Life In Motion

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

In this episode we interview Brent Stubblefield of Join or Die Knives. Brent grew up in Alabama, eventually finding himself in Chicago to work in an inner city mission as a full time volunteer. His job was simple - keep their community shelter from falling apart. That's where Brent honed his skills in woodworking, masonry and more. As he learned the tricks of the trade, he picked up various hobbies and personal projects. Brent soon found himself gravitating to one thing in particular - knife making. He and his family moved to Richmond, which is where his hobby took on a full time role. Now at Join or Die Knives he's helping others enjoy the craft, while building a community around it. If you've ever wondered how your passion can be less of a career and more of a way to build community, 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 authentic parts of outdoor recreation. Said simply - they “k

In this episode we interview Tommy Corey who's an outdoor photographer, backpacker and storyteller. Growing up in California, Tommy had a natural love for the outdoors. At 12 his dad gave him a camera, but didn't know the impact it would have on his life. His photography evolved from casual outdoor photos with his friends to meaningful humanitarian projects. In his 20's Tommy felt that his creativity wasn't what it used to be and decided he needed to switch things up. How? By thru-hiking the 2,650 Pacific Crest Trail. It was exactly what he needed. Tommy even created a new project during the adventure, dubbed 'Hiker Trash Vogue' that featured fellow hikers he met along the way. If you've ever wondered how you can use your own passion to tell the stories of others, 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 authentic parts of outdoor recreation. Said simply - they “keep it real”

In this episode we interview Casey Willax who lives the dream through snowboarding, surfing, traveling and more. Casey grew up on the east coast, but didn't start snowboarding until high school. He was hooked. Weekend trips turned into competitions, and competitions turned into capturing the moment on video. Eventually Casey took on the video thing full time with his channel on YouTube - not to just share all the awesome things he was doing, but to help others see what's possible. Each episode shares travel tips, health tips, riding tips and more. If you've ever wondered why you should go all in on something you're 100% about and how you can use that passion to help others, 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 authentic parts of outdoor recreation. Said simply - they “keep it real”. Find them online at actualoutdoors.com or on Instagram at @actualoutdoors. Tweet us and let us know what you think

In this episode we interview Chris Holloway of Moore Overlanding and Off-Road Expo. Chris has always been an outdoor, car and gadget enthusiast - making the overland community a perfect fit for him. As his passion for off-roading grew, he realized that something was missing to bring that outdoor community together. Chris's solution? The Moore Expo. Now, each year they bring overland enthusiasts from all over the world to enjoy the passion they share. Taking it a step further they educate participants on gadgets, setups and survival skills. If you’ve ever been curious about the overland community, or just want to know where to start, then this ones 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”. Find them online at actualoutdoors.com or on Instagram at @actualoutdoors. Tweet us and let us know what you think of this episode! @illuminecollect

In this episode we interview Kathleen Neves of the YouTube Channel, The Hungry Hiker. Her first day hike was Half Dome in Yosemite - it was terrible. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. After that experience Kathleen decided to take a break from hiking, until her friends convinced her to get back on the trail. She caught the hiking bug once again - becoming obsessed with the Pacific Crest Trail. Kathleen set her mind to thru hiking the entire trail, spending months preparing and educating herself. It ended up being the best decision she ever made. Her experience inspired her to help other women get outdoors by creating The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System and offering tips on The Hungry Hiker. If you’ve always wanted to go thru hiking, but aren't sure where to start, then this ones 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”. Find them on

In this episode we interview Katie McLernan of Beyond Boundaries, a nonprofit that believes adventure is for everyone. Growing up in the mountains of Charlottesville VA, Katie took the outdoors for granted. She decided to go to college at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond to get a taste of the city life. To her surprise she found herself missing the outdoors, but lucky for her it wasn't long until she saw that Richmond has a great outdoor community. A weekend camping trip inspired Katie to go all in - from hiking to rock climbing and everything in between. Soon after, she got involved with Beyond Boundaries, which allowed her passions to shine through. Now she helps veterans, individuals with disabilities, at risk youth and substance recovery programs explore the outdoors. If you’ve ever wondered why adventure is for everyone and how it can help everyone, then this ones for you! Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight