Explore every episode of the podcast Grounded with Dinée Dorame
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Ground - Episode 8 | 12 Oct 2022 | 01:39:00 | |
In our eighth installment of Common Ground, a monthly cross-cast I’m co-hosting with Mario Fraioli of the Morning Shakeout Podcast, we talk all things music! This episode is one we’ve been talking about doing for a long time, and it’s one that many listeners have been asking for. We’ve put together a Common Ground playlist (10 songs from me, 10 songs from Mario), which can be accessed via Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. There is no running talk this week but we go through each of the songs we chose, why we chose them, and tell lots of fun stories. Hope you enjoy! Common Ground will be released monthly in both the morning shakeout and Grounded Podcast feeds so there’s no need to subscribe to a separate show. Please let us know what you think by sending us a message via social media—@theAMshakeout or @groundedpod on both Instagram and Twitter—or leave a rating/review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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Editing for this episode by John Summerford. Grounded Podcast theme music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). Photo of Dinée Dorame by Aisha McAdams. | |||
| Common Ground - Episode 7 | 01 Sep 2022 | 00:56:24 | |
In our seventh installment of Common Ground, a monthly cross-cast I’m co-hosting with Mario Fraioli of the Morning Shakeout Podcast, we talk about the ups and downs of marathon training. What do you do when faced with obstacles or even breaks in the middle of a training cycle? Mario gives some of his thoughts from a Coach’s perspective and I reflect on my mentality moving forward. We hope you enjoy this conversation! Common Ground will be released monthly in both the morning shakeout and Grounded Podcast feeds so there’s no need to subscribe to a separate show. Please let us know what you think by sending us a message via social media—@theAMshakeout or @groundedpod on both Instagram and Twitter—or leave a rating/review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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Editing for this episode by John Summerford. Grounded Podcast theme music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). Photo of Dinée Dorame by Aisha McAdams. | |||
| Common Ground - Episode 1 | 02 Mar 2022 | 01:18:06 | |
Welcome to the first episode of Common Ground, a new monthly cross-cast I’m co-hosting with Mario Fraioli. We met a little over a year ago through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program and have become close friends since he started serving as my podcast mentor. We’re calling this new project Common Ground because we are two people who come from very different backgrounds and upbringings yet share a mutual love of running, podcasting, music, and more. We will feature conversations about what’s currently exciting us in the sport, issues in the community and industry, and we may even take some listener questions. Common Ground will be released monthly in both the morning shakeout and Grounded Podcast feeds so there’s no need to subscribe to a separate show. Please let us know what you think by sending us a message via social media—@theAMshakeout or @groundedpod on both Instagram and Twitter—or use the contact form on my website here. Enjoy!
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). Photo of Dinée Dorame by Aisha McAdams. | |||
| Episode 43 - Christian Gering (Katishtya'meh & Pi'pil), Multimedia Artist & Trail Runner | 18 Feb 2022 | 01:14:47 | |
Christian Gering is a multimedia artist and trail runner hailing from Katishyta (San Felipe Pueblo) and the Pi’pil people of El Salvador. He recently designed several prints and graphics for Janji’s Fall/Winter 2021 running apparel line– American Southwest. His creative inspiration is heavily linked to his passion for movement. Christian is known for translating his experiences of running up peaks, down arroyos, and across a variety of landscapes into feelings, emotions, and ideas in the form of visual art. Gering has had several top finishes at international races including wins at the 2015 Bandera 50K, 2018 Jemez Mountain 50-Miler, and the 2019 Javelina 100K. He also holds the course record at the latter two races. After a decade of competing professionally, he tells us about his plans to pursue his passions creatively as he dives into the many meanings, purposes, and intentions behind why we move.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 42 - Craig Curley (Diné), Marathoner & 2012 Olympic Trials Qualifier | 11 Feb 2022 | 01:22:12 | |
Craig Curley (Diné) is a marathoner and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifier. Craig’s professional running journey has been a winding path. In the early 2000s, he was considered a top high school runner in Arizona. Forgoing Division I collegiate opportunities, he went on to compete for Pima Community College for two years and broke the 5,000m record which was previously held by Pima Community College alum Abdi Abdirahman. Shortly after the 2012 trials, Craig won the Columbus Marathon and signed a contract with Mizuno. In this conversation, we talk about the different phases of his running journey, the coaches he’s worked with, and how his home life and cultural upbringing intersect with his running career. I am lucky to have connected with Craig through our mutual friend, Mario Fraioli. Mario is currently coaching Craig as he tackles this new season of running and life. In this episode:
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 41 - Life Updates & New Year Goals | 02 Feb 2022 | 00:30:10 | |
Solo episode time! Join Dinée for a recap of the first year of Grounded Pod, 2022 goals, and exciting updates!
Top 5 Episodes of 2021:
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 40 - Rosalie Fish (Cowlitz & Muckleshoot), Activist & Student-Athlete at the University of Washington | 18 Nov 2021 | 01:08:15 | |
“Running for survival is not political. [Saying] ‘Stop killing Native women’ is not political. Representing myself as an Indigenous person is not political.” Rosalie Fish (Cowlitz & Muckleshoot) is an activist and student-athlete running Division I Track/Cross-Country at the University of Washington. After a successful run at the junior college level running for Iowa Central CC, she joined the 2021-22 UW Track and Cross-Country recruiting class. She was the first member of her tribe to sign a National Letter of Intent for college athletics. Rosalie is well-known for her advocacy work in bringing awareness to the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, & Two-Spirit+ epidemic. She gained global attention in 2019 when she followed in the footsteps of Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel by painting a red handprint over her face during competition the WA state track meet and running honor of her missing relatives. In this conversation, we talk about what her experiences as a Native student-athlete, and particularly a runner, have been like since high school. We also talk about her training, life as an athlete at the Division I level, and goals for the future.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 39 - Emma Zimmerman, Writer, Journalist, & Host of the Social Sport Podcast | 11 Nov 2021 | 01:04:25 | |
“As I grow as a writer and a journalist, I am constantly just trying to listen and learn from new perspectives. Never put something off as a topic that you ‘know about’ or that you’ve done work on…always be open to learning more and listening more.” Emma Zimmerman is a Brooklyn-based writer, journalist, and podcast host. Her work primarily explores topics of women in endurance sports, sport and social change, and environmental justice. Emma’s Social Sport podcast, which is part of the CITIUS MAG Podcast Network, “features conversations with endurance athletes of all types committed to fostering social change.” Her writing has appeared in Taproot Magazine, Runner’s World, Trail Runner, and more. Emma ran Cross Country and Track & Field at Grinnell College, where she also earned her BA in Political Science and Environmental Studies. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing at New York University. In this conversation, Emma offers listeners a writing prompt to get your creativity flowing in the outdoors and we hear about how she’s used writing as a tool for social change.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 38 - Dr. Amanda Cheromiah (Laguna Pueblo), Indigenous Higher Education Scholar, Photographer, & Runner | 04 Nov 2021 | 01:08:15 | |
“All our Indigenous communities have runners that were messengers and caretakers…runners were the ones that helped communicate important messages about when to uprise..we are Indigenous runners, we are lifelines to our people and communities.” Dr. Amanda Cheromiah (Laguna Pueblo) is an educator, storyteller, photographer, and avid runner. She recently received her PhD in Higher Education from the University of Arizona and is currently the Director of the Native SOAR (Student Outreach, Access & Resilience) Program on campus. Her dissertation, “The Indigenous Revolt in Education: Indigenous Feat – A Scholar’s Pace,” uses Indigenous methods of storytelling to highlight the experiences of 11 Indigenous runners, including herself. Her work focuses on the intersection of the higher education, running, land, spirituality, Indigenous cultures, and health–while also showing Native students that they are not alone in their educational journey and that we all ultimately “move at our own pace.” In her free time, Dr. Cheromiah is a photographer and tells us about how being partially blind empowers her art and impacts her running. Join us in conversation as we discuss everything from college access to mental health to our favorite running gear!
