Outside Voices Podcast

Welcome to Walkie Talkies, a NEW Outside Voices bi-monthly roundtable conversation with co-hosts Sarah Shimazaki, Aly Ferguson, and Neecole Bostick! In addition to our regular content, you'll be hearing more from our co-hosts as we chat about our own experiences in the outdoors, outdoor equity, and reflect on the growth of the Outside Voices community. This episode is all about Parks! Listen in as we talk about how parks can shape our relationships to the outdoors, the Coastal Act, and share some of our favorite memories. (Guess who brought hot wings to a dog park!) Grab your headphones and join us around the campfire for a Walkie Talkie! Co-hosted by Sarah Shimazaki, Aly Ferguson, and Neecole Bostick Sound edited by Jeff Alvarez A production of Resource Media Follow us on Instagram: @OutsideVoicesPodcast Learn more about Outside Voices RateThisPodcast.com/outsidevoices

This week we feature an episode of a podcast we love: The Trail Ahead Podcast, hosted by Faith E. Briggs and Addie Thompson. They bring on outdoor industry leaders from all backgrounds to have interracial dialogue aimed at having tough conversations at the intersection of race, environment, history, culture, and the outdoors. Their ultimate goal? To diversity the outdoor industry and welcome everyone into outdoors spaces..  This episode features Adam Merry, a track and trail runner who has raced up to 100K! Despite his accomplishments, he's faced challenges in diversity and representation in running, and is working towards building a more inclusive and community minded outdoor community. You can find The Trail Ahead Podcast on Instagram @trailahead_podcast and Adam Merry @amerryrunner   Podcast swap with The Trail Ahead Podcast, hosted by Faith E. Briggs and Addie Thompson. Outside Voices is a production of Resource Media Follow us on Instagram: @OutsideVoicesPodcast Learn more about Outside Voices RateThisPodcast.com/outsidevoices

Welcome to Walkie Talkies, a NEW Outside Voices bi-monthly roundtable conversation with co-hosts Sarah Shimazaki, Aly Ferguson, and Neecole Bostick! In addition to our regular content, you'll be hearing more from our co-hosts as we chat about our own experiences in the outdoors, outdoor equity, and reflect on the growth of the Outside Voices community. Grab your headphones and join us around the campfire for a Walkie Talkie! Co-hosted by Sarah Shimazaki, Aly Ferguson, and Neecole Bostick Sound edited by Jeff Alvarez A production of Resource Media Follow us on Instagram: @OutsideVoicesPodcast Learn more about Outside Voices RateThisPodcast.com/outsidevoices

As the daughter of Indigenous water rights advocates, Autumn Harry (@numu_wanderer) was able to establish a connection to water and fishing at a very young age. Since then, she's used her skills and knowledge to educate others on the history of Kooyooe Pa'a, or Pyramid Lake, as the first Numu Woman Flyfishing Guide in the U.S (@kooyooepaa_guides). She's also led advocacy work and mutual aid efforts for food and land sovereignty to help her community, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, thrive. Untangling is a three-part Outside Voices mini-series exploring our cultural connections to fishing, created in partnership with our friends at Take Me Fishing.  Resources: - Website of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe - Information about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) from Native Women's Wilderness - Pyramid Lake Fishing Guide: Be a Respectful Visitor by Autumn Harry Hosted and produced by Sarah Shimazaki Co-produced by Neecole Bostick Sound edited by Jeff Alvarez Album artwork by Ezra Manjarrez A production of Resource Media, with support from Pisces Foundation Follow us on Instagram: @OutsideVoicesPodcast Please support our podcast by leaving us a review: RateThisPodcast.com/outsidevoices

A descendant of Filipino plantation workers who immigrated to Hawai'i in the early 1900s, Brianne Lauro (@brianne_lauro) is the daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter of local fishers and hunters. In this second episode of “Untangling,” Brianne opens up for the first time about imposter syndrome and credits all she's learned as a fisher to her Uncle Lance. While Brianne herself is relatively new to fishing, she's learned that it's become a way to connect with her family history, build and take care of her community, and share culture and knowledge across generations. Untangling is a three-part Outside Voices mini-series exploring our cultural connections to fishing, created in partnership with our friends at Take Me Fishing.  Hosted and produced by Sarah Shimazaki Co-produced by Aly Ferguson Sound edited by Jeff Alvarez Album artwork by Ezra Manjarrez A production of Resource Media, with support from Pisces Foundation Follow us on Instagram: @OutsideVoicesPodcast Please support our podcast by leaving us a review: RateThisPodcast.com/outsidevoices

