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.
The modern world is designed to make us continually chase more, more, more — more stuff, more entertainment, more ease. But what if by realizing the triggers that feed into that more-ness you could not just break the cycle, but use it to make your life better, more fulfilling and have more time to do what you like, such as getting outside?
The pattern that feeds into the more-ness is the subject of Michael Easter’s new book “Scarcity Brain.” After joining us in 2021 to talk about his book “The Comfort Crises,” he’s back to help us learn how to break out of the scarcity loop and instead move into a pattern of abundance.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Listen now!
[3:46] Michael Easter’s favorite outdoor space
[5:12] How Michael became someone who likes to go outside
[7:16] What is scarcity brain?
[11:53] Examples of scarcity loop in real life
[18:35] Shame and the scarcity loop
[20:37] What does an abundance loop?
[22:48] How to break the scarcity loop
[25:34] Why outside is great for this
[28:01] Ways Michael chooses abundance
[30:31] How it felt getting this secret out
[32:35] The connection between scarcity brain and getting uncomfortable
[36:30] Michael’s favorite outdoor moment
You’ve been wondering what happened on the Grand Canyon trail that made it so hard to talk about.
Now, after sitting with the story for more than a week, I’m ready to talk about it. Here’s what went wrong, what I wish I had done differently beforehand and how we can all avoid being part of what causes this kind of problem in the future.
Spoiler alert: honesty is the best policy — with yourself and with others.
Hear the whole story — or at least my side of it. Listen now.
[:35] I wish this story was about something different
[1:50] Here’s what you need to know about the canyon hike
[3:10] Here’s what training is for
[4:21] How our hike was set-up — and what I should’ve known in advance
[7:35] Here’s where things started getting very dangerous
[9:26] Finished at last
[9:40] The aftermath
[10:38] Two important lessons here
What happens when you mix a real, no kidding fear of going outside, a comedian, sharp wit and a no holds barred look at what’s really going on with outdoor recreation gate-keeping? You get an honest, hilarious and confronting look at what heading outside means in America — and how you can change that.
That’s the theme of Ivy Le’s narrative Spotify podcast FOGO, or Fear of Going Outside. Unlike basically every other guest I’ve ever had on Humans Outside, Ivy is definitely not outdoor-minded. But after trying outdoor stuff including camping and hunting, she’s got some takeaways to share that we all need to hear.
Maybe the AI tool I use to help me with show notes says it best (or at least funniest). According to that tool, in this episode you’ll hear about:
(OK, this AI tool is fired — but you’re intrigued, aren’t you?)
Want to know what those takeaways have to do with anything? Listen now!
[2:32] Wherein we bond over plumbing
[3:48] Ivy’s favorite outdoor space
[5:17] Making a show about going outside when you hate going outside
[8:19] Did she find anything outside she actually likes?
[10:30] When REI is something happens to you
[13:30] The stuff she had to overcome to get out there
[23:08] What has to happen to making getting outside less hard
[27:08] Yes, she really tried hunting. Here’s what happened.
[35:43] What’s really going on in the outdoor industry
[42:19] Ivy’s favorite outdoor moment, and she does actually have one.
The changing leaves and crisper air has me a little moody as I feel the last wisps of sunny weather and sunshine moving out of my grasp. I can be sad — and believe me, I am.
But what happens if, instead, I’m excited? And how can a simple change in terminology change my perspective?
Consider this: instead of looking at the changes as a “termination” of what you love, look at them as a “anticipation” of what’s to come.
Here’s how that’s changing my mood. Listen now!
[:35] It’s that time again whether you like it or not
[:50] Here are some of the symptoms
[1:19] A little terminology
[1:39] Followed by a shift in perspective
[2:36] Here are just some of the things I like
[3:26] No, I actually am excited
People like to say nature is for everyone, but do we really act like it is?
From a lack of bigger bodies in outdoor marketing, to other-ing attitudes from both rangers and fellow outdoor users, the problems are real.
Never experienced these challenges or don’t know they exist? That might be because you’re not someone at whom they are targeted.
Creating welcoming spaces outside is everyone’s work, and it starts with acknowledging the problem by listening to the personal experiences of those who have faced these issues. How do they handle them? How can we make spaces that are open — not in words, but in action — for everyone?
Brandi Small lays it all out in this episode based on her own experience on the trail and in the campgrounds.
Don’t miss this chance to make a difference. Listen now.
[3:49] Brandi Small’s favorite outdoor space
[4:22] How Brandi became someone who likes to go outside
[7:58] Visiting all of California’s National Parks
[8:41] Brandi’s first love
[14:34] Don’t miss out on this super awesome Ski Babes discount
[16:31] Diving into representation outside
[18:00] Have things gotten worse?
[20:36] This has never happened to me and it’s not a shock
[23:00] How much of this is race and how much of this is body size?
[24:08] I am absolutely astonished
[30:56] What is the work to address these issues?
[35:00] Brandi’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 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