In This Episode:
Dr. Amanda Cheromiah:
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 37 - Kara Goucher, 2x Olympian, NBC Olympics Distance Analyst, & Athlete Advisor at Oiselle | 27 Oct 2021 | 01:07:13 | |
“I think because of the way I started running, with my Grandpa, it wasn’t about performance, it was about time with him…running was this whole thing built around friendships...I think I’ve always been able to go back to that place, that’s what gotten me through some of those rough points.” Kara Goucher is a two-time Olympian and is known as one of the most decorated athletes in American distance running history. She currently works as an Athlete Advisor at Oiselle and is part of Team Altra. Kara was a three-time NCAA Champion and a seven-time All-American during her time as a University of Colorado Buff. Prior to representing the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the 5k/10k and the 2012 London Games in the marathon, she was a 10,000m Silver Medalist at the 2007 World Championships. Outside of competition, Kara is known for her strong voice and advocacy. She was an early whistleblower on doping violations within the Oregon Project (her former team/training program) which led to the coach’s ban from the sport and public conversations around clean sport within the running community. Kara is now one of the hosts and creators of the Clean Sport Collective Podcast. In this conversation, I learn more about Kara’s relationship to place, specifically Boulder, CO, and her transition from professional running to race commentating. We also talk about her recent return to running and re-discovering the joy and connectivity of the sport through her son’s eyes.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 36 - Graciela Esquivel, Runner, Judicial Clerk, and my Lifelong Best Friend | 21 Oct 2021 | 01:25:23 | |
“Movement and sport, in whichever way you want to do it, is this access point to so many other things…it’s this access point to meeting new people, it’s this access point to education. Everybody in my family always knew that it was more than just an individual [thing].” Graciela Esquivel is a New Mexico based runner, a Judicial Clerk for the NM Court of Appeals, and she happens to be my lifelong best friend! Graciela and I grew up together playing youth sports and went on to be basketball teammates throughout middle and high school. She graduated from Boston College in 2015 with a B.A. in Sociology, then went on to earn her J.D. from the University of New Mexico in 2020. She is a three-time half marathoner and we’ve even trained for one of those together! In this conversation, listen to us reflect on the power of youth sports in creating lifelong relationships, navigating our own insecurities as runners, and how her family influenced her love of movement.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 35 - Life Updates + My Running Story | 13 Oct 2021 | 00:45:27 | |
Solo episode time! Join Grounded Pod creator/host, Dinée Dorame, for some stories around running, life, body and health, social media, and Navajo culture and traditions.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Common Ground - Episode 6 | 27 Jul 2022 | 01:07:47 | |
In our sixth installment of Common Ground, a monthly cross-cast I’m co-hosting with Mario Fraioli of the Morning Shakeout Podcast, we talk all things World Athletics Championships! We give you our favorite moments from the meet and I give some personal updates on my training/running journey. I also give some insight into my day job at College Horizons, a national non-profit that supports American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian youth in their higher education journey. For more info, go to https://www.collegehorizons.org. Common Ground will be released monthly in both the morning shakeout and Grounded Podcast feeds so there’s no need to subscribe to a separate show. Please let us know what you think by sending us a message via social media—@theAMshakeout or @groundedpod on both Instagram and Twitter—or leave a rating/review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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Editing for this episode by John Summerford. Grounded Podcast theme music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). Photo of Dinée Dorame by Aisha McAdams. | |||
| Episode 34 - Kyle Sumatzkuku & Duane Humeyestewa, "A Journey from Hopi to Boston" | 06 Oct 2021 | 01:15:50 | |
Kyle Sumatzkuku (Hopi) is an endurance runner who qualified for the 2021 Boston Marathon and is currently raising funds for his trip. This year’s marathon falls on October 11th (Indigenous Peoples’ Day) and Kyle hopes to shed light on the legacy of Hopi running, represent his community, and put his longtime training to the test. Kyle’s marathon journey is being fully documented by filmmaker Duane Humeyestewa (Hopi) for an upcoming project. Duane is also a lifelong distance runner who specializes in film, journalism, editing, and production. His perspective, as both a mentor to Kyle and a fellow Indigenous runner, allows him to bring depth and authenticity to Kyle’s story. To support Kyle’s journey and Duane’s film project, please visit the link below. DONATE TO KYLE – A JOURNEY FROM HOPI TO BOSTON:
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 33 - Oiselle 2021 Women Run the Vote Panel: Historical & Present Erasure of Black & Indigenous Communities in the Land/Outdoors with Teresa Baker, Faith E. Briggs, Guarina Lopez & Rebecca McCown | 29 Sep 2021 | 01:08:24 | |
Oiselle 2021 Women Run the Vote Panel (on September 21, 2021) on the historical and present erasure of Black and Indigenous communities from the land/outdoors was moderated by Dinée Dorame, with Teresa Baker, Rebecca McCown, Guarina Lopez, and Faith Briggs. The 2021 Women Run the Vote Virtual Relay covered 907 miles from Apsaalooké (Crow) lands at Yellowstone National Park and ended in Duwamish territory in Seattle, WA from September 20th - 26th, 2021. More than 75 physical activities could be logged and converted to miles on the virtual route to provide an inclusive experience for participants of all abilities. Event organizers Oiselle and Run 4 All Women aimed to educate participants about indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice while raising funds for the Duwamish Tribe of Seattle, National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, and Runners for Public Lands. The event raised $111,000 in total, with $37,000 being donated to each of the three organizations.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 32 - Victoria Lo, Creator of Chinatown Runners | 22 Sep 2021 | 01:11:53 | |
