What happens when a casual curiosity about trail running transforms into a life-changing journey of service? Bugi's remarkable story unfolds as she recounts her evolution from a nervous first-timer at a Brazen Racing event to becoming "the other Kenyan" – an ultra runner who now feeds 42 children daily through her foundation in rural Kenya.
The magic of the trail running community shines throughout this conversation as Bugi describes finding her people through those long, vulnerable hours spent traversing mountains together. "When you spend six or seven hours with someone, you become real," she explains, highlighting how these connections sustained her through profound grief after losing her mother. Running became her constant companion through life's challenges – a space for processing emotions, finding clarity, and building self-belief.
Most powerfully, Bugi shares the genesis of the Okullo Foundation, which began with a simple act of kindness: paying a child's $6 school fees after finding him unable to attend class. What started as addressing an immediate need evolved into a comprehensive program providing meals, education, healthcare, and hygiene products to kindergarteners at a school just steps from her family home. Through donations from her American running community, these children now have backpacks, proper toilets, clean water, and nutritious food – transforming their educational experience and health outcomes.
Beyond her service work, Bugi offers wisdom about overcoming fears, building confidence, and embracing community. Her journey from doubting her abilities to setting ambitious ultra-running goals mirrors her approach to community service: start where you are, take one step at a time, and trust that showing up matters. As she puts it, "What brings me hope is that kindness and empathy still exist."
Ready to be inspired by how one person's passion can create ripples of positive change? Listen now and discover how the simple act of lacing up your shoes might lead to unexpected purpose. And if Bugi's story moves you, she extends an open invitation to visit Kenya and see the foundation's work firsthand!
Learn more about the Okullo Foundation at: https://okullofoundation.org/
Full Transcript
Lisa Danylchuk: 0:01
Bugi, queen Bugi, I'm so happy to have you on the how we can heal podcast and to share you and your beautiful wonderfulness with this community. Thank you for being here. Thank you so much for having me. So I don't even think I know this. We've run together and you know, end up talking about all kinds of different things, but how did ultra running become part of your life?Nyobugi Okullo: 0:24
so one day I was having a conversation with this guy and I asked him what he had done over the weekend and he said he had attended a brazen race. And so I looked it up because I'd moved from Houston right, it's not like I was running. No, I was doing karate, nice Kickboxing, three days a week. That was the most I was doing, yeah. So then I went to a brazen. I kind of signed up for a brazen race, not knowing what else I get myself into I think maybe a 10k. And then I got there in the parking lot I don't know anyone, I have no friends, and I'm thinking, oh my gosh, what have I done? Yeah, what have I done. And I remember walking and this guy called Jay. He's the first one who came and said hi, are you new? I've never seen you. And then I think I met Andrea after that and that's how it started?Nyobugi Okullo: 1:13
Yes, so then I started running more and more brazen races. I started meeting people and me I'm always talking to people. I'm like, how's it going, how you doing? I think, like, how's it going, how you doing? I think that's how it started. So then I ended up with this family doing this crazy stuff. So that's how I started.Lisa Danylchuk: 1:28
Had you always run before that? Like, were you comfortable running? You were just kind of finding the events at that point.Nyobugi Okullo: 1:33
No, I call myself the other Kenya. Now, my mom was an athlete. Maybe I've got the genes. I ran high school but nothing. It was just PE right One hour a week. Yeah, cross country in high school, but that was it. Even cross country was just. I was just, you know, middle of the pack, nothing special it was nothing.Lisa Danylchuk: 1:52
That was like a big part of it. Nah, not even nah. Yeah, it's so amazing how we can find these little moments of like oh, I'm going to try that, I'll just sign up for that race, and then you just becomes this big part of your life and your family, and that's definitely true for me too.Nyobugi Okullo: 2:04
I know. And then you have this family. And why I love the trails is that it's family, because when you spend six or seven hours with someone, you become real. Okay, at first you might be, no, we keep it real on the trail, right Through the bad and the good. Yeah, so then you have this family. I mean, you were seven hours with somebody, surely right?Lisa Danylchuk: 2:29
yeah, and you can make friends with people and not even know their name. Sometimes. Where you're like you're running, I don't know a trail, half marathon or 50k be any distance, and and you may be near someone, you kind of pass them, they pass you and and eventually you start talking and you know their whole life story, you know the names of their kids, you know where their kids go to college, you know, and you're like I can't remember their name and if it's not written on their bib, you're like I have to ask you a real deep question.Nyobugi Okullo: 2:55
Now tell me your name again or or be like me, like how's it going? And you know there are not many, uh, black or african americans that run these trail races. And then I got to know all the directors. You know they come me, you know they just know I love the rate rds. Honestly, I never met one. I couldn't stand. I love, love, love, love. And so that's how it is and I'm like you. Yeah, how's it going? But I do talk a lot, though I'm one of the runners that I'll say hello, how's it going?Lisa Danylchuk: 3:24
Yes, you make your friends, you find your friends, you make your friends as you run, don't take it too seriously. So what do you like about running for just your own personal life? It builds family. What else does it do for you?Nyobugi Okullo: 3:36
I do my best, thinking when I'm out running. Believe it or not, I realize if I don't run, in two days I'm cranky. I seem to solve all my issues. I have conversations with myself. When I'm out there I feel good about myself, even if I'm having, as you know, my mother passed away grief. It has really, really running. It's the only constant I've had the last four years. Since I lost my mom, it's been running and prior to that it's just good for my psyche, yes, my overall being. I always kid myself when my family starts to say you run too much, I said well, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I just run. I love being outdoors. I love being outdoors.Lisa Danylchuk: 4:21
