She Explores

By Ravel MediaSociety & Culture Sports Health & Fitness Fitness Places & Travel Wilderness

She Explores episodes

May 29, 2019Grit, Guts, and the Right Amount of Gall: Jen Gurecki
Jen Gurecki is a serial outdoor entrepreneur who isn’t afraid to go against the norm when it comes to the businesses she’s started in the industry. With over 20 years of experience, Jen’s the CEO of Coalition Snow, editor-in-chief at Sisu Magazine, and founder of Zawadisha. She even used to co-own a river rafting company. From the outside, each company is quite different - hardwood skis and snowboards vs. editorial print vs. a micro lending venture, but each contains a common thread: an unwavering devotion to putting women in front.
Woman featured in this episode: Jen Gurecki
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, Ritual, and EarlybirdCBD.com
In this episode you'll hear
How Jen's restlessness translates to adventure and business
Jen's start in the outdoor industry
The experiences Jen had in her 20's that shaped the companies she started in her 30's
Why Jen wants to 'shred the patriarchy'
What she learned working in outdoor ed at Adventure Risk Challenge
About Zawadisha
What Jen was up against in founding Coalition Snow
Why Jen extended her vision to a print magazine: Sisu
Issue Three of Sisu, coming out in June
Why Jen knows that "strong women have feelings too" and how she deals with the ups and downs of entrepreneurship
Resources
Jen Gurecki: Instagram
Sisu Magazine: Website & Instagram
Coalition Snow: Website & Instagram
Zawadisha: Website
Jenny Bruso: Website
Gravel Try Hard: Instagram
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Merrell: Learn more about the Ontario Mid Waterproof hiking
boots
Ritual.com: Get 10% off your first three months by heading to Ritual.com/Explore
EarlybirdCBD.com: Get 20% by using code EXPLORES at checkout and heading to EarlybirdCBD.com/explores
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
43 min
May 22, 2019Teaching by Example: Low Waste Camper and Garden Ranger Cindy Villaseñor
Cindy Villaseñor is an Enrich LA Garden Ranger who strives to live a low waste lifestyle. She also loves camping, gardening outside of work, and eats vegan. Cindy didn’t grow up doing any of these things, but keeping herself open to learning and opportunities have led her to where she is today.
Cindy hasn’t left people behind in choosing a low waste and vegan lifestyle, instead, she invites people in through leading by example. She knows there’s no such thing as perfection, so why make others feel bad that they’re not doing enough?
Woman featured in this episode: Cindy Villaseñor
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell
In this episode you'll hear
About how Cindy's career path changed when she took an environmental science class
What she does as a Garden Ranger with Enrich LA and why she enjoys teaching others
The power of leading by example
Low waste camping tips
Why aiming for zero waste isn't always accessible or realistic
About Cindy's low waste wedding at a nursery in Los Angeles
Why Yosemite is so important to her and her husband
Want to hear about Cindy's first solo camping trip? Head to the episode landing page for bonus audio!
Resources
Cindy Villaseñor: Instagram
Enrich LA: Website
Cindy's Zero Waste Vegan Taqueria Wedding
Episode landing page on She-Explores.com
She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Merrell: Learn more about the Ontario Mid hiking boots by visiting Merrell.com
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
38 min
May 15, 2019The Curvy Kili Crew
For International Women's Day, 20 plus-size women hiked Mount Kilimanjaro. Each had a different reason and background, but they came together to take up space on the highest mountain in Africa. One goal? To normalize fat hiking around the world. Diandra Oliver brought along a recorder to share the seven-day trek with us.
