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This is a special, unedited episode with an urgent conversation. Host Angie Lake and former guest Colleen MacDonald sit down to talk about why athletes and outdoor enthusiasts need to be using their voices right now to counter fascism and discrimination in the United States.
This isn’t a conversation with all the answers wrapped in a bow. It’s a starting point and a reminder that the courage you use in your outdoor adventures is the same courage you can use to resist fascism.
If you’ve ever thought “I’m just an athlete” or “why does my voice matter?”, this episode is for you.
Colleen and Angie discuss:
- Why outdoor athletes are uniquely positioned to advocate for justice
- The parallels between athletic discomfort and advocacy discomfort
- How to use your voice even when you don’t have all the answers
- Why brands and sponsored athletes staying silent is so damaging
- The importance of small businesses taking stands over corporate PR statements
- Practical ways to take action: calling senators, donating, storytelling
- How to show up imperfectly and keep going
- Why everything, including your sport, is political
Resources Mentioned
- 5 Calls: links + scripts for calling your elected officials: https://5calls.org
- Find your senators here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
- Find your representative here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
- Chop Wood, Carry Water: Substack of updates and small daily actions (+ scripts) for standing up for democracy: https://chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com
- Immigrant defense project: news, printable cards, resources to help you be a good community member and help your neighbors : https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org
- Immigrant legal resource center: education, training and resources for community: https://www.ilrc.org
- ICE Rapid Response: local numbers, connect with a rapid response team in your area https://icerr.com
- Minnesota Relief Funds
- See Her Outside episode with Alex Garcia
- Our Instagram post
Takeaways
- You’ve been training for this. The discomfort you push through in outdoor sports? That’s the same muscle you use for advocacy.
- Call your senators. It takes under 5 minutes, and those numbers really matter.
- Athletes are uniquely positioned to speak up because we:
- Value outdoor access for everyone
- Operate without guaranteed outcomes
- Show up imperfectly and keep going
- Trust there’s growth on the other side of fear
- Everything is political. You can’t separate your sport from policy. Title IX is why women can play sports professionally. Policy affects your ability to recreate.
- It’s never too late to start. Show up imperfectly. Stumble over your words. That’s okay.
- Advocacy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Find the intersection of your strengths and the causes you care about.
- Shop with small businesses. They’re more nimble and courageous in taking stands aligned with values.
- Storytelling is advocacy. Stories with emotion help people understand and find common ground.
Action Steps
- Call your two US senators today (Google “who are my US state senators”)
- Donate to Minnesota relief funds
- Share this episode with your athletic/outdoor community
- Start a conversation IRL about what’s happening
- Support small outdoor businesses that align with your values
- Tell stories: add emotion to your letters, posts, and conversations
Silence protects fascism. Action disrupts it.
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You can help us close the gender gap outdoors and beyond:
- Become a Trailblazer. Your Adventure Fundraiser makes wilderness experiences possible for girls and women.
- Check out the Summit Scholarship Foundation.
- Share this episode with a friend or family member.
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The Cairn Project
Mobilizing to empower young women in the outdoors through grantmaking.