She Explores

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

She Explores episodes

December 05, 2018Quitting can be a Kindness: Nicole Antoinette
Nicole Antoinette quit her thru hike of the Pacific Crest Trail after about 1,600 miles and she's ok with calling it a failure. In fact, Nicole questions why we have to choose either success or failure. Can't we be gentler with ourselves? Can't we set out to both succeed and fail?
Nicole Antoinette has a gift for applying lessons she's learned to new chapters of life. We talk about how what she's learned in sobriety applies to distance running applies to thru hiking applies to us all.
Women featured in this episode: Nicole Antoinette.
Cameos by Carrot Quinn, Karen Wang, and Rahawa Haile
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
How long distance running can be a gateway to thru hiking
Physical activity as a way to cope with new sobriety
Why you don't have to be "good" at something to do it
Why growth is a value for Nicole
When making life changes is a lonely thing
Why Nicole wanted to hike the PCT on her own but also wanted a trail family
What the culture is like on the PCT
The awareness Nicole has for her body while hiking
"'Success', whatever that means"
Giving yourself room to fail (on a trail and in life)
Post-trail depression and why "this too shall pass"
The mindset of embracing "both/and" vs. "either/or" aka we don't have to be one thing
Sponsored by Benchmark Maps and Outdoor Voices
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Learn more at She-Explores.com
Resources
Nicole Antoinette's Website & Instagram
Real Talk Radio
Nicole's patreon
2019 She Explores Listener Survey
Carrot Quinn's Thru Hiking Will Break Your Heart
Carrot's episode on She Explores & Real Talk Radio
Rahawa's episode on She Explores & Real Talk Radio
Karen's episode on She Explores & Real Talk Radio
Brainstorm National Park Puzzle
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Benchmark Maps: Take 20% with code SHEEXPLORES at checkout
Outdoor Voices: Take 20% off your order of $100 or more with code EXPLORES at checkout at outdoorvoices.com/explores
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
54 min
November 28, 2018Postpartum: Kristina Frost
Becoming a new mom has changed the way Kristina Frost experiences the outdoors. And she's realizing, it's not better or worse - it's just different. The confluence of a body in healing, a child who needs constant care, and postpartum depression means her life looks little like it did a few years ago.
We talk to Kristina before and after she takes her two-month-old daughter Emma camping for the very first time.
Women featured in this episode: Kristina Frost
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
How Kristina compares her first backpacking experiences with being a new mom
What postpartum depression feels like to Kristina
The difference between PMDD and postpartum depression
Why Kristina feels like she's lost her outdoor community (for now)
Before and after Kristina's first camping trip with her 2 month old daughter and husband
How her body's changed after pregnancy and birth
Why Kristina feels like she has an old self and a new self and how the two might be integrated
Advice for new moms who want to take their infants camping
Why you don't have to stick to one kind of camping
Sponsored by Benchmark Maps and Sustain Natural
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Resources
Follow Kristina on Instagram: @frostkristina
Hike it Baby
Adventure Mamas
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Benchmark Maps: Take 20% with code SHEEXPLORES at checkout
Sustain Natural: Take 20% off first one-time order with 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 Jason Shaw and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
40 min
November 21, 2018What We Have to Give
What we have (and want) to give to ourselves and to others is often clarified through time outside. At Lodged Out in the Adirondacks of New York, four women share how they spent the weekend through a giving lens.
And as a bonus, we start off the episode by talking with Cassie Abel about "Women-Led Wednesday" - a new initiative to support female-led businesses this holiday season and beyond.
Women featured in this episode: Bobbilee Hartman, Nic Annette Miller, Abby Pond, and Adriana Aldana
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
About the origin story of Lodged Out
How Bobbilee is energized by connecting with people and connecting people with others
How even though your job isn't always the right fit, it doesn't mean you have the wrong profession
Why Bobbilee decided to make Lodged Out retreats tech free and centered around the outdoors
How it can be hard to find balance between motherhood, work, entrepreneurship, and giving yourself time
Why choosing to do something for yourself can be a gift
Why sharing and teaching art is giving, both towards yourself and others
How we can learn from a photograph
Why bias is perpetuated by not listening to other people's stories
About Women-Led Wednesday and why it's important to vote with our dollars
Sponsored by Benchmark Maps, Robinhood and Bombas
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Resources
Lodged Out
Women Led Wednesday: Website, Instagram, and Twitter
Queen of Cups Lingerie
Nic Annette Miller: Instagram
She-Explores.com landing page
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Benchmark Maps: Take 20% with code SHEEXPLORES at checkout
Robinhood: Head to Explores.robinhood.com for a free stock with signup
Bombas: Use code 'explores' at checkout for 20% off your first order
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
47 min
November 14, 2018Lost & Found
Lost in the mountains is a vulnerable place to be. Lydia Sturgis shares her experience losing the trail for a night in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana, and heli nurse Krista Elkins gives advice for both how to prevent getting lost and what to do if it happens.
