Opening up the outdoors and closing the nature gap with Anthony Owosekun, CEO of EMPOCA

About this episode

The episode discusses closing the nature gap and making the outdoors accessible, featuring insights from Anthony Owosekun on leadership and inclusion.

In this episode of Sports+Outdoor Mentors, I sit down with Anthony Owosekun, Founder & CEO of EMPOCA, to explore an essential leadership challenge and opportunity: closing the nature gap and making the outdoors truly accessible. Anthony shares his personal journey into outdoor leadership and the realities faced by Black children and young people across Europe regarding access to nature, environmental education, and outdoor spaces. We discuss how systemic barriers are created, why representation matters, and what genuine inclusion looks like beyond well-intentioned words. This conversation goes beyond programmes and policies. It examines leadership responsibility, authenticity, and the growing disconnect between what organisations say about sustainability and belonging—and how they actually show up. Anthony challenges leaders, brands, and institutions to lead by example, act with integrity, and reconnect people not just to nature, but to each other. This episode is essential listening for leaders, educators, outdoor brands, and anyone who believes that the future of the outdoors must be inclusive, credible, and human-centred. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders…

People in this episode

Host: Dan Trapp

Guest: Anthony Owosekun

Topics covered

• nature gap
• outdoor accessibility
• leadership
• inclusion
• environmental education
• systemic barriers

Keywords

• outdoors
• leadership
• inclusion
• environment
• accessibility
• Black youth
• sustainability

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: EMPOCA

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