She Explores

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, Je

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 givea

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 th

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 Hik

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 d

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

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

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

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 thi

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 b

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

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. Host

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

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 activ

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

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 Podc

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 sponsor

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

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 P

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 lik