Have you been censoring yourself? 🤔

If you've ever softened your language, felt imposter syndrome, or kept quiet when you had a message screaming inside of you, buckle up for a pep talk.

We're breaking down 5 common self-censorship blocks in adventure storytelling and how to break through them, including:

• “I don’t have a good ending yet.”
• “I’m afraid I’ll change my mind later.”
• "I need to soften my language first.”
• “I don’t think society is ready to talk about this.”
• “An expert could share this better than I can.”

Angie shares how our volunteer Trailblazers are using their voices for change, and offers experiments so you can practice what she calls "using your outside voice."

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• Ready to use your voice for the cause? Join us for Trailtober, an October trail challenge to spend more time outdoors while supporting other girls and women!

  
  

  https://www.classy.org/campaign/trailtober-2025/c718566

  
  

  Or, submit a personal essay for Field Notes, our episodes featuring your stories about how nature changed you. Email angie@cairnproject.org with your topic idea.

  
  

  Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

  
  

  You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:

  
  

  • ⁠Become a Trailblazer⁠.Get the storytelling and fundraising skills to make an impact on the sport you love.
  • Check out the ⁠Summit Scholarship Foundation⁠.
  • Share this episode with a friend or family member.

  
  

  Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Carlie’s running the Oregon Cascades 100 mile ultramarathon on August 23, 2025! Cheer her on (you might get your name on her race shoes) by supporting her fundraiser to get more girls and women outside: https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/6540872

Carlie Graham lives in Seattle, where she's pursuing a career in finance while staying deeply connected to the outdoors. Carlie led the climbing team at UC Irvine in Southern California and remains passionate about making outdoor recreation more financially and socially accessible through community based groups.

Angie and Carlie talk about:

• How athletic passions both fueled and healed mental health challenges growing up
• Challenges and wins of restructuring the UC Irvine Climbing Club
• Carlie’s biggest lessons in building an adventure-centered community
• A (failed) Fastest Known Time attempt of Pico De Orizaba’s Infinity Loop
• An experience with assault while seeking rock climbing mentorship
• New adventure fundraiser: The Oregon Cascades 100 miler
• Reciprocity in outdoor sports scholarships and volunteering

Mentioned in this episode:

• Carlie on Instagram

• Carlie's Adventure Fundraiser

• ⁠Become a Trailblazer like Carlie!⁠

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher

How do you juggle chronic illness, unconventional work, and personal adventure challenges?

Christine Reed, author of Alone in Wonderland, joined us to talk about body challenges on trail, behind the scenes of writing and sharing books, and her company, Rugged Outdoorswoman Publishing.

We talk about:

• Adventuring with POTS, a form of dysautonomia
• Self-publishing and the journey to writing a book
• Balancing adventure with business
• Publishing an anthology of stories: BLOOD SWEAT TEARS
• Realities of menstrual periods when on big adventures

Love adventure books like Christine's?

Grit Lit is our quarterly subscription box meets book club, celebrating women and adventure.

Members get a box every quarter full of woman-created goodies, including a nature-inspired book.

Interested in becoming a part of Grit Lit? Head to ⁠cairnproject.org/grit-lit⁠ to join and get the fall 2025 box, plus a welcome box! It’s a great gift for a friend, too.

More info:

• Grit Lit: https://cairnproject.org/grit-lit
• Christine on Instagram: https://www.ruggedoutdoorswoman.com/
• Rugged Outdoorswoman books and publishing: https://www.instagram.com/ruggedoutdoorswoman/

Like this episode? Leave a 5-star rating and review on your podcast app!

Make sure you subscribe to the See Her Outside Podcast so you don’t miss a story!

Brought to you by the Alliance for Gender Equity in Outdoor Adventure (GEA Alliance).

Hosted by Angie Marie Lake, edited by Alyson Castonguay, research assistance by Danielle Peecher