Grounded with Dinée Dorame

Latest Episodes:

Episode 24 - Rebecca Mehra, Olympic Trials Qualifier & Oiselle Athlete Jul 08, 2021

Show notes

"Being at the Olympic Trials the past ten days…it could've gone so many ways but no matter what, the people I'm surrounded by…my partner, my family, my coach, my team. They have made all the difference."

Rebecca Mehra is a professional track athlete running for the Oiselle Littlewing elite team based out of Bend, Oregon. Rebecca recently raced in both the 800m and 1500m at the U.S. Olympic Track Trials earlier this month. Although Rebecca's journey in the 800m run ended in the semi-final round with a time of 2:01.33, she went on to run in the finals of the women's 1500m, where she placed 11th overall with a time of 4:08.47. Prior to her professional career, Rebecca ran Division I Track at Stanford University where she was a 3-time All-American, finishing 6th at the 2017 NCAA Championships in the 1500m Run. Rebecca has also worked in policy affairs for several years and currently serves as the Special Assistant to the Mayor of Bend, OR. In this conversation, we recap her Olympic trials experience and we hear more about how her relationship to running has changed over time. She also tells us about injury setbacks and gives tips and advice for how to mentally and physically overcome injury.

Photo by Aisha McAdams.

In This Episode:

Burn It All Down Podcast - Episode 208 "Olympics, Like it or Not"
Oiselle
Rebecca Mehra – Oiselle Athlete Page
Thaiphoon – Palo Alto, CA
"Just Say Cheese: One of My Favorite Olympic Trials Post-Race Interviews Happened at the Local Grocery Store" by Erin Strout, com, June 30, 2021
Watch Rebecca's 800m Semifinal Run – U.S. Olympic Trials
Watch Rebecca's 1500m Final Run – U.S. Olympic Trials
MOBO Board

Follow Rebecca Mehra:

Instagram: @rebecca_mehra
Twitter: @rebecca_mehra
Facebook: Rebecca Mehra (Athlete Page)

Episode 23 - Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota), 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist in 10,000m Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

"The biggest lesson that running has taught me is to find your passion. At some point in time, the competitive running is behind you…so use running as a catalyst to seek higher ground."

Billy Mills (Tamakoce Te'Hila) is an Oglala Lakota distance runner, 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist in the 10,000m run, and co-founder of the non-profit organization Running Strong for American Indian Youth. Mills was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota and is the only U.S. Olympian to bring home the gold medal in the 10k. His 1964 victory in Tokyo set the Olympic record (at that time) of 28:24.4 and it was considered one of the greatest comeback moments in sports history. In this episode, we talk all about that famous race, as well as the Olympic Trials second-place finish that preceded his win in Tokyo. We discuss his pre-Olympic training plan and how his coaches/mentors shaped his running journey.

Mills attended secondary school at the Haskell Institute, now known as Haskell Indian Nations University. Prior to qualifying for the '64 Olympics, he ran Division I Track at the University of Kansas and then served as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps. After his competitive running career came to a close, Billy dedicated his life to racial and social justice advocacy work and co-founded Running Strong for American Indian Youth, an organization that provides programming and support for Native youth. He reflects on the purpose behind his running and his work, and sheds light on his experiences as a Native student athlete at a residential school and a predominantly white university.

Photo & Race Audio courtesy of Billy Mills.

[CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of Indian residential schools, assimilation, ongoing harm, physical abuse between minutes 19:00-23:00 minutes in this episode.]

In This Episode:

Billy Mills 1964 Tokyo Race
About Billy Mills
Haskell Indian Nations University
Running Strong for American Indian Youth
Dreamstarter Grant Program
Running Brave, Movie (1983)
Lessons of a Lakota: A Young Man's Journey to Happiness and Self-Understanding, Book (2005) by Billy Mills, Nicholas Sparks (Contributor), Pat Mills (Illustrator)

Follow Billy Mills & Running Strong for American Indian Youth:

Billy Mills – Instagram: @BillyMills10k
Billy Mills – Twitter: @BillyMillsGold
Billy Mills – Facebook: @OfficialBillyMills
Running Strong – Instagram: @runstrong4aiy
Running Strong – Twitter: @RunStrong4AIY
Running Strong – Facebook: @RunningStrongforAmericanIndianYouth

Follow Grounded Pod:

Instagram: @groundedpod
Twitter: @groundedpod
Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee

Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher

Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).

This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

Episode 22 - Ashleigh Thompson (Red Lake Ojibwe), Archaeologist & Trail Runner Jun 23, 2021

Show notes

"What I've learned as I've grown older is how interconnected our wellness is…I'm trying to lead a life where wellness is centered– mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. These things make us who we are and impact one another."

