The beauty of starting over

The beauty of starting over

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.

Everyone just needs to chill more and be nice

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.

Leveling the Playing Field

In this week’s conversation I have another talk with a new friend, Mr. Justin Campbell aka Mr.JayCam of Equalized Outdoors. Justin shares his experience as a hunter who grew up in Virginia and how hunting is an important part of his life for many reasons. The biggest being his mental health. He describes his journey to creating equalized outdoors and how being outside can benefit everybody. Whether you are a hunter, know someone who hunts, or is curious about the ethics of hunting, you’ll find this conversation enlightening and interesting. Justin! Thank you for being a guest on black in Wild! This was a fun and thought provoking conversation to be a part of. I’m so excited about our plans to collaborate in the future. Stay tuned for some more content coming out from us in the near future. But really I’m appreciative of the way you patiently and humbly share your story and information on hunting. Equalized outdoors is a great platform to connect anybody with more information on hunting. Thanks for making easily digestible and entertaining content. Follow Justin on instagram @equalizedoutdoors and check out their website equalizedoutdoors.com for more information regarding hunting, cooking, etc. Thanks for checking out this episode! Don't forget to visit blackinwild.com for all things Black in Wild and stay connected to the community!

Living the Mammoth Dream

Welcome back! I took a short hiatus for some birthday travels in late March. Shout out to all of my Pisces!  I’m back in the month of April with two new episodes featuring new friends of mine. The theme that kept coming up in this months conversations is mental health. In this episode I chat with the homie Joseph Bogorad, also known as yourmammothagent on social media. Joseph is a realtor, content creator and someone who likes to recreate in the seasonal sports that are available to him at any given time. We talk about how he ended up living in Mammoth Lakes, influences from his upbringing, and reflect on how all of our yes’ have led us to where we are today. If you’ve ever experienced a time in your life where you’ve asked yourself what younger you would think about where you are now, you’ll enjoy this episode. Enjoy this conversation that was recorded in Joseph's office/studio earlier this winter. Joseph! Thanks so much for being a guest on Black in Wild! This was a fun conversation for me because not only did I get to know you better but I also got to reflect on my own experience in real time. Which I don’t have the opportunity to do on this show very often. One of my favorite parts was hearing you describe what it feels like to ice skate or snowboard. Because I can definitely relate and I have heard so many other people describe that same feeling when they’re doing an activity that brings them joy. Thanks for sharing your story.  Be sure to check out Joseph’s social media where he not only highlights upcoming homes for sale in Mammoth Lakes but also shares exciting news going on in the town as well. Instagram @yourmammothagent. And don't forget to visit the Black in Wild website for all things Black in Wild. Blog posts will be coming soon!

What has nature given to you?

Lately I have been reminded of the goal I set for my younger self. College aged Deja who studied History and Anthropology but wasn’t sure quite what to do with those majors other than teaching. And I remember coming to the conclusion that whatever I did, I wanted to be a voice for people/places/things that could not speak for themselves. I recently realized that that idea has subconsciously led me to work that involves me advocating for people and places. To be honest, I strongly believe that is what led me to creating Black in Wild. There are voices and stories that some people want to silence or erase altogether. Now more than ever, I am thankful to have created this space where I and others from underrepresented backgrounds can take up space. Sticking to the theme of the month, this episode features another badass woman, one of my first friends in Mammoth, Rachel. Rachel taught herself how to snowboard, has hiked the JMT, and is an advocate for outdoor education for all. She herself has experienced the benefits of nature and music, both things that she has sought to provide for others. This episode will make you laugh, cry, and think about your own why. This episode is for all women, but especially trans women who don’t always see themselves represented in outdoor spaces. Rachel! Thank you for being a guest on Black in Wild! Thank you for sharing the journey you have been on of self discovery. One of the parts of your story that resonated with me the most was how nature has really shaped the trajectory of your life. In moments when the rest of the world feels scary, unwelcoming, and uncertain nature provides the greatest escape where the true life lessons lie. Like you, I too do not see much representation of people like me in the outdoors. But regardless we are out here girl! And we deserve to be here and represent just as much as anyone else. This conversation was so healing for me, I hope it was for Rachel and those of you listening. If you take anything away from this episode is that we should lean into the people, the places, and the things that brings us peace. I would share her social media with you but her account is set to private. However, you can check out the Black in Wild website for all things black in wild. And be sure to check back bi-weekly for more stories from underrepresented communities in relation to the outdoors. *Note: The opinions and perspectives represented in this conversation are not representative of any agency, company, business, or organization.