Bonus: The Ultimate Outdoorswoman from Out There

Following Harriet

Subtitle: How Harriet Tubman could change your perspective on who belongs outdoors

Episode description: You probably learned about Harriet Tubman in school growing up — how she led slaves to freedom on the underground railroad. But she was a lot more than an activist and freedom fighter. She was a daughter, wife, entrepreneur — and a talented outdoorswoman.

This bonus episode from the podcast Out There explores Tubman’s relationship with nature; we unpack how that history shapes the way Black Americans engage with the outdoors today; and we show how a closer look at Tubman could offer new perspectives on who belongs outdoors. Victoria Marin has the story.

Credits: This episode was inspired by the podcast Following Harriet and was produced in collaboration with INGREDIENT (https://www.ingredientcreative.com/) and the Virginia Tourism Corporation (https://www.virginia.org/harriet) To learn more about Virginia’s history and land as it relates to the Black experience, visit https://www.virginia.org/plan-your-trip/black-travel/.

Special thanks to Sheeba Joseph, who spearheaded the project, co-produced the episode, and facilitated the collaboration.

For Further Listening: In honor of Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, we’ve compiled a playlist of stories that highlight Black experiences outdoors and celebrate the diverse and meaningful ways that African Americans engage with the natural world: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3U6y7GdHv6rHZ8OjUt3f3A.