But becoming the outdoorswoman of her dreams didn’t come naturally. Sarah was an indoor kid at heart. She disliked many of the activities she imagined her outdoorsy self doing.
On the first episode of Out There Podcast’s new season, Sarah takes us from the desert of Utah to the mountains of Colorado and explores what happens when the person you think you want to be doesn’t mesh with the person you are.
About Out There
Launched in 2015, Out There is a podcast that explores big questions through intimate stories outdoors. Host Willow Belden just launched their new season, which dives deep into the theme "Things I Thought I Knew." Each episode, they're sharing a story about an outdoor experience that changed someone’s understanding of themselves, their world, or their humanity. Listen to Out There on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and wherever podcasts are found.
Featured in this episode: Sarah Dealy, Willow Belden
Credits:
- This episode was written, produced and sound-designed by Sarah Dealy.
- Editing by Willow Belden.
- Music includes selections from Blue Dot Sessions.
She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Out There’s website
- “Best of Out There” playlist (this is a great introduction to the show for new listeners!)
- Sarah Dealy’s website
- Sign up here to be notified when Sarah’s series about Troubled Teen wilderness programs comes out
- If you are a parent who is considering sending your kid to a wilderness program, Sarah recommends the book Help at Any Cost by Maia Szalavitz
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Episodes air bi-weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Sometimes adventure looks like picking up and moving 3000 miles away from your home to live in the subarctic. Four years ago, Kristen Berkeley was living in Toronto and blogging about fashion, makeup, and cooking. On a whim, she took a job in Yellowknife, a small city in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
As a Black woman, Kristen was a bit nervous to move to a city that lacked the diversity of home, but she found herself surprised along the way. Yellowknife ended up being her gateway to incorporating the outdoors into her adventurous spirit, and she’s since started a company called Amplify Outdoors to help invite and uplift more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color into the outdoors with her.
About Kristen: Kristen Berkeley (she/her) is originally from Toronto and has been living in the Northwest Territories for nearly four years. Kristen is a former journalist that enjoys writing about social issues and outdoor lifestyles. When she's not cooking delicious meals, Kristen can be found exploring the Northwest Territories and promoting diversity in outdoor spaces with her organization Amplify Outdoors.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Kristen Berkeley
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Uncruise Adventures & Indeed
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
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Resources
- Featured in this episode: Kristen Berkeley
- Instagram: @Travel_Adventurehers
- Amplify Outdoors
- Website
- Instagram: @AmplifyOutdoors
- Empowerment Squared
- Learn more about Yellowknives Dene First Nation
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Indeed: Indeed makes it easy to hire great talent. Get a $75 job credit before March 31, 2022 at Indeed.com/explores.
- Uncruise Adventures: Save $500 to $750 per person on sailings in the Sea of Cortez and Spring in Alaska 7-night adventures on bookings made through April 15, 2022 at Uncruise.com/explore
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air bi-weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Kenya Jackson-Saulters believes in the power of pairing meditation with time outside and cultivating rituals to help her channel the spirituality and peace of mind she finds in nature. In this episode, we hear all about the Nature Meditations deck she recently authored through Chronicle Books. It’s a beautiful offering for her Outdoor Journal Tour community (and beyond) and a true reflection of her passion for the outdoors and mindfulness.
As we find ourselves already a few weeks into a new year, time feels like it’s on hyperdrive but Kenya helps remind us of the importance of grounding ourselves in the outdoors, setting aside time to dream, and celebrating the many ways we move forward.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Kenya Jackson-Saulters
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Indeed
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Kenya Jackson-Saulters
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consultkenya
- Buy the Nature Meditations Deck
- Learn more on Outdoor Journal Tour’s website
- Find it on REI.com
- Amazon
- Nature Meditations Deck release party February 7, 2022 in Atlanta, GA (Kenya will also be doing a reading for out of town and online participants)
- Outdoor Journal Tour
- January 2022 Words for Creating & Being
- Subscribe to Creative Fuel, Anna’s newsletter
- If you enjoyed this episode, we think you’ll enjoy:
- Hike, Journal, Meditate w/ Outdoor Journal Tour
- Wonder Walking Heals - Amy Won
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Indeed: Indeed makes it easy to hire great talent. Get a $75 job credit before March 31, 2022 at Indeed.com/explores.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air bi-weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Listen to a preview of "This is Our Time" a storytelling podcast that takes you on an immersive adventure on a ship to Antarctica with host Samantha Hodder and 80 women who all work in STEM.
About This is Our Time
Launched in 2018, This is Our Time is a storytelling podcast that takes you on adventure to the end of the world. Season 2 follows Samantha, step by step, as podcaster-in-residence… as she goes all the way to Antarctica, aboard a small ship, with a group of 80 women who all work in STEM. It’s a leadership journey, like none other.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Instagram: @ThisIsOurTimePodcast
Twitter: @ThisIsOurPod
www.thisisourtimepodcast.com
Or sign up for the newsletter Audio Love to stay in touch: https://bit.ly/Audio-love
About She Explores
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
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The idea that everything comes back around can be a comforting thought - especially as Anna Brones shares it:
“I think that that's what we've really been doing in a larger way in the last two years. We've had to reckon with some of these larger questions about what it means to be human, what it means to exist, who we are when we don't have all of the external distractions. And so I think that that's what we are continuing to sit with. And I think your creative process is a way to sit with those things. And I think that's why investing in creative process is so important because at the end of the day, being creative is being human.”
Anna was on She Explores back in April of 2020 for a conversation called ‘Creativity to Guide Us Through.’ It was around the start of lockdown and life as we knew it was changing. To kick off 2022, we’re revisiting portions of this conversation on creativity and nature that feel just as relevant today and we also catch up with Anna as she shares some valuable advice on approaching January in a gentle way.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Anna Brones
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Tentree
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Anna Brones
- Instagram: @AnnaBrones
- Website: AnnaBrones.com
- Mentioned in the episode:
- January 2022 Words for Creating & Being
- Subscribe to Creative Fuel, Anna’s newsletter
- If you enjoyed this episode, we think you’ll enjoy:
- Adventure Art Academy: Claire Giordano
- Creativity to Guide Us Through: Anna Brones
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Tentree: Get 15% off your first order at Tentree.com with code EXPLORE at checkout.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air bi-weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
The Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. Initiative is a coalition of ethnically and racially diverse leaders dedicated to ensuring youth from historically excluded communities have access to meaningful experiences in the outdoors. As a team, the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. Initiative is campaigning for the creation of a national fund that could secure long term investments in programs that provide opportunities for all our youth to spend time outdoors.
In this episode, Gabaccia is our guide as we learn about equity, the importance of outdoor equity funds, and what it takes to get legislation across the finish line.
This is the last of six episodes hosted by Gabaccia Moreno in 2021 as part of our She Explores host residency program. It’s also our last episode of the year. Thanks for being here.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Teresa Martinez, Jessica Loya, and Laura Flores
Hosted & Produced by Gabaccia Moreno
With support by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Tentree & Rumpl
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E.
- Featured in this episode:
- Teresa Martinez: Executive Director of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition
- Jessica Loya: Environmental and Conservation Policy Expert and the manager of the Next 100 Coalition
- Laura Flores: Teacher and Volunteer Program Coordinator for Latino Outdoors
- Nuestra Tierra
- See Us Outside
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Rumpl: Get 15% off your first order with code “SHE15” at checkout at Rumpl.com.
- Tentree: Get 15% off your first order at Tentree.com with code EXPLORE at checkout.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Join environmental artist Claire Giordano in the field as she teaches plein air painting in stunning landscapes like alpine lakes, old growth forests, beneath sandstone cliffs, oceanside, and glaciers. While Claire loves sharing the fun and beauty of experiencing these places through her virtual course, The Adventure Art Academy, there’s an intention behind the class that is more than meets the eye.
As an artist, writer, and educator, Claire strives to creatively explore the interwoven patterns of people, place, and climate change. She sees creating art as a gateway to truly seeing and experiencing landscape - in particular, identifying the effects of climate change. Claire also sees it as a way to let go and experiment, which we don’t often get to experience in our daily lives.
In this episode, Claire shares the motivations behind starting this class, her philosophy of infusing adventure into the day-to-day, and takes us with her into the backcountry.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Claire Giordano
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner, Tentree, Rumpl, & Hibear
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Claire Giordano
- Instagram: @ClairesWanderings
- Website: ClairesWanderings.com
- The Adventure Art Academy
- Mentioned in the episode:
- Inspiring Girls Expeditions
- If you enjoyed this episode, we think you’ll enjoy:
- Nature Up Close: Science Illustrator Kristin Link
- Creativity to Guide Us Through: Anna Brones
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Hibear: Get free shipping off any order over $50 with code EXPLORE at checkout.
- Danner: Find the right boots for you at Danner.com
- Rumpl: Get 15% off your first order at Rumpl.com with code SHE15 at checkout.
- Tentree: Get 15% off your first order at Tentree.com with code EXPLORE at checkout.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air bi-weekly this fall on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Nicole Antoinette recently released a trail journal of her 2017 thru-hike of the Arizona Trail called “How to Be Alone.” And that’s what we met up to talk about on a trail near Boston: how her first thru hike came to be, how she persevered, and why she decided to add to the trail journal canon. While quitting can indeed be a kindness, Nicole solo hiked all 800 rugged miles of the Arizona Trail. And it all started when she was over 30,000 feet up in the air, reading a book on a plane.
While Nicole says she’s a “recovering advice giver,” we know there’s lots of wisdom to be found in this episode: about knowing when it’s time to take a leap, how to get to know yourself better, giving back through your creative work, and more. Join us on the trail as we crunch leaves, get spun around, and find our way back again.
Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores
Featured in this episode: Nicole Antoinette
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner, Tentree, Rumpl, & DUER
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Nicole Antoinette
- Instagram: @Nic.Antoinette
- Website: NicoleAntoinette.com
- Buy: How To Be Alone: An 800 Mile Hike on the Arizona Trail
- Mentioned in the episode:
- Thru Hiking Will Break Your Heart
- Indigenous Environmental Network
- If you enjoyed this episode, we think you’ll enjoy:
- “Quitting Can Be a Kindness - Nicole Antoinette”
- “Bobbing at the Surface - Carrot Quinn”
- Rate this podcast
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- DUER: Get 15% off at shopDUER.com with code SHEEXPLORES15 at checkout.
- Danner: Find the right boots for you at Danner.com
- Rumpl: Get 15% off your first order at Rumpl.com with code SHE15 at checkout.
- Tentree: Get 15% off your first order at Tentree.com with code EXPLORE at checkout.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air bi-weekly this fall on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
As a little girl, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant loved watching nature shows -- and she paid a lot of attention to the humans that showed up in front of the camera. Not seeing anyone in the host position who looked like her as a Black woman, Rae made it her goal to become a wildlife ecologist and to help change the face of who holds the expertise and shows up for some of the most unique animals in the world. Today, she's so proud to be the voice of a new podcast from PBS, Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant.
Rae not only contributes to change through showing up as her full self, she's also dedicated to creating more equitable opportunities for young people to experience nature. She does this in many ways, most notably as the mother to two young girls and serving on the board of NatureBridge.
After 15 years as a wildlife ecologist and conservation scientist, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant has a lot of valuable life lessons to share, be it the way she looks back at her own career with compassion for her younger self, the importance of doing exactly what she wants to do with her free time, or the joy that is cuddling baby bears -- just don't try the latter at home!
Featured in this episode: Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant @RaeWynnGrant
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by DannerRumpl, & Minus33
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant: Instagram & Website
- Learn more about Rae's podcast via PBS: "Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant"
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Share your unique holiday traditions on an upcoming episode of She Explores.
- Enjoyed this episode? You might like these too:
- Giving Wildlife a Second Change: Sirena Rana
- Butterflies, Bison, & the Border Wall: Conservationist Krista Schyler
- Subscribe to Our Newsletter
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Danner: Find the right boots for you at Danner.com
- Minus33: Tune into the episode for 15% off your next order at Minus33.com
- Rumpl: Get 15% off your first order at Rumpl.com with code SHE15 at checkout.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air bi-weekly this fall on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Rebecca Sperry was in the middle of a big hiking challenge when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2020: she was tracing all 1400+ miles of trails in the White Mountains. While she had to put that quest on pause during cancer treatment, it didn’t stop her from hiking. Once Rebecca got cleared by her doctor, she hiked every single week. Her reasons are multifold: exercise can help make chemotherapy more tolerable, she wanted to see what was possible (and show others that it’s possible to stay active through cancer). Most of all, hiking is a really big part of who Rebecca is. Cancer can take a lot away, but not that.
Featured in this episode: Rebecca Sperry @SockedInHikes
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Minus33, Danner & Rumpl
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Rebecca Sperry @SockedInHikes
- Active Thru Cancer @Active_Thru_Cancer
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Episodes mentioned at the end of the episode:
- Lindsey Ingram - Meeting Yourself Where You’re At
- Becky Marcelliano - A Few Big Leaps
- Subscribe to Our Newsletter
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Danner: Find the right boots for you at Danner.com
- Minus33: Tune into the episode for 15% off your next order at Minus33.com
- Rumpl: Get 15% off your first order at Rumpl.com with code SHE15 at checkout.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air bi-weekly this fall on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Listen to this: About the Journey, the podcast that takes you on an audio road trip with travel lover Oneika Raymond.
Each episode of About the Journey takes you on the road along routes like Miami to Key West, Oahu’s North Shore, or Wyoming’s National Parks. You get to ride along with host and travel journalist Oneika Raymond, who you might know from the Travel Channel or her incredible instagram. Oneika is so passionate about the growth and experiences that come from travel that she’s made it her life’s work to help empower others to see the world, too.
Resources
- Listen to About the Journey Podcast
- Oneika Raymond's Instagram
- Episode preview: From roller skates to birria tacos, this episode takes us southbound on the 5 from Los Angeles to sunny San Diego. Join Host Oneika Raymond on a road trip down one of the most famous coastlines in America to get a taste of southern California culture. Listen on Spotify.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air bi-weekly this fall on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Shaandiin Cedar is on the solution side of fighting the climate crisis and invites you to join in, too. A problem-solver by nature, Shaandiin is taking both a bottom-up and a top-down approach to activating climate solutions through her grassroots and corporate sustainability efforts. As an Indigenous woman and the daughter of activists, Shaandin’s commitment to justice for people and the environment is woven into her being.
In this episode, we learn that all the technology exists today to help stop the negative effects of climate change - and part of Shaandiin Cedar's work as an associate at Powerhouse Ventures is helping cleantech companies access capital to harness that technology and help solve the climate crisis. We also learn about all that Shaandiin is doing on a grassroots level to advocate for social and environmental justice - and all that you can do to take action if you have the means to do so.
Featured in this episode: Shaandiin Cedar @shaaandiiin
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner & Rumpl
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Shaandiin Cedar: Instagram | LinkedIn
- Shaandiin’s writing on GreenBiz
- Companies & Organization Mentioned in the Episode
- Powerhouse Ventures
- NativesOutdoors
- NDN Collective
- Articles Mentioned
- Grist: Indigenous Activism in Canada has staved of 25% of US & Canada’s emisions
- Project Drawdown: Top 100 Climate Solutions
- IPCC Report
- Native Land App
- About Powerhouse founder Emily Kirsch
- Venture Capital Terms
- Subscribe to Our Newsletter
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Danner: Find the right boots for you at Danner.com
- Rumpl: Get 15% off your first order at Rumpl.com with code SHE15 at checkout.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air bi-weekly this fall on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
For far too long, we were told that Man was the hunter and Woman the gatherer. Are we surprised to have witnessed a “hunting industry” that for decades has only catered to the interests of men? Recent studies actually contradict the beliefs that prehistoric women weren’t hunters and in this episode, residency host Gabaccia Moreno is our guide through the stories and reflections of women who have found a role for hunting in their lives, only about 10,000 years after our predecessors did.
To help paint a picture of hunting that reflects a spectrum of perspectives, Gabaccia talked with women from different generations, locations, ethnicities, levels of experience, and choices of weapon. By no means is every woman hunter here represented, but the few that are, have shared valuable lessons that anyone can learn from.
This is the fifth of six episodes hosted by Gabaccia Moreno this year as part of our She Explores host residency program.
Featured in this episode: Tracy Ross (she/her), Kamilia Elsisie (she/her), Jess Johnson (she/her), Gabi Peña (she/they), Miriam Garcia-Jorns (she/her), and Lydia Parker (she/her); Voice submission from Gabi’s father, Angel Peña.
Hosted & Produced by Gabaccia Moreno
Edited by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Yonder, Danner, & Rumpl
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Tracy Ross @heli_girl_1970
- Kamilia Elsisie: @kamkam520
- Jess Johnson: @jesscjohnson_
- Gabi Peña
- Miriam Garcia-Jorns: @mgjorns
- Lydia Parker: @lydiaparker123
- Artemis Sportswomen: Instagram & Website
- Hunters of Color: Instagram & Website
- Hunting + Conservation Stats
- Female Hunters in the Early Americas
- Man the Hunter, Woman the Gatherer?
- Nuestra Tierra
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Rumpl: Get 15% off your first order with code “SHE15” at checkout at Rumpl.com.
- Yonder: Learn more at book a nature-rich stay at Yonder.com.
- Danner: GO THERE in Danner’s most iconic styles by visiting Danner.com.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
In honor of WorldPride, we're revisiting our 2018 conversation with Elyse Rylander. Elyse is the founder and executive director of OUT There Adventures, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering queer young people through their connection with the natural world. Elyse believes nature is a disruptive force for queer youth and hopes to positively foster their identities and love of the outdoors.
She's doing so through her nonprofit, OUT There Adventures. By partnering with existing organizations like Outward Bound and Northwest Youth Corps, she's reaching more queer kids and multiplying the potential impact of OUT There's mission. It takes time, energy, and capital to build a nonprofit. Elyse shares the challenges and rewards of the last five years of work and her vision for years to come.
Elyse is also a Co-Creator of the LGBTQ Outdoor Summit and is using this opportunity to announce that there are now dates for the 4th summit! Mark your calendar for April 1 - 4, 2022 at the National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia.
You can also find this episode as part of the WorldPride Pod Stage, wherever podcasts are found.
Featuring: Elyse Rylander, Founder and Executive Director of OUT There Adventures; Co-creator of the LGBTQ Outdoor Summit
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Goodr, Yonder, Rumpl, & Pachamama
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Out There Adventures: Website & Instagram
- LGBTQ Outdoor Summit
- Elyse's personal instagram
- WorldPride Pod Stage
Sponsor Websites & Discount Codes
- Goodr: Head over to www.goodr.com and enter EXPLORE15 at checkout for 15% OFF your entire order.
- Yonder: Book an escape in nature and find your Yonder at Yonder.com.
- Rumpl: Get 15% off your first order at Rumpl.com with code SHE15 at checkout.
- Pachamama CBD: Get 40% off Sleep Well CBD Gummies with code EXPLORE at checkout via pachamamaCBD.com.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Your stories of the unexpected kindness you’ve found in the outdoors - from strangers, from nature.
We’ve all been finding solace in nature after a hard year, and we wanted to gather your stories to inspire a kinder outdoor world. Of course, as we’ve talked about a lot on the show - the outdoors is not a utopia, or a place we can escape systemic issues. But kindness can create a chain reaction that has long-term impacts for good.
Featured in this episode: Helen Wallis, Kelly Hines, Trisha Stull, Ruth Nolan, Lois Van Leer, Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe, Jo Ann Hickey, and Andrea Schmuttermaer.
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
Additional Editorial Support by Julie Hotz
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Goodr, Yonder, Rumpl, & Pachamama
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Helen Wallis: Instagram @thewalkingtraveller
- Kelly Hines: Instagram @smellyhines
- Trisha Stull: Instagram @tjthewildechild
- Ruth Nolan: Instagram & Twitter @ruthnolan
- Lois Van Leer
- Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe
- Jo Ann Hickey: Instagram @adkgirl4
- Andrea Schmuttermaier: Instagram @drea.ventures
- Trail Etiquette
- Melanin Base Camp: 7 Things My White Outdoorsy Friends Don’t Understand About Race
- Backpacker: Women in the Backcountry Don’t Need Your Help
- Climate Crisis
- IPCC report
- Intersectional Environmentalist’s Summary of the IPCC Report
- The Atlantic “It’s Grim”
- Grist: UN report places new emphasis on climate tipping points
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Goodr: Head over to www.goodr.com and enter EXPLORE15 at checkout for 15% OFF your entire order.
- Yonder: Book an escape in nature and find your Yonder at Yonder.com.
- Rumpl: Get 15% off your first order at Rumpl.com with code SHE15 at checkout.
- Pachamama CBD: Get 40% off Sleep Well CBD Gummies with code EXPLORE at checkout via pachamamaCBD.com.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Brianne Lauro was born and raised on Hawai’i Island and learned how to hunt, fish, and dive from her father at a young age. She’s carried this passion into adulthood, along with a commitment to honoring all the lands and waters of the island through giving back as they have given to her and her family. In conversation with Gabaccia Moreno, Brianne shares what drives her, how she would like to see the conservation conversation shift, why she’s documenting the knowledge of her family, and her hopes for the future.
About Brianne, in her own words: Brianne Lauro is a descendant of Filipino plantation workers and the daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter of Hawai’i fishers and hunters. Born and raised on Hawai’i Island, she learned how to hunt, fish, and dive from her father at a young age, which she continues to do to this day. For generations, Hawai’i’s lands and waters have taken care of her and her family, and she’s committed to a lifetime of reciprocating that gift through conservation.
Throughout the past year, Brianne has become a storyteller for her family — documenting and preserving the knowledge and life stories of her loved ones, past and present.
In 2020, Brianne was awarded the two most prestigious scholarships established by Congress, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship and the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship.
At her core, Brianne is a lover of family, heritage, local knowledge, and conservation.
This is the fourth of six episodes hosted by Gabaccia Moreno this year as part of our She Explores host residency program.
Featured in this episode: Brianne Lauro (she/her)
Hosted & Produced by Gabaccia Moreno
Additional Support by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Organifi & Pachamama
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Brianne Lauro
- Instagram: @Brianne_Lauro
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Organifi: Head to Organifi.com/explore and get 20% off your order with code EXPLORE
- Pachamama CBD: Get 40% off Sleep Well CBD Gummies with code EXPLORE at checkout via pachamamaCBD.com.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Carrot Quinn joins us on the show again to talk about her latest memoir: The Sunset Route. For those who read and loved Thru Hiking Will Break Your Heart, The Sunset Route fills in a lot of the backstory. Billed as an adventure memoir, (Carrot spent her early 20’s hopping freight trains and hitchhiking before discovering thru-hiking) the book really shines in telling the story of how Carrot found nurturing, forgiveness, and healing through nature during after a traumatic childhood.
In this episode, Gale and Carrot talk about her relationship with adventure today, the vulnerability of putting your story out there, the grief we all carry, the ways Carrot is giving back, and more.
Featured in this episode: Carrot Quinn (she/they)
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
Additional Support by Julie Hotz
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Goodr, Organifi & Pachamama
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Carrot Quinn
- Instagram: @CarrotQuinn
- The Sunset Route
- Thru Hiking Will Break Your Heart
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Goodr: Get 15% off your sunglasses order by using the code EXPLORE15 at checkout at Goodr.com.
- Organifi: Head to Organifi.com/explore and get 20% off your order with code EXPLORE
- Pachamama CBD: Get 40% off Sleep Well CBD Gummies with code EXPLORE at checkout via pachamamaCBD.com.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
In our first episode on matrescence, we talked about continuing to carry a love for nature and time outside into pregnancy as we prepare for the major life change of becoming a parent. This episode continues into the next phase in the process, when the much-anticipated birth is over, and we step into this new role and all that it entails, indoors and out.
From the tender early days of the fourth trimester, to integrating the outdoors into your little one’s lives as they grow, the postpartum phase of matrescence is a complex period of healing, care-giving, bonding, learning and un-learning. It’s a time that can simultaneously hold grief and ambivalence, and profound joy — all in the same hand.
In this episode, we’ll hear from Rukmini Halliwell and Rachel Barrett again, speaking about the early days with their children Zen and Lola, who are now 21 months and 9 months old, respectively. And we’ll also be joined by Jessie Harrold, a coach and a doula who supports women through various rites of passage, including that of matresence.
Listen to part 1, available on your feed now.
Featured in this episode: Rukmini Halliwell, Rachel Barrett, & Jessie Harrold
Hosted & Produced byHailey Hirst
Editing & production support by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored byYonder, Danner, Goodr, & Organifi
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Rukmini Halliwell: Instagram @rukminihalliwell
- Rachel Barrett: Instagram @luminiousandwild
- Jessie Harrold: Instagram @jessie.es.harrold | Podcast | Website
- Submit Your Story of Kindness
- Matrescence--What is it?
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Yonder: Get $100 off your first stay with the code SheExplores100 at checkout via Yonder.com.
- Goodr: Get 15% off your sunglasses order by using the code EXPLORE15 at checkout at Goodr.com.
- Danner: GO THERE in Danner’s most iconic women's styles by visiting Danner.com.
- Organifi: Head to organifi.com/explore and use code EXPLORE for 20% off.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Palinor Velasco has always pursued an adventurous life, even before she found her place in and love for the outdoors. While newly sober, Palinor found healing in climbing and mountain biking, but an accident that affected her mobility made her rethink the levels of risk she’s willing to take on. Luckily for her, having a partner who is also a fly fishing guide got her to try a new way to recreate safely while recovering from surgeries. Fly fishing became her go-to way of getting outside -- and connecting with other women on the water.
This is the third of six episodes hosted by Gabaccia Moreno this year as part of our She Explores host residency program.
Featured in this episode: Palinor Velasco
Hosted & Produced by Gabaccia Moreno
Editing & Additional Production Support by Gale Straub
Editing Support by Julie Hotz
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Yonder & Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Palinor Velasco
- Instagram: @Wild_Palinor
- Founder: @SierraRiverSisters
- Resources Mentioned in this Episode
- Online Fly Fishing Courses from United Women on The Fly
- The Basics of Fly Fishing from Orvis
- Fly Fishing Glossary from Fly Fishers International
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Yonder: Get $100 off your first stay with the code SheExplores100 at checkout via Yonder.com.
- Organifi: Head to Organifi.com/explore and get 20% off your order with code EXPLORE
- Danner: GO THERE in Danner’s most iconic women's styles by visiting Danner.com.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Abby Ruhman is a professional makeup artist with Alopecia Totalis who uses her body as a canvas to advocate for change when it comes to outdated beauty standards. Art and creativity are central to the Mountain Games: public art around town, live music happening nightly, the mountainous backdrop of Vail Valley, even photo booths set up for puppy portraits. Abby was a big part of that too, and in her conversation with Gabaccia Moreno - they talk at the Mountain Games about how Abby finds inspiration in nature, provides some tips for those who want to wear makeup into the outdoors, and give us the opportunity to contemplate the artistry we bring with us when we step outside.
About the series:
Travel with She Explores for a weekend of adventure, art, music, and community at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado. Through conversations with four women outdoorists and through the ears of first-time Mountain Games attendee Gabaccia Moreno, listeners have the opportunity to experience the games from afar and contemplate adventure in their own lives.
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with the Vail Valley Foundation with support from LifeStraw .
Featured in this episode: Abby Ruhman
Hosted by Gale Straub & Gabaccia Moreno
Editing by Gale Straub & Julie Hotz
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Featured in this episode:
- Abby Ruhman: Instagram | TikTok
- Gabaccia Moreno: Instagram
- About Alopecia Totalis
- Learn more about the GoPro Mountain Games
- Vail Valley Foundation
Sponsors:
- Lifestraw
- Nature Valley
- Go RVing
All Four Episodes of Voices from the GoPro Mountain Games Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
Music licensed through MusicBed
Podcast Art by
Hailey Hirst
Ariel Tweto is passionate about taking chances and trying new things in the outdoors -- and sharing her experiences with others. Ariel’s Inupiaq Inuit, born and raised in Unalakleet, Alaska. She’s a pilot, a TV personality, and the founder of the nonprofit Popping Bubbles.
Ariel’s first time at the Mountain Games gave her the opportunity to compete in her very first e-bike race. That’s one of the cool things about the Mountain Games: people of all experience levels compete together for the sake of community and having fun out there. She and Gabaccia Moreno met up at the Mountain Games to talk about how it went, the new friends she’s made in Vail, and her best advice for listeners looking to embrace nature in their lives.
About the series:
Travel with She Explores for a weekend of adventure, art, music, and community at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado. Through conversations with four women outdoorists and through the ears of first-time Mountain Games attendee Gabaccia Moreno, listeners have the opportunity to experience the games from afar and contemplate adventure in their own lives.
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with the Vail Valley Foundation with support from LifeStraw .
Featured in this episode: Ariel Tweto
Hosted by Gale Straub & Gabaccia Moreno
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Featured in this episode:
- Ariel Tweto: Instagram
- Gabaccia Moreno: Instagram
- Ariel’s Nonprofit
- Popping Bubbles
- Learn more about the GoPro Mountain Games
- Vail Valley Foundation
Sponsors:
- Lifestraw
- Nature Valley
- Go RVing
All Four Episodes of Voices from the GoPro Mountain Games Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
Music licensed through MusicBed
Podcast Art by Hailey Hirst
Emily Jackson is a professional kayaker and a mother of two. Kayaking is in her blood—her dad, Eric Jackson, is a World Champion freestyle kayaker and more often than not, you can find Emily on the water. Emily’s been competing at the Mountain Games for years, and this year she won all three of her events—a first for her.
Just as community and competition are a big part of the Mountain Games, so is family. Emily and Gabaccia Moreno talk kayaking, legacy, family support, and making time for it all.
About the series:
Travel with She Explores for a weekend of adventure, art, music, and community at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado. Through conversations with four women outdoorists and through the ears of first-time Mountain Games attendee Gabaccia Moreno, listeners have the opportunity to experience the games from afar and contemplate adventure in their own lives.
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with the Vail Valley Foundation with support from LifeStraw .
Featured in this episode: Emily Jackson
Hosted by Gale Straub & Gabaccia Moreno
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Featured in this episode:
- Emily Jackson: Instagram
- Gabaccia Moreno: Instagram
- Learn more about the GoPro Mountain Games
- Vail Valley Foundation
Sponsors:
- Lifestraw
- Nature Valley
- Go RVing
All Four Episodes of Voices from the GoPro Mountain Games Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
Music licensed through MusicBed
Podcast Art by
Hailey Hirst
Arielle Shipe is someone who shares her health and adventure story for the service of others. She understands that we all have a lifelong relationship with our bodies, and that relationship is changing all the time. This year at the Mountain Games, she taught yoga surrounded by nature, helping participants center themselves and prime their bodies for a day of adventure and community.
Arielle and Gabaccia Moreno met up to talk about Arielle’s health journey, her philosophy for reframing your relationship with health, her favorite yoga styles, rescheduling her thru hike, and more.
About the series:
Travel with She Explores for a weekend of adventure, art, music, and community at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado. Through conversations with four women outdoorists and through the ears of first-time Mountain Games attendee Gabaccia Moreno, listeners have the opportunity to experience the games from afar and contemplate adventure in their own lives.
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with the Vail Valley Foundation with support from LifeStraw.
Featured in this episode: Arielle Shipe
Hosted by Gale Straub & Gabaccia Moreno
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Featured in this episode:
- Arielle Shipe: Instagram
- Gabaccia Moreno: Instagram
- Learn more about the GoPro Mountain Games
- Vail Valley Foundation
Sponsors:
- Lifestraw
- Nature Valley
- Go RVing
All Four Episodes of Voices from the GoPro Mountain Games Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
Music licensed through MusicBed
Podcast Art by
Hailey Hirst
Sofia Jin believes that if we are going to spend time in nature, we need to address the very human problems we bring with us: sexism, sexual harassment, eating disorders, and racism (to name a few). She stresses that talking about these issues shouldn't “ruin” the escapism possible in the great outdoors for anyone but in fact makes it safer, more inclusive, and somewhere everyone can feel heard and valued.
About Sofia: Sofia is aBritish Korean explorer, entertainer, and creative. She’s a climber, diver, and Muay Thai practitioner, a member of The North Face UK Explorer Team, and an adventure athlete for Osprey Europe.
Featured in this episode: Sofia Jin
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
Editing & production support by Julie Hotz
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Yonder, Danner, and Minus33
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Sofia Jin
- Instagram: @SofJin__
- Explore at Home series
- Website: https://www.sofiajin.com/
- Light Documentary
- Ella's UK
- Articles/Reports referenced:
- Why Female River Guides Aren't Welcome in the Grand Canyon via Outside Online
- Hostile Environment via Outside Online
- DOI Investigative Report
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Yonder: Get $100 off your first stay with the code SheExplores100 at checkout via Yonder.com.
- Danner: GO THERE in Danner’s most iconic women's styles by visiting Danner.com.
- Minus33: Learn more at Minus33.com.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Pregnancy is a time of drastic physical change, and one full of expectation and anxieties, pressure and pain, hope and uncertainty. And for those of us who value time spent outside, it’s natural that we'd carry that forward into our pregnancies as much as we can. Continuing to hike, or surf, or whatever else we like to do, lets us still feel like ourselves and helps us cope with the symptoms and stresses of this entire process. But as you’ll hear, it’s often not that simple.
In the first of a two-part series on matrescence, guest host Hailey Hirst spoke with two outdoor-loving moms about their pregnancies, Rukmini Halliwell and Rachel Barrett. And because there is no “one story” to tell about pregnancy, we also invited listeners in to share their reflections via voice memos. Whether or not you’ve experienced pregnancy, our hope is that you’ll listen and feel heard and illuminated.
Featured in this episode: Rukmini Halliwell & Rachel Barrett
Voice Memos featured: Liz, Erin Rodman, Rachel Molodovan, Julia Renn, Jennifer Smith, Arielle Courtney, Karen, Stephanie VanDoorn-Kazyak, and Randi. Thank you to everyone who submitted!
Hosted & Produced byHailey Hirst
Editing & production support by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored byYonder, Danner, & Reel Paper
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Rukmini Halliwell: Instagram @rukminihalliwell
- Rachel Barrett: Instagram @luminiousandwild
- Social from Voice Memos Featured:
- Erin Rodman: Instagram @sola.leatherworks
- Rachel Molodovan: Instagram @heyitsrachelm
- Julia Renn: Instagram @howtopoopinthewoods
- Arielle Courtney: Instagram @dogdaisofourlives
- Karen: Instagram @curious_kg
- Stephanie VanDoorn-Kazyak: Instagram @stef.vandoorn
- Randi: Instagram @naturallyrandikay, Website www.naturallyrandikay.com, Podcast Simple Self Care
- Matrescence--What is it?
- Adventure Mamas
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Yonder: Get $100 off your first stay with the code SheExplores100 at checkout via Yonder.com.
- Reel Paper: Get 25% off with the code "EXPLORE" at checkout via Reelpaper.com.
- Danner: GO THERE in Danner’s most iconic women's styles by visiting Danner.com.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Lindsey Ingram has long-haul COVID, which means she is constantly renegotiating what's possible for herself in the outdoors. But just like she's not just a mom, or a hiker, or a gardener -- the uncertainty of her chronic illness doesn't define her. She simply has to meet herself where she's at.
Over the past year Lindsey has been redefining her relationship with the outdoors, her body, and how she invites others into the outdoors with her. In certain ways, our conversation is an opportunity for her to contemplate how she's moving forward as she navigates long-haul COVID. It’s also an opportunity for us to better understand one person’s experience living with a chronic illness.
About Lindsey: Based in the Midwest, Lindsey spends her free time outdoors in whatever capacity is available, lately walking, wildlife watching, and gardening. She explores the outdoors creatively though writing, drawing, painting, and photography. She travels solo, with her kids, or with her friends.
Featured in this episode: Lindsey Ingram
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
Editing & production support by Julie Hotz
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Subaru & Reel Paper
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Lindsey Ingram
- Instagram: @hikeovercountry
- Website: http://hikeovercountry.com/
- New York Times Article about Long-Haul COVID
- Adventure Mamas
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Subaru: Check out the Subaru Crosstrek Sport here: subaru.com/crosstrek
- Reel Paper: Get 25% off with the code "EXPLORE" at checkout
Lindsey's "Adventure Pack" Contents
Note from Lindsey: While it's possible to buy a "toy" adventure pack on Amazon, I try to buy cheaper or secondhand versions of real items (i.e an inexpensive $10 pair of adjustable binoculars with limited magnification versus $5 toy binoculars that don't work at all). These items last longer, and kids are smarter than we give them credit for! This list can be scaled up or down by reducing the number of items or purchasing nicer/cheaper alternatives as your budget allows.