It's therapeutic right, very therapeutic. You've run in some beautiful places. You've lived in the last in the time I've known you, you've lived in California. You've lived in. Texas. You've lived in Kenya in these very different settings. What's it like for you being in the different places?Nyobugi Okullo: 4:38
So that's an interesting question. I had always had the fear, even at Chabot, I would stay in the trail. But then I started to go up these trails that you know, sometimes I wouldn't meet anybody. I hear rustling in the bushes. I used to be afraid and I realized, yes, I have a whistle, that I'm no longer afraid. So when I ran in Kenya, I would, you know, do some hill work and it's up there. It's not like my village has. You can call 911. Most of the time you don't even have service, right?Nyobugi Okullo: 5:07
Yeah, so even if I call 911, there is no 911. I lived in a village for the last three and a half years, right, but I overcame that fear of being out there. So I had two precautions. I always had a whistle, I had my bear spray there are no bears over there but I just overcame that fear of getting out there. It's pretty out there. You know just the fear of being out there by myself.Lisa Danylchuk: 5:34
There's so much in that, because I think in life we can fear doing things ourselves or being alone, or we can stay in relationships just to be in a relationship, even if it's not good. Right in relationships, just to be in a relationship, even if it's not good, right, it's like just to be with that fear of oh my God, I'm by myself and to move through it. Definitely Like I'm a big fan of connection for healing and all of that. But there's also something to be said with just connecting with yourself, noticing what you're feeling and, in some cases, moving through it, or just finding ways to make yourself feel safer. Okay, I whistle, I got you know, I got my phone. It probably isn't going to work, but right right.Lisa Danylchuk: 6:09
It's worth it too to have that, that sense of exploration or of just um, you know, following your curiosity out into the wilderness sometimes sometimes yes, and of course, um yeah.Nyobugi Okullo: 6:22
So I I realized that I overcame that. Yeah, that's amazing, because I kept going, you know, up those hills. Up those hills, it's just me, myself and a couple of cows, sometimes deer, you know, and that's it.Lisa Danylchuk: 6:36
Well, you also did a race recently, or sometime in the last, I don't know. It was like last five years. You did that race in the National Park in Kenya.Nyobugi Okullo: 6:43
Oh Lewa, yeah, two years ago.Lisa Danylchuk: 6:45
Yes, two years ago. Oh my gosh, that must have been quite, quite incredible.Nyobugi Okullo: 6:50
I have never seen anything like this in my life. So it was 26 miles. It's through a game park. There are choppers flying. Sometimes you have to stop the race for the animals to cross. You know whether it's lions and zebras and antelopes. Very interesting race, yeah, and safety came first, so they would stop the race. Very, very interesting, but what a well-organized race. People come from all across the world and I can see why it's a bucket list item for some of us. It was very. That was an eye-opener for me.Nyobugi Okullo: 7:30
I'm Kenyan this was an eye-opener.Lisa Danylchuk: 7:31
I wonder what it's like for you being an ultra runner here in the States versus being an ultra runner in Kenya. Is it different? I'm imagining it's a different group of people who are signing up for the races.Nyobugi Okullo: 7:42
Yeah, so majority of them were foreigners. Because of the fee, okay, right, because of the fee. But these Kenyans very interesting, that's why I refer to myself as the other Kenyans, even here right now, I have my honey stinger, my goose, over there, girl, they just run through these aid stations, had water and orange slices they're having conversations, they're kicking my ass slices. They're having conversations, they're kicking my ass and they're just having conversations and GUIs. They don't even bother. There's coke? No, no, they had bananas and water and they just powered through. Yes, so it's very interesting. I had to ask myself a question. It must be a marketing thing. They do it normally.Nyobugi Okullo: 8:26
I did another race after that. This was just a 10K and same thing Having conversations, water, at most A banana if you're lucky, that's it. They just run and they just run. It's very interesting because I realized I spent the majority of my adulthood in the States. Right, yeah, so that was a major difference. But they also are very vocal, like when I did Lauer run through the game park. They're like they call me auntie, auntie, you can do it, you can do it. You know they can see your back of the path.Lisa Danylchuk: 9:05
But yeah, so it was very, very, very, very interesting I want to start saying that to you and we're on the trail and be like oh, I don't know today I'm not feeling it until you can do it until you can do it tell myself that too, yeah yeah, you can do it, I know, I know, so, so, so that's that's the difference you.Nyobugi Okullo: 9:23
Here we are. Oh my gosh, I will never complain about. When I went to aid station three, they were out of Coke or Sprite or ginger. Ale, come run with us, keny, too much and all of that.Lisa Danylchuk: 9:34
So I mean you are out, especially if you're out for a long. You know 100-mile race, you really got to fuel. So it's funny to see that difference and it's like, okay, well, here's a banana if you're hungry. Like you have one option, one, but yeah.Nyobugi Okullo: 9:56
Yeah, and the idea of even carrying this goo. I tried to give one to someone.Lisa Danylchuk: 10:03
I'm like no Right, and there's so many elite runners that come straight out of Kenya and I've never been running there, I've never been in a running community there, so I just don't have a sense of what that's like. I have visions, I've made up in my mind, of people, just with ease, you know, galloping through, and now, with what you're saying, I'm like they're taking a little bit of water, maybe eating a banana, but they're just power, you know, just pure power running.Nyobugi Okullo: 10:33
But you know there's a common misconception is there's that one tribe, right? So this tribe. They live up in a tent. That's where most of the runners come from. It's this one tribe. So think about it this way. They've been going up and down ever since they were kids. The altitude they acclimate, they're born in it, right, you live up and then maybe school is down the mountain and then they go back for lunch and come down. So it's just this one tribe. You know, people have tried, studies have been done, movies have been made, but you've seen them win those marathons where they finish and they're under two or sub two and they're just like I could go a couple more, right, yeah, right. So that's why I refer to myself as the other Kenyan. Yeah, because I'm not that yeah, well you.Lisa Danylchuk: 11:20
You gallop around with ease on the trails and talk to people, and you've accomplished some long distances in your time too, here.Nyobugi Okullo: 11:28
