From screen to stage
The music that sets the tone for the 2026 No Man’s Land Festival trailer comes alive with LVDY in a live performance that hums with feeling and intention. Let the sound wash over you before we gather IN DENVER.
LVDY [pronounced “LADY”] is the Colorado-based duo of Kathleen Hooper and Aubrey Mable, creating music that moves, uplifts, and connects. With roots in singer-songwriter, indie-folk and a sound shaped by soaring harmonies and organic instrumentation, LVDY crafts songs that feel like home. In unison, it is almost unrecognizable who’s who, and in harmony, an effortless blend that welcomes the exhale. Their uplifting sound and intimate storytelling weave love anthems in and out of their messages, with simple yet important reminders that we’re not alone.
Their ethereal harmonies, musical warmth, and meaningful lyrics find inspiration in the beauty of the outdoors as they draw influence from artists like Maggie Rogers, Rising Appalachia, Brandi Carlile, JOSEPH, and Trevor Hall. Though their roots lie in the singer-songwriter realm, their music is intentionally genre-fluid, allowing them to adapt their sound to a wide range of audiences, settings, and collaborations.
Through it all, LVDY remains driven by the belief that music is medicine and community is everything.
2026 GUESTS + SPEAKERS
each year, we gather the hearts, minds, and community that make up no man’s land together for a heckin good time.
We invite women + allies from across the country who embody our mission to un-define femininity and share our goal of gender EQUALITY. Real magic is brought to life by the individuals we bring out to let their talents shine.
Kathleen Hooper + Aubrey Mable CRAFT MUSIC THAT FEELS LIKE HOME. OUR FLOW ASL INTERPRETERS increase accessibility for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER CAT RUNNER CAPTURES THE MAGIC, AND Videographer Kim Shively documents the MAYHEM.
BETH KEEFAUVER //SHE, HER
Beth Keefauver earned her Ph.D. in English and Creative Writing at the University of Tennessee. In 2015, Beth joined the faculty at the University of South Carolina Upstate where she teaches creative and professional writing, environmental literature, women's and gender studies, and manages the student literary journal, Persimmon Creek. Beth enjoys outdoor adventuring by boot, bike, ski, and paddleboard. In 2020, she biked the entire 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. She shares a two-acre patch of earth in the southern Appalachian mountains with her two sons, their dog, and a pair of lop-eared bunnies.
CAT RUNNER // HE, HIM
Cat Runner is a transgender rock climber and advocate from Kentucky, famous for winning HBO's reality show The Climb in 2023, gaining prominence for his skill and trans joy. He's also known for co-founding advocacy groups like the Queer Climbers Network and Trans Climbers Belong, challenging exclusionary policies in sports and promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion in climbing. Runner combines his passion for climbing, running (including obstacle course races), and photography with activism, using his platform to create resources and fight for trans rights in athletics.
Photograph courtesy of Madison Browning.
Genevive Walker // she, her
Mountain Hardwear athlete Genevive Walker is a Single Pitch Instructor and Rock Guide Apprentice who has been guiding since 2019. When she started climbing in the Northeast, Genevive immediately noticed the lack of diversity in the outdoors but didn’t recognize how widespread the disparity was until she started traveling full-time. After becoming a guide, her mission was to share her love of climbing with folks in her community in hopes of encouraging more people to get outside and reap the benefits of outdoor recreation. Genevive continues to work hard to inspire women and folks of the global majority in the outdoors through education, connection, compassion, and a whole lot of stoke.
JEN GURECKI // SHE, HER
Jen Gurecki is the founder and CEO of Coalition Snow, a women-owned and operated ski + snowboard brand. Coalition’s mission is to put an end to shrink-it-and-pink-it and toxic bro culture and amplify a community that values camaraderie over competition and solidarity over sending. She also founded Zawadisha, a social enterprise whose mission is to provide small loans to rural Kenyan women to finance their livelihoods. Jen holds a master’s degree from Prescott College and dropped out of their PhD program when she realized that being a CEO was more productive. She’s been featured in Outside Magazine, Huck Magazine, Red Bull Magazine, and Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs. She spends her evenings wondering what Joan Jet would do and reminiscing about that time she cycled across Africa.
lvdy // she, her
Aubrey and Kathleen’s journey began in 2012 when they met while studying abroad in Dunedin, New Zealand. Quickly becoming the best of friends, they bonded over shared dreams of traveling the world and sharing their music. Their jam sessions, often set in chilly New Zealand flats, eventually led to the formation of LVDY. After returning to the U.S., they continued playing on front porches and in the homes of friends and family, turning late-night kitchen jams into the spark of their original music. Currently, LVDY is in the midst of releasing new music that they feel is their best yet, with fresh songs that continue to push the boundaries of their evolving sound. They’re also gearing up for their biggest headlining show to date at the iconic Bluebird Theater in Denver, CO, on June 13, 2025. It’s a milestone moment for the duo, and they can’t wait to share it with their ever-growing LVDYMOB.
