EP 41: Encouraging Black Adventure with Courtney Lanctot of The Unpopular Black

This week, I’m speaking with Courtney Lanctot founder of The Unpopular Black, whose mission is to encourage Black adventure beyond the stereotypes and narratives of what Black people ‘don’t do.” The goal of her company is to “show a real representation of Black people adventuring and provide information on how to access outdoor spaces and adventure activities that have been white facing/focused for far too long.”

Nature is a place where we can all find belonging and I believe it's essential for each of us to work towards making the outdoors feel inclusive for everyone. In this episode, we discuss what inspired Courtney to start The Unpopular Black; Why black people don’t feel like there’s a place for them on the trail; How The Unpopular Black helps Black people feel safe in the outdoors; the delicate balance of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone while also creating a foundation of safety in nature; where to begin if you’d like to cultivate a deeper relationship with nature through adventuring; how Courtney’s relationship with nature has shifted since starting The Unpopular Black; and her vision for The Unpopular Black going forward. This conversation touches on a critical, but under-discussed element of our culture’s relationship with the natural world. And while we dive into some important and complicated issues, we also had a lot of fun. Courtney’s vision is so powerful and I’m very inspired by the work she is doing in the outdoor space!

“Nature offers life. It offers perspective. Nature offers healing, and the room to roam and wander to really find yourself.” - Courtney Lanctot x Our Nature

Resources

Show Notes

On what it was like to grow up in Alaska surrounded by nature, but disconnected from it
What nature offers us
What inspired Courtney to start The Unpopular Black
Why Black people don’t feel like there’s a place for them on the trail
The 3 pillars of The Unpopular Black
How The Unpopular Black helps Black people feel safe in the outdoors
The delicate balance of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone while also creating a foundation of safety in nature
The challenges of putting away your phone so that you can be present in nature
Courtney’s struggle to be present while also capturing content
Where to begin if you’d like to cultivate a deeper relationship with nature through adventuring
How Courtney’s relationship with nature has shifted since starting The Unpopular Black
Vision for The Unpopular Black going forward
What Courtney is most proud of
The Last 5 Questions