Hiking My Feelings: Virtual Campfire

In this special season of the Virtual Campfire, we’re sharing stories from some of the folks who have completed our Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love program. Our next class starts on August 21 and we’d love to have you join us!

We kick off this 12-episode series with Gabaccia Moreno - our Director of Social Responsibility.

In this episode:

• Who is Gabaccia?
• What brought her to Hiking My Feelings and why did she sign up for Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love?
• What is the Trail of Life Maps exercise and why is it awesome?
• What would Gabaccia do with her magic wand?

This week we welcome Tammy Higgins to the podcast. After her son was a victim of a hit and run on a local country road, Tammy and her family found healing on Michigan's Great Lake to Lake Trail Route #1 because it is wheelchair accessible.   

In this episode:  

- Who is Tammy?  

- Why is she an advocate for local trails?  

- We discuss the differences between the meditation and healing found in backcountry hikes versus local trails that are more accessible 

- What would Tammy change if she had a magic wand?

How on earth do two hippies in a van almost voluntarily join a cult? You're going to have to listen to find out. 

In this episode: 

• Join Sydney + Barry for a quick recap of their 217-mile hike around Chicago and the rainiest 10 days off before they started hiking across Michigan
• What is the Great Lake-to-Lake Trail Route #1 and why is it awesome? 
• Who is Terry and why is he so supportive? 
• Highlights from the first 120 miles of their hike across the state of Michigan for diabetes awareness 
• A super scientific study of one (Sydney) on how nutrition (or the lack thereof) impacts recovery on a trip like this (SPOILER ALERT: Chicago deep dish pizza does not contribute to overall wellness on the trail) 
• A conversation with Pastor Rob at New Hope Community Church in Jackson, Michigan - our host for night 8 on our adventure across the state
• FINALLY, the story of how a bit of trail magic almost turned us into cult members 
• Don't forget to save + download KBong's newest album, Let Love Lead, it comes out 7/9

Ish lives in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and was raised on the southwest side of the city. He works for the Chicago City Council, Committee on Workforce Development, as the Director of External Affairs. Ismael cycles throughout the city with his friends and family exploring historical sites and learning about different neighborhoods.  

IN THIS EPISODE:  Ismael's journey through the outdoors from visiting his grandparents in Mexico, to riding his bike around the neighborhood, and cycling from Chicago to Milwaukee.  

The history of the 10th Ward and how things have shifted since the steel industry left.   

Three neighborhoods in the southeast side of Chicago are in the top 10 for highest prevalence of diabetes - what are the contributing factors to this?   

The history of Steelworkers Park and a vision for other initiatives.   

How can folks get involved in their local communities?   

Ismael's favorite park in Chicago and recommended green spaces.   

If you had a magic wand and could change perception/behavior about something, fix a community/national/global issue, etc, what would that be?

For anyone who is interested in joining the next Hike + Heal retreat on Catalina Island, visit https://hikingmyfeelings.org/catalina-retreats   

Aya Tsuruta  

Aya is a marketer, environmental steward, outdoorswoman, and member of T1D nation (since '97). Through life's ups and downs she's found joy, solace, and strength in the outdoors—on the trails, at the crag, and under the stars—and is passionate about helping other diabetics feel safe and confident outside.   

IN THIS EPISODE:  

Aya’s background in the outdoors and how diabetes informed her career choices  

Working with the Utah Conservation Corps  

Considerations for adventuring with T1D  

Favorite trail snacks  

with musical guest Brett Wilson - Roots of Creation  

"Billboard and radio chart topping, award-winning, international reggae-rock sensation Roots of Creation, are a touring powerhouse.  

Whether on the festival circuit, performing at jam and reggae-rock favorites like Camp Bisco, Gathering of The Vibes, California Roots, Jungle Jam and Closer to the Sun, or sharing the stage at sold out shows with some of their diverse influences including Slightly Stoopid, The Wailers, and Michael Franti, reggae/rock/dubtronica band Roots of Creation (RoC) offers up a high-energy, infectious live music experience. Their mix of reggae riddims, conscious lyrics, spirited horn lines, and electronic beats makes crowds move and has their loyal underground fan base (RoC Family) and street team (Universal Soldiers) travelling the distance to pack venues from coast-to-coast.  

Roots of Creation’s most recent full length LP release, Grateful Dub combines their longtime love for reggae-dub style music and the Grateful Dead, RoC reworked some of the world’s favorite Dead tunes into a new studio album. RoC had the pleasure of working in the studio with the legendary 5-time Grammy winner Errol Brown who was Bob Marley’s engineer and now Rebelution’s live sound engineer for this project. Grateful Dub is also being performed live in its entirety at festivals, theatres, and clubs around the country, and features rotating special guests including Melvin Seals (JGB), Scott Guberman (Phil Lesh) full horn sections, and others. Grateful Dub captures the spirit and magic of the Grateful Dead, while laying it down reggae-dub style.  

CONNECT WITH ROOTS OF CREATION: @rootsofcreation on Instagram 

RoC Family Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RoCfam 

IN THIS EPISODE:  

Brett’s connection to nature and roots in New Hampshire  

How the fans came through for Roots of Creation in 2020   

Congratulations on a successful Kickstarter campaign!  

New album + Upcoming shows  

///  We're hiking ONE MILLION MILES for diabetes awareness. Join us: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes 

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hikingmyfeelings   

Join the Hiking My Feelings Family: https://family.hikingmyfeelings.org 

Read the book: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/book 

Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/byot

THIS WEEK'S GUESTS  

ERIK DOUDS - Diabadass 

Erik Douds is an adventure filmmaker and educator living with Type 1 Diabetes. He is based outside of New York City. Yet, many nights are spent in the outdoors with his bike “Dark Roast.” His YouTube channel focuses on travel, technology, and managing type 1 diabetes. His stories have included biking across America, living in Ethiopia, hiking in New Zealand, two failed skydiving attempts, and other adventures.  

Erik creates content for top outdoor brands like REI, Pearl iZUMi, Arc’Teryx, Revo, Adventure Cycling, Sea to Summit, and BioLite. Trips include biking the Trans America Trail, running the Copenhagen marathon, and touring Alaska.  

Diabadass.com shares expert knowledge through online courses that use step-by-step video and written instructions to show others living with diabetes how to go anywhere and do anything.  

He has spoken at American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure, competed for team Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, writes for Diabetes Daily, and has been recognized as an exceptional donor by the Harvey E Nussbaum M.D. society.  

