Your Healing Nature

Kenya and Michelle are the founders of the Outdoor Journal Tour, a hybrid health organization that combines the healing benefits of the Great Outdoors with introspective journaling and mindful meditation. They are headquartered in Atlanta, GA and the creators of international outdoor wellness phenomenon #wehiketoheal. Most recently, they’ve spearheaded their Mindful Minutes program, a nationwide challenge designed to encourage more mindfulness in our everyday lives. In this episode, we discuss Kenya and Michelle’s root stories, the lessons they’ve learned as entrepreneurs and outdoor advocates, their definitions of “real healing,” the rewards and challenges of centering mindfulness and JEDI in the outdoors, the Nature Meditations Deck and so much more! IG: @_yourhealingnatureEmail: info@yourhealingnature.comMusic: James & Black, "Everyday (Walking in Sunshine)" To follow the Outdoor Journal Tour:Website: www.outdoorjournaltour.com IG: @outdoorjournaltour Facebook Group: The Outdoor Journal Tour Twitter: @tweetODJT Chronicle Books: Nature Meditations Deckhttps://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/nature-meditations-deck You can also purchase via ODJT website:https://www.outdoorjournaltour.com/nature-meditations-deck/ ShoutOut Atlanta: Meet Kenya Jackson-SaultersApril 27, 2021https://shoutoutatlanta.com/meet-kenya-jackson-saulters-writer-spiritual-coach-outdoor-enthusiast/ Meggan Waterson: Divine Feminine Oracle Deckhttps://www.megganwatterson.com/the-divine-feminine-oracle

John Tateishi is the former National Executive Director of the Japanese American Citizens League and author of Redress: The Inside Story of the Successful Campaign for Japanese American Reparations. At two and a half years old, John was among the 120,000 Japanese Americans who, at the outbreak of WWII, were forced from their homes in the western states and imprisoned in America’s concentration camps. With his family, he was sent to the so-called Manzanar Relocation Center in the Eastern Sierras, one of ten American concentration camps in which Japanese Americans spent the war as civilian prisoners of their own government without ever having been charged with any crimes.In this episode, we discuss John’s root story, spending his formative childhood years as a prisoner at Manzanar, how traditional Japanese cultural values impacted the healing of the Japanese American community, his role in leading the fight for Japanese American reparations and so much more.IG: @_yourhealingnatureEmail: info@yourhealingnature.comShow NotesYou can learn more about John Tateishi here:https://www.johntateishi.com/ You can purchase Redress here through Heyday Books:https://www.heydaybooks.com/catalog/redress-the-inside-story-of-the-successful-campaign-for-japanese-american-reparations/ Manzanar National Historic Site:https://www.nps.gov/manz/index.htm About the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians(National Archives)https://www.archives.gov/research/japanese-americans/hearings President Reagan’s Apology: Signing of HR 442https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcaQRhcBXKY Letter of Apology from President George W. Bushhttps://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/active_learning/explorations/japanese_internment/bush.cfm Milagros Phillips, Cracking the Healer’s Codehttps://www.milagrosphillips.com/healerscode