- A pack! Cinch sacks are good for short adventures but uncomfortable for more than a few hours. I veer towards a small day pack for 4-5 year olds or a bicycle or smaller day pack with a water bladder for kids 7+. My general rule of thumb is something big enough to carry a jacket in.
- Lightweight, flip top water bottle that doesn't leak if no water bladder is included.
- Snacks (a few healthy and at least one piece of junk snack like M&Ms).
- Whistle
- Easy to read compass
- Binoculars
- Magnifying glass
- Headlamp
- Small notebook for a field notebook
- Markers, twistable crayons, or large crayons with the wrappers pulled off (for rubbings, tracing, and drawing)
- Small battery operated fan
- Bandana, hat, or buff for bug and sun protection
- Small poncho
- Travel size sunscreen
- Some kind of kids field guide like a bug book or tracks book, depending on your area -- your local nature center or library can provide some recommendations!
- Small coupon book for free adventures with you, the giver.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Demiesha Dennis is an angler, mom, and community leader who is passionate about spreading the joy she’s found outdoors. Her reflections on time spent outside as an immigrant and Woman of Color provide many insights into industry gaps, misconceptions of people in the outdoors, and the privilege of recreating through hiking and fly fishing. In this episode, we hear about how Demiesha started flyfishing, what she’s teaching her daughter, what it means to her to be a woman on the water, changing the narrative through Brown Girl Outdoor World, and more!
This is the second of six episodes hosted by Gabaccia Moreno this year as part of our She Explores host residency program.
Featured in this episode: Demiesha Dennis
Hosted & Produced by Gabaccia Moreno
Editing & Additional Production Support by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Subaru, Janji, & Reel Paper
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Demiesha Dennis
- Instagram: @BrownGirlOutdoorWorld
- Co-Founder: @shesaidwhatshesaid_offficial
- Organizations Mentioned in this Episode:
- Brown Girl Outdoor World: Website
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Janji: Get 15% off your order with the code SHEEXPLORES15 at checkout at Janji.com
- Reel Paper: Get 25% off your first order with code EXPLORE at checkout at Reelpaper.com
- Subaru: Learn more about the Subaru Crosstrek at Subaru.com/crosstrek
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Kylie Yang is a dog owner, thru-hiker, trail lover, and the New Jersey program coordinator for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. We talk about the rewards and compromises of hiking with her 4-legged companion Sullivan, the many ways Kylie has woven trails into the fabric of her life, and the consideration for others we should all take with us into the outdoors.
Featured in this episode: Kylie Yang
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
Editing & production support by Julie Hotz
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Subaru & Janji
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Kylie Yang
- New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
- About the Long Path
- Backpacker's Guide to How to Hike, Camp, & Backpack with Your Dog
- Appalachian Trail Guidelines: Hiking with Your Dog
- What's a Ridge Runner?
- AAPI Resources:
- What You Can Do to Fight Violence Against AAPI Community
- Anti-Asian Violence Resources
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Subaru: Check out the Subaru Crosstrek Sport here: subaru.com/crosstrek
- Janji: Get 15% off our purchase at checkout at Janji.com with code SHEEXPLORES15 at checkout
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Catch-up with Mirna Valerio aka The Mirnavator. Mirna is an ultra runner, adventurer, author, former teacher, more. Her blog, Fat Girl Running, took off shortly after she took on the sport back in 2008 and she’s been showcasing what’s possible ever since.
In an Instagram live catch-up Gale did with Mirna on Thursday, we talk about her found home of Vermont, Stowe Trails, how she picked up cycling during the pandemic, her new podcast, the significance of her new ambassadorship with Lululemon, and the biggest lesson she learned from 2020 that she’s carrying with her.
This special bonus episode of She Explores is brought to you by ust, who are making a name in the camping world by creating gear that helps EVERYONE get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Learn more at ustgear.com and follow along on Instagram @ustgear.
Featured in this episode: Mirna Valerio
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Mirna Valerio
- Instagram: @themirnavator
- Website
- Stowe Trails Partnership
- Ravel Media
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music by James Childs and Utah via MusicBed.
We all have something to give when it comes to making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible for all. But we don’t have to reinvent the wheel, we can reach out and support existing organizations.
In this episode, created in partnership with Sierra Designs, learn about four incredible nonprofits doing the work to help create more opportunities in the outdoors for People of Color, LGBTQ+, disabled, and low income families. But more than simply learning about the work that others are doing, our hope is that this episode will help you think about how you can do to make “reaching out” a practice in your own outdoor lives. Because change doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and we all have something to offer when it comes to making the outdoors a more equitable place for all to experience its benefits.
Organizations featured in this episode: CO Blackpackers, Wildkind Closet, The Venture Out Project, & Outdoors For All
Individuals featured in this episode: Patricia Cameron, Heather Balogh Rochfort, Brooke Froelich Murray, Perry Cohen, Alicia McConnel, & Thera Zylstra
Hosted & Produced byGale Straub
Editing by Julie Hotz
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Sierra Designs
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Blackpackers
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Wildkind Closet
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
- The Venture Out Project
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Outdoors For All
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Sierra Designs: Learn more about their Reach Out Initiative here.
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Serene Cusack wants to build more community in the fly fishing world, especially amongst those folks who haven’t always been included. Whether through her own social media handle, “Fatty on the Fly” or the community she’s building via “Outcast Anglers,” Serene is passionate about sharing the joy she finds in fly fishing with more people.
In this episode, the first of Gabaccia Moreno’s hosting residency on She Explores, we learn about Serene’s path to fly fishing, the change she’d like to see in the sport, what it’s like being a woman of size on the water, and more.
About Serene: Serene Cusack was born and raised in the mountains of Montana. After successfully completing a four year degree in five at Montana State University, followed by a Masters in Social Work, she launched into the world of helping adolescents experiencing mental health crises. With a stressful job comes the need for self care. Serene has found that her connection with water and fly fishing brings the perfect rhythm of peace and balance. Passionate about people, fly fishing, and trying to not take life too seriously, she has found herself at the intersection of the things she loves. Serene self identifies as a fat person and noticed that plus size representation in the sport of fly fishing is inadequate. She dreams of the day she sees others that look like her represented in the fly fishing industry. Until then, she will continue to spread the big love to all bodies on the river banks. Currently she lives and fly fishes on the stolen land of the Bitterroot Salish in Missoula, Montana.
Featured in this episode: Serene Cusack
Hosted & Produced by Gabaccia Moreno
Editing & Additional Production Support by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Deuter
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Serene Cusack
- Instagram: @FattyontheFly
- Organizations Mentioned in this Episode:
- Confluence Collective: Website | Instagram
- Outcast Anglers: Instagram
- Outcast Camp Out: August 5 - 8
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Deuter
Music is licensed through Musicbed.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
You don’t have to head out on a multi-day road trip to enjoy the benefits of time away: a micro-adventure can be just what you need to help you reset in your own backyard. Host Gale Straub heads out for a New Hampshire coast-to-mountains and back day trip and reflects on the ways her relationship with travel and adventure have shifted post-pandemic with the help of other creative women. Stay tuned -- you’ll hear more from these women and more in the rest of the series.
About the series:
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with Subaru.
The last year has been marked by loss and longing, but it hasn't dampened our sense of adventure or our tendency to dream: of far off places, of time in movement with loved ones. And throughout, there's been comfort in knowing a place we feel most like ourselves: behind the wheel, on the way to our favorite local trailheads, swim spots, and mountainsides.
With our eyes in the rear view as much as they are looking at the road ahead, through this four part series we’ll tell stories about finding adventure locally, reconnecting with those close to us, and taking the side roads that bring us back to what drives us: connection, purpose, and creativity.
Featured in this episode: Eunice Beck, Faith Briggs, Anna Brones, Paulina Dao, Gritchelle Fallesgon, & Gale Straub
Hosted by Gale Straub
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Featured in this episode:
- Eunice Beck | Instagram | Website
- Faith Briggs | Instagram | Website
- Anna Brones | Instagram | Website
- Paulina Dao | Instagram | Website
- Gritchelle Fallesgon | Instagram | Website
- Definition of a Micro-Adventure
- Learn more about the Subaru Outback Onyx
- Learn more about the Subaru Crosstrek Sport
All Four Episodes of Navigating Through Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
Music by Josh Woodward
Podcast Art by Hailey Hirst
In more ways than one, our circles have tightened in the last year. And while for some family has been out of reach, for others, it's been a constant. In this episode we hear from a new mom, Aly Nicklas, and a daughter, Paulina Dao, as they reflect on the ways in which their relationships with family have shifted during the pandemic. We also explore how getting out in the outdoors together, away from the everyday routine, helps to strengthen our family bonds - whatever family means to us.
About the series:
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with Subaru.
The last year has been marked by loss and longing, but it hasn't dampened our sense of adventure or our tendency to dream: of far off places, of time in movement with loved ones. And throughout, there's been comfort in knowing a place we feel most like ourselves: behind the wheel, on the way to our favorite local trailheads, swim spots, and mountainsides.
With our eyes in the rear view as much as they are looking at the road ahead, through this four part series we’ll tell stories about finding adventure locally, reconnecting with those close to us, and taking the side roads that bring us back to what drives us: connection, purpose, and creativity.
Featured in this episode: Paulina Dao & Aly Nicklas
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
Edited by Julie Hotz
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Featured in this episode:
- Paulina Dao | Instagram | Website
- Aly Nicklas | Instagram | Website
- Learn more about the Subaru Outback Onyx
- Learn more about the Subaru Crosstrek Sport
All Four Episodes of Navigating Through Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
Music by Josh Woodward
Podcast Art by Hailey Hirst
Running a nonprofit, doing advocacy work, challenging the dominant narratives of what it means to recreate outside - it all takes a lot of energy. This episode highlights filmmaker Faith Briggs and photographer & GRLSWIRL co-founder Monroe Alvarez, two women who recharge in the outdoors and on the road, and digs into the ways these excursions help them stay invigorated in their work and close to their purpose.
About the series:
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with Subaru.
The last year has been marked by loss and longing, but it hasn't dampened our sense of adventure or our tendency to dream: of far off places, of time in movement with loved ones. And throughout, there's been comfort in knowing a place we feel most like ourselves: behind the wheel, on the way to our favorite local trailheads, swim spots, and mountainsides.
With our eyes in the rear view as much as they are looking at the road ahead, through this four part series we’ll tell stories about finding adventure locally, reconnecting with those close to us, and taking the side roads that bring us back to what drives us: connection, purpose, and creativity.
Featured in this episode: Faith Briggs & Monroe Alvarez
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
Edited by Julie Hotz
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Featured in this episode:
- Faith Briggs | Instagram | Website
- Monroe Alvarez | Instagram | Website
- GRL SWIRL: Website
- Learn more about the Subaru Outback Onyx
- Learn more about the Subaru Crosstrek Sport
All Four Episodes of Navigating Through Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
Music by Josh Woodward
Podcast Art by Hailey Hirst
We love finding inspiration in the outdoors. Nothing gets us out of a creative rut like a change of scenery: it helps provide a new perspective, a fresh way of looking at the world. Amidst the stress of the pandemic, it’s been more challenging to carve out the headspace that gives flight to those seemingly easy ideas. So for the last episode of Navigating Through, we wanted to talk with three women about how this last year has helped and hindered their creative practices—as well as the ways in which exploring locally can shine new light on the familiar. Hear from photographers and artists Eunice Beck, Anna Brones, and Gritchelle Fallesgon.
About the series:
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with Subaru.
The last year has been marked by loss and longing, but it hasn't dampened our sense of adventure or our tendency to dream: of far off places, of time in movement with loved ones. And throughout, there's been comfort in knowing a place we feel most like ourselves: behind the wheel, on the way to our favorite local trailheads, swim spots, and mountainsides.
With our eyes in the rear view as much as they are looking at the road ahead, through this four part series we’ll tell stories about finding adventure locally, reconnecting with those close to us, and taking the side roads that bring us back to what drives us: connection, purpose, and creativity.
Featured in this episode: Eunice Beck, Anna Brones, & Gritchelle Fallesgon
Hosted by Gale Straub
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Featured in this episode:
- Eunice Beck | Instagram | Website
- Anna Brones | Instagram | Website
- Gritchelle Fallesgon | Instagram | Website
- Learn more about the Subaru Outback Onyx
- Learn more about the Subaru Crosstrek Sport
All Four Episodes of Navigating Through Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
Music by Josh Woodward
Podcast Art by
Hailey Hirst
Doris Lance is an avid hiker and wildflower photographer who happens to be over the age of 75. She’s also the author of the book Botanical Reflections––a book to “Explore feelings, reduce anxiety, and reconcile emotional conflicts” all through time spent journaling with wildflowers. We think you’ll appreciate Doris's message to slow down and take things in, not because of age, but because of the wisdom that comes from experience.
Featured in this episode: Doris Lance
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Subaru & Deuter
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Doris Lance
- Website
- Doris's book: Botanical Reflections
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Subaru: Check out the Subaru Crosstrek Sport here: subaru.com/crosstrek
- Deuter
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Listen and learn from leaders in the outdoor industry in this special highlight episode of the virtual Women’s Outdoor Summit. In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day and created by Teresa Baker, this event centered around inclusivity, accessibility, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and outdoor career advice. Hear from inspiring and thought-provoking speakers like Dr. Carolyn Finney, Intersectional Environmentalist, Women CEO panels, and more.
Featured in this episode: Teresa Baker, Melanie Cox, Sarah Crockett, Jaylyn Gough, Deb Haaland, Sierra Domaille, Karla Amador, Alison Desir, Michelle Wardian, Natali Zollinger, Jenny Bruso, Dania Rivas, Syren Nagakyrie, Anaheed Saatchi, Kareemah Batts, Patricia Cameron, Leah Thomas, Sabs Katz, Diandra Marizet, Kristy Drutman, & Dr. Carolyn Finney.
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
With Thanks to Julie Hotz
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Backcountry
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Women’s Outdoor Summit
- Website
- Watch all the sessions on YouTube
- Facebook Group
- In Solidarity Project
- Read: Black Faces, White Spaces
- Additional Companies & Organizations Mentioned in this Episode:
- Native Women’s Wilderness
- HiHeyHello Magazine
- 52 Hike Challenge
- Harlem Run
- Outdoor Research
- Smartwool
- Patagonia
- Arcteryx
- RVR2RVR
- Unlikely Hikers
- Inclusively Outdoors
- Melanin Base Camp
- BelayAll
- Adaptive Climbing Group
- Disabled Hikers
- CO Blackpackers
- Intersectional Environmentalist
- Brown Girl Green
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Backcountry
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Catch-up with Shelma Jun, founder of Flash Foxy and the creator of the women’s climbing festival. Shelma was on the show back in 2017, when we talked about the founding of Flash Foxy and the ripple effect of starting small in a place she knew, the climbing community.
In an Instagram live catch-up Gale did with Shelma on Thursday, we talked about her lessons from 2020, particularly the way societal work week’s inhibit our community activations and the changes to her body after choosing to be a living kidney donor back in June. Shelma also shares what she is looking forward to in the future: from dance parties to her readiness to bring climbers back together for the Women’s Climbing Festival when it’s safe to do so.
This special bonus episode of She Explores is brought to you by ust, who are making a name in the camping world by creating gear that helps EVERYONE get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Learn more at ustgear.com and follow along on Instagram @ustgear.
Featured in this episode: Shelma Jun
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Shelma Jun
- Instagram: @shelmatic
- Flash Foxy
- Website
- Women’s Climbing Festival
- Shelma’s earrings are by Indigenous beader Only Child Handicrafts
- Ravel Media
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music by James Childs and Utah via MusicBed.
Nicole Snell is a self-defense expert, the creator of Outdoor Defense, owner and CEO of Girls Fight Back, a solo adventurer, hike lead with Black Girls Trekkin’, and more.
Nicole’s Outdoor Defense series includes videos about subjects like: tools to address catcalling; the phrase, "I’m sorry"; safety while camping; and asking for help. By putting her two passions together—the outdoors and self defense—Nicole’s uniquely addressing a very real need for all people, but especially cis and trans women, nonbinary people and others that face gender discrimination. Through the stories we tell on She Explores, we’ve heard echoes of this need over the years: mothers passing down fear, people telling us where we should or shouldn’t go, silent warnings against taking on a trail or another new adventure solo.
And yet, sometimes we bristle against speaking this need out loud. Maybe it’s because we don’t want to admit weakness or fulfill an expectation of what it means to inhabit the bodies we’re in. You’ll hear through our conversation with Nicole that to deny ourselves the tools that self-defense offers is counterproductive. Instead, Nicole sees self defense as empowerment: a means to open up more opportunities and access in the outdoors.
In this episode, we’ll talk about why self-defense is important, hear some practical tips for outdoor lovers, and learn more about Nicole’s philosophy for developing the tools which will help facilitate a safer world for all.
Featured in this episode: Nicole Snell
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Subaru & Deuter
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Nicole Snell
- Website
- Instagram: @adventuresofnik
- YouTube Channel (Outdoor Defense Series)
- Support Nicole and her Outdoor Defense Series on Ko-Fi
- Organizations Mentioned in this Episode:
- Girls Fight Back
- Website
- IMPACT Personal Safety
- Website
- Girls Fight Back
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Subaru
- Deuter
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Photojournalist turned outdoor photographer Sofia Jaramillo wants to do more than take incredibly beautiful photos, she wants to help diversify the outdoors through her work. We talk about how she got started in photography, why who’s behind the camera matters, how she’s broadening her portfolio to include filmmaking, and the benefits and pain-points of living in the small mountain town of Jackson, Wyoming.
Featured in this episode: Sofia Jaramillo
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Subaru & Deuter
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Sofia Jaramillo
- Website
- Instagram @sofia_jaramillo5
- Instagram post mentioned in this episode
- Organizations mentioned in this episode
- Coombs Outdoors
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Subaru: Learn more about the 2021 Outback Onyx at Subaru.com/Outback
- Deuter
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music by the Danica Dora and James Child licensed via MusicBed. Music also by Josh Woodward.
Catch-up with Erin Sullivan, the creative behind @ErinOutdoors. Erin was first on the show back in February 2017, talking about her winding path to a freelance creative career inspired by the outdoors.
In an Instagram live catch-up Gale did with Erin on Thursday, they chatted about how Erin's been making time for nature and creativity during the pandemic and how we should all offer ourselves grace during this stressful time. As always, Erin came through with a lot of practical advice for anyone who recharges through creativity and time in nature.
This special bonus episode of She Explores is brought to you by ust, who are making a name in the camping world by creating gear that helps EVERYONE get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Learn more at ustgear.com and follow along on Instagram @ustgear.
Featured in this episode: Erin Sullivan
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Erin Sullivan
- Website
- Instagram: @erinoutdoors
- Ravel Media
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music by Jacob Montague and Utah via MusicBed.
Laura Borichevsky's been working with She Explores for many years and helped co-found Ravel Media. This Thursday, with the launch of her new podcast Sex Outside, Laura's moving on from Ravel to grow it into a show and education platform. This special episode is our team's tribute to Laura and our thank you for all she's given us in our time together.
Featured in this episode: Laura Borichevsky, Hailey Hirst, Noël Russell, & Tori Duhaime
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Take Our 2021 Listener Survey
- Featured in this episode:
- Laura Borichevsky
- Instagram: @howsheviewsit
- Hailey Hirst - Instagram: @haileyhirst
- Noël Russ: Instagram - @noel_russ
- Tori Duhaime: Instagram - @toriduhaime
- Laura Borichevsky
- Sex Outside
- Website
- Instagram: @sexoutsidepod
- Listen On Apple Podcasts
- Listen on Spotify
- Ravel Media
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music by Calica via MusicBed.
Laura Borichevsky wants to open up more conversations about sex, gender, and love: all through digging into the many connections we can find between them and the outdoors. Gale links up with Laura to learn more about her vision for her exciting new podcast, Sex Outside.
About Sex Outside: A podcast peering into all the nooks and crannies of sex, gender, and love---and their connections to the natural world around us.
Featured in this episode: Laura Borichevsky
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Laura Borichevsky
- Website
- Instagram: @howsheviewsit
- Sex Outside
- Website
- Instagram: @sexoutsidepod
- Listen On Apple Podcasts
- Listen on Spotify
- Ravel Media
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music by Gracie & Rachel via MusicBed.
Catch-up with Kareemah Batts, founder of Adaptive Climbing Group, diversity professional, and disability advocate. Kareemah was on the show back in May of 2018, talking about her journey of finding climbing after losing a leg to cancer, and all that she’s done to share her love of climbing with others. As a Black adaptive climber, Kareemah holds multiple identities and is wildly motivated to continue making the outdoor world more accessible for all people.
In an Instagram live catch-up Gale did with Kareemah on Friday, we talked about her 2020. All the good, all the difficult. As someone who falls in the category of high risk for COVID, we were moved by her ability to continue to take on new challenges and deepen her relationship with the outdoors during a year she described as a “bad ex” you'd rather not mention by name.
This special bonus episode of She Explores is brought to you by ust, who are making a name in the camping world by creating gear that helps EVERYONE get outside and enjoy the outdoors. Learn more at ustgear.com and follow along on Instagram @ustgear.
Featured in this episode: Kareemah Batts
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Kareemah Batts
- Website
- Instagram: @herhopness
- Adaptive Climbing Group
- Website
- Instagram: @adaptclimbgroup
- Ravel Media
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music by Jacob Montague and Utah via MusicBed.
We all have our own profound connection to land and water that should be honored and respected, but all too often, dominant narratives of what it means to be an ‘outdoorsperson’ uplifts just one way to be outdoors. In the first episode of “See Us Outside,” Gabaccia talks with leaders from Brown Girl Surf and Charles Roundtree Bloom Project to help affirm the cultural connection to nature that exists for girls and women of color.
About the series:
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with The Cairn Project, and made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation.
Host Gabaccia Moreno is our guide in exploring the unique relationships girls and young women of color have with the natural world and outdoor recreation. Through the voices and stories of leaders and participants from diverse outdoor organizations doing the work to help young people of color thrive in the outdoors, this four-part audio miniseries will highlight the joy, connection, and community these girls find in nature, as well as the importance of organizations doing the work to expand outdoor opportunities.
This is inclusive of all cis and trans women and girls of color, as well as folks of all gender identities who feel comfortable in spaces that center women. That said, for the most part, when we talk about gender we most often do so in terms of those who are socialized as girls and women in a more heteronormative, binary way.
Featured in this episode: Cristal Cisneros, Ki’Amber Thompson, and Mira Manickam-Shirley; Voice memos included in this episode were submitted by Meggy Pyaneeandee and Arlene Huezo
Hosted by Gabaccia Moreno
Produced by Gabaccia Moreno, Noël Russell, and Gale Straub
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- The Cairn Project
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Organizations Highlighted
- The Charles Roundtree Bloom Project: Website | Instagram
- Brown Girl Surf: Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Women's Wilderness: Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Young Women Who Crush: Website | Instagram
- Featured in this episode:
- Cristal Cisneros
- Ki’Amber Thompson
- Mira Manickam-Shirley
- Voice Memos Featured
- Meggy Pyaneeandee | Instagram
- Arlene | Instagram
- Host: Gabaccia Moreno
- Website | Instagram
All Four Episodes of See Us Outside Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
The opening See Us Outside Compilation includes the voices of Marinel De Jesus, Yakuta Poonawalla, Meggy Pyaneeandee, Fernanda Jardim, Arlene, Chi Pham, Denise Meeker and Doreen Wong and includes Spanish, French, Portuguese, Tagalog, Hindi, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and English.
Music by Joy Ike & Sita via MusicBed
Podcast Art by Susana Castro
@susdraws
Creating more opportunities for access to outdoor recreation allows young women of color to define their own narratives in the outdoors. Organizations like Young Women Who Crush and Women’s Wilderness are playing a key role opening up the door to the benefits of spending time in nature. In the second episode of See Us Outside, Gabaccia explores the systemic barriers to accessing the outdoors and the liberation and healing that can occur when a woman of color gets to choose it for herself.
About the series:
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with The Cairn Project, and made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation.
Host Gabaccia Moreno is our guide in exploring the unique relationships girls and young women of color have with the natural world and outdoor recreation. Through the voices and stories of leaders and participants from diverse outdoor organizations doing the work to help young people of color thrive in the outdoors, this four-part audio miniseries will highlight the joy, connection, and community these girls find in nature, as well as the importance of organizations doing the work to expand outdoor opportunities.
We want to stress that when we say this series highlights women and girls of color, this is inclusive of all cis and trans women and girls, as well as folks of all gender identities who feel comfortable in spaces that center women. That said, for the most part, when we talk about gender we most often do so in terms of those who are socialized as girls and women in a more heteronormative, binary way.
Featured in this episode: Cristal Cisneros, Kriste Peoples, Alexis Krauss, Marian Perez, and Mira Manickam-Shirley; Voice memo included in this episode were submitted by Gabrilla Ballard.
Hosted by Gabaccia Moreno
Produced by Gabaccia Moreno, Noël Russell, and Gale Straub
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- The Cairn Project
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Organizations Highlighted
- Young Women Who Crush: Website | Instagram
- Women’s Wilderness: Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Brown Girl Surf: Website | Instagram | Facebook
- The Charles Roundtree Bloom Project: Website | Instagram
- Featured in this episode:
- Cristal Cisneros
- Kriste Peoples
- Alexis Krauss
- Marian Perez
- Mira Manickam-Shirley
- Voice Memos Featured
- Gabrilla Ballard | Instagram | Website
- Host: Gabaccia Moreno
- Website | Instagram
All Four Episodes of See Us Outside Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
The opening See Us Outside Compilation includes the voices of Marinel De Jesus, Yakuta Poonawalla, Meggy Pyaneeandee, Fernanda Jardim, Arlene, Chi Pham, Denise Meeker and Doreen Wong and includes Spanish, French, Portuguese, Tagalog, Hindi, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and English.
Music by Joy Ike & Sita via MusicBed
Podcast Art by Susana Castro
@susdraws
In a shared space amongst Women of Color, there is a unique comfort and freedom, with no need to explain yourself or hold yourself back. The four organizations highlighted on this series are in many ways a testament of the importance of affinity spaces. Their communities, beyond creating opportunities for personal development, leadership, and outdoor skills, reveal the existence of a very special kind of joy. In episode three of See Us Outside, Gabaccia contemplates the power of nature and community in cultivating joy in the outdoors.
About the series:
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with The Cairn Project, and made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation.
Host Gabaccia Moreno is our guide in exploring the unique relationships girls and young women of color have with the natural world and outdoor recreation. Through the voices and stories of leaders and participants from diverse outdoor organizations doing the work to help young people of color thrive in the outdoors, this four-part audio miniseries will highlight the joy, connection, and community these girls find in nature, as well as the importance of organizations doing the work to expand outdoor opportunities.
We want to stress that when we say this series highlights women and girls of color, this is inclusive of all cis and trans women and girls, as well as folks of all gender identities who feel comfortable in spaces that center women. That said, for the most part, when we talk about gender we most often do so in terms of those who are socialized as girls and women in a more heteronormative, binary way.
Featured in this episode: Karina Zavala, Alexis Krauss, Marian Perez, Adriana Guerrero, and Cristal Cisneros; Voice memo included in this episode was submitted by Denise Meeker.
Hosted by Gabaccia Moreno
Produced by Gabaccia Moreno, Noël Russell, and Gale Straub
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- The Cairn Project
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Organizations Highlighted
- Young Women Who Crush: Website | Instagram
- Women’s Wilderness: Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Brown Girl Surf: Website | Instagram | Facebook
- The Charles Roundtree Bloom Project: Website | Instagram
- Featured in this episode:
- Cristal Cisneros
- Alexis Krauss
- Marian Perez
- Adriana Guerrero
- Karina Zavala
- Voice Memos Featured
- Denise Meeker | Instagram
- Host: Gabaccia Moreno
- Website | Instagram
All Four Episodes of See Us Outside Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
The opening See Us Outside Compilation includes the voices of Marinel De Jesus, Yakuta Poonawalla, Meggy Pyaneeandee, Fernanda Jardim, Arlene, Chi Pham, Denise Meeker and Doreen Wong and includes Spanish, French, Portuguese, Tagalog, Hindi, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and English.
Music by Joy Ike & Sita via MusicBed
Podcast Art by Susana Castro @susdraws
What do we hope the future of women of color in the outdoors looks like? In the final episode of See Us Outside, we hear from leaders from across the organizations doing the work to provide outdoor opportunities, as well as the outdoor community, as they share their vision as we look ahead.
About the series:
This special She Explores miniseries is made in collaboration with The Cairn Project, and made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation.
Host Gabaccia Moreno is our guide in exploring the unique relationships girls and young women of color have with the natural world and outdoor recreation. Through the voices and stories of leaders and participants from diverse outdoor organizations doing the work to help young people of color thrive in the outdoors, this four-part audio miniseries will highlight the joy, connection, and community these girls find in nature, as well as the importance of organizations doing the work to expand outdoor opportunities.
We want to stress that when we say this series highlights women and girls of color, this is inclusive of all cis and trans women and girls, as well as folks of all gender identities who feel comfortable in spaces that center women. That said, for the most part, when we talk about gender we most often do so in terms of those who are socialized as girls and women in a more heteronormative, binary way.
Featured in this episode: Cristal Cisneros, Ki’Amber Thompson, and Mira Manickam-Shirley; Voice memos included in this episode were submitted by Brandielee Johnson, Yakuta Poonawalla, Michelle Kay, and Arlene.
Hosted by Gabaccia Moreno
Produced by Gabaccia Moreno, Noël Russell, and Gale Straub
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- The Cairn Project
- Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Organizations Highlighted
- The Charles Roundtree Bloom Project: Website | Instagram
- Brown Girl Surf: Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Young Women Who Crush: Website | Instagram
- Women’s Wilderness: Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Featured in this episode:
- Cristal Cisneros
- Ki’Amber Thompson
- Mira Manickam-Shirley
- Sarah Murray
- Alexis Krauss
- Kriste Peoples
- Karina Zavala
- Voice Memos Featured
- Michelle Kay | Instagram | Website
- Yakuta Poonawalla
- Brandielee Johnson | Instagram
- Arlene | Instagram
- Host: Gabaccia Moreno
- Website | Instagram
All Four Episodes of See Us Outside Are Available Now Wherever You Listen to She Explores
The opening See Us Outside Compilation includes the voices of Marinel De Jesus, Yakuta Poonawalla, Meggy Pyaneeandee, Fernanda Jardim, Arlene, Chi Pham, Denise Meeker and Doreen Wong and includes Spanish, French, Portuguese, Tagalog, Hindi, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and English.
Music by Joy Ike & Sita via MusicBed
Podcast Art by Susana Castro @susdraws
Gabaccia Moreno is passionate about creating spaces to talk about what it means to explore responsibility. In both her freelance work and in her spare time, Gabaccia works on projects to help expand the conversation around conservation and public lands to be more inclusive and to tell a deeper story of what it means to recreate in them. This dedication to considered outdoor recreation is just one reason Gabaccia is such a wonderful host for our upcoming series, See Us Outside, which launches Friday!
In the last episode of 2020, we get to know Gabaccia.
About Gabaccia: Gabaccia is a first-generation Mexican-American multi-disciplinary creator, consultant, and passionate outdoor advocate #ExploringResponsibly wherever life takes her. Having grown up in Veracruz, Mexico to a family of hunters and ranchers gave her an appreciation for the land and its wildlife at an early age, one that prevails today. Her works, whether artistic, creative, or entrepreneurial, have always intersected with the social and environmental issues that surround her.
Featured in this episode: Gabaccia Moreno
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Gabaccia Moreno
- Website
- Instagram: @gabaccia
- See Us Outside Drops on Friday, December 18th
- Organizations and Projects Gabaccia is involved with:
- Hiking My Feelings
- Desert Institute at Joshua Tree
-
ExploringResponsibly
- Nuestra Tierra: Website & Instagram
- Organizations Highlighted in See Us Outside
- The Cairn Project
- Brown Girl Surf
- Charles Roundtree Bloom Project
- Young Women Who Crush
- Women's Wilderness
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Jacob Montague, Human Pyramids, Joy Ike, Gracie & Rachel, Utah, Bradford Nyght, via MusicBed. Music is also by Josh Woodward.
Filmmaker and climber Biz Young shares her evolution from creating stop-motion music videos in her dorm room to making short documentary films inspired by nature and driven by purpose.
Featured in this episode: Biz Young
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by IKON Pass & Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Biz Young
- Website
- Instagram: @shutupbiz
- Films Mentioned in this episode:
- Bomb Ass Babes - Short Film Series
- Titan Project (via Melanin Base Camp)
- The Traveler Comes Home (via The North Face)
- Mapping Our Roles in a Social Change Ecosystem
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- IKON Pass: Learn more about 20/21 winter season at IkonPass.com.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by James Childs,
If you menstruate (and honestly, even if you don’t), it’s likely that periods are one of many factors that come into play when you’re looking to head outside. In fact, we know that’s the case-- because we recently asked the She Explores community to tell us what questions or topics they thought about when it came to navigating menstruation in the outdoors, and everyone really came through with ideas, questions, and longstanding myths they wanted to hear busted.
We were hoping to find a way to meet this community enthusiasm with thoughts from someone who knows both the medical and the practical aspects of taking your period outdoors. Mary Ann Thomas, a current ICU nurse and former travel nurse, bike tourist, and a queer brown daughter of Indian immigrant parents comes to this conversation with both knowledge and applied know-how to share. Tune in to hear their insights and options around staying clean, remaining conscious of the environment, and giving yourself permission to recognize that there is always more to learn about our bodies and their cycles.
Featured in this episode: Mary Ann Thomas
Hosted by Laura Borichevsky
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Find Mary Ann Thomas on Instagram: @postcardsfrommat
- Stay tuned to Mary Ann’s Instagram to hear more about their course, “Intro to Land Trauma” coming out this month!
- Read more from Mary Ann Thomas here in their latest piece about how it feels to be a COVID nurse
- If you liked this episode, make sure to check out Sex Outside!
- Listen to bonus interview content with Mary Ann Thomas in a 5-minute "Nature Quickie" called "Orgasms as Backcountry Cramp Relief?"
- Subscribe to the show-- first full episode airing 2/11/2021!
- Find Sex Outside on Instagram! @sexoutsidepod
Music by the band UTAH featuring Gabby Jones, Gracie and Rachel, Mike Mains, Phillip Cuccias, and the Wild Wild licensed via MusicBed.
Sponsors and Discount Codes:
- IKON Pass: Learn more about 20/21 winter season at IkonPass.com.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month by heading to Betterhelp.com/explore
For people who wear plus-size apparel, it’s often downright impossible to find the gear necessary to get out and stay warm, safe, and dry on the mountain. That’s what this two-part series is about. In part one, we talk with Marielle Elizabeth. Marielle is a photographer, model, fat advocate, and the writer of a viral essay in The Cut titled “Apparently, I’m Too Fat to Ski.” Marielle speaks first hand about the need for plus size winter apparel, as well as the changes she’d like to see across the outdoor industry.
In part 2, we hear from Mon Balon, the founder of Plus Snow - an online retail shop that sells plus size snow gear to fulfill the need that Marielle speaks of. Part 2 is available now in your feed.
Featured in this episode: Marielle Elizabeth
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner & IKON Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Marielle Elizabeth
- Website
- Instagram: @marielle.elizabeth
- Marielle's Essay in The Cut: "Apparently, I'm Too Fat to Ski."
- Unlikely HIkers
- Plus Snow
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- IKON Pass: Learn more about 20/21 winter season at IkonPass.com.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by James Childs and Kazi Jay via MusicBed
For people who wear plus-size apparel, it’s often downright impossible to find the gear necessary to get out and stay warm, safe, and dry on the mountain. That’s what this two-part series is about.
In part two, we hear from Mon Balon, the founder of Plus Snow - an online retail shop that sells plus size snow gear to fulfill the need for quality gear that fits a variety of plus size bodies. Mon shares the origin story of Plus Snow, talks about how misleading supply & demand can be within the industry, and shares why she's so passionate about this work.
In part one, we talk with Marielle Elizabeth. Marielle is a photographer, model, fat advocate, and the writer of a viral essay in The Cut titled “Apparently, I’m Too Fat to Ski.” Marielle speaks first hand about the need for plus size winter apparel, as well as the changes she’d like to see across the outdoor industry. Part 1 is also available now in your feed.
Featured in this episode: Marielle Elizabeth
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner & IKON Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Mon Balon
- Plus Snow website
- Instagram: @plussnow
- Marielle's Essay in The Cut: "Apparently, I'm Too Fat to Ski."
- Unlikely HIkers
- Plus Snow
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- IKON Pass: Learn more about 20/21 winter season at IkonPass.com.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by James Childs and Kazi Jay via MusicBed
Every outdoor adventure we go on is affected by climate change. Listen to the experiences of two women, Dani Reyes-Acosta and Doreen Wong, as they share specific ways their adventuring has been impacted by extreme weather, wildfires, and glacial ice melt.
