Humans Outside
They say spending time in nature can change your life. But in a world packed with indoor life pressures, how can you make getting outside just a part of who you are? Welcome to Humans Outside, where we explore a wellness-rich life in the great outdoors from our perch in Alaska while hearing from fascinating outdoor-minded guests.
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210: Tips for Getting Kids Outside in Hot Weather (India Tate)
05/26/2022
210: Tips for Getting Kids Outside in Hot Weather (India Tate)
When school is out and so is the sun, it can feel like a waste to spend the day inside. But soaring temperatures can make getting outside just seem so hard -- especially if you’re trying to take children with you for more than just some fun in the backyard. How do you get outside with kids in the heat, avoid the meltdowns -- literally and figurative -- and have an enjoyable and enriching time? Adventure mom India Tate makes a lifestyle of getting out for adventures with her two little boys. And since she lives in Atlanta, Georgia, she knows what hot looks and feels like. In this episode she shares her best tips and tricks for making it through hot adventures with her family. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [2:44] How India Tate became someone who likes to go outside [6:12] How she started getting her kids outside, too. [8:35] Mini golf league? [10:24] Keeping kids cool through what they wear [14:57] Keeping it cheap [16:40] All about shoes [18:00] We are strongly pro-snack [23:40] Tricky water and hydration [27:27] Getting ready for that hot weather [32:48] Tricks for hot summer day fun [38:40] How to get ready for all kinds of heat [44:19] Favorite outdoor gear [46:57] India’s favorite outdoor moment
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209: Outdoor Diary: Here Are 2 Challenges for Your Summer
05/24/2022
209: Outdoor Diary: Here Are 2 Challenges for Your Summer
With warm temperatures and all the sunshine, Amy is ready for summer in Alaska. And she knows summer is the perfect time for you to try two outdoor-related challenges. Hear what they are and how you can get involved in this episode of the Humans Outside Outdoor Diary. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:45] One thing to know about Amy [1:12] Secret background of the original Humans Outside challenge [2:09] Something for you to think about [3:00] Where to find more about the Humans Outside challenge [3:15] A new challenge for everyone around Memorial Day [3:35] Why Memorial Day is important to Amy’s family [3:50] The point of Memorial Day [4:25] How you can mark Memorial Day
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208: Simple and Easy Ways to ‘Rewild’ Your Life by Going Outside (Micah Mortali)
05/19/2022
208: Simple and Easy Ways to ‘Rewild’ Your Life by Going Outside (Micah Mortali)
Simple and Easy Ways to ‘Rewild’ Your Life by Going Outside (Micah Mortali) It can be easy to think of practices like rewilding and mindfulness as being habits of only extra-zen, nature-based people. But if you’re someone who likes to go outside or is building an outdoor habit, they are probably already a part of what you’re doing, at least a little. So how can you do it more? And if you don’t think you’ve added them, how can you make them happen while balancing a modern life? In this episode Micah Mortali, rewilding expert and dean of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership, shares his insights and tips of rewilding, mindfulness and even meditation. Author of the book “Rewilding, Meditations, Practices, and Skills for Awakening in Nature,” Micah’s extra-practical tips make a rewilding habit accessible for any outdoor-lover. Connect with this episode: Buy (affiliate link) Some of the good stuff: [1:52] Why this recording is a little different [2:41] Micah Mortali’s favorite outdoor space [4:41] Amy’s regular moment of mindfulness [5:16] What Micah thinks about that moment [6:34] How Micah became someone who likes to go outside [9:32] The spiritual connection of nature and how it’s weird some religions are confused [10:55] Other Christian faith traditions and nature [13:42] What is “rewilding?” [20:45] How a nature draw plays out for city-dwellers [23:35] Mindfulness and task-focus in nature [29:56] The challenge of meditation for focused people [32:22] How rewilding and mindfulness fit into a daily nature habit [37:02] What the pandemic taught us about rewilding [40:27] Simple tips for rewilding and mindfulness in nature [42:47] Micah’s favorite outdoor moment
