The Trail Ahead

Join us on The Trail Ahead

Episode Summary

Can we diversify the outdoors, make historically exclusive places feel inclusive, and reckon with the long-ignored truths about the racism and erasure present in well-established environmental movements? We can. And we have to. Join athletes and environmental advocates Faith E. Briggs and Addie Thompson as they dig into conversations at the intersection of race, environment, history and culture. They talk to thought-leaders, athletes, activists, artists, scientists, comedians — folks from all walks of life.

Episode Notes

Can we diversify the outdoors, make historically exclusive places feel inclusive, and reckon with the long-ignored truths about the racism and erasure present in well-established environmental movements? We can. And we have to.

Join athletes and environmental advocates Faith E. Briggs and Addie Thompson as they dig into conversations at the intersection of race, environment, history and culture. They talk to thought-leaders, athletes, activists, artists, scientists, comedians — folks from all walks of life. Together, they aim to galvanize a dialogue in the outdoors that is authentic, sustained and leads to tangible change. Representation matters, so Faith and Addie are inviting everyone to the table to have hard, messy conversations and work toward being better co-conspirators.

First episode drops March 30!

Presented by Merrell and Patagonia.

Episode Transcription

Faith E. Briggs: 

Hi, I’m Faith E. Briggs.

Addie Thompson:

And I’m Addie Thompson. And we’re the co-hosts of The Trail Ahead, a podcast that brings you conversations at the intersection of race, environment, history and culture. 

Jordan MarieDaniel:

Every single part of the lands that we have access to, that we get to run on, walk on recreation, that we get to visit are stolen indigenous lands. 

Brooklyn Bell: 

People say things like, oh, black people are just not interested in the outdoors.  But like, gosh, historically, like all of this is taken from us.

Thompson: 

I come to these conversations as a white girl from Maine - the original Portland - ancestral territory of the Wabanaki Confederacy. 

Briggs: 

And I’m a multiracial Black woman with East Coast roots. While my heart is perpetually bbqing on a Brooklyn rooftop, I live in the other Portland, on the rightful homelands of the Multnomah, Chinook and many other tribes who once made their homes here. In each episode, we’ll feature thought-leaders in this space. They’re athletes, activists, artists, scientists, comedians... folks from all walks of life. 

Thompson: 

They’ll bring their unique perspectives and skills and help us dig into sometimes uncomfortable, always fascinating conversations. We talk about identity, conservation, privilege and power...

Selema Masekela: 

We are done placating your feelings for feeling like you're losing abundance of space, that someone made you confused into thinking you had ownership of. 

Layel Camargo: 

We've allowed these white supremacist ideals of us not being good enough that’s seeped into this beautiful relationship of us moving our bodies and being connected with nature.  

Thompson: 

We met in the Pacific Northwest, running countless miles on our favorite trails. 

Briggs: 

And while driving to the trailhead or eating burritos post-run,

Thompson: 

...we had conversations that we realize a lot of people don’t get to have.

Briggs: 

...and are afraid to have, afraid to get wrong. But we can’t afford to be afraid. We have to be better listeners and have those messy conversations to truly be in solidarity.

Danni Washington:

For people who choose to be racists, like, gosh, I feel really bad for them because they're just missing out. They are missing out.

Thompson: 

So we’re bringing these conversations to you, and we’re beyond excited about the brilliant, powerful and hilarious folks we get to talk to.

Masekela:

Let’s see those hands, aaaah!

[laughter]

Briggs: 

This will be raw and filled with vulnerability, so we’re taking it step by step. We want you with us, moving forward on the Trail Ahead.

Our first episode drops March 30th! You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and anywhere you enjoy your favorite podcasts. For more information, you can go to our website: ThisLandDoc.com/TheTrailAhead.