The Trail Ahead

Faith and Addie - Season 3 Finale Dec 14, 2023

In the last episode of Season 3, Faith and Addie recap the season, share their reflections and discuss the tension of holding both hope and motivation to continue to make change. The hosts recount past guest conversations, learnings they’ve taken away from these discussions and questions they get asked most as they continue to tackle the dialogue on The Trail Ahead.

Plus, we welcome Faith back after maternity leave and get to hear how she and baby Yaya are doing!

EPISODE LINKS

Dr. Rae Wynn Grant's new show

https://www.mutualofomaha.com/wild-kingdom/?src=wildkingdom.com

"Playin Mas'"

https://www.certifiedafrica.com/blog/playin-mas-an-overview-of-the-trinidad-tobago-tradition

Link to cartoons:

Equality vs Equity (ladders graphic) https://subjectguides.library.american.edu/c.php?g=1025915&p=7715533
Systemic Barriers (footrace graphic) https://www.cta.org/our-advocacy/social-justice/black-lives-matter

Lydia Jennings TTA Episode

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trail-ahead/id1559765753?i=1000516900792

Jose Gonzalez TTA Episode

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trail-ahead/id1559765753?i=1000555596159

Clare Gallagher TTA Episode

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trail-ahead/id1559765753?i=1000530828790

Alekesam (our theme music!)

Mauricio Díaz on Vulnerability in Running, The Power of the Invitation and Building “La Familia” Oct 11, 2023

Mauricio (Mau) Díaz is the CEO and co-founder of Aire Libre Running. Aire Libre designs and operates running and hiking experiences around the world that connect participants to new places and cultures through sustainable tourism.

Mau is from Mexico City, Mexico and enjoys exploring the mountains around the city by foot (often accompanied by his dog). He is an ultrarunner and lululemon ambassador.

EPISODE LINKS:

Mau on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/maudac/

Aire Libre Website

https://airelibre.run/

Aire Libre on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/airelibre.run/

An Intimate Look at Mexico’s Indigenous Seri People, New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/16/travel/comcaac-seri-people-mexico.html

Kayla Jeter on The Power of Community, Going FURTHER and Aspiring to Be Ourselves Sep 20, 2023

Kayla Jeter is a Cleveland Ohio native, former professional volleyball player, mindset coach, personal trainer, stress-management coach and wellness entrepreneur.

She is the founder of #100MilesofSummer, a global running community and founder of Soho House Chicago Run Club. Kayla is a global Lululemon ambassador and a member of the Lululemon FURTHER initiative.

On this episode, Addie is joined by The Trail Ahead Season 2 guest, Kamilah Journét, as a guest co-host.

LINKS:

Fit + Full by Kayla

https://www.fitandfullbykayla.com/

Streets Calling Bike Club

https://www.streetscallingbc.com/

Running While Black by Alison Mariella Desir

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/675749/running-while-black-by-alison-mariella-desir/

100MilesofSummer™️

https://www.instagram.com/100milesofsummer/

lululemon FURTHER Initiative

https://corporate.lululemon.com/media/press-releases/2023/05-23-2023-190009165

Ambreen Tariq on Finding YOUR Outdoors, Empathy and Reclaiming Patriotism Sep 06, 2023

Ambreen Tariq is a Muslim, an immigrant, an activist, and an outdoor enthusiast. She describes herself as a proud feminist and an advocate for social justice in American society. She’s the founder of @BrownPeopleCamping, a social media initiative that uses digital storytelling to celebrate people of color in the outdoor community. Ambreen is also the author of Fatima’s Great Outdoors, a children’s picture book centering on an immigrant family embarking on their first camping trip.

This episode is edited by Misty Avinger. Our theme music is by Alekesam, check them out via the link in our shownotes.

LINKS FOR AMBREEN

Brown People Camping

https://www.brownpeoplecamping.com/

Find Your Park

https://findyourpark.com/

Fatima's Great Outdoors the Children's Book

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/50713833

Stevie Lewis

http://www.chocosweete.com/

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

https://www.robinwallkimmerer.com/

Video of Ambreen Camping and Cooking and Visiting Wild Horses by Insider Studios

https://vimeo.com/562895054

The Trek, Q&A with Ambreen Tariq by Ruth Nasrullah

https://thetrek.co/meet-ambreen-tariq-the-activist-behind-brown-people-camping/

My Immigrant Story: Loneliness and Empowerment at the American Campground

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/lets-talk-about-privilege-outdoors/

Alekesam (Our theme music!)

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JM2yzMSOgq7VeG6nKm3PY?si=YrIzzWOwSvCZ49oSutZZLw

Chelsea Murphy on Raising Children in Nature, Co-creating a Welcoming Space for BIPOC Folks Outside, and Using Social Platforms for Deeper Community Engagement Aug 23, 2023

Chelsea Murphy is an outdoor advocate, enthusiast, creative, and inspirer. She is the mother of three, and is on a mission to create a better, more inclusive outdoor culture for her mixed children.

Born in San Diego, CA and raised in Tacoma, WA she has always had a connection with nature and the outdoors. After moving to the mountains, she immediately recognized the lack of diversity in outdoor adventure. Chelsea started @she_colorsnature to create a community space for celebrating diversity outside. She also uses her platform to encourage parents to spend time outside with their kids, and centers her mothering philosophy on spending at least 30 minutes outside each day.

In this episode we hear from her about navigating historically white spaces, balancing the important job of being a mother of three while leading and curating an online community space, reframing narratives, moving into storytelling behind the camera and much more.

This episode is edited by Misty Avinger. Our theme music is by Alekesam, check them out via the link in our shownotes.

Chelsea Murphy’s Website https://shecolorsnature.com/

Chelsea Murphy On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/she_colorsnature/

Expedition Reclamation https://www.bravespaceproject.org/

Alekesam on Spotify

The Trail Ahead Presents: Immigrantly "Are Humans and Nature Separate?" featuring Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada Aug 09, 2023

This week the Trail Ahead brings you an episode by Immigrantly, "a boundary-pushing, border-crossing podcast that gives diverse voices and stories home."

Their guest, Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada, is a Colombian-American athlete, activist, and environmental sociologist who is always on the move. From the freezing valleys of Alaska to the cloud forests of Colombia, Vanessa spends her days' hiking, skiing, mountaineering, running, and ice skating through beautiful landscapes. But at the same time, her travels go beyond mere wanderlust. Through her work as an environmental sociologist, Vanessa encourages everyone to remember the social and cultural dynamics of the environment. What is our relationship to the outdoors? How can everyone enjoy what the world offers regardless of identity, location, or economic status? And perhaps most importantly, how do we preserve our planet for the future?

Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod | Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Michaela Strauther I Editorial Review: Kylee Roberts I Sound Designer & Editor: Manni Simon I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds

The Trail Ahead Presents: Immigrantly featuring Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada

Follow along with Vanessa via https://www.instagram.com/vanessa_chav

Our theme music for The Trail Ahead is by Alekesam, check them out via the link in our shownotes.

