Prince Shakur is a pro-black, feminist, lover of locs, queer with restless feet, writer, activist, and filmmaker who grew up in Jamaica and moved to the U.S. when he was young. Shakur has traveled extensively and holds an impressive resume of published written works and he's only 23. His essay, "A Black Traveler Confronts Racism at a Montana Resort," published recently in Outside magazine, provides an insightful and raw account of Shakur's time working and living in Big Sky, Montana, a remote ski town in the Rockies. In this interview, Shakur opens up about the nuances of taking up space, how everything is political, and the important labor of being honest. On taking up space, Shakur reveals, "I know every time I write something, every time I put something out on the internet, every time I wear a piece of clothing that has a radical message, I’m putting myself at risk, but I’m also demanding space that is mine because I’m a human being and I deserve to live, and it’s necessary. If I don’t do that then I’m not owning what I have, which I think is really, really necessary.”

"Exposure," is a film project spearheaded by Ani Yahzid, which will follow hip hop artists, Namaste and Keylan, into the Olympic National Park in Washington. Their goal is to encourage more multicultural urban youth to get outside. Find out how you can support their inspiring efforts.

My three year friendship with Byron Etta started at Smith Rock State Park and since then we have tackled conversations about climbing, risk, feminism, racism, and whiteness. But how did we get there in this recording if this is a podcast about climbing? You're going to have to listen and find out...

Shout out to Toby Butterfield for taking most of these sweet photos of Byron!