Outdoors Swagger with Rue Mapp, founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro

Bill and Aaron welcome Rue Mapp, founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro to talk all things outdoors, Rue’s recent journey back into hunting and her new book – Nature Swagger. We hear about Rue’s early life and how her father, in particular, shaped her connection with the outdoors and how that led her to found Outdoors Afro. We also talk about Black Heritage Hunts, a unique hunting opportunity Rue co-leads in Northern California.

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Rue Mapp transformed her kitchen table blog into a national nature business and movement.

Today, Mapp is founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro. For more than a decade, the not-for-profit organization has continued to celebrate and inspire Black connections and leadership in nature across the United States.

Mapp also is an awarded and inspirational leader, speaker, public lands champion, and published author. Her first national book titled “Nature Swagger: Stories and Visions of Black Joy in the Outdoors” releases with American publisher Chronicle Books on Nov. 1, 2022. Mapp also established for-profit enterprise Outdoor Afro, Inc., in 2021 and launched a co-branded hike collection with REI Co-op in September 2022.

Mapp became a National Geographic 2019 Fellow, Heinz Awards Honoree, and National Wildlife Federation Communication Award recipient as well. Her work has earned international media attention from Oprah Winfrey, The New York Times, Good Morning America, NPR, NBC’s TODAY, Forbes, and currently Netflix’s popular series “MeatEater” with Steven Rinella. Follow her adventures @RueMapp across social platforms!

Show notes:

4:01 – Aaron introduces Rue.

5:00 – Rue talks about her father and shares some insight into her path of helping people connect to the outdoors.

8:40 – Rue shares what she has been doing outside recently and what she is looking forward to this winter. She also shares the joy of walking her dog and being present.

9:38 – Bill and Aaron share what they have been doing outside recently.

13:16 -- Rue talks about her introduction and connection to hunting.

16:41 -- Rue explores her “Why”.

18:37 -- She is doing it all. Rue chats about being a hunter who enjoys pursuing all types of game.

23:27 -- Rue makes the connection between regarding her work and turkey hunt with MeatEater.

30:16 – Rue talks about her organization, “Outdoor Afro”.

36:00 – Short break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen! Be sure to subscribe to their podcast follow them on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

38:17 -- Rue reflects on diversity in the hunting community.  

40:35 -- How “Outdoor Afro” operates around the country.

46:00 – Community, support networks and making an impact through digital media and outreach.

48:29 -- Are we always going to need affinity group organizations?

50:38 -- Rue talks about “Black Heritage Hunts”.

54:55 – Who comes to these events? (Anyone is welcome to join!)

57:07 – Rue talks about her first book, Nature Swagger. It’s available now!

1:00:34 -- Aaron asks, “What was it at this moment that you said, you know I’m going to tell some of these stories, I’m going to bring these folks together, I’m going to tell these now?”

1:03:59 – “There’s no book like it that has been written before.”

1:07:36 -- Rue shares her thoughts and advice on the journey of Diversity Equity Inclusive and Environmental Justice efforts for the National Wildlife Federation. “Make new friends, nothing happens faster than the speed of relationships.”

1:12:24 – Closing statements.

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