WITH MUSICAL GUEST INDUBIOUS

Evton and Skip, brothers and bandmates (along with drummer Matty T. Wells), have cultivated a dedicated fan base, affectionately called Indubians, with their impressive instrumental skill, powerful harmonies, and an electrifying stage presence. In addition to their memorable live shows, which have put them on numerous U.S. festival stages, as well as on tour with The Movement, Stephen Marley, and others, Indubious are no strangers to chart success. Their 2019 album Beleaf debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart and #2 on the iTunes Reggae Chart, which marked a new high for the band building on the previous success of their2017 album From Zero, which debuted at #6 on the Billboard Reggae Chart and #8 on the iTunes Reggae Charts. With The Bridge, Indubious is poised for a big breakout year.  

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We're hiking ONE MILLION MILES for diabetes awareness. Join us: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes 

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hikingmyfeelings   

Join the Hiking My Feelings Family: https://family.hikingmyfeelings.org 

Read the book: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/book 

Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/byot

THIS WEEK'S GUESTS  

ASHLEY REALE - Love Everywhere Graduating from art school with a B.A. in fashion design, Ashley Reale took her degree to New York City where she began a vibrant career in the fashion industry. Feeling a lack of purpose in the big business of mall brand fashion design, Ashley began leaving herself and others handwritten encouragement notes to stay inspired and uplifted. Before she knew it, friends were joining her in her mission to spread joy, and Love Everywhere was born.  

Based out of Nashville, Ashley spends her time raising her two kiddos, laughing at her rambunctious rescue dog, and cultivating a community of kind hearts and good vibes through the simple act of sharing words the same way friends share coffee. Graciously, sincerely, and with love.

BARRY WILLIAMS - Barry joins the Virtual Campfire to recap this month's activities in the #TakeAHikeDiabetes Campaign.

An adventure in progress, as we all are, Cassie Cichocki prides herself on her ability to create space for others to feel safe, supported, and secure. As a freelance writer and meditation teacher living in Nashville, she’s able to put life’s experiences, both good and bad, into words that allow people to feel understood, and gives others the opportunities to look at their own stories with curiosity instead of judgment.  

A former blogger for Chicago Now, the online subsidiary of the Chicago Tribune, Cassie first went viral for a post about...tampons. Little did she know that her blog about being a self-proclaimed hot mess would quickly become a go-to source for people who didn’t know how to put their own experiences into words. Her current blog, solongasitiswild.com, is a space for fellow adventures in progress to show up exactly as they are. There’s no such thing as good vibes only in her world, and she wants people to live life as fully as possible, no matter what their history may be. Cassie lives by the words: “I see you. I hear you. I get it. Me, too”, and that comes across in her writing.  

An advocate for making therapy accessible to all, Cassie is passionate about changing the narrative around mental health. When not working or volunteering, she can most often be found with a book in hand; logging miles, hiking mountains, and contemplating the musings of herself and others. (She also quotes her therapist way too often, but she’ll save that for the blog.)  

with musical guest Tomboyce Avenue 

Singer-Songwriter Nilda "DADA" Cantil Lampitoc aka Tomboyce Avenue is a full-blooded Filipino, born and raised in a Tropical Country of the Philippines, Island of Luzon. She now lives in San Diego, California and is working as a Medical Professional. Tomboyce Avenue highly believes that "MUSIC IS MEDICINE".  

In July 2020 Tomboyce Avenue released TAKE ME BACK featuring Corrick Watson of THROUGH THE ROOTS, K-Skunk (Kaya Hall) Bassist of SENSI TRAILS/ Frontman of STRICTLY SKUNK and Maria Connors. TAKE ME BACK is a song Tomboyce Avenue wrote about how she feels as half musician and as a half medical professional with the current situation about the COVID-19 pandemic and about Black Lives Matter. The song was produced by E.N Young of Imperial Sound Recording Studio; Roots Musician Records and former Keyboardist of the band Tribal Seeds.  

Tomboyce Avenue Band consists of Dada Lampitoc (Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar), Maria Connors (Keyboard, Trumpet, Vocals), Alex Bellafaire (Bass Guitar, Saxophone), Chris Dadey (Lead Guitar), Chris McDonald (Drums) and Daniel Hall (Percussions, Vocals). We are here to share as much positivity as we can through our music. The band often plays to open up for Filipino musicians touring here in USA. She opened up for Jireh Lim, Geneva Cruz, Shane Ericks, Carol Banawa, Juan Karlos, December Avenue and international artist Stephen Speaks.

Rubina Dhani, LMFT holds a Master's degree in psychology, is a Holistic Life Coach, trauma healer, EMDR trained and is a loving dog mom. When we met at an event in Orange County for Women's History Month almost exactly one year ago, she lit up the room when she walked in and I knew I wanted to collaborate with her someday. Rubina immediately puts folks at ease, and she's absolutely brilliant.  

After graduating from Cal State Northridge University, she obtained her master’s in arts-psychology and she now has a practice here right here in San Diego that primarily serves multicultural individuals, immigrant children, families, and intercultural couples.   

with musical guest Raye Zaragoza 

Raye Zaragoza is a galvanizing presence, a self-assured artist making music to fight for, represent, and celebrate those left too long outside the spotlight. Known for tenacious feminist anthems and fearless protest folk, her stage presence teems with determined morale. However, Zaragoza was not always the fortified woman of color who takes the stage today.   

As a Japanese-American, Mexican, Indigenous woman, Zaragoza spent much of her early life trying to assimilate with the world around her, to meet punishing standards of beauty synonymous with just one color of skin—and not her own. Raye confesses, “I truly thought that in order to be beautiful, you had to be white.” She has come a long way from that youthful pain, proclaiming “I am proud to be a multicultural brown woman with insecurities and a vibrant intersectional identity that I continue to grapple with. I hope young girls of today will know that the It Girl is whatever the hell they want to be.”  This rightful confidence radiates across Woman in Color, Zaragoza’s sophomore album out now on Rebel River Records, her own independent label. The album delivers powerful missives about embracing one’s own identity and discovering the power behind it, all across brisk, emotive, compelling folk melodies. Once deemed “one of the most politically relevant artists in her genre” by Paste Magazine, Raye Zaragoza now offers an intimate exploration of coming into her own, in a country where for many, simply existing is political.  ABOUT THE SHOW  The Hiking My Feelings Virtu  ///  We're hiking ONE MILLION MILES for diabetes awareness.Join us: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes  Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hikingmyfeelings   Join the Hiking My Feelings Family: https://family.hikingmyfeelings.org  Read the book: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/book  Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/byot

Leave No Trace principle #7 invites us to Be Considerate of Others.   

But what does that really mean from both its core context and our current historical moment? Amidst civil unrest from all ends of the spectrum, the need to embark on our own personal as well as collective healing demands from us that we face the lessons that history has been trying to teach us for time immemorial and apply them to the time we spend both off and on the trail. Through a mix of personal storytelling and guided exercises, Hiking My Feelings Director of Social Responsibility Gabaccia Moreno and her partners from Confluence Collective will join us to facilitate an open space to begin or continue our personal equity work.  