For the Gullah/Geechee people, fishing is culture. Everything comes back to "making a circle", shares Queen Quet, chieftess and head-of-state of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, from throwing a circular cast net out into the ocean, to bringing balance and harmony back to the natural environment, and passing down cultural traditions to the next generation. Tune in for a conversation between Host and Producer Sarah Shimazaki and Queen Quet! The Gullah/Geechee Nation encompasses over 100 sea islands along the Atlantic coast and about 30 miles inland. The Gullah/Geechee are descendents of enslaved people from West Africa and have largely been able to preserve their traditions, including fishing, which they depend on for their livelihood. October 22nd marks the Gullah/Geechee Seafood Festival. Bring family and friends to enjoy the Gullah/Geechee presentations, cuisine, and crafts along the shoreline at the Hunting Island Nature Center! Untangling is a three-part Outside Voices mini-series exploring our cultural connections to fishing, created in partnership with our friends at Take Me Fishing.  Hosted and produced by Sarah ShimazakiSound edited by Jeff Alvarez Album artwork by Ezra Manjarrez A production of Resource Media, with support from Pisces Foundation Follow us on Instagram: @OutsideVoicesPodcast Please support our podcast by leaving us a review: RateThisPodcast.com/outsidevoices

Full episode transcript available in our attempt to make this an accessible experience for all. In this episode hosted and co-produced by Neecole Bostick, we spoke with Cristina Eisenberg — the Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence and the Director of College Tribal Initiatives at the Oregon State University School of Forestry. As a professor of ecology and traditional ecological knowledge, Cristina brings a TEK lens to western science to enhance conservation efforts and create more sustainable ecosystems. Cristina tells her serendipitous journey to this way of knowing and understanding the natural world, introducing us to the beauty of having wolves in your backyard, sharing about intentional burning, and unearthing animals that went extinct during the last ice age.  You can find Cristina on twitter @Eisenbec.  Her books include:  The Carnivore Way: Coexisting with and Conserving North America's Predators The Wolf's Tooth: Keystone Predators, Trophic Cascades, and Biodiversity Click here to learn more about her and her work. Mentioned in this episode: Soot sprites from Spirited Away, Cristina's research with EarthWatch, and the 2022 TV show Outer Range.This episode was edited and mixed by our Sound editor, Jeff Alvarez.

In this episode hosted and co-produced by Neecole Bostick, we spoke with Cristina Eisenberg — the Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence and the Director of College Tribal Initiatives at the Oregon State University School of Forestry. As a professor of ecology and traditional ecological knowledge, Cristina brings a TEK lens to western science to enhance conservation efforts and create more sustainable ecosystems. Cristina tells her serendipitous journey to this way of knowing and understanding the natural world, introducing us to the beauty of having wolves in your backyard, sharing about intentional burning, and unearthing animals that went extinct during the last ice age. Hosted and co-produced by Neecole Bostick. Sound edited by Jeff Alvarez A production of Resource Media Follow us on Instagram: @OutsideVoicesPodcast RateThisPodcast.com/outsidevoices

In this episode hosted and co-produced by Aly Ferguson, we spoke with Xavier Boatright — an environmental justice organizer and researcher who currently holds the position of Strategic Partnerships Director at Conservation Voters of South Carolina (CVSC), where he works to strengthen the conservation and environmental movement in his home state of South Carolina. Xavier shares his experience growing up on a farm, getting drafted into and playing for the NFL, spending time organizing for disability justice after a football career-ending injury, and going up against Duke Energy with his community in an environmental justice success story. Featured in this episode: Xavier Boatright (he/him). You can find Xavier on Instagram @allaboardforjustice and support his work with CVSC. Hosted by Aly Ferguson Edited by Jeff Alvarez A production of Resource Media Follow us on Instagram: @OutsideVoicesPodcast Love this podcast? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe, so you never miss an episode! All resources can be found on our website

Coming off a traumatic year of increased anti-Asian hate and a seemingly never-ending pandemic, The Cosmos' co-founders Cassandra and Karen decided to create "Camp Cosmos." The intention was to facilitate safe spaces where Asian women could experience joy, community, and healing in nature.  Over the course of a month, Camp Cosmos participants went hiking, kayaking, and finally, camping. This episode highlights excerpts from their camping trip to Camp Rockaway at Fort Tilden, or Munsee Lenape lands. This episode is made in partnership with Merrell and supported in part by Endel.  Featured in this episode: Cassandra and Karen from The Cosmos, a home for Asian women to care for themselves, their community, their world. Hosted by Sarah Shimazaki Edited by Sarah Shimazaki A production of Resource Media

Host and producer Sarah Shimazaki travels to Orlando, Florida for her first time fishing on an all-women's fishing and glamping trip.    Interviews with: Ashley Nichole Lewis Cindy "Sid" Nguyen Jenny Anderson Stephanie Vatalaro This episode of Outside Voices is presented by Take Me Fishing.org, a trademark of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. 

