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What You Learn When You Paddle the Entire Amazon River (Darcy Gaechter)

What inspires a person to conquer big things outside or try for the seemingly impossible? Those are questions this week’s guest Darcy Gaechter had plenty of time to ponder as she became the first woman to ever paddle the Amazon River from source to sea. A journey now detailed in her new memoir, Darcy takes a break from her kayaking adventure business, Small World Adventures, to join us on the podcast to talk about that adventure and what she learned along the way.

Some of the good stuff:

[1:41] Darcy’s favorite outdoor space
[2:21] The problems with the Amazon River
[4:00] The challenges of taking on the Amazon
[5:35] Why Darcy decided to take on the Amazon
[7:10] Why Darcy likes going outside
[9:16] What Darcy learned on the Amazon
[11:05] Is defying stereotpyes an important part of Darcy’s “why?”
[13:36] How to become an amazing kayaker
[16:40] Did Darcy make the self-discoveries she thought she would?
[18:50] Is she could do it again, what would she do differently?
[20:35] How to mentally prepare for a big challenge
[25:15] Darcy’s favorite outdoor gear
[25:45] Darcy’s most essential gear
[26:12] Darcy’s favorite outdoor moment

Connect with this episode:

Follow Darcy on Instagram
Follow Darcy on Twitter
Check out Darcy’s website
Read Darcy’s book
Check out Darcy’s business, Small World Adventures
Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

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Outdoor Diary: I Just Hit 1,000 Days Outside

As of May 27, 2020 Amy hits an incredible milestone: 1,000 days in a row doing her daily outdoor time challenge. That’s 1,000 days spending at least 20 consecutive minutes outside every day. In this week’s Outdoor Diary she gives a window into what those 1,000 days mean now that they are over.

Some of the good stuff:

[:30] Amy’s big accomplishment
[:50] The original goal
[1:20] Amy’s why
[1:40] How to spend time outside every day
[2:05] When going outside is actually hard
[2:55] Amy’s best and worst time outside
[3:30] Amy’s favorite outdoor outcome

Connect with this episode:

Check out all of Amy’s outdoor time at #HumansOutside365
Follow Humans Outside on Instagram
Connect with Humans Outside on Facebook

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How Spending Time Outside Makes You a Better Leader (Mike Erwin)

When was the last time you were fired-up? We mean really fired-up?

Fired-up-ness is status quo living for Mike Erwin, founder and Executive Director of veteran service organization Team Red, White & Blue, which connects veterans with their communities. Mike is laser-focused building leaders and living a life focused on positivity, and he’s doing it through fitness, community service — and heading outside.

Catch Mike in this episode drilling down into how he’s seen heading into nature develop strong leaders, plus tips on keeping that leadership fire burning when the going gets tough.

Some of the good stuff:

[1:59] Mike Erwin’s favorite outdoor space
[3:35] Why Mike founded Team RWB
[6:15] Why transition from military to civilian life is hard
[8:37] The details on Team RWB
[10:00] Why spending time outside is an important part of Team RWB
[12:25] Is there any research supporting Team RWB’s use of the outdoors?
[16:26] Mike’s outdoor story
[21:40] What is solitude and how it different than just being alone?
[23:43] How solitude is different from isolation
[27:00] How do extroverts deal with solitude?
[29:00] The link between nature and solitude
[31:23] Mike’s best advice for leading an organization
[34:37] Mike’s favorite outdoor gear
[35:00] Mike’s most essential outdoor gear
[36:02] Mike’s favorite outdoor moment

Connect with this episode:

Join Team Red, White & Blue
Follow Team RWB on Instagram
Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

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Outdoor Diary: Return to Outdoor Normal

As restrictions ease across the country and numbers continue to drop, it seems like outdoor life, at least, is starting to return to normal. At least that’s how it’s feeling where Amy is. And her outdoor adventures are starting to reflect some of those normal patterns — sort of.

Hear all about it on this week’s Outdoor Diary.

Some of the good stuff:

[:30] The current situation & outside time
[1:00] Summer in Alaska
[1:17] How Amy got outside last week
[2:11] New adventure of the week
[2:30] Goodr, this week’s Outdoor Hero

Connect with this episode:

Check out Goodr sunglasses
Look at Eska Falls trail
Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

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Surviving Addiction and Living Boldly (Kate Arnold)

When neither addiction nor a suicide attempt ended her life, Kate Arnold found the strength to not just change everything, but to live boldly, fiercely and as an outdoor-focused inspiration to every single person she meets.

Now she’s a runner, athlete and fitness coach in Palmer, Alaska, soaking in creation and living each moment boldly and loudly because she can. In a world of Instagram fame, “influencers,” and self-promotion, it can be hard to find the folks who are out there just humbly doing incredible things while no one is watching.

Kate is that person and she has a deeply felt reason for doing it. In this week’s podcast she shares what drives her and her no-big-deal (except that it is) view on what it’s like to be a total outdoor badass like Kate, where she draws her strength and how she’s taking others out to explore Alaska, too.

