She's Bold with Beth Whitman

This is a special edition of the She's Bold Podcast!

I'm celebrating 100 episodes by featuring guests who've answered the question what it means for them to Be Bold!

Have a burning question and want to be featured on a future episode? Call 877-280-5170 and leave a message or email me here.

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Be Bold,

Beth

Win a copy of Flash Count Diary by subscribing to the She's Bold Podcast newsletter!

Today's guest is author, Darcey Steinke. Darcey has a new book out called Flash Count Diary: Menopause and the Vindication of Natural Life.

Fair warning that this is an adult conversation and may not be for everyone. But it's an important conversation in that menopause has been traditionally a topic that isn't often talked about openly.

For those going through it, there's a lot of shame around it because of the sometimes very obvious symptoms – most notably, hot flashes. But it's also a time of life for women when a lot of emotion and other physical changes can occur.

Darcey's approach is that this is just another chapter in a woman's life and should be embraced, not necessarily looked upon as a medical condition.

Her book and this conversation are so important to how we view menopause and how we can change our language around it to not be something viewed as a "condition" or as a problem to solve.

There's no doubt that you have many women in your life that could benefit from hearing this conversation so please do share it. Let's get the word out and start thinking about menopause a bit differently.

If you'd like to win a copy of her book, Flash Count Diary, sign up for the She's Bold Podcast newsletter. I'll simply alert you each time a new episode is released. I'll give you until the end of the month to sign up for that newsletter and will randomly choose a winner on August 1st amongst all the current subscribers. That will have to be a winner with a US address. (Apologies if you're out of the country.)

OK - with that, please enjoy this conversation with Darcey Steinke.

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Have a burning question and want to be featured on a future episode? Call 877-280-5170 and leave a message or email me here.

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Connect with Darcey

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Links/books/people mentioned Flash Count Diary (Amazon)Mona Lisa Touch Flow CBD gel Amazing Grace - Aretha Franklin Documentary (Amazon) Bad Reputation - Joan Jett Documentary (Amazon)

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Be Bold,

Beth

Today's guest is Dina Bennett – author, travel junkie and unorthodox, as she says.

Dina Bennett landed on my radar years ago when I was sent a copy of her book, Peking to Paris: Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World. This documents her trip as the unlikely navigator in an antique car in a motor rally.

That was maybe five or six years ago. Although we did meet briefly at a conference a year or so before her book came out, this was the first time we really got a chance to sit down and chat. And I have to admit I was thoroughly charmed by Dina and so loved this conversation.

When we first met, Dina was living in Colorado but has since moved to France where she's been, for the most part, for the past two years.

Dina is the author of two books including Peking to Paris as well as A Travel Junkie's Diary – both of which I'll link to below.

But Dina is also an ex-pat, a globe-trotter, a navigator, a rancher, a roadtripper and so much more. Perhaps most importantly, to me, she describes herself as someone who more often says yes than no.

I could go on but I want to dive into this, because I know you're going to love this conversation with Dina Bennett.

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Have a burning question and want to be featured on a future episode? Call 877-280-5170 and leave a message or email me here.

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Connect with Dina Bennett

Website | Instagram

Links/books/people mentionedPeking to Paris by Dina Bennett (Amazon) Travel Junkie's Diary by Dina Bennett (Amazon) Yes Man with Jim Carey

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Be Bold,

Beth

In this episode, I talk about running the Cascade Super Series Marathon including:

* Not making my goal pace * Training for endurance events vs. faster races

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Have a burning question and want to be featured on a future episode? Call 877-280-5170 and leave a message or email me here.

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Mentioned in this episode:Cascade Super Series Marathon Epic 5 4 Deserts / Racing the Planet Sabrina Seher (on She's Bold - episode 43) Qualifying for the Boston Marathon (on She's Bold - episode Connect with me: PATREON! (join our growing community!) Facebook Instagram WanderTours Be Bold Facebook Group (women-only) Twitter

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Be Bold, Beth

Today's conversation is with Beth Jusino.

As a way to unplug from what she calls 24/7 screentime, Beth Jusino and her husband, Eric, walked 1,000 miles of the Camino over 79 days.

Beth was not an athlete, she wasn't super fit, she wasn't even a traveler. She just knew she had to find a way to unplug and get away from her devices.

And what she found was a world where people actually look each other in the eye, and they connect, and they share stories.

She basically did a couch to 1,000 miles. Although she did a lot of research, she didn't train at all and she packed her backpack the night before she left. Now that's not to say that that's an ideal way to take on an adventure, but it certainly goes to show ya that pretty much anything is possible.

There's a lot of inspiration in her story and the fact that she is an average person, like women we all know. Yet, something clicked for her, she changed her mindset and took on something that she hadn't previously even considered possible.

OK - with that, please enjoy this conversation with Beth Jusino.

