Episode 31
Ep 031. Self-Defense for Solo Adventurers with Nicole Snell from Girls Fight Back
What if the thing holding you back from solo adventuring isn’t lack of skills—but the feeling of safety?
In this powerful episode, Allison sits down with Nicole Snell—international speaker, TEDx presenter, and CEO of Girls Fight Back—to talk about self-defense, solo travel, and how we can stop letting fear define our choices.
Nicole is a globally recognized self-defense educator and the founder of Outdoor Defense, a YouTube series dedicated to equipping solo hikers and travelers with tools and confidence to explore the outdoors boldly. She’s worked with military groups, universities, and outdoor communities around the world—and today, she’s bringing that wisdom to the show.
Together, we dive into:
- Why most self-defense is mental, not physical—and how mindset is your most powerful tool
- How to break free from fear-based narratives about solo hiking and being alone in the outdoors
- What people get wrong about stranger danger—and what the data actually says
- Nicole’s personal story of growing up in the desert, reclaiming the outdoors, and hiking Mount Whitney
- How her now-famous “Yes, I’m Hiking Solo” workshop got started—and why it resonates with so many women
- The behind-the-scenes story of Nicole’s TEDx Talk: “What Would You Do If You Felt Safe?”
Whether you're prepping for your first solo hike or want to feel more empowered moving through the world, this episode will leave you feeling stronger, more prepared, and deeply inspired.
If you're interested in getting some of the references and stats that Nicole Mentioned on today's episode, send us an email at support@shedreamsofalpine.com
🗓️ PS—Don’t forget to save the date for our annual Solo Adventure Summit! It’s happening June 5–6, 2025, and Nicole is one of our featured speakers. You’ll get practical tools, inspiration, and community support to help you take your solo adventure dreams to the next level. Details coming soon. Join our newsletter here to be FIRST to know when registration opens for the Solo Adventure Summit.
🔗 Connect with Nicole:
- Outdoor Self-Defense Course
- NicoleSnell.com
- GirlsFightBack.com
- IG: @adventuresofnik | @girlsfightback
- Outdoor Defense on YouTube
Learn more about your host, Allison (aka She Dreams of Alpine):
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