Facilitators Bri Dostie [she/hers] is an artist and angler living in Maine who dedicates her time to illustrating, writing, facilitating outdoor education with a dose of intersectional mindfulness, and doing work as part of Confluence Collective. (@happy_platypus)  

Serene Cusack is a passionate storyteller advocating for diversity and inclusion in the outdoors through her platforms @fattyonthefly and Confluence Collective  

Ashley White [he/his] is a father and husband, who spends his time speaking about the power of diversity for his 9-5, while practicing fly angling as his 5-9. (@the_gentleman_lumberjack_)  

Gabaccia Moreno [she/hers] is a first-generation Mexican-American outdoor equity advocate, organizational consultant, and multi-disciplinary storyteller #ExploringResponsibly wherever life takes her. (@gabaccia)  

About Confluence Collective: Fly fishing has been a space curated by and for white men, and Confluence Collective exists to disrupt: through accessibility initiatives, community collaborations, and storytelling projects, we’re making space for every body on the water.  

With musical guest Shane Hall 

A soulful accounting of human conditions in a blues-driven Americana style. FEEL is the key ingredient as well as the inevitable result in the experiencing of the ‘Shane Hall” sound.Travel, experience and growth have shaped this artist and the undeniable real honesty that resonates clear and present, resonating with everyone in some way shape or form. Powerful vocals and uniques guitar style are the tools used to express vision and perspective. This whole sonic experience is a product of a lifetime commitment to the creation and performance of music you can feel, and makes you feel.  

WINNER: San Diego Music Academy Awards - Best Blues Album 2020

WELCOME: Salomon joins the #TakeAHikeDiabetes Campaign!  

Welcome to the Hiking My Feelings Family, Salomon! 

We are kicking off our partnership with a shoe giveaway and a HUGE announcement.  

THIS WEEK'S GUESTS  

BECKY MARCELLIANO  Becky joins us from the Salomon team to announce our partnership for the 2021 Take a Hike, Diabetes campaign.  We'll be giving away one free pair of X Ultra 4 GTX shoes to one lucky per month for the rest of the campaign, starting in March. When you register for #TakeAHikeDiabetes and log four activities per month, you're eligible to win, with each additional activity getting you another entry.   Salomon is matching the next $5,000 we raise in the Kilter app so register, donate, and get pledges from your friends and family today!  Join team Salomon #TimeToPlay at http://kilterrewards.com/events/take-a-hike-diabetes   

STACI JORDAN SHELTON  What lies are holding you hostage?  This is what Staci asked me back in 2016, and I've never been the same since. Staci helped me unravel the lies I had been telling myself and the life I had been living for other people. She helped me find the confidence to know I could create a life worth living. She released me from the prison of proving that I'm good, and helped me embody it instead.  Today, we reunite and celebrate the changes made, the lies released, and the liberation found.   Staci is love and truth in action. She sees you. She wants what is best for you. She isn't here for the stories that keep you small. She's here to help you move from "f*ck this sh*t" to freedom.  We are taking a deep dive into her transformative presence and work. Your life will be forever changed.   Staci Jordan Shelton is a performance consultant and coach who helps women leaders move from F*ck this sh*t to freedom, and get free from the beliefs, binaries and behaviors that keep women stuck, playing small and sabotaging themselves.  "Getting free is a process, staying free is a practice."  Connect with Staci at http://stacijordanshelton.com  

JAHMICAH DAWES   Jahmicah Dawes is the founder of SlimPickins Outfitters - the nation's first Black-owned outdoor gear store - and says his passion for outdoor adventures was inspired by the people who looked out for him in college at Tarleton State University. He would often get invited to explore the outdoors but didn’t have the necessary equipment. - Travel Noire  I first learned about Jahmicah and Slim Pickins Outfitters when someone shared a link to their GoFundMe, and I was pleased to see the outdoor industry show up: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-slim-pickins-outfitters  We talk about the opportunity at hand for the outdoor industry and allies to keep showing up, how to support the  BIPOC community (meet folks where they're at), and we discuss the relationship between trauma and diabetes.   "Allyship is trending, but it's not a trend."

THIS WEEK'S GUESTS  

EMILY HOLLAND  

Emily Holland is a podcast producer, editor and host, as well as a writer in the outdoor space. Growing up on a farm in upstate New York, nature was a big part of her life.   She rekindled her love of mountains and wide open spaces after college, when she lived in Boston, and would travel up to Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire every weekend to be outdoors. In 2019, she moved to Boulder, Colorado to be closer to the things she loves most in life and to infuse nature into her everyday life.   With some therapy and growth while living in Colorado, she decided to stop drinking in February 2020. She believes in the restorative power in nature, but beyond that, the restorative power of self-love. She has released her new podcast, Nature Untold, to capture stories of sobriety, recovery and addiction in the outdoor community.   

ZION-I  

When it comes to music, the lyrics you listen to matter, and that’s why Zumbi aka Zion-I creates flows rooted in spirituality and intention. Since the release of the debut album, Mind Over Matter in 2000, Zion I has risen up the ranks of independent hip-hop to solidify their standing as one of the most prolific conscious rap groups of the past 2 decades. Boasting a catalog that consists of over two-dozen albums, EPs, mixtapes and collaborations, Zion I (currently consisting solely of MC/producer Zumbi) continues to create inspired music influenced by social & political woes, personal challenges & triumphs as well as family, spirituality and a raw perspective on the world at large.  Cited by A.V. Club as “remarkable”, Zumbi continues to showcase his talents as a unique, diverse and skilled MC while maintaining his place as one of the most recognizable voices in Hip-Hop. The 2016 release, The Labyrinth was cited by PopMatters as “a timely new album of politically engaged hip-hop”. Fueled by his own personal losses as well as the current political and social climate of the world-at-large, Zumbi has created a record that, as the Huffington Post put it; “is as heartfelt as it is badass”.  

ABOUT THE SHOW  

The Hiking My Feelings Virtual Campfire was born when COVID-19 canceled our 2020 Tour through the US and Canada.  Each week we gather with mental health and mindfulness experts, various advocates + activists, outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life, our favorite bands and artists, and members of the Hiking My Feelings Family to facilitate the conversations and energy we feel when we’re out in the backcountry, sitting around a campfire after a long day on the trail.   In times where we are more isolated than ever before, it is important to us to create an opportunity for our community to find deep connection and to share stories of hope, healing, and inspiration.  

