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Explore every episode of the podcast She Explores

Dive into the complete episode list for She Explores. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Endless Curiosity (The Last Episode)19 Jul 202300:38:23

This is the last episode of She Explores. In it, we say farewell, reflect on endings, and invite past guests of the show to share the lessons they’ve learned in the outdoors over the last few years. Through these women’s stories, we’re reminded how important it is to have the space we need to show up as ourselves when we’re spending time outside. 

Thank you to everyone who has touched the show over the years: the listeners, our guests, our collaborators, and our advertisers. It’s been an honor to hold your stories. 

READ THIS BLOG POST if you want to learn more about our decision, and what the team is up to next.

Featured in this episode: Jaymie Shearer, Shon’t, Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe, Sydney Williams, Gabaccia, Gretchen Powers, Noël Russell, Hailey Hirst, Tori Duhaime.

She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

Resources

Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

A Deeper Connection - Mugdha Flores12 May 202300:25:37

Mugdha Flores is proof of where your passion for science and the natural world can take you. From playing in tide pools as a child in Southern India, to mapping the undiscovered corners of the ocean, to surveying salmon as they make their long journey to the Pacific. For Mugdha, all her exploration has resulted in a deeper connection with the environment, and herself.

Mugdha is a marine biologist turned science communicator championing community engagement and finding joy in the outdoors.

This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. 

Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores

Featured in this episode: Mugdha Flores

She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

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Resources

Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

Taking Up Space on the Trail: Victoria Amico05 Oct 202200:28:47

Victoria Amico would say that hiking 100% ruined her life, but in the best way possible. Seven years ago, she thought she knew what she wanted in her career and devoted her whole self to achieving her goals. But then hiking came along and forced her to examine what she really wanted. In the process, Victoria ended up learning how to choose herself and take up space with her body on the trail.

Victoria shares how she got started hiking (and the transformation it inspired), why 100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail was the right number this year, why she started her social platform Plus Sized Outdoors, and her hopes for everyone out there listening. 

Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores

Featured in this episode: Victoria Amico

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Danner

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Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

Lessons We Can Learn From Wilderness Therapy: Judith Sadora13 May 202000:46:40

Judith Sadora, a licensed marriage & family therapist (LMFT) who practices wilderness therapy, shares how she applies some of her backcountry work into her everyday life, and how we might be able to use those tools in the front country, too.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s difficult to get out the way we’d like to. Here in the US, states have been under varying levels of lockdown for the last two months. And it’s been wearing on us all in different ways - whether it’s coping with loss, the stress of isolation, grappling with the unknown, or trying to make sense of the inequities and injustices that continue to harm our fellow Americans.

Judith joins us on the podcast to talk through some tips for tapping into nature to manage stress during this time and into the future. We also get to learn what wilderness therapy is and why Judith is so connected to and moved by the practice.

Featured in this episode: Judith Sadora, LMFT & Wilderness Therapist

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Salomon

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Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Leaning into the Unknown: Chris Fagan06 May 202000:54:48

Chris Fagan isn't a professional adventurer, but she’s spent a good deal of the leisure time in the last 30 years of her adult life seeing what she’s made of. Chris has skied unguided to the South Pole, run 100-mile ultras, sailed and paddled thought the Inside Passage, and cycled in Tanzania. Adventure is a big part of her alone time, but it’s also formed the foundation of her marriage and family life. Today, it's helping her lean into the unknown of her husband Marty's cancer diagnosis. 

Chris is also a really thoughtful mom. And though Mother’s Day is a holiday that many of us have our reasons for choosing to celebrate or choosing not to celebrate, what Chris says about caring for family really resonates, especially living during this global pandemic. We recommend listening to this conversation through a COVID-19 filter: what Chris says about small moments, resilience, and appreciating the people in your life feels especially poignant today.

Featured in this episode: Chris Fagan

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Salomon and Deuter

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Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Feeling the Loss of A Thru-Hike: Lindsey Falkenburg22 Apr 202000:44:00

Lindsey Falkenburg is feeling the loss of a 2020 thru-hike... and remembering what she's made of. Like a lot of 2020 thru-hikers, Lindsey canceled her plan to hike the Continental Divide Trail in June. In its absence, she's allowing herself to feel the loss - and also filling her cup with urban hiking, art, and re-discovering her resilience.

Featured in this episode: Lindsey Falkenburg & outdoor memory voice memo by Sarina Clark

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Salomon, Deuter, and Travel South Dakota.

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • What thru-hiking has added to LIndsey's life
  • A bit about Lindsey's previous hikes of the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail
  • Why she's intentional about building a career and balanced life between thru-hikes
  • The decision that went into canceling her 2020 southbound thru-hike of the CDT
  • Why Lindsey feels a sense of community with fellow thru-hikers
  • Why Lindsey thinks it's important for outdoor-lovers to grieve the loss of what they were hoping for this season
  • Advice for thru-hikers who had to cancel their hikes
  • Advice for all  people who are experiencing the outdoors differently today

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Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Adventuring with Cerebral Palsy: Win Kelly Charles15 Apr 202000:32:26

Win Kelly Charles says it best: "People with cerebral palsy are strong and people with cerebral palsy are determined." In this episode, we hear about all the different ways she finds joy outdoors (snowboarding, climbing, and e-cycling to name a few activities), as well as why she's so motivated to share her life with CP with more people.

Plus, we'll listen to Cherie Schaller's outdoor memory of comfortable silence on an alpine hike in Colorado.

Featured in this episode: Win Kelly Charles & Cherie Schaller

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by  Appalachian Gear Company, Cusa Tea, and Travel South Dakota.

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, Meydan, Swelling, and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution License

Our Outdoor Memories08 Apr 202000:50:51

The memories of outdoor adventures are precious and nourishing. They connect us to our friends and certain versions of ourselves. They're our happy places. And they give us the fortitude to push through hard times. This is a compilation of listener outdoor memories that feel especially salient today.

There’s a palpable sense of longing in the air, so we created an  episode that provides space for that longing — and the potential for celebration for the moments we've lived outside, too. 

Featured in this episode:  Becky Marcelliano, Fran Turauskis, Genevieve, Madi Salvati, Mary Straub, Gretchen Powers, Amber, Iz La Motte, Nikki Smith, Andrea Di Maio, Jasmine Jones, Erin Espinosa, Lindsay, Paola Lopez, Annelise Del Rio, Julie Hotz, Sharlene, and Somang Lee.

