A Student of the Sea: Olivia VanDamme

This is the last episode of She Explores. In it, we say farewell, reflect on endings, and invite past guests of the show to share the lessons they’ve learned in the outdoors over the last few years. Through these women’s stories, we’re reminded how important it is to have the space we need to show up as ourselves when we’re spending time outside. Thank you to everyone who has touched the show over the years: the listeners, our guests, our collaborators, and our advertisers. It’s been an honor to hold your stories. READ THIS BLOG POST if you want to learn more about our decision, and what the team is up to next.Featured in this episode: Jaymie Shearer, Shon’t, Hiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe, Sydney Williams, Gabaccia, Gretchen Powers, Noël Russell, Hailey Hirst, Tori Duhaime.She Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale StraubVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesHiranya de Alwis Jayasinghe’s new album, Frangipani & Daisy ChainsGale’s website: GaleStraub.comFull Quote from Helen Bright, aka “Bright Wanderer” on endingsOur new book, Women and WaterWomen and Water, the AudiobookRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

Mugdha Flores is proof of where your passion for science and the natural world can take you. From playing in tide pools as a child in Southern India, to mapping the undiscovered corners of the ocean, to surveying salmon as they make their long journey to the Pacific. For Mugdha, all her exploration has resulted in a deeper connection with the environment, and herself.Mugdha is a marine biologist turned science communicator championing community engagement and finding joy in the outdoors.This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She ExploresFeatured in this episode: Mugdha FloresShe Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale StraubJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesMugdha FloresInstagram: @mugsie_bOrganizations and some subject matter mentioned on the episode:The Ocean Exploration Trust & Nautilus LiveMugdha’s Essay on She-Explores.com about her time aboard the E/V NautilusMore About the Study of Fish or Ichthyology Learn about Kochi, IndiaOur new book, Women and WaterRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

When Irene Marcoux was growing up and playing at her local pool, she didn’t dream of becoming a mermaid. She was a mermaid. Those early days of freedom and play were her gateway to a life in the water. And because she’s a big believer in the fact that every BODY can dive - Irene is all about helping others embrace their inner mermaid too.Irene is a safety focused mermaid with over 30 years of aquatics education experience, a PADI Course Director & PADI Freediving Instructor, a PADI Mermaid Instructor Trainer, a First Aid Instructor & Instructor Trainer, and a Certified lifeguard, National Lifeguard Instructor Trainer & Examiner. She’s also training for the 2024 synchonized swimming world championships.This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She ExploresFeatured in this episode: Irene MarcouxShe Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale StraubJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesIrene MarcouxInstagram: @irene_la_sireneWebsiteOur new book, Women and WaterRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

A life-changing rappelling accident lead Antoinette Lee Toscano to choose to live the life of outdoor adventure she’d always dreamed of. And since then, she’s dedicated herself to helping others make it easier to shape their lives for the better, too.Antoinette Lee Toscano is an outdoor industry consultant, writer, philanthropist, and motivational health and wellness speaker. In the Women & Water book, she shares how paddlesports have played a role in her ongoing healing for a Traumatic Brain Injury, spine injury, and PTSD.This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She ExploresFeatured in this episode: Antoinette Lee ToscanoShe Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale StraubSponsored by Danner Join the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesAntoinette Lee ToscanoInstagram: @antoinetteleetoscanoWebsite: AntoinetteToscano.comBlog: New Normal Big Life Our new book, Women and WaterMentioned in conversation:The American Adventure Sports ClubAdventureTVAntoinette’s Articles on Culturs MagDiversify Whitewater Rate this podcastRavel MediaSponsor LinksDanner: Learn more about the new Danner Mountain 600 hiking bootsMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

Olivia VanDamme’s hope is that one day, in her older years, she’ll be at the beach, covered in seaweed and still contributing to community science. Olivia has always felt comforted, alive, and happy in the ocean. And as an educator, poet, singer, environmentalist, surfer, and more – Olivia celebrates that in everything she does.On this episode, Olivia shares an original poem, “Tu Perteneces! Nadar Mija” which helps paint the picture of the role the ocean plays in her life – all while bursting with song and joy. We learn how Olivia straddles worlds by virtue of being herself, why she loves geography, how being an educator has informed her environmental life, and how we can all get involved in collecting data that helps shape the future of the lands and waters we recreate in.This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She ExploresFeatured in this episode: Olivia VanDammeShe Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale StraubJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesOlivia VanDammeInstagram: @olivialomasi & @livs.wavOur new book, Women and WaterMentioned in conversation:Seawitches ZineCalifornia Academy of SciencesPGMOneDina Gilio-WhitakerKrista ComerREU Summer Internship at Smithsonian Get involved with community science through the resources Olivia mentioned:iNaturalistCity Nature ChallengeSnapshot Cal CoastRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