Featured in this episode: Dani Reyes-Acosta and Doreen Wong
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by IKON Pass,Danner, & Betterhelp
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Dani Reyes-Acosta
- Website
- Instagram: @notlostjustdiscovering
- Featured in this episode: Doreen Wong
- Instagram: @herclimateadventure
- Submit Your Voice for New Miniseries Highlighting Girls & Women Outdoors
- Protect Our Winters
- Los Angeles Times article on California Fire Damage
- Intersectional Environmentalist
- She Explores Episode featuring Leah Thomas: "Embracing Intersectional Environmentalism"
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- IKON Pass: Learn more about 20/21 winter season at IkonPass.com.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month by heading to Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by James Childs, Wil Pearce, Gracie & Rachel
Olivia Deihs, founder of Women in Outdoor Work, helps women land jobs in the outdoor industry and the environmental nonprofit world. Olivia helps us get a sense of what kind of outdoor jobs are out there, how to decide what’s right for you, and tips to navigate the application process. She’ll also give us a peek into her vision for the outdoor industry.
Featured in this episode: Olivia Deihs
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by IKON Pass & Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Olivia Deihs, founder of Women in Outdoor Work
- Women in Outdoor Work Website
- Instagram: @womeninoutdoorwork
- Facebook Group Community
- TikTok: @womeninoutdoorwork
- Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps
- She Explores Episode featuring Agnes Vianzon: "Laying the Groundwork"
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- IKON Pass: Learn more about 20/21 winter season at IkonPass.com.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by James Childs, Wil Pearce, Nick Box, Human Pyramids, CHPTRS, Monako Davis, One Hundred Years
Artist Amy Won is a big believer in making time in your life for wonder, even magic. And you can access it by walking out your front door.
Wherever you are out there listening, today might just be a particularly tender day in an especially tender year. Around the world, we’re all still grappling with the rippling impacts of the pandemic, keeping up with a contentious U.S. election, and navigating a historic social uprising. Most everyone we’ve been in contact with is having some kind of hard time between the isolation, the uncertainty, and the collective trauma of this time. This is why we wanted to talk with Amy Won about the power of making time for wonder in our lives.
In this episode, we’ll talk bout how a sense of enchantment got away from Amy, how she harnesses it today, and how you can access it in your daily life through nature big and small.
Featured in this episode: Amy T. Won
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by IKON Pass, BetterHelp, & Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Amy T. Won
- Website
- Wonder Walking Deck
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- IKON Pass: Learn more about 20/21 winter season at IkonPass.com.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by James Childs, Wil Pearce, Nick Box, Human Pyramids, CHPTRS, Monako Davis, One Hundred Years
Brittani Coury is a Paralympic snowboarder and registered nurse who loves spending her winters in the mountains. It’s where she’s found a second family, it’s where her stubbornness and dedication have helped her realize her potential as an athlete.
Brittani hasn’t had a straight path in her athletic career. So she knows a thing or two about starting over, pushing through, and having fun. Which makes her the perfect person to learn from in this episode, whether you’re new to skiing or snowboarding, or looking to level up in skill and the amount of time spent on the mountain.
We asked you what questions you have about skiing and snowboarding. Our hope is that everyone out there listening will be empowered by Brittani’s story and expertise to safely explore the slopes - whether It’s possible this season or in the many winters to come.
Featured in this episode: Brittani Coury
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode: Brittani Coury
- Website
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
- Ikon Pass
- She Explores Episode on COVID-19 and Outdoor Rec:
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on She-Explores.com
- KSL Classifieds (Utah Marketplace where Brittani has found used gear)
- REI Used Gear
- Ski Resorts with Adaptive Skiing Programs
- Chill Denver - Snowboard & Skateboard programs for youths 10 - 18.
- Team Summit: Elevating Youth
- Ski Duck: Skiing for Disadvantaged Kids
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about 20/21 winter season at IkonPass.com.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Utah, Jacob Montague, & Uncle Skeleton via Musicbed.
In this final episode of the Where We Walk miniseries, we take a look at volunteering by hearing from Michela Williams and Brittany Leavitt: two individuals who have had a big hand in volunteer positions for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, as well as other leadership roles where they get to see firsthand how powerful volunteering can truly be.
Brittany and Michela say it best, but as you’ll hear, volunteering is a way we build paths-- not just through the physical act, but also building connections, exposing ourselves to new experiences, taking on leadership roles, and utilizing our time as volunteers to create pathways for others: recreationalists, stewards, and community members alike.
About the series: This story-forward six-part series, in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and made possible with support from REI, highlights the Appalachian Trail through both the women who helped to build it as well as those who continue to make it what it is today. Our goal is to tell a multi-dimensional story of the Trail through a range of voices from diverse backgrounds. Each episode will have a unique theme that helps tell the story of the way we shape the Trail, but more importantly — how the Trail shapes us.
Featured in this episode: Brittany Leavitt & Michela Williams
Hosted by Laura Borichevsky & Gale Straub
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy - Volunteer
- The interviewees:
- Brittany Leavitt
- Instagram: @bleavitt8
- Website: britleavitt.com
- Brittany’s experience hiking with Outdoor Afro following the Underground Railroad
- Michela Williams
- Instagram: @_chaurayyyyy and @blacktooearth
- Black Too Earth Website: blacktooearth.com
- Brittany Leavitt
You can find the entire miniseries in the She Explores podcast feed and through a “Where We Walk” Spotify playlist where we’ve queued up every episode just for you.
Music by Josh Woodward & Monplaisir using a Creative Commons Attribution License.
How many times have we been told the story of the fearless leader — in work, in politics, in the mountains? When the stakes are high, it’s natural to place our confidence in strength and certainty. To turn to the leader and believe that they have no doubt, that they've built up a kind of resilience that will carry us all to safety.
Today’s episode isn’t about how to become a fearless leader in the mountains. Nor is it about how to overcome your fear, or even how to harness it. But it is about listening to what fear is trying to teach us. It’s an opportunity to consider what kind of leader you need, as well as the one you might want to be.
Lindsey Falkenburg shares the story of her season as a lead for BOEALPS, a mountaineering club in Seattle.
Featured in this episode: Lindsey Falkenburg, Ashley Abril, and Kristen Jones
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by IKON Pass, BetterHelp, & Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Featured in this episode:
- Lindsey Falkenburg - Instagram: @TandemTrekking
- Ashley Abril - Instagram: @ashjustgoes
- Kristen Jones - Instagram:
- BOEALPS
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- IKON Pass: Learn more about 20/21 winter season at IkonPass.com.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Josh Woodward & Swelling
In the fifth episode of Where We Walk, we hear from two incredible human voices, conservationist Sally Naser and bird researcher Amber Wendler, who are dedicated to better understanding and appreciating the wildlife on the Appalachian Trail. But unlike other episodes in this series, we're also going to hear from many wildlife voices you might not stop to hear often-- so that next time you're outdoors, you might be encouraged to move a little slower and observe the world around you.
With thousands of species of animals to encounter, it's clear that wildlife on the Appalachian Trail is plentiful. But here’s a question: how much do you see and experience when you're outdoors, especially when you're hiking? Do you take some time to observe? Do you practice patience to discover what's around you? Or do you focus on moving from Point A to Point B? Of reaching the summit? Of covering the miles you planned for the day?
This episode is immersive and will take you on a journey walking on the Trail for a day through listening to the world of wildlife you can discover when you’re outdoors.
About the series: This story-forward six-part series, in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and made possible with support from REI, highlights the Appalachian Trail through both the women who helped to build it as well as those who continue to make it what it is today. Our goal is to tell a multi-dimensional story of the Trail through a range of voices from diverse backgrounds. Each episode will have a unique theme that helps tell the story of the way we shape the Trail, but more importantly — how the Trail shapes us.
Featured in this episode: Sally Naser & Amber Wendler
Hosted by Laura Borichevsky, with Gale Straub
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- The interviewees:
- Sally Naser: CR Wildlife Cams
- Amber Wendler: @amberwendler
Episodes of “Where We Walk” will air weekly on Mondays.
Music by Josh Woodward & Monplaisir using a Creative Commons Attribution License. Additional sound is by various recorders using a Public Domain License.
Laura Navar, Outreach Manager at National Parks Conservation Association, considers herself to be a bit of a late bloomer in the conservation nonprofit world. She didn’t know that the environmental field would be of interest to her because conservation wasn’t something that was talked about growing up. And yet, as we’ll hear, it’s always been embedded in her Latinx family culture.
In this episode, Laura will share her unique path to a green career and to claiming the title of an environmentalist.
Featured in this episode: Laura Navar
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by BetterHelp, Danner, & Sierra Designs
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Follow Laura Navar on Instagram: @sweetgrassbh
- LA Young Leaders Council
- National Parks Conservation Association
- Latino Outdoors
- An Intro to Latin American Magical Realism in 6 Novels
- About Juana Inés De la Cruz
- Black Girls Trekkin'
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Sierra Designs: Learn more about their 2020 Reach Out Initiative
- Follow Black Girls Trekkin' on Instagram
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Josh Woodward & Swelling
In the fourth episode of Where We Walk, we hear from Brittany and Laura, two women who share a longing and a love for the Appalachian Trail. Brittany fulfilled her goal of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2019, despite facing the devastating loss of her husband a few years prior. Laura dreams of hiking the Trail, but forces outside of her control have kept her from doing it.
There’s a lot of talk about the universal nature of the Appalachian Trail. And there are a lot of aspects of a thru hike that unites a trail community. But the individuals that hike the A.T. bring their full, unique, selves to the trail. Laura and Brittany are different: in upbringing, in background, in temperament. Laura’s Latina, she and her parents immigrated from Colombia to Georgia when she was six years old. Brittany’s white and grew up in North Dakota. But they have something in common that’s core to what attracts them to the Trail: a need, at a particular point in their lives, to do something entirely for themselves.
This episode is for anyone who dreams of hiking the Trail, or who loves living vicariously through others’ thru-hiking stories.
About the series: This story-forward six-part series, in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and made possible with support from REI, highlights the Appalachian Trail through both the women who helped to build it as well as those who continue to make it what it is today. Our goal is to tell a multi-dimensional story of the Trail through a range of voices from diverse backgrounds. Each episode will have a unique theme that helps tell the story of the way we shape the Trail, but more importantly — how the Trail shapes us.
Featured in this episode: Laura Alarcon & Brittany Comins
Hosted by Gale Straub, with Laura Borichevksy
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Thru-Hiking
- The interviewees:
- Brittany Comins: Instagram @FlickerTailonTrail
- Laura Alarcon: Laura isn't on social media, but if you listen to the episode and her story resonates, feel free to reach out via email - lau.a.arcon@gmail.com
Episodes of “Where We Walk” will air weekly on Mondays.
Music by Josh Woodward & Monplaisir using a Creative Commons Attribution License
In the third episode of Where We Walk, we explore some of the long lasting impacts of introducing kids and young people to paths like the Appalachian Trail (A.T). Above all else, this episode is about hope. The hope that exposing children to enriching outdoor experiences will cultivate a lifelong relationship with nature.
We’ll hear from a teacher who is using nature as a classroom, a mother who started to see her daughters as adults and equals through hiking the A.T., a volunteer who took the initiative to start her own youth hiking challenge, a teenager who understands that the future health of our planet is in our hands, and a 6-year-old who feels just plain happy outdoors.
About the series: This story-forward six-part series, in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and made possible with support from REI, highlights the Appalachian Trail through both the women who helped to build it as well as those who continue to make it what it is today. Our goal is to tell a multi-dimensional story of the Trail through a range of voices from diverse backgrounds. Each episode will have a unique theme that helps tell the story of the way we shape the Trail, but more importantly — how the Trail shapes us.
Featured in this episode: Lori Loew, Sue Garcia, Jan Onan, Maymuna Sabree, and Sloane Straub
Hosted by Gale Straub, with Laura Borichevksy
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Youth Outreach
- A Trail to Every Classroom (ATEACH)
- Youth Partner Challenge
- Learn about the NextGen Forest Ambassador Program
Episodes of “Where We Walk” will air weekly on Mondays.
Music by Josh Woodward & Monplaisir using a Creative Commons Attribution License
Lindsay Bourgoine of Protect Our Winters, who leads outdoor athletes and brand executives on climate policy issues and advocacy, shares the power of our voice and our vote in the fight against climate change.
There are countless issues to keep in mind as you consider who you will vote for on a state and federal level in the United States this November. And while don't make specific endorsements on the show, we're grateful to Lindsay for helping to explain the real systemic changes that can occur through environmental policy, as well as the powerful gateway a love of the outdoors can be to becoming an advocate.
Featured in this episode: Lindsay Bourgoine
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by BetterHelp, Danner, & Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Protect Our Winters Voting Tool: MakeaDamnPlan.org
- Protect Our Winters: Website
- Intersectional Environmentalist
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about the Ikon Pass and Ikon Pass Session 4 Day for your 20/21 winter adventures here.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650's.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Josh Woodward & Swelling
Other music by The Light the Heat, Maddy Hartson, & Tim Halperin via Music Bed.
In this second episode of “Where We Walk: Stories from the Appalachian Trail,” we’re examining the presence of women both on the Appalachian trail and within the land that hosts it-- from moments in the past, to what we see today, with hopes for where we continue on into the future.
Like many spaces both in the outdoors and elsewhere, women haven’t often been recognized for the contributions we’ve made or the way our presence has shaped our world-- and there’s still a long way to go. In this episode, we’re taking a look at three women with different perspectives and identities when it comes to being a woman with a relationship to the Appalachian Trail, and we’re hoping these insights will help you reflect upon your own role in identifying the ways your presence impacts us all, from now into the future, while also helping to make meaningful space for other women to do the same.
About the series: This story-forward six-part series, in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and made possible with support from REI, highlights the Appalachian Trail through both the women who helped to build it as well as those who continue to make it what it is today. Our goal is to tell a multi-dimensional story of the Trail through a range of voices from diverse backgrounds. Each episode will have a unique theme that helps tell the story of the way we shape the Trail, but more importantly — how the Trail shapes us.
Featured in this episode: Gwyneth Loose, Kai TwoFeathers Orton, and Shilletha Curtis
Hosted by Laura Borichevksy, with Gale Straub
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Keep an eye out for Gwyneth Loose’s book “We Were There Too”, published in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy later this year
- Learn more about the women featured:
- Kai TwoFeathers Orton: Instagram
- Shilletha Curtis: Instagram
Episodes of “Where We Walk” will air weekly on Mondays.
Music by Josh Woodward & Monplaisir using a Creative Commons Attribution License
Amber Share is the creator of Subpar Parks, a National Parks illustration project with a satirical twist. Though her sense of humor leans on sarcasm, Amber's love of the outdoors and helping adventurous creatives achieve their goals is purely genuine.
In this episode, we talk about Subpar Parks, Amber's relationship with the outdoors as it blends with creativity, her path to becoming self-employed, and more.
Amber's bio says it best: Amber Share is an outdoorsy lettering artist with an affinity for colorful and punny illustrations. Her work is inspired by her interests — hiking, climbing, gardening, brewing kombucha, and, as a major introvert, spending time recharging at home. She strives to translate the joy of adventure into funny, light-hearted designs that spark conversation and help people connect.
Featured in this episode: Amber Share
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by BetterHelp, Oregon State University E-Campus, & Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Follow Amber on Instagram: @ambershares_
- Amber's Website: AmberShareDesign.com
- SubPar Parks: Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr
- Bright Beta Co: Website & Instagram
- The Forgotten History of National Park Posters
- Hannah Rothstein: National Parks 2050
- Sarah Coyne: Post for the Parks
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about the Ikon Pass and Ikon Pass Session 4 Day for your 20/21 winter adventures here.
- Oregon State University E-Campus: Learn more at ecampus.oregonstate.edu/explore
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Josh Woodward, Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music by Analog Heart, Stephen Gutheinz, & Utah via Music Bed.
On the very first episode of “Where We Walk: Stories from the Appalachian Trail,” we’re looking back - but as you’ll hear, the memories we make on the Appalachian Trail, or A.T., extend beyond the real-time steps we take. We share submissions from women whose lives have been shaped by the A.T., whether on a thru, section, or day hike.
Trails help us access landscapes both familiar and new, as well as give us the grace and space to explore our interior lives. We hope that in listening, you’ll reflect on how long trail experiences filter into your daily lives. In the first of a 6-part series in collaboration with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, we explore your memories of the A.T. and the ripple effect of those experiences.
About the series: This story-forward six-part series, in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and made possible with support from REI, highlights the Appalachian Trail through both the women who helped to build it as well as those who continue to make it what it is today. Our goal is to tell a multi-dimensional story of the Trail through a range of voices from diverse backgrounds. Each episode will have a unique theme that helps tell the story of the way we shape the Trail, but more importantly — how the Trail shapes us.
Featured in this episode: Kaitlan Stephens, Mary Holmes, Kathryn, Carmen, Alina Drufkova, Carrington Kernodle, Tara Prescott-Johnson, Sabine Pelton, Somer Pickel, Grizel, Alexandra Garcia, Xiaoling Keller, Melissa Goodwin, Charissa Hipp, Ariana, Gina Knox
Hosted by Gale Straub and Laura Borichevksy
A Production of Ravel Media
Resources:
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- Learn more about the women featured:
- Kaitlan Stephens: Instagram
- Carmen: Instagram & Blog
- Alina Drufkova: Instagram & Website
- Carrington Kernodle: Instagram & Blog
- Tara Prescott-Johnson: Watch Tara’s TED Talk on her AT Hike
- Sabine Pelton: Instagram
- Somer Pickel: Instagram
- Grizel: Instagram
- Alexandra Garcia: Instagram & Blog
- Xiaoling Keller: Instagram
- Melissa Goodwin: Instagram & Girl Gotta Hike Website
- Charissa Hipp: Instagram
- Gina Knox: Instagram
Episodes of “Where We Walk” will air weekly on Mondays.
Music by Josh Woodward & Monplaisir using a Creative Commons Attribution License
From the age of 13, Alina Drufovka dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail. She spent years thinking about her next hike, but her long walks haven’t been an escape or a cure-all, they've played a very formative role in her front-country life through her relationships, her identity, and in her burgeoning artistic career.
Alina “Abstract” Drufovka is a Colombian-American painter and illustrator based out of Philadelphia, PA. She has hiked the Appalachian Trail (2015 & 2017), Israel National Trail (2018), and Pacific Crest Trail (2019). She is also an outdoor professional and hopes to inspire more women and people of color to get outside and explore the trails.
Featured in this episode: Alina "Abstract" Drufovka
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by BetterHelp, Danner, & Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Follow Alina Drufovka on Instagram: @abstract.hikes & @alina.druf
- Alina's Portfolio Website
- Alina's She-Explores.com Artistry Feature
- Colombian Artist: Fernando Botero
- Hiker Royalty Instagram
- Books mentioned:
- Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis
- Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about the Ikon Pass and Ikon Pass Session 4 Day for your 20/21 winter adventures here.
- Danner: Learn more about the Danner Trail 2650 hikers here.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Josh Woodward, Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music by Analog Heart, Stephen Gutheinz, & Utah via Music Bed.
Mina Okpi is an electrical engineer-turned outdoor entrepreneur. Through her company Black Outdoor Adventurers, she helps connect people of color to the outdoors. Like a lot of small business owners, Mina didn't plan on starting an adventure tour company, but she followed the demand and she's figuring it out as it grows.
In this episode, we’ll hear from Mina about running a purpose-driven adventure company, get lots of advice for anyone looking to make a career change or launch their own outdoor company, as well as hear about the changes she’d like to see in the outdoor and travel industry.
Featured in this episode: Mina Okpi, Founder of Black Outdoor Adventurers
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus, Betterhelp, & Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Black Outdoor Adventurers: Website & Instagram
- Find a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) expert to help make your company more welcoming to people from the BIPOC community via InSolidarityProject.com
- An incredible list of JEDI resources from DiversifyOutdoors.com
- Our two-part podcast series from 2016 on DEI & the Outdoors.
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about the Ikon Pass and Ikon Pass Session 4 Day for your 20/21 winter adventures here.
- Oregon State University Ecampus: Head to their website to learn more.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month by heading to Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music by Marie Hines, Josh Hoover, Eric Kinny, Utah via Music Bed.
Carrington Kernodle is a plant-lover and a plant-eater, sprinkling the seeds of what she's learned about growing a more sustainable lifestyle. She believes in spreading the most joy possible, all while causing the least amount of harm. She shares her knowledge on her blog, Parts Homegrown.
We talk about how vegan food powers her hiking, kayaking, and yoga practice, the impact our food choices have on the environment, and the significance of having the freedom to choose to be vegan as a Black woman in America, and more. We also get advice from Carrington about getting started with houseplants.
Featured in this episode: Carrington Kernodle
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Oregon State University Ecampus & Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Carrington Kernodle: Instagram
- Parts Homegrown: Carrington's blog
- Hiking While Vegan
- Carrington's Juneteenth post on Instagram (mentioned in the episode)
- The Fastest Rising Demographic of Vegans is African-Americans: Washington Post
- Source: Worldwide Biodiversity at Risk
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about the Ikon Pass and Ikon Pass Session 4 Day for your 20/21 winter adventures here.
- Oregon State University Ecampus: Head to their website to learn more.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music by Marie Hines, Josh Hoover, Eric Kinny, Utah via Music Bed.
Amanda Jameson has walked over 3500 miles since setting foot on the Colorado Trail in 2015. She documents her walks on her blog and handle, Brown Girl on the NST, or Brown Girl on the National Scenic Trail. Amanda’s writing is about more than simply sharing her thru-hikes as a Black, queer, woman - it’s about taking an intersectional approach to thru-hiking, and in doing so, being one part of helping to continue shifting the demographics of those who walk on trail.
In this episode, we'll hear about how thru-hiking has helped Amanda help her come to know the most present version of herself, how the trail helps her let go of control, the parallels between long-distance walks and antiracism work, and more.
Featured in this episode: Amanda Jameson
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by BetterHelp & Ikon Pass
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Amanda Jameson: @BrownGirlontheNST & Website
- About UK's Thames Path
- Read about Amanda's walk of the Colorado Trail
- Read about Amanda's walk of the Pacific Crest Trail
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Ikon Pass: Learn more about the Ikon Pass and Ikon Pass Session 4 Day for your 20/21 winter adventures here.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music by Marie Hines, Josh Hoover, Eric Kinny, Utah via Music Bed.
Sabrina Chapman's climbing story helps redefine what it means to be an elite climber. That said, you don’t need to be a climber for it to resonate with you. Sabrina is wildly thoughtful, a woman who chooses her words as carefully as she places her hands and feet on a rock wall. Her thoughts on working through fear, finding Black role models, contextualizing achievements, and the vulnerability of accepting your story echo through every activity we do outside.
Sabrina's the subject of Titan Project, a new film by Melanin Base Camp. As one of a handful of Black women climbing elite routes worldwide, she hopes to inspire more girls from the BIPOC community to feel welcome in the climbing world.
Featured in this episode: Sabrina Chapman
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Sierra Designs, BetterHelp, & Peak Scents
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Sabrina Chapman: Instagram
- Titan Project Premiere Sunday August 16th @7PM EST
- Melanin Base Camp
- Climbing Groups
- Brown Girls Climb
- Flash Foxy
- The Brown Ascenders
- Climb Big
- Indigenous Womxn Climb
- Women to Inspire
- 16 Black Women and Nonbinary Climbers to Follow on Instagram (via Melanin Base Camp)
- @meliseymo - Climber & Neuroscientist mentioned at end of episode
- Mauritius Island Oil Spill Fundraiser (takes a bit to load but will!)
- Submit Your A.T. Trail Memory
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Peak Scents: Get 20% your order when you use the code EXPLORE20 at checkout at PeakScents.com.
- Betterhelp: Get 15% off your first month at Betterhelp.com/explore
- Sierra Designs: Learn more about their "Reach Out" initiative.
- Learn more about NatureBridge
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Josh Woodward, Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music via Music Bed.
Chevon Powell founded Refuge Outdoor Festival in 2018 to provide joy, community, connection, and refuge in the outdoors for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and allies. This year's virtual festival will look a little different, but the same level of intention, care, and healing is imbued in each and every detail of the 3-day event.
In this episode, we'll hear about the importance of community in Chevon's life and how she's cultivating it from a distance, her philosophy for event planning, and how she strives to create a safer space for festival-goers.
Featured in this episode: Chevon Powell, founder of Refuge Outdoor Festival
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Raycon& Peak Scents
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Refuge Outdoor Festival: Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Sundae Sermon: A Celebration of Black Folks
- Girl Trek
- Submit Your Appalachian Trail Story
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Peak Scents: Get 20% your order when you use the code EXPLORE20 at checkout at PeakScents.com.
- Raycon: Get 15% off your order at BuyRaycon.com/explore.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Josh Woodward, Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music is by Eric Kinny via Music Bed.
Pattie Gonia can come across as larger than life in her namesake social media platform. In person, strutting through the halls of an industry that is often stuck in its ways, Pattie is indeed real, showing up in the flesh as if to say, change is here, it’s been here. Don’t look away. Pattie is a drag queen who embraces change and working together to further community in the outdoors.
In this episode, we meet the Pattie Gonia team, talk about growth, creativity, and allyship, contemplate femininity, and dream a bit about what’s possible in the outdoors. As you listen, we hope you’ll reflect on teams in your own lives and the ways in which reaching out and working together have helped you fulfill a collective vision. Sometimes it feels like you have to do things all on your own, but often the most rewarding projects take shape when shared.
Featured in this episode: Wyn Wiley, Dayna Turnblom, Jenny Dugan, and Katie Nash
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Hoka One One, Peak Scents, & Betterhelp
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Pattie Gonia: Instagram
- Learn About the History of Drag
- Ballroom 101
- Watch How Do I Look (on Amazon)
- Watch Paris is Burning (on Netflix)
- Some Videos featuring Pattie Gonia
- Dear Mother Nature
- Dear Humanity
- Climb Every Mountain (features Julie Andrews look)
- Pattie's first Outdoor Retailer
- Nonprofits Supported by Pattie Gonia in December 2019 fundraiser
- Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii
- Center for Marine Debris Research
- Camp Brave Trails
- The Children's Home Project
- Ali Forney Center
- Black-led Nonprofits Supported by Pattie Gonia in June 2020 fundraiser
- Girl Trek
- Soul Trak Outdoors
- Camp Founder Girls
- Greening Youth Foundation
- Outdoor Afro
- Black Outside, Inc.
- Learn about the different Enneagram types
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Hoka One One: Watch Pattie's story, "Time to Take Action" and the rest of the Time to Fly series here.
- Peak Scents: Get 20% your order when you use the code EXPLORE20 at checkout at PeakScents.com.
- Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month by heading to Betterhelp.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Josh Woodward, Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music is via Music Bed.
Recharging in nature helps Ash Hobbs stay energized in their 9-5 work in the criminal justice system. It also gives Ash the space to think creatively and to shift their perspective when they're feeling stuck. In this week's episode, Ash helps us examine some of the constraints we place on ourselves and others — even when we don’t realize it.
We learn about the insidious ways implicit bias creeps into our indoor & outdoor lives, the motivation behind their photography project Discovering Gender, and more.
Featured in this episode: Ash Hobbs
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Oregon State University, & Peak Scents
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Ash Hobbs: Instagram & Photography Portfolio
- Discovering Gender: Instagram & Website
- Books Mentioned:
- Biased by Jennifer Eberhardt
- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
- The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
- TED Talks Ash recommends:
- Jennifer Eberhardt: How Racial Bias Works and How to Disrupt It
- Bryan Stevenson: We Need to Talk About an Injustice
- Michelle Alexander: The Future of Race in America
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Oregon State University E-Campus: Visit ecampus.oregonstate.edu/explore to find the program that’s right for you.
- Peak Scents: Get 20% your order when you use the code EXPLORE20 at checkout at PeakScents.com.
- Raycon: Get 15% off your order at BuyRaycon.com/explore.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ad Music is by Josh Woodward, Swelling, & Lee Rosevere.
Other music is by Eric Kinny via Music Bed.
Whether running an ultramarathon, talking about recovery from her eating disorder, fighting for racial equity, or mentoring youth at Explore Austin, Rocío Villalobos practices patience, not perfection, as she achieves progress.
In this special episode, we meet up with Rocío at Westcave Preserve in Texas and hike down to a beautiful grotto. We also get to hear the trailer for the new Ravel Media podcast, "Underneath it All" at the start of the show.
Featured in this episode: Rocío Villalobos
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Oregon State University, Danner, & Peak Scents
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Rocío Villalobos: Instagram & Website
- Explore Austin
- PODER (People Organized in Defense of Earth and Her Resources)
- Native Women Running: Instagram & Website
- Native Women's Wilderness: Instagram & Website
- Westcave Preserve
- National Eating Disorders Association
- Subscribe to Underneath it All: Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Oregon State University E-Campus: Visit ecampus.oregonstate.edu/explore to find the program that’s right for you.
- Peak Scents: Get 20% your order when you use the code EXPLORE20 at checkout at PeakScents.com.
- Danner: Learn more about the Trail 2650 at Danner.com
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Meydan, Kai Engel, Swelling, & Lee Rosevere
Nicole Jackson is an environmental educator, birder, and co-creator of Black Birders Week. She's also dedicated to connecting people to the environment and each other. As a girl, nature nurtured Nicole growing up on the east side of Cleveland, and much of her career is built around returning the favor.
Throughout our conversation, Nicole gifts us with nature lessons and shares how she's grown into herself as a natural leader and advocate for developing a lifelong relationship with nature.
Featured in this episode: Nicole Jackson
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Oregon State University, Danner, & Peak Scents
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Nicole Jackson: Instagram & Twitter
- Articles Featuring Nicole
- PBS: Nicole Jackson | Environmental Educator
- Portland Audobon: Reflections from Black Birders Week
- Newsbreak: Being Seen and Heard During Black Birders Week
- She Explores Episode: Black Birders Week is Forever
- National Parks Conservation Association
- Children & Nature Network
- Resources: Child Abuse
- AACAP Child Abuse Resource Center
- National Children's Advocacy Center: Resources
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Oregon State University E-Campus: Visit ecampus.oregonstate.edu/explore to find the program that’s right for you.
- Peak Scents: Get 20% your order when you use the code EXPLORE20 at checkout at PeakScents.com.
- Danner: Learn more about the Trail 2650 at Danner.com
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Meydan, Kai Engel, Swelling, & Lee Rosevere
Because environmentalism should be inclusive of both people and the planet. Leah Thomas, founder of IntersectionalEnvironmentalist.com, and Kristy Drutman, the podcaster behind Brown Girl Green, use the power of their platforms to help us rethink what it means to be an environmentalist in 2020.
While the fight for environmental justice isn’t a new one, it’s not one that’s historically been talked about enough within the environmental movement. But we can't separate the fight for racial equity from the fight against climate change, and the need to link the two only become more urgent as time passes.
In this episode, Leah Thomas and Kristy Drutman share their knowledge and help us reflect on the tools we have to become advocates, too.
Featured in this episode: Leah Thomas & Kristy Drutman
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Sierra Designs, Tilley, and Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Women Featured on the episode:
- Leah Thomas: Instagram & Website
- Kristy Drutman: Instagram & Website
- Intersectional Environmentalist: Instagram & Website
- Listen to Brown Girl Green Podcast: Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Green 2.0 Report
- Articles Referenced:
- Vogue: Why Every Environmentalist Should Be Anti-Racist by Leah Thomas
- Huffington Post: We Don't Have to Halt Climate Action to Fight Racism by Mary Annaïse Heglar
- Additional Helpful Articles
- Sierra Club: Racism is Killing the Planet by Hop Hopkins
- Scientific American: Redling Practices Increased Climate Change Burden in Minority Neighborhoods
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Sierra Designs: Learn more about the Reach Out Campaign.
- Learn more about Big City Mountaineers
- Danner: Learn more about the Trail 2650's
- Tilley: Get 15% off your order by using code EXPLORE at checkout; expires July 31, 2020.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Meydan, Lee Rosevere, & Kai Engel
Ashleigh Thompson is an indigenous archaeologist. She's also a runner, climber, photographer, and lifelong learner. Ashleigh's woven her many interests together and is actively building a life that is true to her values. In this episode, we talk about the importance of uplifting indigenous archeologists in the field, the life-long influence her grandmother and running has had on her life, coping with stress through the outdoors, sobriety, and more.
Bio: Ashleigh Thompson is a Red Lake Ojibwe tribal member and PhD Candidate in Anthropology at the University of Arizona. Her favorite place is outside, where she runs, hikes, climbs, and more for healing and happiness.
Featured in this episode: Ashleigh Thompson
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Ashleigh Thompson: Instagram
- Podcasts We Recommend Centering Indigenous Voices:
- On the Land: Website
- All My Relations: Website
- Learn more about indigenous archeology
- Learn more about Native American Boarding Schools
- Death by Civilization: The Atlantic
- Unspoken: America's Native American Boarding Schools - PBS
- Trail Running
- Make Trail Running Fun
- Resources for Sobriety
- The Temper
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Danner: Learn more about the Trail 2650 at Danner.com
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Meydan & Lee Rosevere
Danielle Belleny is a wildlife biologist, member of BlackAFinSTEM collective, and co-founder of Black Birders Week, a movement created in response to the Central Park birdwatching incident. In this episode, we’ll hear from Danielle about her love of birds, her path to becoming a wildlife biologist, and the powerful force that is Black Birders Week.
Featured in this episode: Danielle Belleny
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Salomon, Peak Scents, and BetterHelp
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Danielle Belleny: Instagram & Twitter
- BlackAFinSTEM: Links!
- BlackAFinSTEM: Instagram & Twitter
-
BlackBirdersWeek: Instagram & Twitter
-
BlackWomenWhoBird: Instagram & Twitter
- Science News Article featuring Danielle Bellany: "A #BlackBirdersWeek Co-Founder Aims to Amplify Black Nature Enthusiasts"
- Articles about #BlackBirdersWeek
- The Cut: "Black Birding is About Hope"
- National Geographic: "Everyone Can Watch Birds"
- STEM Diversity: By the Numbers
- 2014 National Geographic Article: "Colorful World of Birding Has Conspicuous Lack of People of Color"
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Salomon: Learn more at Salomon.com
- Featured in midroll: Chelsea Murphy aka She_ColorsNature
- Peak Scents: Get 20% off your order using code EXPLORE20 at checkout at PeakScents.com.
- BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month by visiting Betterhelp.com/explore.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Meydan, Lee Rosevere, & Swelling
We want to leave room in your week and your podcast feed for Black Lives Matter. Escaping to the woods, while restorative and wonderful for reflection, won’t effect change. This is a time to listen and learn. This is a time to amplify Black voices. This is a time to vote, to donate, to sign petitions, to march, to protest. This is a time to support Black businesses, educators and organizers. Pay it forward. There’s a whole lot of power in all of those things, especially if we’re all committed today, tomorrow, and every day after.
We compiled some resources, books to read, podcasts to listen to, and Black women and women-led organizations to uplift and support. This is by no means a complete list, but it's a start.
Resources:
Ally Resource Guide: This guide includes: 1) Where to register to vote 2) Ways to donate 4) Petitions to sign 5) Reps & offices to contact 6) Antiracism resources to listen to, read, and watch 6) Other Antiracism resources
Antiracism for Beginners
75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
Antiracism Resources for White-Led Organizations
Rachel Cargle’s Monthly 30 day Course: The Great Unlearn
Listen:
Our Spotify Playlist of Podcast Episodes for Education
Books to Read:
These Books Can Help You Explain Racism & Protests to Your Kids (via New York Times)
An Antiracism Reading List (via New York Times)
Me & White Supremacy by Leyla F Saad (purchase even if you find a PDF out there)
Awesome Twitter thread on Black-owned bookstores
SUPPORT/AMPLIFY/FOLLOW Black Women and Black Women-led Orgs in the Outdoor/Environmental Space
Note - please give them space and don't DM them right now with your questions. The Ally Resource guide and books should help. So does google! Invest in them, support their work, and if you learn something - consider paying them.
Businesses, Nonprofits, & Organizations
- Brown Girls Climb: Website & Instagram
- Black Girls Trekkin’: Website & Instagram
- Melanin Base Camp: Website & Instagram
- Outdoor Journal Tour: Website & Instagram
- Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge: Website & Instagram
- Girl Trek: Website & Instagram
- Outdoor Afro: Website & Instagram
- Refuge Outdoor Festival: Website & Instagram
Awesome advocates, athletes, outdoor enthusiasts:
- @teresabaker11
- @jitterbug_art
- @themirnavator
- @she_colorsnature
- @thatgirlshont
- @sadorawellness
- @bleavitt8
- @badgal_brooky
- @_lassosafroworld
- @drsianproctor
- @herhopness
Questions? Join us in the She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Music in this episode is by Kai Engel using a CC by A license
We’re heading into summer and parks and trails and beaches around the US are starting to open up again amidst the pandemic. As hikers, paddlers, climbers, runners, we crave time outside, but we also have a responsibility to do so in a way that respects the health of others and the land we’re on. We hear from four women who can help guide us in the right direction as we step out into this strange, familiar world.