Necota and Sonya Staples are the founders of Staples InTents and Black People Offroading, an Atlanta-based camping, adventure travel, and lifestyle bloggers. Their mission is to increase diversity in the outdoor adventure travel community by redefining the typical imagery associated with the outdoor adventurer.As college sweethearts, Sonya and Necota have always had a passion for travel and adventure, but after several years, found themselves in a challenging place in their marriage and discovered camping as a way to say yes to each other and yes to the world. The discovery of camping led them to overlanding, where their passion for outdoor adventure rejuvenated their love for each other and gave them a common purpose while allowing them to play to their individual strengths and grow closer together.  In this episode, they share their collective root story, how Mother Nature helped them save their marriage, their transition from corporate life to entrepreneurs and outdoor advocates, why representation matters, and so much more! IG: @_yourhealingnatureEmail: info@yourhealingnature.comMusic By: James & Black, "Everyday (Walking in Sunshine)"To contact Sonya and Necota:IG: @staplesintentsIG: @blackpeopleoffroadingTwitter: @staplesintentsWebsite: https://staplesintents.com/YouTube: Staples InTentsThe New York Times Articles“2020 is the Summer of the Road Trip, Unless You’re Black”By Tariro Mzezewa, June 10, 2020https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/10/travel/road-trip-black.html "Road Tripping While Black: Readers Respond"By Tariro Mzezewa and Tacey Rychter, June 25, 2020https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/25/travel/road-tripping-while-black-readers-respond.htmlStaples InTents YouTube Video“Ultimate Self-Care: Solo Camping”By Necota Staples, February 28, 2021https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH2p8ByBJo4 Workshop: Camping & Overlanding While BlackNovember 21, 2021https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Fs4ZYQc0Q Overlanding: A Quick Rundown of What It Is, and Why it’s Cool.November 20, 2020https://www.motortrend.com/news/what-is-overlanding/

Kam Redlawsk is a disabled industrial designer, artist, advocate, traveler, writer and speaker. She’s also a Korean American adoptee. She has been an advocate for the rare disease and disability community for 14 years. In this effort, she uses art, writing, travels and tools that connect us as humans. She has lived with GNE Myopathy, a rare muscle-wasting disease, for over 20 years. Kam loves taking road trips, observing Nature, scavenging for art destinations and concocting exploration plans. IG: @_yourhealingnatureEmail: info@yourhealingnature.comKam Redlawsk's Contact InformationIG: @kamredlawskIG: @chairdevilsTwitter: @kamredlawskWebsite: https://www.kamredlawsk.com/ Kam Redlawsk: Limitless Sides to Outsidehttps://www.rei.com/blog/travel/kam-redlawsk-limitless-sides-to-outside Parks Project Documentary Short: Kam Redlawskhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SiHMRd51HY Creating Art Through Adversityhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLybWNd9i8w Rare Diseaseshttps://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/gne-myopathy/ Despite Calls to Improve, Air Travel is Still a Nightmare for Many with DisabilitiesNPR, Nov. 9, 2021https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1049814332 Air Carrier Access Acthttps://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/passengers-disabilities Disability Rights Education & Defense Fundhttps://dredf.org/news/publications/disability-rights-law-and-policy/where-prejudice-disability-and-disabilism-meet/

Richard D. Garcia is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Alma Backyard Farms. Richard studied at St. John’s Seminary College and has extensive experience in pastoral ministry inside juvenile halls and prisons.  As a pastoral minister, youth advocate, and urban farmer, Richard knows how growing food is a transformative way of bringing people together.  Since completing an M.A.in Pastoral Theology at Loyola Marymount University, Richard incorporates principles of restorative justice into urban farming.  In this episode, Richard shares his root story, his family connection to the outdoors, fulfilling his calling via urban agriculture, how ALMA Backyard Farms is addressing trauma and bringing community healing, and so much more! IG: @_yourhealingnatureEmail: info@yourhealingnature.com Music by Black & James, "Everyday (Walking in Sunshine)." Website: https://jamesandblack.org/ IG: james.and.blackTo learn about Alma Backyard Farms . . . IG: @almabackyardfarms    Website: https://www.almabackyardfarms.com/BooksGregory Boyle, Tattoos on the HeartRobin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding SweetgrassDawn B. Mabalon, Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry ItliongOther sources . . . Homeboy IndustriesWebsite: www.homeboyindustries.org  http://homeboyindustries.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/media_kit-Bio-Father-Greg-FINAL-7-2-12.pdf Rethink Outside: Blue Sky Funders Forumhttps://rethinkoutside.org/California EnviroScreenhttps://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/report/calenviroscreen-30 City and Community Health Profile: ComptonPublished by the LA Public Health Department, June 2018http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ohae/docs/cchp/pdf/2018/Compton.pdf How A Predatory Real Estate Practice Changed The Face of ComptonBy Ailsa Chang, Jonaki Mehata, Christopher Intagliati, NPR, May 5, 2021https://www.npr.org/2021/05/05/993993572/how-a-predatory-real-estate-practice-changed-the-face-of-comptonArticles/BlogsPotli Blog: Alma Backyard Farms on Reclaiming Lives, Repurposing Land, and Reimagining Community, May 18, 2021https://www.potlishop.com/blogs/the-drip/alma-spotlightLos Angeles County’s Forgotten Farming History (PBS)February 7, 2019