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207: Outdoor Diary What Heading Outside Has Taught Me About Disappointment
05/17/2022
207: Outdoor Diary What Heading Outside Has Taught Me About Disappointment
Don’t like what’s going on outside? Wait awhile, power through and it will change. That’s just part of the truth about seasons Amy is clinging to -- and an important lesson she’s learned -- as she deals with a fresh running injury. How does heading into nature and understanding outdoor seasons help with the rest of our lives? Hear about it in this episode of Amy’s regular Humans Outside Outdoor Diary. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:45] Good and bad habits [1:10] The problem with ankles [1:50] What Amy missed this month [2:20] Things learned instead [2:30] Risk is inevitable [2:52] Get friends like this [3:35] The important thing about seasons [4:02] The good and not so good things about fireweed
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206: Why Nearby Nature Is Just as Useful as the Great Outdoors (Dr. Kathleen Wolf)
05/12/2022
206: Why Nearby Nature Is Just as Useful as the Great Outdoors (Dr. Kathleen Wolf)
Depending on your background of using nature and heading outside, you might think of spending time outdoors as something you go do instead of something that’s on the other side of your front door. And if you do make a habit of going into the nature that’s close to home, you might be tempted to think that the same-old, same-old isn’t as good as shaking it up and going somewhere news and different. Dr. Kathleen Wolf has made a career of researching human use of nature and its benefits as a research social scientist at the school of environmental and forest sciences at the University of Washington. She joined in Season 3 for an overview of how much time in nature is really useful (spoiler alert, it’s about 20 minutes a day!). And in this episode she talks about the benefits of nearby nature and how to get the most out of it. Connect with this episode Some of the good stuff: [3:54] What Kathy’s been doing since we last spoke [7:54] What is nearby nature? [10:31] What people think of as nature and why making generalizations isn’t a good idea [15:23] What nearby nature factors appeal to people? [19:44] The role of mindfulness in nearby nature [22:45] Is there any benefit to doing the same thing in nature over and over? [25:37] What it’s like to stare at the same tree for 70 minutes [27:33] What Amy has learned by doing the same thing over and over again [33:33] How people can create a great nearby nature experience no matter where they are [41:40] Why nature is like nutrition
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205 Outdoor Diary: Out Here Like a Moth to a Flame
05/10/2022
205 Outdoor Diary: Out Here Like a Moth to a Flame
It’s hard to ignore the song of the returning light and warming weather -- especially after a winter of darkness and cold. You aren’t just drawn to it. it’s like a magnet. In this Outdoor Diary episode Amy discusses a series of moments that happen over the creeping of spring that let her know that summer really is right around the corner, and the days of winter are in the past. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:45] How dark was it really? [:57] How you notice the darkness at all [1:25] Hint: it’s sneaky [1:42] The light is the ticket [2:03] The Day of Blinding Light [2:33] The warm and sweet day [3:10] The day when it’s only light [3:27] “Green Day” [4:00] Why this matter
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204: How Community Gardens Can Go Beyond Just Bringing Humans Outside (Rafael Woldeab)
05/05/2022
204: How Community Gardens Can Go Beyond Just Bringing Humans Outside (Rafael Woldeab)
Among the lifestyle challenges of living in a city are finding ways to create nature spaces near your home. While many city community green spaces are in the form of parks, everything from their upkeep to ease of access varies widely. And those spaces often aren’t designed with a focus on what the community needs or who lives and plays there, creating a block for use by all. In Washington, D.C. the organization City Blossoms is working to change that by creating garden spaces focused on youth involvement across the city. With two of their core values focused on diversity and equity, the organization partners with communities to create gardens that don’t just live in the neighborhood, but are centered around its needs. In this episode, Rafael Woldeab, City Blossom’s executive director, shares his organization’s mission, why it matters and how outdoor-lovers anywhere can use what City Blossoms has learned to connect them with nature right where they are. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [3:54] How Rafael Woldeab became someone who likes to go outside [5:05] Why the National Arboretum is a good example of nature inequity [10:19] What is City Blossoms? [18:31] Should we focus our resources on community gardens or curated garden spaces? [20:32] Why diversity and inclusion are central to gardening [26:23] Why do gardens matter? [33:51] What gardening can teach you about life [36:52] How anyone can experience the power of gardens [44:01] Rafael’s favorite outdoor gear [45:44] Rafael’s favorite outdoor moment