Ashleigh Thompson (she/her/hers) is Red Lake Ojibwe and an archaeologist, climber, and avid trail runner. Ashleigh is based on Tohono Oo'dham and Pascua Yaqui lands (also known as Tucson, AZ) while working towards her Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Arizona. Her dissertation focuses on traditional foodways and food sovereignty of the Red Lake Ojibwe utilizing interviews, ethnography, and material culture. In this conversation we discuss the importance of oral traditions and Indigenous people telling our own stories, including how the both of us use storytelling as a way to learn and share with others. Ashleigh was also a Division III student-athlete, competing in Track & Field and Cross Country at the University of Minnesota-Morris during her college years. We learn about her most influential coaches/mentors and how she works hard to maintain a holistic relationship to running, grounded in her own cultural traditions and focused on longevity, so she can run strong for many years to come. Ashleigh is an outdoor ambassador for Ultimate Direction and La Sportiva.

In This Episode:

Ashleigh Thompson Bio, University of Arizona, School of Anthropology
Subscribe to the Fast Women Newsletter
Citius Mag Trials Talk Podcast (Sponsored by Tracksmith)

Follow Ashleigh Thompson:

Instagram: @ashanishinaabe
Twitter: @ashanishinaabe

Follow Grounded Pod:

Instagram: @groundedpod
Twitter: @groundedpod
Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee

Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher

Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).

This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

Episode 21 - James Ro, Co-Founder of the Atlanta Run Club Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

"[My parents] were able to run this race ahead of me and pave the way. I'm able to now pick up the mantle and run my own race, in a sense. I feel such gratitude in being able to trailblaze and set trends for how other people view Asian Americans and people of color… we are able to be creative, and innovative, and lead, and set the path for things."

James Ro is the co-founder of the Atlanta Run Club (ARC), a trainer and physical therapist, and a Lululemon Ambassador. He is also a newly minted owner of an Atlanta-based boutique fitness studio. James is a natural connector and you'll hear him talk about the way his Korean American background and culture set the foundation for his work in running/fitness today. Alongside co-founder, Christian Haahs, and Community Director, Bamn Ford, James created the Atlanta Run Club with the mission of uniting all backgrounds and cultures through fitness and running. In this episode, he explains that the club has been a meaningful space for so many Asian and Black runners in the Atlanta area, and they truly see the club as a reflection of themselves and their communities. ARC hosts social events and weekly runs that bring people together to have fun, regardless of pace.

In This Episode:

Trail Runner Magazine's Apology Instagram Post – June 15th, 2021
Grounded Podcast Instagram Post in Response – June 15th, 2021
Jordan Daniel's Instagram Post "Dear @trailrunnermag" – June 15th, 2021
Atlanta Run Club
Meet James Ro, Lululemon Ambassador
AJC Peachtree 10k Road Race – Atlanta, GA

Follow James Ro & Atlanta Run Club:

James Ro – Instagram: @jamesro__
Atlanta Run Club – Instagram: @atlantarunclub

Follow Grounded Pod:

Instagram: @groundedpod
Twitter: @groundedpod
Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee

Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher

Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).

This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

Episode 20 - Alison Mariella Desír, Director of Sports Advocacy at Oiselle Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

"Every run I take now is an exploration of my body and myself…it's a reminder of how powerful I am. Running remains this discovery of myself and what I can do."

Alison Mariella Desír is a runner, mother, mental health coach, author, activist, and speaker. She is also the newly minted Director of Sports Advocacy at Oiselle, a running apparel brand that is "by and for women." She is also an ambassador for HOKA ONE ONE. We dive into just about everything here, including how she started running, her academic journey, mental health, and how running has changed for her over the years. Alison is truly a pillar in the running community and in January 2021, she was named by Women's Running as one of the 20 women who are changing the sport of running and the world. She also graced the cover of Outside magazine last winter as one of their featured "Outsiders of the Year." Prior to moving to Seattle, WA for her position at Oiselle, Alison was based out of New York where she founded and led Harlem Run, an NYC-based running movement. She also founded Run 4 All Women, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of organizations like Planned Parenthood and Womxn Run the Vote. Alison holds her BA in History, MA in Latin American and Caribbean Regional Studies, and MA in Counseling Psychology, all from Columbia University. She has a forthcoming book titled, "The Unbearable Whiteness of Running," set to be released in October 2022.

In This Episode:

Oiselle - Women's Running Apparel
Oiselle Volée Team Membership
Harlem Run
Run 4 All Women
Running Industry Diversity Coalition
Alison's Press & Media – you can find all her magazine appearances and articles here!
Columbia Clefhangers (A capella Group)

Follow Alison Mariella Desír:

Follow Grounded Pod:

Instagram: @groundedpod
Twitter: @groundedpod
Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee

Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher

Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).

