Woods & Wilds: The Podcast

"Value you. Value me. Together we value the earth." - DeWayne Barton DeWayne is a native of Asheville, N.C. He grew up in Washington, D.C. and is a Gulf War Veteran. He is the author two books of poetry and has been involved in community and youth development for over 30 years.  As a visual and performing artist, he is involved in environmental justice issues—both through his art and his community...

“Of course we work to protect our children and environment, ensuring growth for the future, but our people are suffering now. We need answers. We need help. We need change now.” -Richie Harding Richie majored in computer programming at Hardbarger Junior College of Business. He’s the pastor for New Vision Christian Center. He’s also the CEO of Visionware Recordings and the Executive Director of Gas...

“There’s no better place to pour your heart out and have a good cry than in the giant root arms of an old beech tree. And sometimes the tree will cry with you.”   - Holly Paar Denizen of WNC for 30 years, Holly is a painter, musician, poet, filmmaker, photographer and storyteller. She has premiered two films at the Asheville Fringe Festival, held art shows, performed live–solo and with bands, won...

"It never fails. There is something about the forests that awakens the child in me and begs me to take off my shoes and play." - Safiya Myers Born to parents in the Army, Safiya has had many addresses and understands how to make a place a home. She loves to be immersed in cultures outside of her own through travel and listening to stories. Safiya believes storytelling is the medicine we need. You...

Ethnobiologist Marc Williams has taught hundreds of classes to thousands of people about plants, humans, other life forms and their interface. His training includes a B.A. in Environmental Studies/Sustainable Agriculture from Warren Wilson College with a minor in Business and a M.A. in Appalachian Studies/Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University with a minor in Planning/Geography....

Marsha Almodovar is a mother, painter, novice writer, and activist. She currently works for a local Asheville non-profit. She’s facilitated racial equity and inclusion training for local area nonprofits and businesses. Marsha is a mixed-medium painter. She uses her art to highlight social justice issues. Currently, she’s publishing a Spanish-language children's book. Marsha has served on numer...

Lockie Hunter holds an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston and has taught creative writing at Warren Wilson College. She serves as curator of the long-running Juniper Bends Reading Series Reading series and co-producer of the poetry and prose radio program Wordplay on 103.3 FM in Asheville. Her words have appeared in publications including The North Carolina Review, The Baltimor...

Puerto Rico born. Northeast raised. Mari is a fiercely independent free spirit. She strives to inspire that same level of self-determination for others. Especially women of color. Mari has a BA in Environmental Studies & Education from Prescott College in Arizona. That prepared her for a life of social and environmental impact. It also prepared her to be an educator, inside and outside the cla...

Sha'Air Hawkins, artistically known as ShadowWRK, is an accomplished music producer, songwriter, and performer hailing from North Carolina with deep-rooted Jamaican heritage. With an unwavering passion for infusing joy into her compositions, Sha'Air uses the power of melody and narrative to craft musical experiences that resonate with diverse audiences. Her artistry not only reflects her o...

Tiffany Flunory-DE’Bellott has a passion for education advocacy, climate justice, and community organizing. She has a BA in Psychology. Tiffany’s focus has been on diversity, equity, and inclusion work: facilitating racial equity circles and other grassroots movements. She’s a board member of the Human Relations Commission of Asheville, YMI Cultural Center, COTHINK, and LEAF Global. She says, “It...

Angela Hollowell is the founder of Rootful Media, a creative documentary film production company based in Durham, North Carolina. She is also the host of the video podcasts Honey & Hustle and Creative Architects by Castos. She creates documentary films about the outdoors, health equity, social impact, and environmental justice centering Southern voices. Her video interviews feature themes abou...

Leaves You Hopeful is a short podcast series by 2023 Dogwood Alliance Fellow Aanahita Ervin. It highlights stories about large institutions - government, private foundations, corporations - misusing forests against the wishes of the local community members. While misuse of forest land is often legal, it is not ethical. These offending institutions are large and powerful. Oftentimes people assume t...