Lina Krueck // SHE, HER
Lina Krueck is an Oglala Lakota + Chicana activist based in Denver, Colorado. She is a transracial adoptee on a journey of reconnection, learning about her cultural roots, ancestral history, and languages. She is passionate about community building and collective liberation, and currently works in the human services field. You will most likely find her somewhere outside or in a local cafe.
Liz derstine // SHE, HER
Mountain Hardwear athlete Liz Derstine is a professional pianist, composer, and trail runner. Her most recent adventure was thru-hiking the 2,655 mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada, self-supported, in 69 days, 13 hours, 53 minutes – making her the third fastest woman in history to complete the PCT. A recent graduate of Longy School of Music of Bard College with Master of Music degrees in Collaborative Piano and Composition, Liz integrates her musical life with long-distance hiking and running. Her trail name, Mercury, is inspired by the orchestral piece of the same name by Gustav Holst.
Photograph courtesy of Anna Brannon.
MO BECK // SHE, HER
Maureen “Mo” Beck is a professional climber and nonprofit leader whose career bridges elite athletic achievement, storytelling, and social impact. As an athlete who began her journey in the pre-internet era, Mo spent nearly a decade believing she was the only disabled climber in the sport. That perception changed in 2014 when she entered the world of competitive paraclimbing. Since then, she has become a dominant force in the community, securing 10 National Championships, 2 World Championships, and numerous World Cup medals. She is currently training with her sights set on the 2028 Paralympics. When she isn't shaping the future of the sport or scaling alpine peaks, Mo enjoys her rest days on a raft with a fishing rod in one hand and a fine scotch whiskey.
nikki smith // she, her
Mountain Hardwear athlete Nikki Smith is a climber with more than 30 years of experience and has been working in the outdoor industry and climbing world since 1998. Her photography has been featured in many outdoor publications, and she is a National Geographic Adventure photo contributor. She’s authored five climbing guidebooks to date and has written many feature articles for major climbing magazines including Rock and Ice, Alpinist, Deadpoint, and Urban Climber. She has completed over 200 roped first ascents of sport, trad, mixed and ice climbs from 30’ to 1,600’ throughout Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho, and has traveled the world to climb. Nikki is an advocate for the outdoors and is a part of the Protect Our Winters Athlete Alliance. Nikki is also an illustrator and painter.
NINA WILLIAMS // SHE, HER
Nina Williams is a professional climber currently based in Bishop, California. She has competed in National and World Cup events while developing her outdoor skillset in South Africa, Switzerland, Brazil, Peru, Australia, and across the U.S. Though her hardest bouldering grade clocks in at V13, Nina is best known for her highball ascents. In 2023, Nina became the first woman to complete the Longs Peak Triathlon: an 80+ mile Colorado bike/run/climb endurance challenge, solo & unsupported. In addition to being an athlete, Nina is a climbing coach and community advocate, working with a variety of organizations dedicated to change within the climbing community. She is the current Board President of the American Alpine Club in support of their mission to advance knowledge, inspiration, and advocacy for all climbers.
Photograph courtesy of Clayton Boyd.
Scott Lehmann // he, him
Mountain Hardwear athlete Scott Lehmann is a deaf mountaineer, educator, and storyteller. He was born into a multigenerational deaf family and raised in the deaf community. Growing up, there wasn’t much deaf representation in the outdoors and he faced limited access to outdoor education due to communication barriers. It wasn’t after college that he taught himself to climb mountains by studying YouTube videos and asking other climbers on mountains using paper and pen to communicate. Over the last ten years, Scott has climbed the world’s highest mountains like Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Denali, and Aconcagua. Beyond the peaks, his passion lies in making the outdoors accessible for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, spreading awareness, and changing global perceptions of deaf individuals.
shayna unger // she, her
Mountain Hardwear athlete Shayna Unger is a deaf woman, mountaineer, educator, and storyteller, born into a multigenerational deaf family and raised in the deaf community. Growing up, there wasn’t much deaf representation in the outdoors, nor access to outdoor education due to communication barriers. It wasn’t until after college that she began exploring the outdoors through backcountry hiking, bikepacking, sea kayaking, and mountain climbing. Since climbing her first summit at Mount Kilimanjaro in 2015, she fell in love with climbing. Over the years, she has climbed some of the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest (where she became the first deaf woman to summit), Lhotse, Makalu, Manaslu, Denali, Aconcagua, and Kilimanjaro.
tara warren // she, her
Tara Warren is a mountain runner, run coach and race director. She and her husband, Bryce, are raising their teenage boys in the foothills of Ogden, Utah where they stay active enjoying easy mountain access and year-round sport options. Tara loves racing the 100 mile ultra distance and helping bring more women into the sport through advocacy and coaching. “Completing the Rocky Mountain Slam in 2024 was a surreal experience. Being able to do this in honor of my late mom took a little bit of the sting away of missing her while raising money for the ALS association.”
