Underneath it All

Nicole Antoinette (she/her) is obsessed with honest conversations. A writer, retreat facilitator, and host of the Real Talk Radio podcast, Nicole works to create resources and gatherings for people who crave deep, genuine connections—both with themselves and others. Offline, Nicole is an indoor kid turned long-distance hiker, and when she's not on trail you can find her living in a tiny white van named Trixie.

In Episode 3, Nicole and Grizel talk about dealing with anxiety in a capitalistic nation, living to the expectations of others instead of ourselves, and how to be kind to ourselves and others when life doesn't go the way we expect it to. They also talk about the journey of long distance hiking, and the parallels to the deeper parts of life. At the end of the episode, there is a guided meditation focused on the discovery of compassion towards self.

Will Robinson, also known as Akuna is an outdoor lover and thru hiker who has hiked 3 of the longest trails in the US, which includes the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail, which makes him a Triple crowner of hiking. 

In Episode 2, Akuna and Grizel discuss the effects of racism on Akuna’s mental health, living with PTSD, and how people with mental health challenges are often assigned a negative stereotype. They also discuss how racial injustice stems into everyday living, including his safest and happiest place-Nature.

Vera Undertow is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking 14,000 ft peaks in Colorado. They are also a person who has struggled with depression, suicidality, anxiety, and gender identity.

In the season premiere of Underneath it All, host Grizel and Vera talk about growing up where gender is assumed, the challenges that come with seeing a therapist, the negative stigma that has engulfed mental health issues, and how to move forward from different mental health crises.

Underneath it All, hosted by Grizel, dives deep into the stories of everyday people who have or are currently experiencing mental health difficulties and how the outdoors has influenced them. Because sometimes, what drove us to climb the highest peaks was experiencing the lowest valleys of our lives.