Roundtable Discussion: BIPOC Bird Clubs pt. 2

Let's Dig Into It: Bushra Abu-Helil: Sam kicks off the BIPOC birders interview series with Bushra Abu-Helil (@bushyb94), a second year zoology phD candidate from England who's passionate about chicken poop! They chat about mean swans, bold squirrels, bringin' the right energy into birding and dig into BIPOC representation in the outdoors, especially within birding. by Always Be Birdin'

46 min listen

Teaser: Introduction to Sam and the Always Be Birdin' Podcast. Who is she? Why did she decide to make this podcast and what will it entail if I choose the path of listenership? by Always Be Birdin'

21 min listen

Creature Feature: Burrowing Buds: Today we have a Double Creature Feature of two different burrowing species, the Burrowing Owl and the North American River Otter (not a bird..sorry). Special thanks to my pals Tara, Tim, Jahquari and Bakari for being apart of this episode. *The otters were seen from a safe distance and were not disrupted by our excitement. *Graphic language by Always Be Birdin'

26 min listen

Who Is Fostering and Who Is Failing BIPOC in Nature: The one where I do some storytelling of who, what and when my passion for animals and nature was fostered and nurtured and how I was failed by the systems of racism that lead me to walk away from a dream career (but always landed me in the perfect spot to create this podcast). We also introduce our very first Creature Feature: The American Crow. by Always Be Birdin'

38 min listen

Why Isn't Anyone Talking About National Audubon?: In early November 2020, Politico.com posted an article calling National Audubon into the very dim spotlight after several minority affinity groups, BIPOC leaders and anonymous survey takers began loudly vocalizing about the very real disparities between BIPOC, queer and femme workers and the all white, cis male dominated top at the organization and it's chapters. In this episode, I outline the basics of the Politico article and expand upon why it is such an important article and push for BIPOC leaders in our community and push even harder for the white allies into a call to action surrounding this very troubling insight into one of the largest environmental organizations in the country. Please listen with intention. by Always Be Birdin'

25 min listen

The Control of BIPOC Joy in Birding: When BIPOC experience joy in its purest form, it seems as though it can't go unchecked or without control by the white gaze. Especially in the outdoors. This episode talks about personal experience with this and why it is so important to shed light on and work to dismantle racism. by Always Be Birdin'

26 min listen

Let's Dig Into It: Amplify The Future: Today I sit down with Orietta Estrada and Tykee James who are the Co-Chairs for Amplify The Future and The Black And Latinx Birders Scholarship. These two are powerhouses in their own right but, together, they have created something that is a force in the birding and outdoor worlds. Join us as we dig into where Amplify The Future is headed, how to apply for the scholarship and what it really means to have an organization that is for BIPOC, by BIPOC and why it is so important in an age where DEI work is a trending hashtag instead of a core value. by Always Be Birdin'

61 min listen

Let's Dig Into It : Aster Real: Today we celebrate women's history month with my new friend Aster Real who is an expert birder at 15 years old from Macas, Ecuador. She tells stories of what it's like to experience a Harpy Eagle in the wild (twice), being a young female identified birder surrounded by older men, plant medicine and the beauty in the small and large worlds that surround us. Aster is full of wisdom, knowledge and stories. Join us as she takes us on a magical journey through the rainforests that are her backyard and into one of the more beautiful minds I've ever met. She is a true joy and I look forward to how she will affect the world in her future. by Always Be Birdin'

48 min listen

Wildlife Rehabilitation: Why Should Birders Care?: I speak with Lacy Campbell, former Wildlife Rehabilitator, mentor and friend about how Wildlife Rehabilitators are on the front lines of wild bird conservation. We chat about the ins and outs of a day in a rehabilitation center and get into why the work is so important and why birders should care about it. The more we understand why and how animals are becoming injured or ill, the more information we have in order to adjust and push harder in conservation efforts. Being a bird lover must go beyond your lifer list and which feeder will attract the best birds to your yard. Understanding the importance of Wildlife Rehabilitation can help us all better relate to the world around us and deepen our passion to preserve it. by Always Be Birdin'