“What better way to break down whatever artificial barriers that we may build up around us to protect ourselves than by doing something so physical and raw– like running is.” Victoria Lo is an NYC-based designer, creative, and runner. She recently started Chinatown Runners, which is “a collective of runners around the world, formed by the community, for the community.” Their mission is to “use running to protect and give back to our local Chinatowns and any other AAPI-centric neighborhoods.” She started the group last year after seeing a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes and has encouraged runners of all backgrounds to join in order to keep the community safe, spread awareness, and celebrate the diverse heritages of these neighborhoods. In this conversation, we also peel back the layers of Vic’s own personal running journey, including some reflections on her first marathon training cycle years ago and the ways running helped her prioritize her own wellness. Our conversation covers so many themes– creativity, mental health, family, and also our favorite tv show! In This Episode:
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 31 - India Cook, Creator of Miles from India Vlog & Co-host of the Run Duo Podcast | 02 Sep 2021 | 01:09:08 | |
“I am Miles from India because I didn’t see what I am when I started running. I want to help and inspire other people. I want to help people who want to get into running who don’t feel as if they ‘look like a runner.’ There is not one look for a runner. Me showing up…is my way of illustrating that.” India Cook is an Atlanta-based runner, podcast host, YouTube vlogger, and RRCA certified run coach. She began her running journey in 2008, quickly noticing the lack of representation for women of color and the inaccessibility of running lingo, instruction, and coaching. She now runs the Miles from India vlog to educate, inspire, and motivate runners of all backgrounds and co-hosts the Run Duo Podcast alongside Tommy Mitchell. India has recently dabbled in new adventures, including race announcing, drawing on her experiences running every distance from 5k to marathon. In this conversation, we deep dive into our experiences as women of color creatives, talk about the ins and outs of “vlogging” on YouTube, and India gives some motivating tips to new runners. We also geek out over reality tv, makeup, and more!
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 30 - Alisa Meraz-Fishbein, University of Colorado Student-Athlete & Albuquerque High Alumna | 25 Aug 2021 | 01:01:00 | |
“Don’t see your athleticism or your competitiveness as a negative. In our society, when women are seen as driven or passionate or athletic, that can be seen as a negative. It’s so important to accept who you are and take advantage of it, see it as a gift…” Alisa Meraz-Fishbein is a current sophomore running Track and Cross Country and majoring in Journalism at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Like me, she’s an alumna of Albuquerque High School and was coached by my dad, Doug Dorame. In high school, Alisa had three-straight top-10 finishes at the NM State Cross Country 5A Championships, including a third-place finish as a junior. She was also a member of the 1,600-medley AHS relay team my dad coached a few years ago, which broke the state record (4:11.10) with Alisa running the 800m anchor leg. In this conversation, we catch up about Alisa’s recently launched podcast, Running Start, as well as life as college student-athlete during a pandemic. She’s had to adjust to so many things over the past year– from solo training to staying social while not being physically on campus. Now, she’s back in Boulder ready for year two! She shares with us her advice for aspiring collegiate runners and gives us some tips on how she stays organized, uninjured, and mentally focused.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 29 - Guarina Lopez (Pascua Yaqui), Visual Artist, Runner, & Founder of Native Women Ride | 18 Aug 2021 | 01:10:44 | |
“One thing that activism has taught me is to use my voice...I can share photographs about what I’m doing but also tell a story. We come from a storytelling tradition and I think that more of our voices need to be out there.” Guarina Lopez (Pascua Yaqui) is a visual artist, mother, runner, cyclist, and the founder of Native Women Ride. As a lifelong Indigenous activist and environmentalist, she utilizes photography, film, and writing to share stories of the land and Indigenous communities. In the episode, Guarina tells us about growing up in New Mexico (among other places), the ways her childhood shaped her, and her journey as a woman of color in running and cycling. With years of experience in museums, non-profits, and institutions of higher education, Guarina has a strong presence in the running community with several initiatives that highlight underrepresented communities and center anti-racist work. DONATE TO RELATIVES RIDE FUNDRAISER: https://www.gofundme.com/f/relatives-ride-for-native-student-scholarships?member=11928907&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer Proceeds benefit the American Indian and Indigenous Health Alliance (AIIHA) at the University of Arizona.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 28 - Mario Fraioli, Host of the Morning Shakeout Podcast & My Mentor | 11 Aug 2021 | 01:15:45 | |
“You have days when you want to quit and ask yourself “is this worth it?” Whether it’s podcasting, whether it’s continuing on a run…Having people who can help you, in a mentorship role or a training partner–find those people. It’s a lot easier to get through things when you’ve got support from others.” Mario Fraioli is the host and creator of the Morning Shakeout podcast and newsletter, a running coach, and my mentor in the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. Since last fall, Mario has been an incredible resource, guiding me through the ins and outs of podcasting. He hosts the successful Morning Shakeout podcast, where you can find him in conversation with some of the top athletes, coaches, and personalities in running. Mario ran Division II track and cross country at Stonehill College, where he was the program’s first ever All-American in cross country. Prior to launching the Morning Shakeout, he was a senior editor at Competitor Magazine and worked in numerous spaces in both running and media. In this conversation, we dive deep into Mario’s career in journalism, his not-so-secret obsession with basketball, and his thoughts on diversity/inclusion within the industry today. Mario is originally from Massachusetts, but currently resides in California with his wife and their (super adorable) dog, Tahoe.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 27 - Q&A with Dinée! | 04 Aug 2021 | 01:16:44 | |
Join Grounded Pod creator/host, Dinée Dorame, in conversation with her partner, Reed, as she answers fun questions from listeners about running, life, injury updates, and more!
