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"I love having folks to be stride in stride with. There’s a lot of community in sweating together.” Faith E. Briggs is a runner, storyteller, and documentary filmmaker passionate about sharing contemporary stories from diverse communities. Her work spans many fields, and we talk about some of her amazing documentary films including This Land, which digs into conversations about public lands, what it means to be a conservationist and who is invited to the conversation. As part of making that film, she ran 150 miles across public lands and monuments alongside local community members in order to educate herself on the history and importance of the land. Faith was also a sprinter during her college years at Yale University and we bond here over our shared alma mater and residential college dorm, Ezra Stiles (feat. our favorite mentor/Head of College, Steve Pitti– GFM, Stiles forever). We chat about how she balanced her academic, cultural and social life during those years and spend quite a bit of time discussing her personal running journey.   In this Episode: A Tribe Called Red Yale Afro-American Cultural Center Yale Native American Cultural Center Ezra Stiles Residential College at Yale “Navajo Nation and Urban Outfitters Reach Agreement on Appropriation,” by Alysa Landry, Indian Country Today, November 22, 2016 Wings of America Black Roses NYC (Running Club) “This Land” Documentary Nuestra Tierra   Follow Faith E. Briggs: Instagram: @faithevebee Twitter: @faithevebee Website: https://www.faithebriggs.com/   Follow Grounded Pod: Instagram: @groundedpod Twitter: @groundedpod Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee   Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher   Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

"For a lot of Indigenous cultures, movement is essential to our survival…whether it’s food or ceremony. I feel that is one of the roots of how running is carried on in my life. I can see it in my culture.” Leroy “Buster” Silva (Pueblo of Laguna) is a movement and wellness advocate, community coordinator for the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation, and former teacher/coach and student-athlete. He’s also the founder of Family+Indigenize+Thrive, an organization he created that takes an intergenerational approach to address challenges Native communities face when it comes to achieving wellness. He notes the importance of family in this conversation, as a parent, husband, brother, and Laguna community member. This means he spends lots of time reimagining ways to incorporate traditional lifeways and Indigenous wellness practices into his family’s routine. We also hear about his experiences as a Native student-athlete at Haskell Indian Nations University, a tribal university in Lawrence, Kansas, and his time as a wellness instructor at the Native American Community Academy (NACA) in Albuquerque, NM.   In this Episode: Family+Indigenize+Thrive Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation Native American Community Academy (NACA) Haskell Indian Nations University “To Get Calcium, Navajos Burn Juniper Branches to Eat The Ash”, by Laurel Morales, NPR, August 21, 2017 Duke City Marathon – Albuquerque, NM La Luz Trail Run – Sandia Foothills, Albuquerque, NM Kona Coffee   Follow Leroy Silva: Instagram: @leroybustersilva   Follow Grounded Pod: Instagram: @groundedpod Twitter: @groundedpod Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee   Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher   Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).   This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

"I want Native women to be seen in a positive way... to show that we're visible in the running community, but also to provide a space for Native runners because I felt like that space wasn't there. I wanted to build that for these women.” Verna Volker (Diné) is a Hoka One One Global Ambassador and the founder of Native Women Running. With over 17k followers on Instagram, Native Women Running provides “visibility, inspiration, and community to Native women runners on and off the reservation.” Verna focuses her efforts on giving Native runners a platform in a predominantly white industry and media space. In this conversation, we discuss the ways Verna has found community while living away from her homelands, how she has continued to navigate motherhood, and what inspired her to start Native Women Running. This week, I would love for listeners to join me in supporting two Indigenous-led organizations, Pueblo Action Alliance (@puebloactionalliance) and Seeding Sovereignty (@seedingsovereignty) in their mutual aid efforts. They are currently running the Indigenous Impact Community Care Initiative, which focuses on protecting and caring for our unsheltered Indigenous relatives here in New Mexico. This initiative is on-going, and they are asking for donations by mail or you can donate funds directly to the organizations below. Donate to: Pueblo Action Alliance Seeding Sovereignty   Mail donations to: P.O. Box 40212, Albuquerque, NM 87196   In this Episode: Native Women Running Yazzie the Chef New Native Theater – St. Paul, MN Wings of America Deadly Runners - Australia High Lonesome 100 Race - Colorado Follow Verna Volker: Instagram: @hozhorunner4 Twitter: @Mom74Run Follow Native Women Running: Instagram: @native_women_running Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nativewomenrunning/ Website: https://www.nativewomenrunning.com/ Follow Grounded Pod: Instagram: @groundedpod Twitter: @groundedpod Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee   Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher   Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM).  This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