Noami (she/her) grew up in the jungles of Trinidad, amidst howler monkeys and mud volcanoes. Since immigrating to the states at 17 years old, she's been steadily reclaiming her connection to nature and finding a sense of belonging. She also finds community through Diversify Vanlife, a digital platform Noami founded in response to the lack of representation of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the road travel community. In this episode, Noami shares childhood memories in Trinidad, early experiences with American "outdoorsy" culture, and how embracing nature helped Noami heal intergenerational trauma and reclaim her self-worth. "Belonging” features four individuals who identify as immigrants or first-generation, and shares stories about their personal and cultural connections to the outdoors. Launched between Canada Day (July 1st) and American Independence Day (July 4th), "Belonging" challenges and redefines notions of what it means to be “outdoorsy,” or “American,” or “Canadian," and celebrates everybody's right to find belonging outside. This miniseries is made in partnership with Merrell. Featured in this episode: Noami Grevemberg Hosted by Sarah Shimazaki Edited by Sarah Shimazaki & Jeff Alvarez A production of Resource Media Album artwork by Ezra Manjarrez

A self-described #AsianOutsider, Francis Mendoza (he/they/sila) seeks a sense of belonging in the outdoors for all through his work as a naturalist, environmental educator, and Justice, Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (JEDAI) consultant. Part of that is recognizing all the ways his family, who immigrated from the Philippines when Francis was five, is "outdoorsy": cooking adobo on road trips, rolling lumpia at family parties, and gathering all the cousins for a day at the local park. In this episode, Francis shares early memories, his intention to learn about his indigeneity and ancestry as he "redefines outdoorsy", and his commitment to sharing his love for nature with his two daughters. "Belonging” features four individuals who identify as immigrants or first-generation, and shares stories about their personal and cultural connections to the outdoors. Launched between Canada Day (July 1st) and American Independence Day (July 4th), "Belonging" challenges and redefines notions of what it means to be “outdoorsy,” or “American,” or “Canadian," and celebrates everybody's right to find belonging outside. This miniseries is made in partnership with Merrell. Featured in this episode: Francis Mendoza Hosted by Sarah Shimazaki Edited by Sarah Shimazaki & Jeff Alvarez A production of Resource Media Album artwork by Ezra Manjarrez

As the co-founder of Queer Nature, an organism that co-creates queer and trans community through multi-species kinship practices, Pınar Sinopoulos-Lloyd (they/them/o/pay) has thought deeply about their sense of belonging-- or rather, "belonging as resistance," which is Queer Nature's motto. As a trans, autistic, first-generation immigrant and Indigenous migrant, Pınar finds home through sharing and honoring cultural practices with their spouse, So. In this episode, they share reflections from their childhood in Turkey, lessons from the more-than-human world, and the importance of trans, queer, intersex Black and/or Indigenous people of color finding refuge with each other. "Belonging” features four individuals who identify as immigrants or first-generation, and shares stories about their personal and cultural connections to the outdoors. Launched between Canada Day (July 1st) and American Independence Day (July 4th), "Belonging" challenges and redefines notions of what it means to be “outdoorsy,” or “American,” or “Canadian," and celebrates everybody's right to find belonging outside. This miniseries is made in partnership with Merrell. Featured in this episode: Pınar Sinopoulos-Lloyd Hosted by Sarah Shimazaki Edited by Sarah Shimazaki & Jeff Alvarez A production of Resource Media Album artwork by Ezra Manjarrez

Growing up in a family of 12, Dr. Cristal Cisneros (she/her/ella) knew that her father's garden, which he stewarded through generational practices brought over from Mexico, wasn't just a hobby- it was a necessity. Those experiences propelled Cristal through her education, work, and personal journey of reclaiming her relationship to the outdoors. In this episode, she shares joyful memories of napping in the sunshine, running barefoot in the garden soil, and more recently, taking her dad skiing for his first time. As Cristal puts it, "if it brings you joy, you belong there." "Belonging” features four individuals who identify as immigrants or first-generation, and shares stories about their personal and cultural connections to the outdoors. Launched between Canada Day (July 1st) and American Independence Day (July 4th), "Belonging" challenges and redefines notions of what it means to be “outdoorsy,” or “American,” or “Canadian," and celebrates everybody's right to find belonging outside. This miniseries is made in partnership with Merrell. Featured in this episode: Dr. Cristal Cisneros. Hosted by Sarah Shimazaki. Edited by Sarah Shimazaki & Jeff Alvarez. A production of Resource Media. Album artwork by Ezra Manjarrez

In 1924, Mattie Landry started a camp and summer outdoor experience that would transform the lives of young Black girls in the San Antonio Eastside community: Camp Founder Girls. It's the country's first historically Black summer camp for girls. Angelica Holmes and the team from Black Outside, Inc. recently restarted the camp with the intention of building strong, brave, creative, and confident young campers. Listen to the story of that revitalization and hear from a family of two young girls and their mother, who share how Camp Founder Girls has positively impacted their lives. Hosted by CJ Goulding in partnership with The Avarna Group.

