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. Thank you to everyone who has touched the show over the years: the listeners, our guests, our collaborators, and our advertisers. It’s been an honor to hold your stories. READ THIS BLOG POST if you want to learn more about our decision, and what the team is up to next. Featured in this episode: Jaymie Shearer, Shon’t, Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe, Sydney Williams, Gabaccia, Gretchen Powers, Noël Russell, Hailey Hirst, Tori Duhaime. She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources Frangipani & Daisy ChainsFull Quote from Helen Bright, aka “Bright Wanderer” on endingsOur new book, Women and WaterWomen and Water, the AudiobookRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

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. Mugdha is a marine biologist turned science communicator championing community engagement and finding joy in the outdoors. This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Mugdha Flores She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources @mugsie_bThe Ocean Exploration Trust & Nautilus LiveMugdha’s Essay on She-Explores.com about her time aboard the E/V NautilusMore About the Study of Fish or Ichthyology Learn about Kochi, IndiaOur new book, Women and WaterRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

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. Irene is a safety focused mermaid with over 30 years of aquatics education experience, a PADI Course Director & PADI Freediving Instructor, a PADI Mermaid Instructor Trainer, a First Aid Instructor & Instructor Trainer, and a Certified lifeguard, National Lifeguard Instructor Trainer & Examiner. She’s also training for the 2024 synchonized swimming world championships. This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Irene Marcoux She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources @irene_la_sireneWebsiteOur new book, Women and WaterRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

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. Antoinette Lee Toscano is an outdoor industry consultant, writer, philanthropist, and motivational health and wellness speaker. In the Women & Water book, she shares how paddlesports have played a role in her ongoing healing for a Traumatic Brain Injury, spine injury, and PTSD. This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Antoinette Lee Toscano She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub Sponsored by Danner Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources @antoinetteleetoscanoAntoinetteToscano.comNew Normal Big Life Our new book, Women and WaterThe American Adventure Sports ClubAdventureTVAntoinette’s Articles on Culturs MagDiversify Whitewater Rate this podcastRavel MediaSponsor Links DannerDanner Mountain 600Music is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

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. On this episode, Olivia shares an original poem, “Tu Perteneces! Nadar Mija” which helps paint the picture of the role the ocean plays in her life – all while bursting with song and joy. We learn how Olivia straddles worlds by virtue of being herself, why she loves geography, how being an educator has informed her environmental life, and how we can all get involved in collecting data that helps shape the future of the lands and waters we recreate in. This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Olivia VanDamme She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources @olivialomasi@livs.wavOur new book, Women and WaterSeawitches ZineCalifornia Academy of SciencesPGMOneDina Gilio-WhitakerKrista ComerREU Summer Internship at Smithsonian iNaturalistCity Nature ChallengeSnapshot Cal CoastRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

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. There’s something so beautiful about Eden’s relationship with the water. It’s her constant companion. There’s a lot that we admire about Eden - her ability to choose what’s right for her, and to keep checking in to make sure she’s still on the same page with herself. In this episode, we talk about how swimming shows up for her today (and vice versa), why she’s taken a break from her social media account “@thetransgenderswimmer” and the community she’s found swimming in London. This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Eden Elgeti She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Sponsored by Danner Boots Resources https://thetransgenderswimmer.co.ukOur new book, Women and WaterRegister for our Virtual Book Launch EventEdenDannerhttps://danner.com/mountain-600Rate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

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. Why We Swim is a must-read whether you think of yourself as a swimmer or not. It takes you to the source of our innately human relationship with water and weaves together history, science, and her own personal story to propel us on the journey. We wanted to start this Women and Water series with my conversation with Bonnie because she is truly an expert on why we gravitate to the ocean, lakes, and other waterways that provide us with so much. Bonnie shares more about Why We Swim, her own start to swimming, how swimming helps us feel free, and so much more. This is the first in a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Bonnie Tsui She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources BonnieTsui.com@bonnietsui8Why We Swim Sarah and the Big WaveOur new book, Women and WaterCaroline PaulThe Nature FixRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’ll take the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. And you’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. But today, we’re bringing you a special episode of Wild for Scotland, a show hosted by Kathi Kamleitner. It’s truly a piece of audio art, and it’s an ode to the wonder to be found beneath the water’s surface. She created it in collaboration with Fran Turauskis and musician Jen Austin. This episode inspired by Kathi’s time on a snorkeling residency on the Argyll coast in Scotland. A snorkeling residency sounds like an absolute dream - and Kathi’s experience resulted in beautiful, poetic reflections. Kathi’s audio poem within, titled Hope, was also commended by the Climate Creatives Challenge. If you enjoy this listen, we know you’ll love Wild for Scotland. It’s a show that’s known for its immersive storytelling, and while this episode is no exception - it’s particularly artful in its execution. Wild for Scotland is a welcome escape for anyone, whether they’ve been to Scotland, plan to travel there one day or are just looking for a relaxing armchair adventure. She Explores will be back next week with a brand new episode highlighting all things Women and Water.