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 26 - Monica Etsitty Dorame (Diné), Library Operations Manager, Runner, and my Mom! | 29 Jul 2021 | 01:33:58 | |
“For me, I felt like when I was running, people were watching. But I didn’t care…I thought, you know what? I’m doing this because I like it and when I’m running I’m thinking about my grandmothers and all the other women who are our ancestors.” Monica Etsitty Dorame (Diné) is Tábąąhá (Edge of Water clan) and born for Tótsohnii (Big Water clan). She currently resides in Albuquerque, NM and is originally from Ft. Defiance, AZ. As you may have guessed, she is also my Mom! Monica is a library operations manager for government information at the University of New Mexico (UNM) University Libraries and is currently a PhD candidate in the UNM OILS (Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences) Program. Her dissertation will focus on Native American women leaders within higher education. She received her Masters degree in public administration and her B.A. in American Studies, both from the University of New Mexico. Her writing has recently been published in an anthology featuring voices of color within library systems. My mom has been running for the majority of her life and has always been one of my biggest supporters in pursuing athletics. In this conversation, we talk about her experiences within the residential boarding school system, the relationships of women in our family, and her own journey with running as a cultural lifeway.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 25 - Yatika Starr Fields (Osage, Cherokee, Muscogee Creek), Painter/Muralist & Ultrarunner | 14 Jul 2021 | 01:14:36 | |
“It goes back to my family and having an enrichment in my culture…knowing that I’m a part of rhythm. When we dance, my feet touch the same ground. I dance hard in ceremonies, and I’m gonna run hard too.” Yatika Starr Fields (Osage, Cherokee, Muscogee Creek) is a painter, muralist, and ultrarunner based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Yatika grew up in an artistic family and specializes in using oil, acrylic, and watercolor mediums. He’s currently a fellow in the Tulsa Artist Fellowship program, which supports contemporary artistic practitioners of diverse mediums. He’s known for his bright works and graffiti mural pieces that push back against the idea of western fine art and engage wide audiences. Yatika has run races of all distances– from 5ks to ultramarathons, including the 2019 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) TDS, a 145k (90-mile) trail race in the Alps which Yatika finished in 32 hours, 58 minutes, and 51 seconds. Yatika studied landscape painting at the University of Oklahoma’s summer program in Sienna, Italy before enrolling at the Art Institute of Boston from 2001 to 2004. In this conversation, we discuss the connections he makes between his culture, art works, and running, as well as his philosophy in training for ultra-distances.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Common Ground - Episode 5 | 29 Jun 2022 | 00:52:45 | |
In the fifth installment of Common Ground, a monthly cross-cast I’m co-hosting with Mario Fraioli of the Morning Shakeout Podcast, I give a full race recap from my time last month at the New York Mini 10k (hosted by New York Road Runners). We also give you our current favorite music and talk about what’s exciting us at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships this year. Common Ground will be released monthly in both the morning shakeout and Grounded Podcast feeds so there’s no need to subscribe to a separate show. Please let us know what you think by sending us a message via social media—@theAMshakeout or @groundedpod on both Instagram and Twitter—or use the contact form on my website here.
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Editing for this episode by John Summerford. Grounded Podcast theme music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). Photo of Dinée Dorame by Aisha McAdams. | |||
| Episode 24 - Rebecca Mehra, Olympic Trials Qualifier & Oiselle Athlete | 08 Jul 2021 | 01:07:03 | |
“Being at the Olympic Trials the past ten days…it could’ve gone so many ways but no matter what, the people I’m surrounded by…my partner, my family, my coach, my team. They have made all the difference.” Rebecca Mehra is a professional track athlete running for the Oiselle Littlewing elite team based out of Bend, Oregon. Rebecca recently raced in both the 800m and 1500m at the U.S. Olympic Track Trials earlier this month. Although Rebecca’s journey in the 800m run ended in the semi-final round with a time of 2:01.33, she went on to run in the finals of the women’s 1500m, where she placed 11th overall with a time of 4:08.47. Prior to her professional career, Rebecca ran Division I Track at Stanford University where she was a 3-time All-American, finishing 6th at the 2017 NCAA Championships in the 1500m Run. Rebecca has also worked in policy affairs for several years and currently serves as the Special Assistant to the Mayor of Bend, OR. In this conversation, we recap her Olympic trials experience and we hear more about how her relationship to running has changed over time. She also tells us about injury setbacks and gives tips and advice for how to mentally and physically overcome injury. Photo by Aisha McAdams.
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| Episode 23 - Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota), 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist in 10,000m | 30 Jun 2021 | 01:24:23 | |
“The biggest lesson that running has taught me is to find your passion. At some point in time, the competitive running is behind you…so use running as a catalyst to seek higher ground.” Billy Mills (Tamakoce Te'Hila) is an Oglala Lakota distance runner, 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist in the 10,000m run, and co-founder of the non-profit organization Running Strong for American Indian Youth. Mills was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota and is the only U.S. Olympian to bring home the gold medal in the 10k. His 1964 victory in Tokyo set the Olympic record (at that time) of 28:24.4 and it was considered one of the greatest comeback moments in sports history. In this episode, we talk all about that famous race, as well as the Olympic Trials second-place finish that preceded his win in Tokyo. We discuss his pre-Olympic training plan and how his coaches/mentors shaped his running journey. Mills attended secondary school at the Haskell Institute, now known as Haskell Indian Nations University. Prior to qualifying for the ’64 Olympics, he ran Division I Track at the University of Kansas and then served as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps. After his competitive running career came to a close, Billy dedicated his life to racial and social justice advocacy work and co-founded Running Strong for American Indian Youth, an organization that provides programming and support for Native youth. He reflects on the purpose behind his running and his work, and sheds light on his experiences as a Native student athlete at a residential school and a predominantly white university. Photo & Race Audio courtesy of Billy Mills. [CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of Indian residential schools, assimilation, ongoing harm, physical abuse between minutes 19:00-23:00 minutes in this episode.]
