Black in Wild the Podcast

The outdoors was never supposed to feel exclusive, but for many Black and Brown families, it still does. Today’s episode features Sally Steele, one half of the founders of the non-profit Outdoorithm Collective and Outdoorithm.com. Outdoorithm focuses on getting black and brown families outside for memorable experiences while spending quality time in nature reconnecting with one another while disconnecting from everyday life. Outdoorithm collective is about bringing families together for organized group trips to public lands. Whereas outdoorithm.com helps families find resources and information to plan trips to public lands in one place rather having to comb through the various sites online. The goal is to make public lands actually feel usable, welcoming, and safe. We dive into Sally’s backstory on how she herself became acquainted with spending time outdoors after having grown up in a military family with little exposure to nature. From being introduced to hiking in college and that becoming a staple in her and her family’s life. Sally shares how each turn, from moving multiple times to changing jobs, led her to find her mission of turning her and her husband Justin’s trial and errors while recreating outdoors into tools to share with other first time and underrepresented campers. Including everything from navigating reservation systems, vibe scores for locations, and practical tips for families when preparing for outdoor adventures. She breaks down why “camp as it comes” matters, how to make the outdoors accessible for kids, and why comfort is not the opposite of authenticity. In this conversation we unpack the real barriers to making the outdoors accessible for POC’s  and how those barriers are connected to logistics. All of which Outdoorithm and outdoor rhythm collective are focusing on to help people reconnect with land, family, rest, and confidence on their own terms. This episode is for anyone whose ever wondered about whether the outdoors is for them, if you’re a parent trying to camp with kids, and/or if you want a more welcoming way to explore public lands without all of the guesswork. Sally reminded us that the outdoors is public land, it belongs to all of us, and you get to show up on your own terms. You don't need the perfect gear or a certain look. You can start with a 30-minute walk close to home and see how it feels.To plan your own trip, visit outdoorithm.com. To join a community trip, go to outdoorithmcollective.org. You can also find them on Instagram at outdoor rhythm. Sally's Instagram DMs are open if you have questions. @Outdoorithm on instagramThanks for listening to Black and Wild! If this episode meant something to you, share it with someone who's outdoor curious, and leave us a review. The Black in Wild website has blogs where I reflect on my adventures and lessons learned and the Instagram includes complimentary content to the episodes as well as news and updates. Get outside, and camp as it comes.

Today’s episode features a new friend of mine, Victor! Victor is currently pursuing his masters in Chicano studies at CSUN, is an employee of the grass-roots nonprofit organization Mono Lake Committee, a photographer, and is a self proclaimed social scientist that is researching the connection between environmentalism and POC communities. Because the outdoors was never just “white people shit.” In this conversation we unpack what it means to reconnect with the land, water, and environmental stewardship, while making these topics accessible for people of all ages. Victor shares about how a week at the Mono Basin Outdoor Education center enhanced his understanding of where LA gets their water, and how impactful it was for him to see a Colombian guide in the mountains. We begin with Victor’s upbringing and then dive into representation outdoors, decolonizing outdoor spaces, and who gets to be seen as leaders in environmental work. His perspective brings both urgency and hope. This was a fun conversation for me. I really enjoyed getting to know you better and learning about the amazing work you are doing to highlight the connection non-white people have with nature. One take away I have from this conversation is that even though many Americans are limited by the effects of colonialism on how we are able to connect with nature, we unpack the question of how do we participate more consciously, support Indigenous leadership, and still keep showing up for the land? It is a question that will continue to be in the back of my mind. This conversation helped me think about how I care about the environment, Chicano identity, and what it really looks like to decolonize how we move through the world. Be sure to check out the short film that Victor worked on called "Heat in the Barrio". It is available on Youtube. Follow him on Instagram @payasito26.If you’d like some supplemental content in addition to the podcast episodes, follow on the podcast’s Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @black.in.wild. For behind the scenes information and updates, sign up for the Black in Wild Substack newsletter at blackinwild.com. Please reach out with any ideas on topics of guests you’d like to see featured in the future. Currently, working on recording episodes for season 4!