Shelma Jun is a filmmaker, rock climber, outdoor advocate, and founder of Flash Foxy and the Flash Foxy Climbing Festival. In 2017, Shelma was named one of 40 women who’ve made the biggest impact in the outdoor world by Outside Magazine. In this episode, Shelma shares her root stories, navigating her Korean American identity in the outdoors, the barriers that exist for women and the gender queer community in rock climbing, Flash Foxy’s ever-evolving mission and vision, and so much more! IG: @_yourhealingnatureEmail: info@yourhealingnature.comMusic by: James & Black, "Everyday (Walking in Sunshine)" Photograph of Shelma Jun taken by Francois Lebeau.To connect with Shelma . . . IG: ShelmaticIG: heyflashfoxyFacebook: Flash FoxyWebsite: https://www.flashfoxy.com/ DocumentariesWithin Reach (2017)https://youtu.be/-NsBqB21RPo The Moment: Shelma Jun (2018)https://youtu.be/pYHPRUqtTTs Garmin: Women of Adventure (2018)https://youtu.be/EpudpgnerZ4 Do Better Together (2019) https://youtu.be/0TDhBWywpf0Duality (2019)Duality: Documentaryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5ngyRDE6Z0 Finding Space: Shelma Jun (2021)https://youtu.be/XKdWxCXwxRw Articles & Blogs by Shelma Jun"How Gender Affects Your Experience at the Climbing Gym," Sept. 13, 2016https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/opinion/how-gender-affects-your-experience-climbing-gym/"Accept & Adapt: Women in Climbing," September 13, 2016https://www.climbing.com/people/women-in-climbing-accept-and-adapt/ Duality: Blogshttps://blog.arcteryx.com/%EC%9D%B4%EC%9B%90%EC%84%B1-duality/"Are you a climber?" Bloghttps://blog.arcteryx.com/are-you-a-climber/ Other RecommendationsBooks on Intersectional FeminismHere’s a starting point for your research:https://iwda.org.au/10-new-old-books-for-intersectional-feminist-readers/ Camping in KoreaAsia Society: The Geography of the Koreashttps://asiasociety.org/education/geography-koreasA Guide to Camping while Biking in Korea

Parker McMullen Bushman is Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Inclusive Journeys, Founder of Ecoinclusive Strategies, and Creator of KWEEN Werk. Parker is a dynamic speaker and facilitator that engages organizations in new thinking around what it means to be a diversity change-agent and create dynamic organizational change.  Parker’s background in the non-profit leadership, conservation, environmental education and outdoor recreation fields spans over two decades. In this episode, Parker shares her root story, the process of reclaiming the outdoors via the legacy of her ancestors, her passion for changing outdoor narratives, the innovative work she’s doing via Inclusive Journeys and so much more! To support and learn more about Parker:IG: @kweenwerkTwitter: @kweenwerkTikTok: @kweenwerkFacebook: Kween werKWebsite: https://www.kweenwerk.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kweenwerkVenmo: @kweenwerkCashapp: @kweenwerkPaypal: paypal.me/kweenwerkMerch: https://kween-werk.creator-spring.com/? EcoinclusiveTo contact Parker for diversity training at your non-profit, cultural or environmental institutions, please go here:Website: www.ecoinclusive.org Twitter: @ecoinclusive Facebook: EcoinclusiveInclusive JourneysTo engage in Beta testing: https://www.inclusivejourneys.com/ IG: @inclusiveguide Twitter: @inclusiveguide    Facebook: Inclusive JourneysParker’s Website: http://www.cparkermcmullenbushman.com/ Gullah Geechee Corridorhttps://gullahgeecheecorridor.org/thegullahgeechee/https://guides.loc.gov/gullah-geechee-history The Green BookLibrary of Congress–View the entire book digitally (page-by-page):https://www.loc.gov/item/2016298176/

