What keeps someone moving forward when the path is difficult?

In the final installment of our three-part conversation, Durga Rawal reflects on the lessons she has learned throughout her journey from porter to licensed trekking guide in Nepal's Himalayas. Looking back on the challenges she has overcome and the milestones she has achieved, Durga shares the values that continue to guide her: perseverance, courage, and a deep connection to the mountains.

This episode explores Durga's hopes and dreams for her future, as well as her vision for the next generation of female trekking guides in Nepal.

Through her reflections put in writing and read out loud, listeners will gain insight into what it means to lead with purpose, break barriers, and remain committed to a calling despite the obstacles along the way.

Durga's story is ultimately one of resilience, determination, and hope—a reminder that meaningful change often begins with the courage of individuals who refuse to give up.

This episode is part of Season 1: Elevating the Voices of Female Trekking Guides in Nepal, produced in partnership with the Himalayan Women Trail Leaders Initiative (HWTL), a program dedicated to training, mentoring, and creating pathways for women to become trekking guides and leaders in Nepal's mountain tourism industry.

Thanks to Durga Rawal for trusting us with her story. Get to know her more via the film documentary, Durga: Forging a New Trail.

The Porter Voices Podcast amplifies the stories of porters, guides, and mountain workers whose labor and leadership make adventure travel possible. Through authentic storytelling, we explore workforce equity, gender inclusion, human rights, and the evolving future of mountain tourism around the world.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who believe in creating a more equitable and inclusive future for mountain communities and tourism workers.

Learn more about our work and subscribe:⁠⁠ www.theportervoicecollective.org⁠⁠

Support women guides and help us amplify more mountain voices: ⁠⁠DONATE NOW⁠⁠

Want to partner/collaborate with PVC? Send us an email -theportervoice@gmail.com. Also, check out our HWTL ⁠⁠Initiative Brief ⁠⁠and ⁠⁠Program Evaluation⁠⁠ to learn about HWTL and its impact via our ⁠HWTL webpage⁠.

Follow The Porter Voice Collective:⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

Listen via PVC YouTube Channel or The Porter Voices Podcast page.

Because every mountain journey has voices that deserve to be heard.

This episode was made possible by our Porter Voices Podcast team:

Marinel M. de Jesus, Esq., Host, Creator & Writer

Wayne Nolting, Sound Editor

Marinel de Jesus, Video Editor

Roger Foye, Music Director

Jowita Kudzia, Theme Music Video Editor

Visuals by Durga Rawal

What does it take to build a career in Nepal's trekking industry as a woman?

In Part 2 of this three-part conversation, Durga Rawal shares the realities behind the profession—from carrying loads as a porter to earning her trekking guide license and leading trekkers through the Himalayas.

Durga speaks candidly about the challenges she has faced as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, the determination required to advance her career, and the physical, emotional, and practical demands of guiding in the mountains. She reflects on the long days on the trail, the responsibilities guides carry for their clients, and the obstacles women continue to encounter in the tourism industry.

Yet beyond the challenges, Durga also shares what she loves most about her work: the mountains, the people she meets, the opportunity to share her culture, and the deep sense of purpose she finds in helping others experience Nepal.

This episode is part of Season 1: Elevating the Voices of Female Trekking Guides in Nepal, produced in partnership with the Himalayan Women Trail Leaders Initiative (HWTL), a program dedicated to training, mentoring, and creating pathways for women to become trekking guides and leaders in Nepal's mountain tourism industry.

Join us for an honest and inspiring conversation about perseverance, leadership, and the weight—and joy—of guiding in the Himalayas.

The Porter Voices Podcast amplifies the stories of porters, guides, and mountain workers whose labor and leadership make adventure travel possible. Through authentic storytelling, we explore workforce equity, gender inclusion, human rights, and the evolving future of mountain tourism around the world.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who believe in creating a more equitable and inclusive future for mountain communities and tourism workers.

Learn more about our work and subscribe: ⁠www.theportervoicecollective.org⁠

Support women guides and help us amplify more mountain voices: ⁠DONATE NOW⁠

Want to partner/collaborate with PVC? Send us an email -theportervoice@gmail.com. Also, check out our HWTL ⁠⁠Initiative Brief ⁠⁠and ⁠⁠Program Evaluation⁠⁠ to learn about HWTL and its impact via our ⁠HWTL webpage⁠.

