Outdoor Women Adventures

In Episode 50 of Outdoor Women Adventures, Annika interviews Victoria Garvin, founder of Upward Transitions Institute. Victoria talks about her experience in the outdoor industry and why she started her own company to focus on empowering women in the outdoors. She is passionate about creating access for all in outdoor spaces. She talks about her upcoming adventures in Alaska, Washington, and Iceland. She provides advice to women interested in being guides and staying true to yourself. Also, she talks abouts her hopes for the future. Learn more about Victoria Garvin and the other Upward Transitions Institute guides at: https://upwardtransitionsinstitute.com/ Enjoy the interview!

In Episode 49, Annika Fain interviews Marinel de Jesus to hear about her recent adventures. Marinel established Brown Gal Trekker, Equity Global Treks (formerly Peak Exploration), and the Porter Voice Collective. Marinel has trekked and traveled to over 65 countries. She organizes treks worldwide and is an advocate for porters' rights to a fair wage and decent working conditions. Marinel has produced two short films, one focused on porters struggles in Peru, and the other is about women nomads in Mongolia. She has also trekked thousands of miles, including a 100-day trek last year in Nepal's Himalayas. Marinel talks about her hopes for the future and programs she is currently working on. Enjoy! Websites mentioned in episode: https://www.browngaltrekker.com/nepal/hwtl · Outdoor Women Adventures (Episode 36): Marinel de Jesus – Brown Gal Trekker:· https://open.spotify.com/episode/4A3UbLHhnJ3MB6VwdG3F9D?si=f89fdd101c914758 · Brown Gal Trekker: https://www.browngaltrekker.com/who-is-brown-gal · Equity Global Treks: https://www.browngaltrekker.com/bgtequityglobaltreks · Porter Voice Collective: https://theportervoicecollective.org/ · We are Nomads: https://youtu.be/ZarOT1L5Plc · KM 82: https://youtu.be/xBkUKTeRpBE?si=T9WF6qlbxG2PGRt_

In Episode 48 of Seattle Outdoor Sister, Annika interviews Mina Okpi founder of Black Outdoor Adventurers (BOA), Life Activist, and Chief Adventurer. Mina talks about her experience in the outdoors, her love for skiing and surfing, and her motivation for starting BOA in 2015. She is passionate about encouraging more black and brown people to enjoy the outdoors. Learn more about Mina and the other BOA leaders at blackoutdooradventurers.com Enjoy the interview!

This episode includes an interview with Preeti Viswanathan, designer and owner of Kulie Bags - kuliebags.com. After many years of a corporate job, she launched Kulie Bags in April 2020. She is passionate about making bicycle bags that are affordable and reliable for the entire family. Enjoy the episode! For a limited time, you can use the discount code KULIE_SOS for 15% off.

Annika Fain has been an avid supporter of Girls on the Run for the past 17 years. This episode features an interview with Jen Gallant about her love for the outdoors and leadership role in Girls on the Run & Trailblazers through the YMCA of Whatcom County. Jen has inspired many girls and boys to be active and believe in themselves. Enjoy!

On this episode, Annika interviews Gretchen Walla, owner of Walla Trails & Community. Annika & Gretchen met at a trail running event in 2015. In this interview, Gretchen talks about her first memories of the outdoors, what she loves about the outdoors, why she started Walla Trails & Community, one of her 100 mile running races, and more! She is passionate about creating a welcoming trail running/walking community for people of all backgrounds. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, Annika has a conversation with Jenny Schmidt. Jenny Schmidt lives in Bellingham, WA, and is one of the founders of Shifting Gears (letsshiftgears.com). Shifting Gears is a non-profit creating welcoming recreation experiences that encourage confidence, wellness, growth, and joy. Jenny is passionate about making the outdoors accessible to all people. Earlier this year she completed a solo bikepacking trip along the US/Mexico border from California to Texas. Enjoy the episode!

Episode 43 includes an interview with Jason Serafino Agar, founder of mybikeskills.com. In 2000, Annika and Jason completed a 1000 mile self-supported bicycle ride from Montreal to Washington DC. Jason has developed programs in Oregon and the Bay Area for teaching and encouraging all people to ride bicycles. He is currently developing a program for the Palo Alto School District 5th Graders - Getting Ready to Bike to Middle School. Jason loves sharing bicycling and finding the joy in the challenge of learning. Enjoy the episode!

