Episode 122 - Bronwen Lodato, Bronwen Jewelry
Building trust in yourself can come from a number of experiences, both internal and external. But for some of us, the most effective way to access our inner goddess is through traveling.
On the podcast this week, Christine hosts guest Bronwen Lodato, CEO and Founder of Bronwen Jewelry, an artisan jewelry line designed for active and traveling women. Coming from a background in outdoor education, Bronwen experienced the need for jewelry that was beautiful but also durable enough to withstand the grit of wilderness, adventure, and world travel. It turns out she wasn't the only one. Today she runs a bustling business in Bend, Oregon, where all the jewelry is made by hand by a team of local women.
Bronwen's passion for travel has led her to many corners of the globe, where she connects with craft artisans of all types. She has spent over a decade building friendships and partnerships with individuals and groups of artists to bring products with a high social impact to the market.
She is also partnering with a 501(c)(3) organization called Nest, which is working to establish a global set of guidelines for compliance in sustainability, ethics, and partnerships for businesses that employ artisans to create handmade goods. Nest supports the responsible growth and creative engagement of the artisan and maker economy to build a world of greater gender equity and economic inclusion.
Learning to Trust Yourself Through Experiences
As part of the Outward Bound program when she was a teen, Bronwen agreed – albeit reluctantly – to participate in a 30-day course where she sailed in archaic sailing boats to practice self-reliance and survival skills. She shares that the magic of that experience wove the fabric of who she is today, a person committed to traveling the world, connecting with herself and others, and seeking experiences that transform her future.
Christine shares on the podcast that she is constantly amazed by the power of travel and experiences to break down the preconceptions we have about ourselves, challenging us to learn new skills while shifting the way we see ourselves in the world. Bronwen agrees: She can harken back to the three days she spent solo on the island as part of her trip to the moment in which she learned the real feelings of loneliness, anger, and sadness and what it meant to be with yourself.
While solo traveling, Bronwen still has these feelings – and can recognize and name them as deeply human emotions that are normal, natural, and common as well as impermanent.
Finding Freedom in Community
Bronwen shares that while she often sees herself as part of the small, tightly-knit community of Bend, Oregon, she revels in the opportunities that come her way to deeply get to know different groups of people in their respective spaces and values.
Bronwen and Christine both explore the idea that it’s essential to intentionally create a community within our businesses, especially as women entrepreneurs and business owners. For Bronwen, community is everything. Since she launched Bronwen Jewelry in 2008, the core values haven’t changed, and the quality time that the team spends working on common and shared goals is both powerful and empowering in the way it translates into the products, customer and artisan relationships, and impacts her business makes.
The Freedom to Roam
Bronwen shares that while she often sees herself as part of the small, tightly-knit community of Bend, Oregon, she revels in the opportunities that come her way to deeply get to know different groups of people in their respective spaces and values.
Bronwen and Christine both share that it’s essential to intentionally create a community within our businesses, especially as women entrepreneurs and business owners. For Bronwen, community is everything. Since she launched Bronwen Jewelry in 2008, the core values haven’t changed, and the quality time that the team spends working on common and shared goals is both powerful and empowering in the way it translates into the products, customer and artisan relationships, and impacts her business makes.
“For me, travel is a necessity; sometimes it’s with my family, and sometimes it’s with my friends, and sometimes it’s by myself or strangers. And it’s part of what I need in order to be a good person in the world.”
Soul of Travel Episode 122 At a Glance
In this conversation, Christine and Bronwen discuss:
Their common love language and value of community
People coming together to have a shared experience
Solo travel, loneliness, and perseverance
The transformative power of travel and outdoor experiences
The magic of connecting with new people
How to dispel the myth that travel and self-care are luxuries
Create a new narrative around the restoration and healing of travel
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Bronwen Lodato.
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Related UN Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goal #4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Sustainable Development Goal #5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Sustainable Development Goal #6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Sustainable Development Goal #7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Sustainable Development Goal #10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Sustainable Development Goal #11 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Sustainable Development Goal #13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Sustainable Development Goal #16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode
To learn more about Bronwen Jewelry, visit the website at https://bronwenjewelry.com/.
To read about 501(c)(3) Nest, visit their website at https://www.buildanest.org/.
To get your copy of Good for a Girl by Lauren Fleshman, visit https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/664493/good-for-a-girl-by-lauren-fleshman/.
Follow Bronwen on your favorite social media network!
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bronwenjewelry/about/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bronwenjewelry/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BronwenJewelry
About the Soul Of Travel Podcast
Soul of Travel honors the passion and dedication of people making a positive impact in the tourism industry. In each episode, you’ll hear the stories of women who are industry professionals, seasoned travelers, and community leaders. Our expert guests represent social impact organizations, adventure-based community organizations, travel photography and videography, and entrepreneurs who know that travel is an opportunity for personal awareness and a vehicle for global change.
Join us to become a more educated and intentional traveler as you learn about new destinations, sustainable and regenerative travel, and community-based tourism. Industry professionals and those curious about a career in travel will also find value and purpose in our conversations.
We are thought leaders, action-takers, and heart-centered change-makers who inspire and create community. Join host Christine Winebrenner Irick for these soulful conversations with our global community of travelers exploring the heart, the mind, and the globe.
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Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Bronwen Lodato (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo.
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WE WON A BESSIE AWARD! The Bessie Awards recognize the achievements of women and gender-diverse people making an impact in the travel industry. To view the complete list of 2022’s winners, visit bessieawards.org.