Yes, I have. And then COVID happened and, yeah, everything was state of disarray, ended our lives. I went to Kenya, but running is my thing.Lisa Danylchuk: 11:39
Another thing that I know you've been really involved in is your family's foundation, Like when you spent some time back in Kenya. Can you talk a little bit about that?Nyobugi Okullo: 11:46
Sure. So after my mom passed away, my mom and dad have been very involved in this school, and this school is like 50 feet from our home, and so can you imagine sitting in your house having a latte, having Starbucks coffee yes, we, I have Starbucks coffee at home in Kenya and there's this school that needs supplies, or the kids are walking around with torn shorts. So you know, so we've always supported. So what happened? One day? I was going up for my morning, to up the hill morning run, and I see this little boy and I ask him I knew the kids 8 o'clock they're in class, right? I ask him why are you not in school? I was sent home for school fees, these 506. So I said you go back to go back to class. So I finished my run and I went to the school and I paid his school fees and that's how this whole stop thing started. So then we ended up with all my friends and 99% of them are trail runners from the States Gave me money.Nyobugi Okullo: 12:50
We've renovated this school. It's like an American school. These kids are winning on all levels. I feed them Monday through Friday, five days a week. Even when I'm here, I take care of their medical. These kids had rushes and inadequate nutrition. You know lack of vitamins and inadequate nutrition. You know lack of vitamins. So I created a new menu in 2023 that is not only carbs but protein, and these children I have seen the transformation in their lives. So wherever I go, you'd think I'm like a mini president. Auntie, the kids come and hug you. It's so cute. So that's what we've done as a family is we've started a feeding program. This will be year three or four. Normally, my American friends, you guys send me stuff, whether it is monetary or clothing, and last year we had the first run. I created a run for them, a 5K sponsored by Brazen Racing.Lisa Danylchuk: 13:49
Nice, how full circle. Yes.Nyobugi Okullo: 13:56
Jasmine and Sam sent me about almost 150 t-shirts and we did a 5K. It was so well. It was like a brazen race in the States. It was so nice. So this year those are some of the things, the initiatives, that I'm going to take. But we have a website and people go in there and my supporters normally go in when there's an ask. Go in and support.Lisa Danylchuk: 14:14
I love how organic and how relational that is. Like it just starts. You're going out for your run and you see this kid and you're like, oh, and I'm imagining the school fees when you think about a Starbucks coffee in the States. How many Starbucks coffees were the school fees? Right, right, right, not that many I'm imagining.Nyobugi Okullo: 14:30
Right, right, right, not that many I'm imagining. Right, I also give them haircuts and I don't know, lisa, if you've ever known third world countries. Kids suffer from worms, you see, you know, because they are always touching, touching each other. I deworm them. I'm a germaphobe. I deworm them. The government allows me to do that, so I do things like that. I deworm them and it just breaks my heart to see I'm well-dressed and here's a kid with torn shorts. The one that really touched me recently was some of the boys that never had underwear in their lives. Wow, it's not so much just feed and don't care about the rest of the things that's going on with kids. So right now we have 42 kids.Nyobugi Okullo: 15:02
I feed them Monday through Friday. Wednesday, I give them some fruit. Vitamin is very important, whether it's seasonal, like oranges, bananas and sometimes watermelon. We have plenty. Some of them had never had watermelon. They were eating the skin. My dad was like, just let them. So things that we take for granted in the States. So now, yes, on Wednesdays they get a piece of fruit. I reinvented the menu, very natural foods, but they love it. It's so much better for a kid as opposed to just giving them sugar. Yeah, definitely.Lisa Danylchuk: 15:38
It's such a communal thing too. I mean kids that are right next to you, 42 kids that you've walked by and seen the tattered shorts and seen them struggling with their school fees or whatever else. What I appreciate about that is you saw an immediate issue, right, an immediate problem, and then you solve that. Hey kid, go back to school, I'm going to go pay your school fees. And then, looking deeper, okay, well, what about the shorts? And what about? My goodness, these kids have like, what are you eating? You're just eating sugar. Let's find some natural, natural foods. And and just the layers that you keep building onto it. I just imagine, too, when you mention the uh, the brazen shirts, even before that, when you mention ultra runners donating, I just see race shirts. I'm like I just see this whole group of 42 kids running around with, like I ran Tahoe Rim 50 miler and you'll see, you know, like ultra runners always have so many race shirts.Nyobugi Okullo: 16:30
We do, and I've gotten so many from different races, and it's not only brazen race but it's people I met through brazen or friends, of friends, of friends. So I would get boxes sent to me in the village from you guys in the States, and so the whole school. The feeding program is only for the kindergartners which are five and six years, and then the T-shirts were enough for the entire school 130 of them, I, which are five and six years old, and then the t-shirts were enough for the entire school 130 of them. I had more than that because other people keep saying it Even now. I need to come and collect. I just haven't put out a publish, but there are people waiting to give me all the t-shirts. So that's what we do. It's funny. I walk around that village and it's all brazen racing.Lisa Danylchuk: 17:12
Or some marine mark or an ITR race, know? Or Senna right, you know, it's so funny, you created a little speaking of ultra family, right, trail family. It's like you have this trail family here in California and then and then you get involved with this thing in Kenya and then there's this connection between places and so even people who've never been there with you or been to the village or met the kids, like there's still this connection of oh yeah, I ran that race and you're wearing my shirt. I love how personal what you're doing is and how much you care.Lisa Danylchuk: 17:37
Like you're, you just keep seeing another issue and and okay, well, there's worms in their hair, we're going to deworm. Okay, well, you aren't eating any fruit. We're going to get you fruit on Wednesdays and maybe you know, offering a run and just.Nyobugi Okullo: 18:05
