iFishiBelong
Meet Yolanda Edwards, March’s iFishiBelong’s Be What You Don’t See leader highlight and founder of Remain Hooked on the Outdoors and Her Waters.
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Dr. Yolanda Edwards, founder of Her Waters, Inc. and retired Army veteran, shares her deeply personal journey from childhood fishing trips with her mother in Cleveland, Ohio to becoming a passionate fly fishing advocate for Black women and female veterans. After finding profound healing and peace on the water following personal losses, she created Her Waters, an intentionally designed organization that brings women of color, female veterans, and young girls into fly-fishing spaces where they are rarely represented. Her mission, rooted in healing, empowerment, and representation, is to ensure that every woman who comes to the water knows she belongs there.
Analiza del Rosario is a lifelong angler, community builder, and marketing professional whose Filipino heritage and deep connection to land and water guide her passion for fly fishing and conservation. She is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces and inspiring more women and communities of color to experience the outdoors.
In this episode of On the Reel, host Bob Bartlett welcomes Dr. Loleta Robinson, a passionate fly angler, world traveler, and member of the Ubuntu Fly Anglers leadership team. Loleta shares her journey into fly fishing as a Black woman, the importance of finding community in the outdoors, and the power of embracing imperfection on and off the water. Their conversation is a heartfelt reflection on belonging, growth, and the joy of casting lines with purpose.
Mario Guel, founder of Taco Fly Co., is an angler from San Jose who brings authenticity, generosity, and inclusivity to the fly fishing community. He values kindness on the water, celebrates diverse species, and helps make the outdoors welcoming for everyone.
Al White discovered fishing later in life and has since become fully immersed in the sport, embracing it as a passion and way of life.
Emma Brown shares her journey as a transracial adoptee, rancher, and fly fishing guide, reflecting on identity, inclusion, and building community in the outdoor world.
In this episode of On the Real, professional fly fishing guide Ashley White, aka The Gentleman Lumberjack, shares his powerful journey through mental illness, trauma, and recovery. After a medical crisis nearly took his wife’s life, Ashley faced years of unprocessed pain, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts before discovering the healing power of nature. Through therapy, mindfulness, and fly fishing, he found a path back to wellness, and now helps others reconnect to themselves through the outdoors.
Erika Nelson is a professional fly fishing guide, educator, and advocate for equity and inclusion in the outdoors. She is the founder of REAL Consulting and a founding guide for Wanderland Outdoors, where she works to create accessible and empowering outdoor experiences for historically excluded communities.