This episode is the final episode of Season 1. In it, Mark and Madelaine reflect on the most meaningful lessons learned and share their plans for the future. 

Some of those lessons include:

• Why community is so important in the outdoors - both in the connection you can have with other people as well as the cause you care so much about. 

• How the outdoors can be great for both personal growth and discovery, and overall mental health. 

• Why incorporating diverse voices and experiences in the outdoors matters

• There are many unique and innovative products and services being created right now for people who want to enjoy and get the benefits out of the outdoors. 

Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review The Wild We Share, and stay tuned in the next few months for more information on Season 2! 

Gear That Fits Us: Charlotte Massey on Inclusion and Innovation in the Outdoors

Bridging Worlds: Carmela Montenegro on how DEI Deepens Our Connection to the Outdoors

Rolling Up Our Sleeves: Sarah Nelson on Making River Conservation Fun and Community-Driven

Unearthing Urban Wilderness: Fostering City Connections to the Outdoors with Kay Rodriguez

Hiking My Feelings: The Ultimate Healer with Sydney Williams

The Path to Belonging: Tami Jo Benson's Quest to Empower & Connect Women in the Outdoors

Mountain Peaks to City Streets: Thru-Hiking Adventures with Liz Thomas

Outdoors for All Ages: Jessica Carrillo Alatorre's Vision with OutGrown

Bringing Nature Home: A Bewildering Journey with Yvonne Leow

In this inspiring episode of The Wild We Share, we're joined by Yvonne Leow, the visionary founder of Bewilder. Yvonne shares her transformative journey from a non-outdoorsy background to creating a unique outdoor education company that brings the essence of nature to urban environments.

Her story begins in Washington state and leads to remarkable adventures, from backpacking in the Eastern Sierra to climbing Aconcagua.

Yvonne's vision with Bewilder is to make nature accessible and appealing, particularly in urban settings.

She highlights how Bewilder began as a newsletter catering to beginner campers and backpackers and then shifted focus towards families, driven by the pandemic's challenges and opportunities.

Yvonne's pivot to family-oriented outdoor experiences led to the creation of Bewilder Base Camp, a concept that transforms urban spaces into pop-up campgrounds, igniting the imaginations of children and their parents alike.

Throughout the conversation, Yvonne reflects on the lessons learned from her entrepreneurial journey, the importance of mentors, and the personal growth she experienced.

Her commitment to redefining what it means to be outdoorsy is evident as she discusses creating experiences that bridge the gap between the concrete jungle and the wild, making nature a part of everyday urban life.

Yvonne's story is a testament to the power of nature to inspire, rejuvenate, and connect us. Her work with Bewilder exemplifies how innovative thinking can make the outdoors more inclusive and accessible, encouraging more families to explore and appreciate the natural world around them.

Join us as we dive into this conversation with Yvonne, learning about the intersection of nature, entrepreneurship, and the quest to bring the outdoors into our urban lives.

Connect with Bewilder and Yvonne

• Bewilder Website
• Follow Bewilder on social media: @bewilder_camp
• Reach out to Yvonne: yvonne@bewilder.camp

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review The Wild We Share for more stories and insights on connecting with nature and each other. Stay tuned for our next episode!

In this episode, we are joined by the passionate Jessica Carrillo Alatorre, Executive Director of OutGrown. Jessica's journey with OutGrown began in 2014 with a simple new moms hike, but it quickly transformed into a mission to make the outdoors a welcoming, accessible space for families of all backgrounds. Raised on the beautiful Oregon coast, her life has been deeply intertwined with the great outdoors, and her dedication to building a future where the term "outdoorsy" isn't restricted to one definition is truly inspiring.

Diving into the essence of the conversation, we explore:

• The origins and mission of OutGrown.

• The transformative power of community for new parents.

• The myriad benefits of introducing babies and kids to nature.

• How immersing in the outdoors can be a healing journey, especially combating the "baby blues" and postpartum challenges.

• Embracing failures in outdoor excursions and learning from them.

Jessica’s personal favorite hikes often lead to enchanting waterfalls and mesmerizing wildflowers, epitomizing the joy and beauty of nature. Being a part of a multi-generational household, her stories reflect the importance of raising a generation to appreciate and love the wilderness.

Connect with OutGrown and Jessica:

• OutGrown Website

• @WeAreOutGrown on all social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube)

• Email Jessica directly: jessica@weareoutgrown.org

• Don't miss their upcoming "Hike and Seek" event! More details on their website.

Let’s foster a community outdoors and gift the next generation the joy of nature!

Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review The Wild We Share, and stay tuned for more conversations on connecting with nature and each other, right here on The Wild We Share.

In this episode we welcome Liz Thomas. Liz is hailed as a "thru-hiking legend" by Outside Magazine, and holds the women’s self-supported speed record for the 2,181-mile-long Appalachian Trail.

Besides completing over 20 long-distance trails, including the iconic Triple Crown, Liz has pioneered urban thru-hikes across 14 cities, earning her the title “The Queen of Urban Hiking” by The Guardian. 

A former New York Times/Wirecutter writer, she's now the Editor-in-Chief of Treeline Review and a contributing editor at Backpacker Magazine.

Liz is also the author of the award-winning book "Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike." She has been featured on platforms from Good Morning America to The Wall Street Journal. 

In this episode, we:

• Discover the wonders of urban thru-hiking

• Explore the misconceptions of traditional thru-hiking

• Learn how traditional media can amplify more diverse voices

• Discuss the importance of seeing people who look like us in the outdoors.

