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Terra incognita Media

Support our independence from corporate sponsors by donating! Terra Incognita Media is here to provide unapologetic, unflinching feminist analysis.

Founded in 2015, Terra Incognita Media is an independent media company that provides a feminist response to the outdoor industry through essays, interviews, a podcast, and community events! Terra Incognita Media is a non-profit media company that provides a feminist response to the outdoor industry. Our goal is to provoke dialogue and stimulate action towards environmental and racial justice within the outdoor industry.

12/16/2024

In this episode of The Terra Podcast, Erin Monahan .k.monahan (aka your fave feminist killjoy) examines the public’s justified applause in response to the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Brian Thompson. She also discusses how Ericka Hart encourages us to think about the racial dynamics at play in our celebration.

Drawing on Black feminist blueprints from legends like Audre Lorde, Lucy Parsons, and Claudia Jones, Erin highlights the revolutionary contributions of Black feminists and how they’ve shaped today’s labor movement.

This episode critiques corporate exploitation, from climbing gyms’ union-busting tactics to Patagonia’s greenwashing. Erin also discusses why it’s time to stop glorifying Karl Marx and center Black Marxism instead.

Through personal stories from her climbing industry experience, Erin provides concrete ways to support unions and hold exploitative management responsible for their actions.

L in B to press play!

12/11/2024

The outdoor industry loves to talk about equity and community—but what happens when those values are undermined by systemic racism, union-busting, and corporate greed?

Read the latest:

  ✨Climbing’s Reckoning, Black Feminist Blueprints, and a Dead CEO: The Fight Against Structural Violence✨

This essay gets into:

🛠 The Black feminist labor roots that gave us today’s worker movements
🧗🏿‍♀️ Emily Taylor’s fight against racism in climbing gyms and the outdoor industry
💪 The unionized climbing workers standing up to exploitation
⚡️ How corporate greed harms us all—and why solidarity is the antidote

🎯 Here’s how you can take action today:

📧 Send emails to Touchstone management demanding they bargain in good faith. Use the pre-written templates on Touchstone Workers United’s website.

🗣 Comment on Instagram and other social media to amplify the solidarity

💸 Support Emily Taylor and Brown Girls Climbing by contributing to their scholarship fund and exploring their ongoing programming.

🎥 Learn more about Emily’s journey by checking out the documentary on her story

📖 Read to learn more about how we can take collective action to win the fight for dignity, fairness, and justice in not just climbing, but every every industry at the L in B!

11/18/2024

What does it mean to create safer spaces for everyone?

In this week’s conversation, Christina and Erin candidly discuss the cycling industry’s deep-rooted issues with toxic masculinity and punitive behavior, reflecting on how white men in cycling spaces use policing tactics in the name of “justice” and “awareness.”

As Christina points out, “There’s a lack of compassion, a lack of understanding.”

Taking pictures of people’s cars or actions to publicly shame them—these are punitive measures, not systemic solutions.

If we’re trying to create a safer world for everybody, we have to move beyond individual blame and recognize the harm these actions perpetuate.

We have to recognize and account for the layers of privilege that are often wrapped up in something like cycling or any other sport/recreational activity/mode of transportation.

This episode unpacks how carceral thinking harms marginalized communities and the vision of collective liberation in cycling and beyond.

It’s time to disrupt the individualism and benevolent patriarchal behavior in cycling and start asking: Whose safety are we really prioritizing?

Listen now and join the conversation about dismantling toxic masculinity in the cycling industry, shifting from punishment to systemic change, and centering compassion in advocacy.

11/15/2024

I’m just warming up over here…

Eeek heads up! Vesta Visions Sessions are open!

Vesta Vision Sessions are a package of 3 one-on-one coaching sessions for anti-capitalist, feminist entrepreneurs designed to help you map out a vision for the coming year that feels aligned with your values, needs, and aspirations.

What can you expect?

Clarity and Goal Setting: Together we’ll identify and refine your goals for the new year, ensuring they are rooted in your core values and authentic purpose.

Healing Money Trauma: We’ll address emotional and psychological blocks, such as scarcity mindset or shame, that may hinder your progress or alignment, using trauma-informed methods and tools like astrology, tarot, and somatic experiencing.