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Deuter, Appalachian Gear Company & Travel South Dakota

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution License

Creativity to Guide Us Through: Anna Brones01 Apr 202000:40:54

For Anna Brones, the point of creating is rarely the end result - it's all about the satisfying act of doing. While a lot of us are missing the time we normally spend outside, Anna reassures us that there's inspiration to be found with the materials we have on hand. 

In this episode, we talk with Anna about the Creative Fuel Challenge she started for anyone who wants to join in and Women's Wisdom Project. The latter is the culmination of two years of work and celebrates the wisdom of inspirational women through beautiful, deceptively simple papercut portraits. These women are environmentalists, artists, writers, advocates, and more.

Featured in this episode: Anna Brones

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Danner & Appalachian Gear Company

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • Why creativity is so important in the age of COVID-19
  • About Anna's Creative Fuel challenge - creative prompts sent to your inbox that anyone can do to step outside of their daily routine
  • How Anna is experiencing the outdoors, very close to home
  • Anna's Women's Wisdom Project: 100 paper cuts of inspiring women
  • Why quotes need context
  • What Anna learned from taking on such a big creative challenge

Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution License

Owning Her Body on the Trail: Beth Bradley at No Man's Land Film Festival25 Mar 202001:02:51

Beth Bradley can confidently say that hiking changed her life. Call it her hobby, her love, her self-care. Doing the 52 Hike Challenge has changed the voice in her head from one that says "I'm too fat" to one that believes, without a doubt, that we need to change who we think of when we think of a hiker. 

We interviewed Beth live at No Man's Land Film Festival on March 8th PLUS Gale checked in with Beth this past Monday over the phone because a lot has changed in the world since they met up in Denver.

Featured in this episode: Beth Bradley

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Deuter, Appalachian Gear Company, and  South Dakota Tourism

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution License

A Blueprint for an Adventurous Life: Shon't Savage18 Mar 202000:43:50

For Shon’t Savage, divorce was a bad thing that turned out to be a good thing. Ten years ago, while sharing custody of her then two year old son, she found herself with free time. Shon’t grieved the days she lost with her son, but filled the space with a newfound love for hiking, camping, backpacking, and cross-country skiing. In doing so, Shon’t found herself once more -- which ultimately made her a better mother.

Featured in this episode: Shon’t Savage

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Danner, Appalachian Gear CompanySouth Dakota Tourism, and BetterHelp

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, Meydan, and Swelling using a Creative Commons Attribution License

To Get the Job Done: Hotshot Wildland Firefighter Amanda Monthei11 Mar 202000:36:44

Meet Amanda Monthei, a hotshot wildland firefighter and creative who has made it her mission to empower women and all qualified firefighters to know there is space for them in wildland firefighting. We spoke to Amanda about her path to fighting fires as well as her project “The Women Before Me” that celebrates the women of the Zig Zag hotshot crew, the legacies they humbly left behind, and the qualities they brought to the US Forest Service.

In this episode, we learn how the common traits women bring to the firefighting field are important and why it’s valuable to have those traits in any typically male-dominant field. Amanda wants more women to be wildland firefighters, as well to do other outdoor work like trail building or outdoor management. She encourages them by showcasing the impact and lives of the women who have paved the way for her and asking others to be open to alternative career paths.

Featured in this episode: Amanda Monthei

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Sierra Designs, South Dakota Tourism, and Better Help

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • How Amanda got from Michigan to the Pacific Northwest to become a wildland firefighter.
  • What a hotshot firefighter is and what the job entails.
  • How women bring a unique and important perspective to the group dynamic of a crew.
  • About the legacy other female firefighters have left Amanda to carry on and why she wants to honor them.
  • How Amanda’s “The Women Before Me” project came about and how she came to pursue it.
  • Why everyone should believe they belong in the jobs they might not see themselves in yet.
  • The value of feeling companionship while breaking barriers.

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

 

Chasing Space on Earth: Dr. Sian Proctor04 Mar 202000:43:24

Ever dreamed of going to space? Analog astronaut and geoscientist Dr. Sian Proctor shares how she lives out her childhood dream of space exploration here on earth. We talked to Sian just a week after Sensoria, a first of its kind, all-women’s Mars simulation at the HI-SEAS habitat on the Big Island of Hawaii. 

In this episode, we learn how proudly pursuing your passions (in the outdoors and otherwise) helps open up opportunity. Sian followed her curiosity scuba diving, getting her pilot’s license, traveling around the world, and studying science. While not the end goal, all helped her in applying to be an astronaut with NASA. And though she didn’t get the final call, she’s kept herself open to analog space exploration on Earth. We hear how preparing for life in space encourages us to be better environmental stewards and fellow humans on our home planet.

Featured in this episode: Dr. Sian Proctor

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Victorinox Swiss Army, and Alpenventures Unguided.

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

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In this episode, you’ll hear:

  • How Sian became an analog astronaut
  • Why going on a backpacking trip is a mini-analog space expedition!
  • What Sian hopes to accomplish before age 50
  • Sensoria, an all-women’s Mars simulation which Sian completed at the end of January
  • Why Sian believes diversity must be considered when training and sending people to space
  • How as an African American scientist, Sian hopes to bring in more women of color to to space exploration
  • The importance of proudly pursuing your passions throughout your life
  • Why investing in space is an investment in planet Earth

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Music in this episode is by Meydan, Josh Woodward, Swelling, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons attribution license.

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

 

Constant Forward Movement: McKayla Bower07 Sep 202200:34:32

Whether she’s rock climbing or sailing, McKayla Bower is motivated by always moving forward. And by setting her sights on becoming the first trans woman and queer person to circumnavigate the world solo in her sailboat Swirl, she’s moving forward in more ways than one.

We talk about what inspired the trip, how McKayla is preparing for the journey, the kinds of marine life she will encounter, and the big why behind this big endeavor.

Featured in this episode: McKayla Bower (she/her)

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Danner Boots

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Resources

Sponsors 

Music is licensed through podcastmusic.com unless otherwise noted.

Music also by Josh Woodward.

 Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. 

Purpose and Perspective in the Superstition Mountains: The Cairn Project11 Dec 201900:52:55

The power of a two-night backpacking trip in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona is multiplied when it's spent with women who are motivated by a common goal: to help introduce more girls to the outdoors. We backpack with The Cairn Project.

The premise of The Cairn Project is simple: they work with ambassadors to help them host adventure fundraisers.  Then they pool the money and give it out in small grants to nonprofits that get girls and young women outside. 

Featured in this episode: Alison Wright, Sarah Castle, Sally Jewell, Martha Wyckoff, Camille Fiducia, Emily Teitsworth, Marina Fleming, Ashley Carruth, Licia Sahagun, Petrika Peters, and Amanda Neiman.