This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

Episode 19 - Jinghuan Liu Tervalon, Advocate, Marathoner & Brooks Runfulness Project Runner-Up May 26, 2021

Show notes

"The Asian American population is severely underrepresented in media. It's only through well-rounded storytelling that you fight this stereotype…there is such diversity within the community."

Jinghuan Liu Tervalon is a Chinese American advocate, marathoner, and mother who can often be found speaking on issues of safety on the run, representation, and visibility for Asian American athletes. Jinghuan works in global strategic insights for the Coca Cola Company by day, but is also an active leader in the Oiselle Volée community. She was also recently announced a Brooks Runfulness Project Runner-up, receiving $25,000 from the Brooks "Run Fund" for her project titled, "Asian American Runners: Rise Together." Jinghuan describes the project as a multi-media book featuring 10-20 in-depth profile stories of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) runners. Her project proposal states, "through this process, we will not only create more safe space for existing Asian American runners, but will also bring in new runners, who don't see themselves represented in running media."

In This Episode:

Brooks Runfulness Project
Oiselle Volée Team Membership
"Stand by You: An Asian American Runner's Racial Awakening," by Jinghuan Liu Tervalon, Bird is the Word – Oiselle Blog, February 9, 2021
"As an Asian American, I Cannot Outrun Racism" by Jinghuan Liu Tervalon, com, April 8, 2021
Kim's Convenience on Netflix
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning, book by Cathy Park Hong

Follow Jinghuan Liu Tervalon:

Instagram: @sandychannel
Twitter: @sandychannel

Follow Grounded Pod:

Instagram: @groundedpod
Twitter: @groundedpod
Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee

Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher

Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).

This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

Episode 18 - Lee Glandorf & Kamilah Journét, Tracksmith Fellowship Program Overview & Advice May 18, 2021

Show notes

Are you a runner with a creative ambition? This episode is a deep dive into the Tracksmith Fellowship Program with two Tracksmith team members– Lee Glandorf (Director of Marketing & Communications) and Kamilah Journét (Marketing Manager). Tracksmith is an independent running brand that crafts performance apparel that celebrates both the style and culture of running. Last year, they launched the inaugural Tracksmith Fellowship Program, which supported 6 projects through a year-long creative grant, including the Grounded Podcast with Dinée Dorame! The current 2020-21 cohort is working on a range of projects spanning film, music, podcasting, sculpture, photography and design. In this conversation, Lee and Kamilah discuss the mission of the brand, the fellowship program origin story, and tips for future applicants.

In This Episode:

Follow Tracksmith:

Instagram: @tracksmithrunning
Twitter: @tracksmith
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracksmithrunning
Website: https://www.tracksmith.com/
Lee Glandorf Contact: lee@tracksmith.com
Kamilah Journét Contact: kamilah@tracksmith.com

Follow the Tracksmith Fellows on Instagram:

Dinée Dorame (@dinee_pink22) | Grounded Podcast: Exploring the unique relationship between the runner and the land, diving into long-form conversations around running, land, community, and culture.
Adrijan Assoufi (@adrijanassoufi) | Documentary: An exploration and portrait of present-day Iraq shared through the lens of the local running community and running culture in the region.
Circa 95 (@circa95) | Hip-Hop Tracks: A Hip-Hop music project born at the intersection of arts, athletics, and social justice by @pattydukesand @rephstar.
Andrea Masterson | Urban Design: A combination of visual media and writing, this project combines the urgent need for equity and representation in the sport with the language of urban design.
Shawn Pridgen (@shawnmpridgen) | Photography: A photo essay on Black track and field athletes who run for Ivy League universities and HBCUs.
SISU (@sisuhouse) | Pilgrimage Sculpture Series: Inspired by wayside trail markers used to guide pilgrims on their spiritual journey, a series of sculptural markers will be temporarily installed at various unobtrusive locations along the Boston Marathon course. (SISU is the art-world alias of LA-based animator, Bob Boyle.)

Follow Grounded Pod:

Instagram: @groundedpod
Twitter: @groundedpod
Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee

Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher

Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).

This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

Episode 17 - Starla Garcia, Registered Dietitian & Olympic Trials Qualifier May 12, 2021

Show notes

"It is so healing when people get back to their ancestral foods…those are always going to give us much more connection, not just to ourselves but when we're out there, we're going to feel more like ourselves. And that's why people go for a run, right? To feel more like themselves."