Some of the good stuff:

[1:49] Kate’s favorite outdoor space.
[3:48] Kate’s outdoor story
[4:42] Kate’s addiction battle
[7:39] How Kate moved away from addiction
[9:15] Kate’s faith story
[13:45] The Susitna 100 race report
[15:25] Kate and backcountry snowboarding
[17:15] How Kate saved Amy on Lazy Mountain
[18:43] Why Kate does hard things
[21:12] How to be mentally tough
[24:40] All about the Aktive Soles AK Ultra Running camp
[30:45] How to train for Kate’s ultra running camp
[34:05] Why do a running camp instead of just visiting Alaska
[39:16] Kate’s favorite outdoor gear
[40:19] Kate’s most essential outdoor gear
[41:03] Kate’s favorite outdoor moment

Connect with this episode:

Connect with this episode:
Follow Kate on Instagram
Learn more about Aktive Adventures AK
Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

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Outdoor Diary: The Most Important Thing You’ll Do This Month

A window into Amy’s why and an important ask make up this week’s Outdoor Diary. With Memorial Day just a few weeks away, you can take a moment to plan how you are going to mark it, and Amy has a suggestion.

Some of the good stuff:

[:24] Amy’s why
[:30] About Capt. John Hallett
[1:05] What this episode is really about
[1:55] About wear blue: run to remember
[2:20] Why wear blue matters
[3:52] What to do on Memorial Day

Connect with this episode:

Wear blue: run to remember Memorial Day run/walk pledge
Follow wear blue: run to remember on Instagram
Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

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How Does Conservation Work With City Dwelling? (Joni Carswell)

In the U.S., creating space for conservation and outdoor use is directly tied to public lands. But what do you do when most land is privately held? And how do you encourage conservation and nature appreciation in major cities like Dallas? For Joni Carswell and Texan By Nature, an organization founded by former First Lady Laura Bush, the answer comes down to everyone – businesses, nonprofits and citizens – working together to focus on what we share around the outdoors.

Catch Joni’s beliefs around conservation, her love of Texas, tips for encouraging conservation in your own backyard, plus the inside scoop on why, exactly, it always looks a little bit like the George W. Bush Presidential Library’s lawn is getting out of hand.

Some of the good stuff:

[5:05] Texas eco-regions
[6:00] About Texan By Nature
[10:06] Why businesses take care of natural resources
[13:34] Extracting resources, and then leaving it better than you found it
[17:30] Conservation and the George W. Bush Presidential Center
[21:13] Why it looks like former Pres. Bush forgot to mow his lawn
[23:33] Joni’s outdoor story
[30:00] Conservation meets city living
[33:00] Upcoming Texan By Nature project
[35:27] Tips for conservation in your own backyard
[38:09] Joni’s favorite outdoor gear
[38:46] Joni’s most essential outdoor gear
[39:00] Joni’s most favorite outdoor moment ever

Connect with this episode:

Read about Texan By Nature
Follow Texan By Nature on Instagram
Read about the George W. Bush President Center

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Outdoor Diary: On Gear Failure & Friendship

Listen to this episode of Amy’s outdoor diary to hear how she got outside last week and all about her epic gear fail! And what exactly are “running wives” anyway?

Some of the good stuff:

[:48] Why Amy doesn’t always do the same thing
[1:40] How Amy is always “that” friend
[2:29] What went wrong with Amy’s water pack
[2:51] Amy’s two life questions (for now)
[3:14] Outdoor friends as outdoor heroes

Connect with this episode:

Follow three of Amy’s “running wives” on Instagram: Rachel, Clare and Kate
The Osprey pack that’s great except for the new leak
Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

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Be Right Back, I’m Forest Bathing (Michelle Abbey)

When we say “forest bathing” we definitely don’t mean taking a scrub surrounded by trees. First formally started in Japan, shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing” is a nature therapy focused on mindfulness. And certified forest therapists, like today’s guest Michelle Abbey, help students get there.

OK, but why do you need a forest therapist to help you go outside? And what does studying forest therapy teach you about your own relationship with nature? Michelle gives us the inside scoop.

Some of the good stuff:

[1:20] Michelle’s favorite outdoor space
[2:20] What is forest bathing?
[4:37] What’s beyond the basic 5 senses
[5:33] How forest bathing is different than just going outside
[6:30] Do you need a forest required for forest bathing?
[7:35] Why get certified in forest bathing?
[10:10] What Michelle learned about herself and nature
[16:50] Why repeating some experiences over and over again is good
[21:15] Is there an ideal daily dose of time outside?
[25:58] Do you have to be distraction free?
[27:55] Who needs a forest bathing therapist
[30:50] Michelle’s favorite outdoor gear
[32:15] Michelle’s most essential outdoor gear
[33:04] Michelle’s favorite outdoor moment

Connect with this episode:

Follow Michelle on Instagram
Email Michelle at abbeynutrition (at) gmail (dot) com
Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

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