Tickets to this event grant you entry into our studio audience for the live broadcast, where you can connect with the community during the pre- and post-show chat, ask our guests your burning questions, participate in the Group Gratitude Circle, and be eligible to receive gifts and prizes from our partners, sponsors, and community members.

FEBRUARY THEME: Self-Care is Community Care   February is generally overrun with Valentine's day and all of the societal conditioning that comes with a Hallmark holiday. It's a great time to show others you care, but how often do we show ourselves that same love that we so freely give to others?   This month, let's talk about how self-care isn't selfish. Let's talk about how when we show up consistently for ourselves, we can show up more powerfully for the people in our community.
TIM MCDONALD

Tim McDonald is a speaker and coach who works with organizations and individuals who are facing challenges and feel stuck to get unstuck. Recognizing how fear held him back, Tim has changed his relationship with fear and has used it to get unstuck and leave toxic jobs, end a 17 year marriage, move to a new city, meet his life partner, and he currently looks at having stage 4 metastasized colon cancer as a gift.

He was previously the Director of Community at Huffington Post, Founder of My Community Manager, Director of Communications for Social Media Club Chicago, and various other jobs. While he thought climbing the corporate ladder had all the answers, he found out that looking within held all the answers he needed.

HOWI SPANGLER - BALLYHOO!

Through 25 years and eight independent albums, the last four on their own Right Coast Records, Ballyhoo! have earned the exclamation point which marks their name. Starting in the basement of their mom’s Aberdeen, MD, home, rocking out on guitar and drums respectively, practicing every day, brothers Howi and Donald Spangler formed the proto-punk band in the mold of Green Day and Nirvana, with an eye towards the emerging ska genre led by Goldfinger, Sublime, 311 and No Doubt.

The group’s eighth and most recent studio album, the breezy, ska-fueled, hook-filled Message to the World, on their own Right Coast Records, finds the self-declared “beach-rockers,” having grown up in public, accepting the responsibilities of adulthood while still hanging on to their dreams of world domination.

With its newest members now veterans – keyboardist Vandrey has been in the band since 2000, while bassist Lucera joined in 2014 – Ballyhoo! is ready for what the future brings. Stylistically, their music ranges from the hard-edged punk of 2018’s Detonate, which captured the feelings of anger and depression from dealing with personal loss and the exhaustion generated by over a decade on the road, to the island reggae beats of the follow-up, Message to the World.

“Whatever you want to achieve, just focus on that and work towards it,” explains Howi about the Ballyhoo! ethos. “Don’t worry about followers, views or even money. Just keep making good stuff. One day it may be possible to finally quit that day job and live your dream full time.”

Ballyhoo! is still doing just that, purveying good vibes, positivity and fun live shows meant to take you away from real life for just a little bit.

This week we chat with Julie Kiefer, founder of the Diabetic Travelers Network about how to travel safely when living with diabetes. We also chat with Karim Israel, frontman and lead vocalist for Arise Roots, about how life as a musician has changed since 2020, and how he ended up starring in a commercial with none other than Sydney's Favorite Rad Human, Kelly Clarkson. Kelly, if you're watching, both Karim and I are BIG FANS.

JULIE KIEFER - DIABETIC TRAVELERS NETWORK Julie Kiefer, who is originally from Strasbourg, France, and is currently based in London, founded the Diabetic Travelers Network (the DTN) in 2019. Julie lives with Type 1 diabetes since 1997. An avid traveler since 2015, she’s visited 28 countries and has lived in Australia, Indonesia and the United Kingdom.

Julie says: “I have a big vision that every diabetic, no matter where they are in the world, will be able to have access to the information, level of care, support and connections they need to travel and live without worry. No more keeping children from school trips. No more stress at the airport, no more ‘I can’t do it’ attitude. A place where we empower each other to go further, better, together.”

The DTN is a social impact business that helps people living with diabetes to see that their diagnosis does not prevent them from living a life of freedom through traveling the world. It provides people living with diabetes with the knowledge, support and connections they need to travel without worry.

You can do anything you want in life if you believe that you can.

Do not let diabetes stop you!

KARIM ISRAEL - ARISE ROOTS Arise Roots was formed in 2010 with the intent to create a new and unique roots-reggae band which reflects their collective passions. Rising up from the streets of Los Angeles, the band had one goal: create a fresh reggae sound with a modern feel that appeals to all walks of life without compromising the true feel of roots reggae.

The all-star cast of musicians was recruited for their talent and appreciation of classic reggae styles. After a vigorous search, Arise Roots became host to six extremely talented individuals who had already made a name for themselves performing in numerous local reggae bands as well as backing various reggae legends touring through Southern California. With veteran Blake Collie holding steady on drums, Rudy Covarrubias towering on bass, and Todd Johnson adding his trademark mix of keys and harmonies, the band has secured a dynamic rhythm section. Chris Brennen was called upon for his impeccable rhythm guitar and soulful backing vocals while lead guitarist Robert Sotelo adds his unmistakable signature style of riffs and licks. Lead vocalist, Karim Israel coming from a lineage of Jamaican vocalists, was added to the group, providing his raw, sultry flow which pairs perfectly with his powerful lyrics.

In 2010, the band released their first EP titled, Lay Your Guns Down. They later received recognition with the 2013 release of their first full-length album, Moving Forward. Most recently, Arise Roots linked with E.N Young at Imperial Sound Recording Studio to record their biggest album to date Love and War. Since that time the band has released 3 huge singles “Rootsman Town” ft Capleton, “Nice and Slow”, and “Come and Get It” ft Slightly Stoopid and Eric Rachmany of Rebelution. The success of these singles has created a high level of anticipation for their newest album “Pathways” due to drop in the spring of 2020. Arise Roots has recently signed with Culture Management Group and Ineffable Records for the upcoming release.

We're hiking ONE MILLION MILES for diabetes awareness.Join us: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hikingmyfeelings

The only constant in life is change. And for that, we are grateful.

If there is one thing we learned in 2020, it's that the only constant in life is change. When we let go of our expectations of how things should go and lean into how they are, an entire world can open up to us. And gratitude is our way through it.

This week we'll be chatting with our guests about how to embrace change and find gratitude for the opportunities and challenges that present themselves.

THIS WEEK'S GUESTS:

Dani Reyes-Acosta

Dani is a freelance brand inclusivity strategist, educator, advocate and athlete redefining who plays outside and how we build community with others on this planet. Originally from Playa del Rey, California, she has traveled through Aregentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Andorra, Canada, and the USA building her craft as a splitboard mountaineer (plus climber, surfer, and runner) since 2014, when she graduated from corporate life with a one-way ticket to South America.