Creating Actionable Roadmaps: We’ll craft practical, personalized steps to guide you in turning your vision into reality while emphasizing sustainability and avoiding burnout.

Anti-Capitalist Foundations: We’ll ground the process in an anti-capitalist framework to fuel you in building a path forward that challenges traditional capitalist narratives and fosters collective liberation.

Visit https://vestabusinessschool.podia.com/vesta-vision-sessions

or the L in B!!

11/13/2024

Well. Here we are again.

When I first wrote, “Ambient Dominion: How Free Solo Points to an Epidemic of Toxic Masculinity” back in December 2018, I received so many responses from women, q***r folks, and nonbinary people who shared my horror at the normalization of toxic masculinity in the outdoor industry.

Watching “Free Solo,” I sat in a Portland theater, surrounded by people laughing off Alex Honnold’s “warrior complex” as he belittled his then-girlfriend, Sanni McCandless, and leaned into the trope of the brooding, troubled genius.

The comments I got proved that I wasn’t alone in my disgust.

Since then, we’ve been running “Toxic Masculinity in the Outdoor Industry” workshops and created the Terra Realm—a space for those healing from the impacts of toxic masculinity and bringing an anti-oppressive lens to their work.

History doesn’t repeat it rhymes, right?

And now we’re back with a new critique in this multi-part series, “Disrupting Dominion” that you can find on our Subbie at the L in B.

In “Disrupting Dominion,” we’re taking a close look at films like “The Devil’s Climb” and “Free Solo—at how adventure media intentionally erases Indigenous histories, perspectives, presence, and resistance, frames land as “virgin territory” to be “explored,” and centers white male adventurers as epic heroes.

By bringing ongoing colonization and the spidering injustices into the foreground, we’re challenging the toxic masculine and colonial narratives that have dominated outdoor media.

Read or full introduction and a brief initial critique of “The Devil’s Climb,” at the L in B.

Stay tuned for Part 1, where we’ll dive into the “benevolent patriarch” and how it props up colonial perspectives under the guise of environmentalism.

Tag a friend who also wanted to poke their eyeballs out with a spoon when they watched “Free Solo” and who refuses to pay $11.99 to watch yet another bro-mance in the alpine.

Trust, it’s not worth it. But our feminist critique of it is!

11/11/2024

Announcing the Launch of “Healing Our Relationship with Land, Body, and Resources”

We’re beyond excited to share that “Healing Our Relationship with Land, Body, and Resources” is officially open for enrollment!

This course has been crafted for those of you who are committed to environmental justice, personal healing, and reimagining our world in ways that center connection, equity, and collective liberation.

Here’s what makes this launch special:

For a *limited time only*, when you enroll, you’ll receive:

✨ The Healing Our Relationship with Land, Body, and Resources Course— a transformative, somatic, and eco-justice-centered approach to grounding your activism and healing journey.

✨ Grounded: Nervous System Healing 101— an essential course to help you deepen your connection to your body and cultivate a sense of “aliveness,” which is crucial for sustaining our ability to show up for collective liberation.

✨ 1-Year Membership to the Terra Realm— our supportive, trauma-informed community space, where we’ll gather monthly for somatic practices, reflective discussions, and guidance to integrate everything you’re learning.

Why this bundle?

Because healing and transformation takes time and support.

The Terra Realm offers you an ongoing community space to reinforce your learning, ask questions, and practice these concepts in real-time with like-minded feminist killjoys, systems disrupters, and changemakers.

Why this course now?

We live in times where exhaustion and eco-anxiety are increasingly common for those of us committed to environmental justice.

This course invites you to learn tools for personal healing, nervous system care, and sustained activism that doesn’t burn you out.

Imagine a space where you can reconnect with the Land, your body, and community in ways that nourish and sustain you.

If you’re ready to make 2024 a year of grounded, restorative activism, Healing Our Relationship with Land, Body, and Resources is here to guide and support you every step of the way.

Ready to join us?

L in B to enroll or DM us with any questions!

We can’t wait to welcome you into this space and witness the transformative work we’ll do together!

11/10/2024

Healing and activism aren’t mutually exclusive—they actually can’t exist without the other.