Soul of Travel Episode 122 Transcript
Women’s travel, transformational travel, sustainable travel, social entrepreneurship, business community
Christine:
Bronwen Lorado is the founder and CEO of Bronwen Jewelry, an artisan line of jewelry designed for active and traveling women. Coming from a background in outdoor education, Bronwen experienced the need for jewelry that was beautiful, but also durable enough to withstand the grit of wilderness, adventure, and world travel. It turns out she wasn't the only one. Today she runs a bustling business in Bend, Oregon, where all the jewelry is made by hand by a team of local women. Bronwen's passion for travel has led her to many corners of the globe, where she connects with craft artisans of all types. She has spent over a decade building friendships and partnerships with individuals and groups of artists to bring products with a high social impact to market. In our conversation, Bronwen and I speak about our common love language of community, the transformative power of travel and outdoor experiences, and we try to dispel the idea that travel is a luxury and therefore selfish and create a new narrative showing how're storing and healing it is and the ways it helps us thrive. Love the soulful conversations. We rely on listener support to produce our podcast. You can support me in amplifying the voices of women by making a donation on PayPal. The link is in the show notes. Join me now for my soulful conversation with Bronwen Lodato.
Christine:
Welcome to Soul of Travel podcast. Today I'm really excited to be joined by Bronwen Lodato, and this is a fun and different connection for me and for the podcast, uh, which I'll share as we get into our conversation. But first, just would love to welcome you to the show. Thanks for having me. This is such a treat. Thank you. Uh, well, Bronwen is the founder and c e o of Bronwen Jewelry. And part of why this is so special, and it's also yesterday was my birthday, and so even I was thinking the timing of this is great because I have a piece of Bronwen jewelry, which is not my only piece, but my most complimented piece. And for those of you listening and not watching the YouTube, um, it's, I wear it every single day, this little piece of jewelry that has a mountain, um, and either a sun or a moon, depending on how you interpret it. Uh, and also ironically, my favorite earrings that I wear. So I was connected to Bronwen because I was curious about this piece of jewelry that I get complimented on all of the time and learned about your story and was really inspired by what you have created and just knew that I wanted to be able to bring your journey to this show. So I can't wait to begin to share this with my listeners.
Bronwen:
That's so nice. It's like the perfect, perfect conversation and connection.
Christine:
Yeah. Yeah, it is. So, uh, as we get started, Bronwen, I'd love for you to just introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about Bronwen Jewelry and then we'll go forward from there.
Bronwen:
Yeah, so thank you. Um, this is a treat. This is my first podcast I've been on. So, uh, I'm Bronwen Lado and I own and run a small artisan jewelry line. Uh, we design jewelry for active women and we handcraft our products in Bend, Oregon. Uh, we're really rooted in the outdoor industry and I am in my 15th year of running this business.
Christine:
Yeah, I wish I knew when I first saw it so that I could say I feel like I wish I was a fan for all 15 years, but I'm not, I can't remember exactly, but I'm guessing pretty close to that because I really have been following, uh, from afar for a long time. Um, well, Bronwin, you mentioned that you really are rooted in outdoor and active travel, and we're gonna understand that, how that brought you to creating a jewelry line. Um, but first I would love to talk about, uh, a little bit about how your childhood instilled your love for the outdoors. Um, before we got on this call, we were just talking about the fact that you grew up near Wenatchee, um, which is kind of a another ironic or synchronous thing because it's where my much of my mom's family is from. So we know a lot of the same similar towns and places that a lot of people might not know of. Um, but can you just share a little bit about how that made you really curious about and engaged in the outdoors?
Bronwen:
Yeah. So I did grow up in Wenatchee. I grew up, uh, on Wenatchee Heights, which is kind of close to our mountains there. There's a ski resort called Mission Ridge with which some people may have skied there. And I grew up on a cherry orchard. Um, and when my, uh, parents were, before they had children, my dad is a retired Air Force, um, pilot and still a very active recreational pilot. And we, my parents bought adjacent properties with cherry orchards with another Air Force couple, and they decided to come to Washington and kind of homestead with a dirt airstrip so that both of the pilots could keep flying. And, um, my childhood is memories of small, small planes that would fit just my family of five and taking off and landing on that dirt airstrip between two cherry orchards. And I think ultimately, without knowing, that's probably what sparked my travel passion.
But with that, my parents gave my siblings and I a lot of freedom and my parents spent a lot of time in the outdoors and backpacking, hiking long into their seventies. Um, and my parents would let us as small children pack a big pack and head out for the night and camp together somewhere near, near our house, but on our property, but a ways away. And it's interesting to see what each of the three of us would pack for that one night of some pretty funny pictures. And so from a really early age, I was getting outside and of course like through my teens, I resisted it and was sort of forced to continue these outdoor excursions, um, with my family and thank God for it. And now I'm that parent, um, that's doing a little forcing of <laugh> my daughter into the outdoors. Yeah. Um, and ultimately when I was 16, my parents sent me to Outward Bound, which my sister and brother had both already done as teenagers. And that was a completely, that, that was a bookend chapter of my life that has continued to be a foundation. And now up until I'm 50,
Christine:
Yeah, thank you. Uh, I love the imagery of the dirt runway and the cherry orchards, which also, uh, is a reminder of where I grew up in Montana where we had a lot of cherry orchards as well. Um, but that freedom that you are talking about and the ability to just kind of roam your property and explore. And I feel like for my children, I really miss that for them because we don't, I feel like that freedom either isn't available depending on where you live or just the way that people think about the freedom they can give their children. It feels like there's such a different energy around that. And, um, luckily in the summers I can return to Montana and I feel like I can really give my kids that space to have that freedom that I want them to have because I know that it creates something in you in the confidence and the curiosity and the way that you engage with places when you don't feel like every corner is a boundary, which is what I think happens.