Her values-embrace adversity, build resilience, and cultivate community-show up in her work reexamining everyday recreation, social responsibility, and care for the Commons. As a creative, she explores regenerative economies in the American West, links between heritage and identity, and interdependence in the Anthropocene. In all her work, she seeks to find the limit of her possible. Her goal: to inspire individual action and collective communion through self-care and self-determination found in the outdoors.

Whether adventuring in her van, El Torito Blanco, or based on a rural homestead in SW Colorado, you can find her online at @NotLostJustDiscovering and 

DaniReyesAcosta.com

Nathan Feinstein

When it comes to gratitude, intention, and the power of embracing change, Nathan Feinstein has experienced it all. Nathan is a singer, songwriter, producer and front-man of Los Angeles base reggae band Iya Terra. When not on tour, Nathan also runs Crucial Crystals and hosts an interactive songwriting live-stream on YouTube called Songs fro Scratch.

ABOUT THE SHOW

The Hiking My Feelings VIrtual Campfire is our COVID-inspired attempt to recreate the conversations and energy we feel when we're out in the backcountry, sitting around a campfire after a long day on the trail. We're gathering with mental health experts, advocates + activists, registered dieticians, outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of live, our favorite bands and artists, and members of the Hiking My Feelings Family to share stories of hope, healing, and inspiration.

Each week, you can look forward to learning something new, feeling a little less alone in this world, and connecting with our community of big-hearted adventurers.

Tickets to this event (found at the hikingmyfeelings.org/campfire) grant you entry into our studio audience for the live broadcast, where you can connect with the community during the pre- and post-show chat, and be eligible to receive gifts and prizes from our partners, sponsors, and community members.

Your ticket purchase supports our various programs, and we appreciate your contribution. If you're unable to purchase tickets, you can watch the livestream on our YouTube channel or listen wherever you find your podcasts.

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We're hiking ONE MILLION MILES for diabetes awareness. Join us:

http://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes

Join the Hiking my Feelings Family: https;//family.hikingmyfeelings.org

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hikingmyfeelings

Read the book: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/book

Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/byot

New Year, New Intentions, More Healing Stories and Community.  

We’re excited to ring in the new year with you! Despite all the chaos of 2020, there is always something to be grateful for, like the fact that we survived it and we’re here to share about it.   

This week we'll be talking about how to live gratefully, the health benefits of gratitude, and specifically, how folks living with diabetes can be grateful for the diagnosis.   

THIS WEEK'S GUESTS Kristi Nelson is the Executive Director at the Network for Grateful Living and the author of "Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted." She was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer when she was 33 years old. In the 27 years since, she has lived into all that is possible when we take nothing for granted.  

Find more about The Network for Grateful Living and Kristi's book at https://gratefuless.org 

Joshua Swain is the lead singer for The Movement - one of my favorite bands. In fact, their most recent album, Ways of the World, was playing on repeat for the entire time I wrote my book.   

The Movement has been winning the hearts and minds of alternative-reggae fans since their inception in Columbia, SC in 2003. Drawing inspiration from Sublime, 311, Slightly Stoopid and John Brown’s Body, they’ve made a name for themselves as reggae shapeshifters with a foundation of heavy drum and bass. Today the band consists of founding member, lead vocalist and guitarist Joshua Swain, bassist Jason Schmidt, drummer Gary Jackson, and keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Matt Goodwin. Their sixth studio album, Ways Of The World, dropped on June 7, 2019, debuting at #1 in the Billboard Reggae Chart, and has remained in the Billboard Reggae Top 10 for more than 40 consecutive weeks.  

The Movement's new single "Mountain" feat. Clinton Fearon (Sep 4, 2020) is an upbeat and reflective reggae tune of hope and perseverance.... "We only need to climb this mountain and we will be free."  

///   We're hiking ONE MILLION MILES for diabetes awareness. 

Join us: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes 

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hikingmyfeelings   

Join the Hiking My Feelings Family: https://family.hikingmyfeelings.org 

Read the book: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/book 

Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/byot

In this episode, Sydney and Marionette go deep on the unspoken side of living with and caring for people with diabetes: what it's like to raise a child with Type 1 Diabetes, the politics that impact the disease, and the trauma we experience living with the disease and as we care for people with diabetes. 

Marionette developed a heart for nature and the outdoors at an early age. She explored and played in the creek behind her home and was introduced to camping as a Girl Scout. Then life happened. Marriage, four children and 10 years living abroad resulted in less time in nature. After returning to the U.S. in 2013, Marionette picked up hiking. Earlier this year, she started the Nurtured by Nature Club to help African-American families explore and connect with nature. Marionette is also a GirlTrek Organizer and Adventure Squad Leader, encouraging African-American women to practice radical self-care through the simple act of walking.

Mike Joyce is a long distance backpacker, endurance runner, and adventure enthusiast living with Type 1 diabetes since February 2, 1996. He thru-hiked The Appalachian Trail (~2,200 miles) in 2019, The Pacific Northwest Trail (~1,200 miles) in 2020, has participated in a half dozen ultra marathons, and is planning to thru-hike The Continental Divide Trail (~3,100 miles) in 2021.  

Not always an endurance athlete, in 2017 Mike was on his way to developing double diabetes as he continued to put on weight, developing insulin resistance. Through a drastic series of changes in management by way of diet, exercise, and diabetes care, he began shedding the extra weight and stopped using diabetes as an excuse.  

Mike has been interviewed on various diabetes podcasts including Diabetes Daily Grind, Juicebox Podcast, and Diabetic Tim Podcast. He has also been interviewed regarding his Appalachian Trail thru-hike with diabetes on Asweetlife.org. He is actively involved with sharing his story with the local JDRF chapter.  

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We're hiking ONE MILLION MILES for diabetes awareness. 

Join us: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes 

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hikingmyfeelings   

Join the Hiking My Feelings Family: https://family.hikingmyfeelings.org 

Read the book: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/book 

Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/byot

Before we head out on some epic adventures, join me and Kris Maynard as we discuss safety considerations that people with diabetes should consider before heading out into the wilderness. 

Kris is the founder of Glucose Revival, and he created the company out of his experiences as a Type 1 Diabetic and a firefighter/EMT because of the following factors:   

1. His position in the Air Force was taken away due to his diagnosis as a type 1 diabetic.   

2. For two years, his firefighter position was taken away, as a result of a low blood sugar incident.   

3. Living active is important to him; yet, as any diabetic knows, it is truly challenging to be active without a lot of preparation anticipating a drop in blood sugar.   

4. Most importantly, in 2018, Kris’ and his wife learned that their youngest son has two of the autoantibodies that predict that he too will likely be diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic in the next few years.   

It has become his mission to help others live their lives to their fullest extent, despite a diabetes diagnosis.  

We'll also be chatting with Gabaccia #ExploringResponsibly about the 10 Essentials, Leave No Trace, and the importance of land acknowledgments.  