38. Yatika Starr Fields on Healing through Running, Artmaking, and Grieving the Changes that Need to be Made and Making Them Jul 26, 2023

Yatika Starr Fields, is a Painter and Muralist who lives and works in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Yatika Fields is part of the Cherokee, Creek and Osage Tribes. He is also a Bear clan member. While attending the Art Institute of Boston from 2000 to 2004, he became interested in Graffiti aesthetics, which has been integral to his knowledge and process along with Landscape painting- and continues to influence his large- scale projects and studio works. His artworks explore the themes of family, community, and cultural diversity to illustrate its significance in societal norms for Native Americans. In addition, he is an avid distance runner who both runs and bikes ultra-marathon distances. He is involved with collective efforts to increase visibility, participation and acknowledgement of Indigenous voices, places and people in outdoor pursuits. He is a frequent collaborator with Rising Hearts, an indigenous led grassroots organization with a vision for a socially, economically and environmentally-just world, they often use running as a medium for activism and advocacy.

In this episode we talk about finding healing through running and returning home, the many shared parts of our identities, Yatika's advocacy efforts that have led to name changes of offensive race events and much more.

This episode is edited by Misty Avinger. Our theme music is by Alekesam, check them out via the link in our shownotes.

Links for Yatika Episode

Yatika website
https://www.yatikafields.com/
Yatika on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/yatikafields/
Osage Nation
https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/
Muscogee Nation Website
https://www.muscogeenation.com/
Wings of America Website
https://www.wingsofamerica.org/
Rickey Gates - TransAmericana
http://www.rickeygates.com/transamericana
Ultra Trail Mont Blanc Trail Series (UTMB)
https://montblanc.utmb.world/
Why the Land Run 100 changed its name to the Mid South:
https://cyclingmagazine.ca/gravel/why-the-land-run-100-changed-its-name-to-the-mid-south/
Why the Name of a Major Gravel Event Is Being Changed: On the Dirty Kanza and the cycling world's reckoning with a racist, exclusionary past
https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/biking/kanza-name-change-indigenous-bike-race/
Rising Hearts - Indigenous Led Grassroots Organization
https://www.risinghearts.org/
Jordan Marie Whetstone on Instagram and Website
https://www.instagram.com/nativein_la/
https://www.jordanmariedaniel.com/
Know to Run Film with Yatika & Rising Hearts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAbapAmkjFo&themeRefresh=1
This Land Podcast - all about Oklahoma History and “Indian Country”
https://crooked.com/podcast-series/this-land/
Alekesam (Our theme music!)
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JM2yzMSOgq7VeG6nKm3PY?si=YrIzzWOwSvCZ49oSutZZLw

Links related to The Debrief:

The Body Doesn’t Know Miles, It Knows Stress by David Roche
https://www.trailrunnermag.com/training/trail-tips-training/the-body-doesnt-know-miles-it-knows-stress
Episode 16 of The Trail Ahead: Rest, Our Right Relationship with Nature, and Community Care with Laura Edmondson
https://www.trailaheadpodcast.com/episodes/rest-our-right-relationship-with-nature-and-community-care-with-laura-edmondson

Brittany Leavitt on Joy-filled Affinity Spaces, Active Rest, and Co-founding Brown Girls Climb Jul 12, 2023

Brittany Leavitt is the co-founder of Brown Girls Climb, a lifelong educator and someone who loves the outdoors. We talk with her about what it means to be shifting careers to be the full-tome CEO of Brown Girls Climb and how she first came to the outdoors. Hint: Her career day outfit in Elementary School says a lot!

Brittany has always connected to the outdoors, from the mountains in upstate New York, to the ocean sides of Massachusetts, to city life in Washington DC (currently in Brooklyn, NY). For the last eight years, Brittany has led and taught others how to enjoy the outdoors safely while also clearing pathways for the PGM (People of Global Majority) in the community—working as a leader with organizations such as Outdoor Afro, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and REI. In 2018 Brittany was recognized as one of Blue Ridges Mountain Magazine’s 30 under 30 and American Alpine Club-DC section’s “one to watch.”

Hope you enjoy this conversation talking about everything from climbing Kilimanjaro to creating brave spaces within climbing gyms as much as we did!

LINKS:

Brittany on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/bleavitt8/

Brittany’s Personal Website

https://www.britleavitt.com/

Brown Girls Climb

https://www.browngirlsclimb.com/

Outdoor Afro

https://outdoorafro.org/

Color the Crag

https://colorthecrag.com/

GP81

https://www.gp-81.com/

Brown Ascenders

https://www.thebrownascenders.org/

Sending in Color

https://sendingincolor.com/

PGM One

https://www.pgmone.org/

Chelsea Griffie

https://www.outsidebusinessjournal.com/issues/homage/changemakers/chelsea-griffie/

https://sierraclub.typepad.com/explore/2012/05/rock-climber-chelsea-griffie-inspires-youth-to-get-outdoors.html

Rosemary Saal

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cswlms

https://sierraclub.typepad.com/explore/2013/03/qa-rosemary-saal-climber-denali.htmll

Phil Henderson

https://www.instagram.com/phil_henderson/

Article for REI about finding your own summit

https://www.rei.com/blog/hike/summiting-at-17000-feet-my-climb-of-kilimanjaro-with-outdoor-afro

Alekesam on Spotify

Stef Flippin on a Human-First Approach, Avoiding a pattern of Injury, and Showing up at Each Start Line for more than just Yourself (with a debrief featuring Victoria Lo of Chinatown Runners) Jun 28, 2023

Stefanie is an ultra trail and road runner located in the Front Range of Colorado. She is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder (6th fastest all-time American woman for the distance). She is also a foot and ankle surgeon alongside her husband, with a passion for treating athletes. Stefanie is passionate about increasing BIPOC representation in distance running and newly a member of the Lululemon FURTHER initiative cohort, which aims to address the data and research gap that exists in women's endurance running. She is the co-host of the Making Strides podcast which she describes as “a space to share our experiences as BIPOC female runners, as well as a space to discuss the nuances that come with our perspectives: safety, sponsorship and contract negotiations, mental health, current events in the running world and beyond.” In this episode we discuss how she started running 5k's with her dad as young as 7 years old, how her first 100 miler race ended in one of the biggest surprises of her life, as well as diving into her many passions.

Our Debrief this episode features Victoria Lo the founder of Chinatown Runners who speaks about using the tools you have to make change and why drumming up support for Anti Asian American Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian issues (aka #STOPAAPIHATE) is so complicated and challenging, and important to keep doing.

LINKS:

Stef Flippin On Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/stefanieannflippin/

Stef Flippin Personal Website

https://www.stefanieflippin.com/

Lululemon Further Initiative

https://shop.lululemon.com/story/run-further

Girls On the Run

https://www.girlsontherun.org/

Trent Stellingworth on Twitter

https://twitter.com/TStellingwerff

Diverse We Run

https://www.instagram.com/diversewerun/

Making Strides Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-strides/id1687742311

Chinatown Runners

https://www.chinatownrunners.com/

Film on Chinatown Runners directed by Faith E. Briggs and Tim Kemple of Camp4 Collective

https://vimeo.com/671273445

Ahmad Hijazi on Thru-hiking, Feeling at Home in Nature, and Arab Representation in the Outdoors (featuring a debrief with Maytha Alhassen, PhD!) Jun 14, 2023

Ahmad Related Links:

Lebanon Mountain Trail

https://www.lebanontrail.org/home

We Got Next

https://www.we-got-next.org/

Info on Dearborn

https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/how-dearborn-michigan-became-the-heart-of-arab-america-1.117177

https://www.michiganradio.org/arts-culture/2014-07-09/what-explains-michigans-large-arab-american-community

Debrief Guest: Maytha Alhassen

https://maythaalhassen.com/about

Key Terms with Dr. Maytha Alhassen — Feral Femme by Slow Factory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwKE6Qcmqwc

Follow Maytha on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/maythaalhassen/

34. Mirna Valerio on Going FURTHER, Getting Back to the New You, and The Power of Voice May 31, 2023

In this conversation with Mirna Valerio, ultramarathoner, cyclist, skier, author, and so much more, we start with the origin story of how she fell in love with running and then dive into what it means to know and love your body in all of its stages - especially during recovery. We also talk about her memoir, A Beautiful Work in Progress, what she is excited about next, ansd how she's pushing her limits to go FURTHER as part of a new initiative with our episode sponsor lululemon.

Related Episode Links:

Mirna’s Website: https://themirnavator.com/

Mirna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themirnavator/

REI Presents: The Mirnavator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5-CSQcYeXk

Lululemon’s FURTHER project: https://shop.lululemon.com/story/run-further

Azores race

Coalition Snow: https://www.coalitionsnow.com/

National Geographic Adventurer of the Year: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/mirna-valerio-ultramarathon-runner

One of Mirna’s Favorite Races, Azores Trail Run: https://www.instagram.com/azorestrailrun/

Megan Roche of SWAP Running: https://swaprunning.com/

Some Work all Play podcast: https://swaprunning.com/podcast

Our Theme Music is by Alekesam: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JM2yzMSOgq7VeG6nKm3PY?si=tGkc2q88QHm1nwDD2kYk3A

Everett Ó Cillín on Finding Beauty in the Hard, Trails as Conversation, Trans and Nonbinary Representation, and Marginalia May 10, 2023

Everett is a curator, organizer, and adventure cyclist currently based in the coastal mountains of a region now known as Santa Cruz, CA. For over a decade they've been using bicycle travel as a way of exploring their relationship to the worlds within and without. As a trans and genderqueer adventure cyclist they find themself seeking out the in between places, finding trails and unpaved roads to connect the dots between people, places and ideas.

After working for several years as a tours specialist and cycling guide, they left the full time bike life and returned to the world of arts nonprofits where they now work to organize collaborative exhibitions that help dismantle social norms and share underrepresented stories. You can find their essays on art and cycling in Adventure Cyclist Magazine and The Bikepacking Journal.

We talk about, connecting with nature as a way of connecting with self, about healing and recovery, about route-creation as art-making, artistic inspirations freedom and play and so much more. They also went into depth about upcoming work in Iceland supported by their affiliation with the non-profit We Got Next.

Links for Everett Episode

Check out Everett on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/grandpaeverett/

We Got Next

WeGotNext amplifies individual stories of adventure and activism from communities that have been underrepresented in outdoor and environmental spaces.

https://www.we-got-next.org/

Robert Smithson, Spiral Jetty

Great Salt Lake, Utah

https://www.diaart.org/visit/visit-our-locations-sites/robert-smithson-spiral-jetty

Nancy Holt (American, 1938–2014), Sun Tunnels, 1973–76, Great Basin Desert, Utah

https://umfa.utah.edu/land-art/sun-tunnels

Radical Adventure Riders

https://radicaladventureriders.com/

The Golden Spike

National Park: https://www.nps.gov/gosp/index.htm

Andy Goldsworthy: Storm King Wall 1997 – 1998 Significant Works – Sue Hubbard

https://artlyst.com/features/andy-goldsworthy-storm-king-wall-1997-1998-significant-works-sue-hubbard/

The Library of Water

Stykkishólmur, Iceland

By Roni Horn

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-library-of-water-stykkisholmur-iceland

Ingrid Backstrom on Kicking Open Doors, Increasing Inclusivity in Skiing and Bringing the Gummy Bears Apr 26, 2023

Ingrid Backstrom has been a professional skier for over twenty years and is a household name and someone widely considered a “legend” in the world of free skiing. She is also a mother, a filmmaker, and co-founder of S.A.F.E. A.S. backcountry clinics. In this conversation we discuss Ingrid’s professional skiing career and her journey as a woman in a male-dominated sport. We also talk about her work to make skiing more fun and inclusive, how she has learned from mistakes along the way, and how you don’t have to be a mom to “ski like a mother.” We first connected with Ingrid around “The Approach” film, a project she’s been helping lead for the past three years. We talk about the joy of seeing others learn to love a new passion, learning to look a life from a different perspective and making mistakes along the way, how to interrupt an entrenched industry - even as an underdog, what she's learned in her 20 years of being a pro-skier and much more. Our "debrief" this episode is a conversation between host Faith Briggs Rose and her mother, Hope Briggs. Faith asks her mom about what it's been like to be a white woman navigating racial awareness, based on being in an interracial marriage for almost 40 years, especially coming from a sheltered background. It's a challenging, illuminating and raw conversation. Follow along and learn more about Ingrid on Instagram via https://www.instagram.com/ingridbackstrom/

Grace Anderson on Riding Bikes Down Big Hills, Dreaming Shit Up Together and Subverting Systems of Oppression Apr 12, 2023

Grace Anderson is a dreamer, a builder, and a Black queer feminist who writes and imagines futures where choice is a human right. In this conversation we discuss why she loves to giggle and fly downhills on her bike, solo adventures in the outdoors, the importance of journaling, and learning that it's important to build what you're for and not what you're against. Faith and Grace also talk a lot about their identity as Black women, their journeys to develop and exude a strong pride specifically in that identity, and why it feels so important to them to continue to center Black women in so much of the work. This episode includes a pretty incredible reading list too by the end, so make sure to check out the related links.

Connect with Grace via Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/amaze_me_grace/

ALL THE LINKS:

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Dr. Carolyn Finney

The Rise of the American Conservation Movement: Power, Privilege, and Environmental Protection by Dorceta E. Taylor

How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

won’t you celebrate with me by Lucille Clifton

We Do This 'Til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice by Mariama Kaba

The Nap Ministry

Mapping Our Social Change roles in Times of Crisis by Deepa Iyer

MORE LINKS FROM THE DEBRIEF, COMING SOON!

Billie Holiday sings Strange Fruit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGAMjwr_j8

The Tragic Story Behind Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit"

https://www.biography.com/musicians/billie-holiday-strange-fruit

How white Americans used lynchings to terrorize and control black people, The Guardian (trigger warning: graphic images and stories)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/26/lynchings-memorial-us-south-montgomery-alabama

Jim Crow Laws

https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/jim-crow-laws

Harriet Tubman, an Unsung Naturalist, Used Owl Calls as a Signal on the Underground Railroad

https://www.audubon.org/news/harriet-tubman-unsung-naturalist-used-owl-calls-signal-underground-railroad

1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

https://www.tulsahistory.org/exhibit/1921-tulsa-race-massacre/

Emmett Till

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/emmett-till-1

Historical Database of Sundown Towns

https://justice.tougaloo.edu/sundown-towns/using-the-sundown-towns-database/state-map/

Sundown Town research specific to Oregon, where Faith lives

https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/oregonmulticulturalarchives/2019/06/05/sundown-towns-2019/

The Jim Crow Roots of Loitering Laws

https://the-ard.com/2022/05/31/the-jim-crow-roots-of-loitering-laws/

A Visual History of Loitering Laws

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-21/what-is-loitering-really

AMERICA RECKONS WITH RACIAL INJUSTICE

Law Professor On Misdemeanor Offenses And Racism In The Criminal System

Heard on All Things Considered, 2020

https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/06/12/876221163/law-professor-on-how-misdemeanors-sweep-blacks-into-the-criminal-system

Sharecropping: Slavery By Another Name

https://www.pbs.org/tpt/slavery-by-another-name/themes/sharecropping/

Season 3 Welcome Back: Faith & Addie on Theories of Change, Trail Running, and Climate Conversations Apr 05, 2023

Welcome back to Season 3 of The Trail Ahead, hosted by Faith E. Briggs & Addie Thompson.