Amanda is an outdoor educator, travel writer, outdoor advocate, and thru-hiker. She has thru-hiked the Colorado Trail, Pacific Crest Trail and half of the Grand Enchantment Trail. Amanda has also traveled the United States as a speaker and presenter at various outdoor festivals as a Subaru Leave No Trace Master Trainer. In this episode, we discuss Amanda’s definition of thru-hiking, her root story, healing via thru-hiking, her contentious relationship to change, the creation of Brown Girl on the National Scenic Trail and so much more!Show notesFollow Amanda at:IG: @browngirlonthenstBlog: Brown Girl on the NST Amanda’s Writings for Backpack MagazineBackpacker author page and a piece about AmandaModern Hiker Interviewhttps://modernhiker.com/trailblazers-amanda-jameson/Other Recommendations from Amanda . . .Decolonizing TravelBani Amor (They/Them) on decolonizing travel culture. Follow them on IG: baniamorBooksCharlene Caruthers, Unapologetic: A Black, Queer and Feminist Mandate for Radical MovementsJames Baldwin, The First Next TimeDocumentary: I Am Not Your NegroOctavia Butler, Parable of the SowerOctavia Butler, KindredSaudade: The Portuguese word for the sweet melacholy of a moment that will never be again.

José González is the founder and director emeritus of Latino Outdoors, a non-profit that connects Latinx communities and engages cultura y familia as part of the outdoor narrative. He navigates through a self-created identity of a "Green Chicano" as he weaves the roles of educator, artist, conservationist, environmentalist, and Chicano.José’s commentary on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the outdoors has been featured by High Country News, Outside Magazine, Earth Island Journal, and Latino USA, among other media outlets. During the Obama Administration, he engaged in collaborations with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Parks Service.In this episode, we discuss his root story, the power of storytelling, his outdoor advocacy work, healing through the language of ecology, finding ancestral guidance and so much more. We invite you to join us around the digital campfire!To follow José González:IG: @josebilingueTwitter: @josebilingueWebsite: http://www.josegagonzalez.com/Latino OutdoorsIG: @latinooutdoorsFacebook: Latino OutdoorsTwitter: @LatinoOutdoorsYouTube: Latino OutdoorsLinkedIn: Latino OutdoorsWebsite: www.latinooutdoors.orgArticlesLaura Hilgers, “Nature’s Trailblazer” in the Nobhill Gazettehttps://nobhillgazette.com/natures-trailblazer/José González, “Hiking in Huaraches, and Finding Home in Nature” in Bay Naturehttps://baynature.org/2018/10/04/hiking-in-huaraches-and-finding-home-in-nature/Bracero Program Archive--UCLALearn more about the Bracero Program (1942-1962) that gave José's grandfather the opportunity to work in the United States. https://www.labor.ucla.edu/what-we-do/research-tools/the-bracero-program/BookRuiz, Don Miguel. 2001. The Four Agreements. San Rafael, CA: Amber-Allen Publishing.