Gabaccia is a writer, photographer, and passionate outdoor advocate #exploringresponsibly wherever life takes her. She holds a B.A. in Theater and Anthropology from SUNY College at Buffalo and an M.A. in Performance Studies from New York University.  Having grown up in Veracruz, Mexico to a family of hunters and ranchers gave her an appreciation for the land and its wildlife at an early age.   

As the Director of Social Responsibility here at Hiking My Feelings, Gabaccia is deeply committed to creating spaces that are more diverse, inclusive, and accessible.  

Her works, whether artistic, creative, or entrepreneurial, have always intersected with the social and environmental issues that surround her. Today you’ll find her consulting for organizations and businesses, or adventuring outside. Most likely fishing, hiking, or backpacking.  

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We're hiking ONE MILLION MILES for diabetes awareness. 

Join us: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes 

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hikingmyfeelings   

Join the Hiking My Feelings Family: https://family.hikingmyfeelings.org 

Read the book: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/book 

Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/byot

For our last live broadcast of 2020, we're doing a lot of recapping:   

- Joshua Tree Retreat Recap - Book Birthday! 

- Take a Hike, Diabetes November activity challenge results 

- What are we doing in 2021 and why?  

- Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love 2021 

- Prize winners for the Take A Hike, Diabetes challenge  

As always, we're grateful for you and your support of this movement. We couldn't do what we do without you!

One of the questions we're seeking to answer on the 2021 #TakeAHikeDiabetes tour is:

Is trauma a root cause of diabetes? If so, if we address the trauma, can we better treat diabetes?

When I look at my personal experience managing Type 2 Diabetes, this is absolutely true for me. When I didn't get help after I was sexually assaulted in college, I developed unhealthy coping mechanisms to help numb the pain and help me avoid flashbacks. I would eat Ben & Jerry's for breakfast and drink a bottle of wine to myself every night more often than not.

After more than a decade of those behaviors, I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

I've learned the most disturbing statistics about diabetes when you break it down by racial group:

14.7% of Native Americans/Alaskan Natives

12.5% of Hispanics

11.7% of non-Hispanic Blacks

9.2% of Asian Americans

7.5% of non-Hispanic whites

If you look at these groups and think about issues like poverty, access to healthcare, education, food deserts (and food swamps) and the pay gaps in America, and the historical trauma experienced by these communities - colonization, racism, slavery, oppression, systemic issues - then it's even more evident that trauma could be a root cause of diabetes.

I'm excited to have a conversation about the prevalence of diabetes in Indigenous communities with Kelli Begay:

Kelli Wilson Begay, MBA, MS, RDN comes from the Kickapoo, Seminole, and Muscogee Creek tribes of Oklahoma. She is a dietitian, wellness advocate, and entrepreneur who feels a sense of responsibility to utilize her diverse skill set to serve the social and health needs of Indigenous communities worldwide. She specializes in working on issues related to nutrition, type 2 diabetes, health communications, wellness, and more. As a Native person, Kelli has an in-depth understanding of the unique qualities and complex barriers that Native communities endure and advocates that their voices be heard.

IN THIS EPISODE: What is the history of diabetes in Indigenous communities?  What are the current numbers as reported by Indian Health Services (IHS)?  What are some myths about Native Americans that we can bust right now?  Can you participate in Indigenous traditions and ceremonies respectfully or are they off limits?

RESOURCES

Healing Historical Trauma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycQJ8ckwYaU&feature=youtu.be&t=2471

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We're hiking ONE MILLION MILES for diabetes awareness.

Join us: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hikingmyfeelings

Join the Hiking My Feelings Family: https://family.hikingmyfeelings.org

Read the book: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/book

Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/byot

How can music inspire a positive mindset, and how does mindset impact diabetes?   

These are the questions we explore this week on the Virtual Campfire.

Continuing the conversation from our first chat around the fire, Zumbi (aka Zion-I) and I will be chatting about how music can inspire a positive mindset, and how we can utilize music to find healing. In a world where negativity reigns supreme and dominates the news cycle, how do we find comfort when the world feels like it's burning down around us?  

When it comes to music, the lyrics you listen to matter, and that’s why Zumbi aka Zion-I creates flows rooted in spirituality and intention. Since the release of the debut album, Mind Over Matter in 2000, Zion I has risen up the ranks of independent hip-hop to solidify their standing as one of the most prolific conscious rap groups of the past 2 decades. Boasting a catalog that consists of over two-dozen albums, EPs, mixtapes and  collaborations, Zion I (currently consisting solely of MC/producer Zumbi) continues to create inspired music influenced by social & political woes, personal challenges & triumphs as well as family, spirituality and a raw perspective on the world at large.  

Cited by A.V. Club as “remarkable”, Zumbi continues to showcase his talents as a unique, diverse and skilled MC while maintaining his place as one of the most recognizable voices in Hip-Hop. The 2016 release, The Labyrinth was cited by PopMatters as “a timely new album of politically engaged hip-hop”. Fueled by his own personal losses as well as the current political and social climate of the world-at-large, Zumbi has created a record that, as the Huffington Post put it; “is as heartfelt as it is badass”.  

So, with a positive mindset, what is possible? Ask Steve Turner.   

Steve weighed 250 pounds in the fall of 2016 and was just diagnosed with diabetes. The lifetime New Hampshire resident was instructed to hit the gym and lose weight.  

He followed his doctor’s orders and went to the gym – twice.  

Instead, he hit the street and took up running. His goal was to run to the next telephone pole on his street; when he reached that pole, he tried to get to the next one, and then the next one, and the next one, and so on.  

One telephone pole became two, and one mile became two. He got to the point where he wanted to train and compete the following August at the Saunders at Rye Harbor 10K.  

10K became 100 miles, where he placed 10th in the Midstate Massive Ultra Trail race. As it turns out, 100 miles was not enough for Turner. Shortly after finishing his longest race he began his year-long training for the Moab 240 Endurance Run, a 240.3-mile race through some of Utah's most stunning and challenging terrain.  

We'll be chatting about how his mindset played a huge role in his successful completion of the Moab 240 Endurance Run and what kinds of considerations he had to keep in mind to manage his diabetes while pursuing these adventures.   

FOLLOW 

@zion_i_crew  

@ultrarunnersteve  

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We're hiking ONE MILLION MILES for diabetes awareness. Join us: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes 

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/hikingmyfeelings   

Join the Hiking My Feelings Family: https://family.hikingmyfeelings.org 

Read the book: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/book 

Blaze Your Own Trail to Self-Love: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/byot

We're kicking off Take a Hike, Diabetes with an EPIC conversation around the Virtual Campfire. Join me, Mila Clarke Buckley, and Julianne Mahoney as we chat about intuitive eating, snacks for outdoor adventures, recipe sharing, and how to navigate nutrition for people with diabetes.   

