She Explores

What moms don't talk about enough: adventuring while pregnant, postpartum, and beyond. For the first part of a two part "Adventuring with Kids" series, we talk with moms about pregnancy and getting outside with (and without) young kids. There are a lot of stories out there about what motherhood does to our free time, our bodies, and our outdoor lives. Let's write our own. Interviews with Brittany Aae of Magneticnorth.us and Justine Nobbe, co-founder of "Adventure Mamas." Featuring voice submissions from listeners: Laura Stasi, Elizabeth Bauer of "Backroadfamily.com" and Heather Hopkins. Cameo appearance by Liz Song of Snowqueen and Scout. Part two will cover the benefits of adventuring with kids - at ages 0 - 5 and as they grow older. Sponsored by Goal Zero: www.goalzero.com Music by Mindseye, Nihilore, and Steve Combs via freemusicarchive.com Learn more at she-explores.com/podcast

Injury, community, and gratitude. We interview Karen Wang two weeks after she left the Pacific Crest Trail just shy of Crater Lake in Oregon. There's a lot out there about what it's like to hike a famous thru-hike, but what is it like when you get home? How do you deal if life throws you an injury? How do you assimilate to city life after months in the wilderness? Karen Wang is the first of three interviews that focus on life "After the PCT." Visit the episode page at www.she-explores.com/podcast/after-the-pct/karen-wang See Karen's photography via www.karenkwang.com. Find out how to support She Explores via she-explores.com/support Music by Mise, Nihilore, and MindsEye.

This episode is about going it alone in the outdoors. As women, we're often advised to exercise extra caution when we go solo. We wanted to create an episode that is motivating to other women to get out there on our own, whether it's hiking, camping, or backpacking. With the help of listener stories and advice, we hope you might be encouraged to plan your next solo excursion. Music by Nihilore and Steve Combs. Learn more via she-explores.com/podcast/alone-on-the-trail Donate via she-explores.com/support

Profiling women who work or who have worked for the National Park and US Forest Service. We've always been curious about what it's like to work for the agencies - we hear about real women's experiences and find out that there is no ONE experience. Learn more on She-Explores.com. Support the podcast with your donation via she-explores.com/support. Music by Jahzaar, Mise, Steve Combs, and MindsEye.

The best part about the internet? Real communities and businesses are built there. It's one place that movements can be made visible. While the "outdoors" and "online" can seem like an oxymoron, social media and other online platforms have enabled women to ignite change within the outdoor space. Even in the wilderness, we are never too far from technology. And while that can be a negative thing, this episode explores the positives that spring from women outdoors, online. We talk with Heather Balogh Rochfort aka "Just A Colorado Gal"; Nicole Brown, co-founder of @WomenWhoHike; Deanne Buck, executive director of Camber Outdoors; and hear from Summer Michaud-Skog of "Fat Girls Hiking", Zoe Balaconis of "Misadventures Magazine", Hatie Parameter of "Whoa Mag", and Jainee Dial, cofounder of "Wylder Goods". Learn more via www.she-explores.com/podcast Sponsored by Oru Kayak Music by Nihilore and MindsEye

Creativity is a big part of #vanlife. Many of the women on the road we've featured are photographers, writers, filmmakers, and visual artists. One reason for this is that a road trip is incredibly invigorating for the mind - it leads us to create wonderful work. It's also because if you make a living as a creative, it often means you can work from anywhere.In Episode 5 below, we interview Alison Turner and Amanda Sandlin. They're two very different women in different stages in their "van lives" as well as their creative careers. Alison has lived in and out of a van for the past 5 years, and traveled in a teardrop trailer and tent before that. She picked up photography 7 years ago and has been pursuing it since. We learn that there are many reasons Alison loves to escape in her van with her rescue dog Max. Amanda is relatively new to her life in her built-out minivan. She's been on the road three months and is learning how to maintain her creative practice on the move. She's found that it hasn't been easy, but she's enjoyed pushing herself and meeting new people.Learn more in their interviews! Sponsored by Peak Design. Music is by Portrayal and Nihilore. CC by A

What is the backstory of She-Explores.com? Host Gale Straub explains why she started She Explores with the help of some contributors, including: Emily King, Liz Song, Nikki Frumkin, Erin Sullivan, Korrin Bishop, Vivian Chen, Madeleine Boga, Stevie Lewis, Tricia Pickren, Ching Fu, Bee Roper, Kat Carney, and Elizabeth Kane. Music is by MindsEye and Chris Zabriskie. Sponsored by Outdoor Research

We compiled listener submitted voice memos that describe how the outdoors make them feel. Some adjectives used include: inspired, energetic, connected, healed, calm... The list goes on. Thanks to Alyssa Hands, Hallie Rose Taylor, Laura Hughes, Kathleen Morton, Miranda Morehouse, Jackie Currie, Abigail Scott, Delicia Long, Kristin H, Ryan Scavo, Addy Polet, Stepfanie Aguilar, Kelsey Suemnicht, Rachel Spruston, and Lucie Fra. Music by Alyssa Hands, Portrayal, and MindsEye. Thanks to our sponsor, Peak Design. Check out their kickstarter at peakdesign.com/ks

Adventure writer Hilary Oliver discusses her short film 'Being Here' and the changing landscape of adventure films. Also includes listener voice memos about the transformative impact of the outdoors for women. Collaboration with Becca Skinner and sister Whitney on the film project. Discusses societal pressures women face and the importance of disconnecting. Hosts express desire to connect women in the outdoors and upcoming episodes on the origin story of She Explores.

Julie Hotz, a videographer and photographer in favor of human-powered travel, shares her experiences of solo travel, biking from Los Angeles to Glacier National Park and hiking the Pacific Northwest Trail. They discuss embracing fear, the concept of safety and passion, fear and violence when traveling alone, and choosing love over fear.