Listen in on a live (virtual) conversation at the 2021 No Man's Land Film Festival between Outside Voices host and producer Sarah Shimazaki and guest Laura Edmondson! We talk about Laura's childhood in the outdoors and how that cultivated a strong sense of place, her identity as a Black, mixed-race woman and transracial adoptee, plus insights into her work as a digital educator as well as her commitment to rest and slowing down. Get excited for more unscripted, unedited conversations on Outside Voices! You can find Laura Edmondson on Instagram @laura.edmondson. Be sure to check out her podcast: Let Us Rest.   

The transition from military service to civilian life is far from easy. Two Black veterans, Charm and Amine, were deeply impacted by their experiences finding community in nature and rebuilding a sense of self with the Sierra Club Military Outdoors (SCMO) program. In this episode, they share beloved childhood memories in Belize and Morocco, speak out about their complicated perspectives of the military, and share stories from their SCMO outings.

Outdoor Journal Tour is a haven, a space for those who identify as women to overcome mental and emotional mountains while climbing physical mountains. We talked with Michelle and Kenya about how this organization and its purpose align with their personalities, how it is needed even more in 2020, and about the intersectionality of being Black women in the outdoor industry. 

Chad, the founder of Soul River, shares his love for fly fishing and how he’s expanding that love to help youth experience nature through camping excursions with other military veterans. We chat about Chad’s childhood, as a descendant of one of the last Black cowboys in Texas, his experience in the military and how he’s navigating his subsequent PTSD, plus his thoughts around systemic racism in the Great Outdoors-- particularly following the police killing of George Floyd and the recent uprising for Black lives. This episode was hosted and co-produced by Tariq Rashid.

What does it look like when we prioritize healing for Black folks and invite them to reconnect to nature and the wisdom of their body? Dominique Cowling is a Black, queer femme and justice-oriented facilitator who offers 1:1 sessions for Black folks in the forest. Join us for a conversation with Dominique and breathe with us as she guides us through a mindfulness and body awareness practice. As her website says, “this is sacred time for us Black folks to be reminded of our wholeness and inherent radiance that is often disrupted by many forms of oppression, trauma and violence.”

Spending time outside isn't just about solitude and silence. At the Refuge Outdoor Festival, a 3-day camping experience outside of Seattle, WA, people of color and allies are invited to gather and build community. We chat with Chevon, the founder of Refuge, and also her parents who traveled all the way from Houston, Texas to camp for the first time. This episode is sponsored by REI. Stay tuned for a sneak peek into their newest initiative: Race and Pace

An avid climber, hiker and outdoor leader, Brittany’s (she/her) connection to nature is rooted in something deeper. The outdoors plays a huge role in helping her heal and move through grief and also in asserting her identity and finding her personal Black joy. This episode is sponsored by The North Face.

Confined behind barbed wire in their own country, nearly 120,000 Japanese were forced to adopt new ways of living to survive incarceration during World War II. One way they found solace was through building traditional Japanese gardens within the harsh concentration camp environment. Host and producer Sarah Shimazaki, a person of Japanese ancestry, narrates her experience revisiting Manzanar for the 50th annual pilgrimage. She digs deep to learn how inmates asserted and emphasized their Japanese identity in the gardens, precisely when they were being confined for that very identity. 

As People of the Global Majority (People of Color), what does it look like to heal our relationship to ourselves, to our planet and to each other? We’re exploring these questions and bringing you the magic and wisdom from the third annual People of the Global Majority in the Outdoors, Nature and Environment summit (PGM ONE).

Olivia (she/her) is a surfer and has built her life around the sport. She finds strength in her ancestry and in indigenous stories of connection to the ocean to affirm her existence as a Latina in the surfing community. Through her role at City Surf Project, she is passionate about sharing her love for the ocean with youth in Ohlone Territory (San Francisco).

Outside Voices Podcast is driven by one simple idea: that the outdoors belongs to all of us. We all have a relationship to nature, whether through hiking, gardening, surfing, sacred ceremony or picnicking at the local park. We aim to celebrate and amplify those who don’t always see themselves reflected in the “Great Outdoors” narrative. It's time we use our outside voices to redefine the outdoor narrative through personal storytelling.