MILA CLARKE BUCKLEY Mila Clarke Buckley is a diabetes patient advocate with Type 1.5 Diabetes (LADA), and the founder of The Hangry Woman blog, which shares approachable food and lifestyle tips to help others living with all types of diabetes. HangryWoman.com covers topics like diabetes management, shame and stigma, cooking, and self-care from the perspective of someone living with the chronic condition. Mila’s work has been featured by The New York Times, Healthline, WebMD, GE, Health and Diabetic Living Magazine.  

JULIANNE MAHONEY Julianne Mahoney, aka The Outdoor RD, is a Registered Dietitian focused on bringing intuitive eating to the outdoors and helping women heal their relationships with food, their bodies, and exercise. She brings her expertise in three domains; “Love Your Wild” - sharing tips and tricks for self-love, “Fuel Your Wild” - teaching clients how to re-establish themselves as the experts in their body’s wants and needs (versus listening to diet culture myths), and “Find Your Wild” - working together with clients to find movement that makes their body and soul truly happy.   

DONATE NOW: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes

Up first, we're sharing updates about Take a Hike, Diabetes, which starts on Sunday, November 1. Join us at https://hikingmyfeelings.org/diabetes 

doc.PEACE is transforming mindsets with poetry.  

95% of children and adults experience lack of confidence. Diminished self-esteem suppresses opportunity and engagement. Each person is the sole expert of their Life Road and internal peace and self-worth is found in owning your uniqueness and sharing these qualities, stories, messages and ideas with others. doc.PEACE, bestselling author of doc.PEACE of Mind Method: A Poetic Guide to Living Your best Life provides steps on how transformation seekers can transform into the best version of themselves to make success inevitable. doc.PEACE's unique form of rhythmic poetry, story-telling and practical applications are tailored to spur positive action to help build confidence, strengthen connections, and voice personal truth.  

FIND DOC PEACE: https://docpeaceofmind.com https://instagram.com/doc.peace  

QUESTIONS WE ANSWER:  What were your plans for 2020 before COVID hit and how have you pivoted from those plans?  What is PACT (Personal Affirmation Creation Tool) and what led you to creating it?  What is on the horizon for you and how can we support it?

👑 All hail the queen, let's do good sh*t. 💩  

Part of our #TakeAHikeDiabetes campaign is doing urban hikes around the US to show that you don't have to drive for hours to have an epic outdoor adventure - you can have them in your own backyard. Trails like the Chicago Outerbelt, which are accessible via public transportation, open up recreation opportunities to more folks, which improves community health.  

Which leads me to our first guest, Liz Thomas.  

Liz is a professional hiker, speaker, and writer who held the women’s self-supported speed record on the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail from 2011-2015. Called a "thru-hiking legend" by Outside Magazine for her innovative urban hikes, Liz has also hiked 20+ long distance trails including the Triple Crown of Hiking (AT, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail) and first known traverses of the Wasatch Range and Chinook Trail.  

Liz is a former outdoor staff writer for the NY Times/Wirecutter and current Editor-in-Chief for the outdoor web magazine Treeline Review. She's the author of Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike, which received the 2017 National Outdoor Book Award for Best Instructional book with judges calling it destined to become the “Bible of the Sport.”   

Learn more about Liz at http://www.eathomas.com and instagram.com/lizthomashiking  

Taylor Zehren and Thor Retzlaff are a pair of outdoor enthusiasts and social entrepreneurs that are on a mission to redefine waste. A journey from biological research to a Pan-American overland trip, and a Fulbright scholarship in Argentina, brought Taylor's passions for environmental advocacy and scientific communication into the nonprofit sector. Similarly, Thor transitioned from studying sociology and anthropology in Australia's bush to capturing expedition media at all ends of the Earth, blending his skillset around adventures with purpose.  

In 2018, they Co-Founded Do Good Shit - a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to addressing waste management issues in outdoor recreation areas and their surrounding communities. Upcoming project sites include Mount Hood, Lake Tahoe, Chile, Nepal, Argentina, and more!   

Follow along at dogoodshit.org and instagram.com/do.good.shit  

BOOKS DISCUSSED: 

Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike by Liz Thomas (https://www.amazon.com/Backpacker-Long-Trails-Mastering-Thru-Hike/dp/1493028723)  

Hiking Waterfalls: Southern California  (https://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Waterfalls-Southern-California-Waterfall/dp/1493037242)  

Hiking My Feelings: Stepping Into the Healing Power of Nature (https://hikingmyfeelings.org/book)

How do you turn a dream into reality?  

Join us as we gather around the Virtual Campfire with Craig McKnight and Doah Lee. 

Up first: you're invited to join our #TakeAHikeDiabetes campaign. I had a dream that we created space for a community that hikes one million miles together every year, so now, it's time to make that a reality. We'll be sharing about the 30-day program we created for #DiabetesAwarenessMonth and how you can get involved.  

Then it's time to taste a new muffin from Muffin But Good Vibes. Craig is one of our favorite humans and happens to make the best muffins you'll ever eat. Inspired by songs by local Reggae bands, every flavor is out of this world. Learn about how this business has survived and thrived through COVID and how #WorldCollaboration is the name of the game.  

Doah (singer/songwriter from Doah's Daydream) was born in South Korea, raised in Hawaii, and is now turning her daydreams into reality in San Diego. Doah reminds us all how to show up exactly as we are and embrace all of our being, and you'll feel on fire (in a good way) after you hear her story.

Emily Isaacs, MA, MEd, LPC has been working at the junction of mental health and wilderness for over 15 years. She draws her expertise from extensive time working outdoors with NOLS, Outward Bound, and Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, clinical work in wilderness, hospital, crisis, and private practice settings, and four years as the Executive Director of Women's Wilderness.  

Emily brings together her knowledge and passion helping people transform through trauma, grief, anxiety and depression, via mindfulness and nature-based therapy. She loves exploring the mountains with her two young daughters. Learn more at emilyisaacscounseling.com.  

Join us as Emily shares about learning to find a "sense of place" in nature, leads us through a guided meditation to help us visualize our favorite spots in the outdoors from the comfort of our own homes, explains what is happening in the body when we experience trauma, and how the outdoors can help us soothe ourselves.

Zelzin started her adventures on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017. In 2018, she kicked off the year with the Hayduke Trail, and four days (FOUR!!!) after she completed it, she knocked out the Appalachian Trail. In 2019, she set out on the Continental Divide Trail. When she completed it, she made history. She was the first person from Mexico to earn the Triple Crown of Long Distance hiking. 

