She Explores

Jessi Johnson is a bowhunter and a public lands advocate. This week we're presenting a story from the HumaNature podcast about how one backcountry trip lead her on a heartbreaking odyssey. You can see photos and videos from Jessi's hunt, and more information about her nonprofit work, at HumaNaturePodcast.org. You can also hear more stories about human experiences in nature there, too. The story was produced by Caroline Ballard, Alanna Elder, Erin Jones, August Lah, Annie Osburn, Anna Rader, Micah Schweizer and Tressa Versteeg. HumaNature is a production of Wyoming Public Media. Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Visit She-Explores.com Resources mentioned in this episode: HumaNaturepodcast.org Artemis Wyoming Wildlife She Explores Podcast Facebook Group Heliograph by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Attribution License. Candlepower by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. The Sun is Scheduled to Come Out Tomorrow by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. What True Self, Feels Bogus, Let's Watch Jason X by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Desire by Borrtex is licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial License. Dout by Oelek is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License. Celeste by Alex Fitch is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. Memoir of Solitude by Borrtex is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. The Ambient by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Everybody's Got Problems That Aren't Mine by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. We Were Never Meant to Live Here by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Sisters Alex and Sage Herr have been summiting peaks in the White Mountains since they were 5 years old. Now 15 and almost 13, respectively, their enthusiasm for hiking has remained the same as ever. Proof that for all the activities we grow out of in life, there’s no saying you have to grow out of hiking. Gale met up with the girls and their mom, Trish, for a winter hike of WIldcat Ridge. After hearing about their podcast, Granite Gals, we wanted to learn more. We talk about why they started hiking at such a young age, what makes them want to take on big challenges, hiking solo, what excites them about podcasting, and the benefits of hiking with your kids. Featured in this Episode: Patricia (Trish) Herr, Sage Herr, and Alexandra Herr. Listen to their podcast, Granite Gals, via their website, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream stories. Featured in the midroll: Cartoonist Connie Sun aka @cartoonconnie. Connie draws cartoons and they've helped her get in touch with her emotions and her outdoorsy self. Hosted and produced by Gale Straub. In this episode, you'll hear: How the girls started hiking 4,000 footers in New Hampshire at age 5 Some NH hiking vernacular Why Alex enjoys hiking solo The origins of the "Terrifying 25" hikes in NH Why the girls like a hiking challenge What "gridding" is in the White Mountains How Granite Gals podcast got started Why the girls talk about sexism on their show The benefits of incorporating hiking into their lives Midroll: Cartoonist Connie Sun shares what she loves about cartooning her innermost thoughts and outdoor experiences Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Visit She-Explores.com Links mentioned in this episode: Alex's Hiking Blog Granite Gals The Terrifying 25 4,000 Footers Cartoon Connie Connie Wonnie Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org. Music is also by Siren and the Sea.

We often live with timelines in our minds. We’re really good at building a narrative for ourselves: "by this age, I want to do have accomplished______." Maybe it's a list of mountains to climb, or debt to repay, or a family to grow - we all tuck dreams in the back of our minds. And yet the older we get, the more we realize that life gets in the way. Many of us end up looking in the mirror and asking the scariest of questions: Am I allowed to change my dream? And other questions run parallel: How stuck is too stuck in my ways? What if I'm working towards something but I've lost sight of why? What if I can't articulate what I want? How fortunate am I to ask these questions in the first place? This special episode in partnership with Subaru gathered 12 adventurous and creative women in the high desert of Marfa, TX to contemplate these questions and to consider how the outdoors plays a role in helping us to navigate crossroads in our lives. Women Featured in this Episode: Jules Davies, Shelma Jun, Kaylé Barnes, Kristen Blanton, Sarah Uhl, Sara Close, Nic Annette Miller, Sarah Menzies, Anna Brones, Laura Hughes, and Gale Straub. Other women in Marfa include runner Sarah Attar, photographer Sarah Forrest, farmer Andrea Bemis, and fabricator Kelly DeWitt. Hosted and produced by Gale Straub. In this episode, you'll hear: The ways the outdoors helps us at points of transition How privilege plays a role in making time to contemplate dreams Why dreams can be scary to acknowledge Honest talk about depression How a professional cyclist became a landscape painter Why simple dreams are just as important as 'big' ones Encouragement to focus on the present rather than constantly looking ahead or behind. Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. Sponsored by Subaru. Learn more at www.meetanowner.com and follow along on Instagram: @subaru_usa Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Visit She-Explores.com Links mentioned in this episode: Jules Davies: Portfolio & Instagram; Shelma Jun: Flash Foxy, Never Not Collective; Kaylé Barnes: The Great Outchea Instagram & blog; Kristen Blanton: Hello America Instagram & website; Sara Close: Hello Soul; Sarah Uhl: Portfolio & Instagram; Nic Annette Miller: Portfolio & Instagram; Sarah Menzies: Let Media & Instagram; Anna Brones: Portfolio & Instagram; Laura Hughes: Portfolio & Instagram; Sarah Forrest: Website & Instagram; Sarah Attar: Website & Instagram Andrea Bemis: Blog & Instagram; Kelly DeWitt: Website & Instagram Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Swelling, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org. Music is also by Our Many Stars.

