Adventurer. Speaker. Scientist.
In wild places, I learned that wellbeing is not something we optimize or control; it is something we remember.
I am a professional speaker, endurance athlete, and trained scientist who explores the nature of wellbeing through courage, curiosity, and our relationship with the natural world.
My scientific training taught me how to observe patterns, question assumptions, and trust evidence. But some of the most powerful insights I carry did not come from a lab—they came from mountains, long trails, changing weather, and the quiet discipline of moving forward step by step. In wild places, I learned that wellbeing is not something we optimize or control; it is something we remember.
As an ultramarathon trail runner and lifelong explorer, I practice courage in motion—the kind of bravery that shows up when the path is uncertain, when conditions shift, and when listening becomes more important than pushing. Nature teaches us timing, patience, effort, and rest. When we fall out of rhythm, we burn out. When we return to it, we come alive.
In my keynotes, I invite audiences to reconnect with the natural rhythms that shape wellbeing—cycles of effort and recovery, attention and rest, courage and care. I blend science, story, and lived experience to offer a fresh perspective on bravery—not as force or endurance, but as the willingness to stay present, adapt, and trust the next step.
My work inspires people to slow down enough to listen, to move forward with intention, and to rediscover wellbeing not as a destination, but as a rhythm—one that has been waiting for us all along.
Career Journey
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Dr. Olivia Affuso, FACSM is the Director of Strategic Leadership Initiatives at the Council on Black Health where she leads training and mentoring programs for the next generation of public health scholars, advocates and practitioners.
In addition to having served as an advisor for various organizations, Dr. Affuso is the proud recipient of research funding from a variety of funders including the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. She has been featured on globally recognized platforms such as TED, Disney+, and PBS.
She obtained her PhD in Nutrition Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences at the University of Miami.
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Prior to her current work, she was a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and an Associate Scientist in the UAB Nutrition Obesity Research Center and the Center for Exercise Medicine. Her research focused on the prevention of obesity and chronic disease through physical activity, body composition methods development, and the design of obesity randomized controlled trials. Her research projects as principal investigator included the examination of potential mechanisms of group engagement on sustainable physical activity among African American women and the development of a novel photographic method for measuring body composition. She also conducted several community-based pediatric obesity intervention trials. Read more about her scientific publications.
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Grassroots Community Foundation — We support, develop and scale health and wellness programs for women and girls, particularly those who are impoverished. Consider an investment!
Black Girls Run! — The mission of Black Girls RUN! is to encourage African-American women to make fitness and healthy living a priority.
Run 828 Foundation - The mission is to promote healthy, active, outdoor opportunities to individuals and families in Western North Carolina.
US Trail Running Conference - The mission of the US Trail Running Conference is to lead, educate, connect and empower an inclusive family of race directors, trail runners, brands and industry leaders working to share best practices with the trail running community.
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