The Trail Ahead

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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:

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