In this episode they reflect on why bringing together their multiplicities of identity is essential to their theory of change - which is (clumsily) that with a multi-racial dialogue that seeks to amplify the voices on the frontlines of environmental justice they can encourage more people to fall in love with the natural world and aim to protect it. They discuss the potential flaws in this theory, how it has changed, how much they are learning and where they go from here. While Addie and Faith originally met through trailrunning, they bonded through their passions. Faith is a documentary filmmaker with a background in representation and a focus on identity politics. Addie's road to stories is grounded in work that has been a mix of climate policy and environmental grantmaking. It is at this intersection where these conversations live. This episode reflects on previous seasons and gives some sneak peeks on the kind of conversations coming down the road.

Theme music is "All is Forgiven" from the band Alekesam and the Album Sound Proof Heart.

This episode is sponsored by Subaru, learn more on social via @subaru_usa.

Additional music comes from Track Club by Marmoset.

Other links, orgs, and folks mentioned in this episode are:

Rising Hearts: An Indigenous led grassroots organization committed to the heart work in elevating indigenous voices, promoting, and supporting intersectional collaborative efforts across all forms of movements in cultivating community with the goals of racial, social, climate and economic justice.
Rising Hearts' Running on Native Lands program that aims to make land acknowledgements at trail AND road race events a common and inclusive practice and encourages those who become a partner to go the extra mile by giving back to the communities which the land is borrowed from.
Runners for Public Lands toolkit
Dr. Carolyn Finney episode of The Trail Ahead
Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Dr. Carolyn Finney
Link to This Land
The Tongass and the fight to protect it from clearcuts
Alaska’s Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
#StopWillow
Jade Begay, Policy & Advocacy Director at @ndncollective and member of the Enviro Justice Advisory Council at the white house, on TWITTER
NDN Collective
Grist Fixers 2022
Imagine 2200

The Unrestricted Selema Masekela Heart-Tether Conversation Mar 29, 2023

In January 2021 we sat down for what became a 3 hour conversation with the legendary Selema Masekela. We laughed, we cried, and by the end we realized we were undeniably tethered for life, a beautiful heart tether. We've had many people ask to hear the whole conversation, rather than the more edited 1 hour conversation we put out in April 2021. In this episode we go into beautiful stories about Selema's relationship with his father, the late great Hugh Masekela, and include a deeper conversation around making music himself, and what it meant in 2020 to shout about racial justice (and finally be passed a mic when doing so) in a sport as historically white as surfing. We're so please to present the full episode now. The music you hear at the very beginning is the multitalented and multifaceted Selema himself, with the song "All is Forgiven" from his band Alekesam.

Additional Links to go deeper!

Check out Selema on Instagram

Listen to Alekesam on Spotify

Listen to the abridged conversation here

Rock out to Hugh Masekela

Learn more about STOKED mentoring

STOKED collaborates with schools, community organizations, and a network of dedicated mentors to bridge the opportunity gap for low-income youth, and prepare them for a vibrant, fulfilled life after high school.

This Land Doc

The Trail Ahead Presents: The Outside Voices Podcast and "A home for Asian women with Camp Cosmos" Mar 22, 2023

This week we feature an episode of a podcast we love that is also working toward a more inclusive and community minded outdoor community: The Outside Voices Podcast. Outside Voices Podcast: https://www.outsidevoicespodcast.com/ Outside Voices on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outsidevoicespodcast/ Cassandra Lam of Collective Rest & The Cosmos: https://www.collective-rest.com/ Article about The Cosmos in The Lily: https://www.thelily.com/what-does-it-mean-to-come-together-as-asian-american-women-this-group-has-been-seeking-an-answer/

The Trail Ahead Presents: Wild Ideas Worth Living featuring Evelynn Escobar of Hike Clerb Jan 03, 2023

Connect with Evelynn:

Instagram
Hike Clerb’s Instagram
Hike Clerb’s website
Read more on REI’s Uncommon Path
Watch REI Co-op Studios, “To Touch the Earth”

Season 2 Finale: Faith & Addie reflect on Safe Spaces, Gatekeeping, White Guilt, Accountability & Allyship Dec 06, 2022

Additional Links

Learn more about Erin McGrady from a previous project Faith and Erin worked on.

Who is A Runner: Erin McGrady, co-directed by Faith E. Briggs & Tim Kemple

Kamilah Journét on Running, Not Running and Creating Spaces of Belonging Nov 08, 2022

Kamilah Journét is a long-distance runner, environmentalist, and brand marketing strategist. She discovered her love for running in junior high and continued competing in Cross Country and Track at high school and collegiate levels. She joins The Trail Ahead for a conversation about:

- creating a space of belonging in the outdoors

- embracing a changing identity as a runner

- not running (imagine that!)

- finding joy through movement

- taking up space, especially in conversations/decisions making spaces

Kamilah shares what playing outside means to her and why we as adults need to learn what playing could mean. She discusses why it’s more important than ever to find outlets for joy and play. As an environmentalist and activist, Kamilah shares why it’s so important to be aware of how others around you might process information.

Kamilah discusses her career as a runner, how she began, and where she is with her relationship to the sport today. She talks about the rude awakening and difficult process of finding who she is aside from her identity as a runner, and how therapy ultimately helped her discover herself. This important conversation reminds you about the power of having honest and open conversations. Tune in to this conversation for an important reminder of how our vulnerabilities and the little pieces of our life make us who we are today.

The Debrief features Sarah Jacquette Ray author of A Field Guide To Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Cool on a Warming Planet.

Episode Resources

Runners for Public Lands: https://runnersforpubliclands.org/
“Kamilah Journét, a powerful voice for anti-racism in the running and outdoor industries” for Citius Magazine
https://citiusmag.com/podcast/social-sport-podcast-kamilah-journet/
Follow Kamilah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamilahjournet/
The Debrief features Sarah Jacquette Ray author of A Field Guide To Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Cool on a Warming Planet
https://sarahjaquetteray.com/

Pattie Gonia: Honoring the Try, The Queerness of Nature and How Everything is Drag Oct 18, 2022

Quote:

“When I look at nature, queerness is everywhere. The flowers in my backyard cannot pollinate each other without bees. So they're multi-species sexual. They literally have carriers that carry their pollen from flower to flower - that is so queer! The more time I spend out in nature, the more I'm reminded at just how natural I am. And that's really reassuring coming from a kid who was told that they were unnatural.”

