Welcome to season 2 of EARTHMOVERS! To kick things off, all three host—Alison Mariella Désir, Stefanie Flippin, and Verna NezBegay Volker—get on the mic. They catch up on their recent outdoor and life adventures and share updates.
Verna, our resident Minnesotan, who lived for 16 years in Minneapolis, talks about running in winter and the impact of the ICE siege in her area, for herself and her community. And it brings up discussion around how running is political, and Alison questions how races will respond to runners' concerns and fears about ICE presence around events.
Stefanie talks about her work with GU Energy Labs on the board of the diversity initiative that selects two runners from historically excluded and underrepresented communities to receive support and entry into the prestigious 100-mile Western States Endurance Run. And she talks about when she discovered her Japanese heritage and how that's led her to research the WWII US Japanese internment camps and subsequent discriminatory practices against US citizens of Japanese descent after the war ended.
Alison announces the return of her Cascade PBS TV show Out & Back with Alison Mariella Désir, as well as the return of the We Out Here Trail Fest in June in Seattle, which she co-directs. She also announces that EARTHMOVERS is now on Substack! Subscribers receive weekly posts, including the signature EARTHMOVER of the Month post, and podcast updates. Free subscribers will get the EARTHMOVER of the Months posts and podcast updates. Go to earthmoverspodcast.substack.com.
We are also thrilled to share that Altra has returned as this season's presenting sponsor. We are thankful and love representing this brand. EARTHMOVERS is a trail podcast reclaiming the narrative. We are still just getting started.
One exciting announcement: EARTHMOVERS is now on Substack! Subscribers receive weekly posts, including the signature EARTHMOVER of the Month post, and podcast updates. Free subscribers will get the EARTHMOVER of the Months posts and podcast updates. Go to
We are also thrilled to share that Altra has returned as this season's presenting sponsor. We are thankful and love representing this brand.
EARTHMOVERS is a trail podcast reclaiming the narrative. We are still just getting started.
EARTHMOVERS on Instagram: @earthmoverspodcast
Our Season 2 Presenting Sponsor
Thank you to our presenting sponsor ALTRA. Find them at altrarunning.com.
Mentioned in this Episode
Tressie McMillan Cottom: @tressiemcphd
Dipsea Generations Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/@DipseaGenerations
Out & Back with Alison Mariella Désir: pbs.org/show/out-back-alison-mariella-desir
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