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Smartwool, Stio, and ThirdLove.

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Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Connecting Two Worlds: The Porter Voice Collective04 Dec 201900:46:16

There's a well-kept secret in the international trekking industry. The Porter Voice Collective is raising up the backbone of the industry to advocate for change. In doing so, they're empowering both porters and tourists to speak up for an equitable workforce.

In this episode, we talk with Marinel de Jesus and porter/guide Lucía Merclaluly Vela Sosa to learn about a documentary The Porter Voice Collective is creating to help tell the story of porter treatment on Peru's Inca Trail. They're currently crowdfunding to fund the film - an opportunity for us to take action.

Featured in this episode: Marinel de Jesus & Lucía Merclaluly Vela Sosa

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Smartwool, Danner, and Ritual

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Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Resources

Note: Initially this landing page contained a link to Marinel’s business and blog. In order to focus on the Porter Voice Collective and their efforts for change, we have removed them since publication of the episode.

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Meydan using a creative commons attributions license.

Working Towards a Greater Good: Jennifer McLaren27 Nov 201900:40:47

Jennifer McLaren doesn't have a five year plan for her career in the outdoor industry, but she knows her personal values will continue to align with the work she's doing. Why? From her start in finance to her current role as CEO at Smartwool, Jen has worked hard, learned a lot, and developed a personal toolkit that means she can take her skills and apply them in an industry she's passionate about.

In partnership with Smartwool, we talk with their CEO Jennifer McLaren about how her love of the outdoors and a career in finance collided to take her where she's at today: the leader of a purpose-driven company.

Featured in this episode: Jennifer McLaren, President & CEO of Smartwool

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Smartwool

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Sponsor Websites & Codes:

Music is by Kai Engel, Josh Woodward, Meydan, and Lee Rosevere using a CC by A license.

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. You can also share this podcast with a friend. Thank you for your support!

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays – subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Dreaming (and Creating) Big in a Small Town: Briana Feola20 Nov 201900:43:05

Briana Feola gets to wear the hats of biologist, geologist, and environmental scientist through her work at Brainstorm---all by creating affordable, nature-inspired screenprints and other art that we can hang on our walls.

This is an episode is for creatives, but it’s also for people who dream big in small towns. Because it can often feel like the grass is greener or the opportunity is another stop on your journey, but Briana's story is one of striving to build a simple life while achieving some notable accomplishments in her business.

Gale heads to Briana's studio to learn more about her art, why Briana's chosen New Hampshire as her home, and how she hopes her work helps others dream big, too. 

Featured in this episode: Briana Feola

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Smartwool and Stio

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Meydan using a creative commons attributions license.

Climbing Our Own Mountains: Wasfia Nazreen15 Nov 201900:34:00

In partnership with Sherpa Adventure Gear, guest host Laura Hughes interviews Wasfia Nazreen-- mountaineer, activist, and writer-- to learn about what it was like to take a journey up each of the Seven Summits, what it was like to be the first person from Bangladesh to do it, and how approaching external mountains in our lives mirror the personal work it takes to summit our internal ones.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Sponsor Websites & Codes:

 

Music is by Kai Engel and Lee Rosevere using a CC by A license.

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. You can also share this podcast with a friend. Thank you for your support!

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays – subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

All This Possibility: Jenny Bruso13 Nov 201900:54:06

Jenny Bruso's multi-day trek on the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru transformed what she thought was possible for herself; it's opened her up to the idea of hikes around the world and helped refine her mission as the founder of Unlikely Hikers. And while Jenny's enthralled by all this possibility, she's still working through how to trek internationally in a respectful way.

Featured in this episode: Jenny Bruso

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Smartwool , Danner, and ThirdLove

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Meydan using a creative commons attributions license.

Room to Play: Adventure Photographer Krystle Wright06 Nov 201900:47:52

Krystle Wright is an Australian adventure photographer who's worked really hard to make a name for herself taking risks and creating images all over the world: base jumping in the arctic, storm chasing in the American West, free diving with orcas, wandering the desert in Morocco. As she looks ahead to the new year, she's welcoming rest and building more room in her life for play. 

Featured in this episode: Krystle Wright

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Stio, Smartwool , and Ritual

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Meydan using a creative commons attributions license.

A Big Exhale: Sydney Williams of Hiking My Feelings30 Oct 201900:40:57

For Sydney Williams, “Hiking My Feelings” means identifying trauma, figuring out how it manifests in our bodies through physical and mental disease, and figuring out how to heal from that. For Sydney, it’s been hiking - and taking her story on tour to connect with other people who benefit from it. She believes that showing up as your whole self is how we’ll changed the world: one hike, kayak, bike ride, (fill in the______) at a time.

Featured in this episode: Sydney Williams

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Danner & Smartwool

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, and Kai Engel using a creative commons attributions license.

Forever Unfolding: Kara Richardson Whitely23 Oct 201900:45:30

Kara Richardson Whitely is the author of Gorge, a memoir about her climb up Mount Kilimanjaro and her lifelong experience with binge eating disorder, the most common (but least talked about) eating disorder. Kara's proud to be part of a growing community of plus-size adventurers, while simultaneously acknowledging that her relationship with food and her body is forever unfolding.

Featured in this episode: Kara Richardson Whitely

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Danner, Smartwool , and ThirdLove

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • How's Kara's definition of a "hiker girl" has changed over time
  • What binge eating disorder is, how it's not talked about enough, and why it needs to be talked about more
  • Why, when Kara wrote about her third hike up Mount Kilimanjaro in her memoir Gorge, she decided to include her relationship with food
  • How hiking gives Kara space to think, and how it's basically the opposite of bingeing
  • About the first of Kara's Moving Mountains Retreat series 
  • Why Kara is proud to be part of a growing community of plus size hikers

Resources

Other Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Monplaisir using a creative commons attributions license.

Running Towards the Sun: Verna Volker16 Oct 201900:40:08

Verna is Navajo, a mother of four, and days away from running a 50-mile ultra run. She started running after having her second child 12 years ago. Hear about Verna's journey as a runner and how it’s underlined her resilience as a person. Now she's bringing native women together by uplifting their running journeys, too.

Featured in this episode: Verna Volker

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Smartwool & Stio

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • About growing up Navajo in Northwest New Mexico
  • How Verna took up running after her second child
  • The ways running has emphasized Verna's resilience
  • Why Verna shares the stories of other native runners through her Instagram: @native_women_running
  • Verna's annual virtual run to raise awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women
  • Why Verna places an emphasis on safety (not fear) when running
  • What excites her about the future of Native Women Running

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Monplaisir using a creative commons attributions license.

We're back! And an Introduction to Creative Fuel02 Sep 202200:03:38

A hello, what we've been up to, a new podcast Gale's working on called "Creative Fuel", and a fresh episode of She Explores comes back next week. 

Resources

Music by Josh Woodward

 

What We Need to Fuel Ourselves: Chi Pham09 Oct 201900:39:44

Chi Pham wants you to know that you can fuel your body for success as an outdoor athlete, and it doesn't have to fit in the little boxes you see on social media. Because being focused on health and wellness doesn't mean there's just one way to live your life, Chi is committed to showing up, keeping it real, and encouraging other women to be themselves above all else.

In this episode, we talk about how Chi took her training outdoors, how she slowly started fueling her body to help achieve her goals (rather than feeding into toxic diet culture), and the power Instagram can have on what we think 'fit' looks like.

Featured in this episode: Chi Pham

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Smartwool, Nature Gnaws, and Ritual

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
Visit She-Explores.com

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • When Chi started identifying as an athlete, and when she took her athleticism outdoors
  • What Chi enjoys most about a triathlon (hint, she likes a challenge!)
  • Why she loves trail running
  • How a bike accident helped put her physical insecurities in perspective
  • When Chi realized her restrictive eating was taking a toll on her training
  • The power Instagram can have over what we think is healthy and what fit looks like
  • Why Chi is frustrated by the sameness of her EXPLORE feed on Instagram
  • Why Chi is happy not to weigh herself anymore
  • About her forthcoming trip to Vietnam to spend time with family and rediscover her roots

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kay Orange.

Music is also by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere using a creative commons attributions license.

Shining a Light on Caving: Katt Greaser25 Sep 201900:35:32

Katt Greaser shares her experience on a recent caving trip to Scapegoat Wilderness area in Montana, and encourages you to try the sport, too.

Featured in this episode: Katt Greaser

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell  & Deuter

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In this episode, you'll hear:

  • How Katt got into caving
  • Why Katt got a later start (in her eyes) on hiking, camping, and caving
  • Recordings from Katt's caving trip in the Scapegoat Wilderness area in Montana
  • What you need to get started caving
  • What it feels like in the cave
  • The benefits of challenging yourself in a sport like caving
  • What Katt will carry with her from the trip

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Liam McNally.

Music is also by Lee Rosevere using a creative commons attributions license.

If You Want to Try Backpacking, You're in Good Company18 Sep 201900:58:40

With the help of listeners and Backpacking 101 author Heather Balogh Rochfort, we share stories of first-time backpackers and advice to get started. 

Whether you're a seasoned backpacker or a beginner, there's inspiration and a little trail magic (not the thru-hiking kind) to be found in this episode.

Woman featured in this episode: Voice memos: Maggie Rehberg, Holly Bullis, Jennifer Jansen, Lindsey Falkenburg, Victoria Wang, Laura Navar, Tori Morrison, Marie Vanderpool, Lori O’Connell, Sarah Grothjan, Alexandra Goldman, Meg Dagon, and Julie Hotz.

Interview with Heather Balogh Rochfort on getting started backpacking.

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell, Deuter, and Rooted

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

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In this episode, you'll hear:

  • Stories of listeners' first time out backpacking
  • The story of host Gale Straub's first backpacking trip
  • Conversation with Heather Balogh Rochfort, author of Backpacking 101, about practical advice for women who are new to backpacking, including:
    • Safety
    • Hygiene
    • What to pack
    • Leave No Trace
  • Advice from listeners about what they wish they knew when they got started, as well as specific advice for fellow solo backpackers
  • A bit of cheerleading you didn't know you needed to take the final step towards your first backpacking trip!

Resources

Sponsors

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Meydän, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.

A Beautiful Place of Healing: Emilee Struss11 Sep 201900:42:59

Sometimes the hardest thing isn’t running an ultra marathon or topping out at a climbing competition, it’s showing up for yourself in small ways, taking a step back and figuring out what you need so you can figure out who you are. For a long time, Emilee Struss identified as a climber and an endurance runner. Persistent injuries have made her dig into the hard work of self-love.

Featured in this episode: Emilee Struss

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell, Deuter, and ThirdLove

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
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In this episode, you'll hear:

  • How growing up in an athletic family shaped Emilee's interest and desires
  • About finding climbing as a 16 year old in Minnesota
  • How a fall from a 70 foot tree gave Emilee a sense of gratitude beyond her years
  • About struggling through persistent injuries, and the space that opened up in the process
  • Why Emilee is more interested in enjoying the journey outdoors than big accomplishments
  • Why selling her climbing equipment isn't saying no to climbing, it's taking a pause and saying yes to other opportunities
  • What Emilee is hoping for in her writing career and business
  • How Emilee defines success today
  • Advice Emilee has for others going through injuries or setbacks

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Meydän using a creative commons attributions license.

With Respect for Rolling Tundra: Ranger Sara Wolman04 Sep 201900:48:13

Sara Wolman is an interpretive park ranger for US Fish and Wildlife in King Salmon, Alaska. Find out how she's building a career, fostering community, and raising a young child in the rolling tundra, and what you do to help gather valuable scientific data to help tell the story of environmental change.

Sara reached out because every day, she's confronted with a story that's just not getting enough attention: marine mammal and bird dieout on Bristol Bay - - and what it could mean for the rest of the world.

Featured in this episode: Sara Wolman

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell, Deuter, and Ana Luisa

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
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In this episode, you'll hear:

  • About how Sara fell in love with Alaska on a visit in college and knew she needed to return
  • Sara's early career doing trail work in Alaska, Washington, and California
  • About working at Katmai National Park as a ranger, and a couple of tips for those looking to work at a federal agency
  • What a National Park conservancy or "friends of" group is
  • Her career evolution to working at US Fish and Wildlife as an interpretive ranger
  • About the marine species die-offs occuring on Bristol Bay and what they might say about the rest of the world
  • How we can help collect data for federal agencies and nonprofits that can help tell the story of environmental change
  • Tips for gaining a deeper appreciation fo the natural world when you're spending time outsdie
  • What Sarah loves about living in King Salmon
  • How she's built community living in the bush
  • Why we might need to devote a whole additional episode on women in the bush of Alaska

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Meydän using a creative commons attributions license.

The Vulnerability of Putting Your Voice Out There: Sarah Shimazaki28 Aug 201900:55:15

How can you do what you love without losing yourself in the process? Putting your voice out there can be a very vulnerable thing: just take it from Outside Voices podcast host Sarah Shimazaki. We talk about the very real struggle of how to balance work, passion, and your own wellbeing.