Noami Grevemberg is a leader in the world of vanlife, and the founder of Diversify Vanlife, a platform that highlights less-heard voices in vanlife, road travel, and nomadic communities. It’s also a resource that helps break down barriers to accessing life on the road, a lifestyle that Noami and her husband Dustin embarked on in 2016. We chatted with Noami towards the end of 2022, when she was coming off a much-needed vacation after finishing her first book, Living the Vanlife: On the Road Toward Sustainability, Community, and Joy. It’s part memoir, part how-to guide, in which Noami shares the nitty gritty of their travels with candor, grace, and humor. The start of the book tells the story of how Noami immigrated to the US from Trinidad at just 16, and how she built a life for herself all on her own - from entering college at 25, to climbing the corporate ladder as an environmental scientist. All that hustle took its toll, and by her early 30’s Noami was ready for a change. While she wouldn’t have envisioned vanlife for herself when she flew to America as a teenager, it’s a life she was able to choose for herself. And it’s one that she wants others to be able to pursue too. This conversation with Noami is the perfect way to start a new year as we talk about resparking creativity after coming off a big project, realigning yourself with your values, what it took for her to create this book, and what aspiring vanlifers will gain from reading it when it’s available this summer. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Noami Grevemberg Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources Website@irietoauroraPlus Sized OutdoorsPre-Order Living the VanlifePre-Order Women and WaterWebsiteInstagramRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

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. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Florence Williams and Alexandra de Steiguer Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Sponsored by Danner Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Head over to CreativeFuelCollective.com for more creative inspiration, prompts, online workshops and a robust creative community. Creative Fuel is Hosted by Anna Brones Creative Fuel is Co-Produced by Anna Brones & Gale Straub Theme Music is by cleod9 music Featuring: Big Picture: Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to SeeAlexandra de SteiguerOutside MagazineNew York TimesNew York Times Magazine,National GeographicThe New York Review of BookSlateMother JonesBreasts UnboundThe Three-Day EffectOutside Magazinee Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More CreativeHeartbreak: A Personal and Scientific JourneyFlorence WilliamsResources Mentioned & Places to Learn More Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific JourneyThe Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence WilliamsBig Picture: Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to SeeWinter’s WatchWild\Life: the Quiet Island of Alexandra de SteiguerStar IslandHow Social Isolation, Loneliness Can Affect Heart Health, Cognitive AbilitiesProlonged Social Isolation and Loneliness are Equivalent to Smoking 15 Cigarettes a DayRestore Your Brain with NatureThe 3-Day Effect: How Nature Calms Your BrainCan Solitude Make Your More Creative?The Science of Silence: How Solitude Enriches Creative Work

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. Victoria shares how she got started hiking (and the transformation it inspired), why 100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail was the right number this year, why she started her social platform Plus Sized Outdoors, and her hopes for everyone out there listening. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Victoria Amico Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Sponsored by Danner Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources @plus_sized_outdoorsPlus Sized Outdoors@chilltash@samortizphoto @unlikelyhikers@fatgirlshiking@kweenwerk@ashleysadventureHiking My FeelingsLightening Trauma’s Invisible Weight on the TrailA Big ExhaleOwning Her Body on the TrailRate this podcastRavel MediaSponsors and Discount Codes Danner Danner.com/inquireMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

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. We talk about what inspired the trip, how McKayla is preparing for the journey, the kinds of marine life she will encounter, and the big why behind this big endeavor. Featured in this episode: McKayla Bower (she/her) Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Sponsored by Danner Boots Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources WhoisMcKaylaBower.comInstagramYouTubeTikTok | TwitterRate this podcastRavel MediaSponsors DannerDanner.com/inquireMusic is licensed through podcastmusic.com unless otherwise noted. Music also by Josh Woodward. Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

A hello, what we've been up to, a new podcast Gale's working on called "Creative Fuel", and a fresh episode of She Explores comes back next week. Resources Creative Fuel on Apple PodcastsCreative Fuel on SpotifyAbout the Journey on Apple PodcastsAbout the Journey on SpotifyShe-Explores.comMusic by Josh Woodward

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. Julia is an interdisciplinary marine scientist and currently a PhD candidate at Duke University. Her research is focused on improving conservation and fishery management through local communities’ knowledge and values. But her discipline hasn’t always been the social sciences. She’s been engaged in field based coastal research in one form or another for nearly 10 years. In undergrad and post grad, their fieldwork had them on rocky shores, mudflats, beach dunes, forested streams, salt marshes, and onboard research boats. This is all important to know because today Julia’s sharing their story of navigating femininity in the field. And whether you’re also in environmental sciences or part of a wholely different profession or pasttime that has made you feel pressured to fit in, that has made you question what makes you “you”, Julia’s words will resonate. Note: there are a few mentions of sexual harassment and sexual assault in this episode. eatured in this episode: Julia Bingham (she/they) Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources InstagramTwitterRead the abridged version of Julia's essay on She-Explores.comRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed through Musicbed. Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

