Here's why everyone should care about The EXPLORE Act

Alex is a youth educator, community organizer and land steward that was born and raised on unceded Shawnee and Cherokee land also known as Louisville, Kentucky. Being the direct descendants of enslaved people, Alex grew up hearing stories shared by his Gana about his Great Granddaddy’s connection to the land, both forcibly and voluntarily. Now as a Youth Development Program Manager on Muwekma Land/Berkeley and the Founder of Black Trans Masc Collective on Huichin Land/ Oakland, Alex is cultivating ways to break down barriers for marginalized people in every facet of his life to bring collective joy and meaningful connection to all who cross his path.

We are excited to welcome Sally Steele from Outdoorithm to Joy Outside. ​Sally is what happens when acquired knowledge meets brilliance, compassion, and deep intention. Her vocation extends beyond education and into the sacred work of community-to-nature-to-person connection. Working at the intersection of nature and spirituality, Sally centers regenerative healing practices that honor both the Earth and the body.In this episode, we unpack the often unseen forces that shape our relationship with the outdoors, who feels invited in, who feels excluded, and why. From the loss of intergenerational connections to land, to the rise of commercialization in outdoor recreation, to camping systems that increasingly privilege those with time, resources, and digital access, this conversation challenges dominant ideas of accessibility and belonging.Sally Steele is a tech founder, nonprofit leader, and ordained minister working at the intersection of community, nature, and spirituality. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Outdoorithm, a tech platform that democratizes access to public lands, and its sister nonprofit, Outdoorithm Collective, which helps families flourish in nature through community and immersive experiences. Sally is an REI Path Ahead Ventures Embark Program alum and a Louisville Institute grantee exploring the connection between nature and spirituality. Previously, she served as Co-Executive Director of City Hope in San Francisco. Sally lives in Oakland with her husband and four daughters.

We’re excited to welcome Mayra Pelagio & Nanci Torres to the podcast Mayra Pelagio is the founder of Ignite Community Connections, where she works as a consultant, coach, and yoga instructor dedicated to strengthening connections to self, community, and nature. Through organizational consulting, leadership coaching, and embodied practices, she supports individuals and teams in living and leading with greater alignment, connection, and purpose. Her work centers on purposeful living, collective well-being, and equitable collaboration, helping people reconnect to what matters most and move forward with intention.Nanci is a rising sustainability professional who loves to spend time outdoors. Before entering the sustainability field, Nanci worked in the non-profit sector, conducting environmental education, and spent two years working as an environmental science educator in Yosemite National Park. During her time, she had the opportunity to work on the Zero Landfill Initiative project, exposing her to the idea of sustainability. Nanci joined TreePeople, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles County, as the Waste Management Youth Leadership coordinator. In this role, she supported middle and high schools across the county in adopting waste management systems, integrating community gardens, and raising awareness of sustainability issues.Together, they remind us that building a more sustainable and equitable world begins with how we connect to each other, and the environment.Tune in to hear their stories, insights, and what it really takes to move with purpose.

Born in Yemen and raised in the Central Valley of California, Noor Qwfan works in corporate social responsibility and is the creator of Noor's Nook (@noors_nook), an expressive outlet for her creative tendencies. She is also the creator and host of the Muslim Girl Podcast (@thismuslimgirlpodcast), a platform started in 2017 to amplify the voices of Muslim women and their experiences. In addition to her professional endeavors, Noor sits on the board of directors for the American Red Cross and currently serves as the chair of the philanthropy committee. In her spare time, Noor loves to travel and explore, hike in the great outdoors, and spend quality time with loved ones.

Sanjana Sekhar is a South Indian-American author, narrative strategist, political educator, and filmmaker. With an eye to strategic communication and systems-thinking storytelling, her work crafts "thrutopian" stories aimed at making climate action the hottest place to be. Lensed with climate justice, pleasure politics, and futurism, Sanjana's focus is on reclaiming and healing extractive narratives to instead build a healthy human future on Earth. She’s been featured in the Hollywood Climate Summit, Tedx Climate AcrosstheAmericas, and the Webby Honorees, and she’s worked with organizations such as the Center for Cultural Power, Visit California, and The Washington Post.

Tune into another episode of Joy Outside with Justice Outside's Communications and Advocacy Coordinator Rachida Mahamed, and Director of Movement Building & Advocacy, Sierra Mathias! Jeremy Orr serves as the director of litigation and advocacy partnerships at Earthjustice. In this role, he helps Earthjustice’s offices, programs, and departments build strategies to deeply engage and genuinely partner with communities and other stakeholders. Prior to joining Earthjustice, Jeremy served as a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council where he focused on drinking water and source water protection issues, working to ensure that all people have access to safe, sufficient, and affordable drinking water.

Joining us this week for another episode of Joy Outside is Evelynn Escobar (@evelynnworld) From the founding of @hikeclerb to centering your community, Evelynn takes us on a journey of self-discovery and purpose-driven work. You don’t want to miss it! 🌱

Joining us this week is Comedian, Flyfisher, and Wildlife Biologist Eeland Stribling!Get ready for an episode filled with laughter and healing! Tune in to hear Eeland share his unique perspective on the outdoors, comedy, and everything in between. You won't want to miss it

Kicking of the second season of Joy Outside is special guest Tykee James. Based in Denver, Colorado, Tykee is an avid birdwatcher and environmental justice advocate. Tune in to hear about his love for the outdoors, misconceptions about bird watching, the EXPLORE Act, and one of the most controversial hot takes we’ve ever heard!

We speak with LaTresse Snead, founder and CEO of Bonsai Leadership Group. She shares her insight into how environmental nonprofits can support and retain Black, Indigenous, and Leadership of Color, and speaks to her work empowering young Black, Indigenous, and environmental practitioners of color in the sector. LaTresse mentioned Dr. Tiara Moore of Black in Marine Science and Imani Black of Minorities in Aquaculture Check out LaTresse’s book, When Black Women Rise, here! Theme music by Joseph Powers Design assets prepared by LQL Photo + Design