All In: Sarah Menzies

Sarah Menzies is all in. Whether it's her adventure documentary film career or her relationships, Sarah is fully committed to following through on giving back to others. Sarah’s story is about what she would do for her many loves, and in turn, and what they would do for her.

The filmmaker behind the short pieces, "The Mirnavator" and "A Steelhead Quest," Sarah's first full-length documentary film, "Afghan Cycles" is debuting at Hot Docs April 29th. Afghan Cycles uses the bicycle to tell a story of women’s rights - human rights - and the struggles faced by Afghan women on a daily basis, from discrimination to abuse, to the oppressive silencing of their voices in all aspects of contemporary society. These women ride despite cultural barriers, despite infrastructure, and despite death threats, embracing the power and freedom that comes with the sport.

With the help of her girlfriend Katilin Bailey, we talk with Sarah about the evolution of her promising career.

Women Featured in this Episode: Sarah Menzies and Kaitlin Bailey

Hosted and produced by Gale Straub.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How Sarah became a documentary filmmaker and lessons learned along the way
The importance of (at times) removing yourself from the story
Tips for getting started in the outdoor film industry
What fishing can teach you about patience, generosity, and the environment
The parallels between bicycling in Afghanistan and the suffrage movement in the United States
The challenges faced by Afghan women and their perseverance in spite of them.

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Sponsored by Columbia Sportswear. Watch the "Offline" video featuring She Explores here.

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Live She Explores Event: Portland Oregon
Sarah's production company: Let Media
Outside Online: Sarah Menzies Knows the World's Coolest Women
The Mirnavator
A Steelhead Quest
Afghan Cycles Website
Columbia "Offline" Film
Columbia Sportswear

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Music for this episode is by Chris Zabriskie, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.

Music is also by Kent Rockefeller.