Episode 42 is a conversation with Kat Sweet, Angel Mathis, and Annika Fain. Kat Sweet is an amazing mountain bike coach and athlete who owns Sweetlines (https://sweetlines.com/). Angel Mathis is an outdoor enthusiast, nurse practitioner, and owner of Boldly Went (https://www.boldlywentadventures.com/). During this episode, Kat and Angel talk about their experiences since the Covid-19 pandemic personally and professionally. Throughout everything, they have positive attitudes and ideas about how they can continue to inspire others and appreciate the outdoors. Please stay healthy and safely enjoy the outdoors.

This episode is a conversation between Annika and Kat Sweet, owner of Sweetlines. Kat Sweet is an amazing mountain biker and coach to people of all ages. Kat is a former professional downhill mountain bike racer and X-Games ski competitor. She started her company in 2011 with a mission to "build confidence, create an inclusive community and promote stewardship through educational mountain biking programs that empower people of all genders. Sweetlines has upcoming youth camps: https://sweetlines.com/youth-camps/

This episode features an interview with Shannon Leigh, a bicycle mechanic who founded Radiant Wrench (radiantwrench.com). Radiant Wrench is dedicated to empowering all riders to perform maintenance and repairs on their own bikes. Shannon also works at Edgar Bikes as a mechanic (edgarbikes.com). They participated in an amazing program to encourage more diversity in bicycle mechanics https://www.qbp.com/qbp-womens-bike-mechanic-scholarship-application. Shannon is an inspirational bicycle advocate and mechanic.

This episode is an interview with Kathleen Ruland. She is an adventurous woman who I met at a She Explores event in Seattle this spring. She is very adventurous and has done many bike trips and backpacking in recent years. One of the adventures she talks about is volunteering with NPS at Lake Powell doing the trash tracker program (https://www.nps.gov/glca/getinvolved/trashtracker.htm). Enjoy!

On Episode 38 of Seattle Outdoor Sister, I interview Guila Muir, founder of Say Yes! for Life Swims. She shares some childhood memories and how her love for open water swimming began. Guila organizes fun swimming events throughout Puget Sound. I hope you enjoy this podcast! Say Yes! for Life Swims: https://say-yes-to-life-swims.com/

This episode is about a trip to Peru and Machu Picchu earlier this month. I went with an organization called Peak Explorations. They worked with Evolution Treks Peru. The trip was amazing. I highly recommend it

Episode 36 is an interview with Marinel de Jesus. An amazing woman who has a blog called brown gal trekker. She has an adventure trekking company called Peak Explorations. Prior to starting her trekking company she was a prosecutor for 15 years in Washington DC. She spent a year trekking in 21 countries and fell in love with trekking. She is an advocate for diversity in the outdoors and empowers women around the world. Here are links to her webpages: https://www.browngaltrekker.com/who-is-brown-gal https://www.peakexplorations.com/meetourteam Diversify outdoors webpage that features Marinel: https://www.diversifyoutdoors.com/marinel-de-jesus

This episode includes an interview with Angel Mathis. Angel Mathis is an amazing woman that Annika met through the High Heel Running Group in 2013. Angel has a podcast and company called Boldly Went. http://boldlywentadventures.com Enjoy the interview and check out Boldly Went's upcoming events!

Episode 34 is an interview with Kari Vigerstol. She is the co-owner of women who run the world: wwruntheworld.com I have been trail running with her for over 6 years. We met through the High Heel Running Group. In this interview, Kari talks about some of her early childhood memories from the outdoors and some of her amazing experiences, including climbing Mt. Rainier. Kari has an enthusiasm and love for the outdoors that is contagious. I look forward to hearing more about her adventures and her organization "women who run the world."

I am very excited to interview women who I admire and share a love for the outdoors and adventure. In Episode 33, I interview Emily Ahrens, an "average" iron woman triathlete. She is definitely not average! But, she has a blog called "the average triathlete" started in December 2017. Check it out at: https://theaveragetriathlete.com/blog/2018/12/1/the-reason Next week, in Episode 34, I will interview Kari Vigerstol. An amazing woman I run with. We met 5 years ago in the High Heel Running Group (HHRG), a supportive group of women trail runners of all abilities and backgrounds. She also co-owns a company called: Women Who Run the World https://www.wwruntheworld.com/our-roots

This episode is about a night and tunnel ride I did this week. The night ride was especially memorable because this is one of the first times I have rode at night since my accident in December 2014. I am so grateful to have a supportive group of people to ride with.

Episode 31 is about Annika’s reflections on a half marathon and bicycle ride she did one weekend in October 2018. She did the half marathon with two friends. These activities helped improve her mood and outlook on life. Exercise is one of the best therapies for her at this difficult transitional time.