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203 Outdoor Diary: Heading Outside to Follow Your Curiosity
05/03/2022
203 Outdoor Diary: Heading Outside to Follow Your Curiosity
When was the last time you let curiosity be your guide as you headed outside? It can be easy to stuff that sense of wondering down and fall victim to box checking or making it to the destination. Curiosity, as cliche as it sounds, is what lets you enjoy the journey. In this Outdoor Diary Amy explores the simple way she’s been working to let curiosity drive her decisions outside -- and why you might want to do the same. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:45] The destruction of a windstorm leads to curiosity [1:21] What this meant near Amy [1:50] Getting dirty and into it [2:26] Adults are bad at this [2:46] What might happen if you’re fueled by wondering [3:13] Why Amy is thinking about this [3:54] Following curiosity to a debris field
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202: The Many Surprising Ways Going for a Walk Makes Perfect Outdoor Time (Annabel Streets)
04/28/2022
202: The Many Surprising Ways Going for a Walk Makes Perfect Outdoor Time (Annabel Streets)
Simple. Boring. Tired. You might think of just going for a regular walk as being something only people with nothing better to do make a part of their daily lives. But what if going for a walk isn’t only an easy way to spend time outside, but also one that’s so varied and beneficial that understanding the practice is a matter of scientific research? Author Annabel Streets was so startled by how much better she felt when she started going for walks that she researched the science behind what was happening and wrote a book about it. The result, 52 Ways to Walk, details out -- you guessed it -- 52 different ways to go for a walk and all of the research behind the benefits of each one. In this episode of Humans Outside, Annabel shares her least and most favorite ways to walk, her walking journey, and why any of it should matter to you. Connect with this episode: (affiliate link) Some of the good stuff: [2:59] Annabel Street’s favorite outdoor space [3:36] How Annabel became someone who likes to go outside and also go for walks [7:07] Why she started researching walking [8:14] Was it hard to find 52 ways? [8:52] Why people avoid walking [9:23] Her favorite new way to walk [12:19] Amy’s night experience [16:44] What people always think about walking [18:43] Her least favorite way to walk [19:39] Another perfect and underappreciated walking favorite [24:18] Ways to walk that didn’t make it into the book [30:38] Want to start walking? Here’s how. [35:06] Annabel’s favorite outdoor gear [36:49] Annabel’s favorite outdoor memory
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201: Outdoor Diary: Why Going Outside Makes Me Care About Nature, and What I Do About It
04/26/2022
201: Outdoor Diary: Why Going Outside Makes Me Care About Nature, and What I Do About It
Spending a lot of time outdoors? You might find that you’ve started caring about the environment more than you used to. While Amy was a kid, “environmentalism” was seen by her family as a bad thing. But today she knows loving nature means taking care of it. And so she’s started doing some simple tasks to put those feelings into action. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:50] What environmentalism was to Amy growing up [1:58] How she thinks about environmentalism now [2:14] Why spending time outside makes you care about the environment [3:00] The selfishness of loving the environment [3:22] What this has to do with “leave no trace” [3:45] What it has to do with buying used stuff [4:00] What it has to do with how you spend your time
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200: How Birding Can Connect You with Nearby Nature (Yamina Nater-Otero)
04/21/2022
200: How Birding Can Connect You with Nearby Nature (Yamina Nater-Otero)
