She Explores

This is the last episode of She Explores. In it, we say farewell, reflect on endings, and invite past guests of the show to share the lessons they’ve learned in the outdoors over the last few years. Through these women’s stories, we’re reminded how important it is to have the space we need to show up as ourselves when we’re spending time outside -- and why curiosity makes it all possible.

Transcribed - Published: 19 July 2023

Mugdha Flores is proof of where your passion for science and the natural world can take you. From playing in tide pools as a child in Southern India, to mapping the undiscovered corners of the ocean, to surveying salmon as they make their long journey to the Pacific. For Mugdha, all her exploration has resulted in a deeper connection with the environment, and herself.

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2023

When Irene Marcoux was growing up and playing at her local pool, she didn’t dream of becoming a mermaid. She was a mermaid. Those early days of freedom and play were her gateway to a life in the water. And because she’s a big believer in the fact that every BODY can dive - Irene is all about helping others embrace their inner mermaid too.

Transcribed - Published: 26 April 2023

A life-changing rappelling accident lead Antoinette Lee Toscano to choose to live the life of outdoor adventure she’d always dreamed of. And since then, she’s dedicated herself to helping others make it easier to shape their lives for the better, too.

Transcribed - Published: 12 April 2023

Olivia VanDamme’s hope is that one day, in her older years, she’ll be at the beach, covered in seaweed and still contributing to community science. Olivia has always felt comforted, alive, and happy in the ocean. And as an educator, poet, singer, environmentalist, surfer, and more – Olivia celebrates that in everything she does.

Transcribed - Published: 29 March 2023

Eden Elgeti is a wild and pool swimmer in the United Kingdom, and is featured in our new book, Women and Water. The first line in her profile is, “I often joke through winter that I’d be more than happy to not swim and just turn up for the post-swim coffee and cake.” Of course, she goes on to share that she has always swum when given the opportunity, and it’s taken her so many places, literally and figuratively.

Transcribed - Published: 15 March 2023

Bonnie Tsui's book, Why We Swim, dropped at a time when we were all looking for guidance on how to move our bodies in ways that took us out of our heads and into our element. But its message is continuous. Bonnie because she is truly an expert on why we gravitate to the ocean, lakes, and other waterways that provide us with so much.

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2023

An ode to the wonder to be found beneath the water's surface. Relax into this special audio art from Wild for Scotland.

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2023

Noami Grevemberg is a leader in the world of vanlife. She's the founder of DIversify Vanlife, a platform that highlights less-heard voices in road travel. It's a lifestyle she's been living since 2016, and her new book Living the Vanlife shares the nitty gritty of her travels with candor, grace, and humor.

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2023

When writer Florence Williams’ 25-year marriage falls apart, it sets her on a journey to explore the science behind loneliness. Photographer Alexandra de Steiguer has spent the last quarter century spending her winters solo as a caretaker in the Isle of Shoals. With the help of these two creatives, we explore what spending time alone means for ourselves, our creativity, and our connections to the communities around us. This week, we're sharing an episode of Creative Fuel, a podcast that Gale's co-producing and more importantly - a show that we know you'll love.

Transcribed - Published: 2 November 2022

Victoria Amico would say that hiking 100% ruined her life, but in the best way possible. Seven years ago, she thought she knew what she wanted in her career and devoted her whole self to achieving her goals. But then hiking came along and forced her to examine what she really wanted. In the process, Victoria ended up learning how to choose herself and take up space with her body on the trail.

Transcribed - Published: 5 October 2022

Whether she’s rock climbing or sailing, McKayla Bower is motivated by always moving forward. And by setting her sights on becoming the first trans woman and queer person to circumnavigate the world solo in her sailboat Swirl, she’s moving forward in more ways than one.

Transcribed - Published: 7 September 2022

A hello, what we've been up to, a new podcast Gale's working on called "Creative Fuel", + we're back with a fresh episode of She Explores next week.