Featured in this episode: Katie Boué, Nadia Mercado, Favia Dubyk, Angela Howe, Laura Borichevsky, and Lora Straub
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Salomon, Peak Scents, and BetterHelp
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Women Featured on the episode:
- Katie Boué: Instagram
- Angela Howe
- Nadia Mercado: Instagram
- Favia Dubyk: Instagram
- Laura Borichevsky: Instagram
- Lora Straub: Instagram
- CDC Guidelines: Visiting Parks & Recreational Facilities
- Women on the Road Podcast: Website
- Recreate Responsibly: Website
- The Outdoor Advocacy Project
- Surfrider Foundation: Website
- Surfrider's Expert Panel: Guidance on Beach Recreation
- Surfrider's Guide to Solo Beach Cleanups
- Melanin Base Camp: Website & Instagram
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Salomon: Learn more at Salomon.com
- Featured in midroll: Laura Borichevsky aka @howsheviewsit (and host of our sister podcast, Women on the Road!)
- Peak Scents: Get 20% off your order using code EXPLORE20 at checkout at PeakScents.com.
- BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month by visiting Betterhelp.com/explore.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Meydan, Lee Rosevere, & Kai Engel
We often talk on this show about what we learn about ourselves in the outdoors. We share solo experiences that help us rethink what we’re made of. But there’s a special kind of intimacy that we can cultivate with family, friends, and loved ones when we’re outside. This week, we're sharing memories that celebrate togetherness.
Our hope? That you’ll listen, call a loved one, and relive an outdoor memory, too.
Featured in this episode: Claire Hudson, Karen Viola, Meryl Willett, Kaleigh Wood, Beth Stewart, Ashley Neufeld, Sensi Graves, and Lora Straub
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Salomon & Cusa Tea
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Some Featured on the episode:
- Beth Stewart: Instagram
- Sensi Graves: Instagram
- Karen Viola: Instagram & Blog
- Lora Straub: Instagram
- Outdoor Memory Episode: Listen via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, She-Explores.com
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Salomon: Learn more at Salomon.com
- Featured in midroll: Melody Forsyth of Down with Adventure
- Cusa Tea: Use code "EXPLORE" to get 30% off your first purchase or get a free sample pack by heading to CusaTea.com.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Meydan, Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, & Kai Engel
Judith Sadora, a licensed marriage & family therapist (LMFT) who practices wilderness therapy, shares how she applies some of her backcountry work into her everyday life, and how we might be able to use those tools in the front country, too.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s difficult to get out the way we’d like to. Here in the US, states have been under varying levels of lockdown for the last two months. And it’s been wearing on us all in different ways - whether it’s coping with loss, the stress of isolation, grappling with the unknown, or trying to make sense of the inequities and injustices that continue to harm our fellow Americans.
Judith joins us on the podcast to talk through some tips for tapping into nature to manage stress during this time and into the future. We also get to learn what wilderness therapy is and why Judith is so connected to and moved by the practice.
Featured in this episode: Judith Sadora, LMFT & Wilderness Therapist
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Salomon
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Judith Sadora: Instagram
- Judith's Recent Writing
- On Adventure Mamas: "Prepped in the Woods for Everyday Life"
- Judith on Finding You, Evoke Therapy's Podcast
- READ: The Nature Fix by Florence Williams
- Mental Health Resources
- Betterhelp is a remote therapy option and a spring/summer sponsor of She Explores - you can get 10% off your first month by heading to Betterhelp.com/explore
- Grizel Williams does a great series on her Instagram called "Mental Health Mondays." Follow along here!
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Salomon: Learn more at Salomon.com
- Featured in midroll: Chelsea Murphy of @she_colorsnature
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Chris Fagan isn't a professional adventurer, but she’s spent a good deal of the leisure time in the last 30 years of her adult life seeing what she’s made of. Chris has skied unguided to the South Pole, run 100-mile ultras, sailed and paddled thought the Inside Passage, and cycled in Tanzania. Adventure is a big part of her alone time, but it’s also formed the foundation of her marriage and family life. Today, it's helping her lean into the unknown of her husband Marty's cancer diagnosis.
Chris is also a really thoughtful mom. And though Mother’s Day is a holiday that many of us have our reasons for choosing to celebrate or choosing not to celebrate, what Chris says about caring for family really resonates, especially living during this global pandemic. We recommend listening to this conversation through a COVID-19 filter: what Chris says about small moments, resilience, and appreciating the people in your life feels especially poignant today.
Featured in this episode: Chris Fagan
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Salomon and Deuter
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Chris Fagan: Website & Instagram
- Chris's Book: The Expedition
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Salomon: Learn more at Salomon.com
- Deuter: Learn more at Deuter.com
- Featured in midroll: Nicole Brown, founder of @womenwhohike
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Lindsey Falkenburg is feeling the loss of a 2020 thru-hike... and remembering what she's made of. Like a lot of 2020 thru-hikers, Lindsey canceled her plan to hike the Continental Divide Trail in June. In its absence, she's allowing herself to feel the loss - and also filling her cup with urban hiking, art, and re-discovering her resilience.
Featured in this episode: Lindsey Falkenburg & outdoor memory voice memo by Sarina Clark
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Salomon, Deuter, and Travel South Dakota.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
In this episode, you'll hear:
- What thru-hiking has added to LIndsey's life
- A bit about Lindsey's previous hikes of the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail
- Why she's intentional about building a career and balanced life between thru-hikes
- The decision that went into canceling her 2020 southbound thru-hike of the CDT
- Why Lindsey feels a sense of community with fellow thru-hikers
- Why Lindsey thinks it's important for outdoor-lovers to grieve the loss of what they were hoping for this season
- Advice for thru-hikers who had to cancel their hikes
- Advice for all people who are experiencing the outdoors differently today
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Lindsey Falkenburg: Website & Instagram
- Sarina Clark: Website & Instagram
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Salomon: Learn more at Salomon.com
- Deuter: Learn more at Deuter.com
- Featured in midroll: Nicole Brown, founder of @womenwhohike
- Travel South Dakota: Download the vacation guide for your future trips at TravelSouthDakota.com
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Win Kelly Charles says it best: "People with cerebral palsy are strong and people with cerebral palsy are determined." In this episode, we hear about all the different ways she finds joy outdoors (snowboarding, climbing, and e-cycling to name a few activities), as well as why she's so motivated to share her life with CP with more people.
Plus, we'll listen to Cherie Schaller's outdoor memory of comfortable silence on an alpine hike in Colorado.
Featured in this episode: Win Kelly Charles & Cherie Schaller
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Appalachian Gear Company, Cusa Tea, and Travel South Dakota.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Win Kelly Charles: Website & Instagram
- Win's Podcasts
- Win's Books
- Challenge Aspen
- Watch Win Snowboardin
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Cusa Tea: Try a FREE sample pack at CusaTea.com or get 30% OFF your first order using code EXPLORE at checkout!
- Travel South Dakota: Learn more about your future trips by heading to TravelSouthDakota.com.
- Appalachian Gear Company: Learn more about the All-Paca Fleece Hoodie. Get 10% off at checkout using code SHEEXPLORES.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, Meydan, Swelling, and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution License
The memories of outdoor adventures are precious and nourishing. They connect us to our friends and certain versions of ourselves. They're our happy places. And they give us the fortitude to push through hard times. This is a compilation of listener outdoor memories that feel especially salient today.
There’s a palpable sense of longing in the air, so we created an episode that provides space for that longing — and the potential for celebration for the moments we've lived outside, too.
Featured in this episode: Becky Marcelliano, Fran Turauskis, Genevieve, Madi Salvati, Mary Straub, Gretchen Powers, Amber, Iz La Motte, Nikki Smith, Andrea Di Maio, Jasmine Jones, Erin Espinosa, Lindsay, Paola Lopez, Annelise Del Rio, Julie Hotz, Sharlene, and Somang Lee.
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Deuter,Appalachian Gear Company & Travel South Dakota
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Becky Marcelliano: Instagram
- Andrea DiMaio: Ample Movement Instagram & Adventure Instagram
- Annelise Del Rio: Instagram
- Fran Turauskis: Instagram & Seize Your Adventure website
- Gretchen Powers: Instagram
- Mary Straub: Instagram
- Iz La Motte: Instagram & Website
- Jasmine Jones: Instagram
- Julie Hotz: Instagram
- Madi Salvati: Instagram
- Paola Lopez: Instagram
- Sharlene: Instagram
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Deuter
- Appalachian Gear Company: Learn more about the All-Paca Fleece Hoodie.
- Travel South Dakota
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution License
For Anna Brones, the point of creating is rarely the end result - it's all about the satisfying act of doing. While a lot of us are missing the time we normally spend outside, Anna reassures us that there's inspiration to be found with the materials we have on hand.
In this episode, we talk with Anna about the Creative Fuel Challenge she started for anyone who wants to join in and Women's Wisdom Project. The latter is the culmination of two years of work and celebrates the wisdom of inspirational women through beautiful, deceptively simple papercut portraits. These women are environmentalists, artists, writers, advocates, and more.
Featured in this episode: Anna Brones
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner &Appalachian Gear Company
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Why creativity is so important in the age of COVID-19
- About Anna's Creative Fuel challenge - creative prompts sent to your inbox that anyone can do to step outside of their daily routine
- How Anna is experiencing the outdoors, very close to home
- Anna's Women's Wisdom Project: 100 paper cuts of inspiring women
- Why quotes need context
- What Anna learned from taking on such a big creative challenge
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Anna Brones: Website & Instagram
- Creative Fuel Challenge
- Anna's books
- Women's Wisdom Project: Vashon Center for the Arts
- Cheryl Strayed on She Explores
- Learn a bit About Word Choice: Spaz and others
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Danner: Learn more about the Trail 2650 hiking shoe at Danner.com.
- Appalachian Gear Company: Learn more about the All-Paca Fleece Hoodie. Get 10% off at checkout using code SHEEXPLORES.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution License
Beth Bradley can confidently say that hiking changed her life. Call it her hobby, her love, her self-care. Doing the 52 Hike Challenge has changed the voice in her head from one that says "I'm too fat" to one that believes, without a doubt, that we need to change who we think of when we think of a hiker.
We interviewed Beth live at No Man's Land Film Festival on March 8th PLUS Gale checked in with Beth this past Monday over the phone because a lot has changed in the world since they met up in Denver.
Featured in this episode: Beth Bradley
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Deuter, Appalachian Gear Company, and South Dakota Tourism
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Beth Bradley: Instagram
- Beth's First Moth Grandslam Story
- No Man's Land Film Festival: Website & Instagram
- 52 Hike Challenge
- Unlikely HIkers: Instagram
- Fat Girls Hiking: Instagram
- Down With Adventure: Instagram & Film
- Curvy Kili Crew: Instagram & She Explores Episode
- A Moment of Growth: She Explores Podcast Episode
- Jenny Bruso on She Explores
- Leave No Trace Guidelines: Outdoors & COVID-19
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Deuter: Learn more about Deuter's outdoor and travel bags at Deuter.com.
- Appalachian Gear Company: Learn more about the All-Paca Fleece Hoodie.
- South Dakota Tourism - Get your FREE South Dakota vacation guide at travelsouthdakota.com
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution License
For Shon’t Savage, divorce was a bad thing that turned out to be a good thing. Ten years ago, while sharing custody of her then two year old son, she found herself with free time. Shon’t grieved the days she lost with her son, but filled the space with a newfound love for hiking, camping, backpacking, and cross-country skiing. In doing so, Shon’t found herself once more -- which ultimately made her a better mother.
Featured in this episode: Shon’t Savage
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Danner, Appalachian Gear Company, South Dakota Tourism, and BetterHelp
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Shon’t’s Instagram
- She Explores Episode 119: Adventure Moms
- Women on the Road Podcast
- Adventure Mamas
- Adventure Mamas Instagram
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Danner: Learn more about the Women's Trail 2650's at Danner.com
- Appalachian Gear Company: Learn more about the All-Paca Fleece Hoodie.
- South Dakota Tourism - Get your FREE South Dakota vacation guide at travelsouthdakota.com
- BetterHelp - Get 10% off your first month by heading to Betterhelp.com/explore and use code 'EXPLORE' at checkout
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, Meydan, and Swelling using a Creative Commons Attribution License
Meet Amanda Monthei, a hotshot wildland firefighter and creative who has made it her mission to empower women and all qualified firefighters to know there is space for them in wildland firefighting. We spoke to Amanda about her path to fighting fires as well as her project “The Women Before Me” that celebrates the women of the Zig Zag hotshot crew, the legacies they humbly left behind, and the qualities they brought to the US Forest Service.
In this episode, we learn how the common traits women bring to the firefighting field are important and why it’s valuable to have those traits in any typically male-dominant field. Amanda wants more women to be wildland firefighters, as well to do other outdoor work like trail building or outdoor management. She encourages them by showcasing the impact and lives of the women who have paved the way for her and asking others to be open to alternative career paths.
Featured in this episode: Amanda Monthei
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Sierra Designs, South Dakota Tourism, and Better Help
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How Amanda got from Michigan to the Pacific Northwest to become a wildland firefighter.
- What a hotshot firefighter is and what the job entails.
- How women bring a unique and important perspective to the group dynamic of a crew.
- About the legacy other female firefighters have left Amanda to carry on and why she wants to honor them.
- How Amanda’s “The Women Before Me” project came about and how she came to pursue it.
- Why everyone should believe they belong in the jobs they might not see themselves in yet.
- The value of feeling companionship while breaking barriers.
Resources
- Amanda Monthei’s Website
- Amanda Monthei’s Instagram
- “The Women Before Me”
- Outdoor And Travel Work: Instagram & Website
- Getting Started in Outdoor & Travel Work: Guide
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Sierra Designs: Learn about their Reach Out Initiative.
- SheJumps: Find out more about what they do to empower girls and women in the outdoors
- Travel South Dakota - Get your FREE South Dakota vacation guide at travelsouthdakota.com
- Better Help - Get 10% off your first month by heading to Betterhelp.com/explore using the code EXPLORE
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Ever dreamed of going to space? Analog astronaut and geoscientist Dr. Sian Proctor shares how she lives out her childhood dream of space exploration here on earth. We talked to Sian just a week after Sensoria, a first of its kind, all-women’s Mars simulation at the HI-SEAS habitat on the Big Island of Hawaii.
In this episode, we learn how proudly pursuing your passions (in the outdoors and otherwise) helps open up opportunity. Sian followed her curiosity scuba diving, getting her pilot’s license, traveling around the world, and studying science. While not the end goal, all helped her in applying to be an astronaut with NASA. And though she didn’t get the final call, she’s kept herself open to analog space exploration on Earth. We hear how preparing for life in space encourages us to be better environmental stewards and fellow humans on our home planet.
Featured in this episode: Dr. Sian Proctor
Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub
A production of Ravel Media
Sponsored by Victorinox Swiss Army, and Alpenventures Unguided.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How Sian became an analog astronaut
- Why going on a backpacking trip is a mini-analog space expedition!
- What Sian hopes to accomplish before age 50
- Sensoria, an all-women’s Mars simulation which Sian completed at the end of January
- Why Sian believes diversity must be considered when training and sending people to space
- How as an African American scientist, Sian hopes to bring in more women of color to to space exploration
- The importance of proudly pursuing your passions throughout your life
- Why investing in space is an investment in planet Earth
Resources
- Dr. Sian Proctor: Website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
- Flight Ready Systems: Website
- Analog Astronaut: Website
- Sensoria
- Project PoSSUM
- She Explores Landing Page
- Ravel Media
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Victorinox Swiss Army Learn more at Victorinox.com and use code EXPLORE15 to save 15% now through April 6th,, 2020 Some exclusions apply.
- Alpenventures Unguided: Learn more at alpenventuresunguided.com. Use code EXPLORE at checkout for 10% off a summer alp adventure.
Music in this episode is by Meydan, Josh Woodward, Swelling, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons attribution license.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
The power of a two-night backpacking trip in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona is multiplied when it's spent with women who are motivated by a common goal: to help introduce more girls to the outdoors. We backpack with The Cairn Project.
The premise of The Cairn Project is simple: they work with ambassadors to help them host adventure fundraisers. Then they pool the money and give it out in small grants to nonprofits that get girls and young women outside.
Featured in this episode: Alison Wright, Sarah Castle, Sally Jewell, Martha Wyckoff, Camille Fiducia, Emily Teitsworth, Marina Fleming, Ashley Carruth, Licia Sahagun, Petrika Peters, and Amanda Neiman.
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Smartwool, Stio, and ThirdLove.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- The Cairn Project: Website & Instagram
- Apply to be a Cairn Project Ambasador: Application & Information
- Nonprofits mentioned:
- Women's Wilderness
- Embark Outdoors
- Girl Ventures
- Wild Whatcom
- MakeSpace
- San Juan Mountain Soles
- She Explores Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
- Stio: Get 25% off your order with code 'EXPLORE' at checkout at Stio.com
- ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first order by heading to ThirdLove.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
There's a well-kept secret in the international trekking industry. The Porter Voice Collective is raising up the backbone of the industry to advocate for change. In doing so, they're empowering both porters and tourists to speak up for an equitable workforce.
In this episode, we talk with Marinel de Jesus and porter/guide Lucía Merclaluly Vela Sosa to learn about a documentary The Porter Voice Collective is creating to help tell the story of porter treatment on Peru's Inca Trail. They're currently crowdfunding to fund the film - an opportunity for us to take action.
Featured in this episode: Marinel de Jesus & Lucía Merclaluly Vela Sosa
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Smartwool, Danner, and Ritual
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.
Resources
- Support KM 82 Documentary: Crowdfunding & Watch Trailer
- The Porter Voice Collective: Website, Instagram, and Facebook
- She Explores Landing Page
Note: Initially this landing page contained a link to Marinel’s business and blog. In order to focus on the Porter Voice Collective and their efforts for change, we have removed them since publication of the episode.
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
- Danner: Learn more at Danner.com
- Ritual: Get 10% off your first three months by heading to Ritual.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Meydan using a creative commons attributions license.
Jennifer McLaren doesn't have a five year plan for her career in the outdoor industry, but she knows her personal values will continue to align with the work she's doing. Why? From her start in finance to her current role as CEO at Smartwool, Jen has worked hard, learned a lot, and developed a personal toolkit that means she can take her skills and apply them in an industry she's passionate about.
In partnership with Smartwool, we talk with their CEO Jennifer McLaren about how her love of the outdoors and a career in finance collided to take her where she's at today: the leader of a purpose-driven company.
Featured in this episode: Jennifer McLaren, President & CEO of Smartwool
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Smartwool
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Smartwool's Environmental Advocacy Commitment
- SOS Outreach
- The Nature Conservancy & the Yampa River Fund
- She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites & Codes:
- Smartwool
Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, Meydan, and Lee Rosevere using a CC by A license.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. You can also share this podcast with a friend. Thank you for your support!
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays – subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Briana Feola gets to wear the hats of biologist, geologist, and environmental scientist through her work at Brainstorm---all by creating affordable, nature-inspired screenprints and other art that we can hang on our walls.
This is an episode is for creatives, but it’s also for people who dream big in small towns. Because it can often feel like the grass is greener or the opportunity is another stop on your journey, but Briana's story is one of striving to build a simple life while achieving some notable accomplishments in her business.
Gale heads to Briana's studio to learn more about her art, why Briana's chosen New Hampshire as her home, and how she hopes her work helps others dream big, too.
Featured in this episode: Briana Feola
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Smartwool and Stio
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.
Resources
- Briana Feola: @wearebrainstorm on Instagram
- Brainstorm: Website, Instagram, Facebook
- She Explores Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
- Stio: Get 25% off your purchase by using code 'EXPLORE' at checkout by heading to Stio.com.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Meydan using a creative commons attributions license.
In partnership with Sherpa Adventure Gear, guest host Laura Hughes interviews Wasfia Nazreen-- mountaineer, activist, and writer-- to learn about what it was like to take a journey up each of the Seven Summits, what it was like to be the first person from Bangladesh to do it, and how approaching external mountains in our lives mirror the personal work it takes to summit our internal ones.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Follow Wasfia on Instagram - @wasfianazreen
- Wasfia’s website
- Wasfia’s foundation - Ösel Foundation
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on She-Explores.com
- She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites & Codes:
- Sherpa Adventure Gear
Music is by Kai Engel and Lee Rosevere using a CC by A license.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. You can also share this podcast with a friend. Thank you for your support!
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays – subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Jenny Bruso's multi-day trek on the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru transformed what she thought was possible for herself; it's opened her up to the idea of hikes around the world and helped refine her mission as the founder of Unlikely Hikers. And while Jenny's enthralled by all this possibility, she's still working through how to trek internationally in a respectful way.
Featured in this episode: Jenny Bruso
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Smartwool , Danner, and ThirdLove
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
Resources
- Jenny Bruso: Instagram & Website
- Unlikely Hikers
- New York Times Article: 'Unlikely' Hikers Hit the Trail
- Curvy Kili Crew: Instagram & Jenny's Autostraddle article
- WHOA Plus Travel
- Mountain Gods Peru
- Jenny's first She Explores Episode, "Fat & Outdoorsy"
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on She-Explores.com
- If you like this episode, you might enjoy listening to these She Explores episodes:
- Kara Richardson Whitely, "Forever Unfolding"
- Sam Ortiz, "When Your Path Finds You"
- Curvy Kili Crew
- She Explores Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
- Danner: Learn more at Danner.com
- ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first purchase by heading to ThirdLove.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Meydan using a creative commons attributions license.
Krystle Wright is an Australian adventure photographer who's worked really hard to make a name for herself taking risks and creating images all over the world: base jumping in the arctic, storm chasing in the American West, free diving with orcas, wandering the desert in Morocco. As she looks ahead to the new year, she's welcoming rest and building more room in her life for play.
Featured in this episode: Krystle Wright
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Stio, Smartwool , and Ritual
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram
Resources
- Krystle Wright: Website & Instagram
- Films Mentioned:
- Chasing Monsters
- Where the Wild Things Play
- Where the Wild Things Keep Playing
- She Explores Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
- Stio: Get 25% off at checkout with code 'EXPLORE' when you shop at Stio.com
- Ritual: Get 10% off your first three months subscription by heading to Ritual.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Meydan using a creative commons attributions license.
For Sydney Williams, “Hiking My Feelings” means identifying trauma, figuring out how it manifests in our bodies through physical and mental disease, and figuring out how to heal from that. For Sydney, it’s been hiking - and taking her story on tour to connect with other people who benefit from it. She believes that showing up as your whole self is how we’ll changed the world: one hike, kayak, bike ride, (fill in the______) at a time.
Featured in this episode: Sydney Williams
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Danner & Smartwool
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources
- Hiking My Feelings: Website & Instagram
- Pre-order Sydney's Book: Hiking My Feelings - Stepping into the Healing Power of Nature
- Sydney Williams' personal Instagram: @sydneyunfiltered
- She Explores Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
- Danner: Learn more at Danner.com
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, and Kai Engel using a creative commons attributions license.
Kara Richardson Whitely is the author of Gorge, a memoir about her climb up Mount Kilimanjaro and her lifelong experience with binge eating disorder, the most common (but least talked about) eating disorder. Kara's proud to be part of a growing community of plus-size adventurers, while simultaneously acknowledging that her relationship with food and her body is forever unfolding.
Featured in this episode: Kara Richardson Whitely
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Danner, Smartwool , and ThirdLove
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How's Kara's definition of a "hiker girl" has changed over time
- What binge eating disorder is, how it's not talked about enough, and why it needs to be talked about more
- Why, when Kara wrote about her third hike up Mount Kilimanjaro in her memoir Gorge, she decided to include her relationship with food
- How hiking gives Kara space to think, and how it's basically the opposite of bingeing
- About the first of Kara's Moving Mountains Retreat series
- Why Kara is proud to be part of a growing community of plus size hikers
Resources
- Kara Richardson Whitely: Website, Instagram & Facebook
- Move Mountains Retreat: Reset Your New Year - January 12, 2020; Learn more here.
- Books: Gorge (2015), The Weight of Being (2018), and Fat Woman on the Mountain (2014)
- She Explores Landing Page
Other Resources
- Mirna Valerio: Instagram
- WNDR Outdoors: Instagram
- About Binge Eating Disorder
- Listen to the Curvy Kili Crew Hike on She Explores
- Jenny Bruso's guide to plus size activewear
- National Eating Disorder Association: Helpline
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
- Danner: Learn more at Danner.com
- ThirdLove: Get 15% off your order by heading to ThirdLove.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Monplaisir using a creative commons attributions license.
Verna is Navajo, a mother of four, and days away from running a 50-mile ultra run. She started running after having her second child 12 years ago. Hear about Verna's journey as a runner and how it’s underlined her resilience as a person. Now she's bringing native women together by uplifting their running journeys, too.
Featured in this episode: Verna Volker
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Smartwool & Stio
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- About growing up Navajo in Northwest New Mexico
- How Verna took up running after her second child
- The ways running has emphasized Verna's resilience
- Why Verna shares the stories of other native runners through her Instagram: @native_women_running
- Verna's annual virtual run to raise awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women
- Why Verna places an emphasis on safety (not fear) when running
- What excites her about the future of Native Women Running
Resources
- Verna Volker: Instagram
- Native Women Running: Instagram
- Native Women's Wilderness: Instagram & Website
- Red Earth Running Co: Website
- About the inaugural virtual run for MMIW
- About Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women
- Urban Indian Health Institute
- Women's Running: The Importance of Running in Native American Culture
- Learn more about the land you're exploring on: Native-Land.ca
- She Explores Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
- Stio: Get 25% off your order when you use the code 'EXPLORE' at checkout
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Monplaisir using a creative commons attributions license.
Chi Pham wants you to know that you can fuel your body for success as an outdoor athlete, and it doesn't have to fit in the little boxes you see on social media. Because being focused on health and wellness doesn't mean there's just one way to live your life, Chi is committed to showing up, keeping it real, and encouraging other women to be themselves above all else.
In this episode, we talk about how Chi took her training outdoors, how she slowly started fueling her body to help achieve her goals (rather than feeding into toxic diet culture), and the power Instagram can have on what we think 'fit' looks like.
Featured in this episode: Chi Pham
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Smartwool, Nature Gnaws, and Ritual
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- When Chi started identifying as an athlete, and when she took her athleticism outdoors
- What Chi enjoys most about a triathlon (hint, she likes a challenge!)
- Why she loves trail running
- How a bike accident helped put her physical insecurities in perspective
- When Chi realized her restrictive eating was taking a toll on her training
- The power Instagram can have over what we think is healthy and what fit looks like
- Why Chi is frustrated by the sameness of her EXPLORE feed on Instagram
- Why Chi is happy not to weigh herself anymore
- About her forthcoming trip to Vietnam to spend time with family and rediscover her roots
Resources
- Chi Pham: Instagram & Blog
- Vacation Races
- She Explores Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
- Nature Gnaws: Sign up for their Gnaw Box subscription service and get your first month for $1 by using code "SHEEXPLORES" at checkout. Head here.
- Ritual: Get 10% off your first three month at Ritual.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kay Orange.
Music is also by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere using a creative commons attributions license.
Katt Greaser shares her experience on a recent caving trip to Scapegoat Wilderness area in Montana, and encourages you to try the sport, too.
Featured in this episode: Katt Greaser
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell & Deuter
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Katt got into caving
- Why Katt got a later start (in her eyes) on hiking, camping, and caving
- Recordings from Katt's caving trip in the Scapegoat Wilderness area in Montana
- What you need to get started caving
- What it feels like in the cave
- The benefits of challenging yourself in a sport like caving
- What Katt will carry with her from the trip
Resources
- Katt Greaser: Instagram
- What is caving?
- Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Merrell: Learn more at Merrell.com
- Deuter: Learn more about Deuter Aviant travel line at Deuter.com
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Liam McNally.
Music is also by Lee Rosevere using a creative commons attributions license.
With the help of listeners and Backpacking 101 author Heather Balogh Rochfort, we share stories of first-time backpackers and advice to get started.
Whether you're a seasoned backpacker or a beginner, there's inspiration and a little trail magic (not the thru-hiking kind) to be found in this episode.
Woman featured in this episode: Voice memos:Maggie Rehberg, Holly Bullis, Jennifer Jansen, Lindsey Falkenburg, Victoria Wang, Laura Navar, Tori Morrison, Marie Vanderpool, Lori O’Connell, Sarah Grothjan, Alexandra Goldman, Meg Dagon, and Julie Hotz.
Interview with Heather Balogh Rochfort on getting started backpacking.
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, Deuter, and Rooted
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Stories of listeners' first time out backpacking
- The story of host Gale Straub's first backpacking trip
- Conversation with Heather Balogh Rochfort, author of Backpacking 101, about practical advice for women who are new to backpacking, including:
- Safety
- Hygiene
- What to pack
- Leave No Trace
- Advice from listeners about what they wish they knew when they got started, as well as specific advice for fellow solo backpackers
- A bit of cheerleading you didn't know you needed to take the final step towards your first backpacking trip!
Resources
- Beginner backpacking resources mentioned:
- The 10 Essentials
- The 7 Leave No Trace Principles
- Bear Safety:
- NPS Bear Safety Tips
- Bear Spray and Other Options
- Personal Hygiene
- Backpacking with your period
- Going to the bathroom
- Kula Cloth
- Moon Cup
- Heather Balogh Rochfort: Instagram, Blog & Books - Backpacking 101 & Women Who Hike
- Listeners Featured:
- Maggie Rehberg: Instagram
- Holly Bullis: Instagram & Website
- Jennifer Jansen: Personal Instagram & Wanderluv Maps: Instagram & Website
- Lindsey Falkenburg: Instagram & Tandem Trekking Blog
- Victoria Wang: Instagram & Teacher Life Pod
- Laura Navar: Instagram
- Tori Morrison: Instagram & Tickled by Travel Blog
- Marie Vanderpool: Instagram & Photography Site
- Lori O'Connell: Instagram & Feed N Flow - Outdoor Adventure and Keto lifestyle blog
- Sarah Grothjan: Instagram & Website; She Explores Podcast Episode - Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Alexandra Goldman: Instagram & the Ladies of the JMT facebook group she referenced
- Meg Dagon: Instagram
- Julie Hotz: Instagram, Website, and Unrooted Podcast
Sponsors
- Merrell: Learn more at Merrell.com and check out the Moab-2 Mid Hiking boots
- Rooted: Get 15% off your order by heading to Rooted.nyc/explore and using the code 'Explore' at checkout
- Deuter: Learn more at Deuter.com and check out the backpacking bag Laura took to the Eastern Sierras
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Meydän, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.
Sometimes the hardest thing isn’t running an ultra marathon or topping out at a climbing competition, it’s showing up for yourself in small ways, taking a step back and figuring out what you need so you can figure out who you are. For a long time, Emilee Struss identified as a climber and an endurance runner. Persistent injuries have made her dig into the hard work of self-love.
Featured in this episode: Emilee Struss
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, Deuter, and ThirdLove
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How growing up in an athletic family shaped Emilee's interest and desires
- About finding climbing as a 16 year old in Minnesota
- How a fall from a 70 foot tree gave Emilee a sense of gratitude beyond her years
- About struggling through persistent injuries, and the space that opened up in the process
- Why Emilee is more interested in enjoying the journey outdoors than big accomplishments
- Why selling her climbing equipment isn't saying no to climbing, it's taking a pause and saying yes to other opportunities
- What Emilee is hoping for in her writing career and business
- How Emilee defines success today
- Advice Emilee has for others going through injuries or setbacks
Resources
- Emilee Struss: Instagram & Outtabounds Design Co.
- Episode Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Merrell: Learn more at Merrell.com
- Deuter: Learn more at Deuter.com
- ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first order by heading to ThirdLove.com/explore
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Meydän using a creative commons attributions license.
Sara Wolman is an interpretive park ranger for US Fish and Wildlife in King Salmon, Alaska. Find out how she's building a career, fostering community, and raising a young child in the rolling tundra, and what you do to help gather valuable scientific data to help tell the story of environmental change.
Sara reached out because every day, she's confronted with a story that's just not getting enough attention: marine mammal and bird dieout on Bristol Bay - - and what it could mean for the rest of the world.
Featured in this episode: Sara Wolman
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, Deuter, and Ana Luisa
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- About how Sara fell in love with Alaska on a visit in college and knew she needed to return
- Sara's early career doing trail work in Alaska, Washington, and California
- About working at Katmai National Park as a ranger, and a couple of tips for those looking to work at a federal agency
- What a National Park conservancy or "friends of" group is
- Her career evolution to working at US Fish and Wildlife as an interpretive ranger
- About the marine species die-offs occuring on Bristol Bay and what they might say about the rest of the world
- How we can help collect data for federal agencies and nonprofits that can help tell the story of environmental change
- Tips for gaining a deeper appreciation fo the natural world when you're spending time outsdie
- What Sarah loves about living in King Salmon
- How she's built community living in the bush
- Why we might need to devote a whole additional episode on women in the bush of Alaska
Resources
- Sara Wolman: Instagram & Website
- Report Marine Mammal/bird Strandings: Fisheries.noaa.gov/report
- Coastal Obesrvation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST):coasst.org
- Local Environmental Observer Network (LEO Network) - You can sign up for the Northern Climate Observer here: Leonetwork.org
- Bear Cams: Explore.org
- Katmai Conservancy
- Volunteer.org
- USA Jobs
- She Explores Episode: Nature Up Close - Science Illustrator Kristin Link
- She Explores Episode: Conservation and Experience - Jerryne Cole
- Episode Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Merrell: Learn more at Merrell.com*
- Deuter: Learn more at Deuter.com
- Ana Luisa: Get 10% off by using code EXPLORE10 and heading to analuisa.com/sheexplores
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Meydän using a creative commons attributions license.
How can you do what you love without losing yourself in the process? Putting your voice out there can be a very vulnerable thing: just take it from Outside Voices podcast host Sarah Shimazaki. We talk about the very real struggle of how to balance work, passion, and your own wellbeing.
The stories you tell, the podcasts you listen to - they say a lot about you. In this episode, we’ll learn about Sarah through her work on Outside Voices as well as how that work makes her feel. Sometimes she wants to pull herself apart from it (and sometimes that’s the healthiest thing) but what she chooses to focus on says a lot about what she cares about: that the outdoors belongs to all of us.
Featured in this episode: Sarah Shimazaki
Featured in the Outside Voices Trailer: Ahjani Yepa, Olivia VanDamme, Adam Hymans, Evelyn Shimazaki and Bam Mendiola
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, GreenerWays Organic, and Ritual.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Sarah started podcasting
- Why the PGM ONE Summit spurred her to action
- The need for a podcast that underlines that the outdoors belongs to all, not a select few
- About the learning curve of podcasting and why Sarah asked for help vs. trying to do it all on her own
- Why it can be hard to separate your sense of self from your work, especially if you love what you do
- What ethical storytelling is and why Sarah wants it to be the norm vs. the anomoly
- The boundaries that can be necessary if you want to keep doing meaningful work
- Sarah's vision for Outside Voices Podcast
- Why joy, healing, and power are integral outputs of Sarah's work
Resources
- Sarah Shimazaki: Instagram
- Outside Voices Podcast: Website, Instagram, Apple Podcasts
- PGM ONE
- Episode Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Merrell: Learn more at Merrell.com*
- Ritual: Head to Ritual.com/explore to get 10% off your first three months
- GreenerWays: Search "GreenerWays Organic" on Amazon
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Meydän using a creative commons attributions license.
Conservation photographer Krista Schlyer describes the almost 2,000-mile border between the US and Mexico as a vibrant landscape teeming with life. Raising awareness for its biodiversity has become an integral part of her life’s work and is the focus of a new documentary film she directed, Ay Mariposa, which came out in May.
We hear a lot about the border wall in the news, but we don’t often talk about the wildlife and landscape that its construction impacts.
Note: We want to emphasize that while there’s a lot of talk about flora and fauna in this episode, it’s not to discount the very human elements of the US/Mexico border - it’s simply to highlight what exists alongside it.
