How Unlikely Hikers Is Creating Community and Belonging Outside — Episode 103

Last week we celebrated National Take a Hike Day, and today on
the show we’re continuing our celebrations of the Hike Your Turf
campaign in partnership with our friends at Merrell. All month
long, we’ve been discussing the importance of getting outside and
the need for equitable access to parks, trails, green spaces and
more.


On today’s episode, I’m so excited to welcome one of Merrell’s
ambassadors to chat about her journey to becoming an outdoor
leader, advocate and community builder. Jenny Bruso is the
founder of Unlikely Hikers, which is an incredible community she
created when she discovered a connection with nature, but found
outdoor culture to be hostile to those who don’t fit the white,
straight-size, cishet-normative, able-bodied mold.


Unlikely Hikers is a diverse, anti-racist, body-liberating
outdoor community featuring the underrepresented outdoorsperson.
I’m so grateful to Jenny for joining me on the show to discuss
how this community is creating a sense of belonging for people
who are often underrepresented or made to feel like they don't
have a place in outdoor spaces.


Tune in to the full episode below to learn more about Jenny and
her inspiration behind creating Unlikely Hikers. You’ll also
learn:


How Jenny reframes what it means to be “outdoorsy.”

How Unlikely Hikers is showing the diverse ways people are
getting outside and creating space for the underrepresented
outdoorsperson.

How the changing seasons are a great metaphor for the changes
we go through in life.

The importance of honoring Indigenous communities and
acknowledging the stolen lands we are recreating on.

How Jenny feels when she hears someone went on their first
hike because of something they saw on Unlikely Hikers.

Why we should challenge the notion of “being our best selves”
all the time and just do the best with what we’ve got, and a
whole lot more good stuff!



Related Links:


Unlikely Hikers on Instagram

Jenny Bruso on Instagram

Jenny Bruso and Unlikely Hikers Website

Unlikely Hikers Podcast