Eden Elgeti is a wild and pool swimmer in the United Kingdom, and is featured in our new book, Women and Water. The first line in her profile is, “I often joke through winter that I’d be more than happy to not swim and just turn up for the post-swim coffee and cake.” Of course, she goes on to share that she has always swum when given the opportunity, and it’s taken her so many places, literally and figuratively. There’s something so beautiful about Eden’s relationship with the water. It’s her constant companion. There’s a lot that we admire about Eden - her ability to choose what’s right for her, and to keep checking in to make sure she’s still on the same page with herself. In this episode, we talk about how swimming shows up for her today (and vice versa), why she’s taken a break from her social media account “@thetransgenderswimmer” and the community she’s found swimming in London.This a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She ExploresFeatured in this episode: Eden ElgetiShe Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale StraubJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramSponsored by Danner BootsResourcesEden ElgetiWebsite: https://thetransgenderswimmer.co.ukOur new book, Women and WaterRegister for our Virtual Book Launch EventMentioned in conversation:Watch Eden, a short documentary filmSponsor linksDanner: Learn more about Danner Mountain 600: https://danner.com/mountain-600Rate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

Bonnie Tsui's book, Why We Swim, dropped at a time when we were all looking for guidance on how to move our bodies in ways that took us out of our heads and into our element. But its message is continuous. Why We Swim is a must-read whether you think of yourself as a swimmer or not. It takes you to the source of our innately human relationship with water and weaves together history, science, and her own personal story to propel us on the journey.We wanted to start this Women and Water series with my conversation with Bonnie because she is truly an expert on why we gravitate to the ocean, lakes, and other waterways that provide us with so much. Bonnie shares more about Why We Swim, her own start to swimming, how swimming helps us feel free, and so much more. This is the first in a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’re taking the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. You’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She ExploresFeatured in this episode: Bonnie TsuiShe Explores is Hosted & Produced by Gale StraubJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesBonnie TsuiBonnieTsui.comInstagram: @bonnietsui8Twitter: Why We Swim Bonnie’s childrens book: Sarah and the Big WaveOur new book, Women and WaterMentioned in conversation:Caroline PaulFlorence Williams’ The Nature FixRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing a series of interviews with some incredible humans who are featured in Women and Water - a new book from the team behind She Explores. We’ll take the conversation off the page and into their relationship with water today. And you’ll hear from swimmers, surfers, paddlers, fishers, and more. But today, we’re bringing you a special episode of Wild for Scotland, a show hosted by Kathi Kamleitner. It’s truly a piece of audio art, and it’s an ode to the wonder to be found beneath the water’s surface. She created it in collaboration with Fran Turauskis and musician Jen Austin.This episode inspired by Kathi’s time on a snorkeling residency on the Argyll coast in Scotland. A snorkeling residency sounds like an absolute dream - and Kathi’s experience resulted in beautiful, poetic reflections. Kathi’s audio poem within, titled Hope, was also commended by the Climate Creatives Challenge. If you enjoy this listen, we know you’ll love Wild for Scotland. It’s a show that’s known for its immersive storytelling, and while this episode is no exception - it’s particularly artful in its execution. Wild for Scotland is a welcome escape for anyone, whether they’ve been to Scotland, plan to travel there one day or are just looking for a relaxing armchair adventure.She Explores will be back next week with a brand new episode highlighting all things Women and Water.