Connect with Liz at www.eathomas.com or on instagram @lizthomashiking

Thanks for joining us for this episode and discovering the wonders of thru-hiking both in the traditional and urban senses.

Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review The Wild We Share, and stay tuned for more conversations on connecting with nature and each other, right here on The Wild We Share.

In this episode we welcome Tami Jo Benson. She is the Founder of Outspring, a discovery platform of outdoor brands for and by women.

In our conversation, we:

• explore women-led outdoor brands and Outspring & Swell's impact
• define true outdoor accessibility and women's belonging in nature
• delve into fostering women's outdoor inclusion and empowerment
• discuss supportive communities and the power of shared outdoor experiences

Through Outspring, Tami Jo is gathering outdoorsy women in Ogden, UT between September 15th and 17th at their first annual event called Swell!

Swell is a camping weekend in the company of like-minded women with hands-on workshops, fun activities, and a marketplace of women-forward outdoor brands.

Helpful links:

Tami Jo Benson:

- LinkedIn

- Instagram

Outspring & Swell

- Website

- Instagram

- Learn More & Buy Tickets for Swell 23

Thanks for joining us for this episode and discovering the wonders of women-forward solutions and shared outdoor experiences.

Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review The Wild We Share, and stay tuned for more conversations on connecting with nature and each other, right here on The Wild We Share.

In this episode, we welcome Sydney Williams, author of Hiking My Feelings. Her organization - of the same name - introduces people to the healing power of nature through programs in advocacy and education. 

Hiking My Feelings gives people a way to use hiking and nature to process feelings, thoughts, ideas, and traumas.

In our episode, we:

• Examine why hiking is the perfect way to process the big and little feelings
• Identify how to find cathartic experiences while hiking
• Delve into where folks can start their healing journey through nature
• Look at why it’s important to trust yourself

Helpful Links

Hiking My Feelings:

- LinkedIn

- Instagram

Sydney Williams:

- LinkedIn

- Instagram

Thanks for joining us for this episode and discovering the wonders and natural healing powers of the outdoors.

Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review The Wild We Share, and stay tuned for more conversations on connecting with nature and each other, right here on The Wild We Share.

How do you address a need for people to connect with others through the outdoors in urban areas? Kay Rodriguez, the Founder & CEO of Outerly is building an app that sits at the intersection of nature, community, and mental health - all with the aim of making the outdoors a social space. 

Outerly is currently in beta and is operating in the Washington, DC market with plans to expand to 15-20 major cities by the end of 2024. 

In our conversation, we dive into why Kay started Outerly and why it’s important.

Show Highlights:

0:37 - Introduce what Outerly is about

1:51 - Introduction to Kay and why she started Outerly

7:47 - The mental health benefits of getting outdoors. 

14:55 - How Outerly is preventative mental health

16:00 - Kay gives some advice on how to start small in incorporating outdoor time into your life. 

20:43 - What is the grand vision for Outerly? What’s next? 

23:20 - Kay shares some insightful stats on how people currently experience the outdoors

26:36 - Kay shares an inspiring story of someone who has been impacted by the work Outerly is doing

31:50 - What do we need to give people to enable them to experience the mental health benefits of the outdoors? 

33:20 - How listeners can support Outerly

Connect With Kay

Outerly Website - (currently live in Washington DC but can join a waitlist for other major metros)

Kay's LinkedIn

Outerly's LinkedIn

letsgetouterly - on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

Thanks for joining us for this episode and discovering the wonders of the urban outdoors with us.

Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review The Wild We Share, and stay tuned for more conversations on connecting with nature and each other, right here on The Wild We Share.

In this episode, we're excited to bring you a conversation with Sarah Nelson, Founder and Executive Director of Protect Our Rivers, a nonprofit that prioritizes river conservation through river clean-ups and education.

Sarah provides insights into her motivations for starting Protect Our Rivers and why community plays an indispensable role in all their initiatives. She discusses the organization's upcoming river cleanup events and how they turn an otherwise challenging task into a fun and engaging experience for everyone involved.

Throughout our chat, Sarah underscores the idea that river conservation is not just about cleaning up – it's about building a community that cares about rivers. Whether you're new to river conservation or looking for ways to get more involved, this episode will provide practical advice and plenty of inspiration.

Show Highlights

1:01 - Introduction to Sarah

1:29 - Why Protect Our Rivers was founded

4:31 - The transformative impact rivers have had on Sarah.

5:17 - River clean-ups: what they look like

9:42 - Sarah discusses ways we can reduce pollution, including the mindset shift it requires, and what can happen when a community comes together. 

17:22 - Sarah shares a couple of inspiring stories of people who have participated in river clean-ups 

20:51 - What kids can teach us about river clean-ups 

23:14 - How individuals, groups, and businesses support Protect Our Rivers

31:10 - Mark and Madelaine share their connection to why rivers and the outdoors are so important to them

35:54 - Let’s all participate and find ways to support a river clean-up or educate others on river conservation.

Connect with Sarah Nelson:

Protect Our Rivers website

Instagram: @protectourrivers_org

Facebook

LinkedIn

As we wrap up our conversation, we invite you to reflect on your own potential to make a difference.

By subscribing to our podcast, leaving a review, and sharing this episode with your community, you can help raise awareness about river conservation and encourage more people to join in our collective effort to protect our planet in fun and accessible ways.