And maybe you know, offering a run and just engaging and caring, and I love that there's this bridge, though for you living, go there. It's like an American school, because you walk into a classroom and I put little hooks, so, and we've also been giving them all my friends, all of you have been giving me backpacks, right? So every kid has a backpack. They hang it. You're teaching them independence. Hang their backpack. And then the tables. We bought tables just for them, because normally the government would give them tables like for older kids. No, these are just tables you sit at, like when your little daughter will go to kindergarten, you know, and it's so.Nyobugi Okullo: 18:40
The only thing that's left for me that I always say is just the roofing. But everything else these kids have, whether it's pens, papers I receive a lot of pens and papers and coloring books and crayons and those I can buy over there. But sometimes if I get a donation, then I just ship it in a container. So I've gotten all that. So that's why I always say these kids are winning on all fronts.Nyobugi Okullo: 19:06
And a couple two years ago, for example, a friend of mine gave me $300 and I was able to buy all of them leather shoes and a couple, two years ago, for example, a friend of mine gave me $300 and I was able to buy all of them leather shoes. I wanted leather, not the cheap ones that you know. These kids, yeah, yeah, at least I even ended up getting them. I was so. I was so touched when I saw the kids Imagine your little daughter using an adult pit latrine, when I saw the kids Imagine your little daughter using an adult pit latrine, so I had them construct two toilets that are age appropriate for these kids. They're only five or six years old. Can you imagine I felt like they could fall through.Lisa Danylchuk: 19:42
Right yeah, those toilets are scary, so many of us trail runners will just go in the bushes instead of the toilet.Nyobugi Okullo: 19:48
Railrunners will just go in the bushes instead of the toilet. Team Bush Hashtag that I am one of those. Oh yeah, so they're winning During the day. They have a swing set. I bought for them Because, like I said, there are 42, two classes and three teachers. So our family is paying one teacher. We want it so that if there's one teacher can't make it. Yeah, instead of waiting for the government that's not doing anything much, we're just handling it. We and our family and our sponsors, we take care of it, just take care of it.Lisa Danylchuk: 20:20
What are you going to do? Yeah, way to show up for them, right? Yes?Nyobugi Okullo: 20:23
to show up and hopefully they will be adults that also pay it forward.Lisa Danylchuk: 20:28
Well, it really matters. I think kids do remember that I worked for so long with teens and young adults and there's all these different scales. We could talk about more academic ways to measure are there adverse childhood experiences or are there resilience factors but so much research comes down to one caring adult that can make such a profound difference. And I don't know what you know. It sounds like there's a lot of like lack of resources in terms of what the school has or what even some of the kids or their families have access to. I don't know what their relationships are like with their parents, but like if they have a positive relationship with their parents, a positive relationship with you access to pens and paper and places to sit in school and things to create art and teachers to show up and teach them.Lisa Danylchuk: 21:16
Each of these is an extra bonus and resource and support for them. And I think the love that you show up with that's so clear to me whenever you talk about this and I them. You know I could just see them calling you auntie around the village, like that. That has so much power in and of itself. Right, the things that you're doing are an extension of that love, but the fact that you see them, you value them and you show up you solve problems and help them.Lisa Danylchuk: 21:44
see the other side like that has infinite value, has infinite value.Nyobugi Okullo: 21:49
Oh, thank you, lisa. I try, in my mother's memory and my daddy's still with us, I try to practice what I was taught. Okay, we grew up. There was always people in our house, whether they lived with us or came to eat, so I know this is the right thing to do. These children come from some of the most of them from very poor families. So it go to the point whereby you know, when I see a kid with torn shoes, you know I can see the toes, I know what to do. I know what to do or one is un toes.Lisa Danylchuk: 22:24
I know what to do.Nyobugi Okullo: 22:25
Yeah, I know what to do. Or one is well, I know what to do Because sometimes the parents are just trying to make it right. So, for instance, on Monday I made sure that they have beans and sorghum. Sorghum is very healthy, it's a mixture and because maybe the night before they had boiled Lisa, think about it boiled collard greens or boiled cabbage, that's not enough to sustain this kid. So, moving forward, I'm thinking that instead of lunch alone, maybe, as I get more funding, maybe offer them breakfast as well.Lisa Danylchuk: 22:59
Yeah, yeah, yes.Nyobugi Okullo: 23:01
Yeah, I think that would close that gap, because when they go back home they're on their own. You don't know what they're being fed. You know it's not like us in the States. We are so privileged A kid can have cereal for breakfast. Yes, it's got a lot of sugar or toast or something like that, but these ones, some of them. So those are some of the things that I think, moving forward as I get more sponsorship, offering breakfast would really be a good thing to do. I worry about them over the weekend and when they go home, what they're going to eat, and sometimes you know the bananas will be big. Do you see them carrying them in their backpacks?Nyobugi Okullo: 23:36
You know kids.Lisa Danylchuk: 23:38
That's really smart and strategic of them.Lisa Danylchuk: 23:41
I have seen some programs where in schools I've worked in in the past where they started serving breakfast at the school for the same reasons, because they were like, oh, these, I don't think these kids are quite getting their nutritional needs met, so let's just look for it in the morning or, you know, at the early break. And and that actually they were tracking um how it impacted attendance and how it impacted performance in school, grade-wise or participation-wise and improvement across the board on those measures. So I think it's a way to see a need right.Nyobugi Okullo: 24:15
Right, right, and it just doesn't end there. You know, it's always something. We just had a meeting with my dad the other day and we feel that the foundation it's called the Okulo Foundation is on track. That's why I've been here all this time, because it's running and it's running well. So we're doing what we need to do for these children. So the children are the priority, you know. So we wanted to be different, to encourage our donors to see we are making a difference.Nyobugi Okullo: 24:44