- Pattie Gonia (she/her)

Time Stamps:

[4:30] How Wyn Wiley aka Pattiegonia grew up in Nebraska and playing outside

[8:00] How everything is drag, including the idea of Outdoor Drag, aesthetics, and performance

[16:00] The need for inclusivity in the outdoors and extended conversation in access

[19:00] Whiteness, Prilege and Perceived “heirarchies of oppression”

[23:00] “Honoring the Try” and Allyship

[24:30] Sustainable Activism & The Outdoorist Oath

[32:00] Cancel Culture, the brutality of social media & Pattie’s learnings and growth

[45:00] Community Agreements & Freedom the learn in Nature

[47:00] The Queerness of Nature

[50:00] The Pansy Dress and The Reclamation of a Slur

[53:00] Using Humor & Drag Culture

[1:00:00] LGBTQ2S+ Representation and Ongoing Homophobia

[1:06:00] What is giving them hope for the future

[1:14:00] The Debrief: The Approach Film & How Privilege Shifts Over Time & Space

Links:

Adam Merry: Diversity and Representation in Running from Track to Trail Sep 27, 2022

In today’s episode, Faith is joined by Adam Merry. Adam is an accomplished track and trail runner. He started trail running back in 2017 and has since raced distances, both on road and trail, of up to 100k. In this conversation, Faith and Adam talk about the importance of diversity and representation in running, both in track and trail.

Adam shares his introduction to running and how he fell in love with the sport. He also shares his experience going from track to trail without much diversity and representation in the field. Adam also talks about his favorite races from his incredible race career so far, finding a good group of people to train with, and honoring the seasons of your training.

From Adam’s goal of becoming the first Black man to podium at Western States, to how racism generally makes us all perform worse, this conversation is an eye-opener in the world of running. Tune in to hear all about Adam’s experience as an elite and lifelong athlete on a mission to increase representation and diversity in ultrarunning.

Pauses, Life Changes and Updates on The Trail Ahead Sep 04, 2022

As the summer comes to a close we are excited to share a few updates. Tune in to learn about all that's taking place with us, why Faith isn't in this episode and what's to come in the coming weeks.

We always appreciate each of our listeners for continuing to support us and are happy to share some amazing life updates. We hop you'll take the time to binge some past episodes as we take some time to relax and enjoy this new season in life.

If you'd like to send happy wishes to Faith (tune in to find out why) feel free to shoot her a message on our Instagram @Thetrailahead_podcast

Dr. Peyton Thomas: Hitting the Trails, Climate Advocacy and Honing Your Personal Narrative Aug 16, 2022

Dr. Peyton Thomas is a truly impressive individual. She’s a scientist living in Boulder, Colorado, who is also an active and avid ultra-distance runner. She holds a PhD in marine biology, is a sponsored trail athlete, and has also competed in the Olympic trials. She joins The Trail Ahead today to discuss the climate, ocean, and the joys and challenges of trail running.

Dr. Peyton Thomas starts by sharing her journey to marine biology, especially as someone who lives in a landlocked state. Then, she leads an important discussion about how the ocean and climate are inextricably linked. Dr. Peyton Thomas also talks about the importance of communication between scientists and everyday people regarding the climate and what scientists can do to approach conversations with science deniers.

Then, Dr. Peyton Thomas discusses her passion and involvement as a long-distance and ultra-distance runner. More importantly, she talks about navigating the trail-running community as a Black woman, and why vulnerability is important, but it won’t solve racism in the community.

Finally, Addie and Faith are joined by Natalie, the Sr. Director of Climate Solutions in the Strategy & Policy department at The Wilderness Society, in today’s debrief as they discuss what the Inflation Reduction Act is and what part it plays in climate protection. Tune in today for a fun and diverse conversation with Dr. Peyton Thomas.

Peyton Thomas Website

https://www.peyton-thomas.com/

Peyton Thomas on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ptcruisin22/

The Wilderness Society on The Inflation Reduction Act

https://www.wilderness.org/articles/blog/inflation-reduction-act-breakthrough-climate-public-lands-take-some-hits

Dr. Carolyn Finney: Freedom, Friction and The Change Train Aug 02, 2022

Carolyn Finney is a storyteller, author, and a cultural geographer who is deeply interested in issues related to identity, difference, creativity, and resilience. She’s focused on developing greater cultural competency within environmental organizations, institutions, and the overall environmental movement. As the author of “Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors”, she is dedicated to challenging mainstream media on their representation of difference while increasing awareness of the part that privilege plays in shaping who gets to speak on environmental issues, policy, and action.

Today on The Trail Ahead, Faith and Addie sit with Carolyn for an insightful conversation about the importance of politics within the outdoor space. Carolyn shares her thoughts on what diversification of the outdoors, specifically the environmental movement could look like, why it’s important to create a space that allows for more evolved conversation, and why we need to honor the changes that we as humans go through. Together, they discuss what a progress-oriented mindset within the environmental movement looks like, and why it’s important to honor the products and results of different generations.

This is an incredibly raw conversation that took place in the wake of some truly pivotal and disheartening events. However, Carolyn leaves us feeling inspired and motivated by sharing her decades of wisdom in this episode.

Episode Resources:

Finney Website: https://www.carolynfinney.com/
Black Faces, White Spaces on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/books/black-faces-white-spaces-reimagining-the-relationship-of-african-americans-to-the-great-outdoors/9781469614489
The Story of This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/music/story-behind-the-song/the-story-behind-the-song/this-land-is-your-land/
Sierra Club Grapples With Founder John Muir’s Racism
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sierra-club-grapples-founder-john-muirs-racism-180975404/
Kaylynn TwoTrees: https://ktwotrees.com/about/
America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurstonon: https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2022/07/19/baratunde-thurston-on-the-value-of-america-outdoors-and-the-power-of-pbs/?sh=3376cd295834

Terumi Murao: Sustainability, Surfing and Navigating Privilege Jul 19, 2022

Terumi Murao is a Japanese-American surfer, sustainable wardrobe stylist, and model. She’s an activist who spends her time working with the surf non-profit Laru Beya Surf Collective in Far Rockaway, Queens. Today, Terumi joins Faith & Addie to discuss sustainable fashion, surfing, making ethical choices, and navigating privilege.

Terumi talks about where her awareness of the harmful effects of the fashion industry comes from. Then, Terumi and Faith engage in the exciting topic of the ethics of thrifting. They discuss their thoughts on whether or not someone who has the means and resources should be thrifting or second-hand shopping. The topic of ethics and why it is nearly impossible to make a 100% ethical choice is brought up, as Faith and Terumi discuss the best ways in which we can make choices.

Finally, Terumi shares the importance of exposure at a young age when experiencing different spaces normally associated with class and race. This is an insightful conversation that digs deep into examining the ups and downs of thrifting and buying secondhand, a reflection on sustainability, and an examination of privilege.

Episode Resources

Terumi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meru_turao/
Laru Beya Collective: https://www.larubeyacollective.com/
Merrell’s Retread Program: https://www.merrell.com/US/en/retread/
The True Cost Documentary on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wB2SS1GC3M
River Blue Documentary on Pollution in Rivers: https://riverbluethemovie.eco/
Melanin Basecamp IG: https://www.instagram.com/melaninbasecamp/
Melanin Basecamp Article on Thrifting: https://www.melaninbasecamp.com/trip-reports/2022/6/8/five-reasons-why-i-stopped-thrifting
Sho Sho Esquiro on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoshoesquiro/
The Social Change Ecosystem Map: http://deepaiyer.com/the-map-social-change-ecosystem/
The Trail Ahead on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetrailahead
Tank Proof: https://www.tankproof.org/
Josh Williams - surfer & lifeguard on IG: https://www.instagram.com/tymeslicer/
Article on Why Plastic Recycling Confusing: https://greenandgrumpy.com/why-is-plastic-recycling-so-confusing/
Well + Good Podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/nXPijluk
How to Save a Planet - Is Your Carbon Footprint BS: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/howtosaveaplanet/xjh53gn
Isaias Hernandez aka @QueerBrownVegan: https://uproxx.com/life/isaias-hernandez-profile-2021/
How to Save a Planet - Where’s Our Climate Anthem: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/howtosaveaplanet/llhl9xr