Transcribed - Published: 2 September 2022

How do you navigate your femininity in a male-dominated space like environmental fieldwork research? For Julia Bingham, it's been an exploration of self.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2022

Steph Jagger and her mom, Sheila, took a camping road trip together in 2016 across the Rocky Mountains. So often, the purpose of a road trip, or spending time in the outdoors, is to get away from it all. But in this instance, Steph was driving towards something many of us might rather avoid: her mom had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia. And while Alzheimer's is something that’s hard to talk about, odds are good that you have personal experience with this degenerative disease or another one that’s similar.

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2022

Ashley Adkins isn’t a scientist, she simply loves recreational caving and the opportunity it offers folks with non-science background to contribute to the ongoing documentation and understanding of underground ecosystems. Listen as Ashley shares her experience getting into caving, which led to her very own dream seasonal job last summer. In a historically male-dominated activity that’s known for gatekeeping, Ashley wants us to know about the new generation of cavers of all genders and specialties that are changing the sport for the better.

Transcribed - Published: 2 March 2022

A special announcement from host Gale Straub about the future of this show.

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2022

Journalist Heather Hansman digs deep into the past, present, and future of skiing in her new book Powder Days. Her love for the sport leaps off the pages, but that doesn’t stop her from looking at skiing through a critical lens as she explores its challenges and triumphs across an expanse of timely subjects: climate, accessibility, culture, and more. We're joined from the side of a ski hill by lifelong skier Tori Duhaime for this conversation.

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2022

What happens when the person you think you want to be doesn't mesh with who you are? This week, we're sharing a special bonus episode - the first episode in Out There's new season. In it, Sarah Dealy shares her experience striving to be an "outdoor girl" after a severe bout of depression and a wilderness therapy program.

Transcribed - Published: 9 February 2022

Sometimes adventure looks like picking up and moving 3000 miles away from your home to live in the subarctic. Four years ago, Kristen Berkeley was living in Toronto and blogging about fashion, makeup, and cooking. On a whim, she took a job in Yellowknife, a small city in the Northwest Territories of Canada.

Transcribed - Published: 2 February 2022

Time often feels like it’s on hyperdrive but Kenya Jackson-Saulters helps remind us of the importance of grounding ourselves in the outdoors, setting aside time to dream, and celebrating the many ways we move forward.

Transcribed - Published: 19 January 2022

Listen to a preview of "This is Our Time" a storytelling podcast that takes you on an immersive adventure on a ship to Antarctica with host Samantha Hodder and 80 women who all work in STEM.

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2022

The idea that everything comes back around can be a comforting thought - especially as Anna Brones shares it: “I think that that's what we've really been doing in a larger way in the last two years. We've had to reckon with some of these larger questions about what it means to be human, what it means to exist, who we are when we don't have all of the external distractions. And so I think that that's what we are continuing to sit with. And I think your creative process is a way to sit with those things. And I think that's why investing in creative process is so important because at the end of the day, being creative is being human.” Anna was on She Explores back in April of 2020 for a conversation called ‘Creativity to Guide Us Through.’ It was around the start of lockdown and life as we knew it was changing. To kick off 2022, we’re revisiting portions of this conversation on creativity and nature that feel just as relevant today and we also catch up with Anna as she shares some valuable advice on approaching January in a gentle way.

Transcribed - Published: 5 January 2022

Gabaccia is our guide as we learn about equity, the importance of outdoor equity funds, and what it takes to get legislation across the finish line. Meet four women from the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E. Initiative who are creating more opportunities for youth in the outdoors.

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2021

Join environmental artist Claire Giordano in the field as she teaches plein air painting in stunning landscapes like alpine lakes, old growth forests, beneath sandstone cliffs, oceanside, and glaciers. While Claire loves sharing the fun and beauty of experiencing these places through her virtual course, The Adventure Art Academy, there’s an intention behind the class that is more than meets the eye.

Transcribed - Published: 1 December 2021

Nicole Antoinette recently released a trail journal of her 2017 thru-hike of the Arizona Trail called “How to Be Alone.” And that’s what we met up to talk about on a trail near Boston: how her first thru-hike came to be, how she persevered, and why she decided to add to the trail journal canon. While quitting can indeed be a kindness, Nicole solo hiked all 800 rugged miles of the Arizona Trail. And it all started when she was over 30,000 feet up in the air, reading a book on a plane.

