#FakeVanLife: Karen Ramos

Karen Ramos has been making a pretty big impact in the outdoor community this year through the conversations she’s been starting in the realm of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in outdoor spaces. And most recently, she went on a road trip that spawned #fakevanlife.

You might wonder how diversity, equity, and inclusion connects to road travel. Your mind might also jump to a very natural, comforting thought-- that you feel like the community you see and hear about out on the road is incredibly inclusive and supportive. But I also want you to think about every time you search online or meet other road travelers-- do you find a lot of diversity among those who are out there? Do you feel like what you see, or perhaps what you have, is truly accessible to others? We talk a lot on this podcast about how anyone can live or travel on the road-- but we rarely address the inherent privilege in the very statement itself.

Tune in for a fresh perspective on road travel told by someone who uses her voice to open up conversations where outdoors, travel, and DEI intersect.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What inspired Karen to love outdoor adventures and make it a focus of
her careerThe thoughts that prompted Karen to start #fakevanlifeHow she sustained herself on the road with just the essentialsWhy Karen decided to share her road travels online, and the result of
sharing her storiesThe few items Karen purchased or borrowed so she could take her road
tripA few favorite moments from her road tripKaren shares her thoughts on why traveling is a privilegeThe moments Karen felt unsafe while traveling on the roadWhat Karen learned about herself from taking this road trip

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Follow Karen on Instagram - @naturecholaLearn more about Karen’s non-profit - Get Out Stay OutInstagram accounts Karen recommends: @brownenvironmentalist,
@noel_russ, @unlikelyhikers, @melaninbasecampWe put together our own list of 13 Women of Color on the Road to
Follow on InstagramCheck out the 2-part series Gale Straub and Liz Song put together for the She
Explores podcast on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors
here:Episode 13: Diversity: Beyond the BuzzwordEpisode 16: Towards a More Inclusive Outdoors

Come see us in Taos at our first Women On The Road Gathering with Vanlife Diaries!

Join the Women On The Road Podcast Facebook group

Sponsor Website and codes

Deuter

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Episodes air weekly on Fridays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Follow along with Laura Hughes on Instagram (@howsheviewsit) and see more of her work through her website, How She Views It.

Music is by The Volunteer State.

Music is also by Josh Woodward, Jason Shaw, Jazzar, and Hyson via Free Music Archive using a CC by A license.

WOTR podcast cover artwork designed by Dani Opal.