Caro Luevanos-Garcia believes the key to closing the gaps between generations can be found in the outdoors. And she also believes the inverse: that people across generations can find the outdoors with the help of each other. Caro started hiking, backpacking, and running when she retired from a career in corrections at the age of 50. Now 56, she’s run 26 half marathons in 18 states. She loves backpacking. She’s hiked Half Dome twice and section-hiked 90% of the John Muir Trail. In short, she’s made up for lost time. Now that she's discovered that love, she wants to share it with her grandson to make sure he's comfortable in the outdoors from a young age. Women Featured in this Episode: Carolina Luevanos-Garcia. Follow her on Instagram @abuelaafuera & @carohikedhere. Read her writing on her blog. Hosted and produced by Gale Straub. In this episode, you'll hear: How Caro's relationship with the outdoors (as a first-generation American) was influenced by her parents Barriers to more traditional outdoor activities for some people of color Why Caro started running and hiking before retirement at 50 Advice Caro has for her younger self How saying yes has benefited Caro in her retirement Caro's philosophy on the benefits of older people taking younger people into the outdoors Why the outdoor industry should represent more older people in their marketing A call-to-action from Caro that will help diversify outdoor spaces Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. Sponsored by Subaru. Learn more at www.meetanowner.com and follow along on Instagram: @subaru_usa Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Visit She-Explores.com Links mentioned in this episode: Caro's Instagram: @abuelaafuera Latino Outdoors Outdoor Afro Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org. Music is also by Dobsy.

A book is often just a jumping off point to talk about other topics we care deeply about. In this episode, we bring mountain guide and writer Charlotte Austin's Adventure Grapes Online Book Club to life. Along with Charlotte and outdoor author Shawnté Salabert, host Gale Straub discusses questions of gender roles in the outdoors and adventure narratives, as well as the outdoors' role in mental health issues. All was talked about in the context of "All That Glitters," a memoir by ice climber Margo Talbot. Women Featured in this Episode: Charlotte Austin and Shawnté Salabert Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. Sponsored by Subaru. Learn more at www.meetanowner.com and follow along on Instagram: @subaru_usa Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Visit She-Explores.com Links mentioned in this episode: Adventure Grapes Book Club All That Glitters by Margo Talbot Hiking the PCT Southern California by Shawnté Salabert Wild by Cheryl Strayed Savage Summit by Jennifer Jordan Annapurna by Arlene Blum Pure Land by Annette McGivney Hosted and produced by Gale Straub. Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org. Music is also by Daniel M. Petersen.

When Annette says that she has something in common with a murderer, she’s right. And she also has something in common with a tourist from Japan, as well as the American landscape. Annette doesn’t hold anything back - at her core, she’s a journalist. She investigates her own story like she investigates that of all the subjects in the book. Each person came alive through her diligent research, resulting in a tribute to a curious woman named Tomomi, sympathy for the man who killed her, and a reunion with Annette's childhood self. Annette's is a story of trauma, healing, and connection. While there's darkness, there's a whole lot of light. Annette founded a nonprofit called Healing Lands Project to help children who have experienced trauma.  Women Featured in this Episode: Annette McGivney Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. Sponsored by Subaru. Learn more at www.meetanowner.com and follow along on Instagram: @subaru_usa Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Visit She-Explores.com Links mentioned in this episode: Healing Lands Project Pure Land by Annette McGivney Annette's Portfolio Adventure Grapes Book Club All That Glitters by Margo Talbot Hosted and produced by Gale Straub. Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Swelling and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org. Music is also by Ryan Teague.

