Hi, my name is Melissa Urban, and you're listening to Do the Thing, a

podcast where we explore what's been missing every time you've tried to make a change and make it stick.

If you've been following me for even five minutes, you'll know I'm an avid hiker.

I hike year round, usually in the mountains here in Utah, but I often travel to different states or even other countries specifically to hike. I love hiking. to

Hike. I love hiking to lakes and summits through deserts or canyons in summer and winter.

There's a reason I call the mountains my church.

And today more than ever I find nature the most

grounding calming centering presence in an otherwise stressful time.

I also want to acknowledge the immense amount of privilege that comes with feeling like I can hit any trail in any state and feel

Welcomed and included and safe while I hike it is not that same experience for everybody and it's important to acknowledge that. My guest today, Kristen and I, are both white, cisgendered, straight, able-bodied, thin-bodied people.

That means that we have an immense amount of privilege out in the world and that applies

exactly the same way on a hiking trail. I mentioned this because I've been talking about

privilege a lot through the extent of this podcast from day one and I'm going to keep talking about it as a means of reminding you that not everyone has

the same experiences that you do, and by recognizing this, we're able to better advocate for others on the trail, to use our privilege

for good, and seek out voices and experiences that share what it's like for other people walking around this world and in this case

hiking on our trails. I'll list some resources for fantastic voices in diversity in the outdoors in my show notes and you will

hear more of this in a future episode. I do get a ton of dimes from you saying I

took my first hike because of you. I got one just yesterday and it made me so happy. I love the idea that the trails that I share and the joy that I share when I'm out at my church

is inspiring you to get outside and take your first hike.

But more often I hear, I want to start hiking, but I'm kind of intimidated and I don't know where to start.

Today my friend Kristen Bore and I are going to hook you up with everything you need to know

to lace up your trail runners and hit your very first day hike. I came into this interview

...