These kids even have water. You know drinking water that people take for granted. They were drinking it was like muddy water, I was so sickened. And so they drink water as part of the lunch. They wash their hands with soap. They have baby wipes. Yeah, these little ones, their hygiene can be questionable, I found. I don't know how they're doing. They didn't even have toilet paper, things that we take for granted. Yeah, these children now have toilet paper. They have wipes. They wash their hands, you know. So I would go there three days. I'm not there, but my dad goes three days a week. He sits there and eats lunch with them, observes Nice.Nyobugi Okullo: 25:29
Yes, sits there and eats lunch with them observes.Lisa Danylchuk: 25:30
Nice, yes, amazing, yes. It makes me think of you know, when I was growing up this was like in the 80s. I remember seeing commercials for I believe at the time these were in Ethiopia where there was a lot of starvation happening, like really sad stories of kids and then, like the donate, help or sponsor a kid, you know and I was just a kid watching this like, oh wow, that that's pretty extreme, right. And I know people I myself have sponsored kids in different countries. Something about the connection piece and knowing, like one of the places where I sponsored was Cambodian children's fund. There was one of my yoga teachers, a friend and student, started this whole school, right, was, was there visiting, was very privileged, saw kids living in a literal dump with their families, saw the abuse that was happening, saw the alcohol, said I'm going to start a school and then I'm going to feed them once a day, I'm going to feed the families once a week, just similar to what you're doing and started a whole program there and even moved there and lives there now to this day. So I sponsored a kid there once.Lisa Danylchuk: 26:24
It's just so nice to have the connection Again. The relationship and the care is really important too. Right, getting basic needs met is the bottom line is like the number one goal, but being able to connect and so when I think of you and your dad sitting there at lunch, it's like being there with the kids. I feel like there's an element of healing, of just like hey, we actually really care about each other here and we're going to express that. I love that this is. It just feels very grassroots, right, very like it's a problem. I'm going to respond to it. Oh, there's another one. I'm responding to that. There's another one, I'm responding to that. I'm going to talk to my friends. Oh, look, the people at Brazen are going to sponsor a 5K. The whole thing of it just seems very organic and grassroots and beautiful and just so full of love. So I just want to celebrate you for doing what you're doing.Lisa Danylchuk: 27:11
I know it's good for your heart and you're so cool and you're in it for that. But, like I just want to highlight and celebrate that we can all of us can do something like this right. We can see a need and respond and meet it.Nyobugi Okullo: 27:24
Yeah, you know it's. Thank you, lisa. I never thought that times I'm out running and I just smile. I never thought, you know, I was minding my business in the Bay Area with my ultra runner friends who knew I would end up in a village or what place, a village, you know and doing some good work, you know. And it is amazing, you know, in life I call it a pit stop because I never thought I would be doing this and also taking care of my dad, you know, elderly. So I'm a caretaker and I'm doing all this. That's how I've been able to maintain my sanity and also having a very amazing supporting cast my brother and my two sisters. They're always there, you know, but it's been amazing. I couldn't have done this without my Bay Area friends. I'm so grateful, I felt so loved, I felt the love.Lisa Danylchuk: 28:17
Yeah, all from signing up for that one brazen race.Nyobugi Okullo: 28:20
Right, changed my life. Yeah, changed my life, and these children are the recipients, you know. So I can only see big things and good things, but what I also want to encourage is uh, the audience that's listening that if any one of you wants to come to Kenya, please, we have two houses on our compact. Please come stay with us, come see what it's about, and we have wi-fi ah what, ah what, I have Wi-Fi.Nyobugi Okullo: 28:46
Okay, I'm going to sign up for that Please come, bring your friends, come with us, I have room for more than 15. Come, let's do a yoga retreat as a fundraiser for the kids.Lisa Danylchuk: 28:56
Let's do it.Nyobugi Okullo: 28:58
Come on, I like that. Anytime you need a pit stop in life, you're tired, come over. I love it. Kenya is a safe country. Plus, come see what we're doing in the village. It's just so enriching and good for the soul. Sometimes it's okay because we live lives that go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.Lisa Danylchuk: 29:15
Yep yeah, and you know, the difference in culture like America is very go, go, go, go, go go.Nyobugi Okullo: 29:21
Yes, we, yes, we are Go, go, go, go go.Lisa Danylchuk: 29:24
To the point where running all day on the trails feels like relaxation. I'm going to go run all day and take a break from this intensity. Take a break for eight hours, six hours depending on the races, right, yeah, yeah, yeah.Lisa Danylchuk: 29:37
So I want to ask you and I hope that there's someone listening that reaches out to you and takes you up on this. I really do, because I have had people extend invitations to me like this there up on this. I really do, because I have had people extend invitations to me like this there was a school that I was applying to work for in Massachusetts and they had a cat program in Costa Rica. The woman from Costa Rica was visiting for the weekend and she said come down. And I was like, don't tell me that because I will. And I did, I showed up and I slept on her couch. So I hope somebody takes you up on this and shows up and can meet the kids and have just a really, like you said, soul-filling experience.Nyobugi Okullo: 30:07
Yes, and they can stay. They get to stay as long as they want. Lisa, we have room. We have room, plenty of room, it's safe. We have German shepherds at night, you don't have to worry. Important to know. Important to know. Important to know we have Wi-Fi, I have Wi-Fi. Wi-fi, yeah, we have two houses. So I just want people to come, and even if it's you know, just come. If you want to visit Kenya, come, come over, we'll hook you up with a safari.Lisa Danylchuk: 30:32
You want to do a?Nyobugi Okullo: 30:33
safari, that's okay, we can hook you up, but just come and see. Sometimes people just want to relax, yeah.Lisa Danylchuk: 30:40
Yeah.Nyobugi Okullo: 30:41
Yeah.Lisa Danylchuk: 30:42
I did want to ask you too your mom, was your mom involved with the foundation too?Nyobugi Okullo: 30:47
