The key to seeing wonders outside (Outdoor Diary)
April 23, 2024
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
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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.
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This month Amy hit 1,600 days in a row spending at least 20 consecutive minutes outside. Along the way she learned two important lessons about what happens when you encounter something you don’t like. Hear what she learned on this week’s Outdoor Diary podcast episode.
[:25]: 1600 days outside
[2:16]: Some things you only know in discomfort
[ 2:38]: What Amy is most proud of
[4:05]: Change will come
[5:58]: The Humans Outside Challenge
Listen to the episode on iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
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
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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
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My outdoor habit has taught me this about getting OK with seasons (Outdoor Diary)
April 16, 2024
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
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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