Walk with Jen Roberts: Seeing Nature, Place, and Belonging Through a Wider Lens

Modern life makes it easy to assume that access to nature is simply about proximity. A nearby park. A trail down the road. A place to go. But what if access is more complicated than that? In this conversation, I sit down with public health researcher Jen Roberts to explore the intersection of nature, equity, and belonging. Together, we look at how our environments—both built and natural—shape not only our ability to be outside, but whether we feel like those spaces are actually for us. Jen shares how her work in active living and public health led her into the nature space, and how that work expanded to include a deeper question: who has access to nature, and who feels welcome once they get there? We also explore the story of Buffalo's historic parkways—once designed for connection and movement—and how their removal reshaped both land and community. This conversation invites a wider lens. Because access to nature isn't always as simple as it seems—and sometimes, the deeper question is whether we feel like we belong there at all. Walk with us.  This conversation is part of Rooted: A Podcast About Nature & Wellbeing — an exploration of how connecting with nature helps us feel more whole in the lives we're actually living. For episode transcripts, resources, and additional reflections, visit the ROOTED podcast blog at www.rootedsoulliving.com.