Finding Our Way - Diverse Outdoor Voices

In this one we sit down with Steph Wetherell, co-founder of Every Body Outdoors, a group campaigning for better representation, clothing and gear for larger and plus-sized bodies in the UK outdoors. We talk about sizest attitudes, why seeing plus size people represented by brands and media is so important, and how clothes and kit can be more inclusive. And the unexpected joy of finding your ‘tribe’.

In this one we sit down with international paraclimber Anoushé Husain. She co-founded the group Paraclimbing London, competes internationally for the Luxembourg team, and recently became a Guinness World Record holder for the furthest distance climbed one-handed in one hour. She’s also a celebrated public speaker, an ambassador for Ehlers-Danlos Support, and Ambassador for Limb Power UK who work with amputees and people with limb difference. She’s also a practicing muslim and is married to paraclimber Kenneth Ellacott – we talk about that too!

In this one we sit down with climber and mountaineer Richard Chapman, who’s changing the way trauma is treated in mainstream healthcare. He has lived experience of trauma and PTSD, and says climbing outdoors helped him recover. He’s now helping develop NHS trials of ‘social prescribing’, where patients are offered non-medical, community-based interventions – including climbing – as a pathway to recovery and hope.

In this one we sit down with climbers Marie Uri and Yasmin Lazarus from United We Climb. Their group is committed to creating new opportunities and experiences designed specifically for – and with – people who are currently underserved and underrepresented in climbing and the outdoors. This includes paraclimbers, neurodiverse people and people of colour. United We Climb also work with climbing businesses to help them recognise and remove barriers to inclusive access.

In this one we sit down with National Geographic explorer Dwayne Fields to talk about giving young people chance to shine, helping urban communities connect with the wild, advice for allies and how to respect the outdoors.

In this one we sit down with legendary adventure climber Leo Houlding and adaptive adventurer Ed Jackson – both Berghaus ambassadors - to talk wild places and wild people, rebuilding your life after spinal cord injury and the wonderstuff of climbing with new friends.

In this one we explore the stigma of mental illness, what exactly Mental Health First Aid is, and the importance of expedition leaders who can support mental health as well as deal with broken legs and snake bites. Stu Skinner is an experienced expedition leader, mental health first aid provider and the founder of the charity Changing Horizons. He wants us to normalise conversations about mental health, break the taboo of suicide and is passionate about the mental health benefits of outdoor activity.

Show notes and full transcript available at https://www.thebmc.co.uk/finding-our-way-podcast

Find Stu on Instagram @OfTalesOnTrails and his charity at www.ChangingHorizons.org

For further information or support in relation to issues raised in this episode, please visit:

https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/

https://www.mind.org.uk

For further information about Mountain Training’s courses including Hill & Mountain Skills and the Mountain Leader qualification, please visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/. For information on funding available to support course attendance visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/help/resources/bursaries-for-our-qualifications.

Finding Our Way is sponsored by Berghaus, and hosted by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The cover artwork was designed by Neil Arch.

Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @teamBMC on instagram and twitter with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.

In this one we get some good views and good vibes with founder of outdoor network Steppers UK, Cherelle Harding. We hear how the music of Bob Marley brought her a new appreciation of nature, why outdoor upskilling is key to making change stick, and what needs to be done to improve nature connection in urban areas. Cherelle is the founder of Steppers UK, a community group based in the Midlands, focused on encouraging more people from under-represented backgrounds into outdoor activities including walking. 

Show notes and full transcript available at https://www.thebmc.co.uk/finding-our-way-podcast-cherelle-harding

Find Steppers UK on Instagram @Steppers_UK 

For further information or support in relation to issues raised in this episode, please visit:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/discrimination-because-of-race-religion-or-belief/

For further information about Mountain Training’s courses including Hill & Mountain Skills and the Mountain Leader qualification, please visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/. For information on funding available to support course attendance visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/help/resources/bursaries-for-our-qualifications.

Finding Our Way is supported by Berghaus, and hosted by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The cover artwork was designed by Neil Arch.

Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @teamBMC on instagram and twitter with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.

In this one we talk about how to make clubs more inclusive, the joy of maps, getting qualified as an outdoor leader and how a supportive community with common interests can build confidence, skills and a lifetime of outdoor connection. Rob Mitchell is a mountain leader for Outdoor Lads, a UK-wide community who run a range of sociable outdoor activities for gay, bi and trans guys.

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/finding-our-way-podcast-rob-mitchell

Follow Outdoor Lads on Instagram @OutdoorLads and at www.outdoorlads.com

For further information or support in relation to issues raised in this episode, please visit: https://www.stonewall.org.uk

For further information about Mountain Training’s courses including Hill & Mountain Skills and the Mountain Leader qualification, please visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/. For information on funding available to support course attendance visit: https://www.mountain-training.org/help/resources/bursaries-for-our-qualifications.

Finding Our Way is sponsored by Berghaus, and hosted by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The cover artwork was designed by Neil Arch.

Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @teamBMC on instagram and twitter with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.

In this one we head to the high mountains to discuss the Death Zone, climbing – and falling – on Everest, attempting K2, inspiring non-climbers, and the pressure and dangers of dropping weight to climb harder. Bonita Norris has summited three of the world's 8000m peaks and retains the record as the youngest British woman to climb both Everest and reach the North Pole. She's also written candidly about suffering from bulimia as a teenager.

Follow Bonita on Instagram @BonitaNorris

http://www.bonita-norris.com

For further information or support in relation to issues raised in this episode, please visit:

Finding Our Way is supported by Berghaus, and hosted by BMC walking ambassador Mary-Ann Ochota and expedition leader and equity champion Cress Allwood. Our editor is Chris Stone. The cover artwork was designed by Neil Arch.

Get involved with the conversation – share your thoughts on @teamBMC on instagram and twitter with the hashtag #FindingOurWay.