My mother was. No, she was involved with the school. With the school, yeah, my dad had always. In fact, I have a sister who even donated desks to them. So when she passed away and I met that little boy because that's why I was there after her burial was now I stayed to take care of my father, because you cannot even boil water. You know how are you going to say I'm going back to the Bay Area, goodbye, dad, it's been good. I couldn't. And, being the oldest and being African, we don't put people in homes. Yeah, there was nobody else. I guess this responsibility was left to me as a CEO of this company. I had no idea, by the way. Yeah, that's how I stayed. Yeah, yeah, so that's how this whole thing started. So then I decided okay, I'm going to put a plaque up, take care of these kids. And that's how I find we found our purpose. The grief, I guess led us to this.Lisa Danylchuk: 31:48
What was your mom's connection to the school? Was she working?Nyobugi Okullo: 31:50
there, or was she? No, she, oh no. My sister had a feeding program a couple of years before that, so her and my dad were managing it for her, okay, but they used to feed the entire school. Wow, yes, my sister built a kitchen, um, so they're very involved. Like I said, it's at our gate. You enter our home and the school is right here. Turn right to the school, turn left to the gate, to our entrance to our home. So he's always been. My parents believe in education. Yeah, always, always, so I think over 10 years. Yeah, she was very involved.Lisa Danylchuk: 32:20
And how long has the foundation been around then? Was that part of the feeding program from the past too?Nyobugi Okullo: 32:24
No, I started this afresh. Three, three years. Okay, yeah, cause it'll on the 19th of the month was my mom's fourth anniversary. So three and a half let's put it that way Okay, but I registered as a 501C in here. Yeah, good for you. So that's it. The Okulo Foundation we are up and running and anyone wants to donate or come over or has any questions, they can reach out. What's the best way for people to reach out to you? They can go on the website I'll put it in the show notes.Nyobugi Okullo: 32:56
My information is on there. They can just text me on there, yeah, Okay, I love it.Lisa Danylchuk: 33:02
So what's next for you? You have any big races or projects coming up.Nyobugi Okullo: 33:08
I signed up for a running course that keeps me sane, believe it or not. Last week was the first time in my life because I'm team back of the park party in the back. I actually ran 40 miles last week. I'm tired, my legs are tired, I know. So I signed up for a flat 50K with trails over Texas. I haven't had a 50K. The last one was Antelope Canyon, which was way before COVID. So we'll see. I hear it's flat. Houston is flat. I run here. It's just flat as a pancake. There's no hill. I can never find a hill girl. I go out on the trails flat as a pancake.Lisa Danylchuk: 33:42
Okay, we're going to do it.Nyobugi Okullo: 33:46
So that's what I'm going to do. I want to challenge myself this year. I want to run, sign up for and train and run for a race that's greater than 50k, so we'll see. Okay, maybe. Yeah, one of my goals is the best shape of my life in my mid-50s, so let's see how this is gonna go. What do I have to lose, right? I support you. I fully support it what do I have to lose?Lisa Danylchuk: 34:09
yeah, yeah, right, like it's like there's something in you that's like, oh, maybe I could do that, right, maybe I can run that far. And and then the journey of it brings up all these other things, all these other opportunities and, you know, friendships and relationships and people helping you build a school in the village in Kenya, right, right, all these amazing things can come of it. But it starts with that. Maybe I could do that, maybe I could go more than 50 K. I kind of want to. I want to be in the best shape of my life in my fifties, like, yeah, you know, and and the word comes to mind like have the audacity to have those goals. But I'm like, why is that even audacious to have those goals? Yeah, have those goals. Those are great goals, you know.Nyobugi Okullo: 34:48
But I think that I've suffered a lot from imposter syndrome.Nyobugi Okullo: 34:52
You know whereby I didn't believe in myself you know, and it's funny the things that you can do when you believe in yourself. This has been a journey and it continues. It's still a journey, but I believe in myself more. A friend of our mutual friend Todd Todd, even before my mom got sick, he's like my trail husband Get up and go run. You know in hindsight I'm like that's my friend. He always got me out of bed running when I just want to lie in bed and be, depressed.Nyobugi Okullo: 35:26
You know what I mean. He's that kind of friend. Everybody needs a friend like Todd. Yes, agreed, he even in. I'm here in Houston. He always, still calls me, almost every day, but it's, it's the belief, lisa, that's what it is, because I used to watch all of you running these crazy races but I never thought for myself because I believed that I couldn't, I wasn't good enough, you know. And now I wake up in the morning, I'm like the first thing I tell myself is every morning, know your worth. Yes, I get up and I do it. We have seven on the schedule. We're going to do seven.Lisa Danylchuk: 36:02
So it's the belief.Nyobugi Okullo: 36:06
It's a self-confidence. Yeah, it's amazing what you can do. There's a fine line between being arrogant, cocky and no, I'm just confident about who I am. Maybe also age plays a factor.Lisa Danylchuk: 36:17
And just recognizing that it doesn't help you, not feeling good enough to run a long race, like that's not helping you, that's not helping anything, right? If it's something you want, if it's in your heart, and knowing your worth first thing in the morning and then just following up, I think one of the hard things. You know, sometimes finding inspiration is difficult, but then we find it and then, on the way towards a goal, we hit a snag, inevitably, and have to problem solve. Or, you know, sometimes you do have to. Well, you know it's pouring rain today, so I'm going to do this distance tomorrow and run on the treadmill today, or whatever. We have to figure things out.Lisa Danylchuk: 36:53
But sometimes, in that we don't keep promises to ourself, right, or we're like, oh, it's okay, and I'm a fan of adapting when we need to adapt, but also remembering, like seeing what's at the root of that. If the root of that is a belief that I'm not worthy of it or I can't, or I'm not a person who gets these things, well then, those are some beliefs to challenge, right, like I'm worth it and I do get to do it. And why not me? Why not? Yeah, yeah, yeah, right, like I'm worth it and I do get to do it, and why not me? Why not? Yeah, yeah, yeah, so what? What are your hopes for? You've got this 50k, maybe longer. What are your hopes for the trail community moving forward?Nyobugi Okullo: 37:41
I love the trail community because I feel they're very welcoming. I'm hoping that when people see me out there, they too can be inspired to lace up, whether they're running a 5k or a 10k, and especially people that look like me. Yes, and also the feeling that they should know that they're very welcome at these races. I have never felt like less than at any race that I've ever ran. Never felt like less than at any race that I've ever ran. You know, the community totally embraces us, and so if I can make a difference or inspire someone to get off the couch, if we can inspire people to get up and move and inspire people who look like me, that would be a blessing because the community is very welcoming, very welcoming. I've never felt out of place. I was right in there day one.Lisa Danylchuk: 38:31
