Stacey Leasca

Another wild lady spotted in her preferred habitat. (And just like the hyenas, the bag behind me is full of snacks.) After years of low waters due to wide spread drought, the Okavango Delta is flooded (in a good way) once more. And the best way to see it is with a ride on a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe used by locals to navigate the waters, harvest waterlilies, and to fish (we stopped a met a few fishermen along the way, will share more on that soon). The canoes used to be made from various trees but in order to curb deforestation, the government introduced funding to get people to switch to fiberglass. Don’t worry, it’s just as sturdy - though that didn’t stop me from being a little nervous of the hippos hiding around the bend. (The guides, who all grew up on the Delta, know to tap the canoe to warn them we are coming.) My ride was thanks to a fantastic visit put together by @timbuktu_travel and @naturalselectiontravel , which you can read more about soon on @travelandleisure . But always happy to answer any safari questions you got. And naturally 📸 by @silasdunham #botswana #safari #travelexperiences #tlpics #tlpicks

Since you all loved the hyena grandma yesterday, I present you with her grand babies! These sweet fluff balls are about three months old and the way you can tell is that spotted hyenas are actually born with completely black fur that fades into spots at about three to four weeks with the total change happening around four months. They were as curious as can be, coming up to the car and even chewing the tires before heading back to the comfort of their den. And one day, one of these ladies may just become the queen of the pride. Scroll through for some cute videos of these squishy little babies!! #hyena #botswana #traveltheword #safari #tlpics @timbuktu_travel @naturalselectiontravel

The feminine urge to scare away all the men and drag a carcass into your den for a little snack. Disney made us think hyenas were evil. It’s dead wrong. Hyenas are a matriarchal society where the women always outrank the men. Daughters inherit their mother’s rank. They are bigger than the males and dominate the hunts. And they are frankly as cute as cute can be. I watched this grandmother hyena (who yes is heavily pregnant) drag away this buffalo carcass for herself and her two granddaughters to enjoy together in the morning sun in Botswana. This is her kingdom. And she made me proud to be a woman. Being feminine doesn’t mean always having to be smaller, or meek, or dainty. It can also mean being strong, taking charge, and putting yourself first. Especially when it comes to snack time. #travelmore #seetheworld #botswana #hyenas #safari

Congratulations to all the London Marathoners, especially @sabastiansawe on his new world record! Here’s a little throwback to running this race last year, which I ran far slower than Sabastian, but to me, all that mattered was that I did it. And I finished. This race ignited something in my soul. It brought a hobby to a whole new level, which has helped calm my brain, given me structure, and allowed me to sing and dance my way, mile by mile, through Lisbon without a care in the world. I may not be fast, but I am a runner. And this race made me that. Looking to get into a running routine too? Here’s my best advice. Sign up for a race down the road. A 5k, a 10k, a half-marathon, or a full, something to keep you going. Make a fantastic playlist. One made with songs that spark lots and lots of joy (my playlist is filled with songs that make me think of specific people and laugh, or specific memories and smile). If you need a starter, I’m happy to send you mine. Get a coach, or try an app. I use Runna, which is controversial, but I have found it invaluable in my training. It helped me cut 25 minutes from my time in London in April to NYC in November. Read a lot. I LOVED learning about the science of running (which I’ll share more of over the coming weeks!) and continue to read stories on @runnersworldmag and Marathon Handbook daily. Find friends if you need them. I am a lone wolf and wouldn’t do well in a group running setting, but if you think you need the group energy, run clubs abound! Can’t find one near you? Download Strava for that community feel. Tell everyone. Look, yes, marathoners make it their WHOLE personality, myself included. But telling people has been the best part, because I get encouraging texts all the time telling me to keep going! Or just tell me! I’ll cheer you on the whole way. Read this far?? Great! Now go click the link in my bio and donate to @ndssorg , the organization and team I am running with for the Berlin Marathon this September! #runmore #runrunrun #runnerscommunity #girlswhorun

