This is the premier episode of EARTHMOVERS and we have all three hosts on the mic. They catch up with recent happenings on the trail and in life and talk about the origins and intentions for this podcast. This includes talking about what reclaiming the narrative means.
In this premier episode, EARTHMOVERS hosts Alison Mariella Désir, Stefanie Flippin, and Verna NezBegay Volker get on the mic. They catch up on their recent outdoor and life adventures, including Alison’s second summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and putting on her first trail race, the We Out Here Trail Festival.
Stefanie shares about her busy coaching season and about her own training, which has included documenting her local trail system, while setting FKTs along the way. She also talks about being at We Out There and the panel discussion that took place the night before the race. You can find that conversation on the Making Strides podcast (find link below).
Verna shares about her recent trip home to the Southwest, where she hosted Georgia Weir and her husband, both native runners from Australia–Georgia founded the organization Deadly Runner, to amplify and support indigenous runners in Australia. Verna also discusses training for her 100-mile trail race, as well as the last time she attempted this distance–at Dark Anchor, put on by Yeti Trail Runners.
Also discussed: the origin of the EARTHMOVERS name, some of the reasons behind starting this podcast, and what everyone is looking forward to for this first season of EARTHMOVERS. EARTHMOVERS is a trail podcast reclaiming the narrative. We are just getting started.
Find EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @EARTHMOVERSpodcast
Our Season 1 Presenting Sponsor
Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at ALTRArunning.com
Mentioned in this Episode
Learn more about the upcoming Kilimanjaro Marathon and safari trip, with host Alison Mariella Désir, happening March 2026: soraka.tours/kilimanjaro-marathon-with-alison
Making Strides live panel discussion from We Out Here, on Apple and Spotify
Yeti Trail Runners: yetitrailrunners.com
Georgia Weir: @georgiaweir83
Deadly Runners: deadlyrunner.com.au
EARTHMOVERS Hosts
Verna NezBegay Volker: 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. @hozhorunner4
Alison Mariella Désir: 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. @alisonmdesir
Stefanie Flippin: 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. @stefanieannflippin