After months of creating, I’m beyond excited to announce the launch of: Healing Our Relationship with the Land, Body, and Resources.

This course dives into ways to reconnect with ourselves, honor our values, and find grounding in our activism.

If you’ve felt the weight of eco-anxiety, burnout, or the constant push to *do more*—this is for you.

This course is designed for environmental justice advocates, feminist killjoys, and changemakers who are ready to embody generative ways to stay engaged not simply “cope” or “tolerate” (because we need to stay engaged — sustainably!)

Whether you’re fighting for climate justice, organizing in your community, and/or searching for grounded ways to connect with yourself, the earth, and your community more deeply this course is here to support you. 💚

🥳BONUS: Early sign-ups get access to “Healing Your Nervous System 101” AND a 1-year membership to Terra Realm, a monthly somatic practice and discussion space to keep the healing and connection going.

Doors open tomorrow!

Keep an eye out for the special launch price that will be available for a limited time.

Let’s reconnect, reclaim, and reimagine what’s possible.

11/04/2024

Voting for Kamala Harris is not harm reduction.

Here’s why:

1️⃣ Her Genocidal Track Record:

Harris has proudly backed the Settler Colony of Israel, echoing U.S. support for a state engaged in relentless violence against Palestinians.

In her own words, the “unbreakable bonds” between the U.S. and Israel mean bipartisan support for its “right to self-defense”—despite countless reports of human rights abuses.

2️⃣ A Status Quo That Sustains Harm:

Supporting mainstream candidates doesn’t bring real change; it maintains the systems that create harm.

Politicians like Harris fuel the military-industrial complex, corporate control, and environmental destruction while reinforcing white supremacy.

It’s a fascist approach, regardless of party.

3️⃣ Borders and Genocide:

Borders are violent towards the most marginalized and are a tool of genocide.

Harris supports “strong border security,” which upholds nationalism and xenophobia. Borders divide, imprison, and deny Black and Brown immigrants access to basic human rights.

There’s no such thing as a “lesser evil.”

Voting doesn’t matter, it’s the work we do between elections that defines our fight for collective liberation.

Let’s not disappear until 2028.

We’re in this fight for the long-haul, are you?

10/22/2024

Heads up! Our latest episode of The Terra Podcast is live! 🎙️💥

In this episode: Eviscerating 5 Inane Arguments for Separating the Art from the Artist, Erin .k.monahan dives deep into why we must reject the idea of “separating the art from the artist”—especially when it comes to figures like John Muir, Edward Abbey, Yvon Chouinard, and Alex Honnold.

These men may be glorified for their “contributions,” but we’re here to break down the harmful rationalizations that allow them to avoid accountability for their actions and beliefs.

💥 Tune in to hear about:

Why we can’t excuse John Muir’s harmful legacy as “a product of his time” (thanks to the tireless work of people like Jolie Varela of for bringing this to light).

How Angela Davis, Zitkála-Šá, and other radical contemporaries of these racist, sexist asshats have been resisting oppressive systems all along.

Why Alex Honnold’s behavior in Free Solo is a prime example of toxic masculinity in the outdoor industry and how Himpathy functions to protect him from accountability.

Plus, an examination of Taylor Swift’s white nostalgia for the 1830s and how this glossing over of historical atrocities like enslavement, genocide, and segregation perpetuate oppressive systems, mindsets, and structures.

Link you know where!

10/21/2024

It’s my absolute pleasure to announce that my dear friend Christina Torres of Cyclista Zine has officially released the monumental Cyclista Zine Collection! 🚴📚

This collection is a powerful anthology that brings together years of feminist storytelling, community-driven cycling, and zine culture.

Rooted in DIY ethics and intersectional feminism, it highlights the voices of underrepresented cycling activists and serves as a manifesto for future revolutions on two wheels.

Christina’s dedication, perseverance, and passion for elevating marginalized voices in the cycling world have been an inspiration to me—and I know to so many of you as well.

Whether you’ve been following Cyclista Zine for years or are new to the community, this collection is a must-read for anyone who believes in creating a cycling world rooted in equity, joy, and liberation.

