Seattle Outdoor Sister

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.

This is the 30th episode of Seattle Outdoor Sister. Annika took a 3 month break from recording, but is now excited to be recording again. In upcoming months she plans to interview more amazing, enthusiastic women about their experience in the outdoors. In this episode, Annika talks About the importance of exercise for mental and physical health. She also talks about it to triathlons and 190 mile bike ride she did this summer.

This is Episode 29 of Seattle Outdoor Sister. I talk about Seattle Cycling Sisters, a group I started 2.5 years ago. I have enjoyed leading rides and trips and hope to lead more in the future. I am looking forward to interviewing more people in this group, as well as others who love the outdoors. 

This episode is about continuing to confront fears related to biking at rush hour and at dusk. This month I have commuted downtown twice and biked in dusk through the intersection where I was hit in December 2014. I will continue to ride and confront my fears. 

This episode is about my experience on April 17, 2018 confronting my fear of cycling in the dusk/dark and through the intersection where I was hit in December 2014. I was inspired to do this by my experience riding in the dusk in Ghana with friends who calmed me down when I was upset and having flashbacks to the accident. Also, I realized I was going miles out of my way to avoid the intersection where I was hit. I am so proud of myself for confronting my cycling fears.

This episode is about the ART (Annika's Ride Together) Cycling Adventure from March 19-20, 2018. Annika and 4 friend rode from the Greater Accra area to Lake Volta. It was an amazing experience and she hopes to go back again to explore more of Ghana.  

This episode is a short interview with Andrea Becker. Andrea and I have gone on many outdoor adventures together. In this episode, Andrea talks about her experience as a child in the outdoors and why the outdoors is so important to her.  

This episode is about memories of my mom. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was two and passed away when I was 6. She was only 37 years old. It is hard not having a biological mother alive, but I am so grateful to my “adopted” moms, Ginny Burton and Brenda Higa.

This episode is about Annika's experience at the Orcas Island 25k in January 2013. This was one of the hardest races she has ever done. It was also one of the most enjoyable because there were a dozen women from the High Heel Running Group (HHRG) participating and cheering.

 This episode is about why I love running so much. I talk about how I first started running when I was 15. I hope to inspire others to run and exercise, as well as appreciate the outdoors and the environment.  

This is Annika's first interview of many more to come. She interviews Barb Pullar about her experience in the outdoors and why cycling is important to her. She met Annika through the Seattle Cycling Sisters facebook group. They have gone on many cycling rides together and look forward to many more in the future!  

This podcast is an introduction to Annika's experiences bicycle touring between 1990 and 2015. She loves the freedom and adventure of bicycle touring. She hopes to go on many more tours in the weeks, months, and years to come!  

This podcast is about Annika’s experience with the Cycle the Wave Ride in 2014, 2016, and 2017. The all women’s bicycle ride is a fundraiser for the Women Against Violence Everywhere foundation that was started in 2000. The ride includes 4 different distances, ranging from about 15 to 60 miles. The next ride will be September 16, 2018.  The past two years, Annika has organized a team, ranging from 3 to 6 people, to participate. Her team is “Seattle Cycling Sisters”, also the name of her Facebook cycling group. Her goal in 2018 is to have 10 to 12 people on her team and race at least $6,000!  After listening, please provide a rating and review. Thanks so much for listening!

This episode is about my love for swimming

I have been doing half marathons for 25 years. I love the half marathon distance and have participated in about 50 half marathons. I hope that I can inspire others to challenge themselves both physically and mentally.

This episode is about my first brick workout of 2017. I rode 32 miles with three women from Seattle Cycling Sisters and then I ran 6 miles. 

This episode is about my experience at the Emerald City ride with a friend and memories of my mom and dad.