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.
Every now and then you run across something that captures your imagination while giving you a connection to an outdoor experience you loved. That’s exactly how I felt the first time I came across one of the National Park posters designed by amateur parks historian Ranger Doug Leen and his team of artists and creators. The colors, design and connection to the past reminded me of all of the work and drama that went into protecting the lands I had come to love — and why doing so is important.
Many other collectors and park enthusiasts feel just as I do about the prints — and the mystery and chase around creating them. In this episode Ranger Doug, so-called ‘Ranger of the Lost Art,’ tells the story of chasing down the historic park prints, creating new ones in their style and why these connect visitors to the national parks they love.
Listen now.
[2:10] Talking to Doug Leen from here
[3:44] Ranger Doug’s outdoor story
[5:53] A career that took him all sorts of place
[7:48] How he became ‘Ranger of the Lost Art’
[16:21] What these posters look like
[20:27] Why people like the posters
[22:29] How the posters connect us with the parks
[27:22] How people can support this work
[30:17] Doug’s favorite outdoor space
Wondering if you really do have time for that epic outdoor adventure in the middle of your otherwise normal life, or not quite sure if you can make it happen?
That’s how I felt recently while trying to balance my desire to head out for an ice skating trip to a glacier with having 1 million surely very important things to do. Did I actually have time? Would I be dropping too many balls by going?
The answer, of course, was that, yes, I had time. You have time to add some fun to your schedule, too. And in this episode I share some ideas for making it happen.
Listen now.
[:35] My brain said no but my heart said go
[1:32] The work I’ve been doing on my brain
[2:31] Epic things come when you make the time
[2:44] A series of three helpful tips for making time for epic stuff during normal life
How do you handle zero-fun outdoor time? Push through and get the goal anyway before calling it quits? Wrap it up and head back to the car? Beat yourself up about quitting? Know that it’s OK?
This week on a mountain adventure with a few friends I found myself having a zero fun time. It just didn’t feel right. And I was big done. So what did I do?
Listen now.
[:46] OK, so I like a challenge
[:59] But even I have to draw a line
[1:55] So I started trying to work with my nervous system
[2:48] But you know what? No.
[3:44] Here’s the permission we didn’t need but we have anyway
How well do you know the outdoor areas near your home? I don’t just mean the obvious spots, I mean all of the spaces.
And what would happen if you took the time to truly and deeply explore them?
That’s something British adventurer and author Alastair Humphreys set out to discover as part of a personal project that turned into his new book, Local. Dividing the region into one-kilometer grid squares, Alastair systematically experienced all of the outdoor spaces near his urban home, and in the process became not only more familiar with where he lived, but also grew a deep appreciation for the nature around him found in some of the most unlikely places.
In this episode you’ll hear all about Alastair’s truly local adventure, plus some of the simple benefits of taking time to enjoy everything — the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful — that nature has for you close to home.
Listen now!
[3:08] Alastair Humphrey’s favorite outdoor space
[4:02] Alastair’s outdoor story
[5:46] What “Local” is about — project and book
[8:37] What is “nearby nature?”
[10:35] For the record, I don’t have this outside my window
[11:38] What did Alastair find during his project that surprised him?
[15:21] Embracing technology to make outside time better
[17:59] The inspiration to fix problems
[21:55] A mind shift to gratitude and curiosity
[26:12] Taking the time for adventures big and small
[28:36] How anyone can get started on a project like Local
[34:03] Alistair’s favorite outdoor moment
If you’ve been keeping your outdoor habit for awhile just like me, you might be looking for a way to give it a little boost. Or maybe you’re new to this, but want to add a little spice or specific outings to your outdoor life.
If that’s you, this easy new outdoor habit I’m trying this year is probably the perfect fit. It’s a simple, low time commitment and interesting option and I can’t wait to see how it goes over the coming months.
Want to join me? Learn all about it in this episode of Humans Outside. Listen now!
[:28] I was worried about getting stuck in a rut
[:54] I was curious about forest bathing
[1:22] And then I heard this idea from Alastair Humphries — brilliant!
[2:19] How I picked my own version
[3:24] Here’s what I picked
[4:05] Here’s what I did while I was there
[5:04] You should do this, too!
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, 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, Google Podcasts, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. The following is an edited transcript of this episode