I love to hear that and I mean you're such a natural part of the community that we're a part of and I love that you're there. I know there are a lot of conversations happening in even like big ticket races, about diversity and inclusion and how to just get different people highlighted, not only like, yeah, get, get more diversity at the start line, right, whether that's gender, race and ethnicity, you know across the board ability but also highlighting different athletes right, like highlighting para-athletes. So it's not always that we're just highlighting highlighting para-athletes, so it's not always that we're just highlighting people who look a certain way or who represent certain groups. I think that conversation is happening and changing and so I'm with you on that. I'd like to see that continue to change. I've experienced the same thing that the trail community is very welcoming and I think in running in general, the biggest thing I've come up against is the competitiveness of really valuing some, some races not all, not a lot of the ones that we go to, but some races it's just so much about the front of the pack and the P, like who's going fastest and we're going to really celebrate them, and then by the time you finish back of the pack, everything's closed and there's no more food Right, like you have that happen, I've had that happen. You're like where'd everybody go? And do I still get my swag bag? Can I have a burrito too? So I feel like there's also that inclusiveness of pace, of body size or shape or perfect, and just in the trail running community, even more than maybe the broader running community, I feel like there's just this inclusion effort happening right, of shifting priorities, of welcoming people in and of just celebrating all the things we've talked about today, how much being outside in nature and moving your body can feel good and even when we are in a place of deep grief, right, or moving through the really tough stuff in life, just getting out and moving your body.Lisa Danylchuk: 40:24
This morning I was exhausted. Yesterday I was so tired and I told Alex I really need to get out on the trail this morning. So I had an hour, went up the hill, we've been up and down it together, a Brandon trail to the top. Yeah, nice, Ran down, feel amazing. Now Sometimes we think, oh, I'm tired, so I'll rest, and that's absolutely helpful at times. But sometimes I'm tired so I need to move right, so I need to stir up some energy. My love, like you said, todd, texting Boogie, boogie, what are you doing? Let's go Get up run. Get up, go run. You know.Lisa Danylchuk: 40:59
And there are days where all of us are like, nope, it's a rest day and that's good, that's okay. Yeah, that's okay, that's great. That's part of it for sure. It's not that we're just out there pushing forever, but that there's also this welcoming invitation to connect with the earth, connect with other people, connect with your body, your breath and, just, you know, get what you get out of it that day.Lisa Danylchuk: 41:22
I've never been kind of like a yoga class.Lisa Danylchuk: 41:24
I can't think of a run that I'm like, oh, I really shouldn't have done that. Or a yoga class and I'm like, oh, yeah, no, I don't know why I did yoga today. Whenever I go out on the trail, even if I do something different than I thought I was going to do, or in a yoga class, if I'm in child's pose or Shavasana the whole time, I usually feel better at the end and I think there's just something about being together, about breathing, about connecting with your body, and I just love having connected with you, for through trail running and the whole community, it's just so full of love. I feel like there's so many amazing people out there and given the world as it is today like if you pick up your phone, I don't think you know. I've tried to curate all my feeds so I see a lot of love, but I see a lot of other stuff too, but when I get on the trail with you and Todd or any of them, it just feels like people are real right, cause this is like look at that hill.Nyobugi Okullo: 42:15
That hill, you know. And so, like I said, that's why we keep it real. Like you said, we talk about everything. We have time, yes, we have time, and so you get to know the real Lisa, as opposed to the hi. See you at the next race next weekend.Nyobugi Okullo: 42:30
No, no, no no, you spend seven, eight hours with somebody. You know You're like girl. Let me tell you something, but just nice. Like you said, this is my family. I give back and I give back and then we volunteer. If you're not running like you said, pick up, you're there, you know. It's just amazing, Amazing amazing.Lisa Danylchuk: 42:48
It's a great community. What would you say to someone who's listening, who maybe has been interested in running a race or just thinks, oh, that's not for me, I'm not, I'm not one of those people, or I am nervous, I'm going to be judged, or things like that?Nyobugi Okullo: 43:04
I would tell that person go on YouTube, pull up, type in a trail race, an ultra trail race. You will see all shapes and sizes. No one has ever told me oh, you're this or that. That is the beauty of trail racing, it's such an accepting community. So I would tell that person running is the cheapest sport. Just lace up, get out there and do it, just do it and some of this, really you can even walk it.Nyobugi Okullo: 43:32
Start with a 5K or a 10K. 10k is six miles, 5k is 3.1 miles. Just start small baby steps. You can do that. Or challenge yourself to a 10K if you've never. You know, from couch to whatever. Just think of it as something where you get to go. You went to the farmer's market. Sometimes you have to walk to the farmer's market. Well, this one, you're out there with 200 or 300 of your friends, people encouraging you along the way. There is no trail race that you will go to and no one talks to you. There's no way Somebody will encourage you, somebody will offer to walk with you. You just meet people.Lisa Danylchuk: 44:05
Even if you're an introvert.Nyobugi Okullo: 44:08
somebody has to talk to you Always.Lisa Danylchuk: 44:11
Love it. There's people, there's snacks.Nyobugi Okullo: 44:13
Here in the.Lisa Danylchuk: 44:13
States, there's a lot of snacks.Nyobugi Okullo: 44:15
Oh no, you get everything. So just try, just make it a point to get out there and try the world we live in. We need each other. Yeah, point to get out there and try the world we live in. We need each other. Yeah, we need each other. No man is an island. Just try, look up a race that's close to where you live and go on the website. You might. Even if you're afraid you can't, don't have transportation, you can go on the page and somebody will ride with you. Yeah, we'll offer to ride with you. Yeah, and sometimes there's even people.Lisa Danylchuk: 44:43