Leaves You Hopeful is a short podcast series produced by 2023 Dogwood Alliance Fellow Aanahita Ervin. It highlights stories about large institutions - government, private foundations, corporations - misusing forests against the wishes of the local community members. While misuse of forest land is often legal, it is not ethical. These offending institutions are large and powerful. Oftentimes people...

Leaves You Hopeful is a short podcast series produced by 2023 Dogwood Alliance Fellow Aanahita Ervin. It highlights stories about large institutions - government, private foundations, corporations - misusing forests against the wishes of the local community members. While misuse of forest land is often legal, it is not ethical. These offending institutions are large and powerful. Oftentimes people...

A Podcast Interview with Leandra Taylor on becoming water Welcome back to another episode of   Woods & Wilds: The Podcast . Join us for Episode 5 of Season 3! In this episode we’re joined by educator and business founder, Tierra Mack. Tierra joins us to talk about the children she works with, creating comfortable and safe space to be a kid in this current environment, and becoming wa...

Welcome back to another episode of  Woods & Wilds: The Podcast . We are now on episode four of Season 3!  In this episode with are joined by Leandra Taylor. As she tells us about the time she was part of the first all-Black crew to hike Mount Kilimanjaro . Leandra Taylor is an artist, environmental scientist, mountaineer and educator based in Asheville, North Carolina currently worki...

In this episode, we are joined by Youth Activist Demon Thomas. Demon talks about education justice as liberation justice and having faith in yourself.  Demon Thomas is the former president of UNC Asheville’s Student Government Association and the student representative on the Board of Trustees. He was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and received his degree in mass communication,...

Welcome to another episode of Woods & Wilds: The Podcast . For this episode, we sat down with youth organizer and activist Trinity Barnwell. Trinity Giovanna Barnwell-Thomas is an Italian African American living in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina. She is currently a senior at Asheville High School and plans on attending a four-year university for her bachelo...

Join our hosts Elizabeth Lashay from SlayTheMic and Kimala Luna from Dogwood Alliance as they sit down with climate activist Ruddy Turnstone.  Ruddy Turnstone (she/they) : Based in southeastern so-called Florida, Ruddy is on the Steering Committee for the Community Hotline for Incarcerated People (CHIP) which was founded in April of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. CHIP is an all-vo...

This week we flip the script as Chaya Brennan Agarwal interviews the hosts of Woods & Wilds: The Podcast , Erniko Brown & Kimala Luna from Dogwood Alliance and Elizabeth Lashay from SlayTheMic, about their connection to nature, motivation, and staying connected to the work. Chaya Brennan Agarwal is a rising third-year undergraduate at Duke University from Los Angeles, California, majo...

This week our hosts of  Woods & Wilds: The Podcast , Kimala Luna from Dogwood Alliance and Elizabeth Lashay from SlayTheMic, talk with Kaleia Martin and Nakisa Glover about radical dreaming, changing our belief around what is possible, and how we're all needed in this movement.

This week our hosts of Woods & Wilds: The Podcast , Erniko Brown and Kimala Luna from Dogwood Alliance along with Elizabeth Lashay from SlayTheMic, talk with Kristan Pitts about sparking your soul alongside others, what freedom tastes like, and how we are always invited.

JOIN  DOGWOOD ALLIANCE  AND  SLAYTHEMIC  AS WE BRING TALES OF CONNECTIONS TO NATURE AND MUSIC TO YOU. This week our hosts Erniko Brown and Kimala Luna from Dogwood Alliance and Elizabeth Lashay from SlayTheMic talk with Georgie Nakima about the importance of visual representation, doing your best imperfectly, and art as an avenue to learn and heal. Art is healing.

This week our hosts Erniko Brown and Kimala Luna from Dogwood Alliance and Elizabeth Lashay from SlayTheMic talk with Tiffany Fant about Black leadership, health over hustle, and showing up authentically.

Join  Dogwood Alliance  and  SlaytheMic as we bring tales of connections to nature and music to you. This week our hosts Erniko Brown from Dogwood Alliance and Elizabeth Lashay from SlayTheMic talk with Reverend Michael Malcom about addressing the hurt in our communities, getting free, and making the movement work sexy. The Reverend Michael Malcom is the Founder and Executive Direct...