Molly Sugar: Cycling, Creating Space, and an Inclusive Outdoors Jul 05, 2022

Molly Sugar is a designer, writer, and cyclist based in Portland, Oregon. She’s the founder of Friends on Bikes and the co-founder of Radical Adventure Riders, both of which are organizations that work toward gender inclusivity and racial equity in cycling communities. In today’s episode, Molly joins us to talk about how she discovered her passion for gravel riding. She also talks about the process of co-founding Radical Adventure Rider.
We get into a conversation about the meaning that “radical” and “adventure” holds for many individuals in the cycling and outdoor community, and how the pandemic shifted the adventure aspect of Radical Adventure Rider. Molly also shares the importance of improving and increasing access to routes and paths, as she has experience in creating several bikepacking routes in the Pacific North West.
Molly shares her wisdom on gender-inclusivity in biking communities, especially when it comes to the use and choice of our language. She also shares her experience as an Asian individual and how safety is subjective for individuals on the road. This brings the conversation to the important topic of racial equity in outdoor spaces, particularly in the cycling community. Finally, Molly shares how she creates digital and print toolkits at the intersection of advocacy and cycling as a designer, and how she sheds light on these topics as a writer as well.

Atongular Monique: Creating Pathways to Access, Living Beyond Stereotypes, and Making Waves Jun 21, 2022

When you think about surfing and catching waves, Queens, New York is definitely not the first place that comes to mind. However, the community of Rockaway, Queens is home to a very vibrant and well-connected surf community. Atongular Monique is a mentor at Laru Beya Collecting, a surfing-focused, non-profit organization that offers free surfing and water safety intstruction to historically excluded youth in the community. She is also an avid climber and outdoor enthusiast.

Faith first met Atongular while climbing at the Women’s Climbing Festival in Bishop, California, back in 2018. Today, Faith and Addie chat with Atongular about her entry into the world of surfing, climbing, and other outdoor spaces. They have an important discussion all about the work that Laru Beya Collective does, particularly their focus on supporting young women of color in their surfing journey. Laru Beya Collective also plays a huge part when it comes to supporting the Rockaway community in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Atongular also recounts and shares her experience of often being the only Black woman in climbing spaces and other outdoor activities. This sparks an important discussion on why representation matters in sports and the world of outdoor activities. More specifically, representation in leadership roles in these spaces can often break down barriers for younger members of the BIPOC community. This is an important episode all about the importance of representation, leadership, and the different ways in which individuals can support outdoor communities in order to make them a more inviting and inclusive space.

Resources Mentioned

Laru Beya https://www.larubeyacollective.com/
Young Women Who Crush https://www.instagram.com/youngwomenwhocrush/
Hurricane Sandy Facts https://prospect.org/infrastructure/hurricane-sandy-inequalities-resilience-new-york/
NYC Water Safety Bill https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/S2207
Short film about Brothers of Climbing https://www.rei.com/blog/climb/brothers-of-climbing
Brown Girls Climb https://www.browngirlsclimb.com/
Flash Foxy Women’s Climbing Fest https://www.flashfoxy.com/climbing-fest
Try Hard Climb Crew https://tryhardcrew.com/
This Land Doc - Play https://www.thislanddoc.com/play
The Venture Out Project https://www.ventureoutproject.com/

Gabe Vasquez: Environmental Equity, Accessibility, and Conservation Jun 07, 2022

Gabe Vasquez is a first-generation American who was born and raised in the borderlands. He is the founder of Nuestra Tierra, an organization focused on supporting and creating thriving border communities via outdoor engagement. Gabe has served his community as a Las Cruces City Councilor, staff member for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, and by helping to protect New Mexico’s environment and public lands.

He joins the podcast to help us better understand how we can honor and connect with the history of the land and the people of the borderland. Gabe also shares his path to politics, how he made the decision to enter this field, and what his favorite and most challenging moments are of being city councilor.

We also discuss why it’s so important to focus on green space projects and how New Mexico is leading in outdoor equity and environmental justice. Gabe shares the history and significance of the bracero program, what access and opportunity look like for different communities and individuals, and why it’s so important for us to acknowledge these gaps.

This episode offers great insight into Gabe’s work in supporting healthy border communities, how smaller organizations can lead environmental justice work, as well as the huge accomplishments that Gabe has been a part of in the outdoor conservation community.

Stay Connected

Gabe Vasquez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crusaderforjustice/
Nuestra Tierra: https://www.nuestra-tierra.org/
American Backyard: https://gnomicbook.com/products/american-backyard
The Trail Ahead: https://www.trailaheadpodcast.com/
Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetrailahead
Bracero History: https://migration.ucdavis.edu/rmn/more.php?id=1112_0_4_0

Erin McGrady: Taking Up Space, Representation, and Love May 24, 2022

Meet Erin McGrady. Erin is an Asian American photographer, writer, runner, outdoor enthusiast, and lover of good food. She is also the co-founder of Authentic Asheville - a storytelling platform that celebrates local travel by creating inclusive city guides aimed at identifying welcoming places for travelers from the LGBTQ+ community.

In this episode, Erin gets vulnerable as she shares her story, what she’s learning, and how she navigates difficult conversations. She shares the trials she faced when she first came out to her family, how she met her partner, Caroline, and how she balances a compassionate partnership and working relationship with her. We also discuss the world of social media as a creator and storyteller, and why travel writing needs to be a more inclusive space. From embracing difficult conversations to creating happiness through hard work, we hope you’ll be as inspired by this conversation as we were.

Connect with Erin:

Alex Piechowski-Begay: Kinship, Connectedness, and Activism May 10, 2022

Alex is an Indigenous artist and activist who spends much of his time on the road, often moving between communities to stand in solidarity with their pressing calls to action. He is a member of the Navajo Nation, a vocal advocate in the Land Back movement, and a supporter of Indigenous-owned businesses. His jewelry and pottery convey traditional designs and stories of the Navajo people - serving as a form of resistance.
He joins the podcast for an eye-opening look into the meaning of kinship and connectedness. Alex shares stories from his childhood and how his upbringing, especially his grandparents, played a major role in shaping and influencing his life today. We also ask Alex about his practice as an artist, how his jewelry and crafts serve as a form of resistance, and why each piece he creates is filled with intention and meaning. Alex shares what Land Back is and why it’s so important, as well as our society’s need to acknowledge the inequities all around us and learn to care for one another.

Tune in to this conversation all about expression, connectedness, and how we can be better relatives to our communities.

Laura Edmondson: Rest, Our Right Relationship with Nature, and Community Care Apr 26, 2022

Laura is a digital educator who specifically speaks on race and equity in the outdoors and the importance of rest and self care. She is multiracial and a transracial adoptee, she is climber and a core member of Brown Girls Climb and an outdoor enthusiast. She also is a DEI strategist and consultant. She is a full time van-lifer and digital nomad. She is also vegan. We met up with Laura while she was living in an artist community in New Mexico. She is also the host of a podcast "Let us Rest."

She joins the podcast today to chat all about her work as a digital educator, especially when it comes to approaching uncomfortable topics on race and holding space for different educational approaches. Laura also speaks about the way her different identities influence her work as a digital creator, acknowledging the difference between self-care and community care, and her early introduction into sustainability. Tune in to this conversation and listen to Laura’s eye-opening perspective on race, respect, and rest.

