Through his efforts as an Outings Program Coordinator for the Sierra Club and current board member of Alianza Tecuani, as well as his past work on the board of the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC), Avila’s advocacy work helps to decolonize our relationship with the land and bring communities of color and others who are marginalized into outdoos spaces. 

From interrogating how we can respect the land by integrating Indigenous ways of knowing to expanding the inclusion of outdoor outings for people of color and those with less access to designated nature parks, this episode dismantles preconceptions that the outdoor recreation space is just for those who are part of "outdoor culture." 

Sergio discusses his running journey, the Land Back Movement, why he refers to himself as a "recovering conservationist," and the culture of outdoor recreation—and he shares the beautiful experiences of caring for Toby the tortoise. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast
EARTHMOVERS on Substack: earthmoverspodcast.substack.com

Our Season 3 Presenting Sponsor 
Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at altrarunning.com

Mentioned in this Episode 

Sergio Avila: @sergio_concolor 
Toby the Turtle: @tobydetucson
Sierra Club: sierraclub.org
Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC): runningdiversity.com
Alianza Tecuani, Instagram: @AlianzaIndigenaSinFronteras 
Alianza Tecuani, information: givenative.org/organization/AlianzaTecuani

EARTHMOVERS Hosts 

Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir 

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin

To launch this new season of Earthmovers, hosts Alison, Stefanie, and Verna catch up and share what’s been on their minds this summer. From navigating new training blocs to parenthood and discussing diversity within the trail running space, they get into it all this episode; you don't want to miss it!

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast
EARTHMOVERS on Substack: earthmoverspodcast.substack.com

Our Season 2 Presenting Sponsor 
Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at altrarunning.com

Mentioned in this Episode 
Every Child Matters, Orange Shirt Day, Sept. 30: for more information: orangeshirtday.org

Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir 

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin

This conversation was inspired by recent events, but as the hosts make clear, this lack of accountability isn't new. Verna, Stefanie, and Alison provide context and critique around why and how running is always inherently political, especially trail running, and how the power structure of white supremacy continues to play out in these spaces. In this episode, there is also celebration. Among the highlights, the hosts talk about the accomplishments of former Earthmovers guest Tuvshin Baatar–at 58, he finished the 2026 Western States 100-miler, cheered on by his parents, both in their 90s, who flew over from Mongolia for the event. 

Our Season 2 Presenting Sponsor 

Mentioned in this Episode 

Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir 

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin

Hear about memorable moments from the season; surprises, learnings, and joys. Alison, Verna, and Stefanie also discuss what they are looking forward to next. 

Remember, we have merch and a Substack. You can also keep up with us @earthmoverspodcast on Instagram. 

Thank you to our listeners, supporters, Altra, and everyone who continues to help make this idea into a reality. Changing the narrative is a community effort. 

We are already seeing the power of sharing these stories, highlighting different perspectives and experiences in outdoor spaces, and making connections to grow community, representation, and support so that everybody feels welcome and safe to show up as their full selves. 

We are still just getting started!

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast

EARTHMOVERS merch: bonfire.com/earthmovers

Our Seasons 1 and 2 Presenting Sponsor Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at altrarunning.com

EARTHMOVERS Hosts

Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin

The mission of the RIDC is to “unite the running industry to improve inclusion, visibility, and access while creating clearer pathways for people to enter the sport and build meaningful careers within the running industry.” It’s the only organization of its kind in the running industry. Alison and Verna are both co-founders of the RIDC. Kiera is also the co-founder of the running community City Fit Girls, which became Strides. 

Kiera thrives on connecting people and resources, and making meaningful change. In this conversation, Kiera tells about her own journey to meaningful movement and running and how that led to her becoming a leader in the movement space, starting in Philadelphia. The groups she help found became models for other movement communities. Kiera then applied these skills in her professional life, helping companies and organizations expand their reach and audience. 

Kiera has been guided by her motto: If I can’t be me, it’s not for me. And she's applied this to how she envisions messaging to others. Who is this for? All of her experience made Kiera an ideal candidate to run the RIDC, which just celebrated 5 years. Kiera talks about what the RIDC does, some of its big achievements, and announces some big news about what’s happening next. And she talks about her new guiding mantra to “Do less, but do better.” 

Through this conversation, discover how Kiera Smalls has developed the ability to make real change happen, how she's turned skills and passion into action, and what those real world changes actually are. It’s also a time for Verna and Alison to look back with Kiera on the ambitious plans they helped set in motion, and celebrate how those plans are manifesting under Kiera’s exceptional leadership.

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast

Our Season 2 Presenting Sponsor 

Mentioned in this Episode 

Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir 

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin

Additionally, Yuri taught school for 12 years before working for GU. Yuri has always been someone who aims to create welcoming spaces for all, and this has carried over into his work at GU: he has placed an emphasis there on sponsoring and providing opportunities to diverse riders and runners.