VANESSA CHAVARRIAGA POSADA // she, her, ella
Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada is an environmental sociologist and outdoor athlete from Medellín, Colombia. She is a three-culture kid whose childhood was split between Colombia, the U.S. and Mexico. As an immigrant and woman of color herself, Vanessa recognizes the systemic barriers that purposefully keep BIPOC out of outdoor spaces. Taking up space in the outdoor community feels revolutionary. Her work now focuses on the intersections of race, identity, and nature through sponsored content, DEI education, public speaking, and writing.
Photograph courtesy of Guy Fattal from the film “OUTLIER: Common”.
Zelzin Aketzalli // she, her, ella
In 2025, Zelzin Aketzalli solidified her legacy as a pioneering Mexican thru-hiker and adventurer by becoming the first known Mexican national to complete the prestigious Triple Crown of Hiking (Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail). A former Mexico City resident, she is currently developing a new 1,300-mile long-distance trail down the Baja California peninsula to promote hiking culture in Mexico.
women AND NONBINARY-owned small businesses + ARTISTS
Thanks to the support of our generous sponsors, we do not charge artists OR NPOS TO TABLE AT OUR EVENT. they bring so much LIGHT TO OUR LIVES, and we honor their creativity, drive, and grit. stop by and support GENDERQUEER and women-owned small businesses + artists’ work!
Britni Mara
Britni Mara (goes by Mara, she/her) is a Boulder-based visual artist who earned her BFA in Studio Art from Bradley University in 2013. The following year, she pursued post-graduate studies at the Siena Art Institute in Italy, and since then, she has been passionately creating fine art. Mara has been creating art full-time for the last six years. She’s a Chicagoan, born and bred, but recently moved to Boulder, Colorado. Seeking more access to nature and new inspiration, the artist now calls Colorado home.
DRAWING FROM NATURE
Andrea Slusarski (she/her) is a visual artist, professor, creative director, and visual journaler based in Colorado. Fascinated by how learning is impacted by Creativity, her visual and teaching processes are fueled by this curious study. Whether in drawing, designing, or riding, Andrea connects her various types of lines through plein air sketchbook drawings, snowboarding, studio collaborations, and sharing Creativity with all types of students. A firm believer in the power of little-c creativity (daily creative acts) - Professor Slu provides various workshops and lectures on how to embrace one’s own creative light to find more connection and fun through creative pursuits.
Photograph by Karen Lane.
LAUREN ECHO
Lauren Echo (she/her) is a designer and muralist with an eye for color who loves to help brands turn heads with some creative flair and outdoor inspiration.
MERA WELLNESS
Mera Wellness, co-founded by Rebecca Schwager + Ashley Vandyne (she/her), is an all-natural skincare brand based in Boulder, CO. Their products are produced in small batches using toxin-free, organic, earth-derived ingredients, and formulas blend the wisdom of Ayurveda with modern science to support holistic, everyday wellness.
NOW OR NOODLES
Hannah Reeves (she/her) is the artist behind Now or Noodles. Currently based out of Colorado, Hannah started making doodles during a rough patch of her life and never stopped. She loves ramen and hopes that you know you’re doing amazing.
ONLY FRANS ART STUDIO
Fran (she/her) is the creator of OnlyFran’s. She is currently creating a grocery store collection called OnlyFran's Supermarket. OnlyFran's Supermarket serves up everyday absurdity in bright, juicy colors. It’s a playful world where grocery aisles hold secrets, feelings come in cans, and humor sits right beside heartbreak. Each piece is a reminder that life is weird, wonderful, and always worth a second look in the checkout line.
Symbiosis Gear
Symbiosis Gear is a women-owned outdoor gear company founded by long-distance hiker Sarah Berkeley. They are one of the only brands dedicated to creating backpacking and hiking equipment specifically designed for femme bodies, addressing the discomfort and injuries caused by backpacks built for men. Their designs prioritize fit, freedom of movement, and comfort—no boob squish, no chafing, no compromises. By putting women’s needs first, Symbiosis Gear is not just making better gear; they are creating a sense of belonging and equity in the outdoor industry. This is just the beginning.
Wild Brush
Julianne Mohoney (she/her), founder of Wild Brush, is on a mission to empower all humans to get outside with gear as beautiful as the places they adventure. After years of purchasing gear designed by people who value profit over functionality and decided that it was time for something new. With an old sewing machine and custom fabric designed by artistic friends, a company was born. Jules sews artist-designed, eco-friendly outdoor gear made to help you feel comfortable in who you are wherever you adventure, and Wild Brush has grown into a passionate community over the past 5 years.
