Life In Motion

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

In this episode we interview Sara Kurzen and Morgan Verdery of Wild and Free Mamas, a nonprofit that captivates adventure, courage, connection and growth for mamas everywhere. Both Sara and Morgan grew up loving the outdoors, but once they had children it was hard for them to find time for themselves. That was until they each were able to take their own adventure. It was as if a passion had been reignited. They realized that stepping away for themselves was exactly what they needed, and even helped them be a better mama. Soon after they formed Wild and Free Mamas to help others recharge and connect with others. With weekend adventure retreats throughout the year, they're not only helping mamas find their wild side, but also helping them reconnect with their loved ones at home. If you’ve ever wondered why you should fight the urge of feeling guilty to do something for yourself, then this ones for you! Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beauti

In this episode we interview Kate Mardigian of Jacob's Chance, a nonprofit that empowers individuals with developmental, intellectual, and/or physical disabilities through inclusive programs. In elementary school Kate could be found helping classmates with disabilities. Little did she know, these positive experiences would impact her entire life. One day while watching her own children play ball, she noticed a game happening on an adjacent field. The players had varying disabilities with their parents helping them. Kate wanted them to see just how great their kids were doing from the stands. With the help of some amazing volunteers, she made it happen. Soon after, Jacob's Chance was founded to offer inclusive programs promoting personal development and positive relationships. By offering things like organized sports, art, music and outdoor adventures, their impact goes further than those who they serve. If you’ve ever wondered how great things can happen through the kindness of others, then thi

In this episode we interview Brian Bell of Keep Virginia Cozy, a nonprofit that conserves lands by picking up trash, while connecting others with the outdoors. Brian grew up loving nature and quickly picked up the 'pack in, pack out' mindset. Once he moved to Richmond he began exploring all it had to offer, but wanted to do something more. After challenging his friends to go on weekend hiking trips to pick up trash, he posted it online and asked others to meetup to do the same. To Brian's surprise, quite the group showed up, and it only grew from there. Now as an official nonprofit, Keep Virginia Cozy has helped cleanup over 85,000lbs of trash, while being zero waste themselves. If you’ve ever wondered how to rally people around a simple cause, then this ones 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-podcast Since 2017 Illumine has donated over $27,258 to outdoor nonprofits

In this episode we interview Danielle Katz of Rivers for Change, a nonprofit who connects individuals to rivers through adventure, conservation and education. Growing up in California it wasn't long until Danielle fell in love with the outdoors. In fact, she was only 4 months old on her first river trip. As she got older she guided for her dad's whitewater rafting company and felt most at home on the river, sleeping under the stars. In 2009 Danielle paddled the length of the Mississippi River, which opened her eyes to just how connected our waterways are. This trip combined her passion for the river with education and conservation. This experience inspired her to start Rivers for Change as a way to connect others with rivers through adventure, conservation and education. From source to sea trips, river cleanups and more, they're making a difference - one drop at a time. If you’ve ever wondered what you can do to protect the water in which you shower, or even what it's like to paddle 2

In this episode we interview Mike Green who is an adventure life coach and author of 'Wandermust'. Mike grew up in a small town in New York and quickly fell in love with the outdoors. In high school he decided to take a break from wrestling to do an outward bound course. Mike was hooked, but it only got better once he discovered seasonal work. He used the job flexibility to fuel his travels around the world. Eventually he settled down as a history teacher and decided to prove a point to his students that didn't believe in the kindness of others. How? By hitchhiking across the country in 10 days with no money - only his own kindness to share along the way. The culmination of Mike's life experiences inspired him to help others, by asking the right questions, leaving people better than he found them and practicing integrity with Mike Green Leadership. If you’ve ever wondered what steps you can take to take control of this adventure we call life, then this ones for you! Life in Motion is brought to