She Explores

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.

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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

• Dr. Sian Proctor: Website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
• Flight Ready Systems: Website
• Analog Astronaut: Website
• Sensoria
• Project PoSSUM
• She Explores Landing Page
• Ravel Media

Sponsors and Discount Codes

• Victorinox Swiss Army Learn more at Victorinox.com and use code EXPLORE15 to save 15% now through April 6th,, 2020  Some exclusions apply.
• Alpenventures Unguided: Learn more at alpenventuresunguided.com. Use code EXPLORE at checkout for 10% off a summer alp adventure.

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.

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

• The Cairn Project: Website & Instagram
• Apply to be a Cairn Project Ambasador: Application & Information
• Nonprofits mentioned:
  • Women's Wilderness
  • Embark Outdoors
  • Girl Ventures
  • Wild Whatcom
  • MakeSpace
  • San Juan Mountain Soles
• She Explores Landing Page

Sponsors and Discount Codes

• Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
• Stio: Get 25% off your order with code 'EXPLORE' at checkout at Stio.com
• ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first order by heading to ThirdLove.com/explore

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

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

• Support KM 82 Documentary: Crowdfunding & Watch Trailer
• The Porter Voice Collective: Website, Instagram, and Facebook
• She Explores Landing Page

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

• Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
• Danner: Learn more at Danner.com
• Ritual: Get 10% off your first three 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 Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Meydan using a creative commons attributions license.

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:

• Smartwool's Environmental Advocacy Commitment
• SOS Outreach
• The Nature Conservancy & the Yampa River Fund
• She Explores Podcast Facebook Group

Sponsor Websites & Codes:

• Smartwool

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.

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
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Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Resources

• Briana Feola: @wearebrainstorm on Instagram
• Brainstorm: Website, Instagram, Facebook
• She Explores Landing Page

Sponsors and Discount Codes

• Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
• Stio: Get 25% off your purchase by using code 'EXPLORE' at checkout by heading to Stio.com.

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.

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:

• Follow Wasfia on Instagram - @wasfianazreen
• Wasfia’s website
• Wasfia’s foundation - Ösel Foundation
• Listen on Apple Podcasts
• Listen on Spotify
• Listen on She-Explores.com
• She Explores Podcast Facebook Group

Sponsor Websites & Codes:

• Sherpa Adventure Gear

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.

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
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Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

Resources

• Jenny Bruso: Instagram & Website
• Unlikely Hikers
• New York Times Article: 'Unlikely' Hikers Hit the Trail
• Curvy Kili Crew: Instagram & Jenny's Autostraddle article
• WHOA Plus Travel
• Mountain Gods Peru
• Jenny's first She Explores Episode, "Fat & Outdoorsy"
  •  Listen on Apple Podcasts
  • Listen on Spotify
  • Listen on She-Explores.com
• If you like this episode, you might enjoy listening to these She Explores episodes:
  • Kara Richardson Whitely, "Forever Unfolding" 
  • Sam Ortiz, "When Your Path Finds You"
  • Curvy Kili Crew
• She Explores Landing Page

Sponsors and Discount Codes

• Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
• Danner: Learn more at Danner.com
• ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first purchase by heading to ThirdLove.com/explore

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.

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
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Resources

• Krystle Wright: Website & Instagram
• Films Mentioned:
  • Chasing Monsters
  • Where the Wild Things Play
  • Where the Wild Things Keep Playing
• She Explores Landing Page

Sponsors and Discount Codes

• Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
• Stio: Get 25% off at checkout with code 'EXPLORE' when you shop at Stio.com
• Ritual: Get 10% off your first three months subscription by heading to Ritual.com/explore

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.

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

• Hiking My Feelings: Website & Instagram
• Pre-order Sydney's Book: Hiking My Feelings - Stepping into the Healing Power of Nature
• Sydney Williams' personal Instagram: @sydneyunfiltered
• She Explores Landing Page

Sponsors and Discount Codes

• Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
• Danner: Learn more at Danner.com

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.

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

• Kara Richardson Whitely: Website, Instagram & Facebook
• Move Mountains Retreat: Reset Your New Year - January 12, 2020; Learn more here.
• Books: Gorge (2015), The Weight of Being (2018), and Fat Woman on the Mountain (2014)
• She Explores Landing Page

Other Resources

• Mirna Valerio: Instagram
• WNDR Outdoors: Instagram
• About Binge Eating Disorder
• Listen to the Curvy Kili Crew Hike on She Explores
• Jenny Bruso's guide to plus size activewear
• National Eating Disorder Association: Helpline

Sponsors and Discount Codes

• Smartwool: Learn more at Smartwool.com
• Danner: Learn more at Danner.com
• ThirdLove: Get 15% off your order by heading to ThirdLove.com/explore

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.