Dani began life as a small-town beach girl, but became who she is—as a multilingual Mestiza-Filipina pursuing healing, connection and growth—outside. An award-winning advocate, documentary filmmaker, endurance athlete and lifelong strategist, Dani tells stories of reciprocity in the outdoors, inviting us to roam the path of liberation. Originally from Playa del Rey, California, she learned to love tough things while coming of age (and running cross-country) in the USA’s muggy agricultural capital, California’s Central Valley. Years later, she left corporate life with a one-way ticket to South America, traveling through Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Canada and the US while building her mountain craft through snowboard mountaineering, climbing and running. Honored as an "Alliance Member of the Year" by Protect Our Winters for her climate advocacy in 2022, her multilingual storytelling appears in film, visuals and words.
What inspired you to transition from corporate life to becoming an advocate and athlete?
In 2013, I stood on a metaphorical mountain’s saddle: I could go back down the trail I took, or I could push onwards towards a new peak with zero beta. I saw an opportunity to take a massive leap of personal discovery—and it was the recognition of that opportunity that made all the difference. While I never planned on becoming the polymath I am today, my enduring passion for learning and my willingness to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth have shaped my journey.
What was the most transformative experience you had while traveling through South America?
Outdoor experiences constantly challenged me to grow: from getting my backcountry avalanche training in Spanish in Chile to surfing slabby Peruvian waves to learning to rock climb by following my then-friend/now-partner Johnny at climbs way above my pay grade. Traveling alone as a woman for six months in several foreign countries spurred a new sense of self-awareness and personal accountability to my actions. Learning to step into this power was difficult, but beyond healing. Dedicating months to an individual adventure objective also forced me to ask myself: “but isn’t there more?”
How do you balance your roles as an endurance athlete, creative and advocate?
I think it’s important to recognize that there is no such thing as balance—only its pursuit. The journey to achieving balance teaches us the habits and gives us the tools to recognize that equilibrium is a journey rather than a destination. Balance isn’t about success or failure; instead, it’s truly about making an effort to find the practices and cultivate the personal peace that allows me to step into any space wholeheartedly and with complete presence.
What advice would you give to aspiring filmmakers who want to make a difference in the world?
Stories are like burning coals in the fires of our hearts: We must tend, nurture, and steward these stories to bring more friends to the circle. Yet, a “story” is more than any one film. The stories you share as a filmmaker will exist for years beyond the final work your team puts into the world. Making a film is an enormous privilege, and with this comes great responsibility to your film participants, the communities you profile, and the lands you portray.
