Sierra Brown just wants to surf. But she’s pretty busy now as the co-founder and program Coordinator at Changing Current - an organization committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity within the surf travel industry. Changing Current’s hope is to foster a community of empowered individuals who not only gain access to new experiences but also become advocates for a more just and equitable society.

And while that’s an impressive title, Sierra’s a little reluctant to own up to it. Namely, because Sierra is still so new to all this… she’s new at being a founder, she’s new at running a non-profit, she’s relatively new to surfing, to modeling… and if you ask her, she’s still trying to figure it all out herself. But that said, Sierra has some very wise words and a perspective that I was eager to hear more from.

You see, Sierra and I are both surfers. But as a black woman who surfs, Sierria’s experience has been much different than mine. Of course, as we discuss, those facts definitely don’t define her. But they provide the backdrop for her lived experience, and that’s an experience I wanted to learn more about.

In our conversation, Sierra shares her journey from getting the job, quitting the job, taking that first surf lesson, making that first trip to Costa Rica, and realizing that, yes, surfing and traveling were for her.

Sierra’s been through a lot these last few years, and in our chat, she speaks openly about being in - and working her way out of - a dark place. She shares stories that many of us might be familiar with: struggling to get that lucky break, feeling overworked, and overwhelmed with adulting… but all in all, this is a story of joy. Knowing where to find it, how to tap into it, and how to create it for others. And it’s a story about going places; both physically and figuratively. There’s a lot in here to soak up.

Here are some of topics we touched on:

SDG Alignment: #5 Gender Equality, #10 Reduced Inequalities, #17 Partnerships for the Goals

Links: 

Also: Be sure to check out our conversation with Michael Stewart, Co-Founder of Sustainable Surf and their SeaTrees blue carbon and EcoBoard sustainable surfboard projects: https://www.theunderswell.com/podcasts/good-things-happening-just-under-the-surface/episodes/2148116934

We cover topics like this in our weekly newsletter - Subscribe now and get the free sustainability resource guide - Available at https://www.theunderswell.com/35mustknows

Looking for more structured sustainability learning? Check out our School of Understanding. Link here: https://www.theunderswell.com/pkgs

PS: Recorded on RIverside FM - Interested? Do us both a favor: Click here (https://riverside.fm/pricing?via=derek-sabori) to create your account. You’ll be impressed, and we’ll be rewarded.

#diversity #equtity #inclusion #surfing #careers #adulting #keeplearning #ocean #nonprofitmanagement #empowerment #blacksurfers #ebonybeachclub #changingcurrent #travel #founder #surftrip #womenthatsurf

Intro/Outro music by QubeSounds from Pixabay.

Thanks for watching and/or listening! Our show is available on Spotify, Apple, Google, and YouTube.