Often with each race there's people who get a bib and then they can't show up, so they're getting away, right. I guess there's also sometimes discounts available if you contact race directors. There's also even programs. I know different programs in the bay area that are specifically strategically located in lower income communities to help with access. So if there there's a bridge like that that you're looking for, I mean you could probably find a discount code or a sponsor or someone who's just like hey, I can't make it anymore, somebody take my bib. So. So that level of access to is often figureoutable, right.Nyobugi Okullo: 45:19
Yeah, always, there's always. Yeah, you can always get to a race. You know, we carpool, and the race directors are very supportive.Lisa Danylchuk: 45:27
They're usually in it because they love it and they want to share it.Nyobugi Okullo: 45:30
Share it. Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.Lisa Danylchuk: 45:33
So, Boogie, you've been through a lot in life. I know you lost your mom four years ago. I want to send some extra love out to your mom today. I wish you. Maybe she is listening into our podcast right. I would love for her to be hearing and so proud of you and all the beautiful work you've been doing in her honor. I think it's something to really celebrate.Nyobugi Okullo: 45:53
I never used to give myself credit in the past, but I do give myself credit now, for you know, I'm always like you are doing what you need to be doing. I'm always like you are doing what you need to be doing. Mom would be proud of where this foundation is headed. We are hoping to grow and I'm always begging the villagers for let your kids come. Where else would a child get? These are poor people, fed. I have so much to give them.Nyobugi Okullo: 46:16
I've been on this quest right now. I've been in the States for almost seven months. I have clothing to give them. I've been on this quest right now. I've been in the States for almost seven months. I have clothing to give them. I just shipped it. There are two shipments. One's about to get there and it's not so much to give them. I just hope to give them some love and that people care, and especially my friends, American friends. They care so much. You know that somebody cares about them, because some of these children, when you go to hug them, you notice it's hugging is not even part of their nature. They're afraid and then after that they see you, and now they hug you every time they see you.Nyobugi Okullo: 46:53
So, I hope that they will grow up to be outstanding citizens and give back. It's about giving back.Lisa Danylchuk: 47:01
Yeah Well, you're're paying it forward and I think when people receive that and see the value for themselves, that naturally right that that empathy given becomes empathy shared right yes, so what I have. This is feels like such an obvious question. I always like to ask it. At the end, I feel like I already know the answer, but maybe something else will come to your mind. What brings you hope?Nyobugi Okullo: 47:26
What brings me hope is that kindness and empathy and compassion still exist. We might see all this negativity in the world, but there are good people out there. There are people who wake up and want to make a difference. No, we are not. So you know, in the past, oh, americans were inward looking. No, we are not inward looking. Americans are some of the most generous people in the world.Nyobugi Okullo: 47:52
Maybe I'm plugging them because I'm one of them, but I have seen it. I live it right. This foundation wouldn't be there, would be in existence, but not at this level if it wasn't for people giving, reaching out, always asking how can I help. And one day I actually shed tears because someone just asked me how can I help? I mean, I asked myself when was the last time someone asked me that how can I help? What can I do? How can I support you? So I said, well, what can I do? How can I support you? So I said, well, I need clothing. All right, I can buy it here. So I just want people to know that I live my life based on being the best version of myself and being true. I never had children, but maybe this is God's way. I raised my sibling, but I don't have children, but maybe this is the way this is his gift back to me that, okay, you don't push him out, but I got all these kids. I got 42 kids. Yes, Right.Lisa Danylchuk: 48:55
And they love you.Nyobugi Okullo: 48:57
Oh, yes, auntie, oh, they keep running. You'd think I'm running for public office, I love it, auntie. You'd think I'm running for public office, I love it. Auntie, auntie, yes, so auntie's busy. Auntie for president, yes. And on some Fridays I just feel it I'll go buy cupcakes, like you do in the States. I'll just go and give them candy.Lisa Danylchuk: 49:16
They're kids, you know.Nyobugi Okullo: 49:17
Cupcakes who doesn't like cupcakes?Lisa Danylchuk: 49:19
Right, oh yeah, well, thank you, Bugi, for everything you're doing, for being such a beautiful soul and person. I'm so glad that I just had the opportunity to connect with you and to have you on the show.Nyobugi Okullo: 49:31
Thank you so much for having me. I've been looking forward to this. You are my dear friend and when I saw your text I was like who God continues to bless me? Who God continues to bless me. I am so glad. I feel blessed and I feel very loved. I'm not alone in this endeavor and I will never be alone as long as you guys are there. We're in this together. You know, tomorrow it might some, you know might need my help for something. But please come and visit. If you want to go up to Kenya, please let me know. You're welcome, all of you. I love it. I love it.Lisa Danylchuk: 50:04
And I just have to celebrate officially your haircut because, oh my goodness, you love it. It's so amazing.Nyobugi Okullo: 50:12
I feel free. Uh-huh, I felt, you know, when she cut it. I told her, cut it, yes, and that's one of the things I was talking about confidence. You know, I didn't believe in myself but, lisa, something happened in all this. Maybe, like you said, the healing and the you know. You know who you are and what you want, and so I'm so happy about my hair it's even easier as a runner.Lisa Danylchuk: 50:33
Right, I don't have to sweat it anymore as a runner, as a yogi and for those who are just listening, a boogie went from long, long. The last picture I have with you, your hair, was how long I was like yeah, extensions always. You've never seen me without extent, really okay yeah yeah, and then just it's, it's just right up, right up on her head now, right up to the front, uh-huh beautiful, stepping into 2025 like a boss, like a boss like a boss. Yeah, I love it, bo Thank you so?Lisa Danylchuk: 51:04
much Grateful to have you on the show. Let's go to Kenya, let's go.Nyobugi Okullo: 51:08
Let's go to come on down, come on down, we're going to me now. You're welcome.Lisa Danylchuk: 51:14
I love it.
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