The Runner’s Roundtable with Stephanie Diaz features female runners, run coaches, and entrepreneurs in the running space. The goal is to uplift their voices while being curious about how to make running more inclusive, accepting, and welcoming. Each season Stephanie focuses on a different theme: the theme of the episode featured here is "Conversations with Runners," and the theme of her next season, Season 6, is "Beyond Pace" where female runners will discuss their favorite running memories.

The episode we’re featuring here is a conversation EARTHMOVERS cohost Alison Mariella Désir had with Stephanie back in 2024, where they talked about the running culture, Alison's book Running While Black, why Alison's so passionate about focusing on the intersection of racial equity work, movement, and mental health, and why it’s important to look beyond the marketing and media noise in the running world and choose what’s right for you.

From Runner's Round Table: Welcome to the Runner’s Round Table podcast. Season is “Conversations with Runners”, and each episode features a conversation with an inspiring female runner who is making the running community better in her own way. In this episode, Stephanie talks to Alison Mariella Désir about the weaving of histories through her book Running While Black” and how she uses movement as a path towards disrupting the status quo in running to create a future where all are visible and feel like they belong. Enjoy this episode and thanks for listening. 

About Stephanie: Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advancedcertifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).

About Alison Mariella Désir: Alison Mariella Désir is multi-talented: a founder, a doer, an activist, a connector, a visionary and an unapologetically straightforward communicator with a passion for movement, mental health, and racial equity. Alison got her start in the running and outdoor industry unintentionally, after seeing a black friend train and complete a marathon. inspired, alison went on to run her first marathon and discovered that she had found a powerful tool to manage her depression. she’s been working to share the transformational power of running and movement ever since.

Resources

Stephanie Diaz on Instagram: @thecookierunner
Stephanie Diaz Website: thecookierunner.net
This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EfpzepXlrt8
Alison Mariella Désir on Instagram: @alisonmdesir
Alison Mariella Désir Website: alisonmdesir.com
To purchase "Running While Black": alisonmdesir.com/book
EARTHMOVERS Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast
EARTHMOVERS YouTube: youtube.com/@EarthmoversPodcast

This engaging and dynamic trio talked about Evans' running journey, creating the 40K+ strong Slow AF Run Club, how he’s dealt with criticism–both online and in person, and how he’s navigating being a new dad, and a lot more. It’s an inspiring, uplifting conversation, with some laughs along the way. 

A huge thank you to our presenting sponsor Altra for making this conversation possible for us. And a huge thank you to New York Road Runners for making us a part of this incredible marathon weekend. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: https: @earthmoverspodcast

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

This event was hosted by the New York Road Runners. Find them at www.nyrr.org

From this Episode 

Martinus Evans on Instagram: @martinusevans

Slow AF Run Club on Instagram: @slowafrunclub

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

Hear about memorable moments from the season; surprises, learnings, and joys; and what Alison, Verna, and Stefanie are looking forward to next. Oh, and yes, they do talk about their pets! 

Also announced: EARTHMOVERS will be live at the NYC Marathon Expo, Jacob Javits Center, on the Main Stage, Sat., Nov. 1, 1pm, featuring special guest Martinus Evans, resilience speaker, marathoner, and author of Slow AF Run Club. Entry is free! Please join us. This conversation will be published as a special EARTHMOVERS episode. 

And, coming soon! There will be MERCH! EARTHMOVERS merch was on special offer to Kickstarter contributors, and soon it will be available for purchase by you—a perfect holiday gift! Stay tuned to @earthmoverspodcast on Instagram for all updates! 

Thank you to our listeners, supporters, Kickstarter contributors, Altra, and everyone who’s helped make this idea into a reality. We ALL did this! 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 just getting started!

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthmoverspodcast/ 

Our Season 1 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

Deo Kato is a runner, coach, and racial equity activist. He was born in Uganda, and at age 10 came to London, where he still lives. Today he is best known for being the first person to run from Cape Town to London. This trek began on July 24, 2023: it took Deo 518 days and he covered 8,230 miles. 

Previous to this huge undertaking, Deo created the 381 Days Running For Justice movement. Starting June 6, 2020, Deo set out to run 10km every day for 381 days to protest against racial injustice and inequality in society. The 381 days honors those of the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955-56 Alabama, USA, and the change they created on the policy of racial segregation. 

This initiative also encompassed Deo running from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, carrying a customized U.S. flag where each star represented a black person who had been killed by police. Deo also ran a double London Marathon to protest against police brutality in the UK, known as the Unarmed Campaign. Additionally, Deo is the Spirit of the London Marathon Award winner. 