I've lived in cities and, you know, there there are things like traffic and people and all these things that do have to become boundaries. Um, but it's so different when you can have that sense of, of freedom. Um, so thank you for sharing that cuz I don't, I think that that really does cultivate a, a different way of engaging with the world for those of us that were privileged enough to have that experience growing up. Um, and you also mentioned, uh, outward Bound, and I think some of my listeners might not be familiar with that program and might not also know how incredibly impactful it is. I always wished I could have done it. Um, I, I learned about it just a little too late to be able to fit it into my timeline, I guess. Uh, but can you share what Outward Bound is and, and why that's such a special space?
Bronwen:
Yeah. So Outward Bound is a international outdoor school. Um, it focuses on self-reliance, hard technical, outdoor skills, emotional maturity. It focuses on a, on as many soft skills as it does on the hard skills. So while you may be on a rock climbing course, you're also really working on within yourself how to operate within a group, how to navigate, uh, social interactions with people that you may not have anything in, in common with, um, teaches you to be a compassionate, responsible steward of the land as well. So, um, it's in many, many countries, but I, uh, as a 16 year old did my first course, which was a, um, 30 day sailing off the coast of Maine. Um, so I did it with the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. And it's, um, that was chosen by my parents because my sister had done, and my brother had done their courses through Hurricane Island and had subsequently the years following, gone back and volunteered and then become employed with Outward Bound.
So it was sort of in my family, I was a rebellious teenager and, um, I wasn't signing up myself for it, but I was, I was signed up by my parents and they actually made an agreement with me, which was kind of shameless bribery, which was that if you don't come back after 30 days and say that this was one of the most impactful life experiences you've ever had, will pay you the amount of money that we're spending to send you on this course. And those courses are not cheap. They do have a great scholarship program, by the way, and a lot of financial aid. Um, and so I agreed and I did this 30 day course, and we sailed in these kind of archaic wooden pulling boats, which was more, more rowing than actually sailing. And you do like a three day solo where they'll drop you on an island and you make your own little shelter and you have a very small amount of food for three days. But it's really to, um, be with yourself, learn how to be with yourself, um, and of course they're checking that you're safe and everything. But that experience is so much of who I am today. And it really, I went back and worked as an instructor for Outward Bound for many years later. Um, and, and that experience was just as profound. It's an, it's an incredible program.
Christine:
Yeah. Thank you so much for sharing that. And within that, there's just so many of the like kind of key elements that I speak with people about of, of why travel is so important and you know, that the idea that you were talking about with being, um, on your own and, uh, many people talk about it in the, the context of solo travel and how that allows you to become so self-reliant and confident and independent and be able to be resourceful. And a again, kind of even going back to this idea of playing in the, the fields, like these similar ideas of how you learn to trust and have conversations with yourself. And I think especially in today's day and age, we don't learn to be by ourself because of the technology that we're inundated with. Even if you are by yourself, you're not alone usually.
And, um, I just think it's so incredibly powerful. And so that's one thing that I really wanted to tap into. Um, and then also the, the ideas that you had mentioned of, you know, finding connectivity and ways to engage with people with whom you might not see a commonality. I mean, obviously travel creates the space for that to happen over and over and over and, and again is one of the most powerful things that it does offer you because it, it breaks down these preconceptions that you have that you are not same when in fact you are. And so I love that all of that is really packed into these experiences besides all the skills that you're actually learning to be in the outdoors. But how does that resonate with you? Cuz I'm sure as you're listening, those experiences are kind of, you know, you can, that resonates for you
Bronwen:
So, so perfectly. It does. I mean, I can literally harken back to those three days I spent alone on that island under that little tarp with, I mean, you, we couldn't even bring a book. It was, you know, we didn't have phones at that point, but, you know, there, there was no external stimulation and, um, you know, the real feelings of loneliness and, um, you know, frustration and anger and sadness that we all have as humans. I still have those feelings on when I'm traveling solo these days. And yeah, I have my book and yeah, I have my phone or my computer or whatever, but, um, I really think that at the time I wasn't aware of it. But now I am, when I am traveling alone and I'm having those feelings of loneliness and being able to kind of call it out and be like, okay, I see what's happening here.
I'm feeling lonely and there's, I'm in this country and there's all these people and people are traveling as groups or with their families or whatever, and I'm, I'm here on my own and I'm kind of, I'm kind of lonely, right? <laugh>, but I, but I can see this, I can see this for what it is. And I think that, um, one of the things that I so much want my daughter to understand is that these are, these are human emotions that we all have in it. You may not even be alone when you feel lonely. You may be surrounded by people that you love and you can still feel lonely. And that's a really o okay, that's an okay feeling. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, it's, it's a natural feeling. It's a, it's a normal feeling. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, it's a common feeling. Um, so yeah. And two, just like, I mean, in that particular instance, in that, in that circumstance, we're on like a 16 foot boat.
