She Explores

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-

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

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.or

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 toge

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 Take the She Explores Podcast Survey. 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.