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Support the podcast through Patreon and get access to special audio and written content, be part of a private Facebook group and enjoy other benefits reserved for supporters of the podcast!

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Have a burning question and want to be featured on a future episode? Call 877-280-5170 and leave a message or email me here.

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Connect with Beth Jusino

Website

Links/books/people mentionedWalking to the End of The World by Beth Jusino (Amazon) Phinney Books Independent Bookstore Day Third Place Books Robyn Davidson Tracks by Robyn Davidson (Amazon) Helen Thayer (on She's Bold Podcast) Merrell Shoes Salomon Hoka Altras ON Running Shoes Almost French by Sarah Turnbull (Amazon)

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Be Bold,

Beth

In this episode, I talk about my training plan for the Epic5 Run - 5 ultra marathons (50K), in 5 days on 5 Hawaiian islands. You'll hear about:

* The number of miles I'm running * What shoes I'm wearing * The difference between road and trail running * How my body is handling all the miles

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Support the podcast through Patreon and get access to special audio and written content, be part of a private Facebook group and enjoy other benefits reserved for supporters of the podcast!

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Have a burning question and want to be featured on a future episode? Call 877-280-5170 and leave a message or email me here.

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Mentioned in this episode: Epic 5 4 Deserts / Racing the Planet Running the Quadzilla (episode 33) Gu Gels (Amazon) Pearl Izumi Altra Topo Ultimate Direction FastpackHer (Amazon) Jenny Jurek Marc Pro (Amazon) Cascade Super Series Marathon Sabrina Seher (on She's Bold - episode 43) Connect with me: PATREON! (join our growing community!) Facebook Instagram WanderTours Be Bold Facebook Group (women-only) Twitter

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Be Bold, Beth

Today's conversation is with Helen Thayer.

I don't think you can listen to this conversation and not be affected, changed or inspired on some level. It's very likely that you'll make different decisions today and going forward after you listen to today's episode.

I've known of Helen for, gosh, at least 20 years but likely much longer than that. She's been on my radar for such a long time because some of the really amazing things she's accomplished. And even though she lives in the Seattle area and we've been in touch over the years—like via email, I'm fairly certain this was the first time we met in person.

But our sit-down was like slipping into a conversation with an old friend. Someone with whom I have common interests and am on the same wavelength but also someone whom I really admire and can look to for inspiration.

So who's Helen Thayer?

Though she's not a fan of promoting herself as the first person to do this or that, there's no denying her accomplishments.

At age 50, she was the first woman to travel solo to the magnetic North Pole in an unsupported expedition, meaning she pulled all of her own supplies and gear. She ventured solo to the South Pole on a trek where she had to abandoned the trip just shy of completing the journey.

Along with her husband, Bill, she walked across the Sahara on a 4,000-mile trade route (and where she had to be led by a local through 600 miles of landmines). She walked 1,600 miles across the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, she kayaked 2,200 miles in the Amazon and, beginning on her 80th birthday – her 80th birthday – she walked across Death Valley.

She was named One of the Great Explorers of the 20th Century by the National Geographic Society.

Helen was influenced by not only her very athletic parents but by Sir Edmund Hillary (Ed as she calls him). And though most of us don't have those kinds of people surrounding us and influencing us, we do have Helen.

She's now 81 and, as you'll hear, she has many more projects ahead of her that keep her going and excited.

I could go on about Helen and her accomplishments but I'd rather this conversation with her speak for itself.

Please enjoy this conversation with Helen Thayer.

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Support the podcast through Patreon and get access to special audio and written content, be part of a private Facebook group and enjoy other benefits reserved for supporters of the podcast!

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Have a burning question and want to be featured on a future episode? Call 877-280-5170 and leave a message or email me here.

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Connect with Helen

Website

Links/books/people mentionedAdventure Classroom Walking the Gobi by Helen Thayer (Amazon) Polar Dream by Helen Thayer (Amazon) Three Among the Wolves by Helen Thayer (Amazon) WA State Chaplain Foundation Sir Edmund Hillary (Wiki) Arctic movie (Amazon) Commencement speech at WGU in Las Vegas

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Be Bold,

Beth

Vasu Varadhan is a long-time friend of mine. We figured we've known each other for about 35 years. And though we haven't stayed closely connected over those 35 years, we've stayed connected enough so that when I'm in NY or she's in Seattle, we try to get together and have a laugh and a conversation.

Vasu and I met when I was in college and she was visiting for special presentation, it was an event being held at the university that I attended in Pennsylvania.

Vasu holds a PhD in Media Studies from NYU where she is currently a member of the faculty at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She's taught a wide range of interdisciplinary seminars on media theory, identity in a multi-cultural world, ancient Indian literature and South Asian literature and we get into some of that in this conversation.