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 22 - Ashleigh Thompson (Red Lake Ojibwe), Archaeologist & Trail Runner | 23 Jun 2021 | 01:07:50 | |
“What I’ve learned as I’ve grown older is how interconnected our wellness is…I’m trying to lead a life where wellness is centered– mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. These things make us who we are and impact one another.” Ashleigh Thompson (she/her/hers) is Red Lake Ojibwe and an archaeologist, climber, and avid trail runner. Ashleigh is based on Tohono Oo’dham and Pascua Yaqui lands (also known as Tucson, AZ) while working towards her Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Arizona. Her dissertation focuses on traditional foodways and food sovereignty of the Red Lake Ojibwe utilizing interviews, ethnography, and material culture. In this conversation we discuss the importance of oral traditions and Indigenous people telling our own stories, including how the both of us use storytelling as a way to learn and share with others. Ashleigh was also a Division III student-athlete, competing in Track & Field and Cross Country at the University of Minnesota-Morris during her college years. We learn about her most influential coaches/mentors and how she works hard to maintain a holistic relationship to running, grounded in her own cultural traditions and focused on longevity, so she can run strong for many years to come. Ashleigh is an outdoor ambassador for Ultimate Direction and La Sportiva.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 21 - James Ro, Co-Founder of the Atlanta Run Club | 16 Jun 2021 | 00:59:43 | |
“[My parents] were able to run this race ahead of me and pave the way. I’m able to now pick up the mantle and run my own race, in a sense. I feel such gratitude in being able to trailblaze and set trends for how other people view Asian Americans and people of color… we are able to be creative, and innovative, and lead, and set the path for things.” James Ro is the co-founder of the Atlanta Run Club (ARC), a trainer and physical therapist, and a Lululemon Ambassador. He is also a newly minted owner of an Atlanta-based boutique fitness studio. James is a natural connector and you’ll hear him talk about the way his Korean American background and culture set the foundation for his work in running/fitness today. Alongside co-founder, Christian Haahs, and Community Director, Bamn Ford, James created the Atlanta Run Club with the mission of uniting all backgrounds and cultures through fitness and running. In this episode, he explains that the club has been a meaningful space for so many Asian and Black runners in the Atlanta area, and they truly see the club as a reflection of themselves and their communities. ARC hosts social events and weekly runs that bring people together to have fun, regardless of pace.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 20 - Alison Mariella Desír, Director of Sports Advocacy at Oiselle | 09 Jun 2021 | 01:07:26 | |
“Every run I take now is an exploration of my body and myself…it’s a reminder of how powerful I am. Running remains this discovery of myself and what I can do.” Alison Mariella Desír is a runner, mother, mental health coach, author, activist, and speaker. She is also the newly minted Director of Sports Advocacy at Oiselle, a running apparel brand that is “by and for women.” She is also an ambassador for HOKA ONE ONE. We dive into just about everything here, including how she started running, her academic journey, mental health, and how running has changed for her over the years. Alison is truly a pillar in the running community and in January 2021, she was named by Women’s Running as one of the 20 women who are changing the sport of running and the world. She also graced the cover of Outside magazine last winter as one of their featured “Outsiders of the Year.” Prior to moving to Seattle, WA for her position at Oiselle, Alison was based out of New York where she founded and led Harlem Run, an NYC-based running movement. She also founded Run 4 All Women, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of organizations like Planned Parenthood and Womxn Run the Vote. Alison holds her BA in History, MA in Latin American and Caribbean Regional Studies, and MA in Counseling Psychology, all from Columbia University. She has a forthcoming book titled, “The Unbearable Whiteness of Running,” set to be released in October 2022.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 19 - Jinghuan Liu Tervalon, Advocate, Marathoner & Brooks Runfulness Project Runner-Up | 26 May 2021 | 01:00:05 | |
“The Asian American population is severely underrepresented in media. It’s only through well-rounded storytelling that you fight this stereotype…there is such diversity within the community.” Jinghuan Liu Tervalon is a Chinese American advocate, marathoner, and mother who can often be found speaking on issues of safety on the run, representation, and visibility for Asian American athletes. Jinghuan works in global strategic insights for the Coca Cola Company by day, but is also an active leader in the Oiselle Volée community. She was also recently announced a Brooks Runfulness Project Runner-up, receiving $25,000 from the Brooks “Run Fund” for her project titled, “Asian American Runners: Rise Together.” Jinghuan describes the project as a multi-media book featuring 10-20 in-depth profile stories of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) runners. Her project proposal states, “through this process, we will not only create more safe space for existing Asian American runners, but will also bring in new runners, who don’t see themselves represented in running media.”
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 18 - Lee Glandorf & Kamilah Journét, Tracksmith Fellowship Program Overview & Advice | 18 May 2021 | 01:07:43 | |
Are you a runner with a creative ambition? This episode is a deep dive into the Tracksmith Fellowship Program with two Tracksmith team members– Lee Glandorf (Director of Marketing & Communications) and Kamilah Journét (Marketing Manager). Tracksmith is an independent running brand that crafts performance apparel that celebrates both the style and culture of running. Last year, they launched the inaugural Tracksmith Fellowship Program, which supported 6 projects through a year-long creative grant, including the Grounded Podcast with Dinée Dorame! The current 2020-21 cohort is working on a range of projects spanning film, music, podcasting, sculpture, photography and design. In this conversation, Lee and Kamilah discuss the mission of the brand, the fellowship program origin story, and tips for future applicants.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 17 - Starla Garcia, Registered Dietitian & Olympic Trials Qualifier | 12 May 2021 | 01:25:24 | |
“It is so healing when people get back to their ancestral foods…those are always going to give us much more connection, not just to ourselves but when we’re out there, we’re going to feel more like ourselves. And that’s why people go for a run, right? To feel more like themselves.” Starla Garcia is a Registered Dietitian, owner of The Healthy Shine, LLC, 2020 Olympic Trials Qualifier, and body and cultural diversity advocate. She was also my dietitian and worked with me closely for 6 months on how to properly fuel and stay energized. Her journey to wellness came after battling an eating disorder as a Latina student-athlete during her collegiate years so we reflect on how displacement from culture, home, and community impacted her recovery and overall well-being. That experience was the catalyst that set her on the path of intuitive eating and developing a healthy relationship with cultural foods and exercise. Now her story is what fuels her mission to dismantle the restrictive mindset and rules that runners create around diets, exercise, and body image to help them align their nutrition with their performance goals. In this conversation, we tackle big topics like food sovereignty and explore the intersection of nutrition, community, and cultural traditions.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 16 - Brandon Dugi (Diné), Outdoor Photographer & Trail Runner | 04 May 2021 | 01:07:29 | |
“[Running] helps me explore. It helps me go out and see different places. I can go on a 15 mile long run and go down some cool canyons and into rivers, you’re seeing stuff that nobody else gets to see. My photography mindset is still with me while I’m running.” Brandon Dugi (Diné) is an outdoor adventure photographer, visual storyteller, and trail runner. He grew up on the Navajo Reservation in Łichíiʼii (LeChee, AZ) and only recently started racing competitively in the trail and ultra-running scenes. Brandon is currently an Assistant Track & Field coach at Page High School and a brand ambassador for CLIF Bar and Garmin Outdoor. You may recognize him from this beautiful short film made in collaboration with HOKA ONE ONE, “Time to Hózho.” In this episode, we reflect on the twists and turns of his running journey, how he’s navigated injury and built a solid running base, and how his homelands make him a stronger runner. He also tells us how important visual storytelling is to our culture and how he’s breaking down stereotypes by pursuing his dream of being a Native photographer in the outdoor industry.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 15 - Doug Dorame (Mexican/Yaqui), High School Coach, Athletic Director, and my Dad! | 28 Apr 2021 | 01:40:28 | |
“QUOTE” Doug Dorame (Mexican/Yaqui) is currently the Athletic Director, Head Girls Track & Field Coach, and Head Girls Basketball Coach at Albuquerque High School in New Mexico. As you may have guessed, he’s also my Dad! He’s played one of the biggest roles in my running journey, as both my coach and parent, so I’m incredibly excited to share this episode. My dad grew up in the small town of Tularosa, NM as a multi-sport athlete for most of his life and went on to run Division I Track at the University of Colorado-Boulder from 1977-1981. Upon college graduation, he pursued a career in teaching and coaching at the high school level. With 40 years of coaching experience, he’s worked with numerous athletes who have gone on to run collegiately and/or gain athletic scholarships. Coach Dorame was the New Mexico Coach of the Year in Girls Track & Field in both 2015 and 2018, and was a finalist for the NFHS National High School Coach of the Year in Girls Track & Field in 2019. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame. In addition to Track & Field, he has several distinctions as a Basketball Coach, including over 400 career wins between two schools. As Athletic Director at a large inner-city public high school competing in Class 5A, he oversees over 20 athletic teams, over 60 coaches, and over 800 athletes. In this conversation, we discuss my dad’s college journey, how he began coaching, how the landscape of women’s sports has changed over the past 40 years, and his work around diversity and gender equity at the high school level. He also tells us about his goals as a masters runner and how his training looks a little different today. I’m really proud of everything he’s accomplished, and I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did! Image by Brianna Saban (Brianna Saban Photography). In this Episode:
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).
