Ep.07 - Lauren Moody - Inclusive Health

While attending App State, Lauren Moody discovered her love for backpacking. On this episode of Appalachian Outdoorosity, Lauren shares some of her favorite experiences getting outside. Lauren and Joy also discuss the importance of making the outdoors a welcoming space for all.

 

Show Notes

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

https://outdoorafro.org/

https://latinooutdoors.org/

https://www.rei.com/blog/hike/pattie-gonia-backpacking-queen-releases-her-first-full-length-video

https://fatgirlshiking.com/

https://tnstateparks.com/parks/roan-mountain

 

Contact Information:

[e-mail]

Instagram handle is @laurenl_m

 

Transcript

 

Becki Battista

Welcome to Appalachian Outdoorosity where we encourage you to get outside and KEEP going outside. Here we will share Appalachian State stories that entertain, inspire, and inform listeners about living an active outdoor lifestyle. Each episode features a story with the goal to get you outside and KEEP you going outside to improve your overall wellness. This

podcast is presented by the Hope Lab where our purpose is to investigate the role of outdoor physical activity, exercise, and play on health, the environment, and human development. The vision of the HOPE Lab is to continue developing the perfect foundation for promoting and supporting outdoor physical activity, exercise, and play through interdisciplinary research. Feel free to check us out on hopelab.appstate.edu

 

Hi, my name is Becki Battista, a professor in Exercise Science and self-proclaimed physical activity addict. I am your host for the Appalachian Outdoorosity podcast today.

 

On today’s interview, team member Dr. Joy James, a professor in Recreation Management, interviews Lauren Moody.

 

Appalachian State University student Lauren Moody, of Marietta, Georgia, was recognized for outstanding leadership and service — she was the recipient of a 2020 Community Impact Student Award from North Carolina Campus Compact, a statewide network of colleges and universities committed to community engagement. While at the University she picked up the hobby of backpacking. Listen as she shares her experience and thoughts on how to make the outdoors a space for all.

 

Joy James

We want to welcome you to our podcast, Lauren, and thank you so much for being willing to talk to us today.

 

Lauren Moody

Yeah, thank you. I'm excited. I'm a little nervous, but excited to be here.

 

Joy James

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself, what your major is, where you're from, and what year you are here at App?

 

Lauren Moody

Yeah. So I am a senior here and it's exciting going into my last year. Yeah, I'm originally from outside of Atlanta, Georgia, so I'm about like five, 6 hours away from Boone, so a little bit far from home. I'm actually an interdisciplinary studies major, so it's a little wacky but kind of fun and cool. My program of study focuses on community development, so the way I view community development in like how I've kind of approached my program study is looking at really how culture influences the way communities develop and like how culture kind of converges with different things like government and like economic policy and how it all comes together to affect like how people build physical institutions in community, but also like that sociological sense of belonging.

 

Joy James

Sounds like you’re going to be doing a lot of community building and work in the future.

 

Lauren Moody

Yes, definitely.

 

Joy James

That's the goal. One other question. What are your favorite outdoor activities?

 

Lauren Moody

Backpacking, definitely, because I think it's just like a really cool, immersive experience outdoors. But just on a day-to-day basis, because you can go backpacking every day or like every weekend, I really do just enjoy going on like a good walk outside, just being in nature because I think that's one of the really important parts of advocating for people spending time outdoors. It doesn't have to be this big intimidating thing like backpacking. It can just be going to the Greenway and going for a walk.

 

Joy James

Absolutely. I agree with you. I love doing all those things. But like you said, with the planning and day to day are only an hour at a time. It's nice to be ab