Noami Grevemberg is a leader in the world of vanlife, and the founder of Diversify Vanlife, a platform that highlights less-heard voices in vanlife, road travel, and nomadic communities. It’s also a resource that helps break down barriers to accessing life on the road, a lifestyle that Noami and her husband Dustin embarked on in 2016.We chatted with Noami towards the end of 2022, when she was coming off a much-needed vacation after finishing her first book, Living the Vanlife: On the Road Toward Sustainability, Community, and Joy. It’s part memoir, part how-to guide, in which Noami shares the nitty gritty of their travels with candor, grace, and humor.The start of the book tells the story of how Noami immigrated to the US from Trinidad at just 16, and how she built a life for herself all on her own - from entering college at 25, to climbing the corporate ladder as an environmental scientist. All that hustle took its toll, and by her early 30’s Noami was ready for a change. While she wouldn’t have envisioned vanlife for herself when she flew to America as a teenager, it’s a life she was able to choose for herself. And it’s one that she wants others to be able to pursue too.This conversation with Noami is the perfect way to start a new year as we talk about resparking creativity after coming off a big project, realigning yourself with your values, what it took for her to create this book, and what aspiring vanlifers will gain from reading it when it’s available this summer.Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She ExploresFeatured in this episode: Noami GrevembergHosted & Produced by Gale StraubA production of Ravel MediaJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramResourcesFeatured in this episode: Noami GrevembergWebsite@irietoaurora on InstagramPlus Sized Outdoors YouTubePre-Order Living the VanlifePre-Order Women and WaterDiversify VanlifeWebsiteInstagramRate this podcastRavel MediaMusic is licensed via podcastmusic.com.

When writer Florence Williams’ 25-year marriage falls apart, it sets her on a journey to explore the science behind loneliness. Photographer Alexandra de Steiguer has spent the last quarter century spending her winters solo as a caretaker in the Isle of Shoals. With the help of these two creatives, we explore what spending time alone means for ourselves, our creativity, and our connections to the communities around us. This week, we're sharing an episode of Creative Fuel, a podcast that Gale's co-producing and more importantly - a show that we know you'll love.Enjoy listening? Rate & Review She ExploresFeatured in this episode: Florence Williams and Alexandra de SteiguerHosted & Produced by Gale StraubA production of Ravel MediaSponsored by DannerJoin the She Explores Podcast community on FacebookVisit She-Explores.com & Follow Us on InstagramHead over to CreativeFuelCollective.com for more creative inspiration, prompts, online workshops and a robust creative community.Creative Fuel is Hosted by Anna BronesCreative Fuel is Co-Produced by Anna Brones & Gale StraubTheme Music is by cleod9 musicFeaturing: Alexandra de Steiguer: Alexandra de Steiguer is a photographer, writer and musician who spends every winter as the caretaker of Star Island in the Isles of Shoals. Nine miles off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire, this rocky, windswept place provides great inspiration for her creative endeavors. She is drawn to the solitude and beauty of the deserted islands, and captures the environment in stunning black and white photographs, personally printed in her traditional darkroom. She is a two-time artist fellow of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the author of Small Island, Big Picture: Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to See.Links:Alexandra de SteiguerFlorence Williams: Florence Williams is a journalist, author, and podcaster. She is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine and a freelance writer for the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, The New York Review of Books, Slate, Mother Jones and numerous other publications. She is also the writer and host of two Gracie-Award-winning Audible Original series, Breasts Unbound and The Three-Day Effect, as well as Outside Magazine’s Double-X Factor podcast. Her public speaking includes keynotes at Google, the Smithsonian, the Seattle Zoo, the Aspen Ideas Festival and many other corporate, academic and nonprofit venues. She is also a fellow at the Center for Humans and Nature and a visiting scholar at George Washington University, her work focuses on the environment, health and science. Her books include The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative and Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey.Links: Florence WilliamsResources Mentioned & Places to Learn MoreHeartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence WilliamsThe Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence WilliamsBig Picture: Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to See by Alexandra de SteiguerLearn more about Alexandra’s time on Star Island in the short film Winter’s Watch and the documentary Wild\Life: the Quiet Island of Alexandra de SteiguerStar IslandHow Social Isolation, Loneliness Can Affect Heart Health, Cognitive AbilitiesProlonged Social Isolation and Loneliness are Equivalent to Smoking 15 Cigarettes a DayRestore Your Brain with Nature // David StrayerThe 3-Day Effect: How Nature Calms Your Brain audio seriesCan Solitude Make Your More Creative?The Science of Silence: How Solitude Enriches Creative Work