This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 46 - Kelli Hashimoto, Creator of Runnergrams (Custom Digital Art Shop) | 18 Jun 2022 | 01:07:03 | |
Kelli Hashimoto is a Japanese American digital creator and the artist behind the popular custom digital art shop, Runnergrams (on Instagram and Etsy). Kelli specializes in creating animated images of athletes of all backgrounds, as well as tons of fun and whimsical stickers! Most recently, she designed stickers for AAPI heritage month to be included in online order packaging for women’s running apparel brand, Oiselle. Kelli is an avid marathoner and digital marketing professional in her day-to-day life. I am grateful to have connected with her through the custom piece she did for Grounded Podcast. In this episode, Kelli tells us about the inspiration behind her custom running art and her passion for the running community. She shares some of her own personal marathon/road racing stories and reflects on what it means to find your place within your local run scene.
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Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). | |||
| Episode 14 - Beth Wright (Pueblo of Laguna) , Attorney, Marathoner, and one of my BFFs! | 21 Apr 2021 | 01:30:42 | |
“It’s about the process…something running teaches you is that your goals don’t necessarily get easier. But you do get stronger and better at working towards them over time." Beth Wright (Pueblo of Laguna) is an attorney at the Northwest Justice Project, 3-time Boston Marathon finisher, and former NCAA Division I runner at Syracuse University. She also happens to be one of my lifelong best friends! Beth and I are former high school cross-country/track & field teammates, and I am lucky to have been able to cheer her on to 3 Individual State 5AAAAA Track & Field championships during those years. We’ve been through so many things together, from suffering through senior year AP Calculus to surviving the infamous Hell’s Hills in XC, to incredibly important conversations around our shared Indigenous identities. Beth went on to run Cross Country and Track & Field at Syracuse University, then would later receive her J.D. from the University of New Mexico in 2020. In this conversation, we reflect on our experiences as Native students in both high school and college, her time with Wings of America and Beth’s cultural connections to running, plus how my dad played a major role in her running career. These days, Beth works primarily with Northwest Tribes and Indigenous communities through her position at the Northwest Justice Project, Washington’s largest publicly funded legal aid program. Her office provides civil legal assistance and representation to low-income people in cases affecting things like family safety and security, housing preservation, protection of income, access to health care, education and more. If you would like to support Beth’s work at the Northwest Justice Project, please visit:
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 13 - Dustin Martin (Diné), Executive Director of Wings of America | 14 Apr 2021 | 01:16:24 | |
“What I love most about running is the rhythm, at a very base level. You can go into a rhythmic trance and find thoughts you wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Your breath is in conversation with whatever terrain you’re running.” Dustin Martin (Diné) is the Executive Director of Wings of America, a non-profit organization based in Albuquerque, NM that empowers Native youth and their families through running. If you’ve listened to past episodes of this show, you have likely heard so many shout-outs to both Dustin and the Wings of America program. Dustin is a lifelong runner who grew up in Gallup, NM but spent his high school years in Albuquerque. He went on to run Division I Cross Country at Columbia University, where he also expanded his passion for the arts through silk screen printing and Indigenous design. In this conversation, we talk about how his professional life and running intersected, how his philosophy around running has evolved over time, and his own experience as a Native student-athlete at an Ivy League institution. The pandemic has dramatically shifted the work of Wings of America, so Dustin tells us more about how they’ve managed to keep connecting to community through running on virtual platforms. Wings of America holds an important role in the broader Indigenous running community through various initiatives, including their sponsorship of an all-Native American National Team the USATF Cross-Country Nationals every year and the Wings Pursuit Program, which provides Native student-athletes the opportunity to attend Boston Marathon weekend and learn more about college pathways.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 12 - Lydia Jennings (Huichol & Pascua Yaqui), Environmental Microbiologist and Trail Runner | 07 Apr 2021 | 01:12:52 | |
“I am a scientist because of running… as you’re running, you’re on the land making observations. That’s the first step of the scientific process.” Dr. Lydia Jennings is a Wixáritari (Huichol) and Yoeme (Pascua Yaqui) environmental microbiologist and trail runner. She is originally from Santa Fe, NM but currently resides in Tucson, AZ– where she recently completed her PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Arizona. Lydia’s dissertation and research interests include soil health, environmental remediation, Indigenous science, mining policy, and environmental data ownership by tribal nations. In March 2021, as a way to celebrate her academic journey and doctoral degree, Lydia completed a solo 50-mile Honor Run for 50 Indigenous Scientists, where she dedicated each mile of run to a scientist who inspires her. She was able to raise over $8,000 on behalf of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) to support their T3 Fund, which provides Indigenous students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic college scholarship funds. In this conversation, we learn about what questions Lydia is asking in her research, what her favorite soils/lands to run on are, and how being an Indigenous runner-scientist shapes the way she connects with the land.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 11 - Women's Running Across the Generations with Kathrine Switzer, Patti Catalano Dillon, & Weini Kelati | 31 Mar 2021 | 01:02:39 | |
This recording is from a live panel on "Women’s Running Across the Generations" that took place on March 20th, 2021 as part of the “Creating Community Through Movement” event hosted by the Native Health Initiative (NHI). Panelists include: Kathrine Switzer is an icon in running, an author, and an Emmy award-winning television commentator. She was the first woman to officially run Boston as a registered competitor in 1967 and New York City Marathon champion. She has been widely recognized for her achievements in the sport and for her advocacy work beyond running. She is part of the USA National Women’s Hall of Fame and is the Founder of 261 Fearless, a foundation that encourages healthy living and fosters a supportive global community for women. Patti Catalano Dillon is a Mi’kmaq runner who dominated the American Road Racing scene in the 1970-80s. She is known for being first Native and American woman to sign a pro contract. She is also the first Native and American woman to run a sub-2:30 in the marathon distance. Patti is a former world record and American record holder in several distances, including the marathon, 20K and 30K. She was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in 2006. Weini Kelati is an Eritrean runner who is currently training with Under Armour’s Dark Sky Professional Distance Team and formerly competed for the University of New Mexico, where she was the 2019 NCAA Division I Individual Cross-Country Champion. At UNM, Weini became the most decorated All-American in program history with 13 All-American honors. She was also crowned the 2019-20 Mountain West Female Athlete of the Year and made the 2020 Academic All-Mountain West Team. In this conversation, you’ll hear our panelists discuss the evolution of women’s professional running (specifically in the marathon distance), who they cite as their support systems, their current goals, and how they all hope to use their running as a form of social change. Thank you again to Native Health Initiative, Running Medicine, Wings of America, and the many other organizations involved in organizing this event and inviting me to moderate.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 10 - Ric & Nell Rojas, Father/Daughter Running and Coaching Duo | 24 Mar 2021 | 01:04:54 | |