Women featured in this episode: Lydia Sturgis and Krista Elkins
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
Lydia's hike and climb up Granite Peak, the highest mountain in Montana
Why it's important to trust your climbing partner
What Lydia and her climbing partner Artie did when they got lost on the way down
Advice from heli nurse and paramedic Krista Elkins for ways to prevent getting lost
Gear to bring on an overnight
What to do if you do get lost for one night and more than one night
Recommended courses for outdoor enthusiasts
Why it's worth getting out there, even with the risks
What Lydia learned while she was out there
Sponsored by Benchmark Maps, Outdoor Voices and Sustain Natural
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Resources
Episode landing page
Wilderness First Responder Course
REI Adventures
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Benchmark Maps: Take 20% with code SHEEXPLORES at checkout
Outdoor Voices: Take 20% off order of $100 or more with code EXPLORES at checkout
Sustain Natural: Take 20% off first one-time order with code EXPLORES at checkout
1 hr 4 min
November 07, 2018Alone with Her Thoughts on the Welsh Coastal Path: Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe
Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe set out to be the first BAME woman in the United Kingdom to thru hike the Welsh Coastal Trail. She didn't achieve her goal, but after 570 miles on foot, she could hear herself loud and clear.
Women featured in this episode: Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
What the ~870 mile Welsh Coastal Path is
Why Wales is so important to Hiranya
Why she chose to hike solo
"On your own? You're very brave." What Hiranya heard most often about being on her own and why she thinks that is
Why what is deemed a "good adventure" feels like a hierarchy
How trails in the US are different than the Welsh Coastal Path
How hiking solo gave Hiranya a new appreciation for her body
Balancing comfort and challenge on a long hike
How Brexit brought out a resurgence of racism in the UK and how Hiranya experienced this as a South Asian woman on the path
Whether or not people are talking about DEI and the outdoors in the UK
Gender norms Hiranya observed on the path
How she felt when she got off the trail after 48 days
Sponsored by Ritual and Sustain Natural
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Resources
Hiranya's blog: Life Moves in Cycles
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Ritual.com/explore
Sustain Natural: Use code EXPLORES for 20% off your first one-time order!
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Josh Woodward, Jason Shaw, Lee Rosevere, and Kai Engel using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Sun Shapes
46 min
October 24, 2018Down with Adventure: Melody Forsyth
Pregnant with her daughter Ruby, Melody Forsyth thought hiking would be her "last hurrah" when she found out Ruby has Down Syndrome (DS). Turns out, it was just the beginning. We talk about what having a child with special needs has added to Melody's hiking and personal life, and how she uses social media to break stereotypes about her little girl and DS.
Women featured in this episode: Melody Forsyth
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear:
How Melody balances the roles of mother, nurse, hiker, and wife
The ways in which a backpacking experience in her teens has carried with her into her 40's
Getting started hiking again a little later in life
Why fear of not getting to explore after having a child with Down Syndrome got Melody's family outside
How seeing a kid with special needs at a National Park assuaged Melody's fears
How Ruby connects with the outdoors
Melody's family's quest to visit all the National Parks in the US
The ways Melody uses her Instagram @downwithadventure to correct misconceptions about Down Syndrome and hiking with a child with special needs
What Ruby has taught Melody (and can teach us!)
Sponsored by Away and Bombas
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering
Resources
Melody's instagram: @downwithadventure
Learn about their family on the Goal Zero Blog
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Bombas: Get 20% off your first purchase by using code
'explores' at checkout!
Away: Get $20 off your first purchase of a suitcase by using
code 'explores' at checkout!
Get 20% off an Escape Campervan rental by using code 'WOMEN20'
at checkout
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Jason Shaw using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Bouquet and Liam McNally
44 min
October 17, 2018Nature as a Disruptive Force for Queer Youth: Elyse Rylander
Elyse Rylander is the founder and executive director of OUT There Adventures, a nonprofit dedicated to empower queer young people through their connection with the natural world. Elyse believes nature is a disruptive force for queer youth and hopes to foster their identities and love of the outdoors.
Women featured in this episode: Elyse Rylander
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear
What Elyse is working on right now
How partnering with other established nonprofits like Outward Bound is helping spread the mission of OUT There Adventures
Why it can be uniquely hard for a small nonprofit to do outreach for queer kids for outdoor programs
Why role models are so important for queer youth in the outdoors
How working at an outdoor store and getting into guiding positively impacted Elyse as a teenager
Why Elyse believes nature is a disruptive force
How nature mirrors queer identities
How OUT There fosters inclusiveness on trips
What Elyse hopes the youth take with them when they leave
Hurdles to growth for OUT There
Elyse's vision for the future
About the second annual LGBTQ Outdoor Summit
What Elyse is looking forward to
Sponsored by BetterHelp and Bombas
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering
Resources
OUT There Adventures: Website & Instagram
LGBTQ Outdoor Summit
Outside Online Article on Elyse Rylander
Sponsor Websites and Codes
Betterhelp: Get the first week free by heading here and using offer code 'explores'!
Bombas: Get 20% off your first purchase by using code 'explores' at checkout!