For the folks who get jazzed about big miles, let's look at these impressive stats she's put up:  

👑 2017 Pacífic Crest Trail - 2,658 miles (4,278 km), 153 days total. 

👑 2018 Appalachian Trail - 2,190 miles (3,524 km), 100 days total (four days after she completed the 812-mile Hayduke Trail in 60 days). 

👑 2019 Continental Divide Trail 3,018 miles (4,857 km), 145 days total.  

Oh, and if that's not impressive enough, she learned English on the PCT. She didn't speak a word of it before she started thruhiking.   

Join me and Gabaccia as we chat with Zelzin about the inspiration for her adventures, what it means to carry the flag for her country, her plans to create the first long-distance trail in Mexico, and so much more.

Backcountry Adventures  

Up first, join me and Gabaccia as we talk about the backpacking trips we took at the beginning of September. Barry and I backpacked 54+ miles through the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne in Yosemite National Park and Gabaccia completed the Collegiate West from Twin Lakes to Monarch Pass (also part of the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail) for a whopping 76 miles!  

We'll be talking about how we picked our trails, what we did to prepare, what food we ate, what gear we brought, and more. 💩  

Food is one of the most important parts of a backpacking adventure. I keep my Type 2 Diabetes at bay via a primarily plant-based nutrition plan and hiking. On-trail nutrition is a big concern for anyone adventuring with Type 2 Diabetes, so we are excited to introduce you to Kim from Outdoor Herbivore. All of the meals are vegetarian or vegan and Kim is going to be sharing more about how the food is made (it's all dehydrated food that you re-hydrate on the trail) and why her products are a good choice for folks who are managing diabetes on the trail.  

We're also stoked to have Aaron Owens Mayhew from Backcountry Foodie joining us to share a bit about her adventures as a Registered Dietician who makes ultralight backpacking meals. Gabaccia used some of the Backcountry Foodie recipes on the trail during her last adventure and I'm definitely interested in hearing about how I can cut down on expenses and create my own ultralight backpacking food, so this is going to be AMAZING!

Welcome to the Hiking My Feelings Virtual Campfire. This 20-day event is a fundraiser for the Hiking My Feelings Wilderness Wellness Center, the American Diabetes Association, and RAINN - the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.   

Each night from May 26-June 14, 2020 we are going live at 5pm PT to bring inspiration, hope, and healing to the community in these uncertain times. If you find value in what we're sharing here, please consider making a contribution to our non-profit organization.   

You can get tickets to the Virtual Campfire at https://hikingmyfeelings.org/campfire and you can make a one-time donation at https://give.classy.org/hikingmyfeelings  

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JUDITH SADORA, LMFT Judith Sadora is a licensed therapist who works with her clients in the wilderness. Learn more about wilderness therapy, tips and tricks for self-soothing, and more! @sadorawellness on Instagram  

MISS BUFFY WILDE Miss Buffy Wilde is Washington, D.C.'s punk rock princess and she's here to serve us wisdom and tarot readings. Get grounded with Miss Buffy and follow her on Instagram @missbuffywilde  

JESS FIEDLER Jess Fielder is many things - photographer, writer, mother, friend, sister, daughter, spiritual being, and a member of the Hiking My Feelings Family. Every night around the campfire she brought a little extra fire to the Group Gratitude Circle and used the opportunity to educate us, inspire us, and motivate us to do, be, and feel better. You can follow Jess's work at sharkharborsunset.com

We were supposed to be hiking around the Windy City from My 26-June 14 to raise money for the Hiking My Feelings Wilderness Wellness Center, the American Diabetes Association and RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. COVID had other plans, so we postponed our 220-mile hike and pulled together the Hiking My Feelings Virtual Campfire in less than a month. 20 nights, 60+ guests, all gathering in the name of hope, healing, and inspiration.  

Going live for 2+ hours for 18 straight nights so far has been absolutely incredible. These conversations and the energy exchanges happening every night are what keep us going. We've been getting texts and DMs every day asking if we're tired yet and truthfully, we aren't. Our bodies may be desiring more rest, but our spirits are soaring to the highest heights and we are snuggled up in this cocoon of gratitude that you're all helping us co-create.  

This is the world we want to live in. One where stories matter and aren't reduced to listicles and quick consumption. A moment to slow down, connect in community, and remember why we are here: to experience all facets of the human condition. We love every single guest we've had. We love every single donor. We have so much love to give and we are so grateful for those who have shown up to receive it.  

Tonight's campfire is one you won't want to miss. Grizel Williams is joining us to share a bit about her experience hiking THOUSANDS of miles around the US and her passion for starting conversations about mental health. Tui from The Late Ones is joining us for an interview and live acoustic performance, and Jay from the Chicago Outerbelt Alliance is going to share a bit about his mission to make the healing power of nature more accessible by creating a 220-mile urban backpacking loop around the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs.

Welcome to the Hiking My Feelings Virtual Campfire. This 20-day event is a fundraiser for the Hiking My Feelings Wilderness Wellness Center, the American Diabetes Association, and RAINN - the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.   

Each night from May 26-June 14, 2020 we are going live at 5pm PT to bring inspiration, hope, and healing to the community in these uncertain times. If you find value in what we're sharing here, please consider making a contribution to our non-profit organization.   

You can get tickets to the Virtual Campfire at https://hikingmyfeelings.org/campfire and you can make a one-time donation at https://hikingmyfeelings.org/give   

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KENYA + MICHELLE JACKSON-SAULTERS When was the last time you stood in awe of your body and what it can do? Have you ever? Tonight we're sharing Chapter 17 around the campfire, and it's all about understanding how trauma manifests in our minds and bodies, and how the outdoors can help us heal. So who better to kick off this conversation than the humans behind the organization that gave me the language I needed to articulate my experience on the #TransCatalinaTrail - Kenya and Michelle Jackson-Saulters, the founders of the Outdoor Journal Tour and the #WeHikeToHeal Movement. Join us as we chat about the uprising in this country since they were last on the show, how sponsors are reacting (or not reacting), and what it means to find alignment and how to cultivate more of that in your life.  

AARON WOLF @aaronwolfmusic knows there's a Better Way - and that's exactly why he's joining us around the fire at the Reggae Ranch tonight. He's the mastermind beyond the @musicianmasterysummit, an entrepreneur, and a musician.   

EMILY HOPCIAN @emilyhopcian and I first connected when she was writing a piece about people living with diabetes in the outdoors, and we were fast friends after that interview. Born and raised in the US, Emily has been living in Argentina for the past few years writing, creating content, and birthing a beautiful documentary about female tour guides in Nepal. She is a firm believer in the power of storytelling, and I'm excited to hear some of her stories around the fire tonight.