Monserrat is an outdoor educator, community organizer, climber, poet and danzante. In 2016, she was a part of the national founding team of Brown Girls Climb, LLC, a women of color-led business focused on centering the leadership of women of color climbers in the outdoors. Monserrat is a sponsored athlete with Outdoor Research and was recently awarded the 2021 Emerging Leader Award by Outdoor Retailer. Monserrat’s work is focused on connecting to land, ancestry, and BIPOC stories of resilience in the outdoors and beyond. In this episode, she shares her root story, healing via rock climbing, her epic summit of Iztaccíhuatl, and all things familia y comunidad. Join us around this digital campfire!Find us on IG @_YourHealingNature      Email: info@yourhealingnature.comPhoto of Monserrat Alvarez Matehuala courtesy of Janelle Paciencia @janelletakesphotosTo connect to Monserrat Alvarez Matehuala:IG @outdoorchingonaIG  @browngirlsclimbFB Brown Girls ClimbTo learn more about Armadillos:IG @armadillos_niunmigrantemenosWebsite: https://www.niunmigrantemenos.org/Venmo: armadillos-oficialGo Fund Me: https://www.gofundme.com/f/we-need-help-funding-our-search-amp-rescuesThe North Face: Walls are for ClimbingMonserrat Alvarez Matehuala & the Call of the Wallhttps://youtu.be/qAH8tZ7sWekOutdoor Research: Escaladora (Short Film)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBGyplC6UjsThe Legend of Popocatepetl & Iztaccíhuatl: A Love Storyhttps://www.inside-mexico.com/the-legend-of-popocatepetl-iztaccihuatl/ BooksPam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza RisingKimberlee Crenshaw et al., Critical Race Theory: The Critical Writings that Formed the Movement

This episode provides you with a brief overview of the social, cultural and political underpinnings that inspired the focus of this podcast. My intention in this episode is to provide you with a map to the auditory journey you’re about to embark on in Season One. This episode will address questions such as, Why this podcast? What are root stories? How is trauma defined in this podcast? What is Your Healing Nature? I go solo in this episode. However, starting next week, you’ll hear from some of the most amazing BIPOC outdoor advocates, outdoor educators, conservationists, founders of for- and non-profits, urban farmers, creatives and so much more! We invite you to join us around this digital campfire every Sunday!IG: @_YourHealingNatureEmail: info@yourhealingnature.comBooksKimmerer, Robin Wall. 2015. Braiding Sweetgrass. Minneapolis, MN: Milkweed Editions. Estés, Clarissa Pinkola. 1992. Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype. New York: Ballantine Books.Indigenous Women HikeIG: @indigenouswomenhikeIG: @jolievarelaIG: @TazbahTazbah Chavez, “Hiking the Nüümü Poyo: An Act of Love by Indigenous Women” in http://www.project562.com/blog/hiking-the-nueuemue-poyo-an-act-of-love-by-indigenous-women/American Indian Religious Freedom Act: https://coast.noaa.gov/data/Documents/OceanLawSearch/Summary%20of%20Law%20-%20American%20Indian%20Religious%20Freedom%20Act.pdfGirlTrekIG: @girltrek Website: https://www.girltrek.org/ https://harriettubmanbyway.org/girltrek-walk-100-miles-along-tubman-byway/https://ideas.ted.com/what-we-learned-from-walking-in-the-footsteps-of-harriet-tubman/https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htmInstitute for Women’s Policy Research, “The Status of Women in the United States,”https://iwpr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Status-of-Black-Women-6.26.17.pdfArmadillosIG: @armadillos_niunmigrantemenos Website: https://www.niunmigrantemenos.org/ https://www.borderangels.org/blog/border-angels-endorses-and-contributes-armadillos-busqueda-y-rescate https://www.niunmigrantemenos.org/sobre-nosotros-about-usAlma Backyard FarmsIG: @almabackyardfarms     Website:

You can follow us on IG: @_YourHealingNaturePodcast Artwork By: Karen Ceballos @ka_wren_ceballosMusic: “Everyday (Walking in Sunshine)” is used with permission by James & Black. Please visit www.jamesandblack.org and on IG @james.and.black to check out their amazing body of work!