Get 20% off an Escape Campervan rental by using code 'WOMEN20' at checkout
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Jason Shaw, Josh Woodward using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Kay Orange
44 min
October 10, 2018Leading with Humility: Tsedo Sherpa-Ednalino
Tsedo Sherpa-Ednalino is the COO of Sherpa Adventure Gear. Leading with humility is part of her Sherpa heritage and it's a tenet of her life as an executive and a mother.
Women featured in this episode: Tsedo Sherpa-Ednalino
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear
Tsedo talk about why working moms shouldn't be the only parents to
get the question 'how do you do it all?'
About why Tsedo loves international travel and wants to share that with her 3 year old daughter
Origin story of Sherpa Adventure Gear
Sherpa cultural attributes (welcoming, warm, friendly, humble, adaptable ) and how Tsedo identifies with them
How Sherpa Adventure Gear elevates Sherpa culture by employing women and funding education for children in Nepal
Advice for women looking to work in the outdoor industry and rise through the ranks
Who Tsedo's role models are
The unique challenges and benefits to working for a family business
How motherhood has improved Tsedo's time management
Sponsored by BetterHelp and Ritual
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering
Learn more at She-Explores.com/podcast
Resources:
Sherpa Adventure Gear
Women on the Road Gathering
Sponsor Websites & Codes
Betterhelp: Get the first week FREE by heading here
Ritual: Try Ritual guaranteed, if you don't like it after the first month get your money back
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Josh Woodward using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Great Lands
39 min
September 26, 2018Lightening Trauma's Invisible Weight on the Trail: Sydney Williams
Sydney Williams is more than a weight loss story, or an outdoors person with Type II diabetes, or a trauma survivor. But hiking the Trans-Catalina trail the second time helped her put it all together.
Women featured in this episode: Sydney Williams
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear
How Sydney hiked the Trans-Catalina Trail in Southern California two times: the first time it was the hardest thing physically, the second it was the hardest emotionally
Why a diagnosis of Type II diabetes was the best thing that ever happened to Sydney
The four things Sydney learned to manage when monitoring her blood sugar
Why stress can be so hard to regulate
How Sydney started hiking her feelings rather than eating and drinking her feelings
What was revealed to her about her past trauma on the trail
How hiking has helped her own her story
Why Sydney is going on a speaking tour in southern California to share her experience and where you can hear her talk
The lost potential of women due to sexual violence
How the outdoors helped Sydney coax healing from the trauma she carried
Sponsored by BetterHelp, uBiome, Outdoor Voices, and Robinhood
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering
Learn more at She-Explores.com/podcast
Resources:
Sydney Williams: Hiking My Feelings Website & Instagram
Sydney Williams: Personal Instagram
RAIIN.org: 1-800-656-HOPE
Sponsor Websites & Codes
BetterHelp: Get the first week free by heading here!
uBiome
Outdoor Voices: Get 20% off your first order of $100 or more by heading to Outdoorvoices.com/sheexplores and using the code 'SHEEXPLORES' at checkout
Robinhood: Get a FREE stock like Apple, Ford, or Sprint to help build your portfolio! Sign up at explores.robinhood.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, Kai Engel, Josh Woodward using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Great Lands
44 min
September 19, 2018Bike Touring is About More Than Just Bikes: Mary Ann Thomas
Mary Ann Thomas loves bike touring because it's accessible, it helps her care for her body, it connects her with people she might not otherwise meet, and it has helped her express the truest parts of herself. She's bicycled across the United States and Canada, as well as India, and is currently on a speaking tour to share her love of bike touring and her work as a queer brown travel writer with the WTF (Women Trans Femme) community.
Women featured in this episode: Mary Ann Thomas
Hosted by Gale Straub
In this episode, you'll hear
How bike touring helps Mary Ann feel in sync with her body
Why bike touring is an accessible form of adventure
About Mary Ann's first transcontinental bike tour
What Mary Ann learned about herself on that first long solo bike tour
How the middle of the US was more welcoming than she expected
The ways in which travel nursing can help facilitate an adventurous lifestyle
Why Mary Ann wanted to bike across India
How India surprised Mary Ann
How Mary Ann uses social media when she's bike touring to set up a network of safe spaces on the road
Why women and women of color should bike tour, especially in countries with familial ties
How Mary Ann believes you're only as safe as you believe you are
About the WTF Bikexplorers Summit
About Mary Ann's F*** Impossible Road Trip
Sponsored by BetterHelp, uBiome, and One Eleven Watches
Join us in our She Explores Podcast Facebook Group
Camp with us In Taos at the Women on the Road Gathering
Learn more at She-Explores.com/podcast
Resources:
Mary Ann Thomas: Website & Instagram
WTF Bikexplorers Summit
Warm Showers
Mary Ann's Chapbook: Asking For Elephants
Sponsor Websites & Codes
BetterHelp: Get the first week free by heading here!
UBiome
One Eleven Watches: First 20 get an Ursa Major gift with your purchase. Head here!
Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us.
Music is by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Jason Shaw using a Creative Commons Attribution license.
Music is also by Great Basin
47 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,…