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.
If the annoying perky people in the world are right and your perspective really does determine your reality, then there’s one tried and true way to make heading outside in less than great circumstances — weather, schedule, whatever — just a tiny bit better.
I’ve tested what it’s like to go out there with a bad attitude.
So, what happens when I take a different track?
And what happens if I do when things are really, really hard? I’m talking -15 degrees, blowing, very frosty, don’t want to be there, have other stuff to do hard?
Let’s find out.
[:35] A reality check
[1:03] What happens when you have a bad one
[1:45] I know this because I’ve tested it
[2:20] A little hunting for the good and what I’ve found
[2:58] A smart aleck saying that’s true
[3:59] Check in on me on this
Call it a gift of my daily outdoor habit: I am surprised to be grateful for some outdoor stuff that old me would’ve considered either not a big deal or downright bad.
And yet here I am, including it on a gratitude list? Life is weird.
Gratitude is a healing practice, and when it comes to challenging seasons (like winter … or any bad weather … or hard personal life stuff …) taking time to name it and claim it can be a powerful practice.
And so here we are, listing it out.
[:35] Back when I first started all of this
[1:12] I am surprised by what I am grateful for, honestly
[1:53] Here’s a list of crazy things, including birds — which, frankly, is weird
[4:53] Here’s the thing I’m still not grateful for, sorry
There’s pushing yourself to chase big goals outside because it’s something you want to do — and then there’s doing it because someone else can’t.
When Laura Carney found her dad’s unfinished bucket list years after his tragic death, she knew completing it wasn’t just a fun sounding idea — it was something she absolutely had to do. And since many of the list items were outdoor activities, that meant digging deep to find the courage to step outside her comfort zone and tackle a series of crazy. Impossible-sounding tasks.
What she learned on her journey to finishing his list for him goes beyond just self-discovery or liking new hobbies. The courage and insight she found through her time outside is fueling her life today — and can inspire you to chase big dreams, too.
Don’t miss this excellent and inspiring episode with Laura. Listen now.
[3:27] Laura Carney’s favorite outdoor space
[5:33] Who Laura became someone who likes to go outside
[6:52] A little about Laura’s dad and his list
[10:39] What is a “thin place?”
[15:33] Getting outside for list items
[17:52] How working on the list changed her relationship with herself
[21:34] How the list project changed her relationship with her husband
[25:51] Some really good lessons from the list work
[28:39] The big life lessons from the list
[30:19] The value of learning to laugh at yourself
[38:40] Making her own list and the rules that don’t exist
[42:54] Laura’s favorite outdoor moment
If the weather outside is frightful or simply not delightful, how do you make yourself go outside anyway? What’s the trick for getting past the discomfort and I-don’t-want-to so you can experience what nature has to offer even in bad weather?
I lean on two tools to help me — and you can lean on them, too. Learn how in this episode. Listen now.
[:35] Yes, it really is hard out there
[2:00] So how do we make ourselves go out?
[2:57] Here are two tools
[3:29] First tool: gear
[4:02] Second tool: a plan
We know heading outside helps us all sort through the junk of life — a tough day, actual trauma, relationships, whatever. And veterans know spending time in nature also has special power over the wounds of military service.
For Vedia Barnett, a disabled Black Air Force veteran and founder of the nonprofit organization Black Vets Outdoors, spending time outside has extra power. She’s seen it work to heal the double trauma carried by those who carry both the burden of military service and the weight of racism. In this episode she talks about:
Join us as we explore the transformative impact of nature on veterans, the incredible resilience and camaraderie found within veteran-led groups like Vedia’s — and how you can make an impact for them, too.
[3:33] Vedia Barnett’s favorite outdoor space
[4:01] Vedia’s outdoor story
[4:40] About Vedia’s military service
[6:18] Yes, to join the military, she really did have to sign over custody of her son
[9:08] Vedia’s work with veterans
[11:06] How does going outside help veterans?
[14:06] Why a sense of belonging matters outside
[16:44] Do military veterans experience healing outdoors differently from other people?
[20:03] All about Black Vets Outdoors
[22:38] Why outdoor affinity groups are important
[25:00] Simply finding outdoor joy
[29:02] How spending time outside impacts the Black veteran community, specifically
[32:00] The impact of historic trauma
[35:18] How Black vets can access the group and how allies can help
[43:12] Vedia’s favorite outdoor moment
Visit Black Vets Outdoors
Connect with Vedia Barnett on LinkedIn
Join the Humans Outside Challenge
Follow Humans Outside on Instagram
Follow Humans Outside on Facebook
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