350 Best Of: How Understanding Indigenous Astronomy Can Help You Go Outside (Carl Gawboy, Ojibwe star story expert)
Humans Outside
Modern American culture uses Greek mythology to refer to stars and constellations in the night sky. But a rich tradition of Native American astronomy and indigenous star stories is out there, too, waiting for us to learn it. Better yet? Learning star stories can help us chart the seasons and help us enjoy heading outside. In this episode of Humans Outside Carl Gawboy, a Native American astronomer, Native Skywatchers elder and Ojibwe artist based in Minnesota, guides us through his groundbreaking work in Ojibwe star stories and what they can mean to us today. At almost 80, Carl shares a...
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349: My Favorite and Most Hated Outdoor Winter Gear (Outdoor Diary)
Humans Outside
When I moved to Alaska from Tennessee I was not someone who spent a lot of time outside, and I owned virtually no clothing you and I would think of as “winter gear.” I simply had no experience spending time outside in cold weather, and I had no idea what I was doing. In the years since I have quite a lot of time to practice going outside comfortably in all types of weather and seasons, which means I have had some time to figure out what I like to wear out there -- and what I don’t. Maybe these experiences can help you, too, as you learn to how to stay warm and comfortable outside all...
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348 The Secret Art of Layering: Getting Dressed for Cold Weather (Jen Loofbourrow, founder, Alpine Fit apparel company)
Humans Outside
Learning how to stay warm and, therefore, comfortable in cold weather can be the difference between a great outdoor experience and one you never, ever want to have again. And while so much of the “what” of the clothing that you wear outside will be based on your own personal preferences and needs (helpful, right?), there are some basic building blocks that you can lean on to get started. Enter the mysterious yet necessary “base layer.” What do you need to know about picking a great base layer? What kind of fabric and fit should you look for? What goes on top of it? And why do some...
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347: My Outdoor Time Became Less Miserable When I Started Focusing On This (Outdoor Diary)
Humans Outside
If the annoying perky people in the world are right and your perspective really does determine your reality, then there’s one tried and true way to make heading outside in less than great circumstances -- weather, schedule, whatever -- just a tiny bit better. I’ve tested what it’s like to go out there with a bad attitude. So, what happens when I take a different track? And what happens if I do when things are really, really hard? I’m talking -15 degrees, blowing, very frosty, don’t want to be there, have other stuff to do hard? Let’s find out. Connect with this episode: Some of...
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346: 3 Outdoor Things I'm (Surprised to Be) Grateful For (Outdoor Diary)
Humans Outside
Call it a gift of my daily outdoor habit: I am surprised to be grateful for some outdoor stuff that old me would’ve considered either not a big deal or downright bad. And yet here I am, including it on a gratitude list? Life is weird. Gratitude is a healing practice, and when it comes to challenging seasons (like winter … or any bad weather … or hard personal life stuff …) taking time to name it and claim it can be a powerful practice. And so here we are, listing it out. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:35] Back when I first started all of this [1:12] I am...
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345 She Went Outside to Finish Her Dad’s Epic Bucket List and Found Big Things About Herself (Laura Carney, author and bucket list chaser)
Humans Outside
There’s pushing yourself to chase big goals outside because it’s something you want to do -- and then there’s doing it because someone else can’t. When Laura Carney found her dad’s unfinished bucket list years after his tragic death, she knew completing it wasn’t just a fun sounding idea -- it was something she absolutely had to do. And since many of the list items were outdoor activities, that meant digging deep to find the courage to step outside her comfort zone and tackle a series of crazy. Impossible-sounding tasks. What she learned on her journey to finishing his list for him...
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344: How to Make Yourself Go Outside Even In Terrible Weather (Outdoor Diary)
Humans Outside
If the weather outside is frightful or simply not delightful, how do you make yourself go outside anyway? What’s the trick for getting past the discomfort and I-don’t-want-to so you can experience what nature has to offer even in bad weather? I lean on two tools to help me -- and you can lean on them, too. Learn how in this episode. Listen now. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:35] Yes, it really is hard out there [2:00] So how do we make ourselves go out? [2:57] Here are two tools [3:29] First tool: gear [4:02] Second tool: a plan
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343: She’s Using Outdoor Joy to Build Inclusivity and Tackle Veteran Trauma (Vedia Barnett, founder of Black Vets Outdoors)
Humans Outside
We know heading outside helps us all sort through the junk of life -- a tough day, actual trauma, relationships, whatever. And veterans know spending time in nature also has special power over the wounds of military service. For Vedia Barnett, a disabled Black Air Force veteran and founder of the nonprofit organization Black Vets Outdoors, spending time outside has extra power. She’s seen it work to heal the double trauma carried by those who carry both the burden of military service and the weight of racism. In this episode she talks about: Creating a sense of belonging outdoors Why...
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341: How Hunting for Small Wonders Daily Refreshes My Outlook (Outdoor Diary)
Humans Outside
When everything is cold, and drab and just not that great outside, are you able to find the small wonders in nature? It’s that time of year when things aren’t exactly lovely or pleasant all the time, and hunting for the good takes some work and some practice. It also takes understanding that the small wonders aren’t going to be predictable -- you’re going to have to work for them. So how do you make that happen? Learn how I’m doing it for myself in this episode. Listen now. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:53] No, I really am ridiculous about my habits [1:36]...
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341 Stepping into the Unknown: the Allure and Lessons of Wilderness (Jon Waterman, author & adventurer)
Humans Outside
What is it about wilderness that draws us? And how do you find wilderness wherever you are? Those are just two of the questions Jon Waterman, an author and adventurer best known for his work around Denali, the highest mountain in North America, tackles within the pages of his gorgeous new table-top book from National Geographic, Atlas of North America. But this book sparks more than just awe for the wilds across the nation. In this episode Jon takes us on a journey through: The evolving definition of wilderness Why that definition and those places matter How we can experience the true essence...
info_outlineMy friend called it the “fall wall” -- that moment where you know without a doubt that the season is changing. (Are you ready for it? I’ll admit that I’m not.)
But it’s here for me in Alaska. And whether the wall is a weather one or a schedule one, dealing with it while maintaining the things that are important to you -- like getting outside -- can take some work.
Here’s how I’m doing it. Listen now.
Connect with this episode:
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Some of the good stuff:
[:32] The origin of the “fall wall”
[:47] Here’s one type of “fall wall”
[1:15] Here’s another type of “fall wall”
[2:00] My growing concern
[2:30] “The summer we had fun anyway”
[3:08] A few tips for working through the fall wall