Samantha Symonds

Alpinist Magazine — Wired: Samantha Symonds finds solidarity amid small peaks. An foray into the rise of marginalised climbers in the ancient boulder forests of Fontainebleau, just outside Paris.

Canadian Geographic — Diving into glowing smacks of jellyfish in səĺilẁət (Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm), a mystery more than 200 metres deep. Interviewing First Nations, local researchers and scientists about this little-understood annual phenomenon, a stone's throw from Vancouver's metropolis.

Well+Good — The myths of MSG and the long history of Chinese food in the West, as told in light of rising hate-crimes against East and Southeast Asians after the COVID-19 pandemic and Atlanta massacres. "I now know that there's a different story we should be telling about the food that quite literally made us who we are today."

RNLI — A surfer’s leash snaps in a powerful rip current. Discover how Harlyn Bay and Trevone Beach RNLI lifeguards battled crashing waves and heavy surf to reach him in this adrenaline-pumping rescue story.

26project.org.uk — A poem and accompanying essay for The Wildlife Trust and 26 characters on Birmingham's St Philip's Cathedral grounds, known locally as "Pigeon Park"

Fodor's Travel — Birmingham, England, is the country's second largest city and travelers have a ton of choices. Follow this guide to learn the best things to do, the top restaurants, and the best hotels for any budget. Plus, there are a few tips for things to avoid that any Birmingham tourist could use to ensure they have the best trip possible.

BabMag - Birmingham and Beyond — And I glean that's exactly what head chef Alex Claridge had hoped from The Wilderness - not only an immersive dining experience but a playful exploration of escapism, a mid-ground between childlike wonder and grown up tastebuds, a paradoxical space, opposite Adultworld and parallel to the markets, that captures Birmingham, celebrates it, then rejects it; instead pulling diners back into a hobbit-holed countryside through a blackened "forest".

The Culture Trip — The wreck of RMS Rhone, off the coast of Salt Island, is not only the flagship dive site in the BVI, but considered one of the best in the world. The former Royal Mail ship is wonderfully preserved after a hurricane brought it to a grisly fate in 1867.

australianmultilingualwriting.org — A Mandarin-English Multilingual poem by Samantha Symonds read with Tju-tju Symonds for the Australian Multilingual Project

Financial Times — Our haiku contest this week attracted entries ranging from clever character portraits to intimate poems exploring the emotional side of work. The contrasting themes were "the personal performance review" and "the man from IT".

RNLI Offshore Magazine — "Swimming in Open Water" an interview with Team GB's first black Olympic swimmer Alice Dearing with advice on how to stay safe when trying the increasingly popular British activity.

The Breakdown Magazine — Feeling anxious about Valentine’s Day is probably one of the most normal reactions you can have. Without even considering this year’s shared trauma of a global pandemic, all you have to do is peer into the origins of Saint Valentine to see a grisly history that has been repurposed into a commercialised modern-day occasion. Speaking to counsellors, therapists, medical doctors and other anxiety experts, I discover ways to make today a day to love and honour ourselves, our relationships (romantic, familial or friendly) and our individualities, rather than focussing on the imperfections that ultimately make us human.

The Culture Trip — You may know the Kodiak Queen from the Kate Winslet-narrated film of the same name. This WWII warship survived Pearl Harbour before being transformed into an artificial reef and dive site by Virgin entrepreneur and hotelier Sir Richard Branson, whose Necker Island resort isn't far away in the British Virgin Islands.

geergarage.com — Learn more about a small-scale UBC study, which found that children who play outside are more likely to protect nature as adults.

sparkandco.co.uk — What are Microaggressions? Microaggressions are comments, actions or behaviours that target people who experience marginalisation. Especially in regards to race. Microaggressions are often accidental, but not always. They can appear subtle but are a form of discrimination and can cause trauma. The term was first coined by Harvard Medical School Psychologist Chester Pierce, after observing insults exchanged between white and Black students. In 2007, Psychologist Derald Sue defined and popularised the term further. Someone engaging in microaggressions may or may not be causing offence on purpose. Yet, actions or comments reflect biases held by a particular group. This is where unconscious bias occurs. It often appears in a majority group (in Western white societies). It's use is against groups that experience marginalisation, usually racialised people and communities. It shows up in ableism (discrimination or social prejudice against people with disabilities). As well as, heteronormativity (the belief that heterosexuality is the default) and other scenarios too.

BabMag — I swore, after a particularly repressible weekend, that I'd avoid the stuff for good except for the odd Bloody Mary & Espresso Martini; sufficiently flavoursome to mask the vodka within.

geergarage.com — Fancy some free outdoor adventure equipment? What about free equipment that makes you extra cash? No, it's not too good to be true, it's the GeerGarage Lend to Own℠ program (LTO), currently open for applications in Washington state.

The Culture Trip — The William Thornton Floating Bar & Restaurant, affectionately known as Willy T's, is a legendary Caribbean bar that rides afloat a rather convincing pirate ship - loaded with grog and grub. Revellers wishing to eat, drink and be merry can find it bobbing in The Bight anchorage at Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands.

Offshore Magazine — Cover story for RNLI, teaching British and Irish citizens on how to stay safe while motorcruising in our local waters by interviewing Stuart Carruthers, RYA Cruising Manager.

geergarage.com — The seven Principles of Leave No Trace to reduce our environmental impact and ensure that future generations can enjoy nature for years to come.

thelifecentre.com — As lovers and practitioners of yoga, some of us have been so excited about lockdown easing and studios reopening that we've been hitting our mats really hard; training, back bending and doing vinyasa after vinyasa! Others have been so busy, our schedules haven't allowed much mat time at all.

geergarage.com — Backpacking offers an unrivaled way to connect with remote, wild spaces during summer. Hike for multiple days to places only accessible by foot with all your essentials on your back.

www.globesoup.net — Though local residents are largely bilingual, there doesn't seem to be a Tahitian word for picking up strangers in your car. 'Autostop' is French, and as a Brit this is frankly hilarious. I still can't picture the method being quite as effective in the traffic-bloated Parisian roads I remember from long weekends spent over the channel.

Empowering a Billion Women — By Samantha Symonds, EBW Content Writer "It's not what happens, it's what you do with it." - Dr Edith Eger To be where you are today, I can bet you have had to overcome obstacles.