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. Those places that we are nervous to go are often the ones that call to us the most strongly. Or at a minimum, they tell us something about ourselves and what we need. In this episode, Steph shares about her trip, which she wrote about in her forthcoming memoir, Everything Left to Remember, what her mom continues to teach her, the benefits of sitting with grief, and an invitation to examine the relationships in your life that mirror the best parts of you. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Steph Jagger Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Sponsored by Uncruise Adventures Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources @stephjagger StephJagger.comEverything Left to RememberUnbound: A Story of Snow and Self-DiscoveryStory on Journalist Stephen GlassWeAreHFC.orgRate this podcastRavel MediaSponsors and Discount Codes Uncruise Adventureshttp://uncruise.com/pages/EXPLOREMusic is licensed through Musicbed.

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. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Ashley Adkins Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Sponsored by Indeed Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources @ashandironsJill HeinerthInto the PlanetHazel BartonCaveScience.com@PetzlPrincess Find your local grotto hereNashville Grotto Montana Conservation Corps Application PageShining a Light on CavingRate this podcastRavel MediaSponsors and Discount Codes IndeedIndeed.com/exploresMusic is licensed through Musicbed.

A special announcement from host Gale Straub about the future of this show. Prefer to read it rather than listen? Find the 3-minute transcript on the episode landing page (or linked in the Simplecast player). Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources Rate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed through Musicbed. Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

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 Tori Duhaime for this episode. Tori’s a lifelong skier and it’s the sport they choose above all else. While they grew up skiing in Durango, CO, Tori’s a recent transplant to Richmond, VA and has a newfound love for mom & pop ski hills that are found back east. Reading Powder Days got her fired up about a sport she wants to make more accessible for everyone to experience. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Heather Hansman & Tori Duhaime Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Sponsored by Uncruise Adventures Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources @hhansmanWebsite@ToriDuhaimeLearn more about Powder Days and Downriver here!Rate this podcastRavel MediaSponsors and Discount Codes Uncruise Adventureshttp://uncruise.com/pages/EXPLOREMusic is licensed through Musicbed. Episodes air bi-weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

Sarah Dealy was not outdoorsy. But at age 20, during a severe bout of depression, she enrolled in a wilderness therapy program. By the end of the program, she wanted to become an “outdoor girl.” But becoming the outdoorswoman of her dreams didn’t come naturally. Sarah was an indoor kid at heart. She disliked many of the activities she imagined her outdoorsy self doing. On the first episode of Out There Podcast’s new season, Sarah takes us from the desert of Utah to the mountains of Colorado and explores what happens when the person you think you want to be doesn’t mesh with the person you are. About Out There Launched in 2015, Out There is a podcast that explores big questions through intimate stories outdoors. Host Willow Belden just launched their new season, which dives deep into the theme "Things I Thought I Knew." Each episode, they're sharing a story about an outdoor experience that changed someone’s understanding of themselves, their world, or their humanity. Listen to Out There on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and wherever podcasts are found. Featured in this episode: Sarah Dealy, Willow Belden Credits: She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources Out There’s website“Best of Out There” playlistSarah Dealy’s websitehere Help at Any Cost by Maia SzalavitzRate this podcastRavel MediaEpisodes air bi-weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.

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. As a Black woman, Kristen was a bit nervous to move to a city that lacked the diversity of home, but she found herself surprised along the way. Yellowknife ended up being her gateway to incorporating the outdoors into her adventurous spirit, and she’s since started a company called Amplify Outdoors to help invite and uplift more Black, Indigenous, and People of Color into the outdoors with her. About Kristen: Kristen Berkeley (she/her) is originally from Toronto and has been living in the Northwest Territories for nearly four years. Kristen is a former journalist that enjoys writing about social issues and outdoor lifestyles. When she's not cooking delicious meals, Kristen can be found exploring the Northwest Territories and promoting diversity in outdoor spaces with her organization Amplify Outdoors. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She Explores Featured in this episode: Kristen Berkeley Hosted & Produced by Gale Straub A production of Ravel Media Sponsored by Uncruise Adventures & Indeed Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook Visit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on Instagram Resources @Travel_AdventurehersWebsite@AmplifyOutdoorsEmpowerment SquaredLearn more about Yellowknives Dene First NationRate this podcastRavel MediaSponsors and Discount Codes IndeedUncruise AdventuresUncruise.com/exploreMusic is licensed through Musicbed. Episodes air bi-weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.