Gender Equity in Responsible Wildlife and Conservation Guiding with Sheridan Samano

Sheridan Samano, founder of Reefs to Rockies & Her Wild Life Expeditions, joins Christine for this week’s soulful conversation as a guest in our Trailblazer Series, produced in collaboration with Strictly Jane Austen Tours.

Sheridan Samano is a wildlife enthusiast, guide, and co-founder of Reefs to Rockies. Her passion for animals began as a child, flipping through National Geographic magazines, and has only grown since then. Sheridan holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife and fisheries science and a master’s in biology. Her guiding journey began when she launched a study abroad program focused on sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica. In the field, Sheridan’s ability to spot a break in the pattern and quickly adapt leads to plenty of “wows” from the guests in her groups. When she’s not traveling, you’ll find her along a trail in Colorado with her family, searching for something feathered or furred, or enjoying a local craft beer after a day in the field. Her favorite animal? The cheetah.

In this episode, Sheridan and Christine discuss:

· The connection between tourism and conservation and how our understanding of that connection evolves

· How following a passion for creating more opportunities for women, nature, and birding guides has the potential to shift systems that perpetuate gender disparities

· How tourism leaders can show up, set examples, be mentors, and open doors for more women to participate in tourism and conservation

Join us Wednesday for this soulful conversation.

🌎​​​​​​​​

To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.

LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.

Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!

🌎​​​​​​

Visit https://reefstorockies.com/ to learn more about experiencing wild places in a way that feels meaningful, seamless, and deeply connected to the natural world. 

Visit https://herwildlifeexpeditions.com/ to explore immersive, expert-led adventures – designed by women.

Connect with Sheridan Samano: Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook /  Instagram / Facebook

Special thanks to Strictly Jane Austen Tours for your partnership in the production of our Trailblazer Series!

🌎​​​​​​​​

Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. 

Follow us on Instagram: @she.sojourns and @souloftravelpodcast.

Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Sheridan Samano (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo.