Recommending EARTHMOVERS Podcast, Coming Soon; From My Training Diary: Taper Time
plus, WRS Reair's Wynnona Fulgham, and following Liz Derstine on her Pacific Crest Trail FKT attempt
Recommendation: EARTHMOVERS, a Trail Podcast Reclaiming the Narrative—Coming Soon
This week was the long-anticipated (for me) announcement of a new podcast: EARTHMOVERS, with Alison Mariella Désir, Stefanie Flippin, Verna NezBegay Volker. This is a trail podcast reclaiming the narrative.
I am the producer on this show, which we’ve been working on for months now. I’m so excited to finally get to share the news that it’s coming: the first episode will launch August 14, and the first season will feature 11 episodes—new episodes will publish weekly.
Now, you can find information and news about the show through Instagram @EARTHMOVERSpodcast.
Also, we launch our Kickstarter campaign tomorrow. Those funds will go toward start-up costs and to keep the podcast going beyond season one. There will be a link to the Kickstarter campaign in Instagram bio tomorrow (Fri. June 20). We are grateful for all support!
We are creating this show because there is a stark absence of trail podcasts hosted by women of color. There is also a stark absence of trail podcasts centering people of color.
EARTHMOVERS will do both. And the conversations, insights, and stories are for everyone.
Episodes will feature engaging conversations with our hosts, and original interviews with special guests. And, these hosts are truly a dream team: they each have years of trail, outdoor, and running experience, and they are established leaders in equity advocacy in the trail, outdoor, and running space.
The EARTHMOVERS hosts and their guests will bring their unique perspectives, knowledge, and lived experiences. They will celebrate moving through the outdoors and the healing, challenge, and growth it brings. They will also discuss the difficult realities of the racism, sexism, and exclusion that people of color—and others who are marginalized—regularly face participating in the trail space.
We know that a vibrant, growing number of people of color are getting into the outdoors, but they are wildly underserved and underrecognized.
We’ve long been aware that the trail community is eager for new voices, new narratives, new inspiration, new representation. Yet, the power centers of the trail running industry remain the whitest and most male dominated in the running sector; the media reflects this.
EARTHMOVERS is here to shake things up.
A brief intro to the hosts: Alison Mariella Désir is a runner, mountain climber, mother, community builder, and racial equity activist. Désir is the author of the groundbreaking book Running While Black and the host of the award winning PBS TV show Out and Back with Alison Mariella Désir.
Verna NezBegay Volker is a runner, mother, community builder, public speaker, and racial equity activist from the Navajo Nation. Volker is the founder of Native Women Run, an organization that began as a virtual community and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Stefanie Flippin is a professional ultra trail runner, running coach, podcaster, writer, racial equity activist, and a foot and ankle surgeon. Flippin is the 2021 USATF 100-mile road champion and course record holder, and she’s the 6th fastest all-time American woman at the 100-mile distance.
I have also had the great pleasure to feature each of these women on WRS. You can listen to those episodes on your favorite podcast app, like Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, or you can listen here:
From My Training Diary: It’s Taper Time
It’s been a while since I’ve gone through a proper taper and I’m so ready for this one. I’ve been building for eleven weeks now, getting back the speed and fitness to race a 5k.
I feel ready.
Something that I have been reminded of in the past couple weeks leading up to this taper is that the final weeks training are the hardest. They’re the hardest not only because you’re often running the most miles and doing the hardest workouts at this point, but also because of the many weeks of training that have already stacked up.
In these last couple weeks I’ve faced two workouts that I find particularly challenging—800s and mile repeats—and I wanted to give my all. I’ve talked about embracing B+ workouts in this training cycle, which I have. But I also wanted to make sure I threw a few A or even A+ workouts into the mix, to remind myself what going to the well, really going all out, feels like.
I chose these last two workouts for those A effort. They were undeniably hard: physically and mentally. For an extra bit of challenge, they also fell on days that were hot and humid.
I didn’t let that deter me, even as I faced down a hot track, fully exposed to the sun. I had a few moments, especially during the mile repeats (I did three), when I was bargaining with myself, trying to find reasons why it would be OK to cut the workout short or run slower—I batted that dialog away and focused on getting the work done.
I dug deep and finished strong.
Now, I feel satisfied and am going into this 5k with some solid confidence. I’m excited to see what’s there after some rest and sharpening—and hopefully some slightly cooler weather. I have my A, B, and C goals: sub 21:15; sub 21:45; sub 22—regardless, have fun and enjoy every mile!
My race is a week from Sunday (June 29), and I am fully enjoying my downtime until then.
This Week on WRS: Re-airing the Incredible Story of Ultra Runner Wynnona Fulgham
This week features a re-air of a listener favorite: it features ultra runner Wynonna Fulgham. Since this episode aired, Fulgham not only went on to complete her first 100 miler—she then went on to complete the massive 250-mile Cocodona 250 just a few months ago, in May 2025.
Fulgham’s Cocodona finish was powerful . . .
Fulgham’s story on WRS shares the backstory on how she’s got to where she is today.
About her WRS episode: Wynonna Curely-Fulgham first discovered the life-changing impact running could have on her during her Kinaaldah, the Navajo puberty ceremony. She’s carried the teaches from that transformative time into her adult life.
Wynonna has continued to be drawn to running, and specifically ultra trail running, as a way to test her own limits and also to process life’s challenges and find her peace. It is a deep well of connection, discovery, and release: a physical endeavor that is also spiritual and healing.
In this episode, Wynonna shares the story of the pivotal moments she’s experienced in ultra trail running, up through today. Her journey includes taking part in the Transrockies, a multi-day stage running race that takes place in Colorado, traveling through the mountains and over peaks, at altitude. Wynonna often runs as a member of the Native Women Run team.
Wynonna’s story is captivating and beautiful. One women’s incredible journey of self-discovery, evolution, and inspiration.
You can listen to this episode on your favorite podcast app, like Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, or you can listen here:
Keeping Up with Liz Derstine’s PCT FKT Attempt
Ultra runner, multi-FKT holder, through-hiker Liz Derstine—trail name Pink Feathers—is currently going after her latest FKT: the Pacific Crest Trail, northbound.
She’s been posting daily updates, and I’ve been really enjoying following along. You can also leave her messages of encouragement!
You can follow her here:
I also had the great pleasure of featuring Derstine on WRS, telling the story of her Appalachian Trail FKT. You can listen to this episode on your favorite podcast app, like Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, or you can listen here:
Coming up . . .
Coming up next week, the powerful story of runner and coach Mireille Siné, who has a specialty working with athletes navigating autoimmune conditions; Siné herself has been navigating a lupus diagnosis for a decade. She gets to all of this in her episode.
Coming up after Siné is runner and adventurer Sarah Williams, host of the very popular Tough Girl podcast (which I have recommended here in the past). She’ll get into the life-changing experience she had years back running the famous multiday stage running race the Marathon des Sables. And she’ll share how the impact of that event has reverberated through her life ever since.
And, that’s a wrap. Until next week, I wish you healthy, joyful strides forward.