Episode Resources:

Roles Map http://deepaiyer.com/the-map-social-change-ecosystem/
The Nap Ministry https://thenapministry.com/
Let Us Rest Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-us-rest/id1524839134
French Law for “Right to Disconnect” https://fortune.com/2017/01/01/french-right-to-disconnect-law/
The Soulcare Fund https://soulcarecollective.org/thesoulcarefund
Tiffany Shlain - 24/6 book https://www.tiffanyshlain.com/24-6book
Podcast with Pema & Tiffany - Enmeshed with Technology https://onbeing.org/programs/living-the-questions-weve-been-enmeshed-with-our-technologies-tech-shabbat-for-everyone/

Connect with Laura:

Laura’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laura.edmondson/
Laura Patreon https://www.patreon.com/lauraedmondson

Noël Russell: Leading with Curiosity as the Way to Change Apr 12, 2022

In this episode of The Trail Ahead, Addie and Faith are joined by Noël Russell. Noël is a writer, van lifer, and dog-mom who works in digital marketing, and so much more. She’s someone whose words deeply resonate with Faith especially when it comes to encouragement and truth.

Today, Noël shares the story of her upbringing and how it played a formative role in her life. She also discusses how she aggregates being in this outdoor environment with both work and play, her relationship with stories and storytelling, and what contentment has to do with being outdoorsy. A huge theme for Noël is contentment as a radical state of mind, especially how it allows her to be kinder to herself.

Then, they all discuss why curiosity is key especially when it comes to championing change. From balancing the idea of discovering new places versus keeping some of them hidden and untouched, Noël’s conversation with Faith and Addie is sure to spark your curiosity.

José González: Discovering the Multitudes of You Mar 29, 2022

Today, José joins the podcast to share his views on the power that words hold, how we can view it from a responsible and respectful lens, and how we can be more mindful when it comes to the use of language. José also discusses how his love for the sci-fi genre has inspired his work while influencing the way he approaches equity. From using memes as radical acts to understanding friendships as a supporting pillar in communities of activism, this conversation addresses the topics of culture and expression of the multitudes of being human.

Follow José on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josebilingue/
Check out José’s website: http://www.josegagonzalez.com/
The Outdoorist Oath, learn more and get involved! https://www.outdooristoath.org/
“Sierra Club Says It Must Confront the Racism of John Muir” in the New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/us/sierra-club-john-muir.html
“Reckoning with the League Founders’ Eugenics Past” from Save the Redwoods League,
https://www.savetheredwoods.org/blog/reckoning-with-the-league-founders-eugenics-past/

Faith and Addie on the Identity of Being in Between, Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable, and Not Quitting Mar 15, 2022

After taking some time off from their first 12 episodes, Addie and Faith are back with a fun but important conversation where you get to know the hosts of The Trail Ahead a little more intimately.

In this episode, Addie and Faith interview one another and re-introduce themselves to old and new listeners alike. They discuss what playing outside means to them and dive deeper into why their work is important to them. They discuss how trail running brought both of them today, how the identity of being in-between shaped Faith’s life, and what ultimately allowed Addie to get comfortable with being uncomfortable in order to have important conversations.

Then, they talk about the process of learning (and unlearning) and why it’s so important to never quit, even if you feel shame, guilt, or embarrassment. Faith also shares how being an extrovert lends itself to her interest in having these difficult conversations. Finally, Addie and Faith ask light-hearted questions that’ll allow you to get to know your hosts on a personal level.

Ways to get involved with The Trail Ahead:

Donate to our Patreon
Follow Us on Social Media

Sergio Avila: Science Education, Reimagining Conservation and Jaguars Aug 31, 2021

Sergio Avila is a conservation scientist, educator, and wildlife researcher and tracker based in Tucson, Arizona. He is the first regional Local Outdoors Coordinator for the Sierra Club. He is dedicated to designing and implementing local strategies and projects that increase opportunities for people to connect with nature and ignite their commitment for protecting the planet and to each other. Sergio was born in Mexico City and has over 20 years working on local and regional conservation efforts along the US-Mexico borderlands. He works with species from jaguars to butterflies - in real life. He also loves trail running, gardening and spending time outside. We met up with him to run in the desert and to visit the border wall, it was powerful and transformative, we think this episode is too.

Note: This is an English summary episode of our conversation with Sergio. You can listen to the full conversation in Spanish in the previous episode in the podcast feed.

For more information about Faith, Addie and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Discussed in this episode:

Sierra Club

Sergio's twitter

Sergio Avila: Educación científica, reimaginación la conservación y los jaguares Aug 31, 2021

Note: This episode is in Spanish. There is a short summary episode in English available in the podcast feed.

Sergio Avila es un científico conservacionista, educador, y investigador y rastreador de vida silvestre en Tucson, Arizona. Es el primer coordinador regional de actividades al aire libre para el Sierra Club. Se dedica a diseñar e implementar estrategias y proyectos locales que aumentan las oportunidades para que las personas se conecten con la naturaleza y enciendan su compromiso de proteger el planeta y entre ellos. Sergio nació en la Ciudad de México y tiene más de 20 años trabajando en esfuerzos de conservación locales y regionales a lo largo de la frontera entre Estados Unidos y México. Trabaja con especies desde jaguares hasta mariposas, y ha tenido unos encuentros muy raros. También le encanta correr senderos, hacer jardinería y pasar tiempo al aire libre. Nos reunimos con él para correr en el desierto y visitar el muro fronterizo, fue poderoso y transformador, creemos que este episodio también lo es.

Más información sobre Faith, Addie y The Trail Ahead aqui: https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Enlaces:

Sierra Club

Twitter de Sergio

Brooklyn Bell: Mountain Biking, Creating Space and Reclaiming Legacy Aug 17, 2021

Brooklyn Bell is Patagonia Mountain Bike Ambassador and a freelance artist from Bellingham, Washington. She skis, she climbs, she rides bikes and she loves getting creative in the outdoors. We love how she clearly defines the difference between diversity and inclusion and how she has found a way to both educate others and create boundaries that help make space for herself. She talks about joy and creativity, tokenism, the role of good friends who step up and have your back, and how art has helped her become who she needed to be.

For more information about Faith, Addie and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Discussed in this episode:

Becoming Ruby

Brooklyn’s Art Website

Pedal Through

Brotherhood of Skiing

Clare Gallagher: Imperfect Advocacy, Climate, and the Joy of Running Aug 03, 2021

Clare is an ultrarunner from Englewood, Colorado and studied coral ecology at Princeton University, where she ran cross country and track. She taught English in Southern Thailand, while also establishing a swim and environmental conservation program. Clare began running professionally in 2016 after winning the Leadville 100. She's since won Western States (2019), CCC 101k (2017, UTMB series) and has the Fastest Known Times on the Zion Traverse and Joshua Tree Traverse. She's proud to be sponsored by Patagonia, Petzl, La Sportiva, and Honey Stinger. She is a fierce advocate for the environment who focuses on imperfect advocacy and local civic engagement. She’s devoted to advocating for the protection of public lands and climate change policy.