In this beautiful conversation, Deo shares with Alison and Stefanie his running background, how he conceived of and prepared for his incredible journey, what he encountered along the way, and the powerful takeaways that have settled with him since completing his journey. This is an absolute not to miss episode! 

As they always do, co-hosts Alison and Stefanie bring their vast experience as runners and racial equity advocates to this conversation, along with their deep respect and curiosity about Deo's astonishing journey. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthmoverspodcast/ 

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

From this Episode 

Deo Kato on Instagram: @deoruns
Deo Kato on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deok
Deo Kato on TikTok: @deoruns 

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

"You cannot act in a different way in the mountains," says Zagdaa. "You have to be yourself." 

The Bataars have a lifetime of experience in the outdoors, but their way of living changed dramatically when they came to the US: time in the outdoors gave way to working long days to establish their family in the States. Over time, they recognized the need to get back out into nature. Their own journey back to climbing mountains and exploring the trails near their home in Northern California led them to trail racing, and it led them to wanting to share these experiences with other families like theirs. 

The Bataars started organizing group hikes and set to learning how to lead others up big mountains, and the Nomadic Adventure Club was born. That was over a decade ago. The organization is now a 501c3 nonprofit organization and has become a source of support and community, especially for immigrant families, focused on trail running and mountain climbing. 

The Bataars themselves have become accomplished trail runners and racers, and Zagdaa sits on the Advisory Council of the Broken Arrow Sky Race; the couple also volunteers a lot of their time to trail races and the trail community. In addition to all of that, the Bataars are wine makers, and proud parents. 

In this conversation, Stefanie and the Bataars talk about the Bataars growing up in Mongolia, the challenges and joys of moving to the US and raising their children, getting back into the mountains and trail racing, and their deep passion for building community and getting others into nature. They also talk about their wine making venture, which has community ties as well. 

Here, Stefanie brings her own experience as a coach—in particular, she has coached Zagdaa for several years—as well as her experience as a professional ultra runner and racial equity advocate. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: https: @earthmoverspodcast

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

From this Episode 

Zagaa Baatar on Instagram: @zagd_nomad

Tuvshin Baatar on Instagram: @tuvshin_nomad

Nomadic Adventure Club on Instagram: @nomadic.adventure.club

Nomadic Adventure Club website: nomadicadventure.club

Broken Arrow Skyrace on Instagram: @brokenarrowskyrace

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
 

Ellie sat down with EARTHMOVERS co-host Verna to talk about her running background and how she developed into a running community leader. Their conversation touches on Ellie's experiences navigating and claiming her own identity as a Korean woman who was adopted from her home country and raised by a white family in a predominantly white community in Pennsylvania. 

Ellie also talks about her evolution from solo runner to group run leader, with a passion for helping newer runners find joy and reach goals they'd previously thought they couldn't reach. Ellie tests her own limits in ultra running: she is currently wrapping up training for the Javelina Jundred 100-mile race: this will be Ellie's third attempt at this distance. She talks about how she's adjusted her training so that she can overcome the difficulties that held in back from completing previous 100 milers. 

"Ultra running really teaches you so many things about yourself," say Ellie. "I think ultra running is the greatest teacher in my life." 

Additionally, Ellie is a first time producer and director, with Christine Rivera: they created the short documentary Girls Run Ultras. Ellie and Verna talk about how Ellie developed this new skill and passion for telling stories through film and video and how this documentary came to life. Girls Run Ultras screened at the 2024 Trail Running Film Festival. 

As always, Verna brings her experience as a community leader and organization founder, as well as her experience as an ultra runner and racial equity advocate. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast

Our Season 1 Presenting Sponsor

Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at ALTRArunning.com

From this Episode

Ellie Windham on Instagram: @elliewindham

Asian Women Stay Running (AWSTARS) on Instagram: @awstars_nyc

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

Alison and Alysia get deep, and they also share some laughs, covering a range of topics. Alysia brings her vast experience as a world-class athlete and a ground-breaking advocate for mothers and women, especially women of color. She has experienced racism and misogyny, and cheating in competition. Throughout, Alysia has followed her heart and held firm to remaining vocal and taking brave steps toward advocating for herself, which has changed the game for everyone—both inside sport and far beyond. 

Famously, Alysia ran the 800-meter event at the 2014 national championships when she was 8 months pregnant. Then in 2019, in the New York Times OpEd piece "Nike Told Me to Dream Crazy, Until I Wanted a Baby," Alysia exposed the default punitive practices against women who wanted to have children during their professional athletic careers. This resonated beyond track and field, and beyond sport. It changed the way contracts for child-bearing people are now written. 

Alysia and Alison also discuss how Alysia has persisted in pursuing doping cases that impact her professional athletic legacy. Alysia has retroactively been awarded an Olympic bronze medal from the 2012 London Games, and two bronze world championship medals, from 2010 and 2013. She discusses receiving her world championship medals in a lackluster setting and how that won't be the case when she finally receives her Olympic medal—that will happen at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. 