46 min listen

Creature Feature: Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game: Another double Creature Feature with two of my all time favorite birds, the Double-crested Cormorant and European Starling. I feature them today not only for their beauty and wildly amazing adaptations, but for their history and stories as birds thriving despite a level of human hatred that should be deeply concerning to any birder lover. In this episode I also only begin to touch on the ways in which these two birds are examples of how racism shows up in birding and goes way beyond what black, indigenous and brown folks have to deal with in the field, but that the act of birding is literally done through a racist lens. It surely doesn't have to be this way. So, don't hate the player, hate the game. by Always Be Birdin'

45 min listen

Let's Dig Into It: Rosie Sanchez: In this second addition to our "Let's Dig Into It" BIPOC interview series, I chat with my good friend Rosie Sanchez who works for Defenders of Wildlife. She explains why the Quetzal is her favorite bird, the cultural importance this iridescent bird has within her family, and how it got it's red belly. We dig into the separation of soul and science, DEI efforts within conservation organizations and the trauma that BIPOC suffer because of it and the power that we as BIPOC folx have right now in this world. We also laugh at our first experiences with field work and how cute baby Cedar Waxwings are. Rosie is an amazing human doing amazing work and she is made of sunshine and badassery! by Always Be Birdin'

69 min listen

Liberated Paths for Liberating BIPOC: Small grassroots organizations and individuals are the ones on the ground doing the hard work to create safe and educational spaces in nature for Black, Indigenous and people of color. What does it mean to have big dreams for our communities and NOT have to give them up because of barriers to funding? Philanthropy and distribution of money is gate kept by wealthy white people who are the ones to decide who is and isn't "worthy" of funding. The same money gets passed around at the top while those grassroots organizations are struggling to enact the change we need for our communities because we can't afford to put on the type of programming we want and that our communities deserve. Today, I speak with Chandrika Francis who is the Founder and Facilitator of Oshun Swim School based in Seattle, WA, Lydia Parker who is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Hunters of Color based in Portland, OR and Alex Troutman, Hunters of Color Mentee and Wildlife by Always Be Birdin'

81 min listen

Let's Dig Into It: Alpine Parrot: Today I sit down with Raquel Velez, founder and CEO of Alpine Parrot, a company who's mission is to celebrate larger bodies in the outdoors. This celebration is done specifically through providing hiking pants that are comfortable and useful for bodies that aren't represented or thought about in the outdoor apparel world. Raquel and I dig into the falsity of the term obese, how health and fatness do not go together and how dangerous of an idea this can be for BIPOC folks in the outdoors. We also talk about the Kea, the worlds only alpine parrot and why it's the inspiration for the company's name. Join us and visit AlpineParrot.com to contribute to the now live Kickstarter campaign. by Always Be Birdin'

62 min listen

Let's Dig Into It: Yamina Yater-Otero: Yamina Nater-Otero is the newly appointed secretary for Amplify The Future. She is an amazing person and is doing wonderful things for the BIPOC community in birding. Her focus is specifically working with youth in the city and showing the wonder of the natural world amongst cement giants. We dig into what it really means to be a birder and what the act of birding can look like versus what it's historically been painted as having to look like and how bright and aware today's youth are. Join us! by Always Be Birdin'

58 min listen

Thank You!: It's the one year anniversary for the podcast and I just want to say THANK YOU! Thank you so much to all my followers, to everyone who has downloaded and supported me through this wild process. You are the reason I am here a year later and have the ability to continue for another year. It's been an amazing year filled with new friends and amazing opportunities and I can never say thank you enough. You are the reason I am here. THANK YOU. Stay tuned for year two of the Always Be Birdin' Podcast! by Always Be Birdin'

11 min listen

Black Birders Week 2021 : Day Scott: In celebration of Black Birders Week and the many identities and activities in the birding world, I chat with Day Scott. Day is a celebrated bird photographer, writer and naturalist. Today we chat about nature in LA, why it's important to show up differently for bipoc youth in the outdoors, traumatic brain injuries and the joy and the pain that Day has found in utilizing birds for healing. -- Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a special announcement from Amplify the Future regarding their Black and Latinx Birders Scholarship application deadline! by Always Be Birdin'