No matter where you live you probably regularly see at least one kind of animal outside your window: birds. City or country, birds serve the ecosystem while providing humans with beauty, curiosity and entertainment. And if you spend any time noticing them, you are already participating in birding. Feeling curious and want to learn more about these feathered friends? That’s where today’s guest, Yamina Nater-Otero, comes in. As a program coordinator for Audubon New York based in New York City, she knows that you don’t need to live somewhere with big forests or nearby mountains to learn about and watch birds. And in her role as secretary for Amplify the Future, she knows you also don’t need to look a certain way or come from any special background to participate. Birding and all of nature is for everyone. In this episode of Humans Outside Yamina talks to us about how literally anyone can become a birder and the importance of birds in the use of nearby nature. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [3:04] Yamina Nater-Otero’s favorite outdoor space [4:11] How Yamina became someone who likes to go outside [5:39] How she got into birding [7:12] What is her favorite bird and, also, is it possible to have a favorite bird? [8:09] Amy’s favorite bird [11:46] How birding was an outdoor gateway [13:58] Misconceptions about birding [18:20] What is a birder? [22:49] Useful bonus items for birding [24:17] What kind of binoculars to buy if you want some [26:39] How to create a happy bird space [29:48] How to get started with birding [32:07] How birding might be a gateway activity [35:17] Birding can even make you love this place [38:10] Yamina’s favorite outdoor gear [39:24] Yamina’s favorite outdoor moment
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199: Outdoor Diary: Why Nature is Spiritual to Me
04/19/2022
199: Outdoor Diary: Why Nature is Spiritual to Me
As so many faith traditions celebrate holy days in the spring, Amy has been thinking about the spirituality of heading outside and the ways her faith background misses the boat on understanding and appreciating spirituality in nature. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:47] Is nature spiritual? [1:03] Why we rarely talk about spirituality on Humans Outside [2:05] The mistake of some faith traditions [3:27] Where the Bible talks about the spiritual connection of nature [3:58] A scripture connection to nature
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198: How to Maximize Your Outdoor Life While Creating a Minimalist Lifestyle (Meg Carney)
04/14/2022
198: How to Maximize Your Outdoor Life While Creating a Minimalist Lifestyle (Meg Carney)
If you spend time with nature you might start to feel like the great outdoors is a friend that you want to take extra care of. Even if you’ve been interested in conservation before, it might now seem more personal, more important. But spending time outside also means you’re using nature more than you used to. So how can you maximize your time in nature while also creating a minimalist lifestyle? Today’s guest, Meg Carney, offers help for environmentally-minded outdoor uses through her podcast Outdoor Minimalist and upcoming book of the same title. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [2:51] Meg Carney’s favorite outdoor space [4:01] How Meg learned to love to go outside [5:54] Why people get into conservation [7:15] What is “minimalism?” [11:45] Meg’s book and podcast [13:55] How to be a minimalist without also living in a tiny house [23:40] Does one person’s minimalism matter in the big picture? [30:00] How should the outdoor industry fit into this? [36:34] Simple steps you can take towards minimalism right now [40:00] Meg’s favorite outdoor gear [44:30] Meg’s favorite outdoor moment
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197 Outdoor Diary: Learning to Seek What You Need from Nature
04/12/2022
197 Outdoor Diary: Learning to Seek What You Need from Nature
The great thing about nature is that it will always have what you need. But how do you know what that is? In this episode, Amy talks about a little bit of her journey to understand how to get what she needs from heading outside. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:45] How seeking what I need got started [2:00] The unique thing about a relationship with nature [2:11] Why you’re not actually giving anything back so don’t say you are [2:25] Why nature is like a buffet [3:00] How people figure out what they need [3:40] What you really have to do [3:51] What I’ve been up to
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196: What to Do When You Love Going Outside So Much You Want to Make It Your Job (Jenna Celmer)
04/07/2022
196: What to Do When You Love Going Outside So Much You Want to Make It Your Job (Jenna Celmer)
If you love heading outside like it's your job, you might start looking for ways to make that literally true. If that’s you, you’re not alone -- it’s the inspiration behind the careers of many members of the outdoor industry. But how do you make the jump from one industry to another? And is making nature your job a good idea? Those are just some of the questions Jenna Celmer helps address through the outdoor industry job company Basecamp Outdoor and its Facebook-based networking group. In this episode Jenna talks through the why and how of making the jump into the outdoor industry. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [3:31] Jenna Celmer’s favorite outdoor space [4:01] How Jenna became someone who likes to go outside [7:05] What is Base Camp? [8:27] How Jenna got involved in Base Camp [12:51] Creating accountability in the outdoor industry [15:50] Why it’s easy for people in the outdoor industry to be taken advantage of [20:00] Why does going outside make you want to make it a job? [22:41] Is it easy to break into the outdoor industry? [24:41] How to break into the outdoor industry [27:17] What is networking? [30:44] What does Jenna tell people who want to get into the outdoor industry [34:04] What to expect in the outdoor industry [35:03] Tips for breaking into the outdoor industry
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195 Outdoor Diary: The Value of Getting Outside Without Self-Judgment
04/05/2022
195 Outdoor Diary: The Value of Getting Outside Without Self-Judgment
What are your expectations for yourself? For how you get outside? For what you find there? For what you do there? As the weathers changes into spring and summer, it’s easy to look outside and expect yourself to want to be there more or experience certain things when you get out there. But what would happen if you simply listened to yourself instead? In this Outdoor Diary episode, Amy talks about getting outside without self-judgment and how hard it is for her to do so. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:45] The deal with expectations [1:10] What the real problem is [1:29] What I can control [2:04] The balancing act [3:13] Start listening [4:37] Why spending 20 outside is perfect for this [5:22] What I’m working on [5:40] What I’m doing outside now
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194: How to Use 'First-Hand Food’ to Get Outside (Tamar Haspel)
03/31/2022
194: How to Use 'First-Hand Food’ to Get Outside (Tamar Haspel)
Spend enough time outside and you’ll start to notice all of the things growing around you -- and that some of those things look delicious. From greens to berries, to gardening, fishing and evening raising chickens, nature in your backyard can be full of food. For today’s guest Tamar Haspel, the possibilities of gathering or growing at least a portion of her own meals, an experience she calls “first-hand food,” became the spark for a personal challenge to eat at least one thing she sourced herself each day for a year. In this episode Tamar talks about first-hand food, how growing and sourcing it connected her with spending time outside and how you can get started on a first-hand food journey, too. Connect with this episode: (affiliate link) Some of the good stuff: [2:41] Tamar Haspel’s favorite outdoor space [3:47] How Tamar became someone who likes to go outside [6:14] Tracking her first-hand food challenge [8:10] Going from city-dweller to farmer [9:33] Best and worst first-hand food experiences [11:59] Why first-hand food is such an appealing idea [14:17] Don’t be afraid of foraging, Amy [17:54] How to balance first-hand food around the rest of your life [19:43] Amy is a first-hand mooch [25:07] How first-hand food has changed Tamar’s experience of nature [27:41] Has it changed how she feels about her place in nature? [31:23] Why first-hand food doesn't have to be extreme [32:52] Is there a middle ground and what is it? [33:50] How to get help doing it [38:32] Tips for getting started [39:34] Tamar’s favorite outdoor gear [40:33] Tamar’s favorite outdoor memory
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193 Outdoor Diary: Learning to Like the Weather You Hate
03/29/2022
193 Outdoor Diary: Learning to Like the Weather You Hate
We all have a type of weather we just really can’t stand. But what if you paused to find a reason to at least appreciate it? What would you find? In this Outdoor Diary episode, Amy talks about her recent experience learning to like the notorious wind in her part of Alaska. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:45] The wind as an Alaska origin story [2:32] The wind comes off the what? [3:39] Getting over it [4:08] Finding yourself in the wind and what to do about it [5:07] What you might notice
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192 Best Of: Why 20 Minutes Outside Really is Perfect (Dr. Kathleen Wolf)
03/24/2022
192 Best Of: Why 20 Minutes Outside Really is Perfect (Dr. Kathleen Wolf)
If you’ve picked up an outdoor habit or are tackling the Humans Outside 365 Challenge, you may have puzzled over how much time you want to spend outside every day. 15 minutes? 30 minutes? An hour? Or, like Amy, maybe you’re shooting for 20 consecutive minutes. When Amy picked that 20 minute goal it was based on a little research she had read about outdoor time “dosage,” combined with picking a time she thought she could actually do. Since that time a host of research has come out about just how much time outside each week is beneficial. In this “best of” episode, social scientist Dr. Kathleen Wolf dives into just how much time outside makes a difference and why. Dr. Wolf is joining us again for another episode in Season 5, so now is the perfect time to catch up on what she told us the first time she came on the show. Kathy holds a Phd in landscape architecture and environmental psychology from the University of Michigan and now does research at the University of Washington, where she’s spent more than two decades researching the way spending time outside impacts those who do so. That makes her the perfect person for us to talk to on Humans Outside. Here’s that original episode from 2021. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [1:49] Dr. Kathleen Wolf’s favorite outdoor space [4:16] Kathy’s journey to outdoor researcher [6:58] What the research says about nature making you feel better [9:24] What the research says about spending 20 minutes outside a day [12:26] Is Amy too worried about dosage or doing something different every day? [25:41] Does what you do outside matter? [28:18] Is some of Amy’s outside time worthless? [32:23] A Seatac airport secret - shhh don’t tell [34:56] How people can get the most of their outdoor time [39:07] Kathy’s favorite and most essential outdoor gear [43:11] Kathy’s favorite outdoor moment
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191 Outdoor Diary: What to Do When You’re Too Busy to Go Outside
03/22/2022
191 Outdoor Diary: What to Do When You’re Too Busy to Go Outside
It happens: sometimes life is just busy. So how do you make time to go outside when you’re busy? How do you keep it a priority? How do you fit it in? In this Outdoor Diary episode Amy talks about how she fits her outdoor time into every day no matter what, and gives you a few tips for how you can do so, too. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:47] Why it’s hard to get outside [1:45] Tips for making it happen [1:47] Write it down [2:37] Be specific [4:03] Remember your why
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190 Best Of: How He Finds His Unique Art and Creativity Outside -- and You Can, Too (Max Romey)
03/17/2022
190 Best Of: How He Finds His Unique Art and Creativity Outside -- and You Can, Too (Max Romey)
My favorite Humans Outside interviews are with people who teach me lessons so memorable that I find myself thinking about them months later when I’m outside. My interview with Max Romey was one of these, and why I’ve selected it as a “Best Of” episode. There is no stopping Max Romey -- not when he’s painting, not when he’s filming, not when he’s running and not when he’s doing all three at exactly the same time. What he creates is better than brilliant and it’s better than art: it’s inspiration. In this episode Max shares with us his why, his world and insights into how you can find for yourself the same life fire he feels and the push to great creative in nature. Good Stuff [2:11] Max Romey’s favorite outdoor space [3:00] How Max became a person who heads outside [5:45] How Max sees storytelling [7:08] Max describes his art [12:34] How Max found his place in the world [19:17] How nature unlocks creativity [27:02] How 2020 changed Max’s projects and what he’s working on now [31:25] Proof Amy is very bad at Alaska state history [38:40] How heading outside can help non-artists tap their creativity [44:17] Max’s favorite and most essential outdoor gear [47:41] Max’s favorite outdoor moment Connect Favorite outdoor gear: A jacket with a great chest pocket () and a travel size sketchpad and watercolor set. Most essential outdoor gear: A great running vest or backpack ( is still our favorite).
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189 Outdoor Diary: Here’s 2 Types of Help for Going Outside
03/15/2022
189 Outdoor Diary: Here’s 2 Types of Help for Going Outside
Just because nature is right outside your front door doesn’t mean everything you want to do in it must be done alone or leaning only on your own experience and knowledge. There’s a world of people out there who want to assist you if you just ask them. That can be a hard mindset for Amy, who likes to do things on her own. But asking for a little help has made her outdoor time much better than it was when she was trying to fly solo. In this episode she talks about two easy ways you can get help with heading outside. Some of the good stuff: [:45] Amy’s solo mindset [1:15] Why asking for help can make outdoor time better [2:15] The first kind of outdoor help [3:59] A second type of help [5:00] Help from the Humans Outside 365 Challenge Connect with this episode:
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188 Best Of: Here's the Scoop on Dog Racing and the Iditarod from Identical Twin Mushers (Kristy and Anna Berington)
03/10/2022
188 Best Of: Here's the Scoop on Dog Racing and the Iditarod from Identical Twin Mushers (Kristy and Anna Berington)
Even if you know next to nothing about Alaska, you’ve probably still heard of the annual Iditarod sled dog race, where teams of mushers travel with their dogs hundreds of miles across frozen alaska, racing to the remote town of Nome. The race kicks off the first weekend of March with a festival known as Fur Rendezvous or Fur Rondy. Mushing is more than a sport-- it’s a lifestyle. And it puts those racing it into extremely isolated, middle of nowhere, survival situations as they make their way from Willow to Nome. So I wanted to know what that’s like, and how it connects the musher to nature. And to learn that, I brought on the podcast Kristy and Anna Berington, identical twin Iditarod racers. If you’re listening to this in early March when I’m releasing it, Kristy and Anna are both out there racing their individual dog teams as you’re hearing this. And now you can hear our conversation from 2021 for a little bit of insight into what makes dog racing special, as well as the nuts and bolts of how it works. Kristy and Anna Berington’s kennel, Good stuff: [2:36] Kristy and Anna Berington’s favorite outdoor space [6:40] What is dog racing? [8:09] All about sled dogs [10:12] Is mushing cruel to dogs? [16:41] What do sled dogs eat? [19:17] What is the iditarod? [22:24] What are the costs of dog racing?” [24:38] How dog racing connects them with nature [30:15] About their relationship with the dogs [33:14] Can you replicate the experience of dog racing in another way? [35:58] How to have the same experience with nature [37:03] Kristy and Anna’s favorite and most essential outdoor gear [41:39] Their favorite outdoor moment
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187 Outdoor Diary: You Don’t Actually Have to Go All In
03/08/2022
187 Outdoor Diary: You Don’t Actually Have to Go All In
If you’ve been contemplating an outdoor habit, you may have fallen into a trap Amy constantly finds herself in: thinking you have to go all in. So what’s the real deal? In this episode of Amy’s Outdoor Diary, she talks about her own “all in” habit and how it keeps her from trying new things. Some of the good stuff: [:45] What does “all in” mean to Amy? [1:25] What all in looks like in Amy’s life [2:00] Why thinking about going all in might stop you from trying [2:15] The dangers of this mindset for Amy [2:41] Lessons from a recent interview [4:20] Don’t let this thinking keep you from doing this Connect with this episode: (affiliate link)
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186: Why Understanding Native American Astronomy Can Help You Go Outside (Carl Gawboy)
03/03/2022
186: Why Understanding Native American Astronomy Can Help You Go Outside (Carl Gawboy)
Note: Human error got the best of me, and despite actually discussing with Carl during our interview (before recording) the difference between astrology and astronomy, I proceeded to use the wrong term in the title of this podcast episode and throughout the post and podcast notes. Carl Gawboy is an astronomer. The below has been corrected. Thank you for understanding! Modern American culture uses Greek mythology to refer to stars and constellations in the night sky. But a rich tradition of Natvie American astronomy and indigenous star stories is out there, too, waiting for us to learn it. Better yet? Native American astronomy and 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 astronomy, 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 lifetime of work, study and cultural understanding with us.
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185 Outdoor Diary: When You Don’t Want to Go Outside? That’s When You Should
03/01/2022
185 Outdoor Diary: When You Don’t Want to Go Outside? That’s When You Should
Bad attitudes and not feeling like doing something are just a part of life. So is facing conditions or circumstances that aren’t fun or pleasant. And when it comes to those things being a part of your outdoor habit? There is a reason you should move into them head-on and do the thing anyway. Amy’s been thinking about two reasons that’s true as she battles through some of her own bad attitude feelings, and talks about them in this episode of Humans Outside. Connect with this episode: Some of the good stuff: [:45] A Spring-ish confession [1:20] What “over it” means right now [2:30] Why this is when you need to be out there [2:50] The muscle you build when you get out there [3:40] The outside time you’ll absolutely regret
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184 Outdoor Diary: Finding Ways to Power Through Dragging Seasons
02/22/2022
184 Outdoor Diary: Finding Ways to Power Through Dragging Seasons
How’s the end of winter going for you? Across the northern hemisphere hints of spring are popping up, with daffodils and flowers pushing through the ground. That’s even true in Alaska, where the longer daylight and temperatures closer to 30 than to 10 are warming things up and offering glimmers of hope, even if they do come between arctic blasts and falling snow. In this Outdoor Diary episode Amy walks through the power of those hints and why it’s important to seize them when it comes. Connect with this episode:
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183: How to Make Van Life a Part of Normal Outdoor Life (Kristen Bor)
02/17/2022
183: How to Make Van Life a Part of Normal Outdoor Life (Kristen Bor)
“Van life.” Sounds like something fancy for someone else, right? Someone who doesn’t have a job, or commitments, or a family, or stability, or … or… or. Wrong! Using a camping van or having longterm adventures doesn't have to just be for other people. It can be something normal people just like you use to get closer to nature near and far. This week’s guest Kristen Bor knows that’s true because she’s lived all version of van life as part of her work on her website Bearfoot Theory. On this episode of Humans Outside, Kristen shares with us her best tips for making van life a part of your regular outdoor adventures. Connect with this episode: Visit Bearfoot Theory: Visit Open Roads Fest: Follow Bearfoot Theory on Instagram: Follow Bearfoot Theory on Facebook: Join the Humans Outside Challenge: Follow Humans Outside on Instagram: Follow Humans Outside on Facebook:
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182 Outdoor Diary: Dating In Nature and Why It Can Be Great but Also Terrible
02/15/2022
182 Outdoor Diary: Dating In Nature and Why It Can Be Great but Also Terrible
What happens when you take your date day outside? As Amy knows all too well, it can go horribly wrong or be really great. The difference? Communication. In this Outdoor Diary episode Amy talks about two very different ski dates, and why one worked but the other failed spectacularly. Connect with this episode:
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181: How to Use Nature to Heal from Heartbreak (Florence Williams)
02/10/2022
181: How to Use Nature to Heal from Heartbreak (Florence Williams)
If you’ve ever experienced a broken heart, you know how dramatically it can impact all aspects of your life. The ending of a relationship or loss of a loved one can be a traumatic, emotional rollercoaster than can last years. And in the midst of it you’ll likely find yourself wondering exactly how to make the pain stop and when it will stop hurting. is both the subject and title of a new book by journalist Florence Williams. You might remember Florence from her work on one of her previous books, . She joined us to talk about the book in a . In her (and the ) Florence pairs her own experience with the kind of research she’s known for, and in the process lays out a map for using nature to heal from a broken heart. In this episode Florence talks about her experience healing from heartbreak by heading outside and gives us our own personal how-to on doing so in our lives, too. Connect with this episode: (affiliate link)
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