Follow The Porter Voice Collective:⁠Instagram⁠ / ⁠Facebook⁠ / ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠ and be the first to listen when episodes launch. Or you can listen via⁠ The Porter Voices Podcast⁠ .

Because every mountain journey has voices that deserve to be heard.

This episode was made possible by our Porter Voices Podcast team:

Marinel M. de Jesus, Esq., Host, Creator & Writer

Wayne Nolting, Sound Editor

Deja Dowell, Video Editor

Roger Foye, Music Director

Jowita Kudzia, Theme Music Video Editor

Darlene Lin, Program Support

Visuals by Durga Rawal

What does it take to become a female trekking guide in one of the world's most iconic mountain destinations?

In Part 1 of this special three-part conversation, host and PVC founder, Marinel de Jesus sits down with Durga Rawal, a Nepali trekking guide whose journey reflects both the challenges and possibilities facing women in Nepal's trekking industry today.

Durga shares her early life, what inspired her to pursue guiding in a traditionally male-dominated profession, and the obstacles she has faced along the way. Through her story, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the realities of life in Nepal's mountain tourism industry and the resilience required to forge a new path.

This episode is part of Season 1: Elevating the Voices of Female Trekking Guides in Nepal, produced in partnership with the Himalayan Women Trail Leaders Initiative (HWTL), a program dedicated to training, mentoring, and creating pathways for women to become trekking guides and leaders in Nepal's mountain tourism industry.

In Parts 2 and 3, Durga shares more about her experiences on the trail, the future of women in guiding, and her hopes for the next generation of female trekking leaders in Nepal.

The Porter Voices Podcast amplifies the stories of porters, guides, and mountain workers whose labor and leadership make adventure travel possible. Through authentic storytelling, we explore workforce equity, gender inclusion, human rights, and the evolving future of mountain tourism around the world.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who believe in creating a more equitable and inclusive future for mountain communities and tourism workers.

Learn more about our work & subscribe:
www.theportervoicecollective.org

Support women guides and help us amplify more mountain voices: DONATE NOW

Want to partner/collaborate with PVC? Send us an email -theportervoice@gmail.com. Also, check out our HWTL ⁠⁠Initiative Brief ⁠⁠and ⁠⁠Program Evaluation⁠⁠ to learn about HWTL and its impact via our HWTL webpage.

Follow The Porter Voice Collective:
Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn

Subscribe to our ⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠ and be the first to listen when episodes launch. You can also listen via The Porter Voices Podcast webpage.

Because every mountain journey has voices that deserve to be heard.

This episode was made possible by our Porter Voices Podcast team:

Marinel M. de Jesus, Esq., Host, Creator & Writer

Wayne Nolting, Sound Editor

Deja Dowell, Video Editor

Roger Foye, Music Director

Jowita Kudzia, Theme Music Video Editor

Darlene Lin, Program Support

Visuals by Durga Rawal

🎙️ COMING AUGUST 4

For generations, female trekking guides in Nepal have helped travelers experience the Himalayas. Yet their own stories have rarely been heard.

That changes now.

The Porter Voices Podcast is proud to present Season 1: Elevating the Voices of Female Trekking Guides in Nepal—a powerful new series featuring the voices of seven extraordinary women who have forged careers in one of the world's most challenging and male-dominated professions.

From carrying heavy loads as porters to becoming licensed trekking guides, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers, these women share their journeys in their own words. They speak candidly about the obstacles they've overcome, the mountains they've climbed, the dreams they've pursued, and the impact they're creating for the next generation of women in Nepal's trekking industry.

This is more than a podcast about trekking.

It's about courage. Leadership. Resilience. And the power of being heard.

Join us for a rare opportunity to listen directly to the women who are reshaping the future of Himalayan tourism—one story at a time.

🎧 Launching August 4, 2026
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

Follow @theportervoicecollective and be among the first to hear these remarkable stories.

COMING SOON: The Porter Voices Podcast – Season 1What does it mean to be a female trekking guide in Nepal?

In our inaugural season, we're elevating the voices of women who are breaking barriers, leading treks, supporting their families, and transforming Nepal's mountain tourism industry.

Produced by The Porter Voice Collective in partnership with the Himalayan Women Trail Leaders Initiative, this podcast series shares the stories, challenges, aspirations, and achievements of female trekking guides from across Nepal. Their voices deserve to be heard.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and be the first to listen when episodes launch. Also, subscribe to our website, The Porter Voices Podcast

Follow us: Instagram & Facebook: @theportervoicecollective