Earlier this year, I did a podcast with my friend and fellow attorney Melissa Chureau at the Fully Mindful. We talk about my experience as an attorney in the Arctic, my return to Portland in 2018, and our experiences as lawyers in recovery and running. From the Arctic to Advocacy: Law, Sobriety & Movement with Dawn Winalski
As Melissa writes:
What do Arctic Alaska, tribal law, trauma-informed yoga, and sober running have in common? Dawn Winalski. In this episode of The Fully Mindful, Dawn—attorney, consultant, yoga teacher, and long-distance runner in recovery—shares her inspiring path from growing up in the shadow of a contentious custody battle to becoming a fierce advocate for Indigenous communities and a champion for mental health in the legal profession.
We dive into how running in the Arctic helped her manage stress, how sobriety became a turning point, and how she found purpose through community, movement, and service. From courtroom to recovery, from isolation to connection, Dawn’s story reminds us that healing can happen when we listen to the body, follow the breadcrumbs, and keep showing up, mile after mile.
Check it out! From the Arctic to Advocacy: Law, Sobriety & Movement with Dawn Winalski
And yes, those are polar bears. The photo was taken on my first visit to the Native Village of Kaktovik, which is in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. And very near the Canadian border.