Woman featured in this episode: Diandra Oliver, Autumn Stofflet, Eve, Sharon ‘Shazz’ Nderitu, and Deb Malkin
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, ThirdLove, and GreenerWays Organic
In this episode you'll hear
Why Diandra Oliver wanted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
How the stakes feel higher when society's expectations don't align
with your own
Why reaching the summit was the main goal but why we might want to
re-think summit culture
The challenges of finding gear
The shared experiences and bonding found in group activities (and it
was typically harder for Diandra)
The biodiversity of Mount Kilimanjaro
Sounds and stories from the trail
What acclimatization feels like
Why self-care is important
How standing on the top of the mountain felt
Why sometimes a sign is not a summit
Resources
Curvy Kili Crew Instagram
WHOA Travel
Take the Extended Apparel Sizing Quiz
Diandra Oliver's Blog Sink Ships & Instagram
Sharon "Shazz" Nderitu: Instagram
Deb Malkin: Instagram
Eve: Instagram
Autumn Stofflet: Instagram
Glamour Article
Adrienne Maree Brown, author of Emergent Strategy
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Merrell: Learn more about the Ontario Waterproof Mid hiking shoes by visiting Merrell.com
ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first order by heading to Thirdlove.com/explore
GreenerWays Organic: Find GreenerWays Organic on Amazon or by heading to their website
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
58 min
May 08, 2019Mothers & Daughters, Outdoors
A celebration of motherhood, outdoors and otherwise. In this episode, you’ll hear from mothers and daughters; it's equal parts a letter of thanks and a guidebook of sorts for a life best lived outdoors.
We asked:
What’s your best memory with your mom outdoors?
What landscapes and outdoor places make you think of your mom?
What do you hope for your children’s relationship with the outdoors?
What outdoor knowledge and advice do you (Mom) want to pass down?
Why is today (Mother’s Day) special to you? Why is it complicated?
We hear from both familiar and new voices as listeners and past guests answer these questions as more as we honor mothers this May.
Woman featured in this episode: Tori Duhaime, Nadio Mercado, Melody and Angelica Forsyth, Alison, Meg Day, Lana Lee Wright, Liz Song Mandell, Caro Garcia, Jasmine, Elissa Story, Jenni Goldman, Lynn Doiron, Anastasia Alison, Kathleen Ruland, and Laura Hughes.
Hosted by Gale Straub
*Sponsored by Merrell
Resources
Nadia Mercado Video: Mi Mamá & Instagram
Tori Duhaime: Portfolio
Melody Forsyth: Down With Adventure
Elissa Story: @seattlestorys
Jenni Goldman: Instagram
Lynn Doiron: Instagram
Anastasia Allison: Instagram
Lana Lee Wright: Instagram
Meg Day: Blog
Laura Hughes: Instagram
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Merrell: Learn more about the Ontario Waterproof Mid hiking shoes by visiting Merrell.com
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license. Miusic is also by Liam McNally.
52 min
May 01, 2019Work and Play: Weekend Adventurer Holly Johnson
Hiking has become both a side hustle and a form of therapy for weekend adventurer Holly Johnson. We talk about how work and play blend together in her life, but also how she deliberately keeps them separate. From her first solo backpacking trip to carving out time for adventure travel outside of her 9-5 job, Holly, aka @missholldoll, is above all else a hiker.
Woman featured in this episode: Holly Johnson
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Merrell, Ritual, and EarlyBirdCBD.com
In this episode, you'll hear:
How an ex-boyfriend reintroduced Holly to hiking (but why she kept hiking for herself)
About her first solo backpacking trip
Why she enjoys going out with friends but finds solo experiences to be rewarding
How she grew a large Instagram following and does brand partnerships, but chooses to keep it as her side hustle
What Holly likes about her 9-5 job
How Holly balances what she chooses to share and what she keeps to herself
Why, into her late 30's, she's made dating a smaller priority in her life, and how that's opened up room for hiking and travel
Hiking trips on her bucketlist (and to return to!)
About the adventure trip she's running to Costa Rica
The She Explores book & Tour
Resources
Holly Johnson: Instagram @missholldoll & Website
Costa Rica trip Holly is co-hosting with Trova
She-Explores.com
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Merrell: Learn more by visiting to Merrell.com!
Ritual: Get 10% off your first three months by visiting Ritual.com/explore
EarlyBirdCBD.com: Get 20% off your purchase by going to EarlybirdCBD.com/explores and using code 'EXPLORES' at checkout
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license
47 min
April 17, 2019Choosing Environmental Optimism
This Earth Day, we’re looking on the bright side. We’re asking, how can a sense of environmental optimism keep us facing forward? What strength do we gain when we’re comfortable starting fresh - whether it’s a climbing route, in our personal lives, or in our approach to sustainability? .
We climb and camp in Moab, Utah with photographer, climber, and Mountain Hardwear ambassador Kylie Fly, who knows thinking outside the box is beneficial to all aspects of life.
