Emily Hawgood is a Zimbabwean athlete, runner, and coach whose journey has taken her from growing up on a farm in Africa to competing on some of the toughest trails in the world. A top performer on the international stage, Emily placed 4th at Western States in 2023 and has raced at the legendary UTMB among the sport’s best.

In this episode, we talk about her life rhythms—travel, training, and the everyday moments that keep her grounded. Emily shares how she balances the intensity of elite competition with the joys of small daily practices, and what she’s learned through living and racing across continents.

Follow Emily: @emilyhawgoodFor another great conversation with Emily, check out this Trail Network episode.

Rachel Dobronyi has spent most of her life between the mountains and oceans of California, always seeking out new landscapes and the magic they hold. She is the founder of Kāma, a design studio creating beautiful spaces in nature, and also runs a unique Airbnb in the Lost Sierra.

In this episode, we dive into Rachel’s journey of weaving adventure and creativity into her life—from sailing across the Pacific to working in South America. She shares how she cultivates balance while building Kāma, curating meaningful spaces, and finding presence in a life filled with movement, exploration, and design.

Explore Kāma: kamasurface.coFollow Kāma on Instagram: @kama_surfaces

Deanna Doane is an ultrarunner, trail steward, and all-around inspiring human with a deep love for long trails and community. From her early days running high school cross country to setting fastest known times, she’s built a life rooted in endurance and purpose.

In this episode, we talk about her journey into ultrarunning, her passion for trail stewardship, and the ways she weaves advocacy into adventure. Deanna also shares her excitement for her next big challenge—the 1,108-mile Florida Trail FKT, which she’ll be attempting starting February 8th.

Follow Deanna’s journey: wanderingrunner.com
Instagram updates: @wandering.sunflower

Rebecca Ricards has spent more than a decade in the senior housing industry, wearing many hats from activity director to executive director. Her career path is anything but ordinary—before settling in Seattle, she managed logistics in South Sudan, worked in Antarctica, and navigated a range of global experiences that shaped her approach to leadership and care.

Now, Rebecca has launched RR Move Co, a company dedicated to helping seniors and their families navigate the complexities of relocation with compassion and expertise. In this episode, she shares her fascinating journey across industries and continents, the lessons she’s carried with her, and the stories behind balancing dynamic global experiences with building a mission-driven business at home.

Learn more about Rebecca’s work: rrmoveco.comRead her New York Times feature: “Helping Older Adults Move”

Kara Folkerts is a nomadic trail running guide, bikepacker, and yoga teacher who has spent the last eight years leading adventures across the globe. From solo hiking the length of Iceland to bikepacking over 10,000 km across Canada, Russia, and Mongolia, Kara has built a life rooted in movement, mindfulness, and curiosity.

In this episode, we dive into her work guiding trail running trips on five continents, the joys and challenges of unconventional living, and how yoga and mindfulness fuel her approach to endurance, community, and connection—on and off the trail.

Follow Kara: @karafolkertsExplore her blog: karafolkerts.com

Emily LaPlume is the founder of Saturday Swimwear, a brand she started after spending her junior year of college studying and traveling abroad. Frustrated by the lack of swimsuits that could keep up with her adventures, she decided to design her own. By 2019, Emily shifted the company’s focus to sustainability, making it a core value of the brand.

Along the way, she built out a Ram Promaster van with her dad, turning it into both a mobile home and a bikini-making workshop. That spirit of creativity and independence eventually led her to Bend, Oregon, where she now produces her high-quality swimwear at a woman-owned sewing studio in the U.S.

Emily shares the story of building Saturday Swimwear from the ground up, her commitment to sustainability, and what it means to create products that empower women to move freely, explore, and feel confident.

Follow Saturday Swimwear: InstagramShop the collection: saturdayswimwear.com

Gracie works in marine consulting, while Bella specializes in biological compliance—two career paths that often overlap in the field but look very different day to day. In this episode, we dive into our funky schedules, the pros and cons of our work, and some of the funny stories that come with life on the water and in the field.

From unpredictable hours to unexpected wildlife encounters, this conversation offers a glimpse into the realities (and humor) of environmental fieldwork and the unique paths that led us here.

Tara Kate Rawson is a freediver, dietitian, and yoga practitioner who has built a life around the connection between body, breath, and the nervous system. After leaving her full-time role as a dietitian, Tara discovered spearfishing, which soon introduced her to the world of freediving. Over the past two years, she has grown into both a competitive freediver and an entrepreneur, building her own brand and sharing her journey with others.

Her practices weave together nutrition, yoga, and freediving—an intersection that highlights the importance of holistic health and mindful performance. Tara opens up about the bold decision to step away from stability, the challenges and growth of building a life around passion, and the ways she finds alignment both in and out of the water.

Follow Tara on Instagram: @tarakaterawson
Learn more at: tarakate.co

Cloe Coscoy, a dual citizen of the U.S. and France, grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area—where she discovered climbing at age 12 at Bridges Rock Gym in El Cerrito, quickly joining its youth team. By 2020, her passion had transformed into a full-time pursuit when she relocated to Salt Lake City to train and compete professionally.

A bouldering specialist, Cloe has already built an impressive résumé:

• Two-time Vice-National Champion in Boulder

• Pan American Champion in both Boulder and Lead

• 2nd place at the 2024 YETI National Championships, just behind Melina Costanza

• Member of the USA Climbing Elite National Team in both Bouldering and Lead

On the 2025 IFSC Boulder World Cup circuit, she has recorded strong finishes—including 9th in Curitiba, 11th in Keqiao, 18th in Salt Lake City, and top-40 placements in Innsbruck, Bern, and Prague.

Off the wall, Cloe has recently been living and working in Switzerland while continuing to compete internationally. She’s a self-professed foodie who loves cooking for her roommates, and when she’s not climbing you’ll often find her snowboarding, playing tennis, or enjoying the flow of other outdoor pursuits.

Follow Cloe on Instagram: @cloe.coscoy — where she shares her journey :) She is an ambassador for adidas Five Ten, adidas Terrex, Turtlebox Audio, and Friction Labs.

a lovly chat with liz thomas, an incredible athlete, and human! had so much fun learning about her story and journey!

instagram, @lizasouras