"One of the most important things in inspiring other brown-skinned girls to run or achieve whatever they want, is to do it myself. I get motivation every day in my training from [knowing] the kind of role model I can possibly be.” – Nell Rojas “New Mexico is a great running community… we all spoke the same language– a running language. No matter what, that was the bond that we had with each other.”- Ric Rojas Ric and Nell Rojas are a dynamic father-daughter duo in running. Between the two of them, they’ve set numerous records and boasted several big wins from the mile to the marathon distance. Together, they utilize their experience and unique philosophy to coach a variety of athletes (runners, throwers, jumpers, etc.) in the Boulder, Colorado area. In this conversation, Ric and Nell reflect on their biggest career wins, give some coaching advice, and discuss how their community/family has shaped their running. Ric Rojas originally hails from Los Alamos, NM. In high school, he became a legend when he won four New Mexico high school state titles, as well as setting the prep mile record of 4:12.60 back in 1970. Ric went on to graduate from Harvard University and compete professionally against formidable opponents like Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers. He competed in two U.S. Olympic Trials (in the 10,000-meter Run) and won several major road races, including the inaugural BolderBoulder 10k in 1979. He also set the 15K World Record in 1981 with a time of 43:12. As a master’s runner, Ric has won three USATF Age-Group National 5000-meter Track Championships. Nell Rojas grew up in Boulder, Colorado. She is a triathlete turned marathoner, finishing 9th at the 2020 Marathon Olympic Trials in what was only her third marathon ever and winning Grandma’s Marathon in 2019 with a personal best of 2:28:06. Nell ran Division I Track and Cross-Country for The University of Northern Arizona (NAU) where she was a 3-time Big Sky Steeplechase Champion, 5k Big Sky Champion, and All-Conference in Cross-Country. Currently, Nell is a passionate coach and athlete, who takes a very holistic and well-rounded approach to helping others achieve their goals.
My heart goes out to the Boulder, CO community this week. If you would like to support or donate to the families of the victims of the recent tragedy at King Soopers in Boulder, please see the links below.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 9 - Latoya Shauntay Snell, Endurance Athlete & Food/Fitness Blogger | 17 Mar 2021 | 01:16:06 | |
"It takes a lot of grit to be able to show up, way before the race. A lot of people put so much emphasis on the day of, but we don’t give ourselves enough credit for the actual training that we put in…give yourself the credit and grace to say I am capable of doing hard things.” Latoya Shauntay Snell is an endurance athlete, activist, and food/fitness blogger. Latoya has completed over 30 marathons and documents much of her training over on her blog, Running Fat Chef. She is also the co-host of The Long Run Podcast (through the 300 Pounds and Running Network) alongside Martinus Evans. You may have seen her sharing the November 2020 cover of Runner’s World as a Runners Alliance Ambassador, advocating for runner safety and body politics. Latoya's advocacy journey continued to evolve when, in 2017, she was heckled by spectators while running the New York City Marathon, which was publicized in Runner's World. She went on to pen an essay about that experience on The Root that went viral. Her platform has continued to grow since then and she creates amazing content across social media platforms– from workouts, to food and meal prep, to life lessons. In this conversation, she shares insights on marathon training, endurance, and how to stay motivated when facing adversity.
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| Episode 8 - Russell Dinkins on Saving College Track & Field | 10 Mar 2021 | 00:59:46 | |
"Track & Field is important to me because of the opportunities...my youth program coach stressed using your sport as a means for accessing greater academic opportunity. Since 6 years old, I have carried that message with me." Russell Dinkins is an elite athlete and former Princeton University runner. After writing a viral piece for Medium.com last June, Russell found himself leading the charge to save Men’s Track & Field and Cross-Country at several colleges and universities across the United States, as we’ve seen several institutions cutting their programs over the past year. Schools have cited various reasons for this, including Coronavirus budget reductions and other institutional policies like Title IX, which is a federal law that protects against sex discrimination in college sports. Ultimately, Russell helped successfully reinstate the Men’s Track & Field and Cross-Country programs at William & Mary, Brown, and the University of Minnesota. We talk about diversity in Track & Field, college pathways for low-income students, and the admissions and recruitment process. This is a complex conversation with many layers, but I appreciate Russell’s candidness here as he discusses his own experiences at Princeton and gives educators, parents, coaches, and current high school athletes some great advice along the way.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 7 - Faith E. Briggs, Documentary Filmmaker & Runner | 03 Mar 2021 | 01:00:57 | |
"I love having folks to be stride in stride with. There’s a lot of community in sweating together.” Faith E. Briggs is a runner, storyteller, and documentary filmmaker passionate about sharing contemporary stories from diverse communities. Her work spans many fields, and we talk about some of her amazing documentary films including This Land, which digs into conversations about public lands, what it means to be a conservationist and who is invited to the conversation. As part of making that film, she ran 150 miles across public lands and monuments alongside local community members in order to educate herself on the history and importance of the land. Faith was also a sprinter during her college years at Yale University and we bond here over our shared alma mater and residential college dorm, Ezra Stiles (feat. our favorite mentor/Head of College, Steve Pitti– GFM, Stiles forever). We chat about how she balanced her academic, cultural and social life during those years and spend quite a bit of time discussing her personal running journey.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 6 - Leroy Silva (Pueblo of Laguna), NB3 Foundation Community Coordinator | 24 Feb 2021 | 01:05:55 | |
"For a lot of Indigenous cultures, movement is essential to our survival…whether it’s food or ceremony. I feel that is one of the roots of how running is carried on in my life. I can see it in my culture.” Leroy “Buster” Silva (Pueblo of Laguna) is a movement and wellness advocate, community coordinator for the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation, and former teacher/coach and student-athlete. He’s also the founder of Family+Indigenize+Thrive, an organization he created that takes an intergenerational approach to address challenges Native communities face when it comes to achieving wellness. He notes the importance of family in this conversation, as a parent, husband, brother, and Laguna community member. This means he spends lots of time reimagining ways to incorporate traditional lifeways and Indigenous wellness practices into his family’s routine. We also hear about his experiences as a Native student-athlete at Haskell Indian Nations University, a tribal university in Lawrence, Kansas, and his time as a wellness instructor at the Native American Community Academy (NACA) in Albuquerque, NM.