Officially official!!! I am running the 2026 Berlin Marathon (my third world major!). And this time I’m doing it to raise money (note this is me asking you to donate!) for a seriously spectacular charity, @ndssorg , in honor of my uncle Arthur. My uncle Arthur “AJ” Leasca was the very center of our family. He taught us to love harder, hug longer, and above all, that there’s nothing better than a tall, ice-cold glass of chocolate milk at the end of the day. Arthur left a mark on everyone he ever met. We are all better people directly because of him. And I can think of no better “why” for training and running another marathon than in his name. (And he was, after all, a lifelong participant of the Special Olympics ... so I’d better train hard to make him proud!) A few things to know about where your donation is going: NDSS supports and advocates for the Down syndrome community by focusing on four key areas of programming: Resources & Support, Research, Policy & Advocacy, and Community Engagement. It’s committed to providing individuals with Down syndrome, their families, caregivers, and the public with comprehensive information across the lifespan, from diagnosis to end of life. NDSS provides free resources on a variety of topics, including health, wellness, education, employment, adulthood and aging, financial wellness, and information for new and expectant parents. Additionally, the NDSS Advocacy & Public Policy Program advocates for federal, state, and local policies and regulations that positively impact people with Down syndrome across the country and affirm their human rights. Most importantly, it’s about families. And the Leascas are proud to be among this community. I’ll be sharing loads about this charity and my running journey over the summer, but if you want to click on the link in my bio and donate anything you can to this incredible cause I’d be forever grateful - and promise to run just a little faster for you too!!! #marathontraining #berlinmarathon #runtogether

Big on the “wide open spaces …” part of this trip. . . . . . #montana #girlswhotravel #tlpicks #tlpics #exploremoreً

As far as best days ever go, this one is surely near the top. I had the absolute best time on my cattle drive at @pawsupmontana with Jackie and her team of incredible wranglers (an all-women’s team at that!) as we moved a few cows down the field to the river for a drink of water and back. It was much harder work than I anticipated, took a ton of team work, and lots of open communication - all things women excel at, which is no doubt why those cows (albeit slowly) found their way home in the end. More coming soon in my story for @travelandleisure ! . . . . #tlpics #travelmoments #montana #travelmore #girlswhotravel

Warmup complete …. Montana let’s go! @pawsupmontana 👀👀👀 . . . . . #travelmore #girlstrip #seetheworld #tlpics

In February, the Leasca/Casey/Dunham crew all flew south to celebrate my dad’s 70th birthday in style in Key West. It was such a special event, made all the better that we could all sleep under the same roof! I’ll preface by saying this isn’t sponsored (though I am writing a piece about it because it was just that great!!) but for family vacations, you need to stop sleeping on @homesandvillasbymarriott . We stayed with @lunarabay , which you can book through the platform, and got to just relax with one another, cook meals together, fish off the dock, and jump on the beds in a way we couldn’t if we all had separate hotels. I will cherish this trip forever (especially watching @joslinleasca laugh until she could barely breathe) and am so grateful for getting to spend time together❤️. Happy 70th year around the sun @tleasca ! Love you to the moon and back, xoxo Beanie. (And don’t worry! I’ll share the story when it’s live!) . . . . #familyvacation #keywestflorida #familytime❤️

The moment you realize they are more scared of you than you are of them. . . . . . . #rhino #rwanda🇷🇼️ #tlpics #bucketlisttravel #travelmore

Meet Omo, an extremely rare white Masai giraffe living in Tanzania. We spotted her just outside our camp with @legendaryexpeditions and hung out as long as she wanted. She was born with leucism, a genetic trait that means her skin cells don’t produce pigmentation, however her soft tissue still does. (As @natgeo explained while rare, leucism occurs in many species, including penguins, eagles, and hippos.) she’s also one of the most well protected giraffes on the planet, with a team of anti-poachers dedicated to ensuring she gets to be a lady of leisure her entire life. #tanzania #seetheworld #tlpicks #safari

Man, I love being a woman. Celebrating this International Women’s Day with a few photos from some of the most amazing women I’ve met around the globe. From portraits with an all-female village in Kenya, learning to make tortillas in El Salvador, wrangling buffalo in South Dakota and honoring the Day of the Dead in Mexico, dancing in the streets of Cuba, taking shots of anonymous snake liquor in Vietnam, tagging sharks off Cape Cod with an all-female crew of scientists, making jewelry in Tanzania, ripping through the desert with Rebelle (where I also finally learned how to change a tire from these ladies), protecting wildlife in the Serengeti, and trekking through Peru, all of these women have welcomed me and taught me that girlhood is a worldwide phenomenon. May we one day be paid equally, treated fairly, and never again told to smile more. #internationalwomensday #womenempowerwomen #girlhood