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.
How do you insert heading into nature into your holiday traditions? That’s the question Amy tackled as her family spent their second Thanksgiving in a row enjoying an off-the-grid option that took just enough extra effort to seem like a terrible idea. Hear how it turned out in this Outdoor Diary episode.
[:27] Opting outside
[1:30] A Bushatz Thanksgiving
[3:36] The extra effort is worth it
[4:42] Humans Outside Challenge kits
[5:25] Where to find Humans Outside
Are you ready for the Humans Outside 365 Challenge? Amy has exciting news about a new challenge kit to help you along the way. Ready to head outside? Listen to this episode to hear what you need to know.
[1:49] All about the Humans Outside 365 Challenge kits
[2:32] What’s in each of the kits
[3:51] The Ground Level kit
[4:13] The Mountain Level kit
[5:04] The Sky Level kit
[6:22] Pricing info
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The weather may have taken an unusual turn in Alaska, but that isn’t stopping Amy from getting in her 20 minutes outside every single day. But just because she makes it happen doesn’t mean it’s easy (or that she always likes it).
Tune in to this week’s installment of Amy’s Outdoor Diary here on Humans Outside to find out just how cold it really is in Alaska right now, and to hear her top tips on how to make yourself get outside, even when the warmth indoors seems to be calling your name.
[:27] Why Amy’s podcasting closet seems extra cozy this week
[1:20] Get OK with it, or get off the bus
[2:12] Amy’s four tips for getting outside when it’s cold
[4:48] Where to find Humans Outside
If you’re trying to establish or maintain an outdoor habit around kids, big or little, you know the struggle is real. And it’s especially difficult when the weather starts to get cooler or more challenging. How do you motivate kids into getting out into nature when they (and likely you, too) think staying inside sounds warmer and easier? And how the heck do you dress everyone?
Sara McCarty – mom, attorney and outdoor lover – knows a thing or two about getting kids outside. She’s gotten so good at it that she created a website and a podcast on the subject, Run Wild My Child, so she can share her tips and tricks with all of us. And we’re really lucky that she joined us on Humans Outside to share those tips here, too.
Some of the good stuff:
[2:51] Sara McCarty’s favorite outdoor space
[4:03] How Sara became a person who likes to go outside
[7:26] Who are we really going outside for?
[8:44] How Run Wild My Child got started
[13:19] Advice for parents who are having a hard time getting outside
[18:15] Helping kids work through outdoor hesitancy
[32:14] Is there a secret to keeping track of kids’ gear?
[38:14] Kid gear advice for specific weather
[45:19] Most essential and favorite outdoor gear
[48:23] Sarah’s favorite outdoor moment
It can be difficult to hear what your body and soul need when life gets really hectic or the long days stack up. Building that outdoor habit and heading outside daily have helped Amy and her family listen to their own needs and know what to do about them. Hear what happened in this episode of the Humans Outside Outdoor Diary.
[:27] Can we stay out a little longer?
[2:30] Take it outside
[3:16] What we need from nature
[4:22] Where to find Humans Outside
You know how we feel about veterans using nature to heal from the wounds of war. After all, helping Luke deal with the hidden injuries from service was what sent us packing for Alaska to start with. Spending time outside, study after study demonstrates, helps brains heal from trauma.
Veterans Day is a day set aside for the U.S. to honor its living veterans. It also makes a great time to talk about veteran-specific issues, like heading into nature to find the assistance you need. In this episode of Humans Outside we talk with Lornett Vestal, who leads programming for the Sierra Club’s military outdoors effort.
[2:44] Lornett Vestal’s favorite outdoor space
[4:03] How Lornett became someone who likes to go outside
[11:05] What we decided to call members of the Space Force (sorry, guys)
[11:28] The problem with military transition
[15:54] Why going outside is great for veterans
[22:42] What he’s seen from veterans outside
[27:12] Why doing something as a group or unit is important
[31:46] Do we lean on medication too much?
[38:18] Do we overcomplicated heading outside?
[47:32] How to get involved with the Sierra Club’s Military Outdoors
[50:06] Lornett’s favorite outdoor gear
[51:36] Lornett’s favorite outdoor moment
As the season changes from fall to winter, Amy and her family are tapping into seasonal activities — and remembering that they’re still very bad at them. In this episode of the Outdoor Diary, Amy ponders what happens when you hit a sport that isn’t your comfort zone, and shares advice from her sons, Huck and Dave, on how to stay motivated and finish what you started.
[:28] A weird time of year in Alaska
[1:05] Amy’s evolving opinions on skiing
[3:26] A Bushatz skiing adventure
[5:45] Advice on motivation from Dave and Huck
[6:25] Where to find Humans Outside
It’s a familiar feeling for many of us over the winter months: the light fades, the darker days settle in and your mood dips. It can feel hard to get outside and hard to do really anything. Motivating yourself off the couch becomes an even bigger challenge than normal.
But there’s steps you can take to counter those feelings. In this episode Dr. Michael Terman, an expert in treating seasonal depression with light therapy, shares his best tips and findings for getting through the winter months with your mood and sanity intact.
Some of the good stuff:
[3:35] Dr. Michael Terman’s favorite outdoor space
[5:23] How he got into the study of light therapy and circadian rhythm
[6:41] What his research found
[10:52] What light has to do with depression
[16:28] Where is it a problem?
[19:15] Does this have to be a problem year after year?
[26:33] What does going outside have to do with it?
[34:09] What is a light box and how to find one
[44:44] Dr. Terman’s favorite outdoor moment
You might find yourself traveling again for work or otherwise after many, many months of staying home. You’ve gotten into a home-focused routine, and that includes your outside time. How do you keep your nature habit going when you hit the road?
That’s something Amy battled this week as she took her first work trip in a long time. In this Outdoor Diary she talks about getting still making time for heading into nature anyway.
[:26] Amy’s travels
[2:13] Getting outside on travel days
[3:19] Heading outside between meetings
[3:57] Being intentional
[5:04] Where to find Humans Outside
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Hey it’s Amy Bushatz with the Humans Outside podcast and this week I’ve got a special insider view for you on what I think is
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