Some notes from the co-Creators
Lauren here. My passion for social change really started as a little kid through environmental activism. That evolved into women’s rights and climate activism as I grew up. I went to undergrad for environmental sociology at Vanderbilt where I also worked for a sexual assault organization on campus. While working with so many survivors, I realized there was a constant need for transparency that did not exist. Whether it was community, conversations, or an understanding of various aspects of reporting, nothing felt good enough. At the same time, Shannon and I were going through our court case that lasted until my senior year of college, so in the back of my head, I always hoped one day I could have some sort of value-add in this space.
Currently, I just graduated with my master’s in environmental policy and I hope to focus on ecofeminist issues and continue to fight for social change. Outside of these passions, I love being outdoors. Skiing, hiking, climbing, surfing… I am pretty sure these things helped heal me in ways therapy never did (therapy is important though, so keep doing it).
Hey y’all,
Shannon here! I spent most of my early life in an ice box with knives on my feet and was known by my school friends as “the figure skater’. Skating was my world, and everything else came second. Even after my dad and brother died in a plane crash (talk about a dramatic exit), I was back on the ice two days later.
Things took a turn during my freshman year of college when I was raped by a close family friend (the same person who assaulted Lauren). That led Lauren and me into a two-year battle for justice in a military court system that, statistically, was stacked against us. Unlike Lauren, who’s been in the activism game since she was in diapers, my advocacy journey started a few years ago. I’m a recovering people-pleaser who is frequently afraid of causing conflict and am working on becoming more assertive… oh and making decisions. I need some serious help in making decisions.
I’m a complicated gal who likes the simple things, and at my core, I just want to leave the world a little better than I found it. During the court process, I quit ice skating and moved to Boulder, Colorado, to figure out who I was outside of my sport. There, I earned my Marketing degree and found other interests that bring me joy. Boulder is extra special to me as it’s where this podcast started. I’m a sucker for an iced vanilla oat milk latte, good friends, and an EDM show. I’d rather joke about my dead dad than cry, and though I’m still figuring out the whole ‘career’ thing, I love the podcast and the people it’s connected me with.
Hi friends,