"Everyone shows up into the sport for reasons greater than themselves…there is this interconnection that we have through running, because really running is part of the human experience.” Carolyn Su is a runner, storyteller, and the creator of the @DiverseWeRun Instagram account. With nearly 11k followers, Diverse We Run builds “racial representation through story-telling, advocacy, and community” by posting weekly, in-depth features of runners from all backgrounds. In this conversation, we discuss the passing down of language and tradition in our families, marriage and partnership in the context of our cultural backgrounds, and where running fits into it all. In this Episode: “The U.S. is Seeing a Massive Spike in Anti-Asian Hate Crimes,” The Cut, February 2021. Diverse We Run Bookshop Pioneers Run Club - Boston Native Women Running 2021 TransRockies Run Follow Carolyn & Diverse We Run: Instagram: @Diversewerun / @irunfortheglory Email: diversewerun@gmail.com Follow Grounded Pod: Instagram: @groundedpod Twitter: @groundedpod Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher   Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

"Anytime that I was successful, it was because I worked with [coaches] who allowed me to go home to get those ceremonies done, to see my parents, to have some home-cooked food.” Alvina Begay is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and three-time Olympic trials qualifier (in the marathon and 10,000m Run, respectively). She was formerly sponsored by Nike, serving as an ambassador for the Nike N7 Fund– a fund that supports organizations that provide sport and physical activity programming to youth in Native communities. Alvina is also a registered dietician and nurse. Having been born and raised in Ganado, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation, we discuss how her upbringing and Navajo traditions helped her through several tough, competitive Olympic training cycles. We chat a bit about her carrying on the legacy of famous Oglala Lakota 10,000m runner, Billy Mills, as well as her experience as a new mom!   In this Episode: Nike N7 Fund Follow Alvina: Instagram: @aybegay Follow Grounded Pod: Instagram: @groundedpod Twitter: @groundedpod Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | Stitcher   Music by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo, NM). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

“Running takes you to places no other thing can. Sometimes cars and tourists can come see it, but with running you can be on a path or in other areas with dirt…you get to see a lot of great things.” Meb Keflegizhi is a four-time Olympian and 2004 Silver Medalist in the marathon– a race distance he’s conquered 26 times (if you haven’t yet checked out his book 26 Marathons, I highly recommend it). Meb is the only athlete in history to win the New York Marathon, the Boston Marathon and an Olympic Medal. He was originally born in Eritrea before his family escaped a dangerous, war-torn situation and came to the U.S. In this episode, he reflects on his perception of his own identity and self during that time, how he has found and cultivated community over the years, how diversity impacted his college decision making process, and how he understood his cultural roots while being so far removed from his homelands.   In this Episode: MEB (Maintaining Excellent Balance) Foundation 26 Marathons by Meb Keflegizhi with Scott Douglas   Follow Meb: Website: https://marathonmeb.com/   Follow Grounded Pod: Instagram: @groundedpod Twitter: @groundedpod Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee   Subscribe, Listen, & Review on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud   Music in this episode by Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo). This podcast was made possible through the Tracksmith Fellowship Program.

Welcome to the first episode of the Grounded Podcast with Dinée Dorame! In this conversation, you’ll hear Kul Wicasa Lakota runner, Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel talk about her family history in running, her time as a Native student at the University of Maine, her past struggles with an eating disorder and her recovery process, and her upcoming projects (including a virtual race opportunity for listeners)! She’s currently sponsored by both Altra & Rabbit, while also serving as the Founder and Executive Director of Rising Hearts grassroots organization. You may have seen Jordan on the November 2020 cover of Runner’s World, being highlighted for the work and prayer runs she’s done to bring widespread awareness to the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, & Two-Spirit (MMIWGTS+) epidemic facing our communities, as well as other issues around climate change and land protection. TW: Eating Disorder (from minutes 28-37) In this Episode... Rising Hearts Grassroots Organization Bears Ears 300-mile Prayer Run (Sept 2020) Running on Native Lands Initiative Running on Native Lands / EliteFeats VIRTUAL 5K, 10K & HALF MARATHON (Virtual Race Entries open until February 6th, 2021) Franklin’s Mushroom Popcorn (Jordan’s Favorite Snack!) Follow Jordan: Instagram: @nativein_la Twitter: @NativeInLA Website: jordanmariedaniel.com Follow Grounded Pod: Instagram: @groundedpod Twitter: @groundedpod Facebook: facebook.com/groundedpodwithdinee Subscribe to the Grounded Podcast with Dinée Dorame on Spotify or Apple Podcasts today!

The Grounded Podcast with Dinée Dorame will bring you weekly conversations with athletes of all backgrounds and levels, exploring the intersection of running, community, land, and culture. I want to know– what grounds you?