Alison brings her vast experience as an equity advocate and public speaker, and as an athlete and friend to this inspirational, insightful conversation. There's so much wisdom and empowerment dropped here. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast

Our Season 1 Presenting Sponsor 

Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at https://www.altrarunning.com/ 

From this Episode

Alysia Montaño on Instagram: @alysiamontano

For All Mothers (FAM+) on Instagram: @forallmothersorg

Women of Color Take the Lead Retreat on Instagram: @woctakethelead

"Nike Told Me to Dream Crazy, Until I Wanted a Baby": nytimes.com/2019/05/12/opinion/nike-maternity-leave

ICARUS documentary, on Netflix: netflix.com/title/80168079

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

Yolanda, known as “Yo,” is a marathoner, hybrid athlete, and community builder. She ran her first marathon after just five months of training and then went on to co-found Sin Miedo with her husband, Antoine, not long after. 

Sin Miedo, which means without fear, is a fast-growing trail running community, founded by people of color, centering people of color, with the aim to uplift cultura, courage, and connection in the outdoors.

In this conversation, Yolanda talks about her own running journey, the origins of Sin Miedo, and the joys and challenges of creating a trail running group that is focused on runners of color. She also highlights the support she and Antoine are getting from the Freedom to Run: Back Outside program, created by the Running Industry Diversity Coalition (RIDC). Verna and Alison are RIDC co-founders. 

Verna and Alison bring their shared experience, as community leaders and organization founders, as well as runners and racial equity advocates. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast

Our Season 1 Presenting Sponsor

Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at ALTRArunning.com

From this Episode

Yolanda López Haugabook on Instagram: @yofitruns

Yolanda López Haugabook, business, on Instagram: @yofitofficial

Sin Miedo Trail Runners on Instagram: @sinmiedotrailrunners

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

Both Missy and Wynonna, who are themselves native as well–Mescalero Apache and Navajo, respectively–were introduced to ultra trail running through NWR. Previous to Cocodona, the furthest they’d ever run was 100 miles. 

Verna talks to these runners about their running history and what inspired them to want to take on this huge challenge. They also discuss how they prepared for this event and what running on trails means to them, as native women, including how being on the trails is healing and a way to connect with the land and ancestors. 

And of course, Missy and Wynonna discuss completing this tremendous feat. They cover the joy and challenges they experienced, all the way through to the emotional finish. 

Verna brings her shared ultra experience, fresh off finishing her first 100-miler in August 2025, as well as her shared cultural connections to the trails and long trail journeys. And, as the woman who founded the organization that inspired Missy and Wynonna to take up ultra trail running, this conversation is also a recognition of the importance of creating these spaces for her community. 

This is a journey of a lifetime–a truly unforgettable ultra story, like you’ve never heard before. 

EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast

Our Season 1 Presenting Sponsor

Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at ALTRArunning.com

From this Episode

Wynonna Fulgham on Instagram: @blacksheep_running

Missy Hendricks on Instagram: @ellicul_lucy

Native Women Run: @native_women_run

Cocodona 250: @cocodona250

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

Stefanie and Verna dive into all that went into Verna reaching her 100-mile goal, a process that's been years in the making, as well as how the race went down. Several years ago, Verna attempted this distance and over 90 miles before having to end her bid. She vowed then that she had no interest in going after 100 miles ever again. 

But then Verna changed her mind. 

Verna had the opportunity to run the Redwoods 100-mile Challenge, put on by Milestone Events, and she took it. This sounded like just the set-up that would facilitate her being able to accomplish this tremendous goal. She was right. Also key to Verna's success was teaming up with Sky Tulley, who was also going after his first 100-mile finish: the two ran most of their miles together. Though they'd never met before, both Verna and Sky are Navajo and grew up on the reservation. Verna talks about how this shared bond helped get them through the tough miles. She also shares some of the funnier times, experiencing hallucinations and how laughter helped get them through to the end. 

Stefanie brings her perspective as a friend, as well as a professional racer who specializes in the 100-mile distance and coach who works with athletes at all levels of the sport. She also shares some of her own experiences in the outdoors, connected to her Japanese-Chinese heritage.  

Both Stefanie and Verna also get into why representation matters and the ways in which this 100-mile event allowed Verna to show up as her full self and support her goals. 

Find EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast 

Our Season 1 Presenting Sponsor 
Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at ALTRArunning.com

Mentioned in this Episode 
Daniel Böcker, Verna's coach, Instagram: @athletewithoutmeat

Milestone Events: @officialmilestoneevents

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