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.
Curious about dog mushing? You’re in good company. Dog racing, known as mushing, is one of the many sports that draws tourists and lures enthusiasts to live in Alaska. But not everyone who mushes is a pro-racer tackling the Iditarod or keeping a huge yard of sled dogs. The north and Alaska are full of amateur racers who take on the sport because they both love dogs and the time in nature running a sled and dog teams brings.
In this episode Sarah Varland, an author, high school English teacher and amateur musher gives us the inside scoop on dog mushing, why she loves it and how it connects her to the world. Listen now.
[3:49] Sarah Varland’s favorite outdoor space
[4:53] How Sarah became someone who likes to go outside
[6:59] About Sarah’s writing and how going outside impacts it
[9:26] The basics of dog mushing and dog racing
[12:28] How Sarah got into dog racing
[14:36] What is mushing like?
[17:11] Is there “flow” when mushing?
[19:04] Top secret musher math
[23:05] What do sled dogs actually look like?
[24:41] What happens when a dog doesn’t want to work or pull?
[26:41] Is mushing and dog racing cruel to the dogs?
[29:22] What does dog racing cost?
[30:35] What dog mushing teaches Sarah about herself
[35:45] What dog mushing teaches Sarah about her faith?
[39:03] How to learn more about mushing if you’re interested or want to try it
[41:08] Sarah’s favorite outdoor moment
I can hardly believe it: I am hitting 2,000 days in a row of my outdoor habit. That’s 2,000 days of spending at least 20 consecutive minutes outside every single day, no matter the weather.
So what have I learned over 2,000 days? Unlike my 1,000 day mark, my 2,000th day is in the dead of winter. That means my three 2,000th day lessons are winter lessons — and they look a little different than the lessons found during the good summer weather.
[:35] Celebrating 2,000 days of my outdoor habit
[:48] It wasn’t exactly the goal
[1:06] This isn’t at all like my 1,000th day outside
[1:33] The difference between the things you learn
[2:00] What the lessons of other anniversaries show — and how this is different
[2:30] Lesson one: Knowing I can do hard things
[3:18] Lesson two: “I live in abundance”
[4:06] Lesson three: knowing the value of taking it slow
[5:07] How I’m marking 2,000 days outside
What would happen if you made room each week for one big adventure and one little adventure?
It’s a pretty simple concept: each week, purposefully do one small out of the ordinary, a “little adventure,” and one thing bigger that might take up to several hours, a “big adventure.” They don’t have to be outside. But they certainly can be.
In this episode Amy explains how she’s taking on the challenge, presented in Laura Vanderkam’s recent book Tranquility by Tuesday, how she’s tackling it, a unique spin she’s trying to put on it and the challenges and benefits of doing so. Listen now.
[:45] A little bit about Tranquility by Tuesday
[1:15] All about one big adventure, one little adventure
[2:10] Why I like this idea
[2:52] How this concept looks for me
[3:50] An expanded adventure idea
[4:40] A quick caveat about this
[4:55] My recent really big adventure
[6:30] A snowboard revelation
When was the last time you experienced a sense of awe in nature? Feeling awe is something many outdoor users chase. But can you even define the experience of awe? Or is it one of things where you just know it when you see it? Where can you best find it? And what are the benefits of spending time outside purposefully chasing the feeling?
Professor Dr. Dacher Keltner joins us in this episode to tackle those questions and more. Leaning on research and advice included in his new book “Awe: the new science of wonder and how it can transform your life,” Dacher guides us into an understanding of the what, how and why of chasing awe outside. Listen now.
Connect with this episode:
Read “Awe: the new science of wonder and how it can transform your life” (affiliate link)
Visit Dr. Dacher Keltner’s website
Learn about the Greater Good Science Center
Join the Humans Outside Challenge
Follow Humans Outside on Instagram
Follow Humans Outside on Facebook
Some of the good stuff:
[2:52] Dacher Keltner’s favorite outdoor space
[3:35] How Dacher became someone who likes to go outside
[6:47] Can we define awe?
[9:12] How to experience awe in ways that are not specific to going outside
[11:52] How the “eight wonders of life” are all tied to nature anyway
[13:34] Do humans have a need for wild awe?
[15:36] Why don’t we talk about the importance of awe?
[20:01] Can you create an awe habit?
[21:26] Is there such a thing as an awe muscle?
[23:34] What does noticing have to do with it?
[26:28] The difference between “awe” and “wonder”
[28:04] Tips for finding and keeping an awe habit
[30:18] Dacher’s favorite moment of outdoor awe
[2:52] Dacher Keltner’s favorite outdoor space
[3:35] How Dacher became someone who likes to go outside
[6:47] Can we define awe?
[9:12] How to experience awe in ways that are not specific to going outside
[11:52] How the “eight wonders of life” are all tied to nature anyway
[13:34] Do humans have a need for wild awe?
[15:36] Why don’t we talk about the importance of awe?
[20:01] Can you create an awe habit?
[21:26] Is there such a thing as an awe muscle?
[23:34] What does noticing have to do with it?
[26:28] The difference between “awe” and “wonder”
[28:04] Tips for finding and keeping an awe habit
[30:18] Dacher’s favorite moment of outdoor awe
It’s been three years since I launched the Humans Outside podcast in the early winter of 2020. It’s been an incredible ride of learning, growth and outdoor adventures for me as I’ve connected with 101 Humans Outside guests and recorded over 270 episodes. But what were some of the ones that have stuck with me the most?
In this episode I talk about my favorite takeaways from three years of Humans Outside, plus share how you can enter a giveaway I’m hosting to celebrate the Humans Outside birthday. Listen now!
[:50] What podcasting is to me
[1:17] What three years of this podcast means by the numbers
[1:46] What podcasting here means to me
[2:23] A few highlights of the interviews I’ve loved
[7:20] Info about the giveaway
Enter the Humans Outside birthday giveaway
Episode 18: How Nature Can Help Your Marriage (Corie Weathers)
Episode 26: Heading Outdoors to Conquer Challenges Indoors (Nailah Blades Wylie)
Episode 54: How to Use Outdoors as Therapy
Episode 83: Here’s Exactly How to Build an Outdoor Habit (Sarah Hays Coomer)
Episode 99: How Heading Outside Makes Your Brain More Creative (Cordele Glass)
Episode 171: How to Create an Outdoor Habit that Works for You (Sarah Hays Coomer)
Episode 179: How to ‘Rewild’ Yourself Even If You Live in a City (Claire Dunn)
Episode 208: Simple and Easy Ways to ‘Rewild’ Your Life by Going Outside (Micah Mortali)
Episode 264: How to Create a Habit That Gives You What You Need (Sarah Hays Coomer)
Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. The following is an edited transcript of this episode of Humans
Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. The following is an edited transcript of this episode of Humans
Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. The following is an edited transcript of this episode of Humans