There's like 10 of us, it's co-ed, we're teenagers, so we're awkward in every way, girls and boys, and like, you're pooping off the side of the boat. Like there are not bathrooms. Like that's how you have to go to the bathroom. And so it's like, well, yeah, you can hold out for two days or whatever, but like, you're gonna have to go and being, you didn't choose those people, like that group was chosen for you. And yet it becomes the perfect group because you're in this experience together. And I still like relish experiences like that where I'm like, this, this is, I'm in, in this new group. Like, what, what is this group? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Let's, let's bring it.
Christine:
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, uh, and yes, again, like thinking about the ways that travel challenges you and the new experiences and the way you have to overcome and adapt, like all of those things, I, I love it. So I hope if people hadn't been familiar with Outward Bound before, that if they have children and have the opportunity and the, you know, the access to do that, it's such a great experience. Um, and then you also mentioned community and the way groups come together and the magic that kind of happens there. And I think I'm much like you because I've been lucky to witness that. I, I like now walk into that space and wait to see what magic is going to be born from that. And as someone who creates group travel experiences, I know like that is the true magic. The destination will be great, the experiences will be great, but what is going to be magic are the way that people come together and the way they have a collective and shared experience. Um, and I think that, uh, both of our love language is community. So I would love for you to talk about why community is so important and some of the things that you do in your work and your life to cultivate community.
Bronwen:
Um, yeah, it is, and I love that. I love that question. I was raised in a, you know, with community as a big value in my family and always, uh, had extended family that I wasn't related to, chosen friends that became my family. And those, those other kids became my siblings and still are to this day. Um, and I think part of it is, part, part of it that made it perhaps easier is growing up in a smaller community, um, Wenatchee has grown a lot, but it's still considered a small town and was even a smaller town in the seventies and eighties when I was growing up there. Um, and probably to a degree it's why I've chosen to make Bend my home. Um, when I first was living in Bend, it was actually in the mid nineties, I was working for Outward Bound, and it's where I met my husband.
He was also working for Outward Bound and we lived here, um, in the late nineties. And this small town had an innate sense of community to it. And I was already within a community, I was within an Outward Bound community. But even within that community, it, it was, it, it expanded into the Bend and central Eric, Oregon, um, larger community. And, you know, we left and then came back about 11 years ago. And immediately I f I felt, uh, I felt a kinship with the people that lived here. I still knew some people that lived here, but, um, I was able, because I was running a small business and I was employing people in the community, and I was, um, actively getting involved with things in my town. And, um, that automatically sort of slid me into a position of having access to all the benefits of a business community, I guess I, I guess I should say, um, and it's funny that you bring this up because, um, you know, we all have these kind of concentric circles of community. So like my husband and my daughter, we're our, you know, our little threesome family. That's my immediate community. And then my nuclear family is kind of the padding around that. And then, you know, my close, close friends are, are in here that I consider family, and then my, you know, the broader community of my town and my, and my profession and my industry.
Um, and it's interesting because I was just thinking about this last Friday, um, because our town has grown so fast and so much, honestly, just even since Covid started, it's tens of thousands of people are moving here and really nice people, um, that are moving here for all the same reasons that we all moved here when we did, and kind people and high functioning and interesting. Um, and last Friday I was invited to go on this wine tasting trip with a group of women in our community. And I, I knew, you know, I knew one of them and then I had had tangential contact with maybe three of them, but didn't know them. And we spent this day together. I mean, it was like, you can imagine, you know, when you're with a group of eight women that are kind of new and absolutely incredible conversations, I was so inspired, um, and felt really heard and safe and like celebrated and there was a lot of laughter and, um, support, like all the things that I associate with the meaning of community.
Um, you know, and I, and I walked away on Friday night and I remarked my husband, I was like, you know, I, I always sort of fancied myself as being kind of like tied into this community here in Bend, and yet I just spent a full day with these eight incredible women that I didn't know. And now I'm just like, well, I wasn't so tied in. Do you know what I mean? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So it's kind of, um, I think there's always going to be different ways that you can find community and within different groups, and it's a, it's a gift. It's really a gift.
Christine:
Yeah. And I, that's such a powerful awareness because even if you do love community and you set out to kind of cultivate and hold space and create community, there's always gonna be people that aren't a part of your community, right. And community is meant to be so, um, inclusive, and yet communities are kind of inherently exclusive, uh, even with the best of intentions. So that's a very interesting thing that I, I might need to ponder the, the exclusivity of community that we don't intentionally create. Um, and then I think the other thing I loved is, uh, the magic of connecting with new people, which we, we've kind of touched upon, but for me, especially doing this podcast over the last three years, like every conversation, even when you and I, you know, a month ago hopped on a phone, I just felt so blessed to make that connection and to have another person whose story I know, whose energy I've been able to connect with and walk away with, like my circle expanding.
Um, it's such a, a blessing. I feel like we don't really treasure that gift of one another's presence as much as we should. And it's a real sacred and special thing. So I think for those of us that maybe really do love community, we can understand and begin to understand what that means. But I, I love that you had that experience and were able to kind of reflect on what, what is, what really is community and, and what does that mean for me and what does that mean for others outside of my space of community?
Bronwen:
It's huge. Um, you know, I, I am in my office. I have an office in town and I have employees, and there's a room right out there full of incredibly talented and funny and super efficient, high functioning women. And, um, you know, we don't hang out on the weekends and we don't text each other at night all night or anything, but we work together every day. And, um, I feel like I, I know all of them. They know me. I feel really, uh, I feel known. Um, and, and I, and it goes both ways. They're, uh, we are like a family here, and it's, I get that on the daily. So when I hear that, um, some people really love working from home and they love that space, or they work remotely and they want to, um, just have a lot of personal space within their professional lives, which is also awesome. That's how I've met you over the screen this way. But for me, um, the in-person community contact is, is critical. And I, and I love, I love my people here every, you know, like, and I love to see them every day, <laugh> mm-hmm.