Woman featured in this episode: Kylie Fly
Hosted by Gale Straub
Sponsored by Mountain Hardwear
Why Kylie gravitates towards optimism in all areas of her life
How she got into climbing and the advice she has for others who want
to get started
Why she loves climbing
Times in climbing (and life!) where she's approached a route and
started from scratch
How Mountain Hardwear has started from scratch with their whole gear
line for spring, including tents without fire retardant chemicals
Why environmental optimism can help us through challenging times
The small steps Kylie takes to recreate and live sustainably
How brands are using more sustainable (and recycled) materials
What we can do when spending time outside to minimize our impact
The She Explores book & Tour
Resources
Kylie Fly: Instagram & Portfolio
Leave No Trace
Mountain Hardwear Tents & Sleeping Bags
She Explores Book & Tour
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Mountain Hardwear
Products mentioned: Lamina ECO AF Sleeping Bag & Line of Flame Retardant-free tents
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Liam McNally, Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license
41 min
April 10, 2019On and Off the Icefield: Hannah Perrine Mode
Anyone else a ‘bad’ science student in high school? For those who haven’t been indoctrinated, earth science can be all intimidating facts and hard edges. Hannah Perrine Mode is an abstract artist who has found a connection to science through her artwork. Her experiences as a science communicator as part of the Juneau Icefield Research Program in Alaska have opened her up to more diverse methods of sharing glacial and earth science with people - on and off the icefield.
We talk about how Hannah went from being a self-described ‘bad’ science student to using abstract art to tell the stories of glaciers to creating an installation at Google featuring women scientists.
Woman featured in this episode: Hannah Perrine Mode
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
Why Hannah advocates for more hands-on science in high school and college
How both creating art and spending time outside became an entry point for Hannah to learn more about science and geology
About Hannah's love of and fascination with glaciers
How she got involved with the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP)
Why Hannah argues for diverse methods of science communication
The important role art plays in conservation conversations
About her installation at Google that celebrates female scientists
What Hannah hopes for the future of science and art
Why Hannah doesn't have her career all figured out but has been enjoying looking back and seeing what has followed her throughout it so far
Advice for other artists
Head to She-Explores.com to meet us on our book tour!
Sponsored by ThirdLove and Robinhood
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first order by heading to thirdlove.com/explore
Robinhood: Get a FREE stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint to help you build your portfolio by heading to explores.robinhood.com
Resources
Hannah Perrine Mode: Website & Instagram
Juneau Icefield Research Program
She Explores Book
Book Events: Denver @ Topo Designs 4/10; Littleton, CO Tattered Cover - Aspen Grove 4/11; Moab, UT Back of Beyond Books 4/16
43 min
April 03, 2019When Nature Calls, SheFly has the Answer
Shouldn't it be easier for women to use the bathroom outside? Shouldn't pants be made for female anatomy? The founders behind SheFly Apparel think so. They've reinvented pants for us to wear on the trail and elsewhere. Meet two of the three co-founders, Bianca Gonzalez and Charlotte Massey.
Women featured in this episode: Bianca Gonzalez and Charlotte Massey
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
About Bianca's entrepreneurial philosophy, the acronym of which is appropriate: "PEE"
What SheFly Apparel is, and how it came to be
Why women need a solution for 'answering nature's call' outdoors
Why the current position of a fly on pants is antiquated and fitting for male anatomy rather than female (and how it's also pretty darn sexist)
The marketing challenges of spreading the word about a women's specific product that helps you go to the bathroom outside
How the founders have balanced college and post-college life with founding a business
Why SheFly Apparel hopes to revolutionize the pa(n)triarchy and what they have in store for the future
Head to She-Explores.com to meet us on our book tour!
Sponsored by Ritual and EarlybirdCBD.com
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Head to Ritual.com/explore to get 10% off your first 3 months of vitamins
Head to EarlybirdCBD.com/explores and use code EXPLORES at checkout for 20% off your order
Resources
SheFly Apparel: Website
SheFly Apparel iFundWomen crowdfunding campaign
Kyle Wright: Portfolio
She Explores Book & Tour
She-Explores.com
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Liam McNally, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license
36 min
March 13, 2019What Happened Next: Afghan Cycles & The Musical Mountaineers
Both filmmaker Sarah Menzies and The Musical Mountaineers accomplished big things after our conversations last year. Sarah debuted her film Afghan Cycles. Rose and Anastasia played music in Seattle's Benaroya Hall. We catch up and celebrate what's next.
Women featured in this episode: Sarah Menzies, Anastasia Allison, and Rose Freeman
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
How the Afghan Cycles film debut at Hot Docs film festival went for filmmaker Sarah Menzies
Why film festivals are important for outdoor documentary films
How Sarah is carving out time for her and her partner Kaitlin after devoting so much time to Afghan Cycles
What Sarah wants to focus on for her next film project
How she feels about Afghan Cycles being available to stream on platforms like iTunes
Why Sarah wouldn't tell you she's "living the dream" but why she wouldn't have it any other way
The Musical Mountaineers share about the concert they played at Benaroya Hall in Seattle (and how it wasn't as different as they thought it would be from playing in the mountains)
The beauty in the fact that wherever Anastasia and Rose play their instruments, the feeling is the same.
What Rose and Anastasia are excited about
Anastasia's p-cloth company, Kula Cloth
The possibility The Musical Mountaineers see in 2019 (for themselves and for others!)
The She Explores book
We're doing a She Explores book event at REI Seattle May 1st at 6:30PM. Mark your calendar!
Sponsored by NoteCast by EX-IQ and Warby Parker
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Warby Parker: Head to warbyparker.com/EXPLORE to order your free Home Try-On’s today.
Notecast: Head to Notecast.app and use code EXPLORES at checkout for 60 days free!
Resources
Sarah's Episode: All In
Rose and Anastasia's episode: The Musical Mountaineers
Afghan Cycles: Find it on iTunes and find out where you else you can stream it
Afghan Cycles: Website
Sarah Menzies: Instagram & Let Media
The Musical Mountaineers: Instagram & Facebook
Kula Cloth: Website & Instagram
Anastasia Allison: Instagram and Website
Rose Freeman: Instagram
She Explores Book
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
44 min
March 06, 2019Hike, Journal, Meditate: Kenya & Michelle Jackson-Saulters
A little mindfulness goes a long way. Meet Kenya and Michelle Jackson-Saulters, founders of Outdoor Journal Tour and WE Hike to Heal.
We have a lot on our minds - we often put our own needs on the backburner. Kenya and Michelle believe that self-care can look like a walk in the woods and that the effect can be multiplied with journaling and meditating. They're on a mission to help women all over the world reclaim their bodies, minds, and communities through their special guided hikes and mindfulness lessons.
Women featured in this episode: Kenya Jackson and Michelle Jackson-Saulters
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode you'll hear:
How meditation can amplify the positive effects of your experiences in nature
What 'grounding' is and why it's important
About the origin of Outdoor Journal Tour (ODJT)
The positive benefits of hiking, journaling, and meditating
About Michelle's first solo hike in Georgia
How ODJT cultivates a welcoming and non-intimidating environment on their group hikes
Why ODJT gears their work towards women
About the Journal of Mindful Movement
Why Kenya included a 'body apology' in the journal
How when we think about health, we should include mental as well as physical health
About WE Hike to Heal and the March initiative culminating in group hikes around North America on March 30th
Why embracing healing doesn't mean there's something wrong with us
Sponsored by NoteCast by EX-IQ, ThirdLove, and EarlybirdCBD.com
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Notecast: Head to Notecast.app and use code EXPLORES at checkout for 60 days free!
ThirdLove: Get 15% off your first order by heading to ThirdLove.com/explore
EarlybirdCBD: Head to EarlybirdCBD.com/explores and use code EXPLORES at checkout for 20% off
Resources
Outdoor Journal Tour: Website & Instagram
WE Hike to Heal: Website
Sign up for a hike March 30th
Register to lead a #WEhiketoheal hike! Here's the form
Kenya Jackson-Saulters: Website & Instagram
Michelle Jackson-Saulters: Instagram
UN/ROOTED podcast: Website & Instagram
Mirna Valerio: Instagram & SE Podcast Episode
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw, Lee Rosevere and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
45 min

About She Explores

From the publisher's feed

Come find inspiration with women in the outdoors. Interviews, in-the-field recordings, and listener submissions make up a tapestry of episodes covering themes such as solo hiking and camping,…