The stories you tell, the podcasts you listen to - they say a lot about you. In this episode, we’ll learn about Sarah through her work on Outside Voices as well as how that work makes her feel. Sometimes she wants to pull herself apart from it (and sometimes that’s the healthiest thing) but what she chooses to focus on says a lot about what she cares about: that the outdoors belongs to all of us.

Featured in this episode: Sarah Shimazaki

Featured in the Outside Voices Trailer: Ahjani Yepa, Olivia VanDamme, Adam Hymans, Evelyn Shimazaki and Bam Mendiola

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell, GreenerWays Organic, and Ritual.

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook
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In this episode, you'll hear:

  • How Sarah started podcasting
  • Why the PGM ONE Summit spurred her to action
  • The need for a podcast that underlines that the outdoors belongs to all, not a select few
  • About the learning curve of podcasting and why Sarah asked for help vs. trying to do it all on her own
  • Why it can be hard to separate your sense of self from your work, especially if you love what you do
  • What ethical storytelling is and why Sarah wants it to be the norm vs. the anomoly
  • The boundaries that can be necessary if you want to keep doing meaningful work
  • Sarah's vision for Outside Voices Podcast
  • Why joy, healing, and power are integral outputs of Sarah's work

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Meydän using a creative commons attributions license.

Butterflies, Bison, and the Border Wall: Conservationist Krista Schlyer21 Aug 201900:57:49

Conservation photographer Krista Schlyer describes the almost 2,000-mile border between the US and Mexico as a vibrant landscape teeming with life. Raising awareness for its biodiversity has become an integral part of her life’s work and is the focus of a new documentary film she directed, Ay Mariposa, which came out in May.

We hear a lot about the border wall in the news, but we don’t often talk about the wildlife and landscape that its construction impacts.

Note: We want to emphasize that while there’s a lot of talk about flora and fauna in this episode, it’s not to discount the very human elements of the US/Mexico border - it’s simply to highlight what exists alongside it.

Featured in this episode: Krista Schlyer

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell, Rooted, and ThirdLove

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

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In this episode, you'll hear:

  • Krista's circuitous route to political journalism, followed by a shift to environmental journalism
  • Advice for making a living as a conservation photographer
  • How witnessing a rare herd of bison jump over a border fence changed the direction of Krista's work
  • Why Krista is so motivated to showcase the biodiversity at the US/Mexico border
  • The many animals that call both the United States and Mexico home
  • Why the butterfly is the perfect symbol for the delicate state of animal life along the Rio Grande
  • The unknown cost of human and animal life due to the border
  • How to keep moving forward when you're feeling discouraged by the progress of a project
  • About Ay Mariposa, a short documentary film telling the story of two women and a rare community of butterflies in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Meydän using a creative commons attributions license.

A Challenge from the Universe: Sharlene Jones14 Aug 201900:48:45

Sharlene Jones is allergic to exercise (literally) but because hiking feels like home, fear of what could happen isn't enough to keep her from hitting the trail. Instead, she's developed a familiarity with her body that makes it possible to keep moving forward.

It's hard to say what the bigger challenge from the universe was: the exercise-induced anaphylaxis or winning the lottery to hike Mount Whitney after being diagnosed. Either way, Sharlene Jones is not one to back down from a challenge.

Featured in this episode: Sharlene Jones

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

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In this episode, you'll hear:

  • Why Sharlene loves hiking and other forms of exercise, and why she almost had to give them up
  • What an exercise allergy is and how Sharlene manages the attacks
  • How a service dog has helped
  • Why Sharlene wouldn't let fear keep her from hiking Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental United States
  • How as an ex-pat, hiking feels like home
  • How focusing on "what is", rather than on "what ifs" can help you find joy in a moment and manage chronic health issues
  • Words of advice for others who might have challenges or fears that get in the way of spending time outside

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes
Merrell: Learn more at Merrell.com

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Meydän using a creative commons attributions license.

Giving Wildlife a Second Chance: Rescue, Rehab & Release07 Aug 201900:45:10

We humans have a habit of getting in the way of wild animals, but wildlife rehab is one way we can give back. Sirena Rana Dufault has spent nine of the last ten years volunteering at Wildlife Rehabilitation Northwest Tuscon. She shares why it's needed, what happens when an animal is taken in, funny stories along the way, and the beauty of the release.

As Sirena mentions in the episode, Wildlife Rehabilitation Northwest Tuscon is a completely self-funded facility that relies on donations. If you'd like to help support the work they do there, head to their website and donate, or give them a follow on their Facebook page to stay in touch.

Woman featured in this episode: Sirena Rana Dufault

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell and Ritual

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

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In this episode, you'll hear:

  • How Sirena got started volunteering at Wildlife Rehabilitation Northwest Tuscon
  • What wildlife rehabilitation is and why it's necessary
  • Funny (and scary!) stories from volunteering
  • Why Sirena loves dedicating some of her spare time to rehabilitating large birds of prey like owls and perigrine falcons
  • The life cycle from intake to release
  • When release back into the wild isn't possible
  • Myths and misconceptions of animal rescue
  • How to get involved, too!

Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

  • Merrell: Learn more at Merrell.com
  • Ritual: Get 10% your first 3 months by heading to Ritual.com/EXPLORE

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.

Adventure Moms: Getting Out There With (and Without) Your Kids31 Jul 201900:50:19

Becoming a mom doesn't mean you stop going outside. We pulled together five incredible adventure moms to talk about getting out there with (and without) your kids.

We ask questions like: how do you know which trails are age appropriate? How do you make time as a single mom? Where can you find affordable gear? How can you use the outdoors as a place for education?

Continuing the conversation from a panel at Outdoor Retailer, we teamed up with OtterBox to highlight all the "cans" of motherhood when it comes to the outdoors.

Woman featured in this episode: Shon’t Savage, Brooke Froelich, Heather Balogh Rochfort, Melody Forsyth, and Jessica Carrillo Alatorre.

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by OtterBox

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

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In this episode, you'll hear:

  • How the moms' outdoor lives change (or didn''t change) shape when they had kids
  • Why Shon't wanted to maintain a self outside of mother when she had her son
  • How Adventure Mamas helps mothers with self care in the outdoors without their kids
  • Tips for making time outside solo (even if you're a single mom)
  • Advice for getting out there with your kids on the trail and the ski slope
  • About Hike It Baby and their new age-appropriate Family Trail Guide
  • Tips for hitting the trail with special needs kids from Melody Forsyth, aka @downwithadventure
  • How to find affordable used gear for growing kids
  • Ways to keep your kids engaged as they grow older

Resources

Sponsor

OtterBox: Learn more at OtterBox.com

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.