Starla Garcia is a Registered Dietitian, owner of The Healthy Shine, LLC, 2020 Olympic Trials Qualifier, and body and cultural diversity advocate. She was also my dietitian and worked with me closely for 6 months on how to properly fuel and stay energized. Her journey to wellness came after battling an eating disorder as a Latina student-athlete during her collegiate years so we reflect on how displacement from culture, home, and community impacted her recovery and overall well-being. That experience was the catalyst that set her on the path of intuitive eating and developing a healthy relationship with cultural foods and exercise. Now her story is what fuels her mission to dismantle the restrictive mindset and rules that runners create around diets, exercise, and body image to help them align their nutrition with their performance goals. In this conversation, we tackle big topics like food sovereignty and explore the intersection of nutrition, community, and cultural traditions.

In This Episode:

Starla Garcia on the Ali on the Run Show
Ya no Estoy Aqui on Netflix (Mentioned by Dustin Martin in Grounded Pod Episode #13)
The Boy From Medellín - Official Trailer (J Balvin's Documentary)
Casamigos Tequila

Follow Starla Garcia:

Instagram: @starla_shines
Twitter: @starla_shines
Website: The Healthy Shine

Follow Grounded Pod:

Instagram: @groundedpod
Twitter: @groundedpod
Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee

Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher

Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).

This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

Episode 16 - Brandon Dugi (Diné), Outdoor Photographer & Trail Runner May 04, 2021

Show notes

"[Running] helps me explore. It helps me go out and see different places. I can go on a 15 mile long run and go down some cool canyons and into rivers, you're seeing stuff that nobody else gets to see. My photography mindset is still with me while I'm running."

Brandon Dugi (Diné) is an outdoor adventure photographer, visual storyteller, and trail runner. He grew up on the Navajo Reservation in Łichíiʼii (LeChee, AZ) and only recently started racing competitively in the trail and ultra-running scenes. Brandon is currently an Assistant Track & Field coach at Page High School and a brand ambassador for CLIF Bar and Garmin Outdoor. You may recognize him from this beautiful short film made in collaboration with HOKA ONE ONE, "Time to Hózho." In this episode, we reflect on the twists and turns of his running journey, how he's navigated injury and built a solid running base, and how his homelands make him a stronger runner. He also tells us how important visual storytelling is to our culture and how he's breaking down stereotypes by pursuing his dream of being a Native photographer in the outdoor industry.

In This Episode:

Time to Hózho, Short film by HOKA ONE ONE (featuring Brandon Dugi)
CLIF Bar
"Helping the Navajo Nation with Brandon Dugi," Hoka Voice Blog, hokeoneone.com, June 12, 2020.
Ultramarathon Man, Book by Dean Karnazes

Follow Brandon Dugi:

Instagram (Brandon's Photography Page): @brandon_dugi
Instagram (Brandon's Athlete Page): @brandon_runz
Twitter: @Brandon_Dugi

Follow Grounded Pod:

Instagram: @groundedpod
Twitter: @groundedpod
Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee

Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher

Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).

This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

Episode 15 - Doug Dorame (Mexican/Yaqui), High School Coach, Athletic Director, and my Dad! Apr 28, 2021

Show notes

"QUOTE"

Doug Dorame (Mexican/Yaqui) is currently the Athletic Director, Head Girls Track & Field Coach, and Head Girls Basketball Coach at Albuquerque High School in New Mexico. As you may have guessed, he's also my Dad! He's played one of the biggest roles in my running journey, as both my coach and parent, so I'm incredibly excited to share this episode. My dad grew up in the small town of Tularosa, NM as a multi-sport athlete for most of his life and went on to run Division I Track at the University of Colorado-Boulder from 1977-1981. Upon college graduation, he pursued a career in teaching and coaching at the high school level. With 40 years of coaching experience, he's worked with numerous athletes who have gone on to run collegiately and/or gain athletic scholarships.

Coach Dorame was the New Mexico Coach of the Year in Girls Track & Field in both 2015 and 2018, and was a finalist for the NFHS National High School Coach of the Year in Girls Track & Field in 2019. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame. In addition to Track & Field, he has several distinctions as a Basketball Coach, including over 400 career wins between two schools. As Athletic Director at a large inner-city public high school competing in Class 5A, he oversees over 20 athletic teams, over 60 coaches, and over 800 athletes.

In this conversation, we discuss my dad's college journey, how he began coaching, how the landscape of women's sports has changed over the past 40 years, and his work around diversity and gender equity at the high school level. He also tells us about his goals as a masters runner and how his training looks a little different today. I'm really proud of everything he's accomplished, and I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did!

Image by Brianna Saban (Brianna Saban Photography).

In this Episode:

Follow Grounded Pod: