Enormocast 270: Briana Mazzolini-Blanchard – Doing What Needs to Be Done

On Episode 270 of the Enormocast, we are joined by Indigenous activist and climber, Briana Mazzolini-Blanchard. Though her path to accepting her heritage as a member of the CHamoru/Tugong Clan with origins in Guam was not without struggles, Briana has spent the last 6 years advocating for Indigenous peoples in Ohio and Eastern Kentucky. As a board-member of the Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition, she has spearheaded that group’s outreach to under-served and under-represented communities. As Executive Director of the Urban Native Collective, she also strives to serve the Indigenous community outside of climbing. Finally, as a climber/advocate, Briana wants to rattle our cages and make us think about how we impact the land and what the climbing community is going to look like, value, and accept going forward.

Enormocast 219: Genevive Walker – Holding Fast to the Dream

Photos: D. Scott Clark, D. Scott Clark, Andrew English

On Episode 219 of the Enormocast, I connect online with Genevive Walker. Genevive is living the “dream” on the road full time. In the last year, she’s taken some offers for sponsorship and is now trying to reconcile the life of a public figure and “pro” with the realities of living hand-to-mouth in a van as a dirtbag climber. Add the need to be active in the community as a Black woman climber, someone recovering from disordered eating, and an athlete, Genevive is not sure she can do it all. However, she’s threatening to be a threat as a mentor, guide, and spokesperson, just give her a minute to find and eradicate the poop smell in her van and she WILL change the world.