What is it like to enjoy the outdoors after the age of 50? We asked and you answered. We're honored to be highlighting the wisdom and experience of women in their 50's, 60's, and 70's. These are voices that we don't hear as often in our youth obsessed culture. All of these stories are extraordinary for their willingness to share, try new things, and encourage others to do the same. Women Featured in this Episode: Jo Ann Hickey, Jean Drummond, Cheryl Falkenburg, Joann Baste, Kristi, Kathleen Merrick, Liz Wise, Rose Burrows, Tricia, Hellen Wallis, Sarah Lefler, Lisa Auvril, Gail Storey, Lori Brookes, & Dianna Stavros Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. She Explores is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance. Go to healthiq.com/sheexplores to support the show and see if you qualify. She Explores is also sponsored by Deuter. Thank you to them for the support! Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Visit She-Explores.com Links mentioned in this episode: Adventure Grapes Book Club All That Glitters by Margo Talbot Pure Land by Annette McGivney I Promise Not To Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail by Gail Storey Hosted and produced by Gale Straub. Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org. Music is also by Our Many Stars.

Interview with Jaylyn Gough, Navajo outdoors woman and founder of Native Women's Wilderness. Jaylyn has found strength and healing in the outdoors. She talks about why she shares her connection with the land with other Native Americans, how non-natives can support her work, and her long term vision for Native Women's Wilderness. Our conversation is inextricably linked to trauma, but it is also filled with hope. Jaylyn's experiences as a child growing up on the Navajo reservation in Gallup, New Mexico, set her on her path. She was adopted at a young age, and it was both due to her adopted mother's generosity and certain hardships on the reservation that made her want to become a social worker. But as Jaylyn says, her childhood felt rich with the land. Jaylyn has a deep-seated drive to help people, especially women, overcome suffering. She also wants to see more women of color and native women on the trail and represented in outdoor media. Jaylyn's passion shines through every moment of this episode - we hope you'll find as much inspiration as we did in meeting her. Learn more about Native Women's Wilderness on Instagram and Facebook. Their new website will be live within the next day or two, visit it at www.nativewomenswilderness.org. Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. She Explores is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance. Go to healthiq.com/sheexplores to support the show and see if you qualify. She Explores is also sponsored by Deuter. Thank you to them for the support! Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Visit She-Explores.com Links mentioned in this episode: Indigenous Women Hike Indigenous Women Climb Natives Outdoors Unlikely HIkers Hosted and produced by Gale Straub. Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.

Nicole Brown is founder of Women Who Hike. In October, she set out to hike Southern California's three highest mountains in 24 hours. Nicole was confident leading up to the challenge, but very little went according to plan. Learn about the power of her community, living (and hiking) with a chronic autoimmune disease, and committing to a challenge, even when success might just be out of reach. Learn more about Women Who Hike on Instagram and Facebook. Follow Nicole's adventures through her Instagram. Enter the first ever Women Who Hike Challenge! Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. She Explores is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance. Go to healthiq.com/sheexplores to support the show and see if you qualify. She Explores is also sponsored by Deuter. Thank you to them for the support! Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org.

After 15 years working a practicing lawyer, Marinel de Jesus decided to leave her legal career to pursue her love of the mountains and run her trekking company, Peak Explorations, full time. Marinel’s is a story of great cultural expectations: after a childhood growing up in the Philippines, Marinel moved to Seattle at the age of 13. Her parents instilled in her the importance of stability: finding a good job, marrying, having a family. As the only daughter, she was closely protected and encouraged not to take risks. Find out how Marinel started listening to her inner voice, taking groups on treks around the world, and using her skills to advocate for others. Follow Marinel de Jesus's adventures through her Instagram and her blog, Brown Gal Trekker. Learn more about her trekking company, Peak Explorations LLC. Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. She Explores is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance. Go to healthiq.com/sheexplores to support the show and see if you qualify. She Explores is also sponsored by Deuter. Thank you to them for the support! Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Episodes air weekly on Fridays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Pipe Choir via freemusicarchive.org.