Today on the show I have Vasu Sojitra, a skier on the North Face Athlete Team and bad ass skater and trail runner. But before you start imagining what this conversation will be like, get this. When Vasu was only nine months old, he was diagnosed with septicemia (a rare blood disease), resulting in the amputation of one of his legs. Vasu experienced rampant discrimination and witnessed extreme poverty growing up in India - all of which he views as a blessing because it has allowed him to truly hone his ability to empathize with others.

On top of being an accomplished athlete, Vasu has used his experiences to challenge the biases that go with being a person of color with a disability through his current work as the Adaptive Sports Program Director at Eagle Mount Bozeman, an organization that empowers children and adults with challenges to enrich their lives through adventure activities. He also serves as a coordinator for Earthtone Outside Montana, which works to elevate the visibility of diverse outdoor enthusiasts and build an inclusive community for people of color. 

There are so many valuable nuggets, truth bombs, and lessons learned in this one. These types of conversations always leave me feeling highly motivated to step into spaces I don’t know enough about and learn as much as I can, not only to be a better ally and support these communities, but also because it makes me a better person. As you listen today, I wish the same for you. 

Alright, without further ado - here’s my conversation with Vasu Sojitra. Enjoy!

Episode Resources:

Vasu’s website and Instagram

Behind the scenes of Out on a Limb interview

Eagle Mount Bozeman

Earthtone Outside Montana

The North Face Athlete Team

Rocket Power

Adaptive skiing Association 

Conrad Anker

Montana Racial Equity Project

Disability Language Style Guide