Life In Motion

In this episode we interview Brooke Widmar, the Education Outreach Coordinator of James River Basin Partnership. Join us as we dive into the world of environmental education and learn about the amazing work being done by them. Brooke's journey with the organization began in fifth grade, when she attended one of their Watershed Festivals. Today, she works with schools and local organizations to raise awareness for water quality and promote cleanups in the community. James River Basin Partnership has helped to remove over 2 tons of trash from local waterways in 2022 alone, including dozens of tires and over 800 bags of trash. If you've ever wondered how a small nonprofit can make a big impact in protecting our water resources, then this one's for you! Want to support their mission? For the month of March Illumine is donating 20% of all sales to James River Basin Partnership with the limited edition Earthday Collection. Shop now at www.illuminecollect.com Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors.

In this episode we interview Randell Green, the host of the Any Given Runway Podcast. Join us as we explore Randell's fascinating journey, from growing up in a rural town outside of Phoenix to attending Arizona State University and becoming addicted to new experiences. Randell's passion for travel and learning has taken him to dozens of countries, and has learned more through his travels than his five degrees. It's also the reason behind the Any Given Runway Podcast. Randell aims to share his experiences and the people he meets along the way, while exploring new cultures through travel. Learn the inspiration behind starting the podcast, the guests he has featured on the show, and some of his favorite travel destinations. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just starting to explore the world, this one's for you! Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight the approachable and authentic parts of outdoor recreation. Said simply - they “keep it real”. Fin

In this episode we interview Laura Rodriguez (she/her) and Mary Traylor (they/she) of Justice Outside. Growing up in LA, Mary always loved the outdoor access it had to offer. They also enjoyed experiences at an immersive outdoor camp, which influenced their future. Prior to becoming the Director of Programs at Justice Outside, Mary was an educator. This opened their eyes to the lack of outdoor access kids of color had - even though it was in their own backyard. Laura grew up in rural California on a dairy farm, where she spent her childhood running around and exploring the outdoors. Even after all that, it wasn't until 29 that she started camping and truly took on outdoor recreational activities. Like Mary, Laura also noticed that people that looked like her weren't participating in these same adventures. For her it was about the duality of what is real about representation and lack of access to the many ways to participate in the outdoors. Now at Justice Outside, they're helping advance r

In this episode we interview California's Deputy Secretary for Access, Katherine Toy. Growing up in San Francisco, Katherine has always loved the state of California and its outdoor resources. As a Girl Scout she enjoyed camping trips and learning survival tactics, but enjoyed being a leader while making a difference in her community the most. Then there was history. After finding an old box of family photos showing her Chinese American heritage, all she wanted was to learn more. This inspired her to become a history teacher and show her students that history doesn't have to happen to them, rather they can make history for themselves. Over the years Katherine's love for both history and the outdoors led her to transitioning away from the classroom and into the parks. Now as California's Deputy Secretary for Access, Katherine is helping expand equitable outdoor access to public lands, museums and historic spaces within the state. If you've ever wondered how history and a passion for se

In this episode we interview Kate and Brooke of Jacob's Chance. Kate started Jacob's Chance 15 years ago after seeing parents with their kids on the baseball field instead of in the stands. As she got closer she saw they were down there because the children had disabilities. Kate realized she had taken for granted being able to proudly watch her own kids from the stands. Why couldn't those parents experience the same feeling? After rallying volunteers she kicked off their first program - Buddy Ball. It allowed parents to get off of the field and watch their kids from the stands. From there they grew to arts, social and even outdoor programs. Last year alone Jacob's Chance served over 500 families. If you've ever wondered how a big heart can change peoples lives, then this one's for you! Want to support their mission? For the month of February Illumine is donating 20% of all sales to Jacob's Chance with the limited edition Empower, Inclusivity, Growth Collection. Shop now at www.illuminecollect.

In this episode we interview Meg Carney of Outdoor Minimalist. Growing up in Minnesota Meg spent time with her family exploring the outdoors. During college she expanded those adventures to things like rock climbing and backpacking. After graduating Meg found herself working within the outdoor industry and always writing. Not only for publications such as Field & Stream Magazine, but for herself as well. Soon she published the book, 'The Outdoor Minimalist', which focuses on wasting less while hiking, backpacking and camping. 'The Outdoor Minimalist Podcast' became an extension of the book as a way to expand her message. Each episode Meg sits down with industry experts and sustainable brands to discuss ways to be mindful of your impact on the environment with every adventure. If you've ever wondered how you can be more intentional with the decisions you make in the outdoors, then this one's for you! Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight the ap

In this episode we interview Justin Yoder of LGBT+ Outdoors. Growing up in a small town in Missouri, Justin was no stranger to the outdoors. Always camping and exploring, his love for being outside continued to grow. He also had a love for Africa - with Nat Geo being to blame. Justin decided to start a nonprofit to support the children of Africa while combating Aids/HIV. Shortly after he 'came out', and while navigating his new journey came to a realization - there was an inherent lack of diversity present in the outdoor space for the LGBT+ community. This discovery inspired him to start LGBT+ Outdoors as a safe haven for others to share their love for the outdoors. Now with local chapters across the country, clinics and special events, their nonprofit is impacting hundreds. If you've ever wondered why the outdoors is for everyone and how you can change your way of thinking, then this one's for you! Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands

In this episode we interview Nicole Hamel who is a hiker, explorer and traveling nurse. Growing up in Massachusetts, getting outside to ski and snowboard on the White Mountains was a norm. She even hiked Mount Washington at only 6 years old. As Nicole got older, she lost interest in the outdoors - at least until college. A group of friends doing the New Hampshire 48 invited her on a hike. Uncomfortable, out of shape and slow - they didn't invite Nicole on another hike. Little did she know this would spark something within her. She soon found herself hiking regularly, building her strength and always in search of the next trail. Nicole couldn't get enough of how she felt both mentally and physically after a hike. The best part? Being a traveling nurse let her explore new cities, hike new trails and meet new people. The flexibility also allowed her to take months off at a time, which was perfect for her dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail; which she completed in 2022. If you've ever wondered how nursing and a

In this episode we interview Colin Harris of Take Me Outside. Growing up in Canada, Colin had a great appreciation for its vast landscape. He was also inspired by Terry Fox's story; the man who ran across Canada to raise awareness for cancer. This inspiration turned to a dream, and eventually a reality. But Colin wanted to raise awareness for something else - outdoor education. He founded Take Me Outside and set off across the country. Along the way, he stopped at 80 schools and engaged 20,000 students in the conversation of how to be active and connected to nature. The mission didn't stop there. Now, Take Me Outside works with organizations, school boards and individuals on initiatives that encourage thousands of youth to spend more time outside and less in front of a screen. If you've ever wondered the benefits of the outdoors and the impact it can have, then this one's for you! Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight the approachab

In this episode we interview Sydney Williams of Hiking My Feelings. After being a recently diagnosed diabetic and quitting two jobs, Sydney hiked atop a mountain in hopes to find the answers she was looking for. Rather than stunning 360º views, the only thing to see were clouds. Still, Sydney felt a certain calm. The reason? Because instead of eating and drinking her feelings, she was hiking her feelings. A light bulb went off. Next thing she knew she sold everything to hit the road, share her story and introduce others the healing powers of nature. Over 5 years later her nonprofit is helping hundreds reconnect with themselves and reconnect with nature. If you've ever wondered how simple it is to find wellness in the wilderness, then this one's for you! Want to support their mission? For the month of January Illumine is donating 20% of all sales to Hiking My Feelings with the limited edition Wellness in the Wilderness Collection. Shop now at www.illuminecollect.com Life in M

In this episode we interview Alex Bailey of Black Outside. As a kid Alex fell in love with the outdoors every time he visited his grandparent's farm and helped in their garden. There was just something about getting his hands dirty. During summer break in college he decided to be a camp counselor and the experience transformed his lens on the power that nature has on youth. One day while chasing waterfalls (and jumping in them) Alex noticed there weren't any kids around that looked like him. He knew that needed to change, but saved that thought for another date. Later he joined Teach For America, where his memory of the waterfall was sparked. Alex needed to find a way to send kids of color to summer camps like he experienced. So what did he do? Start Black Outside, a nonprofit that reconnects Black and African/American youth with the outdoors. Now they're giving hundreds of kids the opportunity to get outside. If you've ever wondered how a simple passion can make a big impact, then th

In this episode we interview eco-explorer Mario Rigby. Born in Turks & Caicos, Mario spent his childhood in Germany, before moving to Toronto as a teen. The city changed his perspective of the outdoors, until one day he decided to walk the length of Africa. While training, he reconnected with nature, much as he did on the island with his brother. But what inspired him to take on such a feat? Mario had aspirations of becoming a track and field olympian and was competing at the highest level. That was until lack of funding and injuries put things on pause. He fell back on a 9 to 5, but as an olympian, that wasn't going to cut it. Mario missed the challenges of competition. He decided to rekindle his drive by exploring places others would only see in National Geographic - to entrench himself in their culture and stories while sharing them with the world. Mario spent 2 years trekking across Africa, an immersive experience that was more about the people than it was about the adventure. Now Mario

In this episode we interview Berkeley Bryant of Blue Sky Funders Forum. Growing up in Texas, Berkeley spent a lot of time running around outside. In middle school she stumbled upon Sea Camp, which took her love for the outdoors to the next level. With her mind set on being a marine biologist, things took a turn when Berkeley realized she didn't want to study nature - she wanted to conserve it. That led her to earn a degree in environmental education and eventually became the social media manager at North Carolina State's College of Natural Resources. While Berkeley didn't see it at the time, this was the perfect opportunity to connect with others in the field. One recommended looking at environmental education through a different lens and suggested Blue Sky Funders Forum. It was an obvious fit for her love of the outdoors and educational background. Now as the program coordinator she's helping Blue Sky Funders Forum fulfill their mission of inspiring philanthropy that supports th

