Dani is a storyteller, strategist, advocate, and professional big mountain athlete redefining who plays outside and how we build community with others on this planet.   Originally from Southern California, she has traveled through Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Andorra, Canada, and the USA building her craft as a split board mountaineer (plus climber, surfer, and runner) since 2014, when she graduated from corporate life with a one-way ticket to South America.   Ever since then, she's worked to build a life AND career she loves, in spite of setbacks, naysayers, and building everything from scratch.   Her goal?    To inspire individual action and collective communion through self-care and self-determination found in the outdoors.   “I want to find the limits of my possible—whether in the mountains, my creative work, or as a strategist—and travel into the higher reaches of the world that vests me with this power. To grow as individuals, communities, and a society, I think we need to embrace discomfort. This is how we evolve.” - Dani Reyes-Acosta     New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.   Show notes Who is Dani Growing into adventure Not taking the typical path Her dreams as a little girl Going to college and combing her love of the sea with her desire to give back to the world Studying Marine Biology Growing up in a strict catholic family  Wanting to connect with the bigger world around her How her career evolved Deep dive into how she got to where she is now Wanting to start a non profit in South America Being burnt out from university  Getting into marketing  Dealing with the economic crash of 2008 Starting to work for Nike in 2012 Having to make a decision about adventure  Deciding to become a mountain person Work hard and play hard Using meet-up.com to connect with people Not knowing anyone in Oregon How her life got consumed by work in her late 20s Exiting an unhealthy relationship in 2013 Turning her life upside down in 2014 Buying a one way ticket to South America Buying a car Spending 9 months driving around  Why deciding on South America Setting new goals and new priorities  The life that everyone else is impressed with Putting pen to paper Setting new goals  Making goals apart of her process Talking money and making money from your passions Having a broken knee Van life realities  Follow along with the journey  Final words of advice   Social Media    Website danireyesacosta.com    Instagram @notlostjustdiscovering   Facebook @notlostjustdiscovering