Christine:
<affirmative>. I think that's so great. And I, I think that's also another kind of interesting thread of conversation that comes up, especially talking with women who are our business owners and, and creating community within their business. And, um, I just had lunch for my birthday yesterday with a dear friend who I recently hired on as a consultant to do some of my podcast production and was like, the greatest thing because I was like, this is a staff meeting slash birthday party slash we went and had a veic astrology reading together. Nice. It was like the best day. And, you know, she made a comment about it, and I said, right now my business is small, but this is the culture that I want it to exist when there's 10 of us and 20 of us and 50 of us. And I do definitely miss having an office and that, that engagement, um, but also the idea that people can work together and not be very, I think it comes under the lens of professionalism, which is kind of a shame, but that we can actually, uh, see one another and hear one another and respect one another and have an equal exchange, um, regardless of the position that we hold within a company.
So I love that you brought that into a conversation. Um, how do you think that reflects the values that you have created and then continues to help the, the brand that you're creating to grow the way that you envision it?
Bronwen:
Honestly, the longer I do this, I think that it's everything. Um, I mean, we have our core values, which haven't changed since I launched this brand in 2008. And yet, um, at the end of the day, it's the time, the quality time that we spend here together as a team working on a common goal, whatever that goal is, um, at the time that I, I, I mean, I can't list the ways in which that gets articulated to our customer and our customer community, and yet somehow it does. Um, I think it's reflected like in, it's reflected in our products, it's reflected in the beauty of our jewelry, which is oftentimes a collaboration of creative ideas coming together, and then the more engineering kind of minds making that piece actually work. Um, and I think that the, the longer our customer community is with us, they like you, they understand that our, that our values are solid and that we truly value many of the things that they value. And it's not just like a marketing strategy. It's truly who we are as people running this brand. And we get to make these beautiful products that, that these women can connect with, not only because they're beautiful and functional, but because they mean a little bit more in terms of how they were made or who they were made by.
Christine:
Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. I love that. And I, I would say a hundred percent true, because I know that's what drew me to it, right? Like, I was looking at Iraq with all these different pieces, and this one singularly stood out because of, for me, the resonance of, of what the piece of jewelry was. But that story was told, and also that it was a women owned business and it was a US based business. Like all these things that were values of mine that were communicated, you know, either literally or not. And then as I stayed steeped within it, um, I, I somehow felt a part of it, even though I have no reason to feel that way, but because I really identified with different stories that were being shared or just different pieces and the way things were projected, like I felt included, which I think goes back to community, right?
It's a very inviting way. Like it makes me feel like I'm a part of something. And, and I, you know, I was joking with you when we first met that am like your biggest marketer, because people ask me about my necklace all the time, and I'm like, oh my gosh, Bronwen jewelry, they're based in Oregon, they're women owned, it's handmade. And then, then those people are also excited. And so I think that doing business from a place of passion and values and heart is so important. And that's also something that comes up a lot on, on the soul of travel, because that is the soul of travel and the soul of business, and I think the soul of many women owned businesses. Um, so I really love being able to talk about, you know, h that process and what that looks like within your business.
Um, we haven't talked much about, actually about Bronwen jewelry, so I would love to just have you share a little bit more about that. And I know that you work with artisans and supporting artisans, and then you have the women that you work with creating the jewelry. But how did you kind of land in that space? Was that through your travels or how did you discover that that's really what you wanted to create? And the other thing I really wanted to tap into too is that you created this to meet a need. I mean, there's lots of jewelry companies out there, right? So both from the artisan perspective and from the need that you really felt, and that led you into creating a jewelry brand, which I don't think was where you thought you'd end up in the, in when you started <laugh>.
Bronwen:
No, it's, I didn't, as a child, I didn't have aspirations of being a jewelry designer or being a business woman. Um, I, I mentioned, I've talked about Outward Bound, and, um, when I was in my twenties after college, I was instructing courses for Outward Bound here in Central Oregon, which is how I came to know this area. That's now my forever home. And, well, maybe not forever, but for now, home. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And, um, and so we were le I was leading long courses, so like 28 30 day courses where you're in the wilderness, you're out with students, you're not coming into the front country at all. They're multi elements. So I was doing, excuse me, whitewater rafting and mountaineering courses. So we'd start on the river and we'd spend like a week or a week and a half on the river working on whitewater skills. Um, and then we'd go into the mountains for the rest of the time and do rock climbing and mountaineering.
And I had always been a jewelry hobbyist, so I had always just kind of strung up necklaces with whatever little beads I could find. And a friend of mine in Bellingham worked at a bead store in college. So I was able to get a bunch of beads and different components and, um, it kind of was like a, a, a hobby passion. I loved it. Like I, I, once I started making jewelry, I was, I couldn't, I couldn't think of not doing it. Um, but I never had a desire to do it for money. And when I was instructing those courses, I started to want something for myself. When you're out for 30 days and you only have, you know, a couple of tank tops and one pair of shorts, and you just can't be too creative with your flare, if you know what I mean.
Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And, um, I started to make myself, like, before each course I would make myself a necklace or a pair of earrings that I knew was gonna sustain me for the whole course. And it was like, okay, this is gonna be my piece for this course, and it was my 30 days, you know, I think it was gonna be bright turquoise or, um, and so I started kind of messing around with, uh, materials that we had in the repair room that we would use to like repair, uh, sleeping bags or backpacks, so like strong goretex threads and really kind of, um, durable, durable materials and stringing necklaces on that, thinking like, well, this has to sustain white water, and then it's gotta go in the mountains. I'm not gonna take it off. And it was, I was doing it as a hobby. And then pretty soon my female co-instructors started being like, woo, I, I have a course coming up, and I was kind of thinking of something orange and maybe a little bit red.
And so I started kind of making things for my co-instructors, but didn't consciously ever think, Hey, I should do this. But it was at that point when I think the seed was sort of deeply planted. And, uh, you know, 10 years later when I was, I was living in the Bay Area and I was teaching yoga, and I was working at a yoga studio, a really quite nice fancy one. And the owner of the studio wasn't selling jewelry, and she knew that I made jewelry, and she said, if you ever wanna make anything and bring it in here and sell it, you can, I'll take it. Small percentage. I was like, okay. And so I did that, and it started selling and I started thinking, you know, I could, maybe I could do this. And so I started to think more deeply about my positioning, and my husband was doing, uh, his M B A at the time in business, uh, in sustainable business.
And this was early on in the sustainable business degree movement. And so he was learning a lot, and he helped me form a positioning strategy, you know, and it was really like, Braun, who do you, who, who are you talking to? Who are you talking to? And I'm like, well, I'm talking to the outdoor girls because that's who I know. That's who, and I know they like it. I know they want it because I don't feel like I can talk to the Nordstrom or the Neiman Marcus. I don't know what to, I don't, I don't that context, but I can talk to the outdoor girl. So I intentionally positioned in the outdoor industry and kind of launched in January of 2008 at the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show, which is a huge outdoor industry trade show. And, you know, the buyers would come by and they'd have a look, and they'd say, you know, there's no doubt this is like a beautiful product, but this is the outdoor industry like jewelry.
And, you know, I'd say you think just because we climb and ski and, and kayak and Ron and backpack, that we don't wanna have beautiful jewelry. You know, we just, we want beautiful jewelry. It ha just has to hold up. Um, and so it was a slow, um, educating almost, but it was, it's, it's the perfect fit. It's very much for us. And 15 years later, you know, early on I got, I got lucky, and I got enough capital and confidence to kind of keep going through that early rough time. And, you know, 15 years later we're trucking along, we sell to more than 300 outdoor stores in the US and we have a nice little brand.
Christine:
Yeah. I love that so much because I think it's really interesting how, like you said, those seeds get planted. And a lot of times when people then reflect upon their journey, you know, they didn't notice that thing, or it seems so insignificant or maybe seems too obvious. And so it's a thing that we just kind of brush away, and then it just keeps coming back to us. And so for people listening who maybe are, are looking for a new path or curious about what that might be, I think it's so powerful to reflect back. And even for me, um, I met with someone before I started Lotus Sojourns, and they kind of had a conversation with me like this, and they just were pulling things out of what I was saying and finding these commonalities and thought, they said, have you ever thought about creating like an adventure travel program just for women?
I was like, no. Why have I not thought of that? That's insane. I'm like, that's clearly too obvious. Um, but I think that's really powerful because if, if it's something that's already just such a part of you, you might have missed that. It's something that somebody else needs. And so I think, uh, that's a, a really powerful takeaway. Um, I know that we do have travel in common as well. And speaking of creating group travel for women, another thing that you and I talked about that I think was a really powerful aha moment is really thinking about the ways that many of us as women have kind of succumbeded to the narrative that we can't give ourself permission to do things or put ourselves first, that we really need to be self-sacrificing and, um, meeting everybody else's needs. And I think so many of us are realizing that if we are not showing up for ourselves, we can't show up for anyone else.
Um, and that we can't really put our best foot forward when we're so burnt out and exhausted and we're not nourishing ourselves and giving us ourselves things that light us up. And in the context of travel, really giving ourselves permission to say yes to a travel experience. I feel like this is the number one conversation I have over and over with Travelers is, you know, kind of feeling okay to even ask the question if it, if you could take this travel experience or give yourself that space and time and the financial commitment to travel. But for you, what, what has that looked like and what would you love listeners to take away about, like how to kind of take that narrative apart and how important it's to prioritize ourselves?
Bronwen:
Oh boy, that is just, um, I love that we talked about this and that that resonated with you too, because there have been times when I have just been like, is it just me or is this a thing? And I think probably we're speaking most specifically to women about women. Um, it, um, you know, several years ago as, as a sub-brand of my business, I started a, a small travel business, um, with two partners, two close friend partners here. And you know, as we were launching our first trip, which was an incredible trip, a bucket list, lifetime, unbelievable trip that so many women seemingly wanted to go on. Um, and yet, like you said, the conversation would always come back to, I wanna go so bad, and it's not the money, and it's not the time, it's just my husband would kill me if I did this trip without him, or my husband would kill me if I stuck him with the kids for two weeks.