Our Season 2 Presenting Sponsor 

Mentioned in this Episode 

Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir 

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin

Harold Benally is Navajo, living in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a longtime distance runner and has run road marathons and now runs ultra trail races. He’s competed in several 100 milers and is currently training for his longest race, the Cocodona 250.

Our Season 2 Presenting Sponsor 

Mentioned in this Episode 

Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir 

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. 

@stefanieannflippin

Christina Regalado is an ultra trail runner, physician's assistant, daughter of El Salvadoran and Mexican immigrants, and the co-founder of Wasatch Trails Collective, a local trail running group for BIPOC runners in Utah. Wasatch Trails Collective's mission is to create an inclusive and supportive community for runners of color along the Wasatch Front, empowering runners of all levels to achieve their personal goals, improving diversity and equity in the broader running community, and reducing barriers that limit participation and representation of people of color in endurance sports.

Christina has also served on the board of directors for Women of the Wasatch, a women's nonprofit group in Utah, and has worked with Bigger Than the Trail (BTTT) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness to help fundraise and advocate for mental health care. And, Cristina was recently awarded a GU Energy sponsorship to run the 2026 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Race (WSER). 

In this conversation Cristina talks about being the daughter of immigrants, as well as her work in healthcare and being one of the few Spanish-speaking and Latina women in her position. She also discusses mental health challenges she and others in her family have faced, and how being out on the trails has been a powerful tool in her own health journey—being out on the trails is a space where Cristina can bring her full self, however that may look on any given day. 

Also discussed: Cristina's work within the trail community, including becoming a co-founder of the Wasatch Trails Collective and what that organization is all about. Stefanie also dives into Cristina's own trail running journey, including being chosen to run at this year's WSER as a GU sponsored athlete. Also, Cristina is running WSER as a fundraiser for BTTT (see link below to donate). And both Stefanie and Cristina read the powerful words that Cristina has written about what trail running means to her and the impact it's had on her life.  

This is a deep and insightful conversation. Cristina has a beautiful way of expressing her passion for the trails and also why she's so passionate about opening the trail space to those who have felt excluded. 

A note of caution: this conversation touches on the topic of suicide and suicidal thoughts. Please see below for links on where to find help if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast

Our Season 2 Presenting Sponsor 

Mentioned in this Episode 

EARTHMOVERS Hosts 

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir 

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin

Phoebe brings it in this conversation, shining a light on how she is shifting and reclaiming the narrative through her work. Phoebe Robinson is a standup comedian, best-selling author, producer, actress, and publisher. 

Her second standup special, "I Don't Wanna Work Anymore" premiered October 7, 2025 exclusively on YouTube. Phoebe is the author of the essay collections You Can’t Touch My Hair, Everything’s Trash, But It’s Okay, and Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes, and, in 2020, she launched her own imprint, Tiny Reparations Books. 

Robinson is also the co-creator and co-star of the podcast “2 Dope Queens” and HBO series of the same name. Other onscreen work includes the TV adaptation of “Everything’s Trash” and the standup special “Sorry, Harriet Tubman,” both of which are produced by her company, Tiny Reparations. She is the recipient of Variety’s Comedy Innovator Award for her work and continued contribution in comedy. 

In this conversation, cohost Alison Mariella Désir talks to Phoebe about becoming a comedian, her hilarious and poignant ThotNaysh Instagram video series, running marathons, her publishing imprint Tiny Reparations Books, being Bono’s best Black friend, and so much more! You will want to listen to this one more than once! Phoebe drops so much insight and wisdom, and also leaves you laughing. 

We were left energized and inspired to keep learning and speaking out. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast

Our Season 2 Presenting Sponsor 

Mentioned in this Episode 

Phoebe Robinson on Instagram: @dopequeenpheebs 

Verna NezBegay Volker: Runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation, Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. @hozhorunner4

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir 

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin

Brandon grew up on the Navajo Nation, in the remote area of LeChee. He talks to Verna about how he was raised in traditional Navajo culture. 

He also talks about how sharing his story and representing for his culture and for younger members of his community is important to him. In addition to being a runner and storytelling photographer, Brandon is a high school running coach at Page High School in Page, Arizona, his alma mater. Page has a long reputation for having a strong running program. 

Brandon and Verna also discuss the Western States 100-mile Endurance Race (WSER). Brandon shares that he had spent years learning the course and helping other runners at WSER, with the ultimate goal being to run it himself. That happened last year, 2025, and Brandon talks about that experience, too, including how he was able to bring many members of the Page High School running team with him to experience the race. 

Looking ahead, Brandon shares what he’s focused on in the immediate future as well as some of his long-term dreams and goals. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast

Our Season 2 Presenting Sponsor 

Mentioned in this Episode 

Alison Mariella Désir: Runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist, Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir. @alisonmdesir 

Stefanie Flippin: Professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon, Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance. @stefanieannflippin