Featured in this episode: Krista Schlyer
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, Rooted, and ThirdLove
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Krista's circuitous route to political journalism, followed by a shift to environmental journalism
- Advice for making a living as a conservation photographer
- How witnessing a rare herd of bison jump over a border fence changed the direction of Krista's work
- Why Krista is so motivated to showcase the biodiversity at the US/Mexico border
- The many animals that call both the United States and Mexico home
- Why the butterfly is the perfect symbol for the delicate state of animal life along the Rio Grande
- The unknown cost of human and animal life due to the border
- How to keep moving forward when you're feeling discouraged by the progress of a project
- About Ay Mariposa, a short documentary film telling the story of two women and a rare community of butterflies in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas
Resources
- Krista Schlyer: Website
- Ay Mariposa Film: Website
- Almost Anywhere: A book about Krista's life changing road trip
- Continental Divide: A photo book about wildlife, people, and the border wall
- Episode Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Merrell: Learn more at Merrell.com
- Rooted: Head to Rooted.nyc/explore and use code EXPLORE for 15% off your order
- ThirdLove: Head to Thirdlove.com/explore for 15% off your order
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Meydän using a creative commons attributions license.
Sharlene Jones is allergic to exercise (literally) but because hiking feels like home, fear of what could happen isn't enough to keep her from hitting the trail. Instead, she's developed a familiarity with her body that makes it possible to keep moving forward.
It's hard to say what the bigger challenge from the universe was: the exercise-induced anaphylaxis or winning the lottery to hike Mount Whitney after being diagnosed. Either way, Sharlene Jones is not one to back down from a challenge.
Featured in this episode: Sharlene Jones
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Why Sharlene loves hiking and other forms of exercise, and why she almost had to give them up
- What an exercise allergy is and how Sharlene manages the attacks
- How a service dog has helped
- Why Sharlene wouldn't let fear keep her from hiking Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental United States
- How as an ex-pat, hiking feels like home
- How focusing on "what is", rather than on "what ifs" can help you find joy in a moment and manage chronic health issues
- Words of advice for others who might have challenges or fears that get in the way of spending time outside
Resources
- Sharlene Jones: Instagram
- H.E.A.T. Hiking Group
-
About Exercise-Induced Anaphylaxis
-
Woosah Art
- Episode Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
Merrell: Learn more at Merrell.com
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Meydän using a creative commons attributions license.
We humans have a habit of getting in the way of wild animals, but wildlife rehab is one way we can give back. Sirena Rana Dufault has spent nine of the last ten years volunteering at Wildlife Rehabilitation Northwest Tuscon. She shares why it's needed, what happens when an animal is taken in, funny stories along the way, and the beauty of the release.
As Sirena mentions in the episode, Wildlife Rehabilitation Northwest Tuscon is a completely self-funded facility that relies on donations. If you'd like to help support the work they do there, head to their website and donate, or give them a follow on their Facebook page to stay in touch.
Woman featured in this episode: Sirena Rana Dufault
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell and Ritual
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Sirena got started volunteering at Wildlife Rehabilitation Northwest Tuscon
- What wildlife rehabilitation is and why it's necessary
- Funny (and scary!) stories from volunteering
- Why Sirena loves dedicating some of her spare time to rehabilitating large birds of prey like owls and perigrine falcons
- The life cycle from intake to release
- When release back into the wild isn't possible
- Myths and misconceptions of animal rescue
- How to get involved, too!
Resources
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Northwest Tuscon: Website
- Sirena Rana Dufault: Instagram
- Trails Inspire: Website
- Episode Landing Page
Sponsors and Discount Codes
- Merrell: Learn more at Merrell.com
- Ritual: Get 10% your first 3 months by heading to Ritual.com/EXPLORE
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.
Becoming a mom doesn't mean you stop going outside. We pulled together five incredible adventure moms to talk about getting out there with (and without) your kids.
We ask questions like: how do you know which trails are age appropriate? How do you make time as a single mom? Where can you find affordable gear? How can you use the outdoors as a place for education?
Continuing the conversation from a panel at Outdoor Retailer, we teamed up with OtterBox to highlight all the "cans" of motherhood when it comes to the outdoors.
Woman featured in this episode: Shon’t Savage, Brooke Froelich, Heather Balogh Rochfort, Melody Forsyth, and Jessica Carrillo Alatorre.
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by OtterBox
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How the moms' outdoor lives change (or didn''t change) shape when they had kids
- Why Shon't wanted to maintain a self outside of mother when she had her son
- How Adventure Mamas helps mothers with self care in the outdoors without their kids
- Tips for making time outside solo (even if you're a single mom)
- Advice for getting out there with your kids on the trail and the ski slope
- About Hike It Baby and their new age-appropriate Family Trail Guide
- Tips for hitting the trail with special needs kids from Melody Forsyth, aka @downwithadventure
- How to find affordable used gear for growing kids
- Ways to keep your kids engaged as they grow older
Resources
- Shon’t Savage: Instagram
- Brooke Froelich: Instagram
- Heather Balogh Rochfort: Instagram
- Melody Forsyth: Instagram
- Hike It Baby
- Adventure Mamas
- Women Who Hike Book
- Hike It Baby Trail Guide
Sponsor
OtterBox: Learn more at OtterBox.com
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.
Becky Marcelliano shares how she pivoted from working as an art teacher to working her way up to be a marketing manager a marketing manager in the outdoor industry (first Deuter, then Salomon). Her interview is full of tips for breaking into a new industry, but it’s also about her openness in the face of big life changes, living with chronic illness, and an omnipresent passion for lifting women up.
Woman featured in this episode: Becky Marcelliano
Hosted by Gale Straub
Made with support by Aunt Fannie's, Benchmark Maps, Hamama, and ThirdLove
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear
- Becky's transition from art teacher to marketing manager in the outdoor industry
- The benefits of dabbling in your interests outside of your current career
- Advice for making a big career leap
- What it's like working a desk job in a big outdoor company
- The stigma of grappling with a mystery illness
- What Becky's chronic illnesses have taught her about her health
- Why Becky is passionate about lifting up other women in her work and outdoor life
Resources
- Becky Marcelliano: Instagram
- Outdoor Industry Lady Leaders Meetup Group
- Project16x
- Women Who Hike
- Native Women's Wilderness
- Deuter
- Salomon
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Benchmark Maps: Use code 'SHEEXPLORES' for 20% off your order!
- Aunt Fannie's
- Hamama
- ThirdLove: Head to ThirdLove.com/explore for 15% off
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.
Laurie Young stepped into her daughter Meghan's world by joining her on a trek to Annapurna base camp in Nepal. Together they pushed through every challenge that presented itself while learning that limits are flexible and the mother/daughter relationship is more fluid than we think.
Woman featured in this episode: Meghan Young and Laurie Young
Hosted by Gale Straub
Made with support by Aunt Fannie's, Benchmark Maps, Parks Project, and Ritual
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
In this episode, you'll hear
- How a mother/daughter relationship evolves over time
- The ways a big goal can help one in recovery for a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- The ways TBI symptoms can manifest
- Why Laurie and Meghan wanted to hike to Annapurna base camp together
- What training for altitude and strenuous hiking was like
- All the unexpected things that happened on the trip
- Why Meghan wanted her Mom to feel the accomplishment of achieving their goal
- How their trip had its challenges but was ultimately a privilege
- What mother and daughter learned about each other abroad
Resources
- Meghan Young: Instagram & Portfolio
- Laurie Young: Instagram
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Benchmark Maps: Use code 'SHEEXPLORES' for 20% off your order!
- Aunt Fannie's
- Parks Project: Use code 'SHEEXPLORES' for 15% off all discountable apparel and accessories!
- Ritual: Use code 'EXPLORE' at checkout for 10% off your first three months
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.
What's it like to enjoy the outdoors after the age of 50? We're revisiting one of our favorite episodes that helps answer that question with the voices and experiences of you, the listeners.
We're honored to be highlighting the wisdom and experience of women in their 50's, 60's, and 70's. These are voices that we don't hear as often in our youth-obsessed culture. All of these stories are extraordinary for their willingness to share, try new things, and encourage others to do the same.
Women Featured in this Episode: Jo Ann Hickey, Jean Drummond, Cheryl Falkenburg, Joann Baste, Kristi, Kathleen Merrick, Liz Wise, Rose Burrows, Tricia, Hellen Wallis, Sarah Lefler, Lisa Auvril, Gail Storey, Lori Brookes, & Dianna Stavros
Hosted by Gale Straub
Made with support by Aunt Fannie's, Benchmark Maps, Hamama, and ThirdLove
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- I Promise Not To Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest
Trail by Gail Storey * Episode landing page on She-Explores.com
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Aunt Fannie's
- Benchmark Maps: Use code 'sheexplores' for 20% off your order
- Hamama
- ThirdLove: Head to ThirdLove.com/explore and use code 'explore' for 15% off your first order
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
Music is also by Our Many Stars.
Nikki Smith likes to say that she is a climber, photographer, and writer who just happens to be transgender. Professor Brené Brown inadvertently changed Nikki's course when she wrote about midlife, "it's time to show up and be seen." It was the inspiration Nikki needed to step into herself, and it's since served as a reminder of what she wants to do for others.
We say "step into" because Nikki has always been Nikki, and she's carried a curious, creative, empathetic spirit with her throughout her life.
This conversation with Nikki Smith was made in partnership with Mountain Hardwear. If you're in the San Francisco area, climb with Nikki and the Mountain Hardwear team at Touchstone Climbing Gym Saturday, June 29th 7-10pm.
Woman featured in this episode: Nikki Smith
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Mountain Hardwear
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
In this episode, you'll hear
- All the different parts of Nikki's identity that make up who she is
- Her creative roots in photography, climbing, writing, and cooking
- Why so much of Nikki's work is grounded in connection to others
- What drew her to climbing and why it became an unhealthy coping mechanism
- Why 'realization' vs 'transition' is the word Nikki would choose in coming out as trans
- How a quote from Brené Brown inspired Nikki to "show up and be seen"
- How her story isn't entirely her own, and why she'll keep sharing it as long as it's beneficial for others
- Nikki's latest creative goals
Resources
- Nikki's professional Instagram: @pullphoto
- Nikki's photography portfolio & writing
- Nikki's Guidebooks
- Brené Brown
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Resources for Transgender People in Crisis
- Flash Foxy Women's Climbing Festival
- Touchstone Climbing Gym Pride Activities
- She Explores episode landing page
Sponsor Websites and Resources
- Mountain Hardwear
- Register for Pride Touchstone Climbing Night on Saturday June 29th
Non-profits and Organizations Mentioned at the End of the Episode:
- Out There Adventures
- LGBTQ Outdoor Summit
- Unlikely Hikers
- The Venture Out Project
- Queer Nature
- Queer Mountaineers (Podcast)
Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Grizel Williams is a fast hiker on a crowded Appalachian Trail, just two states away from finishing. We talk life on the trail: sexism, craving loneliness, periods, food, switchbacks, and more. Grizel helps us get a feel of what the trail is like when you're in the everyday of it, and she also shares how the many people on the trail complicate her hike.
Featured in this episode: Grizel Williams
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell
Continue the conversation and join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Why Grizel wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail with her dog, Rue (and why she decided to let her go home halfway through)
- The differences Grizel has noticed between the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and the Appalachian Trail (AT)
- Why Grizel chose to face her loneliness on the PCT
- How sexism and harassment has been a challenge for Grizel on the AT
- What a typical day is like for a thru hiker
- Why periods aren't fun (on or off the trail)
- How Grizel experiences freedom from her own body criticism on trail
- The ways in which the AT has challenged her to speak up for herself
- Why a crowded trail isn't necessarily a safe trail
- Why Grizel loves the simplicity of the trail
Resources
- Grizel Williams: Instagram and Website
- Grizel's Vlog Series
- As Far as the Eye Can See by David Brill
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Merrell: Learn more by visiting Merrell.com
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Meydan, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
She Explores airs weekly on Wednesdays - subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Sarah Grothjan believes solo hiking is one of the safest things she can do. Sarah explains why she feels safer alone in the backcountry than she does in her off-trail life.
We talk with Sarah about how a city can feel less safe than being by yourself in the woods, why she wants to change the pervasive narrative that says otherwise, and how the last five years of hiking and backpacking have helped her come out of her shell and step into herself.
Featured in this episode: Sarah Grothjan
Featured in the midroll ad: Emilee Struss
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell
Continue the conversation and join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Sarah got into hiking and backpacking solo
- Why she wants to break the pervasive narrative that women need a man to hike safely in the backcountry
- How a stalker changed her perspective on city life and words from thru-hiker Heather Anderson made her want to try backpacking
- The ways hiking and backpacking helped with Sarah's shyness
- That there are risks to spending time in the backcountry, but Sarah doesn't believe they are gender specific (for the most part)
- The mixed reactions Sarah gets from people about her solo outdoor experiences
- Why she wrote an essay for Outside Online and what the feedback was
- What outdoor trips Sarah is looking forward to this summer
Resources
- Sarah Grothjan: Instagram and Website
- Sarah's Outside Online Article: Backpacking is My Respite from Sexual Harassment
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Merrell: Learn more by visiting Merrell.com
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
She Explores airs weekly on Wednesdays - subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Melissa Geissinger lost her house in the Tubbs fire of Northern California in October 2017. Two months later, she had her son Apollo, and life changed forever once again. We talk in the episode about the "old" Melissa and the "new" Melissa a year and a half after she and her husband were displaced by wildfire. Today she has her eyes set on hiking the length of the Oregon Coast and helping others cope with trauma by giving them a platform to share their stories.
Woman featured in this episode: Melissa Geissinger
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell
Continue the conversation and join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Melissa took up hiking to make time for herself
- Why she was planning to hike the length of the Oregon coast
- How unexpectedly losing her home in the Tubbs fire of October 2017 shaped her next year and a half
- Why Melissa and her husband found home in a hospital for the first 3 months of her son's life
- What she wants for her 18-month-old son, Apollo
- How nature, combined with therapy, has helped her heal (but why PTSD is real)
- Why she started a blog, Survival Over Surrender, to help share other people's stories of trauma
Resources
- Melissa Geissinger: Website
- Survival Over Surrender: Website, Instagram, and Facebook Group
- She Explores Book
- San Francisco Chronicle Series: Out of Fire
- Unrooted Podcast
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Merrell: Learn more by visiting to Merrell.com!
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
She Explores airs weekly on Wednesdays - subscribe so you never miss an episode!
What changes about the environmental movement when people of color are both the leaders and the audience? We teamed up with REI to send writer Amanda Machado to the third annual PGM ONE Summit in Philadelphia to answer that question first hand.
Recorder in hand, Amanda talked to outdoor educators, social entrepreneurs, nonprofit workers, artists, healers, and activists. She shares what was healing for the attendees, why this conference (and others like it) is a necessity for the environmental movement, what they want those who didn't attend to know, and how we can all learn from the leadership showcased at PGM ONE.
Woman featured in this episode: Amanda Machado, Wingyi Kung, Samantha Villatoro, Agnes Vianzon, Natalie Mebane, Anahí Naranjo, Chandrika Francis, Sophie Sarker, Grace Anderson, Mayra, Stormy Saint-Val, Yakuta Poonawalla, and Princella Talley.
Featured in the midrolls: Myrian Solis Coronel and Jaylyn Gough
Music featured from the PGM ONE Summit is by Femi Olatunji, Dwight Dunston, Rhetta Morgan, Lauren Scott, Aisha Fukushima, and Mariadela Alvarez.
Hosted by Amanda Machado
Sponsored by REI
Continue the conversation and join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!
In this episode, you'll hear:
- About the PGM ONE Summit and what makes it unique
- What is special for attendees about a conference on environmentalism and the outdoors with only people of the global majority
- How ritual, art, and music added to the experience
- The importance of de-centering whiteness in the environmental movement
- How PGM ONE organizers made an effort throughout the conference to be inclusive but also acknowledged how they could do better
- The unique leadership traits showcased at the summit that would be beneficial throughout the environmental space
- Why race and racism should be acknowledged more often in nonprofit workplaces and everyday life
- What attendees want people who weren't there to know
- Takeaways from the summit
Resources
- PGM ONE Summit: Website
- Amanda Machado: Instagram, Twitter, Portfolio & Newsletter
- Agnes Vianzon - Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps: Website & Instagram
- Chandrika Francis - Oshun Swim School Website & Instagram
- Groundwork Colorado
- Anahí Naranjo: Instagram
- Stormy Saint-Val: Instagram
- Princella Talley: Instagram
- Adrienne Maree Brown
- Native Women's Wilderness: Website and Instagram
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- REI: Hear about Force of Nature and what REI is doing to make the outdoors welcoming for all in the midroll ads in the episode.
Organizations Involved in the Conference:
- Life Do Grow Farm
“The Urban Creators was founded in 2010 by a diverse group of young students, artists, activists, organizers, entrepreneurs, and creators in North Philadelphia. Inspired by our differences and shared passion for ‘creation’, we came together with a vision to transform a 2-acre garbage dump into a farm. We spent our first year organizing door-to-door to build and strengthen relationships with our closest neighbors and local allies. We spent our second year clearing away debris and planting our first seeds of change. Our third year saw the transformation this land into LIFE DO GROW; our urban farm, sanctuary, and our home.
Since then, we have revitalized over 3 acres of blighted land into a network of thriving urban farms and gardens from which we provide fresh produce to dozens of local families each year. Through our our work, we have contributed to a 40% decrease in Part 1 Violent crime since 2008 in our immediate area.
- Manaai: “We provide consumers with hand-pounded paiai and poi – a hypoallergenic, sustainable alternative to gluten, soy, dairy, and GMO products. Paiai is hand-pounded taro, using the least amount of water. By purchasing paiai or poi, you are supporting local and Hawaiian farmers and putting your dollars behind sustainable food sovereignty.”
- 1149 Co-Op: A new co-op in South Philadelphia founded by food
makers for social change
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Additional music by Centric. Music is also by Kai Engel and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution license
Sam Ortiz has gone from a beginner to a hiker to a climber to a mountaineer to a plus-size outdoor model in under five years. Her progression has happened in part due to curiosity, timely mentors, and the best kind of fear: the kind you move up and over and end up a little bit changed on the other side.
Woman featured in this episode: Sam Ortiz
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell
Continue the conversation and join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Sam didn't necessarily feel like the outdoors and climbing were for her growing up, but how she found herself drawn to them anyway
- How an outdoor mentor helped Sam navigate new activities when she worked for Americorps in Alaska
- Why climbing Mount Juneau in Alaska taught her she could "do hard things" and opened the door to learning new outdoor activities like climbing and mountaineering
- How fear has been a positive (for the most part) driver in Sam's life
- That Sam lacked role models growing up as a plus-size, Latinx woman and why she's determined to change that for others
- How finding her voice as a climber and mountaineer has created many unexpected opportunities, including being an outdoor model for brands like REI and Eddie Bauer
- Why being closer to outdoor brands has made her want to speak out for more and better plus size apparel and equipment
- What it's like being an INFJ when you're connecting with so many people
- Why Sam loves seeing other plus size women on the trail
- Who have been Sam's role models in her advocacy work
Resources
- Sam Ortiz: Instagram & Portfolio
- Jenny Bruso & Unlikely Hikers - Her episode is called 'Fat & Outdoorsy'
- Mirna Valerio - Her episode is called: "How to be a Role Model"
- Fat Girls Hiking: Instagram and Website
- PNW Outdoor Women
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Merrell: Learn more by visiting to Merrell.com!
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Liam McNally.
Music is also by Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution license
Jen Gurecki is a serial outdoor entrepreneur who isn’t afraid to go against the norm when it comes to the businesses she’s started in the industry. With over 20 years of experience, Jen’s the CEO of Coalition Snow, editor-in-chief at Sisu Magazine, and founder of Zawadisha. She even used to co-own a river rafting company. From the outside, each company is quite different - hardwood skis and snowboards vs. editorial print vs. a micro lending venture, but each contains a common thread: an unwavering devotion to putting women in front.
Woman featured in this episode: Jen Gurecki
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, Ritual, and EarlybirdCBD.com
In this episode you'll hear
- How Jen's restlessness translates to adventure and business
- Jen's start in the outdoor industry
- The experiences Jen had in her 20's that shaped the companies she started in her 30's
- Why Jen wants to 'shred the patriarchy'
- What she learned working in outdoor ed at Adventure Risk Challenge
- About Zawadisha
- What Jen was up against in founding Coalition Snow
- Why Jen extended her vision to a print magazine: Sisu
- Issue Three of Sisu, coming out in June
- Why Jen knows that "strong women have feelings too" and how she deals with the ups and downs of entrepreneurship
Resources
- Jen Gurecki: Instagram
- Sisu Magazine: Website & Instagram
- Coalition Snow: Website & Instagram
- Zawadisha: Website
- Jenny Bruso: Website
- Gravel Try Hard: Instagram
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Merrell: Learn more about the Ontario Mid Waterproof hiking
boots * Ritual.com: Get 10% off your first three months by heading to Ritual.com/Explore * EarlybirdCBD.com: Get 20% by using code EXPLORES at checkout and heading to EarlybirdCBD.com/explores
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Cindy Villaseñor is an Enrich LA Garden Ranger who strives to live a low waste lifestyle. She also loves camping, gardening outside of work, and eats vegan. Cindy didn’t grow up doing any of these things, but keeping herself open to learning and opportunities have led her to where she is today.
Cindy hasn’t left people behind in choosing a low waste and vegan lifestyle, instead, she invites people in through leading by example. She knows there’s no such thing as perfection, so why make others feel bad that they’re not doing enough?
Woman featured in this episode: Cindy Villaseñor
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell
In this episode you'll hear
- About how Cindy's career path changed when she took an environmental science class
- What she does as a Garden Ranger with Enrich LA and why she enjoys teaching others
- The power of leading by example
- Low waste camping tips
- Why aiming for zero waste isn't always accessible or realistic
- About Cindy's low waste wedding at a nursery in Los Angeles
- Why Yosemite is so important to her and her husband
Want to hear about Cindy's first solo camping trip? Head to the episode landing page for bonus audio!
Resources
- Cindy Villaseñor: Instagram
- Enrich LA: Website
- Cindy's Zero Waste Vegan Taqueria Wedding
- Episode landing page on She-Explores.com
- She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Merrell: Learn more about the Ontario Mid hiking boots by visiting Merrell.com
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
For International Women's Day, 20 plus-size women hiked Mount Kilimanjaro. Each had a different reason and background, but they came together to take up space on the highest mountain in Africa. One goal? To normalize fat hiking around the world. Diandra Oliver brought along a recorder to share the seven-day trek with us.
Woman featured in this episode: Diandra Oliver, Autumn Stofflet, Eve, Sharon ‘Shazz’ Nderitu, and Deb Malkin
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, ThirdLove, and GreenerWays Organic
In this episode you'll hear
- Why Diandra Oliver wanted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
- How the stakes feel higher when society's expectations don't align
with your own * Why reaching the summit was the main goal but why we might want to
re-think summit culture * The challenges of finding gear * The shared experiences and bonding found in group activities (and it
was typically harder for Diandra) * The biodiversity of Mount Kilimanjaro * Sounds and stories from the trail * What acclimatization feels like * Why self-care is important * How standing on the top of the mountain felt * Why sometimes a sign is not a summit
Resources
- Curvy Kili Crew Instagram
- WHOA Travel
- Take the Extended Apparel Sizing Quiz
- Diandra Oliver's Blog Sink Ships & Instagram
- Sharon "Shazz" Nderitu: Instagram
- Deb Malkin: Instagram
- Eve: Instagram
- Autumn Stofflet: Instagram
- Glamour Article
- Adrienne Maree Brown, author of Emergent Strategy
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Merrell: Learn more about the Ontario Waterproof Mid hiking shoes by visiting Merrell.com
- ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first order by heading to Thirdlove.com/explore
- GreenerWays Organic: Find GreenerWays Organic on Amazon or by heading to their website
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
A celebration of motherhood, outdoors and otherwise. In this episode, you’ll hear from mothers and daughters; it's equal parts a letter of thanks and a guidebook of sorts for a life best lived outdoors.
We asked:
- What’s your best memory with your mom outdoors?
- What landscapes and outdoor places make you think of your mom?
- What do you hope for your children’s relationship with the outdoors?
- What outdoor knowledge and advice do you (Mom) want to pass down?
- Why is today (Mother’s Day) special to you? Why is it complicated?
We hear from both familiar and new voices as listeners and past guests answer these questions as more as we honor mothers this May.
Woman featured in this episode: Tori Duhaime, Nadio Mercado, Melody and Angelica Forsyth, Alison, Meg Day, Lana Lee Wright, Liz Song Mandell, Caro Garcia, Jasmine, Elissa Story, Jenni Goldman, Lynn Doiron, Anastasia Alison, Kathleen Ruland, and Laura Hughes.
Hosted by Gale Straub
*Sponsored by Merrell
Resources
- Nadia Mercado Video: Mi Mamá & Instagram
- Tori Duhaime: Portfolio
- Melody Forsyth: Down With Adventure
- Elissa Story: @seattlestorys
- Jenni Goldman: Instagram
- Lynn Doiron: Instagram
- Anastasia Allison: Instagram
- Lana Lee Wright: Instagram
- Meg Day: Blog
- Laura Hughes: Instagram
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Merrell: Learn more about the Ontario Waterproof Mid hiking shoes by visiting Merrell.com
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license. Miusic is also by Liam McNally.
Hiking has become both a side hustle and a form of therapy for weekend adventurer Holly Johnson. We talk about how work and play blend together in her life, but also how she deliberately keeps them separate. From her first solo backpacking trip to carving out time for adventure travel outside of her 9-5 job, Holly, aka @missholldoll, is above all else a hiker.
Woman featured in this episode: Holly Johnson
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, Ritual, and EarlyBirdCBD.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How an ex-boyfriend reintroduced Holly to hiking (but why she kept hiking for herself)
- About her first solo backpacking trip
- Why she enjoys going out with friends but finds solo experiences to be rewarding
- How she grew a large Instagram following and does brand partnerships, but chooses to keep it as her side hustle
- What Holly likes about her 9-5 job
- How Holly balances what she chooses to share and what she keeps to herself
- Why, into her late 30's, she's made dating a smaller priority in her life, and how that's opened up room for hiking and travel
- Hiking trips on her bucketlist (and to return to!)
- About the adventure trip she's running to Costa Rica
- The She Explores book & Tour
Resources
- Holly Johnson: Instagram @missholldoll & Website
- Costa Rica trip Holly is co-hosting with Trova
- She-Explores.com
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Merrell: Learn more by visiting to Merrell.com!
- Ritual: Get 10% off your first three months by visiting Ritual.com/explore
- EarlyBirdCBD.com: Get 20% off your purchase by going to EarlybirdCBD.com/explores and using code 'EXPLORES' at checkout
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license
This Earth Day, we’re looking on the bright side. We’re asking, how can a sense of environmental optimism keep us facing forward? What strength do we gain when we’re comfortable starting fresh - whether it’s a climbing route, in our personal lives, or in our approach to sustainability? .
We climb and camp in Moab, Utah with photographer, climber, and Mountain Hardwear ambassador Kylie Fly, who knows thinking outside the box is beneficial to all aspects of life.
Woman featured in this episode: Kylie Fly
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Mountain Hardwear
- Why Kylie gravitates towards optimism in all areas of her life
- How she got into climbing and the advice she has for others who want
to get started * Why she loves climbing * Times in climbing (and life!) where she's approached a route and
started from scratch * How Mountain Hardwear has started from scratch with their whole gear
line for spring, including tents without fire retardant chemicals * Why environmental optimism can help us through challenging times * The small steps Kylie takes to recreate and live sustainably * How brands are using more sustainable (and recycled) materials * What we can do when spending time outside to minimize our impact * The She Explores book & Tour
Resources
- Kylie Fly: Instagram & Portfolio
- Leave No Trace
- Mountain Hardwear Tents & Sleeping Bags
- She Explores Book & Tour
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Mountain Hardwear
- Products mentioned: Lamina ECO AF Sleeping Bag & Line of Flame Retardant-free tents
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Liam McNally, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license
Anyone else a ‘bad’ science student in high school? For those who haven’t been indoctrinated, earth science can be all intimidating facts and hard edges. Hannah Perrine Mode is an abstract artist who has found a connection to science through her artwork. Her experiences as a science communicator as part of the Juneau Icefield Research Program in Alaska have opened her up to more diverse methods of sharing glacial and earth science with people - on and off the icefield.
We talk about how Hannah went from being a self-described ‘bad’ science student to using abstract art to tell the stories of glaciers to creating an installation at Google featuring women scientists.
Woman featured in this episode: Hannah Perrine Mode
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
- Why Hannah advocates for more hands-on science in high school and college
- How both creating art and spending time outside became an entry point for Hannah to learn more about science and geology
- About Hannah's love of and fascination with glaciers
- How she got involved with the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP)
- Why Hannah argues for diverse methods of science communication
- The important role art plays in conservation conversations
- About her installation at Google that celebrates female scientists
- What Hannah hopes for the future of science and art
- Why Hannah doesn't have her career all figured out but has been enjoying looking back and seeing what has followed her throughout it so far
- Advice for other artists
Head to She-Explores.com to meet us on our book tour!
Sponsored by ThirdLove and Robinhood
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first order by heading to thirdlove.com/explore
- Robinhood: Get a FREE stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint to help you build your portfolio by heading to explores.robinhood.com
Resources
- Hannah Perrine Mode: Website & Instagram
- Juneau Icefield Research Program
- She Explores Book
- Book Events: Denver @ Topo Designs 4/10; Littleton, CO Tattered Cover - Aspen Grove 4/11; Moab, UT Back of Beyond Books 4/16
Shouldn't it be easier for women to use the bathroom outside? Shouldn't pants be made for female anatomy? The founders behind SheFly Apparel think so. They've reinvented pants for us to wear on the trail and elsewhere. Meet two of the three co-founders, Bianca Gonzalez and Charlotte Massey.
Women featured in this episode: Bianca Gonzalez and Charlotte Massey
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
- About Bianca's entrepreneurial philosophy, the acronym of which is appropriate: "PEE"
- What SheFly Apparel is, and how it came to be
- Why women need a solution for 'answering nature's call' outdoors
- Why the current position of a fly on pants is antiquated and fitting for male anatomy rather than female (and how it's also pretty darn sexist)
- The marketing challenges of spreading the word about a women's specific product that helps you go to the bathroom outside
- How the founders have balanced college and post-college life with founding a business
- Why SheFly Apparel hopes to revolutionize the pa(n)triarchy and what they have in store for the future
Head to She-Explores.com to meet us on our book tour!
Sponsored by Ritual and EarlybirdCBD.com
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Head to Ritual.com/explore to get 10% off your first 3 months of vitamins
- Head to EarlybirdCBD.com/explores and use code EXPLORES at checkout for 20% off your order
Resources
- SheFly Apparel: Website
- SheFly Apparel iFundWomen crowdfunding campaign
- Kyle Wright: Portfolio
- She Explores Book & Tour
- She-Explores.com
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Liam McNally, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license
Both filmmaker Sarah Menzies and The Musical Mountaineers accomplished big things after our conversations last year. Sarah debuted her film Afghan Cycles. Rose and Anastasia played music in Seattle's Benaroya Hall. We catch up and celebrate what's next.
Women featured in this episode: Sarah Menzies, Anastasia Allison, and Rose Freeman
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
- How the Afghan Cycles film debut at Hot Docs film festival went for filmmaker Sarah Menzies
- Why film festivals are important for outdoor documentary films
- How Sarah is carving out time for her and her partner Kaitlin after devoting so much time to Afghan Cycles
- What Sarah wants to focus on for her next film project
- How she feels about Afghan Cycles being available to stream on platforms like iTunes
- Why Sarah wouldn't tell you she's "living the dream" but why she wouldn't have it any other way
- The Musical Mountaineers share about the concert they played at Benaroya Hall in Seattle (and how it wasn't as different as they thought it would be from playing in the mountains)
- The beauty in the fact that wherever Anastasia and Rose play their instruments, the feeling is the same.
- What Rose and Anastasia are excited about
- Anastasia's p-cloth company, Kula Cloth
- The possibility The Musical Mountaineers see in 2019 (for themselves and for others!)
- The She Explores book
We're doing a She Explores book event at REI Seattle May 1st at 6:30PM. Mark your calendar!
Sponsored by NoteCast by EX-IQ and Warby Parker
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Warby Parker: Head to warbyparker.com/EXPLORE to order your free Home Try-On’s today.
- Notecast: Head to Notecast.app and use code EXPLORES at checkout for 60 days free!
Resources
- Sarah's Episode: All In
- Rose and Anastasia's episode: The Musical Mountaineers
- Afghan Cycles: Find it on iTunes and find out where you else you can stream it
- Afghan Cycles: Website
- Sarah Menzies: Instagram & Let Media
- The Musical Mountaineers: Instagram & Facebook
- Kula Cloth: Website & Instagram
- Anastasia Allison: Instagram and Website
- Rose Freeman: Instagram
- She Explores Book
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
A little mindfulness goes a long way. Meet Kenya and Michelle Jackson-Saulters, founders of Outdoor Journal Tour and WE Hike to Heal.
We have a lot on our minds - we often put our own needs on the backburner. Kenya and Michelle believe that self-care can look like a walk in the woods and that the effect can be multiplied with journaling and meditating. They're on a mission to help women all over the world reclaim their bodies, minds, and communities through their special guided hikes and mindfulness lessons.
Women featured in this episode: Kenya Jackson and Michelle Jackson-Saulters
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
- How meditation can amplify the positive effects of your experiences in nature
- What 'grounding' is and why it's important
- About the origin of Outdoor Journal Tour (ODJT)
- The positive benefits of hiking, journaling, and meditating
- About Michelle's first solo hike in Georgia
- How ODJT cultivates a welcoming and non-intimidating environment on their group hikes
- Why ODJT gears their work towards women
- About the Journal of Mindful Movement
- Why Kenya included a 'body apology' in the journal
- How when we think about health, we should include mental as well as physical health
- About WE Hike to Heal and the March initiative culminating in group hikes around North America on March 30th
- Why embracing healing doesn't mean there's something wrong with us
Sponsored by NoteCast by EX-IQ, ThirdLove, and EarlybirdCBD.com
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Notecast: Head to Notecast.app and use code EXPLORES at checkout for 60 days free!
- ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first order by heading to ThirdLove.com/explore
- EarlybirdCBD: Head to EarlybirdCBD.com/explores and use code EXPLORES at checkout for 20% off
Resources
- Outdoor Journal Tour: Website & Instagram
- WE Hike to Heal: Website
- Sign up for a hike March 30th
- Register to lead a #WEhiketoheal hike! Here's the form
- Kenya Jackson-Saulters: Website & Instagram
- Michelle Jackson-Saulters: Instagram
- UN/ROOTED podcast: Website & Instagram
- Mirna Valerio: Instagram & SE Podcast Episode
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
How has the She Explores podcast impacted you? That's what we wanted to know.
So Gale’s team member and host of Women on the Road, Laura Hughes, secretly asked some of you who have been on the show in the past to share just that, and in doing so created a secret bonus episode to celebrate 100 episodes of the She Explores podcast, the She Explores community, and the work Gale has done over the past several years to help cultivate it with such intention, generosity, and care.
We hope that in listening to these familiar voices, you feel some pride and kinship. Because if you’re hearing this, you’ve helped to build it.
Women featured in this episode: Gale Straub, Kit Whistler, Anna Brones, Brigette Meinhold, Julie Hotz, Karen Wang, Mary Ann Thomas, Sarah Attar, Sarah Menzies, Erin Sullivan, and Lora Straub
Hosted by Laura Hughes in honor of Gale Straub's hard work
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Resources
- Episode 100 of She Explores: ‘Injured & Indoors‘
- Gale Straub: Instagram
- Kit Whistler: Instagram | Website | Episode 1
- Anna Brones: Instagram | Website | Episode 58 | Episode 78
- Brigette Meinhold: Instagram | Website | Episode 30
- Julie Hotz: Instagram | Website | Episode 2 & Episode 32
- Karen Wang: Instagram | Website | Episode 9
- Mary Ann Thomas: Instagram | Website | Episode 83
- Sarah Attar: Instagram | Website | Episode 45 & Episode 58
- Sarah Menzies: Instagram | Website | Episode 58 & Episode 62
- Erin Sullivan: Instagram | Website | Episode 21
- Lora Straub: Episode 43
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Kai Engel and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
What happens when injury sidelines you from your favorite outdoor activities.
First off, you're not alone. This episode features four nature-loving women whose injuries necessitated surgery and lots of time for rest. We talk about the mental and physical challenges, how they coped, and how it felt when they made it outside again once more.
Women featured in this episode: Hailey Hirst, Erica Aaron, Amanda Gates, and Jaime Purinton
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
- About four women's injuries and how their recoveries put them on the sidelines of their outdoor lives
- How the mental challenge of healing is often harder than the physical challenge
- How the women coped with the isolation, immobility, and separation from the outdoor activities they love
- What it felt like when they were able to step back outside
Sponsored by NoteCast by EX-IQ & Ritual
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Notecast: Head to Notecast.app and use code EXPLORES at checkout for 60 days free!
- Ritual: Head to Ritual.com/explore to get started!
Resources
- Blog post: 'How to Cope When You're Recovering Indoors'
- Hailey Hirst: Instagram & Website
- Erica Aaron: Instagram
- Amanda Gates: Instagram
- Jaime Purinton: Instagram & Hike It Off Clothing
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
How to make time for nature, even in the winter season. It can be be all too easy to get into a groove that doesn't include the outdoor activities you love -- but that's OK, too. This episode shares some practical tips for experiencing nature year round.
We talk to She Explores and Women on the Road team members Noël Russell, Laura Hughes, and Hailey Hirst about how they incorporate nature into their everyday lives, and why it isn't always easy.
Women featured in this episode: Noël Russell, Laura Hughes, and Hailey Hirst
Hosted by Gale Straub
Tips for experiencing nature year round, even in winter:
- Eat your meals outside
- Walking your dog
- Driving with your window open
- Try a new activity: snowshoeing, cross country skiing, skating, ice climbing, ice fishing - for a few ideas!
- Go out with a friend that loves cold weather
- Treat yourself to something you love after you step outside
- Read an adventurous book and experience some 'armchair' outdoor time
- Sent up a tent inside!
- Bring some plants into your home
- Take note of the 'in-between' moments: shoveling snow, the light through the trees, a bird in the distance
In this episode you'll hear:
- Nature sounds from New Hampshire and Utah!
- How Noël taps into nature while living in a city
- Why walking her dogs helps Noël experience nature on weekdays
- Why it can be harder to spend time outside in the winter
- Suggested new activities to try this season
- Why Women on the Road podcast host Laura Hughes has conflicting feelings about winter
- How hiking in Moab has helped Laura learn about her new home
- Why Hailey Hirst has spent more time inside than usual this winter
- How an injury can change your perspective
- Advice Noël, Laura, and Hailey have for tapping into nature year round
Sponsored by NoteCast by EX-IQ
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Sponsor Website
- Head to notecast.app and use the code 'EXPLORES' to get your first 60 days free!
Resources
- Noel Russell: Instagram
- Laura Hughes: Instagram
- Hailey Hirst: Instagram
- What Hailey's reading: Girl in the Woods & Paddling North
- Women on the Road: Episodes & Instagram
- She Explores Book
- She Explores Book Limited Edition Poster Promotion
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Stories connect us, help us learn, and help us better understand each other. Melanin Base Camp founder Danielle Williams taps into the power of storytelling to showcase the many different ways people of color and LGBTQ+ folks experience the outdoors. In this episode, we talk to Danielle and featured bloggers Nadia Mercado and Dr. Favia Dubyk.
In interviewing Danielle, there’s a lot we could dig in to. She’s a skydiver and started “Team Blackstar Skydivers,” a community for skydivers of color. She’s third generation military. She’s coping with complications from Rheumatic Fever that have left her unable to run. She’s also one of the founding members of Diversify Outdoors, a coalition of social media influencers who share the goal of promoting diversity in outdoor spaces. Their website also hosts Teresa Baker’s Outdoor CEO Diversity pledge.
For this episode, I want to highlight Danielle’s work with Melanin Base Camp and the power of storytelling, and in particular, the power of telling your own story and listening to the personal stories of others.
Women featured in this episode: Danielle Williams, Nadia Mercado, and Dr. Favia Dubyk
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
- About Danielle's early experiences running
- Nadia Mercado's article "I said I Wasn't Outdoorsy, but I Lied" and how we create stories about what is outdoorsy and what isn't
- The value of stories to help us understand people with different backgrounds and cultures
- How Danielle's chronic illness has changed her perspective
- Why Danielle started Melanin Base Camp to share the stories of people of color and the myriad of ways they experience the outdoors
- Why bloggers Nadia Mercado and Dr. Favia Dubyk contribute to Melanin Base Camp
- The power of storytelling to connect, to educate, and to create a historical record
- About Nadia's article, "Shut Up and Climb" and why 'good vibes only' cultures in outdoor adventure sports can be destructive
- What Melanin Base Camp will be focusing on in 2019
Sponsored by ThirdLove
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Sponsor Website
- Head to ThirdLove.com/explore to learn more and get 15% off your first purchase!
Resources
- Melanin Base Camp: Website, Instagram, Facebook
- Team Blackstar: Community for skydivers of color founded by Danielle
- Diversify Outdoors
- Nadia Mercado: Instagram
- Favia Dubyk: Instagram
- "I Said I Wasn't Outdoorsy, But I Lied"
- Shut Up and Climb
- Favia's Three Part Series on Cancer and Climbing: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Evan Schaeffer, Nihilore, Lee Rosevere, Miss, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
What's the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge? Teresa Baker and Danielle Williams share why it's important for diverse people to take the lead doing the work to make the outdoors a more inclusive, equitable place for all. They also comment on the recent announcement of a CEO Outdoor Equity Pledge by Camber Outdoors.
Women featured in this minisode: Teresa Baker and Danielle Williams
Resources:
- Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge
- "Camber CEO Outdoor Equity Pledge sparks major backlash" SNEWS article by James Edward Mills
- Op-Ed: After the Camber Equity Pledge Blow Up
- Camber Outdoors Public Apology
- Camber Outdoors Public Statement
- Melanin Base Camp Instagram
- Melanin Base Camp Website
- She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Mise and Nihilore using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Meet Jeanine Pesce, creative connector and founder of RANGE, a creative agency and magazine inspired by the culture of the outdoor movement. We talk about how she's carved out a place for herself in the outdoor industry. We also chat about the tenth issue of RANGE Mag, centered around the theme 'Work in Progress.' RANGE contributors Rocío, Hatie, and Emily share their perspectives on the theme and the unique stories about culture, product technology, and outdoor travel that they brought to the issue.
Women featured in this episode: Jeanine Pesce, Rocío Villalobos, Hatie Parmeter, and Emily Hopcian
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
- Stories around the theme of 'work in progress'
- How Jeanine Pesce started RANGE, a creative agency and magazine inspired by the culture of the outdoor movement
- Why Jeanine carved out a place for herself in the outdoor industry
- Why Jeanine believes in sharing her media platform with others
- How Rocío Villalobos sees herself as a work in progress and why it's important for her story to reach more people, especially young women of color
- Hatie Parmeter sharing a riveting story about new technology in outdoor gear
- Why RANGE managing editor Emily Hopcian is passionate about writing international features
- How Jeanine is working on finding more time for herself as a business owner and outdoor-lover
- What's next for RANGE in 2019
Sponsored by Ritual
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Sponsor Website
- Ritual.com/explore
Resources
- SNEWS article on Outdoor CEO Pledges by James Edward Mills
- Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge
- RANGE Website & Instagram
- RANGE Magazine Issue 10
- Rocío Villalobos: Instagram
- Hatie Parmeter: Instagram & Whoa Mag
- Emily Hopcian: Instagram & Portfolio
- José G Gonzáles: Website
- Melanin Basecamp
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw, Mise, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Caroline Gleich is a ski mountaineer who knows the meaning of scary but rewarding: whether she's climbing 8,000 meter mountains in the Himalayas or anticipating her future as an adventure-seeking wife and mom. Years of hard work have brought her here and while she's a self described late bloomer, Caroline's learned to trust the timing in her life.
Looking back on 2018, Caroline shared on her Instagram that she summited 72 peaks and climbed 489,704 human powered vertical feet of uphill. Included in these peaks and vertical feet was the 6th highest mountain in the world, Cho Oyu. We talked with Caroline about that climb and the family she sees in her future. Even though she’s ski mountaineered some of the tallest mountains in the world, her thoughts on fear, self-trust, and creating the life she wants for herself hit close to home.
Plus, we catch up with Karen Wang two years after we interviewed her for Episode 9, After the Pacific Crest Trail.
Women featured in this episode: Caroline Gleich and Karen Wang
Hosted by Gale Straub
The She Explores Book is now available for presale! Learn more here
In this episode you'll hear:
- What surprised Caroline about her climb of Cho Oyu, the sixth highest mountain in the world
- Why she continues to ski mountaineer despite the inherent risks
- How altitude sickness almost cost her the summit
- Why she proposed to her fiancé and not the other way around
- How what she learned on Cho Oyu will help her on her spring climb of Everest
- How Caroline copes with pre-trip anxiety and post-trip depression
- Why getting married and planning to have kids feels scarier than a big mountaineering trip
- Our up with Karen Wang two years after her "After the Pacific Crest Trail" interview
Sponsored by ThirdLove
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Thirdlove.com/explore: For 15% off your first purchase
Resources
- Caroline Gleich: Instagram & Website
- Karen Wang: Photography/Website & Blog
- Episode 9 - After the Pacific Crest Trail: Karen Wang
- Follow Through: A Film about Caroline by REI & Duct Tape Then Beer
- Headspace App
- RANGER Station Schedule at Outdoor Retailer trade show
- Natives Outdoors
- Flash Foxy
- She Explores Book, available for Pre-order!
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Steve Combs, Mise, Josh Woodward, Evan Schaffer, and Meydan using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Heather Hansman went on a solo pack rafting adventure for the sake of conservation. Paddling the 730 mile Green River, she learned about the future of water in the west and documented her journey in her upcoming book, Downriver: Into the Future of Water in the West.
We talk about her two month pack rafting trip, what it means to write an adventure memoir that's grounded in water conservation, and why addressing environmental issues doesn't have to be intimidating or impersonal. Planning ahead can be like reading a river, a graceful mix of intuition and problem solving.
Women featured in this episode: Heather Hansman
Hosted by Gale Straub
The She Explores Book is now available for presale! Learn more here
In this episode you'll hear:
- How Heather got started as a rafting guide
- Why water conservation doesn't have to be an abstract, hard to understand concept
- (But why it's probably more complicated than you think )
- The reason Heather wanted to pack raft the Green River
- All the logistics involved in planning a 730 mile rafting trip
- Heather's thoughts on adventure memoirs
- Why solo isn't necessarily better when you're on an adventure
- Some of the issues Heather dug into that stakeholders found with water rights in the Colorado River basin
- Why river recreation is inherently tied to conservation
- What we can do close to home
Sponsored by Ritual
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Resources
- Heather Hansman's Website
- Downriver: Into the Future of Water in the West - Available for Pre-order!
- 12 Essential Books on Water in the West, as recommended by Heather
- She Explores Book, available for Pre-order!
If you liked this episode, you'll probably like:
- Episode 56: An (Adventure) Book Club for the 21st Century
- Episode 92: Quitting Can Be A Kindness - Nicole Antoinette
- Episode 72: Fifty Years as an Outdoor Entrepreneur - Sheri Tingey
- Episode 49: Great Lakes, Greater Goals - Traci Lynn Martin
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Ritual.com/explore
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw, Nihilore, and Meydan using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
We put out a call for voice submissions, asking questions like: how will you bring what you’ve learned in the outdoors this year into 2019? Are you hoping to take up a new skill? Is there anyone you want to introduce to your outdoor life? Do you have any big trips planned? Or are you embracing resources closer to home?
The answers were a resounding yes, all around.
Women featured in this episode: Marissa Priestap, Alisha M’Lot Ruby and Jenni Goldman, Rhiannon Ball, Annabel Plush, Diandra Oliver, Jennifer, Meghan Young, Hailey Hirst, Kimberly Bradley, Katarina Mulec, Rachel Friedman, Kate Rafey, Rocio, Elisa Janson, Desiree Penner, Helen Wallis, Francesca Turauskis, Teresa Benitez, Greta Matos, and Christina Hickman
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
- The question to ask yourself if you're looking to spend more time outside in 2019
- Why bringing others (and pets!) out with you can be fulfilling
- How fat people are claiming space for themselves in the outdoor industry (and on Mount Kilimanjaro) in 2019
- How nature is healing, emotionally and physically
- Why when you're recovering from an injury (and otherwise), adventure is relative
- How listeners are hoping to incorporate conservation advocacy into their recreation in 2019
- The specific goals and bucket we have on our minds
- Why big goals are great but small goals are valuable, too
- How it's difficult to balance indoor and outdoor time when you work full time
- Gale's hopes for 2019 (hint, they have to do with balance, too!)
Sponsored by Benchmark Maps and Audible
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Resources
- Marissa Priestap: Instagram & Blog
- Rhiannon Ball: 'outdoorsy' Instagram & personal Instagram
- Annabell Plush: Instagram
- Diandra Oliver: Instagram, Blog, & Curvy Kili Crew
- Fat Girls Hiking: Instagram & Website
- Layla Cameron: Fat Hiking Club Documentary
- Katarina Mulec: Instagram & Balkan River Defense
- Rachel Friedman: The Ski Retreat
- Elisa Janson: Blog & Women's Trail Summit
- Francesca Turauskis: Seize Your Adventure Podcast
- Teresa Benitez: Instagram
- Greta Matos: Company she's building in Chile & Instagram
- Christina Hickman: Instagram & Blog
- Desiree Penner: Instagram & Art
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Benchmark Maps: Take 20% with code SHEEXPLORES at checkout
- Audible.com/explore: Get first month free and one free audiobook! Or text EXPLORE to 500500 to get started
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw, Lee Rosevere, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Nicole Antoinette quit her thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail after about 1,600 miles and she's ok with calling it a failure. In fact, Nicole questions why we have to choose either success or failure. Can't we be gentler with ourselves? Can't we set out to both succeed and fail?
Nicole Antoinette has a gift for applying lessons she's learned to new chapters of life. We talk about how what she's learned in sobriety applies to distance running applies to thru hiking applies to us all.
Women featured in this episode: Nicole Antoinette.
Cameos by Carrot Quinn, Karen Wang, and Rahawa Haile
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How long distance running can be a gateway to thru hiking
- Physical activity as a way to cope with new sobriety
- Why you don't have to be "good" at something to do it
- Why growth is a value for Nicole
- When making life changes is a lonely thing
- Why Nicole wanted to hike the PCT on her own but also wanted a trail family
- What the culture is like on the PCT
- The awareness Nicole has for her body while hiking
- "'Success', whatever that means"
- Giving yourself room to fail (on a trail and in life)
- Post-trail depression and why "this too shall pass"
- The mindset of embracing "both/and" vs. "either/or" aka we don't have to be one thing
Sponsored by Benchmark Maps and Outdoor Voices
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Resources
- Nicole Antoinette's Website & Instagram
- Real Talk Radio
- Nicole's patreon
- 2019 She Explores Listener Survey
- Carrot Quinn's Thru Hiking Will Break Your Heart
- Carrot's episode on She Explores & Real Talk Radio
- Rahawa's episode on She Explores & Real Talk Radio
- Karen's episode on She Explores & Real Talk Radio
- Brainstorm National Park Puzzle
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Benchmark Maps: Take 20% with code SHEEXPLORES at checkout
- Outdoor Voices: Take 20% off your order of $100 or more with code EXPLORES at checkout at outdoorvoices.com/explores
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Becoming a new mom has changed the way Kristina Frost experiences the outdoors. And she's realizing, it's not better or worse - it's just different. The confluence of a body in healing, a child who needs constant care, and postpartum depression means her life looks little like it did a few years ago.
We talk to Kristina before and after she takes her two-month-old daughter Emma camping for the very first time.
Women featured in this episode: Kristina Frost
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Kristina compares her first backpacking experiences with being a new mom
- What postpartum depression feels like to Kristina
- The difference between PMDD and postpartum depression
- Why Kristina feels like she's lost her outdoor community (for now)
- Before and after Kristina's first camping trip with her 2 month old daughter and husband
- How her body's changed after pregnancy and birth
- Why Kristina feels like she has an old self and a new self and how the two might be integrated
- Advice for new moms who want to take their infants camping
- Why you don't have to stick to one kind of camping
Sponsored by Benchmark Maps and Sustain Natural
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Resources
- Follow Kristina on Instagram: @frostkristina
- Hike it Baby
- Adventure Mamas
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Benchmark Maps: Take 20% with code SHEEXPLORES at checkout
- Sustain Natural: Take 20% off first one-time order with code EXPLORES at checkout
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
What we have (and want) to give to ourselves and to others is often clarified through time outside. At Lodged Out in the Adirondacks of New York, four women share how they spent the weekend through a giving lens.
And as a bonus, we start off the episode by talking with Cassie Abel about "Women-Led Wednesday" - a new initiative to support female-led businesses this holiday season and beyond.
Women featured in this episode: Bobbilee Hartman, Nic Annette Miller, Abby Pond, and Adriana Aldana
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- About the origin story of Lodged Out
- How Bobbilee is energized by connecting with people and connecting people with others
- How even though your job isn't always the right fit, it doesn't mean you have the wrong profession
- Why Bobbilee decided to make Lodged Out retreats tech free and centered around the outdoors
- How it can be hard to find balance between motherhood, work, entrepreneurship, and giving yourself time
- Why choosing to do something for yourself can be a gift
- Why sharing and teaching art is giving, both towards yourself and others
- How we can learn from a photograph
- Why bias is perpetuated by not listening to other people's stories
- About Women-Led Wednesday and why it's important to vote with our dollars
Sponsored by Benchmark Maps, Robinhood and Bombas
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Resources
- Lodged Out
- Women Led Wednesday: Website, Instagram, and Twitter
- Queen of Cups Lingerie
- Nic Annette Miller: Instagram
- She-Explores.com landing page
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Benchmark Maps: Take 20% with code SHEEXPLORES at checkout
- Robinhood: Head to Explores.robinhood.com for a free stock with signup
- Bombas: Use code 'explores' at checkout for 20% off your first order
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Lost in the mountains is a vulnerable place to be. Lydia Sturgis shares her experience losing the trail for a night in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana, and heli nurse Krista Elkins gives advice for both how to prevent getting lost and what to do if it happens.
Women featured in this episode: Lydia Sturgis and Krista Elkins
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Lydia's hike and climb up Granite Peak, the highest mountain in Montana
- Why it's important to trust your climbing partner
- What Lydia and her climbing partner Artie did when they got lost on the way down
- Advice from heli nurse and paramedic Krista Elkins for ways to prevent getting lost
- Gear to bring on an overnight
- What to do if you do get lost for one night and more than one night
- Recommended courses for outdoor enthusiasts
- Why it's worth getting out there, even with the risks
- What Lydia learned while she was out there
Sponsored by Benchmark Maps, Outdoor Voices and Sustain Natural
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Resources
- Episode landing page
- Wilderness First Responder Course
- REI Adventures
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Benchmark Maps: Take 20% with code SHEEXPLORES at checkout
- Outdoor Voices: Take 20% off order of $100 or more with code EXPLORES at checkout
- Sustain Natural: Take 20% off first one-time order with code EXPLORES at checkout
Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe set out to be the first BAME woman in the United Kingdom to thru hike the Welsh Coastal Trail. She didn't achieve her goal, but after 570 miles on foot, she could hear herself loud and clear.
Women featured in this episode: Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- What the ~870 mile Welsh Coastal Path is
- Why Wales is so important to Hiranya
- Why she chose to hike solo
- "On your own? You're very brave." What Hiranya heard most often about being on her own and why she thinks that is
- Why what is deemed a "good adventure" feels like a hierarchy
- How trails in the US are different than the Welsh Coastal Path
- How hiking solo gave Hiranya a new appreciation for her body
- Balancing comfort and challenge on a long hike
- How Brexit brought out a resurgence of racism in the UK and how Hiranya experienced this as a South Asian woman on the path
- Whether or not people are talking about DEI and the outdoors in the UK
- Gender norms Hiranya observed on the path
- How she felt when she got off the trail after 48 days
Sponsored by Ritual and Sustain Natural
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Resources
- Hiranya's blog: Life Moves in Cycles
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Ritual.com/explore
- Sustain Natural: Use code EXPLORES for 20% off your first one-time order!
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Jason Shaw, Lee Rosevere, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Sun Shapes
Pregnant with her daughter Ruby, Melody Forsyth thought hiking would be her "last hurrah" when she found out Ruby has Down Syndrome (DS). Turns out, it was just the beginning. We talk about what having a child with special needs has added to Melody's hiking and personal life, and how she uses social media to break stereotypes about her little girl and DS.
Women featured in this episode: Melody Forsyth
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Melody balances the roles of mother, nurse, hiker, and wife
- The ways in which a backpacking experience in her teens has carried with her into her 40's
- Getting started hiking again a little later in life
- Why fear of not getting to explore after having a child with Down Syndrome got Melody's family outside
- How seeing a kid with special needs at a National Park assuaged Melody's fears
- How Ruby connects with the outdoors
- Melody's family's quest to visit all the National Parks in the US
- The ways Melody uses her Instagram @downwithadventure to correct misconceptions about Down Syndrome and hiking with a child with special needs
- What Ruby has taught Melody (and can teach us!)
Sponsored by Away and Bombas
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering
Resources
- Melody's instagram: @downwithadventure
- Learn about their family on the Goal Zero Blog
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Bombas: Get 20% off your first purchase by using code
'explores' at checkout! * Away: Get $20 off your first purchase of a suitcase by using
code 'explores' at checkout! * Get 20% off an Escape Campervan rental by using code 'WOMEN20'
at checkout
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Bouquet and Liam McNally
Elyse Rylander is the founder and executive director of OUT There Adventures, a nonprofit dedicated to empower queer young people through their connection with the natural world. Elyse believes nature is a disruptive force for queer youth and hopes to foster their identities and love of the outdoors.
Women featured in this episode: Elyse Rylander
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear
- What Elyse is working on right now
- How partnering with other established nonprofits like Outward Bound is helping spread the mission of OUT There Adventures
- Why it can be uniquely hard for a small nonprofit to do outreach for queer kids for outdoor programs
- Why role models are so important for queer youth in the outdoors
- How working at an outdoor store and getting into guiding positively impacted Elyse as a teenager
- Why Elyse believes nature is a disruptive force
- How nature mirrors queer identities
- How OUT There fosters inclusiveness on trips
- What Elyse hopes the youth take with them when they leave
- Hurdles to growth for OUT There
- Elyse's vision for the future
- About the second annual LGBTQ Outdoor Summit
- What Elyse is looking forward to
Sponsored by BetterHelp and Bombas
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering
Resources
- OUT There Adventures: Website & Instagram
- LGBTQ Outdoor Summit
- Outside Online Article on Elyse Rylander
Sponsor Websites and Codes
- Betterhelp: Get the first week free by heading here and using offer code 'explores'!
- Bombas: Get 20% off your first purchase by using code 'explores' at checkout!
- Get 20% off an Escape Campervan rental by using code 'WOMEN20' at checkout
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Jason Shaw, Josh Woodward using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Kay Orange
Tsedo Sherpa-Ednalino is the COO of Sherpa Adventure Gear. Leading with humility is part of her Sherpa heritage and it's a tenet of her life as an executive and a mother.
Women featured in this episode: Tsedo Sherpa-Ednalino
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear
- Tsedo talk about why working moms shouldn't be the only parents to
get the question 'how do you do it all?' * About why Tsedo loves international travel and wants to share that with her 3 year old daughter * Origin story of Sherpa Adventure Gear * Sherpa cultural attributes (welcoming, warm, friendly, humble, adaptable ) and how Tsedo identifies with them * How Sherpa Adventure Gear elevates Sherpa culture by employing women and funding education for children in Nepal * Advice for women looking to work in the outdoor industry and rise through the ranks * Who Tsedo's role models are * The unique challenges and benefits to working for a family business * How motherhood has improved Tsedo's time management
Sponsored by BetterHelp and Ritual
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering
Learn more at She-Explores.com/podcast
Resources:
- Sherpa Adventure Gear
- Women on the Road Gathering
Sponsor Websites & Codes
- Betterhelp: Get the first week FREE by heading here
- Ritual: Try Ritual guaranteed, if you don't like it after the first month get your money back
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Josh Woodward using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Great Lands
Sydney Williams is more than a weight loss story, or an outdoors person with Type II diabetes, or a trauma survivor. But hiking the Trans-Catalina trail the second time helped her put it all together.
Women featured in this episode: Sydney Williams
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear
- How Sydney hiked the Trans-Catalina Trail in Southern California two times: the first time it was the hardest thing physically, the second it was the hardest emotionally
- Why a diagnosis of Type II diabetes was the best thing that ever happened to Sydney
- The four things Sydney learned to manage when monitoring her blood sugar
- Why stress can be so hard to regulate
- How Sydney started hiking her feelings rather than eating and drinking her feelings
- What was revealed to her about her past trauma on the trail
- How hiking has helped her own her story
- Why Sydney is going on a speaking tour in southern California to share her experience and where you can hear her talk
- The lost potential of women due to sexual violence
- How the outdoors helped Sydney coax healing from the trauma she carried
Sponsored by BetterHelp, uBiome, Outdoor Voices, and Robinhood
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering
Learn more at She-Explores.com/podcast
Resources:
- Sydney Williams: Hiking My Feelings Website & Instagram
- Sydney Williams: Personal Instagram
- RAIIN.org: 1-800-656-HOPE
Sponsor Websites & Codes
- BetterHelp: Get the first week free by heading here!
- uBiome
- Outdoor Voices: Get 20% off your first order of $100 or more by heading to Outdoorvoices.com/sheexplores and using the code 'SHEEXPLORES' at checkout
- Robinhood: Get a FREE stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint to help build your portfolio! Sign up at explores.robinhood.com
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Josh Woodward using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Great Lands
Mary Ann Thomas loves bike touring because it's accessible, it helps her care for her body, it connects her with people she might not otherwise meet, and it has helped her express the truest parts of herself. She's bicycled across the United States and Canada, as well as India, and is currently on a speaking tour to share her love of bike touring and her work as a queer brown travel writer with the WTF (Women Trans Femme) community.
Women featured in this episode: Mary Ann Thomas
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear
- How bike touring helps Mary Ann feel in sync with her body
- Why bike touring is an accessible form of adventure
- About Mary Ann's first transcontinental bike tour
- What Mary Ann learned about herself on that first long solo bike tour
- How the middle of the US was more welcoming than she expected
- The ways in which travel nursing can help facilitate an adventurous lifestyle
- Why Mary Ann wanted to bike across India
- How India surprised Mary Ann
- How Mary Ann uses social media when she's bike touring to set up a network of safe spaces on the road
- Why women and women of color should bike tour, especially in countries with familial ties
- How Mary Ann believes you're only as safe as you believe you are
- About the WTF Bikexplorers Summit
- About Mary Ann's F*** Impossible Road Trip
Sponsored by BetterHelp, uBiome, and One Eleven Watches
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering
Learn more at She-Explores.com/podcast
Resources:
- Mary Ann Thomas: Website & Instagram
- WTF Bikexplorers Summit
- Warm Showers
- Mary Ann's Chapbook: Asking For Elephants
Sponsor Websites & Codes
- BetterHelp: Get the first week free by heading here!
- UBiome
- One Eleven Watches: First 20 get an Ursa Major gift with your purchase. Head here!
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Jason Shaw using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Great Basin
Kristin Link is a science illustrator and an artist living off the grid in McCarthy, Alaska. She shares about her life there, why she loves helping people see the natural world up close through science illustration, and her tips for applying to artist-in-residencies at National Parks.
Women featured in this episode: Kristin Link, science illustrator, with a special intro segment with Chevon Powell, founder of Refuge Outdoor Festival.
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear
- Chevon Powell share her vision for the Refuge Outdoor Festival coming to Tolt-MacDonald Park September 28 - 30, 2018
- About Kristin's life off the grid near McCarthy, Alaska
- What brought Kristin to Alaska and how it lead her to a career in science illustration
- What science illustration is and the different ways you can pursue it as a career
- Why Kristin focuses on the environmental aspects of science illustration
- About artist-in-residencies programs through the National Park Service
- What the application process is like for artist-in-residency programs
- The goal of Kristin's work, whether it's science illustration or fine art
- How it's difficult to live sustainably, even when you're living off the grid
- How Kristin's relationship with the land and its history has evolved in her time living in Alaska
- Why science illustration will never go away as a profession and why she recommends it for others interested in art and the environment
Sponsored by RxBar, Otterbox, uBiome, and Victorious
Resources:
- Kristin Link: Portfolio Site and Instagram
- Refuge Outdoor Festival
Artist-Residencies info from Kristin:
- Call For Entry is a website that
lists calls for visual artists. There are several residencies in
national parks that post there, including Gates of the Arctic * The Wrangell Mountains Center, the nonprofit where I used to work, also has a residency application there and hosts a two-week residency in McCarthy and the Wrangell-St. Elias. Their application is also on CaFE. * Voices of the Wilderness is a
collection of artist residencies on public lands and wilderness areas
in Alaska. It is one application where people can apply to many
opportunities. In 2017 I did a residency in the Nellie Juan – College
Fiord Wilderness Study Area with the Forest Service in Prince William
Sound. There is no fee to apply which I appreciate. * The Chilkoot Trail Artist Residency has it’s own application hosted on the Yukon Arts Center’s website. Also no fee. * Some artist residencies are just listed on NPS websites or organizations that work with them, so it can be worth searching around. A surprising number of places have artist residencies, and it seems like there are more becoming available. Here is the Joshua Tree one, which I did in 2016.
Sponsor Websites & Codes
- UBiome
- Victorious
- RxBar: Use code "SHEEXPLORES" for 25% off your first order!
- Otterbox
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is also by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Jason Shaw, Doctor Turtle, and Steve Combs using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Georgina Miranda lives mindfully in business and while pursuing the Explorer Grand Slam: standing on the highest summits in each continent as well as the North and South Pole. The founder of She Ventures and Altitude 7 shares how years spent summiting the highest mountains in the world drove home her devotion to creating businesses and taking adventures that have a positive social impact on the world. While Georgina's accomplishments are impressive, we're most struck by her ability to learn and adapt with each one.
Women featured in this episode: Georgina Miranda, founder of She Ventures
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear
- What factors in Georgina’s upbringing lead her to pursue an impact-driven career focused around women’s rights
- How what you’re passionate about can find you vs. the other way around
- How Georgina started “choosing adventure” in her life in the form of indoor rock climbing and hiking
- Why she believes 30 minutes of activity and/or mindfulness each day has a positive impact on your life, and how She Ventures launched the Move 30 Collective to help people achieve that goal
- How goals like summiting Mount Everest are more achievable when you break them down into smaller steps
- How Georgina came up with the idea to hike the 7 summits to raise money for gender-based violence awareness and treatment
- The ways in which listening to her gut have helped her in mountaineering and running her companies
- How she's become more comfortable with failure (on and off the mountain)
- Why it's key to make your decisions at "base camp"
- The mission behind She Ventures and the special in-person events they put on
Sponsored by Otterbox, uBiome, and Victorious.
Resources:
- Georgina Miranda: Website and Instagram
- She Ventures: Website and Instagram
- Move30Collective: Website and Instagram
- City of Joy
- International Medical Corps
- V Day
- About Miranda's quest for the Explorer Grand Slam
Learn more on She-Explores.com
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!
Sponsor Websites & Codes
- Otterbox
- uBiome.com/explores
- Victorious.com/explores
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by The Mariners.
Music is also by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Josh Woodward using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Anastasia and Rose hike their violin and keyboard, respectfully, into the mountains of Washington to play music to greet the rising sun. In doing so, they hope to inspire others to share their own gifts with the world.
A little over a year ago, Anastasia Allison and Rose Freeman met in person and found out they had the same dream: to play music in the backcountry (in a low impact and respectful fashion). They decided to load up a violin and keyboard and give it a try. You can watch videos of them playing in the mountains in all seasons - surrounded by snow and in the height of summer.
In this episode, Anastasia and Rose record a recent hike up Sahale arm in the North Cascades and share what makes it special for them and others.
Women Featured in this Episode: Anastasia Allison and Rose Freeman
Addy Polet is featured in the Deuter midroll.
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear
- How Anastasia and Rose got started as "The Musical Mountaineers" - carrying their instruments to play music as the sun rises and sets in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest
- The sounds of the two women hiking up to Sahale Arm in the Cascades to play a sunrise "concert"
- How the women practice Leave No Trace when they perform and why they don't tell anyone that they're going to be out there
- The challenges and rewards of hiking instruments up 3,500 feet to play
- The mission behind "The Musical Mountaineers" and how it's evolved
- The ways playing music in the backcountry has impacted them personally
- How they improvise to create new music together
- What makes Anastasia and Rose a good team
- How letting go of perfection in music relates to every day life and other lessons we can draw from their performances
- And about the Women on the Road Gathering in Taos, NM!
Sponsored by Victorious and Deuter
Resources
- Follow The Musical Mountaineers: Instagram, Facebook, Youtube
- Follow Anastasia Allison: Instagram, Podcast: The Inspired Adventurepreneur, Website
- Follow Rose Freeman: Instagram
- See The Musical Mountaineers Perform at Benaroya Hall
- Women on the Road Gathering
Learn more on She-Explores.com
Join the conversation in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsors & Codes
- Victorious: Get the first month's membership free using the URL Victorious.com/explores
- Deuter
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is performed by The Musical Mountaineers:
- Sunrise Improvisation - original music by The Musical Mountaineers
- How Great Thou Art (1885)
- Great is Thy Faithfulness (1923)
Music is by Jason Shaw via Free Music Archive (CC by A license)
Taryn's grandma Carol went on a bike tour in 1944 with her girlfriend Billie. We hear from Carol about the "ordinary adventure" she took at home during World War II. This episode is an opportunity to learn about what Carol's experience was like as a woman living near Vancouver and making airplanes during the war, as well as carving out a couple of weeks for a vacation that might seem surprising to anyone who didn't live through that time. It's a reminder to ask our grandmothers questions because we never know what their stories might hold.
Taryn sent us this note with some black and white photos of her grandmother on the one bike tour of her life in 1944:
My grandmother is 93 now. During World War II she was a teenager. Instead of going to university she went to work at a factory making airplanes. One summer she got a few days off so she and a female friend did a completely self-supported bike tour from their home in Vancouver BC, over to Vancouver Island and back, except that they didn't call it a bike tour. She says they wanted to go on vacation but they didn't have a car and gas was too expensive so they took bikes. They stayed with host families and toted all the things they would need (a change of clothes and some sandwiches) in suitcases tied to their rear racks with string. Their bikes were single speeds so they walked up all the hills. There may have been boyfriends, or brothers or dads who thought that two women shouldn't embark on such a journey alone and on bikes, but that's not how Grandma remembers it. When I talk to Grandma about this trip now, she doesn't see it as a grand adventure the way that I do. She sees it as a fun girls trip she took back before she got married. I think it's a great way to think about adventure - as something that can be quite ordinary. My grandma has some photos from the trip in an old album... there's one of her friend wearing a halter top and short shorts, riding a single speed bike with a suitcase on it... uphill... while grinning ear to ear.
Taryn wanted to learn more about her grandmother Carol and a trip that seemed so out of character for her. In this episode, we
get to learn, too.
Women Featured in this Episode: Taryn and Carol Eyton
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear
- About the value of photographing your adventures
- What it was like to be a woman working at a factory to support the war effort during World War II
- How some women were empowered during this time period
- What bike touring was like in 1944
- How the kindness of strangers prevails over the years
- What gear you'd have on a bike tour in the 1940's
- Why we might just overpack for our adventures
- Why Taryn's Grandma Carol doesn't see her bike trip as extraordinary, but why we still think it's an adventure
- What Taryn values in her grandmother
- Why it's important to ask our relatives to tell us their stories, especially as time passes
- Why you might be surprised by what the older women in your life have in their past
Sponsored by Escape Campervans and Deuter
Resources:
- Taryn Eyton: Blog, Instagram, and Facebook
- Episode landing page on She-Explores.com
- Open Road, Open Sky - Song
[Learn more on She-Explores.com][12]
Join the conversation in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsors & Codes
-Escape Campervans: Use code 'SHEEXPLORES20' for 20% off. Book for now through June 1, 2019! Some restrictions apply - see landing page for details.
- Deuter
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Jason Shaw via Free Music Archive (CC by A license)
Music is also by The Helio Sequence
Cheryl Strayed never planned on giving advice professionally and doesn't love a guru, but she agrees with Anna Brones that everyone has wisdom to bestow upon others. The key is to seek as much as you share.
When our friend, the artist and writer Anna Brones offered to chat with Cheryl Strayed at Mountain Film in Telluride for She Explores, the answer was a resounding yes. Anna is working on an ongoing paper cut series called, "Women's Wisdom Project" that has evolved from simple portraits with quotes to full conversations and write ups. This episode is an extension of that concept, and offers us the opportunity to contemplate the wisdom we receive from women in our everyday lives.
Women Featured in this Episode: Cheryl Strayed and Anna Brones
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear
- About the evolution of Anna's "Women's Wisdom Project"
- How Cheryl is an "accidental self help writer"
- Why advice giving should be a horizontal exchange vs. a top down one
- The importance of seeking out wisdom in those close to you
- The influence Cheryl's mom had on her life, in particular as it relates to seeking out beauty in the every day
- Why kindness and vulnerability are often underrated in our culture
- Why Anna believes the most revolutionary wisdom is often the most basic
- How Cheryl sometimes feel like she doesn't 'look like' the type of person to write 'Wild.'
- That Cheryl is both a 49 year old mom, but also an avid wilderness athlete
- Why Cheryl is excited to get older
- How to feel better about saying "no"
- The role fear plays in stepping outside and creating art
- The overlaps we all have with the wisdom Cheryl shares
- How through her writing, Cheryl has told the truth about real life (whether venturing into the wilderness, grieving, or setting your life back on course) and made people feel less alone
Sponsored by Escape Campervans and Deuter
Resources:
- Cheryl Strayed: Portfolio, Instagram, and Twitter
- Anna Brones: Portfolio, Instagram, and Twitter
- Wild, Tiny Beautiful Things, Dear Sugars podcast
- Women's Wisdom Project
- Best American Travel Writing 2018
Learn more on She-Explores.com
Join the conversation in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsors & Codes
-Escape Campervans: Use code 'SHEEXPLORES20' for 20% off. Book for now through June 1, 2019! Some restrictions apply - see landing page for details.
- Deuter
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel via Free Music Archive (CC by A license)
Music is also by Liam McNally and Our Many Stars
Sirena Rana Dufault is an expert on trails, but that hasn't always been the case: hers is a hard-won expertise born of patience. Trails inspired her to persevere through the chronic pain of fibromyalgia, develop an intimate relationship with her newfound home state of Arizona, and change the course of her career.
Women featured in this episode: Sirena Rana Dufault, founder of Trails Inspire.
Hosted by Gale Straub
Learn more about Sirena in an editorial feature, Blaze Your Own Trail, on She-Explores.com earlier this year.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Sirena started hiking at the age of 19
- The impact a car accident and the onset of Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, had on her life and hiking
- Tips for women whose romantic partners aren't as interested in hiking or backpacking
- The benefits for Sirena of hiking solo
- How to stay connected when you're off the grid
- What fibromyalgia feels like for Sirena and why she chooses to hike through the pain when she can
- Why section hiking a long trail is a great alternative to thru hiking
- History of the Arizona Trail
- How hiking trails connect communities to hikers and vice versa
- How Sirena started a career in trails
- The work she does through her consulting company, Trails Inspire
- Why promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a key element of her company's mission statement and how she's already put that mission into practice
- The book Sirena is working on for Wilderness Press
- Why Sirena recommends hiking the same trail more than once
Sponsors & Codes:
- Deuter
- Stamps.com - Use the code "EXPLORES" for a special offer of a 4 week trial, plus postage and a digital scale!
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Sirena Rana Dufault: Instagram, Trails Inspire, Blog
- Satellite transmitter Sirena uses when she's off the grid hiking: Garmin InReach
- About the Arizona Trail
Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel via Free Music Archive (CC by A license)
Music is also by The Mariner
What’s up with the over-the-top uncertainty we sometimes feel when we try something new? We share two women’s stories of trying new things in the outdoors in spite of self-doubt or feeling like they won’t measure up.
Women Featured in this Episode: Locke Hughes and Laura Hughes
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Gale sometimes struggles with not feeling "outdoorsy" enough
- Why Gale felt a bit apprehensive about some new high-altitude activities in Winter Park, Colorado
- What being outdoorsy in Florida meant to Locke growing up vs. what it means today
- Why Locke loved mountain biking so much her first time that she decided to move to Utah
- The benefit of trusting your mountain bike and other lessons that translate to everyday life
- Why trying new things is rarely as scary as it sounds in your head
- Why Laura Hughes took the opportunity to take a two week trip rafting and hiking the Alsek River in Alaska
- How Laura felt before she left
- Why comparing herself with others makes Laura doubt her abilities in the outdoors
- What Alaska taught Laura about herself
- The camera gear Laura brought with her to Alaska
- The bright spots of challenging weather on a long trip
- Why Laura thinks we create mental blocks to trying new things at the outdoors at time
Sponsored by Escape Campervans and Victorious
Resources:
- Locke Hughes: Instagram and Portfolio
- Laura Hughes: Instagram and Women on the Road
- Learn more about Laura's Alaska Experience
- This is the trip Laura went on with MT Sobek
- Learn about Winter Park Resort
Sponsors & Codes
- Escape Campervans: Use code 'SHEEXPLORES20' for 20% off. Book for now through June 1, 2019! Some restrictions apply - see landing page for details.
- Victorious.com/explores: Get your first month free by heading here!
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw and Kai Engel via Free Music Archive (CC by A license)
Music is also by Mree.
This is the story of how Gretchen Powers and Alexandra Roberts became adventure partners. It's also about what it means to be an adventure friend, and how you might find one, too.
Sponsored by Escape Campervans
Women Featured in this Episode: Gretchen Powers and Alexandra Roberts
Hosted and Produced by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Gretchen and Alex met and why they weren't fast friends
- Why going through hard things together (emotionally and in the outdoors) can strengthen bonds
- The value of "just trying" in the outdoors
- How Gretchen and Alex went from meeting in Maine to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for their friendaversary
- The importance of knowing your friend's weaknesses in the outdoors
- Advice for making new friends and adventure partners
- How to hold onto friends once you make them
Learn more on the episode landing page.
Sponsors & Codes
- Escape Campervans: Use code 'SHEEXPLORES20' for 20% off. Book for now through June 1, 2019! Some restrictions apply - see landing page for details.
Resources:
- Gretchen Powers: Portfolio and Instagram
- Alexandra Roberts: Portfolio and Instagram
- Gretchen & Alex's first ski trip
- Organizations to Meet Women in the Outdoors: Women Who Hike, And She's Dope Too, Wylder Goods, Outdoor Women's Alliance, Bold Betties, Hike it Baby, Hiking My Way, She Jumps, Women Who Explore
- She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel via Free Music Archive (CC by A license)
Music is also by Memory Palace.
Your stories of spending time solo in the outdoors. Including a bikepacker, a so-called fat hiker, an aspiring astronaut, an extrovert, two med students, and a backcountry paddler, in short - you and me.
It's been almost 2 years since we last asked you about how you adventure solo in Episode 8 of She Explores, Alone on the Trail. Gale asked for new submissions and she received more than she could squeeze into this episode, which is a great thing! It means you're getting out there.
Please keep in mind when you listen - there are inherent risks to recreating in the backcountry, whether you're with a friend or by yourself. It's always a good idea to take inventory of your limits.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How solo time in nature opens up your headspace
- Why the listeners who submitted take time for themselves solo
- How Beth Bradley and Jessie Johnson used solo hiking to help quiet the negative body talk that went on in their heads
- Why getting outside solo isn't always a choice
- The ways in which you might be physically solo, but not quite alone while you're out there
- Why an extrovert says it's ok to find other people to adventure with
- The value of a long thru hike
- How going it solo can be empowering
- Some motivation to take the next step
Women featured in this episode:
- Sunny Stroeer: Website, Outside Online Article, Alpinist Article
- Jodi Spangler: Instagram
- Jessie Johnson: Instagram
- Beth Bradley: Watch her full story here; Instagram
- Francesca Turauskis: SeizeYourAdventure.com
- Savannah Simmons-Grover: Blog
- Natalie Izzo: Instagram
- Kathi Kamleitner: Blog
- Kristine Turner
- Emily Sehloff: Instagram
- Ashley Franklin
- Sian Proctor: Facebook and Kickstarter
- Julie Hotz: Instagram and Portfolio
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsors & Codes:
- Benchmark Maps: use code SHEEXPLORES for 20% off your order
- Ritual - try your first month!
- Sawyer: Enter giveaway at She-Explores.com/sawyer
- World Nomads: Check out their podcast at Worldnomads.com/podcasts
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Jason Shaw, and Smaller Tide via Free Music Archive (CC by A license)
Music is also by Fort Vine.
Ultrarunner Mirna Valerio is a role model for many because by doing what she loves, she shows others what is possible. She’s modeling being a black, fat girl running, moving her body up and over mountains. Which begs the question - what are you modeling for others?
Women featured in this episode: Mirna Valerio, AKA "The Mirnavator." Mirna is a full-time ultrarunner, author, and public speaker. She blogs at Fat Girl Running and Runner's World.
Want to meet Mirna in person? Our friend Shanti Hodges is hosting a retreat in October. Learn more here and take $50 off with the code, 'SheExplores' at checkout!
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Why when Mirna coached high school students, she taught them to love running as a lifestyle
- How Mirna answers the oft-dreaded question, "What do you do?"
- How nature and trail running impacts Mirna personally
- The ways in which joy and suffering balance each other in ultrarunning
- Why it's important to put in the work, but why it's also important to rest and listen to your body
- Why Mirna doesn't believe changing one's outward appearance leads to happiness
- How our culture uplifts a certain beauty standard, and the ways in which Mirna believes this is changing
- What she's learned from other plus-sized women about what they want their outdoor apparel to be like
- What Mirna thinks about being a role model for others
- Who Mirna looks up to in her everyday life
- Advice for listeners on how they can be a role model
Sponsors & Codes:
- Benchmark Maps: use code SHEEXPLORES for 20% off your order
- Sawyer: Enter giveaway at She-Explores.com/sawyer
- World Nomads: Check out their podcast at Worldnomads.com/podcasts
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Mirna Valerio's Instagram
- Mirna Valerio's Memoir: A Beautiful Work in Progress
- The Mirnavator - Short Film produced by REI and directed by Sarah Menzies
- Mirna's blog, Fat Girl Running
- Submit your story of going solo in the outdoors!
- She Explores Facebook Group
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Steve Combs via Free Music Archive (CC by A license)
Music is also by Memory Palace.
Sheri Tingey has been making gear in the outdoor industry for the past 50 years, and she's done a lot of it with her own two hands. Learn about what drives her to solve problems, how she learned the important lesson of slowing down, and what happened after she re-started her career in her 50's by founding Alpacka Raft.
Sheri started out making custom ski apparel in Jackson Hole in the late 1960's and she founded Alpacka Raft in 2000. The latter revolutionized packrafting as a sport in and of itself. (Color us impressed!) In between the two ventures, Sheri spent 17 years with a then-mysterious illness, chronic fatigue. She raised her kids in Alaska then, but she stayed active in the outdoor community, making custom clothing for dog mushers with her limited energy. She was in her early 50's once she found treatment and started Alpacka Raft.
Sheri has fun solving problems and being an entrepreneur - which may just be the secret to her success.
Women featured in this episode: Sheri Tingey, the founder of Alpacka Raft, a company that makes Packrafts in Colorado. Sheri has been innovating since the late 1960's when she started a ski apparel company, Design by Sheri, because she couldn't find the ski clothes she needed.
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- What the outdoor industry was like in the late 1960's and 70's
- The catalyst for Sheri's first company, Design by Sheri
- When Sheri knew it was time to move on from her first venture
- How chronic fatigue affects your body and creative ability
- The value of slowing down, and how Sheri incorporates that lesson in her life (and work) today
- What it's like to gain confidence again after treatment for a chronic illness
- What packrafting is
- The unique challenges and rewards of a product-based company
- The importance of re-evaluating your business after it's been around for a certain period of time
- Why sometimes it's better to stay small as a company
- Sheri's advice for other entrepreneurs as she looks back at her career
Sponsors & Codes:
- Benchmark Maps: use code SHEEXPLORES for 20% off your order
- Sawyer: Enter giveaway at She-Explores.com/sawyer
- Stamps.com: use code EXPLORES after clicking on the mic for a free 4 week trial, postage, and a digital scale!
- World Nomads: Check out their podcast at Worldnomads.com/podcasts
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Alpacka Raft
- Ray Jardine's Lightweight Backpacking
- She Explores Facebook Group
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Steve Combs via Free Music Archive (CC by A license)
Music is also by Memory Palace
A beginner's guide of sorts to advocating for land we can all love and enjoy. This week, we’re back camping with Amanda Machado, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), and 13 women who are passionate about learning about championing public land.
Women featured in this episode: Special reporter Amanda Machado (learn more at brownenvironmentalist.org); Laura Torres, Megan Hernbroth, Amy Wong, Aracelli Hernandez, Briget Underwood, Christine Mariano, Grace Rougier, Jenifer Mendez, Jenny Lopez, Nanci Torres-Poblano, Maricela Rosales, Miyuki Gomez, Michelle Magalong, Rebeca Contreras, and Sally Garcia.
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Camper Amy Wong's story of love of the outdoors and public land starting in her own backyard
- Why public lands matter to the women attending a campout with the NPCA
- The unique relationship women of color have with parks
- How to make the outdoors more accessible to all people
- How the outdoor industry is gradually changing and the importance of brands getting behind issues of accessibility to public land
- Steps the NPCA recommends to get started with advocacy for public land
- The impact sharing the outdoors with people you love has on your life and public land
- A summary of tangible action steps for getting involved
Sponsors & Codes:
- Ridge Wallet: Get 10% off (and free worldwide shipping) at checkout with code EXPLORE
- Sawyer: Enter giveaway at She-Explores.com/sawyer
- Ritual - Ritual.com/explore
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- National Parks Conservation Association: Website
- NPCA Advocacy
- Amanda Machado: Portfolio
- Brown Environmentalist
- She Explores Episode 19: Finding Your Voice to Speak for Public Land
- Brown People Camping
- Latino Outdoors
- Brothers of Climbing
- Melanin Basecamp
- She Explores Facebook Group
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.
Ever feel like you're alone in your relationship with the outdoors? Join a group of women who are leading by example in their communities by spending time outside and breaking ground for others to do the same. Amanda Machado shares her experience camping with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) for a special night near Los Angeles.
Because it was rainy, the group huddled until tarps and told stories about how they find healing in the outdoors. And by doing so, they found friendship and the realization that they weren't going it alone. The event was unique in that the majority of the women are Latina, which added an integral layer to what they had in common. This episode reminds us of the importance of spending time outside with other women and encouraging each other to share.
Women featured in this episode: Special reporter Amanda Machado (learn more at brownenvironmentalist.org); Laura Torres, Megan Hernbroth, Amy Wong, Aracelli Hernandez, Briget Underwood, Christine Mariano, Grace Rougier, Jenifer Mendez, Jenny Lopez, Nanci Torres-Poblano, Maricela Rosales, Miyuki Gomez, Rebeca Contreras, and Sally Garcia.
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- About the purpose of the women's camping trip with NPCA
- Why the women wanted to attend
- Personal early memories of outdoor experiences
- Why "gear shaming" is a thing (but really shouldn't be)
- What it's often like for Latinx to explain their love of the outdoors
to their families * How the outdoors is healing for the women who attended * The ways in which this healing is unique to Latina women and children
of immigrants * What the women took away from the experience
Sponsors & Codes:
- Ridge Wallet: Get 10% off (and free worldwide shipping) at checkout with code EXPLORE
- Sawyer: Enter giveaway at She-Explores.com/sawyer
- World Nomads - Listen to their podcast!
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- National Parks Conservation Association: Website
- Amanda Machado: Portfolio
- Brown Environmentalist
- Vox.com article: The Strangeness of Being a Latina Who Loves Hiking
- REI
- She Explores Facebook Group
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.
Music is also by WMD.
Could a hike a week change your life? Interview with Karla Amador, co-founder of 52 Hike Challenge. We talk about why she chose to hike 52 times in a year, how It helped clarify what she wanted out of work and life, and how a feeling of accomplishment can carry with you long after the trail.
Women featured in this episode: Karla Amador
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Karla’s mom (and adventurous spirit) was a positive influence
- Why a divorce lead to Karla taking one hike a week for a year
- The impact 52 hikes had on Karla’s work and active life
- Why Karla and her partner wanted to share the 52 Hike Challenge with
others * Why a hike can be as long or as short as you want it to be * How a feeling of accomplishment can carry with you * Gale and Karla talking about ideas for business growth * Advice for listeners interested in starting a business * What's next for 52 Hike Challenge
Preroll Sponsors & Codes:
- High Hopes Hammock: Use code SHEEXPLORES30 at checkout for 30%
off * Sawyer: Enter giveaway at She-Explores.com/sawyer
Midroll Sponsors & Codes:
- Stamps.com: Use code EXPLORES at checkout for first month trial free + signup package
- Benchmark Maps: Use code SHEEXPLORES at checkout for 20% off
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- 52 Hike Challenge Website, Instagram, and Facebook
- Karla's Instagram
- Episode 69 Landing Page
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.
Music is also by Our Many Stars.
Kareemah Batts is a cancer survivor and the founder of Adaptive Climbing Group. After finding climbing after losing part of her leg to cancer, Kareemah wanted to share the feeling she has on the wall with others. She's done with sympathy, she just wants to climb.
Women featured in this episode: Kareemah Batts
Hosted by Gale Straub
Featured in the midroll: Maggie Peikon
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- About the outdoor activities you can access in and around New York City
- How Kareemah got into rock climbing, despite reservations
- Why it can be difficult to go back to your favorite activities after an amputation
- The impact First Descents had on Kareemah's re-discovering her love for the outdoors post-cancer
- How discrimination can impact a job search when you have a disability
- Why Kareemah wanted to share climbing with other people, and why she believes anyone can climb
- How disability is a culture
- The growing pains of starting a nonprofit climbing program and the significance of organic growth
- Tips for how to be more welcoming to disabled people in the outdoors (hint, treat them the same as anyone else)
- How Adaptive Climbing Group's unique training instills empathy into their instructors
- Why Kareemah is motivated to keep doing what she's doing
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Vasque.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Adaptive Climbing Group: Website, Instagram, and Facebook
- Kareemah Batts: Instagram and Facebook
- Donate to Adaptive Climbing Group
- First Descents
- Vasque
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Lee Rosevere and Meydan via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.
Music is also by Kevin J. Simon.
Jenny Bruso is the founder of Unlikely Hikers. Her work is rooted in her belief that there is room for every body on the trail. Jenny is queer, fat, and femme, and she's passionate about cultivating a safe space in the outdoors for people of all backgrounds and body sizes.
Unlikely Hikers is just two years old, but its positive reception proves that the time is right for outdoor media and meetups that include rather than exclude, and encourage people to occupy their bodies rather than critique them. We talk with Jenny about Unlikely Hikers' growth, how straight-sized people can be considerate of others while in the outdoors, where she finds her hiking apparel, and more.
Women featured in this episode: Jenny Bruso
Hosted by Gale Straub
Featured in the midroll: Kaily Gashi, hiker and mother of twins
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Why Jenny Bruso started Unlikely Hikers and what it means to be one
- How her time on the trail equates to self care
- How Unlikely Hikers group hikes intentionally cultivate a safe space for all people (including queer, trans, people of color, fat, disabled, etc.)
- Why Jenny's ground rules for hikes include not talking about weight or dieting
- The assumptions straight-sized people make about fat people on the trail (and how to avoid making them)
- Why representation of marginalized communities in the outdoor industry won't change unless those communities are included when decisions are being made
- The lack of options available for plus sized athletic clothing (and who is doing a good job)
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Vasque.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Jenny Bruso: Unlikely Hikers Instagram & Blog, JennyBruso.com
- Donate to Jenny Bruso
- Huffington Post article on Unlikely Hikers
- Unruly Bodies Essays
- Outside Online: "I don't hike to lose weight, I hike because I love it"
- Diversify Outdoors
- SHIFT Conference
- Melanin Basecamp
- Brown People Camping
- Brothers of Climbing
- Flash Foxy
- Vasque
- Kaily Gashi
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Lee Rosevere and Evan Schaeffer via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.
Music is also by Feverkin.
Simone Martin-Newberry is a plant person. And the attention she pays to flora has led to her discovery that contrary to what most media would have you believe, nature is everywhere - especially if you're open to finding it.
Simone is naturally curious. She speaks with a deep reverence for the natural world, whether she finds it within the bounds of her longtime city of Chicago or when using her vacation from her full time work as a graphic designer to take trips around the US. Simone has a beautiful blog called “Darker Than Green” where she documents her appreciation for flora with photographs, green city guides, and contemplative writing.
Women featured in this episode: Simone Martin Newberry
Featured in the midroll: Sasha Cox, founder of Trail Mavens
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- The benefits of having plants in your home
- How Chicago values green spaces
- What 'outdoor time' means to Simone living in a city that places importance on public space
- Why you don't have to drive hours from your city to appreciate (and benefit from) the outdoors
- Embracing the in-between moments and reflecting them social media
- How plants can parallel the human experience
- How discomfort makes us better equipped for future decisions
- Advice for experiencing our National Parks in a way that acknowledges their history and the history of the people who lived on their land
- Why Simone identifies as an artist
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Vasque.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Simone Martin-: Instagram, Portfolio, & Blog, Darker Than Green
- Grist.org Video - Our National Parks Belong to Everyone. So Why Are They So White?
- Bell Hooks
- Vasque
- Trail Mavens
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Chris Zabriskie, Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Kai Engel via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.
Music is also by Emancipator.
A note about Episode 65 - we incorrected stated that Brooke Holloway spoke at about 20:36, this was in fact Paige Garratt.
In climbing, it's key trust yourself and your community. Discover what it's like to attend the Flash Foxy Women's Climbing Festival through the ears of a beginner. Jaymie Shearer takes us to Bishop, CA to climb, contemplate, and learn some life lessons.
Women featured in this episode: Jaymie Shearer, Shelma Jun, Claudia Gallegos, Shelma Jun, Tristin Vaughn, Savannah Norris-Jenkins, Jolie Varela, and Brooke Holloway. Featured in the midroll: Stephanie Harper.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- Thoughts on setting intentions to respectfully climb and recreate in
outdoor spaces * An introduction to three types of climbing: trad, sport, and
bouldering * What it's like to climb with just women * The element of fear in rock climbing and how it relates to life * What it means to 'identify as a climber' * Learning to your strengths * How Shelma Jun got started climbing and where she found mentorship * The need for more mentors in climbing * The importance of being vocal in outdoor situations * Real women talking about why they love rock climbing * Advice for how to invite others in and create safe spaces for women in outdoor activities
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Vasque.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Jaymie Shearer: Instagram and Portfolio
- Flash Foxy
- Women's Climbing Festival
- Friends of the Inyo
- Leave No Trace Principles
- Indigenous Women Hike
- The Mentorship Gap (article by Shelma Jun)
- Vasque
- Sanni McCandless Coaching
- Raising Kids Wild
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Chris Zabriskie, Lee Rosevere, and Kai Engel via freemusicarchive.org with a [CC by A][15] license.
Music is also by Distance.
Those moments on the trail when you just have to laugh because it's the only way forward. Live storytelling of mishaps in the outdoors and an interview with Marielle Cowdin of Oregon Wild. Recorded at the Columbia Flagship store in Portland, OR.
Women Featured in this Episode: Marielle Cowdin, Amy Faust, Stephanie Smith, Stacey Arnold, and Stephanie Makris
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- About how Marielle Cowdin's love of the outdoors overlaps with her work at Oregon Wild, an environmental nonprofit
- Advice for hiking and camping solo
- Advice for getting started in the nonprofit field
- Marielle's funny stories on the trail (including animal encounters)
- Live stories about when things go "wrong" hiking in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere (spoiler alert: it probably rains)
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Columbia Sportswear. Watch the "Offline" video featuring She Explores here.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Oregon Wild
- Marielle Cowdin's Instagram
- Stephanie Smith: Boredom the Adventure Youtube and Instagram
- Stacey Arnold: Blog, Instagram, Facebook
- Stephanie Makris: Instagram
- Columbia Sportswear
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Chris Zabriskie via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.
Music is also by Danielle Grubb.
What happens when we take risks when we’re spending time outside? How does it pay off and when does it backfire? These are your stories of taking risks in the outdoors.
Women Featured in this Episode:
- Hallie Seay
- Shelby Stanger, Host of Wild Ideas Worth Living
- Claire Giordano, Instagram & Portfolio
- Karen Wang, Instagram & Portfolio
- Megan Bixel
- Brooke Weeber, Instagram
- Sheree Angela Matthews
- Nikki Frumkin, Instagram & Portfolio
- Mara Johnson-Groh
- Danielle O'Farrell, Instagram & Portfolio
- Ashleigh C, Instagram
- Rebecca
- Becky Jensen, Portfolio
- Tori Duhaime, Instagram
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How listener Rebecca went from self-identifying as "not a risk-taker" to going on her first backpacking trip
- How trying something new can help change the expectations you have of yourself
- About the clarity you can find by hiking solo
- The way risks you take in the outdoors can mirror your everyday life
- The challenges of plein air painting
- When not getting a job turns into an opportunity
- Climbing Mount Whitney for sunrise
- Surviving a big storm on your first solo hike
- The importance of differentiating between risk and unneccessary risk
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Columbia Sportswear. Watch the "Offline" video featuring She Explores here.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Live She Explores Event: Portland Oregon
- Sarah's production company: [Le
- Columbia "Offline" Film
- Columbia Sportswear
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Original Music is by Liam McNally. Find him on Instagram.
Music for this episode is by Chris Zabriskie via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.
Sarah Menzies is all in. Whether it's her adventure documentary film career or her relationships, Sarah is fully committed to following through on giving back to others. Sarah’s story is about what she would do for her many loves, and in turn, and what they would do for her.
The filmmaker behind the short pieces, "The Mirnavator" and "A Steelhead Quest," Sarah's first full-length documentary film, "Afghan Cycles" is debuting at Hot Docs April 29th. Afghan Cycles uses the bicycle to tell a story of women’s rights - human rights - and the struggles faced by Afghan women on a daily basis, from discrimination to abuse, to the oppressive silencing of their voices in all aspects of contemporary society. These women ride despite cultural barriers, despite infrastructure, and despite death threats, embracing the power and freedom that comes with the sport.
With the help of her girlfriend Katilin Bailey, we talk with Sarah about the evolution of her promising career.
Women Featured in this Episode: Sarah Menzies and Kaitlin Bailey
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Sarah became a documentary filmmaker and lessons learned along the way
- The importance of (at times) removing yourself from the story
- Tips for getting started in the outdoor film industry
- What fishing can teach you about patience, generosity, and the environment
- The parallels between bicycling in Afghanistan and the suffrage movement in the United States
- The challenges faced by Afghan women and their perseverance in spite of them.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Columbia Sportswear. Watch the "Offline" video featuring She Explores here.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Live She Explores Event: Portland Oregon
- Sarah's production company: Let Media
- Outside Online: Sarah Menzies Knows the World's Coolest Women
- The Mirnavator
- A Steelhead Quest
- Afghan Cycles Website
- Columbia "Offline" Film
- Columbia Sportswear
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Chris Zabriskie, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.
Music is also by Kent Rockefeller.
What happens when we go offline for a camping and hiking trip in the Olympic Peninsula with a plein air painter and a food blogger? We get really inspired.
In a lot of ways, this is a simple episode about making friends offline. But it’s also about the headspace you cultivate when you step outside and how that makes room for thought and inspiration. And it’s also about experiencing an outdoor space through creative work and wanting to dig deeper than surface level when recreating.
Last August, Columbia Sportswear brought Megan McDuffie and Heidi Annalise and (host) Gale Straub together for a backpacking trip. They learn about the surprising things they have in common, as well as the landscape around them. And to learn more, Gale calls up local Lorraine Greene, a member of the Makah tribe.
Women Featured in this Episode: Heidi Annalise, Megan McDuffie, and Lorraine Greene.
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- The benefits of taking online friends offline in the outdoors
- How food blogger Megan McDuffie and painter Heidi Annalise got started
- How the outdoors inspires creativity in us
- Insight as to what it's like to grow up on the Olympic Peninsula as a member of the Makah Tribe
- The sounds of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Columbia Sportswear. Watch the "Offline" video featuring She Explores here.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Columbia "Offline" Film
Columbia OutDry Extreme
The Sea is My Country by Joshua L. Reid
Fresh Off the Grid
Fresh Off the Grid Instagram
Heidi Annalise Art
Heidi Annalise Instagram
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Chris Zabriskie, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.
Music is also by Snow Palms.
Jessi Johnson is a bowhunter and a public lands advocate. This week we're presenting a story from the HumaNature podcast about how one backcountry trip lead her on a heartbreaking odyssey.
You can see photos and videos from Jessi's hunt, and more information about her nonprofit work, at HumaNaturePodcast.org. You can also hear more stories about human experiences in nature there, too.
The story was produced by Caroline Ballard, Alanna Elder, Erin Jones, August Lah, Annie Osburn, Anna Rader, Micah Schweizer and Tressa Versteeg.
HumaNature is a production of Wyoming Public Media.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
HumaNaturepodcast.org
Artemis
Wyoming Wildlife
She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
- Heliograph by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Attribution
License. * Candlepower by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. * The Sun is Scheduled to Come Out Tomorrow by Chris Zabriskie is
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. * What True Self, Feels Bogus, Let's Watch Jason X by Chris Zabriskie
is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. * Desire by Borrtex is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial
License. * Dout by Oelek is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. * Celeste by Alex Fitch is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. * Memoir of Solitude by Borrtex is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. * The Ambient by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. * Everybody's Got Problems That Aren't Mine by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. * We Were Never Meant to Live Here by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license
Sisters Alex and Sage Herr have been summiting peaks in the White Mountains since they were 5 years old. Now 15 and almost 13, respectively, their enthusiasm for hiking has remained the same as ever. Proof that for all the activities we grow out of in life, there’s no saying you have to grow out of hiking.
Gale met up with the girls and their mom, Trish, for a winter hike of WIldcat Ridge. After hearing about their podcast, Granite Gals, we wanted to learn more. We talk about why they started hiking at such a young age, what makes them want to take on big challenges, hiking solo, what excites them about podcasting, and the benefits of hiking with your kids.
Featured in this Episode: Patricia (Trish) Herr, Sage Herr, and Alexandra Herr. Listen to their podcast, Granite Gals, via their website, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream stories.
Featured in the midroll: Cartoonist Connie Sun aka @cartoonconnie. Connie draws cartoons and they've helped her get in touch with her emotions and her outdoorsy self.
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How the girls started hiking 4,000 footers in New Hampshire at age 5
- Some NH hiking vernacular
- Why Alex enjoys hiking solo
- The origins of the "Terrifying 25" hikes in NH
- Why the girls like a hiking challenge
- What "gridding" is in the White Mountains
- How Granite Gals podcast got started
- Why the girls talk about sexism on their show
- The benefits of incorporating hiking into their lives
- Midroll: Cartoonist Connie Sun shares what she loves about cartooning her innermost thoughts and outdoor experiences
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Links mentioned in this episode:
Alex's Hiking Blog
Granite Gals
The Terrifying 25
4,000 Footers
Cartoon Connie
Connie Wonnie
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
Music is also by Siren and the Sea.
We often live with timelines in our minds. We’re really good at building a narrative for ourselves: "by this age, I want to do have accomplished______." Maybe it's a list of mountains to climb, or debt to repay, or a family to grow - we all tuck dreams in the back of our minds. And yet the older we get, the more we realize that life gets in the way. Many of us end up looking in the mirror and asking the scariest of questions: Am I allowed to change my dream? And other questions run parallel: How stuck is too stuck in my ways? What if I'm working towards something but I've lost sight of why? What if I can't articulate what I want? How fortunate am I to ask these questions in the first place?
This special episode in partnership with Subaru gathered 12 adventurous and creative women in the high desert of Marfa, TX to contemplate these questions and to consider how the outdoors plays a role in helping us to navigate crossroads in our lives.
Women Featured in this Episode: Jules Davies, Shelma Jun, Kaylé Barnes, Kristen Blanton, Sarah Uhl, Sara Close, Nic Annette Miller, Sarah Menzies, Anna Brones, Laura Hughes, and Gale Straub. Other women in Marfa include runner Sarah Attar, photographer Sarah Forrest, farmer Andrea Bemis, and fabricator Kelly DeWitt.
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- The ways the outdoors helps us at points of transition
- How privilege plays a role in making time to contemplate dreams
- Why dreams can be scary to acknowledge
- Honest talk about depression
- How a professional cyclist became a landscape painter
- Why simple dreams are just as important as 'big' ones
- Encouragement to focus on the present rather than constantly looking ahead or behind.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Subaru. Learn more at www.meetanowner.com and follow along on Instagram: @subaru_usa
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Links mentioned in this episode:
Jules Davies: Portfolio & Instagram; Shelma Jun: Flash Foxy, Never Not Collective; Kaylé Barnes: The Great Outchea Instagram & blog; Kristen Blanton: Hello America Instagram & website; Sara Close: Hello Soul; Sarah Uhl: Portfolio & Instagram; Nic Annette Miller: Portfolio & Instagram; Sarah Menzies: Let Media & Instagram; Anna Brones: Portfolio & Instagram; Laura Hughes: Portfolio & Instagram; Sarah Forrest: Website & Instagram; Sarah Attar: Website & Instagram Andrea Bemis: Blog & Instagram; Kelly DeWitt: Website & Instagram
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Swelling, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
Music is also by Our Many Stars.
Caro Luevanos-Garcia believes the key to closing the gaps between generations can be found in the outdoors. And she also believes the inverse: that people across generations can find the outdoors with the help of each other.
Caro started hiking, backpacking, and running when she retired from a career in corrections at the age of 50. Now 56, she’s run 26 half marathons in 18 states. She loves backpacking. She’s hiked Half Dome twice and section-hiked 90% of the John Muir Trail. In short, she’s made up for lost time. Now that she's discovered that love, she wants to share it with her grandson to make sure he's comfortable in the outdoors from a young age.
Women Featured in this Episode: Carolina Luevanos-Garcia. Follow her on Instagram @abuelaafuera & @carohikedhere. Read her writing on her blog.
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
In this episode, you'll hear:
- How Caro's relationship with the outdoors (as a first-generation American) was influenced by her parents
- Barriers to more traditional outdoor activities for some people of color
- Why Caro started running and hiking before retirement at 50
- Advice Caro has for her younger self
- How saying yes has benefited Caro in her retirement
- Caro's philosophy on the benefits of older people taking younger people into the outdoors
- Why the outdoor industry should represent more older people in their marketing
- A call-to-action from Caro that will help diversify outdoor spaces
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Subaru. Learn more at www.meetanowner.com and follow along on Instagram: @subaru_usa
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Links mentioned in this episode:
Caro's Instagram: @abuelaafuera
Latino Outdoors
Outdoor Afro
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
Music is also by Dobsy.
A book is often just a jumping off point to talk about other topics we care deeply about. In this episode, we bring mountain guide and writer Charlotte Austin's Adventure Grapes Online Book Club to life. Along with Charlotte and outdoor author Shawnté Salabert, host Gale Straub discusses questions of gender roles in the outdoors and adventure narratives, as well as the outdoors' role in mental health issues. All was talked about in the context of "All That Glitters," a memoir by ice climber Margo Talbot.
Women Featured in this Episode: Charlotte Austin and Shawnté Salabert
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Subaru. Learn more at www.meetanowner.com and follow along on Instagram: @subaru_usa
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Links mentioned in this episode:
Adventure Grapes Book Club
All That Glitters by Margo Talbot
Hiking the PCT Southern California by Shawnté Salabert
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Savage Summit by Jennifer Jordan
Annapurna by Arlene Blum
Pure Land by Annette McGivney
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
Music is also by Daniel M. Petersen.
When Annette says that she has something in common with a murderer, she’s right. And she also has something in common with a tourist from Japan, as well as the American landscape. Annette doesn’t hold anything back - at her core, she’s a journalist. She investigates her own story like she investigates that of all the subjects in the book. Each person came alive through her diligent research, resulting in a tribute to a curious woman named Tomomi, sympathy for the man who killed her, and a reunion with Annette's childhood self.
Annette's is a story of trauma, healing, and connection. While there's darkness, there's a whole lot of light. Annette founded a nonprofit called Healing Lands Project to help children who have experienced trauma.
Women Featured in this Episode: Annette McGivney
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Sponsored by Subaru. Learn more at www.meetanowner.com and follow along on Instagram: @subaru_usa
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Links mentioned in this episode:
Healing Lands Project
Pure Land by Annette McGivney
Annette's Portfolio
Adventure Grapes Book Club
All That Glitters by Margo Talbot
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Swelling and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
Music is also by Ryan Teague.
What is it like to enjoy the outdoors after the age of 50? We asked and you answered.
We're honored to be highlighting the wisdom and experience of women in their 50's, 60's, and 70's. These are voices that we don't hear as often in our youth obsessed culture. All of these stories are extraordinary for their willingness to share, try new things, and encourage others to do the same.
Women Featured in this Episode: Jo Ann Hickey, Jean Drummond, Cheryl Falkenburg, Joann Baste, Kristi, Kathleen Merrick, Liz Wise, Rose Burrows, Tricia, Hellen Wallis, Sarah Lefler, Lisa Auvril, Gail Storey, Lori Brookes, & Dianna Stavros
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
She Explores is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance. Go to healthiq.com/sheexplores to support the show and see if you qualify.
She Explores is also sponsored by Deuter. Thank you to them for the support!
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Links mentioned in this episode:
Adventure Grapes Book Club
All That Glitters by Margo Talbot
Pure Land by Annette McGivney
I Promise Not To Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail by Gail Storey
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
Music is also by Our Many Stars.
Interview with Jaylyn Gough, Navajo outdoors woman and founder of Native Women's Wilderness. Jaylyn has found strength and healing in the outdoors. She talks about why she shares her connection with the land with other Native Americans, how non-natives can support her work, and her long term vision for Native Women's Wilderness.
Our conversation is inextricably linked to trauma, but it is also filled with hope. Jaylyn's experiences as a child growing up on the Navajo reservation in Gallup, New Mexico, set her on her path. She was adopted at a young age, and it was both due to her adopted mother's generosity and certain hardships on the reservation that made her want to become a social worker. But as Jaylyn says, her childhood felt rich with the land.
Jaylyn has a deep-seated drive to help people, especially women, overcome suffering. She also wants to see more women of color and native women on the trail and represented in outdoor media. Jaylyn's passion shines through every moment of this episode - we hope you'll find as much inspiration as we did in meeting her.
Learn more about Native Women's Wilderness on Instagram and Facebook. Their new website will be live within the next day or two, visit it at www.nativewomenswilderness.org.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
She Explores is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance. Go to healthiq.com/sheexplores to support the show and see if you qualify.
She Explores is also sponsored by Deuter. Thank you to them for the support!
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Visit She-Explores.com
Links mentioned in this episode:
Indigenous Women Hike
Indigenous Women Climb
Natives Outdoors
Unlikely HIkers
Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
Nicole Brown is founder of Women Who Hike. In October, she set out to hike Southern California's three highest mountains in 24 hours. Nicole was confident leading up to the challenge, but very little went according to plan. Learn about the power of her community, living (and hiking) with a chronic autoimmune disease, and committing to a challenge, even when success might just be out of reach.
Learn more about Women Who Hike on Instagram and Facebook. Follow Nicole's adventures through her Instagram. Enter the first ever Women Who Hike Challenge!
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
She Explores is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance. Go to healthiq.com/sheexplores to support the show and see if you qualify.
She Explores is also sponsored by Deuter. Thank you to them for the support!
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
After 15 years working a practicing lawyer, Marinel de Jesus decided to leave her legal career to pursue her love of the mountains and run her trekking company, Peak Explorations, full time. Marinel’s is a story of great cultural expectations: after a childhood growing up in the Philippines, Marinel moved to Seattle at the age of 13. Her parents instilled in her the importance of stability: finding a good job, marrying, having a family. As the only daughter, she was closely protected and encouraged not to take risks. Find out how Marinel started listening to her inner voice, taking groups on treks around the world, and using her skills to advocate for others.
Follow Marinel de Jesus's adventures through her Instagram and her blog, Brown Gal Trekker. Learn more about her trekking company, Peak Explorations LLC.
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
She Explores is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance. Go to healthiq.com/sheexplores to support the show and see if you qualify.
She Explores is also sponsored by Deuter. Thank you to them for the support!
Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.
Episodes air weekly on Fridays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.
Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Pipe Choir via freemusicarchive.org.
We travel to Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia to create a story about the visible impact we leave behind on the country we live in and the countries we visit.
We talk with Emily Green, director of the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund about the importance of the social, economic, and political communities teaming together to support the sustainability of the park. Gale also shadows Chilean trail volunteers as they build a new trail in Torres del Paine. We find out what motivated them to give back and what they hope to leave behind.
Find out more about the Torres Del Paine Legacy Fund on their website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Learn more at www.she-explores.com/podcast.
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Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel.
Traci Lynn Martin is currently attempting two big goals: 1) to set a new world record for number of miles paddled in a surfski kayak 2) to be the first to circumnavigate all 5 Great Lakes in that kayak within 12 months. These are seriously big goals, but to Traci, they're just a series of little goals to show other people with Rheumatoid Arthritis what they could achieve, too.
We talk with Traci about how she got into endurance kayaking, what motivated her to begin this journey, how it feels to be out there on the water day after day, and how she'll feel if she doesn't achieve those big goals. We were left feeling inspired by her mental and physical fortitude. As of yesterday, she had ~270 miles
left to paddle in December for the world record.
Go Traci, Go!
Follow Traci's journey "Just Around the Pointe" on her website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Learn more at www.she-explores.com/podcast.
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Music is by Lee Rosevere, Portrayal, and PC-One.
Last winter Emma Hayward reached out to ask Gale, "What does wilderness mean to you?"
Emma was working on her senior thesis project. As an environmental science major with a love for the ocean, she wanted to dig into not only the "what" of wilderness, but the "where."
This episode is a piece of Emma's thesis project. It's her personal exploration to find out why wilderness is so important to us and how we make the distinction between wild and not-wild. It includes Emma's findings through survey results, research, and conversations with Dr. Nita Tallent (Cape Cod National Seashore), Dr. Craig Marin (assistant professor of SEA Semester), Rachael Miller (founder of Rozalia Project), and our own Gale Straub.
Follow Emma on Instagram.
Learn more at www.she-explores.com/podcast.
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Music is by Kai Engel and Kevin Macleod.
We talk with Katy Fetters, founder of the movement Cerebral Palsy Strong, about how she's found adaptability and vulnerability to be her strengths on the trail, overlanding in South America, and in every day life. Katy is driven to share stories of other young people with CP as evidence that there are many ways to lead an active lifestyle with differing mobilities. Above all, Katy wants all women to channel the ability to overcome challenges, be they physical, emotional, or situational.
Find Cerebral Palsy Strong stories on Instagram and through the website.
Learn more at www.she-explores.com/podcast.
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Music is by Lee Rosevere.
There's magic to be found in a small park. Writer Korrin Bishop shares Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve through the voices of three women: park superintendent Vicki Snitzler, interpretive ranger Kat Gans, and artist Jean Robertson.
For the last summer season, Korrin Bishop balanced her full time job with being an artist-in-residence at Oregon Caves National Monument. In this episode, she gives us an insider's look at the ~4,500 acre park. We're drawn to what lies beneath the surface of this small community: a togetherness that results in the protection of a unique landscape and history, as well as the creation of art.
Learn what it's like to work at a small park and be a part of this community. Read about 10 National Monuments at risk.
Korrin's articles from her time as a writer artist in residence at Oregon Caves:
Do We Need National Preserves? Yes. Here's Why.
Learn more at www.she-explores.com/podcast.
Sponsored by
Peak Design - Be sure to check out their kickstarter this week as they revamp classics like the Capture clip!
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Music is by Lee Rosevere, Broke for Free, Anenon, Sergey Cheremisinov, Monplaisir, and Kevin Macleod.
Sarah Attar, the first female runner to represent Saudi Arabia in the Olympics, believes in the intimacy of learning a landscape on your own two feet. We talk with Sarah about the inspiration she finds in the mountain town of Mammoth Lakes, the power of tuning in to your speaking voice, and the recognition that every hill, every mile, and every accomplishment becomes a part of you.
Featuring Sarah Attar. Find her on Instagram and learn more on her website.
Learn more at www.she-explores.com/podcast.
Sponsored by
Vasque: Featuring Kelly Dona
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Music by Steve combs, Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
We talk with Kylie Fly about how she's creating her own career in the outdoor industry as an adventure photographer, when it's right to say no to opportunities, and why for her, people always come first.
Featuring Kylie Fly. Find her on Instagram and see more of her photography in her portfolio.
Kylie's tips for making your career:
1) Put yourself out there. Whether it’s the side of a mountain, on social media, or in Peru, Kylie practices her craft by doing and showing.
2) Keep learning. Kylie emphasizes that she’s not an expert, that there’s alway more to be curious about.
3) Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t feel like it’s happening for you, or like you’re not getting the jobs you want. Continue to do #1 - do the work that inspires.
4) Weigh the pros and cons of unpaid work. Consider how it will serve you and your goals. Consider the potential of a project beyond the current scope.
5) Take a deep breath and know it’s ok to say no sometimes. No to a work opportunity, no to a social event, no to that knot of anxiety inside your stomach.
Learn more at www.she-explores.com/podcast.
Sponsored by
Vasque: Featuring Sherry Winslow, member of Vasque's Thru Hike Syndicate
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Music by steve combs, Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, and Fog Lake via freemusicarchive.org.
Host Gale takes her twin sister Lora backpacking for the very first time. They spend the night in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The hope? To be tired but happy, together.
Featuring Lora and Gale Straub.
Learn more at www.she-explores.com/podcast.
Sponsored by
Vasque
KIND : Get a free 10 pack of full-size KINDbars by visiting www.kindsnacks.com/sheexplores for more details. Just pay shipping!
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Music by steve combs, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, and Fog Lake via freemusicarchive.org.
The smallest moments can have a real impact on our lives. We reflect on those moments in the outdoors, in the workplace, and in our personal lives. In this episode, we hear from a solo sailor approaching fifty years old, an adventure photographer on a mission to learn how to surf, an entrepreneur letting go after a loss, and a cancer survivor celebrating with a hike - among others.
Recorded in part at No Man's Land Film Festival in Carbondale, CO.
Featuring:
Adventure photographer and filmmaker: Kat Carney
Entrepreneur and co-founder of Wylder Goods: Jainee Dial
Filmmaker and artist: Margie Woods
Artist: Lisa Kowieski
Co-Owner & Operator Alpacka Raft: Sarah Tingey
Voice Submissions from:
Greta Matos
Lianna Lee
Kathleen Merrick
Janet Seabrands
Aubrey Moore
Lindsay Kovar
Sponsored by
Vasque
KIND : Get a free 10 pack of full-size KINDbars by visiting www.kindsnacks.com/sheexplores for more details. Just pay shipping!
Music by steve combs, kai engel, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, and Fog Lake via freemusicarchive.org.
Ever feel like you need permission to try something new? We talk with Amanda Machado, author of the Vox essay "The Strangeness of Being a Latina who Loves Hiking." Amanda brings up the astute point that we so often look around us for permission to take a risk, when we just might not find it within our close circles. Amanda's advice? Go for it anyway.
We talk with Amanda about growing up in Florida, how she got into hiking and backpacking, and traveling the world in her 20's. Most importantly, we find out what she's passionate about right now, the ways in which she's merging her interests and her communities, and how she's using her talents as a writer to reach people.
Learn more on the episode page via she-explores.com/podcast. Read Amanda's writing via her portfolio site, www.amandaemachado.com.
Donate to Latino Outdoors and learn more about their mission.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Chris Zabriskie via Freemusicarchive.org
Thanks to our sponsor, Oru Kayak.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Amanda's Portfolio
Vox Article: The Strangeness of Being a Latina Who Loves Hiking
Latino Outdoors
She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
On the trail, is confidence good, bad, or something in between? We talk with Lisa Michelle, a woman who lost her hiking partner tragically while hiking solo. We discover how Lisa is able to reconcile still doing what she loves when there's risk involved.
Lisa doesn’t know the full details of her friend’s death (allegedly she fell while hiking in a foreign country), but she knows that her friend felt most confident (maybe too confident) in her hiking boots with a pack on. But is it OK for Lisa to still feel good about backpacking solo?
Read Lisa's essay at www.she-explores.com/podcast.
Thanks to our sponsor, Oru Kayak.
Music is by Kai Engel, Evan Schaeffer, Soft & Furious, and Josh Woodward.
Can failure bring out the best in you? We're excited to share one of our favorite outdoor podcasts with you, "Out There Podcast." This week, we chat with host Willow Belden and share her award-winning episode, "High On Failure."
*Last spring, Jordan Wirfs-Brock attempted one of the toughest trail running races in existence: a 550-miler called Infinitus, which took place in the rugged mountains of Vermont.
Jordan wasn't new to ultra running, but this race was more extreme than anything she'd done before. And it broke her: she failed to finish.
Curiously, though, the failure didn't leave her feeling defeated. In fact, it turned out to be one of the best things that's ever happened to her.*
Thanks to our sponsor, Oru Kayak.
Learn more at the episode page at www.outtherepodcast.com and She-Explores.com/podcast.
Join our facebook group and chat about this episode!
Music by MindsEye and Soft & Furious.
What do you do when your life looks great "on paper" but it isn't the life you want? We talk with Shelby Stanger, journalist and host of the podcast "Wild Ideas Worth Living" about what she gained when she left a high paying job 9 years ago to pursue a freelance journalism career.
For Shelby, what looked good on paper, a job that looked fantastic in other people’s eyes and that she’d told herself should look great in her own, resulted in a dissonance that lead her to make a big life change. It’s a feeling we can all relate to - that friction in our mind when everything is not as it appears.
Shelby is a big personality: she's warm, confident and funny. She loves surfing, diving deep into other people's stories, and teaching - whether its through her work or guiding women to learn how to surf.
Learn more about Shelby through our episode page via she-explores.com/podcast.
Shelby interviews She Explores Host Gale Straub on "Wild Ideas Worth Living."
Check out our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!
Music by Mise, Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Chris Zabriskie.
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Falling Up
Surf Diva
Wild Ideas Worth Living
Crystal Brindle is the park ranger only child of two park rangers. She was born to work for the National Park Service in the United States, so why did she decide to start a career as a biodiversity ranger in New Zealand? After a childhood on the move, Crystal found a home of her own.
The Spanish notion of querencia that Crystal describes is core to her story - that indescribable feeling that draws you to a place. Yet, her story is also about growing up, following in her parents footsteps but ultimately gaining independence as she figures out what she wants in a career and a place. And most importantly, it’s about listening to your gut when it tells you to go.
Learn more on the episode page via She-Explores.com/podcast. See Crystal's photography on her portfolio site.
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Join our Facebook Group for She Explores listeners ->
Music by Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Chris Zabriskie
What's top of mind for women in the outdoor industry right now? We go to the inaugural "Women's Outdoor Summit for Empowerment" in the Presidio Trust of San Francisco with that question in the back of our mind. We find out that "empowerment" is more dynamic than the story we often tell ourselves.
Featuring Teresa Baker, Alyssa Ravasio, Kelly Martin, Cicely Muldoon, Jarre Hamilton, Erin Thiem, Kate Mullen, Ava Holliday, Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin, Stephanie Barron, and Andrea Thomas.
Learn more on the episode page via She-Explores.com
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Links mentioned in this episode:
Women's Outdoor Summit for Empowerment
High Country News Coverage
Sylvia Ann Hewlett Sponsorship Article
She Explores Facebook Group
She-Explores.com
Music by Lee Rosevere and Josh Woodward
We talk with Chloe O’Neill, founder of "More Than Lyme." She’s had Lyme Disease for most of her young life. For Chloe, the vague, intermittent, but often debilitating symptoms of the disease have impacted her life view in both negative and remarkably positive ways. Many of the lessons its taught her are surprisingly universal - whether that's becoming more at ease with gray areas or redefining personal strength.
Stay tuned for the end of the episode, there's a sneak peak of our new podcast, "Women on the Road," hosted by Laura Hughes. Subscribe on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Google Play, and wherever you stream stories. Learn more about it in an essay by Laura.
Sponsored by Oru Kayak.
Music is by Lee Rosevere and Josh Woodward via the freemusicarchive.org.
Find out more at She-Explores.com/podcast and www.morethanlyme.org.
Annie Nyborg isn’t an entrepreneur or an extreme athlete or a thru hiker. She’s as passionate about the environment as she is about spending time in the backcountry as she is about being a mother. After years of feeling like the “grass was greener” everywhere but where she was - Annie let go of her expectations and in doing so, found the closest thing possible to the life work she was searching for.
Learn more on She-Explores.com/podcast
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Music is by Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org
Agnes Vianzon has been working hard. After years of experience with the California Conservation Corps (CCC), Agnes decided to take start her own Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps (ESCC), described as a youth and young adult "development and leadership program committed to building a stronger and more inclusive community... through transformational backcountry experiences." Agnes understands the power of the backcountry because she first immersed in it herself as a 20-something in the CCC.
Agnes is laying the groundwork for more than just a nonprofit, she's training and mentoring a new generation to be leaders and environmental stewards. We learn from Agnes about how her life turned out differently than her parents expected, what it's like to start a nonprofit, a bit about the work of Conservation Corps, and why she's so passionate about "Women in the Wilderness," an all-women's backpacking trip for women of color hosted by ESCC.
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Links Mentioned in this episode:
Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps
Shingle Springs Racheria History
She Explores Tank Tops
Music by Soft and Furious, Tours, Lee Rosevere, and MindsEye CC by A
Learn more at She-Explores.com/podcast
Sisters Julie Hotz and Shelly Blacketer grew up together in rural Texas but took very separate paths. Living 1,500 miles away, they decided to train for their first race together: a half-ironman. This episode is kind of about that race, but it's more about two sisters coming together in a novel way.
You might remember thru hiker and filmmaker Julie Hotz from our second podcast episode, "On Fear: Human Powered Travel." We talked with Julie about hiking the PNT, PCT, and bike packing from LA to Glacier. She was on the precipice of big life changes: going completely freelance and deciding to call LA home. In some ways, this episode picks up where we left off.
Learn about how pain can be integral to growth, the subtle bonds that tie family together, and why it's important to do hard things.
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Learn more about this episode on the episode page at www.she-explores.com/podcast
Music is by Lee Rosevere
How has your dad shaped your experiences in the outdoors? Prompted by a message from a new father, we asked you to share your stories and received a breadth of responses. We found that our dads have had a profound impact on our relationship with the natural world, even in his absence. Included in this episode are 21 voice memos from women of all ages and backgrounds. It's a big Venn Diagram - some overlap, but each is uniquely her own.
Learn more via the episode page at www.she-explores.com/podcast
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Music by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Komiku, Mise, PC One, Nihilore, Chris Zabriskie
Bridgette Meinhold is selling landscape artwork to help save her backyard: Bonanza Flats, 1,350 acres of alpine meadows near Park City, Utah. Bridgette, fellow residents and nonprofits have until June 15th to close a $15M gap to help the town secure the land and conserve it.
Bridgette's passion for Bonanza Flats comes at a time when public land in the United States is at risk. Currently, twenty-two National Monuments are under review by our Secretary of the Interior. These lands are over 100,000 acres - 10x the size of Bonanza Flats - yet when Bridgette approached us with her city's fundraising effort, it crystallized a reality: work is being done at a local level to protect land. There's a lot we can do on the ground to make a difference when we're feeling frustrated by headlines. Listen to Bridgette's story and get inspired to take a look at your own backyard.
Learn more via the episode page at www.she-explores.com/podcast
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Music by Lee Rosevere
Striking out on your own means a whole lot of hustling. We interview Sarah Knapp, the founder of OutdoorFest and Mappy Hour about how she got started, how she finds time, and how she's learning to appreciate an accomplishment before moving onto her next goal.
After graduating from NYU, Sarah applied to work at a ski resort in Alta, Utah. She wanted to immerse herself in the 'ski bum' lifestyle and surround herself with people who were as into skiing as herself. Sarah found herself at home in the outdoor community, and brought the drive to share that feeling with others back to New York.
Learn about how Sarah started OutdoorFest, a 10 day outdoor adventure festival in New York City and Mappy Hour, a growing happy hour for urban outdoorists.
The opening story in this podcast was contributed by Sara Aranda, founder of Bivy Tales. Special thanks to Sara for her openness and vulnerability in sharing her experiences with anxiety.
To contribute to our Father's Day episode, head over to She-Explores.com/podcast/your-voice to read the prompts and submit your recording.
Sponsored by Oru Kayak.
The podcast we recommended at the end of the episode is called "Wild Ideas Worth Living."
Find out more about She Explores on our website, She-Explores.com, and via Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Music is by Soft & Furious, Nihilore, Drake Stafford, and Komiku via Creativecommons.org.
Interview with Shelma Jun, founder of Flash Foxy, the Women's Climbing Festival, and the Never Not Collective. We talk with Shelma about the ripple effect of starting small in a place that she knew: the climbing community.
Learn more via www.she-explores.com/podcast
Piece in the beginning "Ode to Every Woman Who's Ever Been Called Outdoorsy" by artist Madison Perrins.
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Music by Mise, Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Chris Zabriskie, and Little Glass Men.
Interview with "Wild and Weightless" founder Kristen Ales. We talk about her personal experiences at a young age with binge eating disorder and anorexia, how she's quieted that voice in her head, and how she's driven to help others with eating disorders through wilderness therapy.
Note: This episode mentions eating disorders. And while it's constructive in many ways, depending on your background, this could be triggering. If you are in need of help, call the National Eating Disorder helpline at 1-800-931-2237.
Learn more via the episode page: www.she-explores.com/podcast/wild-and-weightless
Visit Wild & Weightless site.
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Music by MindsEye PC-One Soft and Furious Chris Zabriskie Little Glass Men
On April 20th, we headed to Carbondale, CO for our first adventure film festival. We talked to its founder, Julie Kennedy, and five creative women who find inspiration in its community. We learn about the trends in adventure filmmaking and the importance of seeking out the people and places that motivate you to create.
Featuring Julie Kennedy (Founder of 5Point), Anya Miller (Creative Strategist at Duct Tape Then Beer), Haley Thompson (co-director of the film How We Grow), Aisha Weinhold (founder of No Man's Land Film Festival), Sonya Pevzner (blogger behind The Pevzdispenser), and Sarah Uhl (artist and former event director for 5Point).
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Learn more via she-explores.com/podcast
Music by Mise & Chris Zabriskie
Haley Robison, CEO of the hammock and tent company Kammok, believes in the power of play, type 2 fun, and most importantly: showing up. We interview her about how her twenties took her from being a consultant at Bain to a wilderness guide to getting her masters. Now a CEO at an outdoor startup, Haley shares her insights on breaking into a new industry and finding comfort in the uncomfortable.
Learn more at www.she-explores.com/podcast
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Music by Lee Rosevere, Soft & Furious, Chris Zabriskie, and Little Glass Men via freemusicarchive.org
We interview Outside Magazine's deputy editor Mary Turner and art & photography director Hannah McCaughey about their women's XX factor issue. It's a special edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Outside Magazine, but it's not the start or end of women's content on Outside. We talk to Mary and Hannah about the changing shape of outdoor content and why the timing was right to "finally" make an all-women's issue.
Sponsored by Oru Kayak.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Little Glass Men, & Tours via freemusicarchive.org.
Learn more via she-explores.com/podcast
A discussion on the ways spending time outside impacts our mental health. We interview Florence Williams, author of "The Nature Fix" and Sonya Pevzner, who blogs about anxiety and depression as it relates to the outdoors. In addition, we hear from listeners about their experiences with depression and anxiety and the ways you've found healing through outdoor activities as simple as walks in nature and as challenging as canyoneering for the first time.
At the end of the show, we also have a mini interview with Jen Gurecki, the founder of Coalition Snow, about her kickstarter.
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Learn more via She-Explores.com/podcast
Music is by Sro, Kai Engel, MindsEye, RoccoW, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
Following the blazes and looking up at the clouds. Interview with Rahawa Haile, author of the essay "How Black Books Lit My Way Along the Appalachian Trail" on Buzzfeed.
We talk with Rahawa Haile, an Eritrean-American writer living in Oakland, CA, about her northbound thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2016. Rahawa believes that if you have the inclination and the time to do a thru hike, you should hit the trail. As one of the few black women to thru hike in 2016, Rahawa talks about how her experience is different than the "typical" hiker. She also discusses the small beauties she found along the trail: be it snow on a branch or the kindness of the hiking community.
Note (!) : There's a factual error at 20:45. Rahawa actually saw at least 10 black people hiking on the Appalachian Trail, not one. This error is on the part of the host's misinterpretation, not Rahawa.
Thanks to our sponsor, Oru Kayak.
Music is by Broke For Free, MindsEye, Lee Rosevere, Tours, Little Glass Men, & Chris Zabriskie via Free Music Archive. CC by A.
Because it's OK to not have it all figured out. We interview Erin Sullivan, the writer behind "Erin Outdoors" about finding your path (in the outdoors and otherwise) through vulnerability, saying no, and self-awareness.
We don't think there's any such thing as a straight path and Erin holds her life up as proof. After years of guiding outdoor, adventure, and travel excursions, Erin starting writing and blogging full time. While the site is named "Erin Outdoors", it's rife with lessons learned because at the heart of Erin's work is helping others.
Visit the podcast landing page via she-explores.com/podcast/no-straight-paths
Learn more about Erin through her blog, Erin Outdoors.
As mentioned in the beginning of the episode, we need your help answering a quick listener survey. It's anonymous and will take you less than five minutes. Thank you so much! Find it here: www.she-explores.com/podcast/listener-survey-2017
Thanks to our sponsor, Oru Kayak.
Our talk with Jerri gave us a lot to think about: 1) How companies on private land can respect and uplift the missions of our public land organizations. 2) How the way you grow up so impacts your relationship with the outdoors. 3) How experience is key to stewardship. And 4) How we all make choices every day when it comes to the footprint we leave on the earth.
Jerryne "Jerri" Cole believes experience is key to conservation of public and private land. For Jerri, a lifetime of connection to nature has correlated to a lifetime of stewardship for the natural world. Jerri is a member of the board of Public Lands Alliance and the owner of Camp Denali, for-profit lodging near Denali National Park. Learn about raising kids in the Alaskan interior in the 1970's and maintaining a for-profit model with a "not for profit" mission.
Learn on the episode page via www.she-explores.com/podcast
Thanks to our sponsor, Oru Kayak.
Music is by Ryan Little, Minds Eye, and Chris Zabriskie via freemusicarchive.org.
Learn how you can help protect the outdoors you love by using social media. We interview Katie Boué about how you can use the phone in your pocket to enact real-life change in an ever-changing landscape.
Katie Boué cares. She's a resource for people - young and old - across the outdoor industry. Over the past year, she has become the megaphone for using social media as an advocacy tool. A proud Miami native with Cuban, Irish, and Venezualian heritage, Katie made a name for herself as the writer behind her blog, The Morning Fresh, writing with vulnerability about her experiences hiking, climbing, and trying new sports like trail running.
More recently, she took the social media reigns at the Outdoor Industry Association, or OIA.There she learned what she already knew - social media is a powerful tool. She’s since gone freelance from her full time role with OIA, but she considers herself a full time advocate for the outdoors.
A theme for this episode is what Katie said right off the bat - we’re all in this together. We can all be advocates for conservation and public land.
Learn more via She-Explores.com/podcast
Thanks to our sponsor, Oru Kayak
Music is by Music is by Mindseye & Dr. Rinkel, Halogen, Lee Rosevere, Aenon, Josh Woodward via freemusicarchive.org
Weekend climbing, camping, hiking, and backpacking is not so different from going it "full time." Meet Paulina Dao, the blogger behind "Little Grunts" and an honest advocate for spending time outside. We talk about overcoming insecurities, growing, and finding the activities and issues you're passionate about in the outdoors.
Be sure to read Paulina's piece, "Why Don't They Look Like Me?" on the diversity dilemma in outdoor media.
Learn more about this episode via www.she-explores.com/podcast
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Music by Mise, Chris Zabriskie, Halogen & Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org
Bringing women together in the outdoors. Meet Sasha Cox, founder of Trail Mavens, and Amanda Goad, founder of Wild Women's Project, two very different companies whose missions are built on backcountry bonding. We talk with each founder about the benefits of bringing women outside together, the community that springs from outdoor endeavors, and how much we have to learn from each other.
Learn more via the episode page at www.she-explores.com/podcast |
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Music by Mise, RoccoW, Keshco, and Fleslit via Freemusicarchive.org CC by SA.
Communication, activism, and reflection. In the second part of our series on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors, we talk with experts to provide practical steps for how organizations AND individuals can cultivate a more inclusive outdoor space. Liz Song of Snowqueen and Scout cohosts with Gale Straub on this special two part series.
Featuring Ava Holliday and Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin of The Avarna Group; Elyse Rylander of "Out There Adventures"; Graciela Cabello of "Latino Outdoors" and Miho Aida.
Voice memo submissions from Sara Murphy & Monserrat Alvarez.
Make sure to listen to part one, "Diversity, Beyond the Buzzword" to fill yourself in on the background of this episode. Learn more on the podcast landing page via www.she-explores.com/podcast.
Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Goal Zero.
Music in this episode is by MindsEye, Dr. Rinkel, & Mise.
CC by SA
Life lessons learned on the PCT. We interview Kimberly Vawter, who quit her job as a school principal in Los Angeles to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. We've found that a lot of people thru hike because they're looking for an in-between. They want more in their lives but they're not sure what. They need time to think. Just 5 days off the trail, Kim is bursting with lessons learned and she is holding them close and bringing them off the trail and into the "real" world. We highlight them so you can put them into practice own life.
Learn more on She-Explores.com/podcast
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Music is by RoccoW, Mindseye, and Dr. Rinkel
CC by SA 4.0
Entrepreneurship, sustainable outdoor gear, and making a difference: a new kind of outdoor retail company. We talk with the women of Wylder Goods, which just launched this week. Featuring Jainee Dial, Lindsey Elliott, and Gina Peters.
Starting a business can be challenging, but it helps when there is a lot of heart behind it. We talk with three women who are rethinking outdoor retail with their new company Wylder Goods.
Learn more on She-Explores.com/podcast
Music is by MindsEye, CC by SA 4.0
The outdoors and diversity, equity, & inclusion. We team up with Liz Song from Snowqueen and Scout to investigate the many barriers that a diverse group of people from enjoying and embracing the outdoors.
Thanks to listener Sara Murphy for the push and prompt to go "beyond the buzzword of diversity."
This episode features:
Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin & Ava Holliday, The Avarna Group co-founders.
Graciella Cabello, Latino Outdoors National Director.
Miho Aida, "If She Can Do It, You Can Too.
Elyse Rylander, Founder of Out There Adventures.
And voice memos from:
Simone Martin-Newberry, Ambreen Tariq aka @brownpeoplecamping, Lisa Dougherty, Marinel de Jesus, Monserrat Alvarez, Renuka Nagaraj, Rachel Samaniego, and Stephanie Harper.
Sponsored by Sierra Club Outdoors.
Learn more at http://she-explores.com/podcast
Hope, empowerment, and appreciation. Carrot Quinn, author of "Thru Hiking Will Break Your Heart", teaches us lessons from the trail and reminds us that WE have the power to change the world we live in. Carrot has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail twice and the Continental Divide Trail. Follow Carrot on Instagram via instagram.com/carrotquinn
The second in a series of "After the PCT" interviews.
Music by MindsEye, Dr Rinkel, Nihilore, and Fles lit
Support She Explores via she-explores.com/support
Learn more via she-explores.com/podcast
The benefits and challenges to getting outdoors with your kids. We interview Shanti Hodges, founder of "Hike It Baby", as well as Aly Nicklas and Alisa Geiser, cofounders of "Born Wild Project."
Featuring voice memo submissions from Lynn Doiron, Stephanie Harper, and Dylann Stubblefield.
Learn more about the women featured here via she-explores.com/podcast
Sponsored by Goal Zero
Music by Nihilore, MindsEye, Mise, and RoccoW.
What moms don't talk about enough: adventuring while pregnant, postpartum, and beyond. For the first part of a two part "Adventuring with Kids" series, we talk with moms about pregnancy and getting outside with (and without) young kids. There are a lot of stories out there about what motherhood does to our free time, our bodies, and our outdoor lives. Let's write our own.
Interviews with Brittany Aae of Magneticnorth.us and Justine Nobbe, co-founder of "Adventure Mamas." Featuring voice submissions from listeners: Laura Stasi, Elizabeth Bauer of "Backroadfamily.com" and Heather Hopkins. Cameo appearance by Liz Song of Snowqueen and Scout.
Part two will cover the benefits of adventuring with kids - at ages 0 - 5 and as they grow older.
Sponsored by Goal Zero: www.goalzero.com
Music by Mindseye, Nihilore, and Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.com
Learn more at she-explores.com/podcast
Injury, community, and gratitude. We interview Karen Wang two weeks after she left the Pacific Crest Trail just shy of Crater Lake in Oregon. There's a lot out there about what it's like to hike a famous thru-hike, but what is it like when you get home? How do you deal if life throws you an injury? How do you assimilate to city life after months in the wilderness? Karen Wang is the first of three interviews that focus on life "After the PCT."
Visit the episode page at www.she-explores.com/podcast/after-the-pct/karen-wang
See Karen's photography via www.karenkwang.com.
Find out how to support She Explores via she-explores.com/support
Music by Mise, Nihilore, and MindsEye.
This episode is about going it alone in the outdoors. As women, we're often advised to exercise extra caution when we go solo. We wanted to create an episode that is motivating to other women to get out there on our own, whether it's hiking, camping, or backpacking. With the help of listener stories and advice, we hope you might be encouraged to plan your next solo excursion.
Music by Nihilore and Steve Combs.
Learn more via she-explores.com/podcast/alone-on-the-trail
Donate via she-explores.com/support
Profiling women who work or who have worked for the National Park and US Forest Service. We've always been curious about what it's like to work for the agencies - we hear about real women's experiences and find out that there is no ONE experience. Learn more on She-Explores.com. Support the podcast with your donation via she-explores.com/support. Music by Jahzaar, Mise, Steve Combs, and MindsEye.
The best part about the internet? Real communities and businesses are built there. It's one place that movements can be made visible. While the "outdoors" and "online" can seem like an oxymoron, social media and other online platforms have enabled women to ignite change within the outdoor space. Even in the wilderness, we are never too far from technology. And while that can be a negative thing, this episode explores the positives that spring from women outdoors, online.
We talk with Heather Balogh Rochfort aka "Just A Colorado Gal"; Nicole Brown, co-founder of @WomenWhoHike; Deanne Buck, executive director of Camber Outdoors; and hear from Summer Michaud-Skog of "Fat Girls Hiking", Zoe Balaconis of "Misadventures Magazine", Hatie Parameter of "Whoa Mag", and Jainee Dial, cofounder of "Wylder Goods".
Learn more via www.she-explores.com/podcast
Sponsored by Oru Kayak
Music by Nihilore and MindsEye
Creativity is a big part of #vanlife. Many of the women on the road we've featured are photographers, writers, filmmakers, and visual artists. One reason for this is that a road trip is incredibly invigorating for the mind - it leads us to create wonderful work. It's also because if you make a living as a creative, it often means you can work from anywhere.In Episode 5 below, we interview Alison Turner and Amanda Sandlin. They're two very different women in different stages in their "van lives" as well as their creative careers. Alison has lived in and out of a van for the past 5 years, and traveled in a teardrop trailer and tent before that. She picked up photography 7 years ago and has been pursuing it since. We learn that there are many reasons Alison loves to escape in her van with her rescue dog Max. Amanda is relatively new to her life in her built-out minivan. She's been on the road three months and is learning how to maintain her creative practice on the move. She's found that it hasn't been easy, but she's enjoyed pushing herself and meeting new people.Learn more in their interviews!
Sponsored by Peak Design.
Music is by Portrayal and Nihilore. CC by A
What is the backstory of She-Explores.com? Host Gale Straub explains why she started She Explores with the help of some contributors, including:
Emily King, Liz Song, Nikki Frumkin, Erin Sullivan, Korrin Bishop, Vivian Chen, Madeleine Boga, Stevie Lewis, Tricia Pickren, Ching Fu, Bee Roper, Kat Carney, and Elizabeth Kane.
Music is by MindsEye and Chris Zabriskie.
Sponsored by Outdoor Research
We compiled listener submitted voice memos that describe how the outdoors make them feel. Some adjectives used include: inspired, energetic, connected, healed, calm... The list goes on.
Thanks to Alyssa Hands, Hallie Rose Taylor, Laura Hughes, Kathleen Morton, Miranda Morehouse, Jackie Currie, Abigail Scott, Delicia Long, Kristin H, Ryan Scavo, Addy Polet, Stepfanie Aguilar, Kelsey Suemnicht, Rachel Spruston, and Lucie Fra.
Music by Alyssa Hands, Portrayal, and MindsEye.
Thanks to our sponsor, Peak Design. Check out their kickstarter at peakdesign.com/ks
Interview with adventure writer Hilary Oliver about her short film, "Being Here." We talk about her motivation to create the film, how she felt about sharing it with the world, and how she sees adventure films changing for the better. We also include listener voice memos about how the outdoors make them feel.
Interview with Julie Hotz, a videographer and photographer in favor of human-powered travel. She bike-packed from Los Angeles, CA to Glacier National Park and then hiked the Pacific Northwest Trail to the Pacific Ocean. We talked about how we grow when we take on challenges that we're a little afraid of.
On Fear: Beginner Backpacking and Kickstarters. Interviews with Liz Song, founder of Snowqueen and Scout, and Rachel Goldfarb of @IdleTheoryBus. We talk about the fear associated with taking big leaps - because starting a podcast is a little scary.
An introduction to the motivation behind She Explores podcast from host Gale Straub.
Featuring the voices of:
Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe,
Sheri Tingey,
Beth Bradley,
Katie Boué, and
Rahawa Hailey.
Learn more at She-Explores.com/podcast and join the conversation in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group.
Music is by Kai Engel using a CC by A license