Trail Blazers: 5 Lady Publications We Love

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Let’s face it: journalism about the outdoors is heavily male dominated. Men make up the majority of editors, writers, guests -- and yes, even audiences. But there’s a growing contingent of women who are making their mark in the field. In honor of International Women’s Day -- and as an all-female team ourselves -- we wanted to highlight some of the best outdoor-related lady publications.

Here’s a list of some of our favorite podcasts, magazines, and digital media organizations that are headed by -- and regularly feature -- women.

Misadventures

Misadventures is a magazine by, for, and about women. Launched in 2013, it was born out of frustration that most outdoor magazines were edited and written by men. Those magazines overwhelmingly featured men in stories and photos, and catered to male audiences. Misadventures founders Zoe Balaconis, Marybeth Campeau, and Jessica Malordy wanted to offer quality journalism about nature and adventure to the other half of the population. Their magazine has an all-female staff and - as they put it - “champions women who embrace creativity, take risks, and go out and beyond.”

Alpinist

Alpinist is a magazine focused on alpinism and adventure climbing, with stories ranging from extraordinary ascents, to personal accounts of lifestyles in some of the world’s most extreme places. The magazine’s editor in chief is an accomplished female journalist named Katie Ives, who is working to bring more women into the spotlight.

Human Race

Human Race is a podcast from Runner’s World. Each episode tells a story about runners and the world of running -- from the world’s toughest races, to the surprising moments of kindness you find behind the scenes. The show is hosted by writer and journalist Rachel Swaby, author of the book “Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science—and the World.”

Terra Incognita

Terra Incognita is an online ecofeminist magazine “dedicated to stirring the pot in the adventure world.” Run by a woman named Erin Monahan, the publication is anything but neutral in its political and social leanings: its mission involves challenging consumerism, fighting patriarchy, and overturning societal norms that exclude and marginalize. Stories impugn the dismissiveness with which women in outdoor leadership roles are often treated, offer impassioned pleas to make the outdoors more inclusive of minorities, and advocate unapologetically for thoughtful environmental stewardship.

She Explores

She Explores is a website and podcast featuring outdoor stories, photographs and artwork by women. With topics ranging from solo hikes, to life in the remotest corners of Alaska, the stories offer inspiration and resources for women to get out and connect with nature (and with themselves). Headed by Gale Straub, this is another all-female team.

 

Move over, boys: 10 great stories featuring women

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Jordan wifs-Brock at Infinitus, an 888-km trail running race in vermont. (Photo by victoria petryshyn)

Jordan wifs-Brock at Infinitus, an 888-km trail running race in vermont. (Photo by victoria petryshyn)

Looking for good listening material for International Women's Day? Here are 10 of our favorite Out There stories by and about women:

 

Out There listed as one of top 8 outdoor podcasts

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Photo by Abbie Barronian

Photo by Abbie Barronian

We're thrilled to be among Adventure Journal's top picks for podcasts about the outdoors! 

Abbie Barronian, who compiled the list of favorites, describes Out There's stories as being told "with the eye of a journalist and the empathy, kindness, and open-mindedness of a traditional thru-hiker." 

The show is in good company: other podcasts Barronian mentions include "Outside/In," "She Explores," and the time-honored "Dirtbag Diaries."

Adventure Journal is an online magazine founded by the West Coast editor of National Geographic Adventure. It is dedicated to highlighting outdoor adventure of all varieties.

Help Out There grow! (And win things).

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We have big plans for Out There. We want to bring you more content you'll love, grow our listener base, and create a vibrant community around the show. In order to achieve those goals, we need your help.

We just need three minutes of your time (literally, THREE minutes) to take our audience survey. If you complete the survey, you will:

1) Have our undying gratitude
2) Feel like a million dollars for having supported an independent podcast that exists to bring you stories you love, and
3) Be entered into a drawing to win a $50 REI gift card, an Out There hoodie, and more.

So, do us a favor and take three minutes that you would otherwise have spent scrolling through Facebook, to help us out.

Here's the link.

For Valentine's Day: Five episodes about love, relationships and identity

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Pedaling And Paddling: What happens when the person you love doesn't love what you do?

Love Is Not A Finish Line: Taking a relationship to the next level, one pedal stroke at a time

Exiled From Ranch Country: Leaving behind the place you love, in order to be the person you are

The Desert Half: Should you live in the place you love most?

Bad Feminist? I climb because my husband climbs