Today’s episode features my fellow Piscean and Columbus, Ohio born and raised, Nate Pierce. A climber, a snowboarder, and honestly an all around tremendously talented human. I first came across Nate’s instagram when I first moved to Mammoth back in 2019 and immediately felt drawn to his page because he was a black climber spending time in places I also recreate in. In this discussion we explore how Nate got into climbing and snowboarding, as well as the other creative outlets he partakes in such as film, painting, and writing among other things. We touch on the importance of stewardship outdoors and pushing beyond fears to explore new experiences.Nate! Thank you so much for being a guest on Black in Wild! It was really cool for me to get to know you better after having followed along with your journey all these years. I’m inspired by your grit and tenacity as well as the ways you express yourself through different mediums. I felt especially connected to the ways you describe the feelings you get when you spend time in nature and the need to let out all of the thoughts running through your head regularly. As those sentiments are similar to why I have chosen to live where I do and participate in the activities that involve being outdoors. Keep representing and showing up as your unapologetic self.Be sure to check out Nate’s silent film Sleeping in Silence and follow along on his instagram @noapproachnate.Visit blackinwild.com for all things Black in Wild and subscribe to the newsletter for behind the scenes updates and information! Follow on YouTube, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Facebook.Note: The opinions and perspectives represented in this episode and on this podcast are not representative of any business, agency, or organization.

This episode features another friend I’ve known since the beginning of my Yosemite days, Jennifer Nunez. During this conversation me and Jennifer discuss the transformative experiences she had while spending time outdoors with family and friends from a young age both in Mexico and the U.S. We go into how her journey led her to pursue her education and a career in organic farming. Throughout this conversation we discuss the importance of mental and physical health as well as the community you contribute to. If you have ever experienced discrimination while outdoors, and/or have a passion or interest in organic farming then this episode will speak to you! Jen! Thank you so much for being a guest on Black in Wild the Podcast! Your story is a reminder of the positive and negative experiences black and brown people have while being outdoors. I’m thankful that you chose to use what you’ve learned to not only better yourself but also your community. One of the takeaways I have from our conversation is that spending time in nature isn’t new to POC, we are simply returning back to our roots. Jen has since had her baby. Congratulations to her and her partner!Be sure to visit blackinwild.com for all things Black in Wild! And sign up for the Black in Wild substack to stay up to date on behind the scenes information you won’t find anywhere else!

This is the first episode of season 3! Welcome back to all of my listeners and hello to those tuning in for the first time. This episode features my friend Anna Natal whom I’ve known since my first season in Yosemite back in 2017. During this conversation Anna shares about the rough childhood she endured where she was forced to grow up quickly while living in the hood, to her experience moving to Yosemite and traveling, and describing what the journey has been like to eventually becoming a National Park Service Interpretive Ranger in Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park today. Her story is inspiring because it touches on finding beauty in life even after hardships. And that it’s never too late to choose a different path for yourself. If you’ve ever been curious about untraditional pathways into an NPS career and/or come from a challenging past, then Anna’s story will resonate with you.Anna! Thank you so much for being a guest on Black in Wild the Podcast! The more I heard about your story the more I realized how much more we have in common that I knew otherwise. What stands out to me from your story is resilience, chosen family, and fresh starts. Out of everything you’ve been through you had every excuse to give up and yet you kept choosing to keep going. And that although you didn’t experience much positive encouragement growing up, what helped you along the way was the chosen family you developed over time. People who didn’t owe you anything but saw something in you and believed that you could achieve great things. As well as deserved to! Lastly, you’ve started over more times that I can count yet choose to make the most out of every situation. You’re a great example of creating your own community and being the change you want to see. I’m so proud of all that you’ve accomplished! Can’t wait to see what else you do and where you go! Thanks for representing the green and gray!*Note: the opinions and perspectives represented in this podcast are not representative of any agency, organization, business, or company.Be sure to visit blackinwild.com for all things Black in Wild! Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter to stay up to date. Episodes will be posted bi-weekly!

Coming to y’all today with just a quick update on upcoming content releases so you know what to expect and what to look for. I'd love to hear from my listeners about what topics or themes you'd like to see me discuss in Season 3 as well as guests you recommend I interview :)TLDR:No new episodes until Monday, September 7th at 5pmNew logo coming soon!Sign up for the Black in Wild newsletter/email list for updatesFollow Black in Wild on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, and/or Tik Tok for regular contentVisit blackinwild.com for blogs, vlogs, and more!

This is the final episode of season 2! In this episode I chat with my friend Rizalyn whom I met 3 years ago at a BIPOC retreat. Ever since then I have been following along on her journey with plants. Rizalyn is studying horticulture right now but this was not always a clear path for her. Listen in to learn about Rizalyn’s first experiences from a young age connecting with plants in her family garden with her grandpa, to all kinds of varying plant related jobs and internships that have all contributed to the direction she continues to head in. For all of my plant nerds, green thumbs, and gardening heads this one’s for you! I do want to add in a quick note that ya girl was having almost every kind of technical issue during this recording but Rizalyn is so graceful and on point through it all. So just focus on her. Let’s get into the episode!Rizalyn! Thank you so much for being a guest on Black in Wild the Podcast! It was so fun getting to know you better and hear about your journey with plants. Talking about your childhood reminded me so much of playing outside as a child and feeling like my backyard was its own little world. Your story is a reminder that taking an unconventional path that isn’t linear is okay. Because it's not just about the destination but the journey along the way. And it seems like no matter where all of the opportunities you’ve experienced have taken you, it has all led you to where you are today. Keep shining and sharing that infectious enthusiasm!To check out Rizalyn’s artwork you can support her work on etsy at rizalynart and stay tuned on what she creates on her instagram at rizalynisbotanicals. As always, be sure to visit blackinwild.com to read my latest blogs, watch my previous vlogs, and listen to all of the episodes from season 1 and 2. I’ve got some great things cooking so you won’t want to miss out on how the Black in Wild community will be expanding. Thanks again for listening! Support this black educated queen by liking, subscribing, and sharing!

I’m back with an episode just in time to celebrate Juneteenth! In this episode I feature my friend and supposed doppleganger, Jameisha. Both Jamiesha and I moved to the Eastern Sierra in 2019 and have worked for federal land management agencies. Being that there isn’t much diversity in this area, we have been and continue to be mistaken for each other even after all of these years. Jamiesha is one badass lady! She is a self proclaimed tomboy who enjoys a variety of ways to move her body such as pilates, climbing, hiking/backpacking, skiing, and more. In this episode we talk about what it's like being a black woman living in rural/remote areas, the pressure placed on us from stereotypes, and ways we’ve learned to navigate a world that thinks they know how to define us by our appearance. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the idea that you have to accept the cultural narrative of an activity to be welcomed, then you’ll enjoy this conversation. Jameisha! Thank you for being a guest on Black in Wild the podcast and for sharing your story! I hope that people can now tell we are not the same person, not even related lol. But for real, this conversation was extremely healing for me. I’ve always felt inspired knowing that you existed in similar spaces I’ve been in and to watch your journey more closely as your friend. I’m thankful that the universe finally brought us together so we can represent in wild spaces together taking up space melanin skin and all. So many themes we touched on in our conversation is why I created the podcast and why representation matters.If you’d like to follow along with Jamiesha’s pilates journey be sure to follow her instagram account @move.with.jam. And don’t forget to visit the Black in Wild website at blackinwild.com where you can find all of the episodes from the podcast, blogs, and vlogs! And there is an option to connect with me using the contact form to share feedback, suggest guests and or themes/voices that are missing.New episode out in two weeks! Episodes are released bi-weekly! Thanks for checking out this episode!*Note: Opinions in this episode and on this podcast are not representative of any agency, organization, or business.*

In this episode I interview my brother from another, Martin. I first met Martin outside of Glacier National Park in 2020 through my sibling who was living in Montana at the time. Martin has always inspired me by the way he is unapologetically himself. When he sets his mind to something he sees it through. There doesn’t seem to be an adventure too big for him. It’s been awesome to see a Latino man participating in activities and living in places where brown voices are not usually advertised. This episode is a great reminder that it’s never too late to start over. Listen in to hear about Martin’s journey from growing up in another country to living in some of the most remote/rural places in the United States.Martin! Thank you so much for being a guest on black in Wild! It was a pleasure getting to know you better. It was fun to reminisce on both of our experiences being POC’s living in National Parks. Our conversation reminded me that community can be found even in the most unlikely of places if you’re willing to say yes. I’m so proud of the man you’ve become and can’t wait to see what other adventures you get up to. Be sure to check out BlackInWild.com for all things black in Wild. I have a new blog post up where I share about my journey to hiking upper Yosemite falls. And be on the look out for a new vlog coming soon. If you have ideas of stories that are missing on this show or people I should feature please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can send me a message through the website under contact me. Happy pride month! Although I do not have any pride themed discussions this month, just know I’m sending love to my queer community.*Note: the opinions and perspectives on this podcast are not representative of any agency, business, company or organization.

We're back after a short and unexpected hiatus! In this episode I chat with my friend Hannah Ashby about the lessons she's learned along the way in the outdoors both professionally and recreationally. Hannah is a climber, outdoor enthusiast, a guide, and a naturalist. Listen in to hear about her experience in outdoor spaces as a a queer woman of color. This conversation will leave you feeling inspired to be a kinder human both to yourself and others. As well as being reminder to not only enjoy those big adventures but also the little moments too.Thanks Hannah for being an awesome badass human and sharing your story on Black in Wild! Keep doing the good work!Be sure to check out blackinwild.com for all things Black in Wild!New episode bi-weekly!*Note the opinions and perspectives featured on this podcast are not representative of any agency, organization, or business.