Or, you know, we heard this a lot and it to, to my partners and I, um, having been women who've done a lot of solo travel in the world and with other women and other groups, um, it, it almost, it was, it was almost like the first time that we were sort of hearing this. And, um, you know, we really had to start trying to formulate a way to e educate our perspective customers on what we consider true self-care. Um, just like we would care for ourselves in all the other ways that we do, getting enough sleep, eating the right foods for our bodies, getting massage if that's what you need, or a facial, or things that aren't luxury, but are kind of lumped into this oddly archaic luxury category. Um, and I still, I feel befuddled <laugh>, I feel befuddled by it, um, because for me, travel is a necessity and, um, you know, sometimes it's, it's with my family and sometimes it's with my friends, and sometimes it's by myself, um, or strangers.
And it's part of what I need in order to be a good person in the world. And I think that, um, I think that, you know, probably in my life, there's other things that I also maybe need and, and, and don't so easily say, oh, this is a self-care thing. I need to have this in order to be a good person in the world, or for my family, or for my community, or my employees, or whatever it is. I think it's a story that we've somehow been told. I mean, I'm, I feel like it's a mystery a little bit. And, um, and it's why I feel like the conversations that I have with my friends and my community, my female close conversations that I have is like, well, what do you need? What do you need that's separate from everybody else in your life in order for you to feel like you're thriving?
You know, not just like getting by, but, but thriving. And is it like, for some people it's skiing, for some people it's, you know, therapy for some people it's, or a combination of all these things. For some people it's volunteering at a refugee center or all of the many ways that we take care of ourselves. But, um, I would be totally lying if I didn't say that was a frus really frustrating point for me as a, a woman in business and trying to, to connect with a customer in a way that I knew there was hesitation, but I was judging it, probably judging what was happening and saying, she's not giving herself permission. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, there's nothing stopping her except herself. Um, and it's possible that that's not, you know, that that's not always the case. But I felt thought that was very interesting when you and I both touched on that. And I don't, I mean, I do feel like it's mysterious and I feel like it's a, it's this conversation that we're not having. It's like menopause <laugh>, nobody's talking about it.
Christine:
Yeah. Um, gosh, as you were speaking, I, I feel like part of what stood out to me is this idea of, and I think we come to this a lot in travel, especially in when you add the term mindful or wellness, we do become luxury, and therefore luxury isn't a necessity. So I feel like maybe that's one of the legs of this position that, that we're seeing, um, is because we certainly don't need to give ourselves a luxury. I mean, that's, that seems selfish. Um, <laugh> and air quotes, let's, oh, yeah. Everybody who's, who's listening
Bronwen:
<laugh>, but,
Christine:
Uh, but because it's that, you know, if, but then you, you think of thriving and how important is thriving? And honestly, like, if you're sharing with your partner, this experience will help me thrive. I feel like they love you and they wanna see that part of you, right? So maybe how we're communicating what it means to us is where we're missing the boat. And I would say I'm fully guilty of that. I don't think I've ever said, Hey, this would make me thrive. I would be alive after this experience. Um, and I think it's so true. And maybe also understanding the full breadth of what this type of experience can offer you, I think is really hard for me in my own personal marketing struggles. Uh, if you haven't had an experience like this, if you, if you haven't had this moment, like you had in Hour Bound or traveling many other times, you don't understand fully what that can create in your life.
And I think that's why, why you were setting out to create your travel business and why I created mine is because I want other women to have that experience, because it is so profoundly impactful to who you are and to what you can put out into the world. Um, but it, it's hard to convey that. So like when you, you're up against like some sort of social narrative, you're up against us realizing how beneficial it is us asking for what we need and why we need it in a way that's resonant to whomever we're asking it of. Um, and I, I know, looking back, I'm gonna be so grateful for this conversation because I feel like it's bringing some real clarity. Um, but I really appreciate that because I, I do think that this is, and not just in the context of travel in many areas, I think that oh, yeah, uh, women are not asking for what they need to thrive because it's somehow false under this category of selfish. So I, I hope for those listening that this just provides like an awareness and maybe breaks a thought loop that you have and can maybe make you think differently about something that you wish you had and, and don't have. And why don't you have it? And is it because you're not taking actions towards it? Is it because you're not asking for it? Is it because you don't know what you're asking for? Um, maybe this is a great space to spend some time and thought in.
Bronwen:
I couldn't agree more. Asserting your needs for women or for any person in the world, asserting your needs allows you to be of service to others.
Christine:
Yeah. Um, well, before we wrap up this conversation, Bronwen, I would love for you to share a little bit about Nest. Um, I know that you're partnering with them, and I would love to hear what that is and what that also means, uh, in the context of your business.
Bronwen:
Yeah, thanks for asking. I'm really, really excited. This is, um, something that I've had as a goal for many years and finally committed to this year. Um, I am partnering with an organization called Nest, and it is a, um, it's basically, it's a, a group, it's a organization that sets a standard for compliance, um, for Artisan MA manufacturing globally. And, um, they work with artisan groups all over the world. They work with brands as small as mine to as big as, uh, west Elm and Anthropology and Patagonia, and, um, companies that are really the on the forefront of, um, creating sustainable and ethically crafted goods in the world. And, um, three years ago, we opened a retail store downtown in Bend. And because of all of my travels in the world and my passion and deep, deep joy that I get from connecting with artisan groups and hand workers, um, all over the world, uh, we manu or we, uh, merchandise our store with our jewelry, but on top of that, we also have a lot of really beautiful, ethically crafted artisan gifts from all over the world.
