When Women Fly - 046 Highlights with Patagonia Surf Ambassador Belinda Baggs on Motherhood, Climate Activism, and Surfing

046 Highlights with Patagonia Surf Ambassador Belinda Baggs on Motherhood, Climate Activism, and Surfing

09/02/21 • 22 min

Today, we highlight Belinda Baggs in the eighth installment of our Summer Series. As a world-renowned Australian longboard surfer, mother, and surf ambassador for Patagonia, Belinda leverages her platform to fight for climate justice.
In this episode, Belinda and Sylvia discuss the immediacy of the climate crisis. Belinda shares how her nonprofit Save Our Coast is working to inform, inspire, and empower local communities to care for the coastal ecosystem. Belinda provides listeners with insight into how we can play our part in the battle against climate change.
Topics Include:

Longboard surfing and flying like a pelican
Climate activism
Motherhood
Surfing as an art form and a lifestyle
Harnessing feminine energy as a surfer
Toxic wetsuits and better ecological alternatives
How having a child influences Belinda as an athlete
And other topics...

Aussie native Belinda Baggs is a surfer known for her elegant, technical longboard style. Formerly third in the world at the Women’s World Longboard Championship, the Patagonia ambassador and mother-of-one retired from competing after finding it at odds with her enjoyment and connection with the water.
You can follow Belinda on social media (get ready for some stunning surf and ocean shots) via www.instagram.com/belindabaggs
She is also in surf films “Sprout”, “Dear and Yonder” and “Come Hell or High Water”. Belinda (or Bindy, as she’s often referred to) gained notoriety in the early aughts for her fancy footwork and her ability to make just about anything she did on a log look inimitably elegant. But as of late, the stylish Australian has been using her platform as a pro surfer and an ambassador for Patagonia to create more than just beautiful surf clips. Belinda has been busy raising awareness about environmental issues through the nonprofit Surfers For Climate.

Resourced Mentioned:
https://www.saveourcoast.org.au
https://www.patagonia.com
https://www.instagram.com/belindabaggs/
@surfersforclimate
#patagoniaaus
August 14th Seismic Survey Vessel Protest - https://www.instagram.com/p/CSlU6EcL9c6/
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Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
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Email – [email protected]

Longboard surfing and flying like a pelican
Climate activism
Motherhood
Surfing as an art form and a lifestyle
Harnessing feminine energy as a surfer
Toxic wetsuits and better ecological alternatives
How having a child influences Belinda as an athlete
And other topics...

Previous Episode

045 Highlights with Shannon Polson: What You Need to Know About Grit and Nurturing Optimism Today

Today, we highlight Shannon Huffman Polson in the seventh installment of our Summer Series. Having gleaned insights from serving in one of the most male-dominated organizations in the world, Shannon has become a thought leader on the subject of grit. Shannon teaches how to cultivate grit and resilience through introspection and knowledge of self.
Shannon was one of the first women to fly an Apache helicopter for the US Army, and has since gone on to become an author and keynote speaker.
In this episode, Sylvia and Shannon talk a lot about grit, what it is, how it is built and what the soft underbelly looks like. How do we face challenges and with enough determination, get to the other side. This is a conversation about reflection and self awareness as the means to understand our personal values and writing with self-study as a tool for engaging the complex emotions and stories that steer our lives. Grab the pen of fate to rewrite your story, your mindset and your future!
Topics Include:

Growing up in Alaska
Defining "grit"
The Grit Triad– Commit, Learn, Launch
How we can develop grit like a muscle
Raising gritty kids
Why grit is not a sustainable operating mode and mindset
The evolving literature on grit and resilience
Discovering and aligning with our core values
Shannon’s course on grit and the Grit Institue
And other topics...

Shannon Huffman Polson studied English Literature and art history at Duke University. She became one of the first women to fly Apache helicopters, serving on three continents and leading two flight platoons and a line company. During school and flying, she pursued skydiving, scuba diving, big-mountain climbing and long-course triathlons. Polson earned her MBA at the Tuck School at Dartmouth, and then later earned a MFA in Writing in Seattle Pacific University. More recently, Shannon founded The Grit Institute where she coaches people on developing grit in careers and workplaces. She lives with her family in rural Washington state where they experienced the hardship of a wildfire in July 2021 which spared her home and garden but scorched the surrounding beloved land.
Connect with Shannon:
Website – https://www.shannonpolson.com/
North of Hope by Shannon Huffman Polson
The Grit Factor by Shannon Huffman Polson
Email [email protected] for GOING FOR GRIT Discount Code
Additional Resources:
Angela Duckworth’s work on grit–
https://angeladuckworth.com/
https://characterlab.org/
Book - Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset
https://www.mindsetworks.com/
Want to connect? Visit us online and signup for the monthly WWF newsletter!
Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest – @whenwomenfly
Email – [email protected]

Next Episode

047 Highlights with Runner Sasha Gollish on Engineering Performance, the Courage Vulnerability Dyad, and Outdoor Adventure

Today, we highlight Sasha Gollish in the ninth installment of our Summer Series. Sasha is a professional runner, engineer, speaker, and educator. She was named female athlete of the year in 2015 and has given talks on subjects ranging from engineering to resilience.
In this episode, Sylvia and Sasha discuss engineering performance as an athlete, adventure outdoors, mindset, courage, fear and measuring success. Sasha shares her passion for making fast turns on the track and on the slopes, what the metaphor of flight means to her, the power of setting intentions, and much more.
Topics Include:

Balancing being a scientist and an athlete
Performance training and engineering
The rejuvenating power of the outdoors
Antifragile and resilient systems
Collaborating with Oiselle
Investigating our spiritual nature
The connection between risk and kindness
And other topics...

Sasha Gollish is a Canadian competitive runner and professional engineer. She won a gold medal in the half-marathon at the 2013 Maccabiah Games, a bronze medal in the 1500 m at the 2015 Pan American Games, and gold medals at the 2017 Maccabiah Games in the 800m, 1,500m, and 5,000m events. She works as a civil engineer and teaches at University of Toronto. She is also a competitive cyclist, duathlete, triathlete, and ultimate frisbee player.
Sasha is an elite athlete with sponsor Oiselle. She uses #AlwaysPlay as a good reminder to enjoy the moment, to put a smile on your face even when things are challenging, and to savour the adventure.
Resources Mentioned:
https://www.sashagollish.com/
https://www.oiselle.com/
Listen to our full episode with Sasha here
Want to connect? Visit us online and signup for the monthly WWF newsletter!
Website – https://www.whenwomenfly.com/
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest – @whenwomenfly
Email – [email protected]