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.
Listen as Amy Bushatz explains why she calls being in a funk “floor time” and how she recovers.
[:37] Amy’s two emotional states
[1:00] What is floor time?
[1:50] How to put a stop to floor time
[3:06] How Amy got outside this week
[4:06] Outdoor Hero
If all you know of attorney and entrepreneur Rachel Brenke is her online presence, you might be tricked into thinking she literally does it all. Her boutique law firm specializes in supporting small businesses nationwide with their brands, providing legal resources for digital entrepreneurs, photographers and gym owners. But she’s also a mom, spouse, runner, ironman and thyroid cancer survivor.
But behind the magic is a finely tuned system of hard work, maximizing what she spends her time on — and hitting the outdoors to help the whole thing work. In this episode Rachel talks about how the outdoors helps her make it happen, how she fits it in with her multiple jobs and hobbies and tips for others looking to balance it all.
[2:28] Rachel Brenke’s favorite outdoor space
[3:33] Is Rachel a human or a robot?
[4:49] How Rachel got to apparently doing everything
[9:03] Does she have it all together?
[12:12] Rachel’s outdoor story
[17:04] The murder of her dog, Archer
[18:52] How the outdoors helped with her trauma
[22:37] Fitting nature in with running a small business
[26:54] Balancing the schedule
[35:46] The problem of multitasking
[37:31] Rachel’s favorite outdoor gear
[38:33] Rachel’s most essential outdoor gear
[41:52] Rachel’s favorite outdoor moment
Learn more about Rachel Brenke
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Rachel Brenke, Team USA Triathlon
Rachel’s favorite gear: a great visor
Rachel’s most essential gear: Garmin running watch
As promised, we have received names for our new camper van based on our your suggestions — and picked a winner. But before we go there, we have to talk about Amy’s new challenge.
That’s right, not despite having surgery but rather because of that, Amy needs a new challenge. But what is “challenge?” And how does a challenge differ person to person? And how does doing something with purpose impact it?
[:52] The Marine Corps Marathon
[2:12] Amy’s new goal
[3:10] What is a challenge?
[4:22] The new van name
[5:20] This week’s Outdoor Hero
After a suicide attempt almost took her life and left her with a tracheotomy, Carol Seppilu ultimately made the choice to pursue mental health through ultra trail running. If you think running 100 miles sounds hard, imagine how hard it must be when breathing is a challenge under even non-running circumstances.
But Carol is relentless in her pursuit of doing great things. Listen to her share her journey and why staying in touch with her Indigenous Alaskan culture is an important part of that on this episode of the Humans Outside podcast.
[2:15] Carol’s favorite outdoor space
[4:19] About Nome Alaska
[6:54] Carol’s story of suicide and healing
[11:16] Why Carol got into running
[16:28] Carol’s advice for mental health
[20:45] The importance of being outside and movement to Indigenous culture
[28:00] What it’s like to run 100 miles in Alaska
[32:20] Why deciding matters
[39:42] Carol’s favorite outdoor gear
[41:10] Carol’s most essential outdoor gear
[41:54] Carol’s favorite outdoor moment.
On this week’s Outdoor Diary, find out what Amy’s big purchase of the week was – and how it is going to be a major game changer for her outdoor time this winter!
[:28] What can happen when you shop online
[:45] How Amy decided she wanted a conversion van
[2:08] The big purchase
[2:24] All about the van
[3:10] Updates to the van
[3:27] A contest
When Hannah Wolt and Jennifer Everheart found themselves stationed really far away from home in the kind of exotic location most folks only dream about, they knew two things: that had to make the best of it, and they needed some new friends. Guam, a U.S. territory in the Pacific Ocean, is a whole other world for mainlander Americans, complete with exotic waterfalls, amazing hiking and tree snakes (yes, tree snakes).
Their solution? An outdoor group for military families, Military Wild. Hear about friendship in the outdoors and some of the peculiarities of Guam (like the need for a “spider stick” — we wish we were kidding) in this fun episode.
[1:44] Hannah and Jennifer’s favorite outdoor spaces
[3:23] Why they want to spend time outside
[5:06] What is Military Wild?
[13:08] What it’s like heading to Guam
[20:26] How other people react to Guam
[24:23] Why the outdoors helps them make new friends
[29:03] Advice for heading to a totally new place
[32:01] Favorite and most essential outdoor gear
[36:17] Favorite outdoor moments
Hiking trails in Guam
Hannah and Jennifer’s favorite outdoor gear: Solomon Trail Running Shoes; Solomon Boots
Osprey Backpack; North Face women’s hiking pants
Hannah and Jennifer’s most essential outdoor gear: First aid kit; Camera
Major hip surgery is a great reason to hang out on the couch for a few days and not go outside … unless, that is, you’re working on a more than three year 20 minutes-per-day outdoor streak. Amy didn’t let hip surgery get her down. Hear how she continued to get outside and what she needs from you on this week’s episode of the Humans Outside Outdoor Diary.
[:36] Amy’s outdoor reaction to her surgery news
[1:10] Update since surgery
[1:34] The real work post-surgery
[2:00] How Amy is getting outside post-surgery
[3:23] This week’s outdoor hero
[4:15] Amy’s ask for help (from you!)
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Outdoor hero: Goodr Sunglasses
What’s the difference between wilderness therapy and just, well, going outside? Judith Sadora, a licensed therapist based in Oregon, practices wilderness therapy with clients outdoors and is an expert in how spending time outside can help us work through trauma. Hear why the outdoors is a great “container” and how to create your own therapeutic experience outside in this thoughtful and insightful episode.
[2:06] Judith Sadora’s favorite outdoor space
[3:33] Difference between wilderness therapy and therapeutic recreation
[9:50] Why nature makes a good ‘container’
[18:01] Does nature heal trauma?
[20:09] Connecting nature to city life
[22:12] Changing the narrative around what nature is (and isn’t)
[30:14] Judith’s ‘why’
[40:34] How to find your own therapeutic recreation
[45:23] Judith’s favorite and most essential outdoor gear
[48:18] Judith’s favorite outdoor moment
Judith Sadora, Triune Health and Wellness
National Wilderness Therapy Symposium
Favorite outdoor gear: Emo hammock
Essential outdoor gear: Kula pee rag
Check in with Amy as she shares her last adventures in the outdoors before hitting the operating room!
[:27] An update
[1:00] An adventure with the Running Wives
[3:05] Amy’s last run for a while
[3:30] Outdoor Hero
[4:14] How to keep up with Amy during recovery
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Register for our newsletter to win a decal: https://humansoutside.com/newsletter Follow us on Instagram and share your outdoor life with the hashtag #humansoutside365. Here’s an edited
Register for our newsletter to win a decal: https://humansoutside.com/newsletter Follow us on Instagram and share your outdoor life with the hashtag #humansoutside365. Here’s an edited