Hub and spoke.

Audio Collective.

Hi, I'm Willow Belden and you're listening to Out There, the podcast that explores big questions through intimate stories outdoors.

Before we get started today, I have a favor to ask. I'm in the midst of planning out our

next season, and I'm really excited about the stories we're going to be producing. But creating

those stories is expensive.

We spend months, literally months, crafting each narrative, and producers need to get paid.

We also have costs for music, audio hosting, and much more.

My goal is to raise $9,500 by the end of this year to help cover those costs.

If Out There brightens your day at all, please consider joining me in investing in our next season.

There are several easy ways you can contribute. Just go to out therepodcast.com

slash support or click the link in the episode description to get in on the fun.

Again, that's out therepodcast.com slash support.

And now, on to our story for today. Growing up, I was taught that I could do anything I wanted in life.

I had a mother who was fiercely independent.

She had built an impressive career for herself.

She had traveled the world.

She knew how to use power tools and hike mountains and go camping.

And she instilled in me this idea

that I was capable of anything. My mom was definitely ahead of her time. But even so, I think a lot of

women in my generation received similar messaging. We grew up in an era when traditional gender

norms were being questioned. Finally, girls were allowed to have ambition. We grew up in an era when traditional gender norms were being questioned. Finally,

...