51 min listen

Black Birders Week 2021: Black Outside Inc.: We're kicking off Black Birders Week 2021 with a good friend of mine, Alex Bailey. Alex is the founder and board president of a wonderful organization called Black Outside Inc. based in San Antonio, Texas dedicated to setting up black youth in the outdoors where they can connect to nature and their culture in a safe and fun way. Join us as we adventure down memory lane of our college years together, how we found ourselves in the outdoor world and how the freedom of birds elicits the joy in birding for black folks. -- Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special announcement from Amplify the Future regarding their Black and Latinx Birders Scholarship application deadline! by Always Be Birdin'

54 min listen

Black Birders Week 2021 : Freedom Birders: On this 6th day of Black Birders Week 2021, @blackafinstem has asked us to bridge the gap between past, present and future of birding. For this idea in particular, I bring you Tykee James, co-organizer of the Freedom Birders project. This project is built on the blueprint of the Freedom Riders who were Civil Rights activists who rode on buses throughout the segregated south to protest the non-enforcement of desegregated public buses. Freedom Birders seeks to change the way we bird in America and is also inspired by Black Birders Week 2020 and the Black Lives Matter Movement. Join Tykee and I as we jump into the deep end and discuss the Freedom Birders project, where it came from, why it's necessary and what it could look like for the future of birding and racism in America. by Always Be Birdin'

47 min listen

Black Birders Week 2021 : Courtney Akinosho: TW: Rape and Sexual Assault Today I have the pleasure of chatting with Courtney Akinosho, Founder and CEO of Black Girls Bird, a wonderful organization whose mission is to provide Black girls of all ages access to nature while promoting holistic well-being utilizing the joy of birding and photography. Day 5 of Black Birders Week centers safety in the outdoors for Black people. Courtney and I speak candidly, openly and deeply about how nature is often weaponized by white men, white women and black men and how we can't have the conversation about safety in the outdoors without centering black women's experiences and voices and what it looks like to truly have the conversation in a deep and meaningful way without hiding and tiptoeing around the true dangers outside. -- Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special announcement from Amplify The Future regarding their Black and Latinx Birders Scholarship application deadline! by Always Be Birdin'

90 min listen

Black Birders Week 2021 : Indigo Goodson: We are celebrating day 4 of Black Birders Week 2021 and my guest today is Indigo Goodson. Indigo stay in da flow in her ever present social media where she shares her birding stories and advocacy for the Black community. Join us as we talk anti-conformity through fashion in birding, finding joy in the little-big moments out in the field and why it's imperative to listen to the black experience and hold it valid despite differing experiences. -- Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a special announcement from Amplify the Future regarding their Black and Latinx Birders Scholarship application deadline! by Always Be Birdin'

65 min listen

Roundtable Discussion: BIPOC Bird Clubs pt. 1: Meet five leaders in the community creating necessary spaces for BIPOC through organized outings. In this first part, we are introduced to each of them and hear their stories of what brought them to birding and eventually to starting BIPOC birding clubs or collectives. All of these people are wonderful and have a deep love of birding and brining that join into the BIPOC communities where they are from. In part 2 we talk a lot more deeply about the importance of BIPOC only spaces in birding. 03:37 Candace Williams of Chicago BIPOC Birding Network (unofficial) Chicago IL 07:43 Daniela Herrera of Chicago BIPOC Birding Network (unofficial) Chicago IL 14:07 Angel Ramirez of Oxnard Birder's Club, Oxnard CA 24:20 Dexter Patterson of BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Madison WI 38:46 Jason Hall of In Color Birding Club, Philadelphia PA by Always Be Birdin'

48 min listen

Approximations: Avian Training and White Supremacy with Corina Newsome: As bird lovers, one of the best and most memorable experiences we all hope to have is a close encounter with birds. Be it through meeting a falconer, visiting your local conservation organization or zoo or having a once in a lifetime moment out birding, seeing birds up close is nothing short of amazing. When we think about meeting a bird who is in captivity for educational purposes, what does it take for those birds to feel comfortable with the people that work with them and you as an audience member? Today, I talk with Corina Newsome (@hood__naturalist), Ornithologist and Community Engagement Manager with Georgia Audubon, about the extremely exciting and interesting world of avian training for educational purposes. There is a lot to this profession and it is not an easy job. Corina and I discuss different training methods, bird language, species differences in captivity and why relationship and trust building is by Always Be Birdin'

64 min listen

Roundtable Discussion: BIPOC Bird Clubs pt. 2: In part 2 of this roundtable discussion, Candace, Daniela, Dexter, Angel, Jason and I dive deep into several important topics. We talk about why BIPOC only spaces are important for us to continue to breakdown historical narratives of cross cultural tension within BIPOC communities that is a design of white supremacy and Bird Joy can help break these cycles of in-culture discrimination. BIPOC peoples are of the land, of the water, of the trees and the animals and when we talk about reclaiming these spaces outside, it is more than just creating safe spaces, it is bringing us back to our ancestral rights to be with the land and however we choose to show up in it, white folk must be okay with it. It is no longer whiteness that dictates how this land is used and what it looks like. Shout out to our mentors of color who set us on our individual and collective paths to Occupy Birding and Normalize Bird Joy. **Candace Williams is credited with th by Always Be Birdin'

50 min listen

Black Birders Week 2021 : Nicole Jackson: TW: Childhood Abuse, Mental Health On this final day of Black Birders Week 2021, I bring an earlier recorded episode from back in February of this year with Nicole Jackson. Join us and get to know one of the co-organizers of Black Birders Week 2020 as we talk about how birding and being outside can help heal and bring tenderness to those parts of us that are suffering and hurting. Nicole tells us her story, how she started to get into birds and birding, we connect over birding in Ohio and all of the many hats she wears today. Nicole is an amazing human doing amazing things like the #BlackInNationalParks initiative that stemmed from her participation in Black Birders Week. -- Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a special announcement from Amplify the Future regarding their Black and Latinx Birders Scholarship application deadline! by Always Be Birdin'

72 min listen

The Fight For Equity: Defenders United and Audubon For All on Unionizing: It's been a while, but, we’re back with the first episode of the second year of the Always Be Birdin' podcast with a vengeance. In episodes past, I called attention to the National Audubon Society article in Politico where there was accusations of racism, sexism and retaliation within the organization and I asked why isn't anyone talking more about this seeing as National Audubon is considered THE go to for all things conservation and birds. This episode has been and remains to be my most downloaded episode, but what's changed? Since then, third party law firm, Morgan & Lewis put out their findings which called for a redistribution of power, the Union, Audubon for All, was birthed and the then Executive Director, David Yarnold, has left the organization. Other non-profit environmental organizations such as Defenders of Wildlife have followed suit and are also unionizing. Today I bring back two of my favorite p by Always Be Birdin'

62 min listen

Into the Depths with Tara Roberts: Last week I had my first ever live recording and today I have the absolute honor to bring you an interview with National Geographic Explorer and Storyteller, MIT Fellow and scuba diver, Tara Roberts. We discuss her recently released podcast, Into the Depths, where we as the listeners get to follow Tara as she works with fellow Black divers through Diving with a Purpose as they search for and help document sunken ships that carried enslaved African and were a part of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade. Tara talks with me about her experiences in making this podcast, what inspired her to learn how to dive and how that ultimately lead her down this deeply personal journey of identity through history and what it means to connect with our ancestors as well as descendants that are all around us today. This episode is personal to me as a mixed race Black woman in America. I was holding back tears for parts of this interview and am in awe of Tara's journey and he by Always Be Birdin'

59 min listen

This Is An Episode For People Who Love Birds with Danielle Belleny: Welcome back to the Always Be Birdin' Podcast! We're sliding into Season 3 with self proclaimed Cemetery Birder, Danielle Belleny, as we celebrate her new book, This Is A Book For People Who Love Birds. Recently published, This Is A Book For People Who Love Birds is a short but sweet introduction to the world of birds and birding. Intended for those who don't realize they love birds yet and those who have just begun their journey, Danielle does a brilliant job of taking big scientific and social ideas and packing them in a way that is easy to digest and super fun to read! Join us as we discuss different aspects of the book and celebrate Danielle for this huge accomplishment. by Always Be Birdin'

51 min listen

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Roundtable Discussion: BIPOC Bird Clubs pt. 2

Roundtable Discussion: BIPOC Bird Clubs pt. 2

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