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 the Humans Outside podcast, where we explore life in the great outdoors from our perch in Alaska, all while hearing from fascinating outdoor-minded guests.
When a podcast guest for the upcoming Humans Outside Season 4 suggested a new outdoor tradition she has with her kids, Amy knew she had to do it. Now that it’s in the bag, she’s got one thought on how to make it better: focus.
[:27] A brilliant idea
[1:47] A new tradition
[2:30] Visiting Seward with David
[3:21] Camping with Huck
[4:00] Lessons for next time
We talk about all of the benefits of heading outside and the things you can learn there, but what can it teach you about your relationships?
In this episode Amy ponders the surprising lesson conquering tough things outside has given her about her marriage to her husband, Luke.
[:26] Letting your brain be bored
[1:12] The stories we tell ourselves
[2:47] Amy and Luke
[5:10] How to connect with Humans Outside
Have you ever stopped to think about the stories you tell yourself about who you are in the world — or about how they change how you approach time in nature?
Amy’s been thinking about how her perception of herself as “not that outdoorsy” has hindered her ability to enjoy nature as much as she could be. Hear about her journey to this point and why confronting these internal narratives matters.
[:30] A fact about Amy you might not believe
[:40] What’s been on her mind
[1:30] The story of who she used to be
[2:43] Luke’s attempts to get Amy outside (not good)
[3:15] What got us outside
[4:15] What happens when you like something too much
[5:22] Humans Outside’s original tagline
[5:32] Why Amy has trouble seeing herself as outdoorsy
[5:45] Why this matters
After marking her 1,400th day of spending at least 20 consecutive minutes outside, Amy is thinking about the gifts of nature and how it has brought her where she is today. When she hit 1,300 days outside she talked about what it’s taught her. In this episode she reflects on the gift of a nature-inspired life perspective.
[:25] What if?
[1:25] 1400 days outside
[2:38] On the cusp of something amazing
[6:12] Where to find Humans Outside
We talk a lot about getting outside to improve our lives, but what about using it to make our relationships better? Did you know heading outside is a great way to create so-called “sacred spaces” with people in your life?
In this episode Amy talks about heading into nature to create sacred spaces with her husband, Luke, over a grown-ups-only outdoor summer adventure.
[:55] Sacred spaces
[1:45] How the outdoors helps build sacred spaces
[3:00] How Amy and Luke create sacred spaces
[4:41] Working through challenges together
[5:51] Worth it
Summer and sunshine are great until you get so excited about them that you lose the focus on the peace heading into nature gives you. It’s so easy to just go, go and go some more.
In this Outdoor Diary Amy talks about the push and pull of making the most of summer and wanting to use it for the peace and restoration it gives her. She also talks about how you can get an outdoor inspiration summer printable.
[:30] Finding balance
[:57] Summer in Alaska
[2:00] Amy’s summer pitfall
[2:55] Prioritizing health over hype
[4:00] A freebie!
We know so much about success is determined by having – or not having – a good attitude. So why is it so hard to learn?
In this episode Amy talks about a few recent challenges as well as details on their first family camping trip in the Vanimal.
[:28] This one may sound a bit different…
[:55] Not the most ideal weather
[2:30] A run with a new friend
[4:07] What’s coming up for Humans Outside
We spend a lot of time talking about getting the most from nature as humans outside. But we share this big, wide world with a whole host of living things. So this episode is dedicated to our interactions with animals, including the time Luke almost got kidnapped by a sloth. Instead of just interviewing one person about interacting with animals in nature — although we should definitely do that later — we built this episode with a collection of stories shared from both listeners and previous podcast guests.
In this episode you’ll hear stories from: Dwight Rabe, Carol Seppilu (episode 58), Melinda Kilian, Rebekah Sanderlin (episode 40), Darcy Gaechter (episode 36), Sarah Schulting Kranz (episode 103) and Luke Bushatz.
[2:05] That time Dwight Rabe met a kangaroo and an animal we don’t really want to talk about
[7:46] When Carol Seppilu meets a musk ox
[13:08] Melinda Killian and the great trash panda caper
[17:06] Dogs are wild animals, too — especially Rebekah Sanderlin’s dog Hank
[25:12] Darcy Gaechter and the rare farting river dolphins
[29:48] Sarah Schulting Kranz meets at butterfly at just the right time
[36:54] The time Luke Bushatz almost got kidnapped by a sloth (sort of)
How do you tackle an outdoor activity or sport that scares you? If you’re Amy, you probably avoid it until confronted with the truth that you are not practicing what you preach. And that’s why she’ll be taking this sport on the road – literally – all summer long as she works to overcome her fear.
Hear about that fear and how you can mark Memorial Day in a meaningful way in this episode of the Humans Outside weekly Outdoor Diary.
[:26] Amy’s fear
[:48] Amy’s cycling experience
[2:54] Practice what you preach, Amy!
[4:07] How Amy got outside this week
[4:53] wear blue: run to remember
Register for our newsletter to win a decal: https://humansoutside.com/newsletter Here’s an edited transcript of this installment of Amy’s Outdoor Diary. Listen to the episode on
Register for our newsletter to win a decal: https://humansoutside.com/newsletter Here’s an edited transcript of this installment of Amy’s Outdoor Diary. Listen to the episode on
Register for our newsletter to win a decal: https://humansoutside.com/newsletter Would you believe me if I told you I wasn’t always someone who likes to go