Black in Wild

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.

Get your mind right, then you can get your body right

Happy Women’s history month! In honor of that I will be highlighting women’s stories, experiences, and voices this month. To kick things off this episode features a close friend and an all around badass woman in her own right. I’ve had so many conversations with my female friends about the pressures from society to look and/or act a certain way. Those pressures are heightened in the outdoor community where if you do not have a certain appearance then you may not be taken as seriously. In this conversation with Nikki, we talk about topics such as body positivity, ADHD, mental health, and overall well being. Nikki is an adult educator, outdoor enthusiast aka dirt bag, and a true ally to all. Like with many of my guests, I’m sure there will be parts of Nikki’s story that resonates with you too. Get ready to laugh, to smile hard, and be inspired to love yourself fiercely. Nikki! Thank you so much for being a guest on Black in Wild! I truly appreciate your vulnerability and transparency with what your experience has been like in life. Some take-aways I have from our conversation are to place an emphasis on my mental health and overall well being by listening to my body rather than focusing on my “size” or weight. To be more intentional about loving my body and all of its parts because the world is already placing enough pressure on me. And through that, I will find people who really love me and accept me as I am because I’ve set that standard. For the listeners I hope out of all of Nikki’s advice and tips, that there is a part of her story that resonated with you too. The world is harsh enough, please take care of yourselves. Do the things that make you feel good and bring you joy. Because we all deserve it.  To find more content from Nikki follow her instagram Harts and Crafts. @harts.and.crafts2025 where she focuses on selling potted plants and her many crafty creations.  Don’t forget to also check out Black in Wild .com for all things Black in Wild.  Thank you for listening to this episode! Hope you enjoy the additional hours of daylight! *Note: The opinions and perspectives from this podcast are not representative of any agency, business, or organization.

Try something new, it might change your life!

To continue with the themes of the month, Winter and Black History (because lets be honest, black history is created everyday and should be celebrated all the time!). This episode features a local Mammoth celebrity, Maurice Cooper. Maurice is a former ski instructor, avid adventurer, an actor, and the most sought out MC in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. He is another long time friend of mine that is always bringing high energy. In this conversation with Maurice, we talk about Maurice’s passion for traveling and seeking out new experiences. I hope this conversation inspires you to say yes more! Let’s get into the episode! Maurice, thank you for such an inspiring and thought provoking conversation! It was a pleasure getting to know your story better. You reminded me that leaning into the things that bring you joy will attract your people. Community really can influence your experience. However, the way you stand in your truth does not go unnoticed as well. One of the messages that Maurice ends with is to encourage folks with melanin skin to not be afraid to try something new because it may change your life for the better. If you want to follow along with Maurice’s adventures you can follow him on instagram at mcooper.entertainment. Maurice often hosts events such as Trivia, Karaoke, and more in various locations around the Eastern Sierra! Make sure to check out his podcast called the Sheridan Tapes where he plays the character Jerry Price. During the episode Maurice references the play he was in called Driving Miss Daisy. This episode was recorded on January 5th. I hope that in these trying times the stories and voices amplified on Black in Wild make you feel less alone. Because we are out here and we ain’t going nowhere. See you in two weeks with another episode. The month of March will focus on women’s stories in the outdoors for Women’s History Month. Don’t forget to check out the new Black in Wild website at blackinwild.com [http://blackinwild.com/] for all things Black in Wild. *Note: The perspective and opinions on Black in Wild are not representative of any agency, organization, or company.