Noël Russell: Leading with Curiosity as the Way to Change

04/12/22 • 66 min

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In this episode of The Trail Ahead, Addie and Faith are joined by Noël Russell. Noël is a writer, van lifer, and dog-mom who works in digital marketing, and so much more. She’s someone whose words deeply resonate with Faith especially when it comes to encouragement and truth.

Today, Noël shares the story of her upbringing and how it played a formative role in her life. She also discusses how she aggregates being in this outdoor environment with both work and play, her relationship with stories and storytelling, and what contentment has to do with being outdoorsy. A huge theme for Noël is contentment as a radical state of mind, especially how it allows her to be kinder to herself.

Then, they all discuss why curiosity is key especially when it comes to championing change. From balancing the idea of discovering new places versus keeping some of them hidden and untouched, Noël’s conversation with Faith and Addie is sure to spark your curiosity.

Previous Episode

José González: Discovering the Multitudes of You

Today, José joins the podcast to share his views on the power that words hold, how we can view it from a responsible and respectful lens, and how we can be more mindful when it comes to the use of language. José also discusses how his love for the sci-fi genre has inspired his work while influencing the way he approaches equity. From using memes as radical acts to understanding friendships as a supporting pillar in communities of activism, this conversation addresses the topics of culture and expression of the multitudes of being human.

Follow José on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josebilingue/
Check out José’s website: http://www.josegagonzalez.com/
The Outdoorist Oath, learn more and get involved! https://www.outdooristoath.org/
“Sierra Club Says It Must Confront the Racism of John Muir” in the New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/us/sierra-club-john-muir.html
“Reckoning with the League Founders’ Eugenics Past” from Save the Redwoods League,
https://www.savetheredwoods.org/blog/reckoning-with-the-league-founders-eugenics-past/

Next Episode

Laura Edmondson: Rest, Our Right Relationship with Nature, and Community Care

Laura is a digital educator who specifically speaks on race and equity in the outdoors and the importance of rest and self care. She is multiracial and a transracial adoptee, she is climber and a core member of Brown Girls Climb and an outdoor enthusiast. She also is a DEI strategist and consultant. She is a full time van-lifer and digital nomad. She is also vegan. We met up with Laura while she was living in an artist community in New Mexico. She is also the host of a podcast "Let us Rest."

She joins the podcast today to chat all about her work as a digital educator, especially when it comes to approaching uncomfortable topics on race and holding space for different educational approaches. Laura also speaks about the way her different identities influence her work as a digital creator, acknowledging the difference between self-care and community care, and her early introduction into sustainability. Tune in to this conversation and listen to Laura’s eye-opening perspective on race, respect, and rest.

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