Links:

Clare’s Website

Protect Our Winters

Hilariously Funny Video “Lunch with Clare Gallagher” on Outside TV

Embrace the Night, Race Recap of the CCC with Petzl

Changing Course, a 2017 REI Film about Clare Gallagher

Monica Medellin: Surfing, Storytelling and Women Behind the Lens Jul 20, 2021

In this episode we talk about surfing, defying expectations, creating the work you need to see in the world and your life literally being the story. Our guest is Monica Medellin, a director and producer born and based in Los Angeles, California. Monica is also the founder and CEO of The Gnar Gnar Honeys. She creates beautiful work and shares rich stories that celebrate and promote diversity and representation in front of and behind the lens.

For more information about Faith, Addie and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Discussed in this episode:

The Gnar Gnar Honeys

Nick Gabaldon

Textured Waves film by The Gnar Gnar Honeys

Textured Waves on Instagram

Kaikaina

Monica Medellin’s Website

Whitney Clapper: Environmental Marketing, Speaking Your Truth and Wrangling Unicorns Jul 06, 2021

Whitney Clapper is a fierce advocate for our better future, a future that is socially and environmentally just and equitable. She works in Global Environmental Marketing at Patagonia. She says that time and time again listening to her heart and gut when making hard decisions and then choosing to speak up has opened doors to the life and career she now lives.

For more information about Faith, Addie and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Discussed in this episode:

Essay “Speak Your Truth Even If Your Voice Shakes,” by Whitney Clapper

Whitney’s LinkedIn

Whitney on Instagram

Dr. Gabe Patterson: Climbing, Community and Celebrating Difference Jun 22, 2021

Ranching, haircuts, sustainable materials and so much more. We had a blast talking to Gabriel Dixon Patterson about his play and his work. Gabe is a Biomaterials Scientist with a PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from University of California, Davis. Congrats Gabe! He is a climber, the founder of Soul Ascension Crew, and an ambassador at We Got Next, a non-profit aimed at increasing representation in the outdoors. Read more about Gabe at Melanin Basecamp.

For more information about Faith, Addie and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Jordan Marie Daniel: Indigenous Sovereignty, Reclamation and Running in Prayer Jun 08, 2021

Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel is a runner and an activist with a heart for the people. She is the founder of Rising Hearts, an indigenous-led grassroots group that advocates for justice and creates incredible educational resources. Jordan has run in prayer, with a red hand-print painted across her face to raise awareness of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIW + MMIWG), on many occasions and her running has brought attention to the cause. The hand print symbolizes the voices that have been silenced by the violence of this crisis. We speak with her about her journey to use her whole body to raise awareness and her hopes to unite people across differences.

For more information about Faith, Addie and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Discussed in this episode:

Jordan’s Website and Instagram

Rising Hearts

Urban Indian Health Institute and MMIW 2018 Report

Sovereign Bodies Institute

Billy Mills, Oglala-Lakota-Sioux runner and first American to win a Gold Medal in the 10,000m

Wings of America, Non-Profit Organization empowering Native youth through running

Corinne Rice: Website and Instagram

National Indigenous Women's Resource Center

Alaska Native Women's Resource Center

The Run for Water Rally, 2016

Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant: Racism, Role Models and Bears (Oh, My!) May 25, 2021

Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is a wildlife ecologist who has worked with animals around the world, including lions in Tanzania and bears across North America. She is a force, and perhaps the only Black woman in the world working with bears as a wildlife ecologist. (She literally goes into their dens while they are hibernating!) We talk about the ways in which this work can be isolating, specifically as a Black woman in her field and the challenges of working in such remote areas. We talk about her work, the joy she feels encouraging others to explore this work and how she came to the field, determined that it was where she belonged.

For more information about Faith, Addie and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Discussed in this episode:

Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant's Website

Black Mammalogists Week

Christian Cooper Racist Incident in Central Park and the creation of Black Birders Week

Land Back Movement

The story of York, an enslaved man who traveled with Lewis & Clark

Layel Camargo: Climate Action, Decolonization and Finding Joy May 11, 2021

In the lineage of many creative activists, Layel Camargo is on a mission to make a just future irresistible. Through humor, joy, irreverence, improvisation, illustration, media and art of all kinds, Layel is urging us to consider what climate change is doing, big and small. We talk about everything from being prepared with an ‘end of the world cocktail’ to how their perspective as a trans indigenous person impacts their outlook on the world and their work. We met up on the unceded homelands of the Chochenyo Ohlone peoples in Oakland, CA to hug trees, go our own pace, and breathe deeply. Join us on the Trail Ahead.

For more information about Faith, Addie, Layel and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Discussed on this episode:

Did We Go Too Far?

The Center for Cultural Power

Layel on Instagram @thechosenlyfe

The Shelterwood Collective

Climate Woke

Selema Mabena Masekela: Surf, Solidarity and Speaking Out Apr 27, 2021

We literally laughed and cried speaking with Selema Mabena Masekela about racism in surfing; his journey building a career in a historically white, male and monied environment; and while swapping stories from childhoods in New England. It was a gift to hear about his legendary father, musician Hugh Ramapolo Masekela, and how his example helped Selema find his voice as an activist.

For more information about Faith, Addie and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Discussed on this episode:

Stoked

Video from the 2020 Encinitas Paddle Out in response to the killing of George Floyd

Selema’s Podcast: What Shapes Us Pod

The Textured Waves Surf Community

Selema’s Band: Alekesam

Selema on Instagram

Lydia Jennings: Running, Soil, and Sovereignty Apr 13, 2021

Lydia grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico (Tewa lands) and is Huichol (Wixáritari) and Pascua Yaqui (Yoeme). Lydia earned her Bachelors of Science from California State University, Monterey Bay in Environmental Science, Technology and Policy. Lydia now resides in Tucson, Arizona (O’odham & Yaqui lands) where she earned her PhD at the University of Arizona in the Department of Environmental Sciences, with a minor in American Indian Policy. Her research interests are in soil health, environmental remediation, Indigenous science, mining policy, and environmental data ownership by tribal nations. Lydia is a 2014 University of Arizona NIEHS Superfund Program trainee, a 2015 recipient of National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program, a 2019 American Geophysical Union “Voices for Science” Fellow, and a current Native Nations Institute Indigenous Data Sovereignty Doctoral Scholar.

Find out more about Lydia at https://nativesoilnerd.com/

For more information about Faith, Addie and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead

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Danni Washington: Climate Solutions, Representation and Mermaids Mar 30, 2021

Danni Washington is a science communicator, tv and podcast host, and non-profit founder with a background in marine biology. She’s also an ocean advocate who loves scuba diving and using education, the arts and social media to inspire people of all ages to connect more deeply with the natural world. We talk to her about everything from ocean plastics to mermaids to the importance of representation in STEAM.

Find out more about Danni at https://www.danniwashington.com/.

For more information about Faith, Addie and The Trail Ahead go to https://www.thislanddoc.com/thetrailahead.

Join us on The Trail Ahead Mar 23, 2021

Can we diversify the outdoors, make historically exclusive places feel inclusive, and reckon with the long-ignored truths about the racism and erasure present in well-established environmental movements? We can. And we have to.

Join athletes and environmental advocates Faith E. Briggs and Addie Thompson as they dig into conversations at the intersection of race, environment, history and culture. They talk to thought-leaders, athletes, activists, artists, scientists, comedians — folks from all walks of life. Together, they aim to galvanize a dialogue in the outdoors that is authentic, sustained and leads to tangible change. Representation matters, so Faith and Addie are inviting everyone to the table to have hard, messy conversations and work toward being better co-conspirators.

First episode drops March 30!

Presented by Merrell and Patagonia.

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