She Explores

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 ExploresFeatured in this episode: Kenya Jackson-SaultersHosted & Produced by Gale StraubA production of Ravel MediaSponsored by IndeedJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesFeatured in this episode: Kenya Jackson-

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 TimeLaunched 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: @ThisIsOurTimePodcastTwitter:  @ThisIsOurPodwww.thisisourtimepodcast.comOr sign up for the newsletter Audio Love to stay in touch: https://bit.ly/Audio-loveAbout She ExploresHosted & Produced by Gale StraubA production of Ravel MediaJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

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 Ja

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 ExploresFeatured in this episode: Teresa Martinez, Jessica Loya, and Laura FloresHosted & Produced by Gabaccia MorenoWith support by Gale StraubA production of Ravel MediaSponsored by Tentree & R

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 ExploresFeatured in

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 ExploresFeatured in this episode: Nicole AntoinetteHosted & Produced by Gale StraubA production of Ravel MediaSponsored by Danner, Tentree, Rumpl, & DUERJoin

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 do

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 @SockedInHikesHosted & Produced by Gale StraubA production of Ravel MediaSponsored by Minus33, Danner & RumplJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesFeatured in this episode: Rebecca Sperry @SockedInHikesActive Thru Cancer @Active_Thru_Cancer Breast Cancer Awareness Mon

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.  ResourcesListen to About the Journey PodcastOneika Raymond's InstagramEpisode 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 FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramMus

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 @shaaandiiinHosted & Produced by Gale StraubA production of

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 J

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 We

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 StraubAdditional Editorial Support by Julie HotzA production of Ravel MediaSponsored by Goodr, Yonder, Rumpl, & PachamamaJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesFeatured in this episode: Helen Wallis: Instagram @thewalkingtravellerKelly Hines: Instagram @smellyhinesTrisha Stull: Instagram @tjthewildechildRuth Nolan: Inst

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

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 by Gale StraubAdditional Support by Julie HotzA production of Ravel MediaSponsored by Goodr, Organifi & PachamamaJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesFeatured in this episode: Carrot QuinnI

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 th

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 VelascoHosted & Produced by Gabaccia MorenoEditing & Additional Production Support by Gale StraubEditing Support by Julie HotzA production of Ravel MediaSponsored by Yonder & DannerJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesFeatured in this 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 contem

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 oppor

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 ep