I was really eager to chat with Vasu because she recently published her first book, On My Own Terms: A Journey Between Two Worlds. This is a memoir that chronicles not only the early years of her life which included her struggles as an immigrant, first growing up in the US living in many ways a very traditional Indian life and then moving to India in her early teens (but there she was a very Americanized Indian) but also her arranged marriage which took place at the age of 16.

When you listen to this conversation, I think you'll come away with a better understanding of the immigrant experience both for older and younger generations. But we cover many topics here including how she began work on her book shortly after the death of her eldest son in the 9/11 attack on The World Trade Center.

Please enjoy this conversation with Vasu Varadhan.

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Support the podcast through Patreon and get access to special audio and written content, be part of a private Facebook group and enjoy other benefits reserved for supporters of the podcast!

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Have a burning question and want to be featured on a future episode? Call 877-280-5170 and leave a message or email me here.

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Links/books/people mentionedAshtanga yoga Marshall McLuhen Zucked by Roger McNamee (Amazon) Moral Peril of Meritocracy by David Brooks Indra Nooyi (Wiki) Sakhi support group Manavi support group Carol Bergman Orhan Pamuk My Father's Suitcase Raghu Varadhan (Wiki)

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Be Bold,

Beth

Kelly Herron has basically made lemonade out of lemons. She had a traumatic, life-altering encounter, and made a choice to not let this event get the better of her.

When out for a long run on a cold February day in Seattle, Kelly stopped at a public restroom where she was attacked by a registered sex offender who was hiding in a stall.

She screamed, "Not Today Mother Fucker," and this has become her battle cry and her company. She did everything she could to get out of this guy's grip, managing to escape and then locking him in the bathroom until police arrived.

She and her self-defense instructor are now offering courses through Fighting Chance Seattle.

BTW – I'm going to include a photo of her Garmin GPS route in the show notes. This tracked her time during the attack. It's absolutely crazy what she did to fend him off and, as she says in our conversation, you'll do pretty much anything to save your life.

I hope this conversation helps just one person down the road either by encouraging them to take a self-defense course or by giving them the confidence or bravery to fight off someone when they otherwise thought that maybe that wouldn't be possible.

With that, enjoy this conversation with Kelly Herron.

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Support the podcast through Patreon and get access to special audio and written content, be part of a private Facebook group and enjoy other benefits reserved for supporters of the podcast!

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Have a burning question and want to be featured on a future episode? Call 877-280-5170 and leave a message or email me here.

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Connect with KellyWebsite | Instagram

Links/books/people mentionedRunning Revolution Oiselle Tenacious Ten Aftershokz Go Guarded rings Fighting Chance Seattle Sally Bergesen (on She's Bold Podcast) HOKA Despite the Dark running group Cascade Super Series marathons

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Be Bold,

Beth

Chris Mackay and I recorded this with an audience at the Adventure Hub and Winery in Seattle. Not only was this a lot of fun to record live but it gave us a chance to do something a little different, which was to take questions from the audience and answer them on the spot.

Chris is a traveler to the core, as you'll hear in this conversation. I've know Chris for probably 10 or more years but had never heard her backstory, which I found really fascinating.

Chris was heavily influenced by her mom who was not only a traveler (and took Chris to India when she was 16) but her mom surrounded herself and the family with shamans and Rinpoches and all sorts of interesting, indigenous peoples.

Chris's love of international travel and the natural world, along with her concern about the negative impacts of tourism on culture and the environment, led her to co-found Crooked Trails in 1998. This tour company specializes in community-based tourism – that which focuses on and supports the local cultures.

But her concern for the environment has extended well beyond Crooked Trails leading her to co-founded Travelers Against Plastic (TAP), an organization which aims to educate global travelers about the harmful impacts of using disposable plastic water bottles and, instead, encourages us to use alternative methods to consume water while traveling.

We get into that and the impact of travel on the environment and cultures in this episode.

I know you're really going to enjoy this conversation and I hope you enjoy this live format as well. With that, here's Chris Mackay.

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Support the podcast through Patreon and get access to special audio and written content, be part of a private Facebook group and enjoy other benefits reserved for supporters of the podcast!

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Have a burning question and want to be featured on a future episode? Call 877-280-5170 and leave a message or email me here.

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Connect with ChrisWebsite (Crooked Trails) | Website (Travelers Against Plastic) | Facebook (Crooked Trails)

Links/books/people mentionedAdventure Hub and Elsom Winery in Seattle WanderTours Steripen Adventurer (Amazon) A Plastic Ocean (Amazon) West Seattle Blog Sony RX10iv camera (Amazon) Epic5 4 Deserts Desert Runners (Amazon) Kalenjin tribe in Kenya (Wiki)

Connect with me:

PATREON! (join the community!) Facebook Instagram WanderTours Be Bold Facebook Group (women-only) Twitter

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe then tell a friend!

Be Bold,

Beth