TYPE 2: Episode 015 - Len Necefer

Type 2 is a podcast from Looking Sideways in association with Patagonia that explores the intersection between the outdoors, action sports and activism. My guest this week is the great Len Necefer. Well, Dr Len Necefer to be precise. Len is a professor at the University in Arizona, CEO of Native Outdoors, a board member at the Honnold Foundation and American Alpine club . It’s a breadth of experience that has given him a very intriguing and insightful approach to activism - and an intersectional take on the issues we currently face. Len is of mixed Navajo and European heritage and his work is primarily focussed, as the bio for Native Outdoors puts it, on empowering native and indigenous communities for a sustainable world. Thought his work and various outlets, Len is helping both communities bridge the differences that exist between the indigenous take on the outdoors, and the classic white western approach. Which, after all, can come with attendant colonial connotations. From speaking to Len I think that word bridge is important; he’s a consensus builder, somebody who is concerned with inclusivity and opening doors, rather than enforcing entrenched positions. For Len, humour is a tool and dogmatism, whatever your political leaning, is to be avoided. I mean just look at his singular Instagram account, through which he uses some frankly exemplary meme skills to explore issues around climate, identity and diversity in today’s outdoor world. The result is an illuminating, wide-ranging chat - enjoy. New episodes of Type 2 are released every four weeks through my Looking Sideways channel. Hear it by subscribing to Looking Sideways via ApplePodcasts, Spotify or any of the usual other podcast providers. Thanks to Ewan Wallace for the theme tune, and to my editor Fina Charleson.