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.
One of the things that can hold people — adults, kids, families and otherwise — back from purposefully spending time outside is the idea that “nature” looks like something other than what is right outside their front door. If it doesn’t look like a National Park, does it really count as “nature?”
The truth, of course, is that “nature” is whatever is in the fresh air right outside your front door. But can you help yourself and your family see, appreciate and enjoy that, especially when you think parts of it — bugs, weather, etc. — are things you really don’t like?
Today’s guest Zenovia Stephens has made a mission of helping kids and families get outside near her home in Alabama. Founder of the nonprofit Black Kids Adventures, Zenovia and her family, known as the Black Adventure Crew, work to help Black families get outside while working to increase representation in the outdoor community.
[3:19] Zenovia Stephen’s favorite outdoor space
[4:37] How Zenovia became someone who likes to go outside
[8:11] How Black Adventure Crew and Black Kids Adventures got started
[9:17] Common misconceptions about heading outside
[11:10] Do people think nature has to be something that it isn’t?
[15:50] How she got to liking nearby nature
[19:23] How do you create a mindset to welcome discomfort?
[29:00] The trick of using our kids to get us outside
[40:30] How people can connect with Black Kids Adventures
Follow Black Adventure Crew on Instagram and Facebook
Follow Black Kids Adventures on Instagram and Facebook
Outside is outside, but sometimes it’s more nature-rich than others. Does that matter? In this episode of the Humans Outside Outdoor Diary Amy contemplates where her family just spent a week of vacation, and why its decided lack of nature-scapes was totally fine.
[:26] Is all outside time created equally?
[1:29] Amy’s actual vacation
[3:07] Different types of nature
[4:45] Taking nature as we find it
[5:29] Where to find Humans Outside
When we talk about going outside every day, we usually mean in the daytime. But what if heading outside after dark for a little stargazing is just the boost your outdoor habit needs?
Vicky Derksen, host of the Night Sky Tourist podcast and a stargazing enthusiast joined us for this episode to talk about something almost completely new to Amy: stargazing. With tips and tricks for how to get into the hobby, this really informative episode is the perfect gateway to helping would-be starwatches step outside at night a little night sky viewing.
[2:39] Vicky Derksen’s favorite outdoor space
[3:53] How Vicky became someone who likes to go outside
[5:20] What is “light pollution?”
[8:38] How to stargaze close to home
[12:16] What you’re skipping by only going outside during the day
[18:18] What’s the best way to learn the stars?
[23:03] How the stars move
[24:03] Why people don’t want to go out after dark
[26:46] What to wear for stargazing
[30:16] What are “star stories” and why are they important?
[34:30] What are the best ways to learn local star stories?
[37:18] How to get into stargazing
[39:31] Vicky’s favorite and most essential outdoor gear
[41:31] Vicky’s favorite outdoor moment
It’s easy to head outside when the weather is great. It’s even easy to plan to be outside in future bad weather from a seat on a sunny, warm day. But what do you do when the weather rolls in and, suddenly, you’re faced with having to actually do it? A recent two-day wind storm with gusts up to 75 mph had Amy thinking about this very thing. So how do you make yourself go outside in bad weather? Here’s what she did.
[:26] Things seem easier when the sun is shining
[1:30] Amy’s aversion to wind
[2:48] An unprecedented wind and heading outside anyway
[4:06] Make a plan
[6:32] Where to find Humans Outside
It’s easy to know you want to make a change or even what kind of change you want to make. But how can you create a habit that actually works for you? How do you know the right actions to take to make that habit sustainable long term?
The answer might just be found in mindfulness and knowing enough about who you are and what you need. That understanding can establish a habit that works for you, says our guest, Sarah Hays Coomer.
Sarah is Humans Outside’s unofficial very own habit expert who authored the book The Habit Trip, A Fill-in-the Blank Journey to a Life on Purpose. She’s also a Mayo Clinic and nationally board certified wellness coach, author of the Forbes column Hey, Health Coach and a personal trainer.
[3:39] Sarah Hays Coomer’s favorite outdoor space
[4:50] How Sarah became someone who likes to go outside
[8:45] How to create a new habit
[14:41] Examining yourself to understand what you need
[19:14] What, exactly, is mindfulness?
[22:21] What mindfulness has to do with creating a new habit
[24:57] Can you create a new habit without mindfulness?
[28:35] The important difference between rules and power-over
[34:08] How mindfulness can impact a non-mindful habit
[40:00] Sarah’s favorite and most essential outdoor gear
[43:44] Sarah’s favorite outdoor moment
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, Google Podcasts, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. The following is an edited transcript of this episode
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