💥 Grab your copy of the Cyclista Zine Collection at cyclistazine.com

I couldn’t be prouder to celebrate this release with you.

Christina has poured her heart and soul into this work, and it shows in every page.

This zine isn’t just a look back—it’s an affirming resource and a manifesto for the future, especially for those of us who have felt isolated or ostracized by the mainstream outdoor industry.

I highly encourage you to grab a copy and support this life-giving work!

With all my feminist killjoy love,

Erin .k.monahan

Co-Founder, Terra Incognita Media

10/03/2024

“I hate a neutral as bitch.” Shirt via 🤘🏻🔥

I’m thrilled to share a new episode of the Terra Podcast with you—this one is extra special, as I reflect on my 35th birthday (yesterday) and what it means to fully embrace my q***rness and commitment to building a community rooted in anti-oppressive values.

In this raw and candid conversation, I explore:

•The complexities of navigating family relationships, including the grief that can come when you commit to q***rness and anti-oppressive values.

•The importance of collective care over the commodification of self-care—especially when we white women often appropriate these practices without crediting their origins in Black feminist theory, specifically the work of Audre Lorde and Tricia Hersey of

•Why self-care should never be an individual goal, but must be tied to larger social, racial, and environmental justice movements, including ending the genocide in Palestine, securing clean water access in places like Flint, Michigan, returning stolen land to Indigenous stewards, and addressing human-caused climate disasters like Hurricane Helene.

Healing ourselves is inextricable to healing our communities.

Join me in this discussion on accountability and the link between personal and collective well-being.

Listen on Spotify or wherever you stream 🗣: “Queerness, Collective Care, and Accountability: A Solar Eclipse in Libra Birthday Reflection”

UPCOMING COURSES:

•Disrupting Dominion: Challenging the Toxic Masculine Legacies in the Outdoor Industry with Embodied Feminist Leadership - Early bird ends October 6th!

•Healing Money Trauma 101 – Early bird ends October 8th!

DONATE:

For my birthday, if you feel called, please consider donating $5 or any amount to these causes that matter deeply to me:

•Friends of the Congo
•Within Our Lifetime

Thank you for being part of this journey, and for showing up for collective liberation.

Let’s keep building.

In solidarity and with all my feminist killjoy love,

Erin (she/her) .k.monahan
Co-Founder of

09/26/2024

We just published a feature on the horrific state-sanctioned murder of Marcellus Williams, and we invite you to read it.

This is more than a tragic story—it’s a horrific reminder of the systemic violence that continues to target Black people in the United States, fueled by the toxic masculinity, white supremacy, and colonialist greed embedded in our so-called “justice” system.

In Are Prisons Obsolete?, Angela Davis writes, “The prison has become a black hole into which the detritus of contemporary capitalism is deposited.”

This is the same prison-industrial complex that not only caged Marcellus Williams for 23 years without evidence but ultimately executed him.

Many have rightly dubbed his death a modern-day lynching, an expression of white supremacy that remains unchanged since the days of enslavement and Reconstruction.

As Mariame Kaba reminds us in Let This Radicalize You, “Hope is a discipline,” and we must not let our despair lead us into complacency.

Marcellus Williams should still be alive today.

His case is not an isolated one—it is part of a long legacy of anti-Black violence that we must continue to resist.

Our new essay dives into the roots of this violence, exploring how toxic white masculinity and white sexual repression fuel systemic racism and oppression, leading to the murder of innocent Black people like Marcellus Williams.

We encourage you to take the time to read this important essay and reflect on the urgent need for abolition.

We must channel our collective grief and anger into fuel for action, fighting for a future where no more Black lives are criminalized and stolen.

Read the full essay - link you know where.

In solidarity,
The Terra Collective

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Portland, OR
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http://terraincognitamedia.com/

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Terra Incognita Media is a non-profit media company that provides a feminist response to the outdoor industry through essays, a podcast, art, and a quarterly print journal. Our goal is to provoke dialogue and stimulate action towards environmental and social justice. Terra Incognita Media is here to provide unapologetic, unflinching feminist analysis. We're breaking barriers and pushing the envelope. We are in solidarity with those who revel in fighting consumerism, white supremacy, colonialism, imperialism, the patriarchy, and binary thinking.