And they're a, a result of friendships and partnerships that I've made through the years, and I've wanted to extend this part of my business in a more formal way, but it's daunting, and it's, um, and it's, uh, it's hard to, uh, without a group like Nest, to guide, to guide you because you never quite understand like where things are coming from, how they're being produced, by whom they're being produced, how the reporting for that goes. And so Nest does that. And, um, I'm very much looking forward to, within my membership, I can create some ethically crafted global goods, um, that will be our brand. And I don't know what that looks like yet. I don't know if it's baskets or pillows or jewelry or whatever, you know, it's, um, that's really exciting for me as a business owner, an entrepreneur. Um, and I really just feel honored that I am in line with an organization that's really kind of the industry leader in this sector.
Um, so in addition to, uh, in addition to partnering with bigger brands and smaller brands, they have, uh, artisan Accelerator program, well, where they'll work with say like a, a basket weaving group in Africa and try to, um, help them get a more formalized business so that they're able to produce these, these are groups of women primarily Craft Craft is the second largest employer of women globally. So this is really a way for Nest to help level up the gender equity and income disparity in the world. And I have felt so proud of employing an all woman team, and, um, I wanna just deepen that meaning by expanding it to other parts of the world where the impact is really drastic.
Christine:
Hmm. Oh my goodness. Uh, I feel like we'll have to come back and have a full nother conversation from this point forward, because that's a, another passion of mine as well. And also, each of my trips is built to connect with artisan groups and women's groups because the context it provides to your travel experience, the way you can understand a local community, uh, the way you can understand the story of women in a destination. Like, I feel like this is so powerful. And then also, as you were mentioning that, to create a way to close the gender gap and create gender, uh, equity, I think, uh, it's so important. And, and because it's a position that's typically for women, it's typically underpaid, it's also undervalued, but it's also the keepers of culture and understanding and traditions in, in so many parts of the world that for me, that the idea that this is getting lost generation by generation just slays me every time.
I, I travel somewhere and I, I hear that story and I hear that they're trying to figure out how to bring children and into this craft and, and what that struggle looks like, um, is a, a real place of passion for me. So I'm so excited that you're bringing this into your business, and I can't wait to see what that looks like, you know, in the future. And, uh, and what that, what that, the impact that, that allows you to create as well. Um, I have a few rapid fire questions to end our conversation. Okay. Um, also before we end, I wanted to share that you, uh, so generously offered, um, a 20% discount to my listeners, um, on their first bondman purchase, which, um, I will be so excited for more women to come into this community. Um, as we know, I'm a big fan, so, uh, the code for that for people listening is Soul of Travel 20, and that will be also in my show notes. Um, and I wish I could give you a big hug right now through Zoom, but that just doesn't work that way, <laugh>. So that's what we need to be with our people. Um, okay. So the rapid fire questions are, uh, what are you reading right now?
Bronwen:
I am reading a book, uh, called Good for a Girl, and it's written by a woman in our community, Lauren Fleshman, about, um, uh, women's professional running, and it's a memoir. Um, it's a mindblower. It's, she's amazing.
Christine:
Excellent. Uh, what is always in your suitcase or backpack when you travel?
Bronwen:
Dental floss <laugh>
Christine:
So important. <laugh>, and there's nothing wrong with that. Also, you could make jewelry with it in a pinch <laugh>.
Bronwen:
Yeah, totally. You're in a pinch for a necklace. <laugh>,
Christine:
Uh, to Sojourn is to travel somewhere as if you live there for a short while. Where is a place that you would like to sojourn?
Bronwen:
Hmm. Oh my God, there's so many Malawi.
Christine:
Hmm. I don't know if we talked about this before, but I will follow up with you on the best Malawi connection. She is a, a former guest, Kate Webb. Um, I love her and it would be a perfect connection. Um, what do you eat that immediately connects you to a place you've been
Bronwen:
Papaya?
Christine:
Mm. Who was a person that inspired or encouraged you to set out to explore the world?
Bronwen:
My friend Nicole. She, she did a sailing trip around the world for about five years, and I was lucky enough to join on big sections of it.
Christine:
Amazing. Uh, if you could take an adventure with one person, fictional or real alive or past, who would it be?
Bronwen:
Oh, man. I mean, I gotta say my best friend Jenny. She's my travel, she's my ride or die travel partner.
Christine:
Yeah. And the last one, uh, Sola Travel is for honoring, uh, women in the travel industry that we admire. Uh, but in the context of business in general, who is one woman that you admire and would love to recognize in this space?
Bronwen:
Oh my gosh. In, in the spirit of business, you said?
Christine:
Yeah. In business or travel.
Bronwen:
Oh, I have so many. Um, I have to say, uh, the founder and owner of Title IX Missy. Mm. She's been a mentor for many, many years.
Christine:
Yeah. She is incredible. And definitely on my list of people I would love to have a conversation with. She's so, I, yeah, I, I love, she's
Bronwen:
A great lady.
Christine:
Love her energy and her all, all of her ness. I love it. <laugh> great. Um, yeah, so thank you so much, Bronwen. This has been amazing conversation and I'm really lucky to like now feel like I have traveled from Fan Girl into the Friends Circle happened. I appreciate so much, uh, being able to share your story with my listeners today.
Bronwen:
Likewise, thank you so much. And we'll go to Guatemala together because the group you work with is in the Nest Guild.
Christine:
Yes. Oh my gosh. I would love to. Thank you.
Bronwen:
Thank you. That was fun!
You can find me on Facebook at Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community, or follow me on Instagram either @lotussojourns or @souloftravelpodcast. Stay up to date by joining the Lotus Sojourns mailing list. I look forward to getting to know you and hopefully hearing your story.