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).
This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 5 - Verna Volker (Diné), Founder of Native Women Running | 17 Feb 2021 | 01:03:03 | |
"I want Native women to be seen in a positive way... to show that we're visible in the running community, but also to provide a space for Native runners because I felt like that space wasn't there. I wanted to build that for these women.” Verna Volker (Diné) is a Hoka One One Global Ambassador and the founder of Native Women Running. With over 17k followers on Instagram, Native Women Running provides “visibility, inspiration, and community to Native women runners on and off the reservation.” Verna focuses her efforts on giving Native runners a platform in a predominantly white industry and media space. In this conversation, we discuss the ways Verna has found community while living away from her homelands, how she has continued to navigate motherhood, and what inspired her to start Native Women Running. This week, I would love for listeners to join me in supporting two Indigenous-led organizations, Pueblo Action Alliance (@puebloactionalliance) and Seeding Sovereignty (@seedingsovereignty) in their mutual aid efforts. They are currently running the Indigenous Impact Community Care Initiative, which focuses on protecting and caring for our unsheltered Indigenous relatives here in New Mexico. This initiative is on-going, and they are asking for donations by mail or you can donate funds directly to the organizations below. Donate to:
Mail donations to: P.O. Box 40212, Albuquerque, NM 87196
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 45 - Kyle Whalum, Ultramarathoner & Professional Musician | 08 Jun 2022 | 01:24:04 | |
Kyle Whalum is an ultramarathoner and professional musician. He currently plays bass in the house band for the Kelly Clarkson Show and for Katy Perry, but in his free time he logs many miles on California trails. Over the past decade, Kyle has completed 16 ultramarathons and five 100-milers. He is also an ambassador for Path Projects, Ultimate Direction, and Superfeet. In Kyle’s most recent 100-miler, the Coldwater Rumble (in Arizona), he finished in under 24 hours which shattered his previous PR by over 3 hours. In this conversation, we candidly discuss mental health, spirituality, and the importance of movement in our daily lives. Kyle tells us about trail running while working as a touring musician and we take a moment to bond over some of our favorite music!
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Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 4 - Carolyn Su, Creator of Diverse We Run | 10 Feb 2021 | 01:18:32 | |
"Everyone shows up into the sport for reasons greater than themselves…there is this interconnection that we have through running, because really running is part of the human experience.” Carolyn Su is a runner, storyteller, and the creator of the @DiverseWeRun Instagram account. With nearly 11k followers, Diverse We Run builds “racial representation through story-telling, advocacy, and community” by posting weekly, in-depth features of runners from all backgrounds. In this conversation, we discuss the passing down of language and tradition in our families, marriage and partnership in the context of our cultural backgrounds, and where running fits into it all. In this Episode:
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 3 - Alvina Begay (Diné), 3-time Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier | 03 Feb 2021 | 00:56:34 | |
"Anytime that I was successful, it was because I worked with [coaches] who allowed me to go home to get those ceremonies done, to see my parents, to have some home-cooked food.” Alvina Begay is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and three-time Olympic trials qualifier (in the marathon and 10,000m Run, respectively). She was formerly sponsored by Nike, serving as an ambassador for the Nike N7 Fund– a fund that supports organizations that provide sport and physical activity programming to youth in Native communities. Alvina is also a registered dietician and nurse. Having been born and raised in Ganado, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation, we discuss how her upbringing and Navajo traditions helped her through several tough, competitive Olympic training cycles. We chat a bit about her carrying on the legacy of famous Oglala Lakota 10,000m runner, Billy Mills, as well as her experience as a new mom!
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Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 2 - Meb Keflezighi, Marathoner & 4-time Olympian | 27 Jan 2021 | 01:00:23 | |
“Running takes you to places no other thing can. Sometimes cars and tourists can come see it, but with running you can be on a path or in other areas with dirt…you get to see a lot of great things.” Meb Keflegizhi is a four-time Olympian and 2004 Silver Medalist in the marathon– a race distance he’s conquered 26 times (if you haven’t yet checked out his book 26 Marathons, I highly recommend it). Meb is the only athlete in history to win the New York Marathon, the Boston Marathon and an Olympic Medal. He was originally born in Eritrea before his family escaped a dangerous, war-torn situation and came to the U.S. In this episode, he reflects on his perception of his own identity and self during that time, how he has found and cultivated community over the years, how diversity impacted his college decision making process, and how he understood his cultural roots while being so far removed from his homelands.
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Music in this episode by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. | |||
| Episode 1 – Jordan Marie Daniel (Kul Wicasa Lakota), Runner & Advocate | 25 Jan 2021 | 01:15:06 | |
Welcome to the first episode of the Grounded Podcast with Dinée Dorame! In this conversation, you’ll hear Kul Wicasa Lakota runner, Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel talk about her family history in running, her time as a Native student at the University of Maine, her past struggles with an eating disorder and her recovery process, and her upcoming projects (including a virtual race opportunity for listeners)! She’s currently sponsored by both Altra & Rabbit, while also serving as the Founder and Executive Director of Rising Hearts grassroots organization. You may have seen Jordan on the November 2020 cover of Runner’s World, being highlighted for the work and prayer runs she’s done to bring widespread awareness to the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, & Two-Spirit (MMIWGTS+) epidemic facing our communities, as well as other issues around climate change and land protection. TW: Eating Disorder (from minutes 28-37) In this Episode...
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