In this episode we interview Caulin Donaldson aka TrashCaulin, who's on a mission to keep Florida beautiful by picking up trash everyday. So how did it all start? Growing up in Florida, Caulin fell in love with the ocean and sharing it with vacationers. But there's one thing he couldn't understand while renting out cabanas and jetskis. After commenting that Caulin had the best job ever working on the water all day, they'd proceed to leave with their trash scattered everywhere. How could someone that calls the beach the greatest place ever just leave it to ruin when vacation was over? Rather than being stuck looking at it all day, he decided to do something about it - start a conversation online. His documentation of daily trash cleanups snowballed into similar cleanups by others. Now he's inspiring millions to take action, while also working with local municipalities and tourists to keep their beaches clean. If you've ever wondered how awareness is so contagious, then this one's for you! Life in Motion is bro

In this episode we interview Lexie Gritlefeld of California Outdoor Recreation Partnership. Lexie grew up in California and through hiking, trail running and alpine skiing, naturally fell in love with the outdoors. In college she became disconnected with the outside, but that all changed when Lexie and her dad hiked Mt Whitney together. Getting back to what she loved so much as a kid was exactly what she needed. Being off the grid also gave Lexie a convenient way to disconnect from her career in politics. After spending too much money on gas to ski and snowboard at Mammoth, she decided to make the move. Not a year later Lexie took the opportunity with California Outdoor Recreation Partnership - the perfect fit for her passion for outdoor advocacy. Now as the membership director she's building a passionate community that powers a voice for the outdoor recreation industry to shape policy, support investments, and engage an inclusive community of outdoor participants in California around the benefits o

In this episode we interview Jade Harvey of The Outdoor Learning Store. Growing up England, Jade spent her childhood exploring its beautiful green spaces, along with those in Europe. Once she got older, Jade and her dad visited the Grand Canyon, where she became fascinated with how it was formed. She decided to study geology at university and through her learnings felt even more connected with the outdoors. Once graduating, Jade traveled the world and soon found herself sharing her passion for the outdoors with teachers and students alike. It wasn't until visiting Canada that she stumbled upon what would become The Outdoor Learning Store. Now she connects the outdoors with the education community, while showing them its physical, emotional and mental health benefits. If you've ever wondered the many benefits of the outdoors and how it can be applied to education - no matter the subject, then this one's for you! Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highligh

In this episode we interview Kelsey Boyer of Save A Brain. Growing up in Pennsylvania, snowboarding consumed her life, and her parents couldn't have been more supportive. They traveled the East Coast, hitting all the local contests. Eventually it was time to chase bigger mountains out west. Kelsey landed in Mount Hood and decided to get more serious about competing. Soon she was in Breckenridge to give it one last shot. During that time she had 8+ head hits in a 2 month period. The final one left her brain bleeding, only she didn't know until 2 weeks later. She was experiencing no sleep and mood swings, but the doctors said everything was fine. Kelsey decided enough was enough and went to the ER for a CT scan. The results showed her brain was bleeding which required emergency brain surgery. Kelsey's road to recovery wasn't an easy one, but she persevered. This experience inspired her to start Save A Brain to provide education, encourage prevention and spread awareness of the long term phys

In this episode we interview Ben Sherman of Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers. Ben spent a lot of time outdoors as a kid. Not only did he love exploring nature, but he loved learning how to protect it. This curiosity led him to study biology and environmental science. After traveling the country to teach and perform research, Ben landed in Colorado, where he found Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers. He was immediately impressed with the tangible impact they had. Now as the Education Director he's connecting people with the outdoors through education, restoration and conservation. With 1,304 volunteers, 67 different projects and 10,084 hours completed in 2022 alone, it's easy to see the difference they're making. If you've ever been curious about protecting the outdoors, or wondered why you should always surround yourself with passionate people, then this one's for you! Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight the approachable and authe

In this episode we interview Ashley and Lennon who are living full time in their RV. Growing up, they both loved the outdoors and were influenced by their parents to travel. It wasn't until 2008 that they met by chance. You could say it was love at first sight (more on that in the episode), and judging how things turned out it was fate. Soon they got married and began traveling the world together. Once COVID hit they realized all they needed was each other and turned to a minimalist lifestyle. After much planning, they sold everything, bought a RV and hit the road. There were some hiccups getting started, but they made the right choice. Now they're on a mission of hitting all 50 states as they please. If you've ever wondered what goes into living a life on the road, how to budget for it, or just want a good love story, then this one's for you! Tweet us and let us know what you think of this episode! @illuminecollect Find more episodes at https://illuminecollect.com/blogs/news/life-in-motion-pod

In this episode we interview Lauren Pyle of Environmental Educators of North Carolina. Growing up in North Carolina, Lauren was no stranger to the outdoors, but fell into environmental education by accident. She went to school to be a biologist and ended up studying bats. Lauren loved her job and being outdoors, but was missing the human element. Then one summer she worked as a camp instructor and discovered nonformal education. She immediately fell in love with being able to teach others about the outdoors - in the outdoors. Fast forward to now, where she's the Director of Environmental Educators of North Carolina. They're helping build connections, offering professional development and promoting excellence within North Carolina's environmental educator community. If you've ever wondered how we all have a role in environmental education, then this one's for you! Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight the approachable and a