Makeup and Muckboots in the Field29 Apr 202200:30:02

How do you navigate your femininity in a male-dominated space like environmental fieldwork research? For Julia Bingham, it's been an exploration of self.

Julia is an interdisciplinary marine scientist and currently a PhD candidate at Duke University. Her research is focused on improving conservation and fishery management through local communities’ knowledge and values. But her discipline hasn’t always been the social sciences. She’s been engaged in field based coastal research in one form or another for nearly 10 years. In undergrad and post grad, their fieldwork had them on rocky shores, mudflats, beach dunes, forested streams, salt marshes, and onboard research boats.

This is all important to know because today Julia’s sharing their story of navigating femininity in the field. And whether you’re also in environmental sciences or part of a wholely different profession or pasttime that has made you feel pressured to fit in, that has made you question what makes you “you”, Julia’s words will resonate. 

Note: there are a few mentions of sexual harassment and sexual assault in this episode. 

eatured in this episode: Julia Bingham (she/they)

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook

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Resources

Music is licensed through Musicbed.

 Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. 

A Few Big Leaps: Becky Marcelliano24 Jul 201900:44:12

Becky Marcelliano shares how she pivoted from working as an art teacher to working her way up to be a marketing manager a marketing manager in the outdoor industry (first Deuter, then Salomon). Her interview is full of tips for breaking into a new industry, but it’s also about her openness in the face of big life changes, living with chronic illness, and an omnipresent passion for lifting women up.

Woman featured in this episode: Becky Marcelliano

Hosted by Gale Straub

Made with support by Aunt Fannie's, Benchmark Maps, Hamama, and ThirdLove

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.

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In this episode, you'll hear

  • Becky's transition from art teacher to marketing manager in the outdoor industry
  • The benefits of dabbling in your interests outside of your current career
  • Advice for making a big career leap
  • What it's like working a desk job in a big outdoor company
  • The stigma of grappling with a mystery illness
  • What Becky's chronic illnesses have taught her about her health
  • Why Becky is passionate about lifting up other women in her work and outdoor life

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.

Pushing Through: Meghan and Laurie Young10 Jul 201900:58:07

Laurie Young stepped into her daughter Meghan's world by joining her on a trek to Annapurna base camp in Nepal. Together they pushed through every challenge that presented itself while learning that limits are flexible and the mother/daughter relationship is more fluid than we think.

Woman featured in this episode: Meghan Young and Laurie Young

Hosted by Gale Straub

Made with support by Aunt Fannie's, Benchmark Maps, Parks Project, and Ritual

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.

Visit She-Explores.com

In this episode, you'll hear

  • How a mother/daughter relationship evolves over time
  • The ways a big goal can help one in recovery for a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • The ways TBI symptoms can manifest
  • Why Laurie and Meghan wanted to hike to Annapurna base camp together
  • What training for altitude and strenuous hiking was like
  • All the unexpected things that happened on the trip
  • Why Meghan wanted her Mom to feel the accomplishment of achieving their goal
  • How their trip had its challenges but was ultimately a privilege
  • What mother and daughter learned about each other abroad

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

  • Benchmark Maps: Use code 'SHEEXPLORES' for 20% off your order!
  • Aunt Fannie's
  • Parks Project: Use code 'SHEEXPLORES' for 15% off all discountable apparel and accessories!
  • Ritual: Use code 'EXPLORE' at checkout for 10% off your first three months

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.

Revisiting Fifty Plus03 Jul 201900:51:40

What's it like to enjoy the outdoors after the age of 50? We're revisiting one of our favorite episodes that helps answer that question with the voices and experiences of you, the listeners.

We're honored to be highlighting the wisdom and experience of women in their 50's, 60's, and 70's. These are voices that we don't hear as often in our youth-obsessed culture. All of these stories are extraordinary for their willingness to share, try new things, and encourage others to do the same.

Women Featured in this Episode: Jo Ann Hickey, Jean Drummond, Cheryl Falkenburg, Joann Baste, Kristi, Kathleen Merrick, Liz Wise, Rose Burrows, Tricia, Hellen Wallis, Sarah Lefler, Lisa Auvril, Gail Storey, Lori Brookes, & Dianna Stavros

Hosted by Gale Straub

Made with support by Aunt Fannie's, Benchmark Maps, Hamama, and ThirdLove

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook.

Visit She-Explores.com

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Sponsor Websites and Codes

Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.
Music is also by Our Many Stars.

To Be Seen: Nikki Smith28 Jun 201901:00:10

Nikki Smith likes to say that she is a climber, photographer, and writer who just happens to be transgender. Professor Brené Brown inadvertently changed Nikki's course when she wrote about midlife, "it's time to show up and be seen." It was the inspiration Nikki needed to step into herself, and it's since served as a reminder of what she wants to do for others.

We say "step into" because Nikki has always been Nikki, and she's carried a curious, creative, empathetic spirit with her throughout her life.

This conversation with Nikki Smith was made in partnership with Mountain Hardwear. If you're in the San Francisco area, climb with Nikki and the Mountain Hardwear team at Touchstone Climbing Gym Saturday, June 29th 7-10pm.

Woman featured in this episode: Nikki Smith

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Mountain Hardwear

Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group

In this episode, you'll hear

  • All the different parts of Nikki's identity that make up who she is
  • Her creative roots in photography, climbing, writing, and cooking
  • Why so much of Nikki's work is grounded in connection to others
  • What drew her to climbing and why it became an unhealthy coping mechanism
  • Why 'realization' vs 'transition' is the word Nikki would choose in coming out as trans
  • How a quote from Brené Brown inspired Nikki to "show up and be seen"
  • How her story isn't entirely her own, and why she'll keep sharing it as long as it's beneficial for others
  • Nikki's latest creative goals

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Resources

Non-profits and Organizations Mentioned at the End of the Episode:

Music is by Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Josh Woodward using a creative commons attributions license.

Learn more at She-Explores.com

Two States to Go on the Appalachian Trail: Grizel Williams26 Jun 201900:43:49

Grizel Williams is a fast hiker on a crowded Appalachian Trail, just two states away from finishing. We talk life on the trail: sexism, craving loneliness, periods, food, switchbacks, and more. Grizel helps us get a feel of what the trail is like when you're in the everyday of it, and she also shares how the many people on the trail complicate her hike.

Featured in this episode: Grizel Williams

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell

Continue the conversation and join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • Why Grizel wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail with her dog, Rue (and why she decided to let her go home halfway through)
  • The differences Grizel has noticed between the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and the Appalachian Trail (AT)
  • Why Grizel chose to face her loneliness on the PCT
  • How sexism and harassment has been a challenge for Grizel on the AT
  • What a typical day is like for a thru hiker
  • Why periods aren't fun (on or off the trail)
  • How Grizel experiences freedom from her own body criticism on trail
  • The ways in which the AT has challenged her to speak up for herself
  • Why a crowded trail isn't necessarily a safe trail
  • Why Grizel loves the simplicity of the trail

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Music is by Lee Rosevere, Meydan, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.

She Explores airs weekly on Wednesdays - subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Safer Alone in the Backcountry: Sarah Grothjan19 Jun 201900:42:10

Sarah Grothjan believes solo hiking is one of the safest things she can do. Sarah explains why she feels safer alone in the backcountry than she does in her off-trail life.

We talk with Sarah about how a city can feel less safe than being by yourself in the woods, why she wants to change the pervasive narrative that says otherwise, and how the last five years of hiking and backpacking have helped her come out of her shell and step into herself.

Featured in this episode: Sarah Grothjan

Featured in the midroll ad: Emilee Struss

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell

Continue the conversation and join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • How Sarah got into hiking and backpacking solo
  • Why she wants to break the pervasive narrative that women need a man to hike safely in the backcountry
  • How a stalker changed her perspective on city life and words from thru-hiker Heather Anderson made her want to try backpacking
  • The ways hiking and backpacking helped with Sarah's shyness
  • That there are risks to spending time in the backcountry, but Sarah doesn't believe they are gender specific (for the most part)
  • The mixed reactions Sarah gets from people about her solo outdoor experiences
  • Why she wrote an essay for Outside Online and what the feedback was
  • What outdoor trips Sarah is looking forward to this summer

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Music is by Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.

She Explores airs weekly on Wednesdays - subscribe so you never miss an episode!

After the Wildfire: Melissa Geissinger12 Jun 201900:39:04

Melissa Geissinger lost her house in the Tubbs fire of Northern California in October 2017. Two months later, she had her son Apollo, and life changed forever once again. We talk in the episode about the "old" Melissa and the "new" Melissa a year and a half after she and her husband were displaced by wildfire. Today she has her eyes set on hiking the length of the Oregon Coast and helping others cope with trauma by giving them a platform to share their stories.

Woman featured in this episode: Melissa Geissinger

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell

Continue the conversation and join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • How Melissa took up hiking to make time for herself
  • Why she was planning to hike the length of the Oregon coast
  • How unexpectedly losing her home in the Tubbs fire of October 2017 shaped her next year and a half
  • Why Melissa and her husband found home in a hospital for the first 3 months of her son's life
  • What she wants for her 18-month-old son, Apollo
  • How nature, combined with therapy, has helped her heal (but why PTSD is real)
  • Why she started a blog, Survival Over Surrender, to help share other people's stories of trauma

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Music is by Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.

She Explores airs weekly on Wednesdays - subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Voices from PGM ONE10 Jun 201900:49:03

What changes about the environmental movement when people of color are both the leaders and the audience? We teamed up with REI to send writer Amanda Machado to the third annual PGM ONE Summit in Philadelphia to answer that question first hand.

Recorder in hand, Amanda talked to outdoor educators, social entrepreneurs, nonprofit workers, artists, healers, and activists. She shares what was healing for the attendees, why this conference (and others like it) is a necessity for the environmental movement, what they want those who didn't attend to know, and how we can all learn from the leadership showcased at PGM ONE.

Woman featured in this episode: Amanda Machado, Wingyi Kung, Samantha Villatoro, Agnes Vianzon, Natalie Mebane, Anahí Naranjo, Chandrika Francis, Sophie Sarker, Grace Anderson, Mayra, Stormy Saint-Val, Yakuta Poonawalla, and Princella Talley.

Featured in the midrolls: Myrian Solis Coronel and Jaylyn Gough

Music featured from the PGM ONE Summit is by Femi Olatunji, Dwight Dunston, Rhetta Morgan, Lauren Scott, Aisha Fukushima, and Mariadela Alvarez.

Hosted by Amanda Machado

Sponsored by REI

Continue the conversation and join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • About the PGM ONE Summit and what makes it unique
  • What is special for attendees about a conference on environmentalism and the outdoors with only people of the global majority
  • How ritual, art, and music added to the experience
  • The importance of de-centering whiteness in the environmental movement
  • How PGM ONE organizers made an effort throughout the conference to be inclusive but also acknowledged how they could do better
  • The unique leadership traits showcased at the summit that would be beneficial throughout the environmental space
  • Why race and racism should be acknowledged more often in nonprofit workplaces and everyday life
  • What attendees want people who weren't there to know
  • Takeaways from the summit

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

  • REI: Hear about Force of Nature and what REI is doing to make the outdoors welcoming for all in the midroll ads in the episode.

Organizations Involved in the Conference:

“The Urban Creators was founded in 2010 by a diverse group of young students, artists, activists, organizers, entrepreneurs, and creators in North Philadelphia. Inspired by our differences and shared passion for ‘creation’, we came together with a vision to transform a 2-acre garbage dump into a farm. We spent our first year organizing door-to-door to build and strengthen relationships with our closest neighbors and local allies. We spent our second year clearing away debris and planting our first seeds of change. Our third year saw the transformation this land into LIFE DO GROW; our urban farm, sanctuary, and our home.

Since then, we have revitalized over 3 acres of blighted land into a network of thriving urban farms and gardens from which we provide fresh produce to dozens of local families each year. Through our our work, we have contributed to a 40% decrease in Part 1 Violent crime since 2008 in our immediate area.

  • Manaai: “We provide consumers with hand-pounded paiai and poi – a hypoallergenic, sustainable alternative to gluten, soy, dairy, and GMO products. Paiai is hand-pounded taro, using the least amount of water. By purchasing paiai or poi, you are supporting local and Hawaiian farmers and putting your dollars behind sustainable food sovereignty.”

  • 1149 Co-Op: A new co-op in South Philadelphia founded by food
    makers for social change

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Additional music by Centric. Music is also by Kai Engel and Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution license

When Your Path Finds You: Sam Ortiz05 Jun 201900:46:44

Sam Ortiz has gone from a beginner to a hiker to a climber to a mountaineer to a plus-size outdoor model in under five years. Her progression has happened in part due to curiosity, timely mentors, and the best kind of fear: the kind you move up and over and end up a little bit changed on the other side.

Woman featured in this episode: Sam Ortiz

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell

Continue the conversation and join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group!

