Alisa Meraz-Fishbein is a current sophomore running Track and Cross Country and majoring in Journalism at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Like me, she’s an alumna of Albuquerque High School and was coached by my dad, Doug Dorame. In this conversation, we catch up about Alisa’s recently launched podcast, Running Start, as well as life as college student-athlete during a pandemic.

Guarina Lopez (Pascua Yaqui) is a visual artist, mother, runner, cyclist, and the founder of Native Women Ride. As a lifelong Indigenous activist and environmentalist, she utilizes photography, film, and writing to share stories of the land and Indigenous communities. In the episode, Guarina tells us about growing up in New Mexico (among other places), the ways her childhood shaped her, and her journey as a woman of color in running and cycling.

Mario Fraioli is the host and creator of the Morning Shakeout podcast and newsletter, a running coach, and my mentor in the Tracksmith Fellowship Program. Since last fall, Mario has been an incredible resource, guiding me through the ins and outs of podcasting. In this conversation, we dive deep into Mario’s career in journalism, his not-so-secret obsession with basketball, and his thoughts on diversity/inclusion within the industry today.

Join Grounded Pod creator/host, Dinée Dorame, in conversation with her partner, Reed, as she answers fun questions from listeners about running, life, injury updates, and more!

Monica Etsitty Dorame (Diné) is Tábąąhá (Edge of Water clan) and born for Tótsohnii (Big Water clan). She currently resides in Albuquerque, NM and is originally from Ft. Defiance, AZ. As you may have guessed, she is also my Mom! Monica is a library operations manager for government information at the University of New Mexico (UNM) University Libraries and is currently a PhD candidate in the UNM OILS (Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences) Program.

Yatika Starr Fields (Osage, Cherokee, Muscogee Creek) is a painter, muralist, and ultrarunner based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Yatika grew up in an artistic family and specializes in using oil, acrylic, and watercolor mediums. In this conversation, we discuss the connections he makes between his culture, art works, and running, as well as his philosophy in training for ultra-distances.

Rebecca Mehra is a professional track athlete running for the Oiselle Littlewing elite team based out of Bend, Oregon. Rebecca recently raced in both the 800m and 1500m at the U.S. Olympic Track Trials earlier this month. Although Rebecca’s journey in the 800m run ended in the semi-final round with a time of 2:01.33, she went on to run in the finals of the women’s 1500m, where she placed 11th overall with a time of 4:08.47.

Billy Mills (Tamakoce Te'Hila) is an Oglala Lakota distance runner, 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist in the 10,000m run, and co-founder of the non-profit organization Running Strong for American Indian Youth. [CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of Indian residential schools, assimilation, ongoing harm, physical abuse between minutes 19:00-23:00 minutes in this episode.]

Ashleigh Thompson (she/her/hers) is Red Lake Ojibwe and an archaeologist, climber, and avid trail runner. Ashleigh is based on Tohono Oo’dham and Pascua Yaqui lands (also known as Tucson, AZ) while working towards her Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Arizona. Her dissertation focuses on traditional foodways and food sovereignty. In this conversation we discuss the importance of oral traditions, how to maximize your longevity as a runner, and what her Ultramarathon training looks like.

James Ro is the co-founder of the Atlanta Run Club (ARC), a trainer and physical therapist, and a Lululemon Ambassador. He is also a newly minted owner of an Atlanta-based boutique fitness studio. James is a natural connector and you’ll hear him talk about the way his Korean American background and culture set the foundation for his work in running/fitness today.

Alison Mariella Desír is a runner, mother, mental health coach, author, activist, and speaker. She is also the newly minted Director of Sports Advocacy at Oiselle, a running apparel brand that is “by and for women.” She is also an ambassador for HOKA ONE ONE. Alison is truly a pillar in the running community and in January 2021, she was named by Women’s Running as one of the 20 women who are changing the sport of running and the world.

Jinghuan Liu Tervalon is an advocate, marathoner, and mother who can often be found speaking on issues of safety on the run, representation, and visibility for Asian-American athletes. She was also recently announced a Brooks Runfulness Project Runner-up, receiving $25,000 from the Brooks “Run Fund” for her project titled, “Asian American Runners: Rise Together," which will be a multi-media book featuring 10-20 in-depth profile stories of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) runners.

Are you a runner with a creative ambition? This episode is a deep dive into the Tracksmith Fellowship Program with Lee Glandorf (Director of Marketing & Communications) and Kamilah Journét (Marketing Manager). Last year, the Fellowship Program supported 6 projects through a year-long creative grant, including the Grounded Podcast with Dinée Dorame! In this conversation, we discuss the mission of the brand, the fellowship program origin story, and tips for future applicants.

Starla Garcia is a Registered Dietitian, owner of The Healthy Shine, LLC, 2020 Olympic Trials Qualifier, and body and cultural diversity advocate. She was also my dietitian and worked with me closely for 6 months on how to properly fuel and stay energized. Her journey to wellness came after battling an eating disorder as a Latina student-athlete during her collegiate years so we reflect on how displacement from culture, home, and community impacted her recovery and overall well-being.

Brandon Dugi (Diné) is an outdoor adventure photographer, visual storyteller, and trail runner. He grew up on the Navajo Reservation in Łichíiʼii (LeChee, AZ) and only recently started racing competitively in the trail and ultra-running scenes. Brandon is currently an Assistant Track & Field coach at Page High School and a brand ambassador for CLIF Bar and Garmin Outdoor. You may recognize him from this beautiful short film made in collaboration with HOKA ONE ONE, “Time to Hózho.”

Doug Dorame (Mexican/Yaqui) is currently the Athletic Director, Head Girls Track & Field Coach, and Head Girls Basketball Coach at Albuquerque High School. As you may have guessed, he's also my Dad! He grew up in Tularosa, NM and went on to run Division I Track at the University of Colorado-Boulder from 1977-81. Today, with 40+ years of experience, he tells us how the landscape of women's sports has shifted, the importance of running in his life, and his future goals.

Beth Wright (Pueblo of Laguna) is an attorney at the Northwest Justice Project, 3-time Boston Marathon finisher, and former NCAA Division I runner at Syracuse University. She also happens to be one of my lifelong best friends and former high school teammates! In this conversation, we reflect on our experiences as Native students in both high school and college, her time with Wings of America and Beth’s cultural connections to running, plus how my dad played a major role in her running career.

Dustin Martin (Diné) is the Executive Director of Wings of America, a non-profit organization based in Albuquerque, NM that empowers Native youth and their families through running. Dustin is a lifelong runner who grew up in Gallup and Albuquerque, NM, then went on to run at Columbia University. In this conversation, we discuss his philosophy around running, his interest in art and design, and his experience as a Native student-athlete at an Ivy League institution.

Dr. Lydia Jennings is a Wixáritari (Huichol) and Yoeme (Pascua Yaqui) environmental microbiologist and trail runner. She recently completed her PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Arizona. In this conversation, we learn about her 50-mile Run for 50 Indigenous Scientists, what her favorite soils/lands to run on are, and how being an Indigenous runner-scientist shapes the way she connects with the land.

This recording is from a live panel on Women’s Running Across the Generations that happened on March 20th, 2021 as part of the “Creating Community Through Movement” Series hosted by the Native Health Initiative (NHI). Panelists include Kathrine Switzer, Patti Catalano Dillon, and Weini Kelati.

Ric and Nell Rojas are a dynamic father-daughter duo in running. Between the two of them, they’ve set numerous records and boasted several big wins from the mile to the marathon distance. Together, they utilize their experience and unique philosophy to coach a variety of athletes in the Boulder, Colorado area. In this conversation, Ric and Nell reflect on their biggest career wins, give some coaching advice, and discuss how their community/family has shaped their running.

Latoya Shauntay Snell is an endurance athlete, activist, and food/fitness blogger. Latoya has completed over 30 marathons and documents much of her training over on her blog, Running Fat Chef. In this conversation, she shares insights on marathon training, endurance, and how to stay motivated when facing adversity.

"Track & Field is important to me because of the opportunities...my youth program coach stressed using your sport as a means for accessing greater academic opportunity. Since 6 years old, I have carried that message with me." Russell Dinkins is an elite athlete and former Princeton University runner. After writing a viral piece for Medium.com last June, Russell found himself leading the charge to save Men’s Track & Field and Cross-Country at several colleges and universities across...

"I love having folks to be stride in stride with. There’s a lot of community in sweating together.” Faith E. Briggs is a runner, storyteller, and documentary filmmaker passionate about sharing contemporary stories from diverse communities. Her work spans many fields, and we talk about some of her amazing documentary films including This Land, which digs into conversations about public lands, what it means to be a conservationist and who is invited to the conversation. As part of making that...

Leroy “Buster” Silva (Pueblo of Laguna) is a movement and wellness advocate, community coordinator for the Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation, and former teacher/coach and student-athlete. He’s also the founder of Family+Indigenize+Thrive, an organization he created that takes an intergenerational approach to address challenges Native communities face when it comes to achieving wellness. We discuss how he is constantly reimagining ways to incorporate Indigenous wellness practices into his...