Transcribed - Published: 17 November 2021

After 15 years as a wildlife ecologist and conservation scientist, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant has a lot of valuable life lessons to share, be it the way she looks back at her own career with compassion for her younger self, the importance of doing exactly what she wants to do with her free time, or the joy that is cuddling baby bears -- just don't try the latter at home!

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2021

Rebecca Sperry was in the middle of a big hiking challenge when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2020: she was tracing all 1400+ miles of trails in the White Mountains. While she had to put that quest on pause during cancer treatment, it didn’t stop her from hiking.

Transcribed - Published: 13 October 2021

Listen to this: About the Journey. Go on an audio road trip with travel lover Oneika Raymond.

Transcribed - Published: 29 September 2021

Shaandiin Cedar is on the solution side of fighting the climate crisis and invites you to join in, too. A problem-solver by nature, Shaandiin is taking both a bottom-up and a top-down approach to activating climate solutions through her grassroots and corporate sustainability efforts. As an Indigenous woman and the daughter of activists, Shaandin’s commitment to justice for people and the environment is woven into her being.

Transcribed - Published: 22 September 2021

To help paint a picture of hunting that reflects a spectrum of perspectives, Gabaccia talked with women from different generations, locations, ethnicities, levels of experience, and styles of practice. While not every woman hunter is represented, the several that are featured here share valuable lessons that anyone can learn from.

Transcribed - Published: 1 September 2021

In honor of WorldPride, we're revisiting our 2018 conversation with Elyse Rylander. Elyse is the founder and executive director of OUT There Adventures, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering queer young people through their connection with the natural world. Elyse believes nature is a disruptive force for queer youth and hopes to positively foster their identities and love of the outdoors.

Transcribed - Published: 18 August 2021

Your stories of the unexpected kindness you’ve found in the outdoors - from strangers, from nature.

Transcribed - Published: 11 August 2021

Brianne Lauro was born and raised on Hawai’i Island and learned how to hunt, fish, and dive from her father at a young age. She’s carried this passion into adulthood, along with a commitment to honoring all the lands and waters of the island through giving back as they have given to her and her family. In conversation with Gabaccia Moreno, Brianne shares what drives her, how she would like to see the conservation conversation shift, why she’s documenting the knowledge of her family, and her hopes for the future.

Transcribed - Published: 4 August 2021

Carrot Quinn joins us on the show again to talk about her latest memoir: The Sunset Route. For those who read and loved Thru Hiking Will Break Your Heart, The Sunset Route fills in a lot of the backstory. Billed as an adventure memoir, (Carrot spent her early 20’s hopping freight trains and hitchhiking before discovering thru-hiking) the book really shines in telling the story of how Carrot found nurturing, forgiveness, and healing through nature during after a traumatic childhood.

Transcribed - Published: 28 July 2021

From the tender early days of the fourth trimester, to integrating the outdoors into your little one’s lives as they grow, the postpartum phase of matrescence is a complex period of healing, care-giving, bonding, learning and un-learning. It’s a time that can simultaneously hold grief and ambivalence, and profound joy — all in the same hand.

Transcribed - Published: 7 July 2021

Palinor Velasco has always pursued an adventurous life, even before she found her place in and love for the outdoors. While newly sober, Palinor found healing in climbing and mountain biking, but an accident that affected her mobility made her rethink the levels of risk she’s willing to take on.

Transcribed - Published: 30 June 2021

Abby Ruhman is a professional makeup artist with Alopecia Totalis who uses her body as a canvas to advocate for change when it comes to outdated beauty standards. Art and creativity are central to the Mountain Games: public art around town, live music happening nightly, the mountainous backdrop of Vail Valley, even photo booths set up for puppy portraits. Abby and Gabaccia Moreno chat live at the GoPro Mountain Games.

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2021

Ariel Tweto is passionate about taking chances and trying new things in the outdoors -- and sharing her experiences with others. She and Gabaccia Moreno met up at the Mountain Games to talk about her very first e-bike race, the new friends she’s made in Vail, and her best advice for listeners looking to embrace nature in their lives.

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2021

Emily Jackson is a professional kayaker and a mother of two. Kayaking is in her blood—her dad, Eric Jackson, is a World Champion freestyle kayaker and more often than not, you can find Emily on the water. Emily’s been competing at the Mountain Games for years, and this year she won all three of her events—a first for her. Emily and Gabaccia Moreno talk kayaking, legacy, family support, and making time for it all.

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2021

Arielle Shipe is someone who shares her health and adventure story for the service of others. This year at the Mountain Games, she taught yoga surrounded by nature, helping participants center themselves and prime their bodies for a day of adventure and community. Arielle and Gabaccia Moreno met up to talk about Arielle’s health journey, her philosophy for reframing your relationship with health, her favorite yoga styles, rescheduling her thru hike, and more.

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2021

Pregnancy is a time of drastic physical change, and one full of expectation and anxieties, pressure and pain, hope and uncertainty. And for those of us who value time spent outside, it’s natural that we'd carry that forward into our pregnancies as much as we can. Continuing to hike, or surf, or whatever else we like to do, lets us still feel like ourselves and helps us cope with the symptoms and stresses of this entire process. But as you’ll hear, it’s often not that simple.

Transcribed - Published: 9 June 2021

Lindsey Ingram has long-haul COVID, which means she is constantly renegotiating what's possible for herself in the outdoors. But just like she's not just a mom, or a hiker, or a gardener -- the uncertainty of her chronic illness doesn't define her. She simply has to meet herself where she's at.

Transcribed - Published: 26 May 2021

Demiesha Dennis is an angler, mom, and community leader who is passionate about spreading the joy she’s found outdoors. In this episode, we hear about how Demiesha started flyfishing, what she’s teaching her daughter, what it means to her to be a woman on the water, changing the narrative through Brown Girl Outdoor World, and more!

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2021

Kylie Yang is a dog owner, thru-hiker, trail lover, and the New Jersey program coordinator for the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. We talk about the rewards and compromises of hiking with her 4-legged companion Sullivan, the many ways Kylie has woven trails into the fabric of her life, and the consideration for others we should all take with us into the outdoors.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2021

Catch-up with Mirna Valerio aka The Mirnavator. Mirna is an ultra runner, adventurer, author, former teacher, more. Her blog, Fat Girl Running, took off shortly after she took on the sport back in 2008 and she’s been showcasing what’s possible ever since.

Transcribed - Published: 3 May 2021

We all have something to give when it comes to making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible for all. But we don’t have to reinvent the wheel, we can reach out and support existing organizations. In this episode, created in partnership with Sierra Designs, learn about four incredible nonprofits doing the work to help create more opportunities in the outdoors for People of Color, LGBTQ+, disabled, and low income families. But more than simply learning about the work that others are doing, our hope is that this episode will help you think about how you can do to make “reaching out” a practice in your own outdoor lives.

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2021

Serene Cusack wants to build more community in the fly fishing world, especially amongst those folks who haven’t always been included. Whether through her own social media handle, “Fatty on the Fly” or the community she’s building via “Outcast Anglers,” Serene is passionate about sharing the joy she finds in fly fishing with more people.

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2021

You don’t have to head out on a multi-day road trip to enjoy the benefits of time away: a micro-adventure can be just what you need to help you reset in your own backyard. In the first of this special 4-part miniseries made in partnership with Subaru, host Gale Straub heads out for a New Hampshire coast-to-mountains and back day trip and reflects on the ways her relationship with travel and adventure have shifted post-pandemic with the help of other creative women.

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2021

In more ways than one, our circles have tightened in the last year. And while for some family has been out of reach, for others, it's been a constant. In this episode we hear from a new mom, Aly Nicklas, and a daughter, Paulina Dao, as they reflect on the ways in which their relationships with family have shifted during the pandemic. We also explore how getting out in the outdoors together, away from the everyday routine, helps to strengthen our family bonds - whatever family means to us.

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2021