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • How Sam didn't necessarily feel like the outdoors and climbing were for her growing up, but how she found herself drawn to them anyway
  • How an outdoor mentor helped Sam navigate new activities when she worked for Americorps in Alaska
  • Why climbing Mount Juneau in Alaska taught her she could "do hard things" and opened the door to learning new outdoor activities like climbing and mountaineering
  • How fear has been a positive (for the most part) driver in Sam's life
  • That Sam lacked role models growing up as a plus-size, Latinx woman and why she's determined to change that for others
  • How finding her voice as a climber and mountaineer has created many unexpected opportunities, including being an outdoor model for brands like REI and Eddie Bauer
  • Why being closer to outdoor brands has made her want to speak out for more and better plus size apparel and equipment
  • What it's like being an INFJ when you're connecting with so many people
  • Why Sam loves seeing other plus size women on the trail
  • Who have been Sam's role models in her advocacy work

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

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Music is by Liam McNally.

Music is also by Lee Rosevere using a Creative Commons Attribution license

Grit, Guts, and the Right Amount of Gall: Jen Gurecki29 May 201900:42:31

Jen Gurecki is a serial outdoor entrepreneur who isn’t afraid to go against the norm when it comes to the businesses she’s started in the industry. With over 20 years of experience, Jen’s the CEO of Coalition Snow, editor-in-chief at Sisu Magazine, and founder of Zawadisha. She even used to co-own a river rafting company. From the outside, each company is quite different - hardwood skis and snowboards vs. editorial print vs. a micro lending venture, but each contains a common thread: an unwavering devotion to putting women in front.

Woman featured in this episode: Jen Gurecki

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell, Ritual, and EarlybirdCBD.com

In this episode you'll hear

  • How Jen's restlessness translates to adventure and business
  • Jen's start in the outdoor industry
  • The experiences Jen had in her 20's that shaped the companies she started in her 30's
  • Why Jen wants to 'shred the patriarchy'
  • What she learned working in outdoor ed at Adventure Risk Challenge
  • About Zawadisha
  • What Jen was up against in founding Coalition Snow
  • Why Jen extended her vision to a print magazine: Sisu
  • Issue Three of Sisu, coming out in June
  • Why Jen knows that "strong women have feelings too" and how she deals with the ups and downs of entrepreneurship

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Courage & Surrender on the Road - Steph Jagger16 Mar 202200:40:19

Steph Jagger and her mom, Sheila, took a camping road trip together in 2016 across the Rocky Mountains. So often, the purpose of a road trip, or spending time in the outdoors, is to get away from it all. But in this instance, Steph was driving towards something many of us might rather avoid: her mom had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia. And while Alzheimer's is something that’s hard to talk about, odds are good that you have personal experience with this degenerative disease or another one that’s similar.

Those places that we are nervous to go are often the ones that call to us the most strongly. Or at a minimum, they tell us something about ourselves and what we need. In this episode, Steph shares about her trip, which she wrote about in her forthcoming memoir, Everything Left to Remember, what her mom continues to teach her, the benefits of sitting with grief, and an invitation to examine the relationships in your life that mirror the best parts of you.

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Featured in this episode: Steph Jagger

Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub

A production of Ravel Media

Sponsored by Uncruise Adventures

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Resources

Sponsors and Discount Codes

Music is licensed through Musicbed.

Teaching by Example: Low Waste Camper and Garden Ranger Cindy Villaseñor22 May 201900:37:17

Cindy Villaseñor is an Enrich LA Garden Ranger who strives to live a low waste lifestyle. She also loves camping, gardening outside of work, and eats vegan. Cindy didn’t grow up doing any of these things, but keeping herself open to learning and opportunities have led her to where she is today.

Cindy hasn’t left people behind in choosing a low waste and vegan lifestyle, instead, she invites people in through leading by example. She knows there’s no such thing as perfection, so why make others feel bad that they’re not doing enough?

Woman featured in this episode: Cindy Villaseñor

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell

In this episode you'll hear

  • About how Cindy's career path changed when she took an environmental science class
  • What she does as a Garden Ranger with Enrich LA and why she enjoys teaching others
  • The power of leading by example
  • Low waste camping tips
  • Why aiming for zero waste isn't always accessible or realistic
  • About Cindy's low waste wedding at a nursery in Los Angeles
  • Why Yosemite is so important to her and her husband

Want to hear about Cindy's first solo camping trip? Head to the episode landing page for bonus audio!

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.

The Curvy Kili Crew15 May 201900:57:50

For International Women's Day, 20 plus-size women hiked Mount Kilimanjaro. Each had a different reason and background, but they came together to take up space on the highest mountain in Africa. One goal? To normalize fat hiking around the world. Diandra Oliver brought along a recorder to share the seven-day trek with us.

Woman featured in this episode: Diandra Oliver, Autumn Stofflet, Eve, Sharon ‘Shazz’ Nderitu, and Deb Malkin

Hosted by Gale Straub

Sponsored by Merrell, ThirdLove, and GreenerWays Organic

In this episode you'll hear

  • Why Diandra Oliver wanted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
  • How the stakes feel higher when society's expectations don't align
    with your own
  • Why reaching the summit was the main goal but why we might want to
    re-think summit culture
  • The challenges of finding gear
  • The shared experiences and bonding found in group activities (and it
    was typically harder for Diandra)
  • The biodiversity of Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Sounds and stories from the trail
  • What acclimatization feels like
  • Why self-care is important
  • How standing on the top of the mountain felt
  • Why sometimes a sign is not a summit

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Mothers & Daughters, Outdoors08 May 201900:51:28

A celebration of motherhood, outdoors and otherwise. In this episode, you’ll hear from mothers and daughters; it's equal parts a letter of thanks and a guidebook of sorts for a life best lived outdoors.

We asked:

  1. What’s your best memory with your mom outdoors?
  2. What landscapes and outdoor places make you think of your mom?
  3. What do you hope for your children’s relationship with the outdoors?
  4. What outdoor knowledge and advice do you (Mom) want to pass down?
  5. Why is today (Mother’s Day) special to you? Why is it complicated?

We hear from both familiar and new voices as listeners and past guests answer these questions as more as we honor mothers this May.

Woman featured in this episode: Tori Duhaime, Nadio Mercado, Melody and Angelica Forsyth, Alison, Meg Day, Lana Lee Wright, Liz Song Mandell, Caro Garcia, Jasmine, Elissa Story, Jenni Goldman, Lynn Doiron, Anastasia Alison, Kathleen Ruland, and Laura Hughes.

Hosted by Gale Straub

*Sponsored by Merrell

Resources

Sponsor Websites and Codes

Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.

Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license. Miusic is also by Liam McNally.

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