Humans Outside

What is it about wilderness that draws us? And how do you find wilderness wherever you are? Those are just two of the questions Jon Waterman, an author and adventurer best known for his work around Denali, the highest mountain in North America, tackles within the pages of his gorgeous new table-top book from National Geographic, Atlas of North America. But this book sparks more than just awe for t...

When you love a daily schedule as much as I do, it can feel very risky to just drop what you're doing and chase a last-minute outdoor adventure. But sometimes that's just what the weather, conditions or mood calls for. And whether I seize the day or walk by the opportunity is up to me I want to be someone who lives in the moment, knowing that I really do have time for outdoor adventures when they...

How can spending time outside change your perspective on self-care? And what if we've been thinking about self-care all wrong? Scott Tatum is a self-care expert and new author who has carved a niche offering followers "friendly reminders" as he works on his own mental health. His new "Friendly Reminders" book offers an easy guide through the value of self-care, and in this episode he lays it all o...

Each and every time the weather starts to shift from pleasant and easy to cold, I forget how to get dressed. It's as if every lesson I've ever learned about layering and getting ready for heading outside when the temperature is below my favorite comfort zone just falls out of my head. Don't be me. Meanwhile, I'm out here being me so you don't have to. Catch my cautionary tale in this Outdoor Diary...

What's it like to build your life around seizing the outdoors wherever you are, as if you're there on a clock? That's how travel therapists Hailey and TR Jamar aka the Tie Dye Travelers live their lives as they work short-term contracts at spots around the U.S. with the goal of spending every spare second exploring nature wherever they are. So how do they make it happen? And how can the lessons th...

With my unexpectedly dangerous and near-disaster Grand Canyon hike two weeks in the rearview, I've been surprised by how raw I still feel, especially when it comes to facing discomfort outside near my house. Is it normal to feel like this after a big scare? And why is it happening? If you missed the recap of my dangerous (and dramatic) Grand Canyon rim-to-rim adventure, you can hear it here -- plu...

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...

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 an...

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 ba...

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 "anticipatio...

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,...

Have you ever noticed certain seasons smell more strongly than others? I've been working to lean into my five senses -- hearing, smell, taste, sight, touch -- during my daily outdoor time, inspired by a recent conversation with Gretchen Rubin, author of "Life in Five Senses." Taking time for a little extra intentionality has enriched my outdoor time, and left me noticing something special about my...

So we all want to be people who are outside having cool adventures -- but what about finding adventure right where you live? How do you learn the best local spots, break out of your comfort zone to try something new and, maybe even more importantly, find adventure buddies with whom to do it? Those are all questions Kierre Childers is working to tackle through her Palmer, Alaska-based tour company...

You've heard me talk about how much I love my outside community events. Maybe you want to head out for some, too. But do you know how to find them? If you're stuck not knowing even where to get started on learning about the fun outside things that are happening in your community, I've got some failure-free tips for you in this episode of Humans Outside. Listen now -- and then share your favorite w...

Ever wondered if it's safe to eat those berries you see on a hike, or if there are medicinal plants hiding in plain sight? The longer you spend outside, the more you might start to wonder how to find good things to consume out there -- and how to avoid the ones that might kill you. What we all need is a little guidance. And for that we have Ebony Gheorghe, a forager focused on herbs based in the U...

It's been *six years* since I started my daily outdoor habit, spending at least 20 consecutive minutes outside every single day, no matter what. I've learned countless things about myself, about the world and about how heading outside impacts me. But the truth is there's one big lesson I keep coming back to, and it's the same thing I was battling the very first day I kicked off this adventure. It...

It's something I've noticed over and over again: the more bold steps I take outside, the more life adventures I'm willing to tackle in my home and work life. That's a theme Shelby Stanger has heard over and over again from guests she interviews on REI's Wild Ideas Worth Living podcast and something she experienced in her own life. It's also the theme of her new book, "Will to Wild: Adventures Grea...

It can be tempting to think about getting outside as focused on just naturey-nature. But what about going out around other people? What about the benefits of community events? Heading outside to experience community can bring a whole host of useful impacts, all based in the glorious space created by the great outdoors. For me they include inspiration, encouragement, joy and belonging. Why is that...

What happens when you take the time and intentionality to listen -- I mean really listen -- outside? So much of our auditory experiences are about blocking sounds out. But happens when we flip things around and choose to purposefully let sounds in? That's what I tried to do during a recent week focusing on my sense of hearing during my outdoor adventures. And what I found was deeply enriching. It...

Spend enough time outside and you'll start to notice all of the things growing around you -- and that some of those things look delicious. From greens to berries, to gardening, fishing and evening raising chickens, nature in your backyard can be full of food. For today's guest Tamar Haspel, the possibilities of gathering or growing at least a portion of her own meals, an experience she calls "firs...

My friend called it the "fall wall" -- that moment where you know without a doubt that the season is changing. (Are you ready for it? I'll admit that I'm not.) But it's here for me in Alaska. And whether the wall is a weather one or a schedule one, dealing with it while maintaining the things that are important to you -- like getting outside -- can take some work. Here's how I'm doing it. Listen n...

Are you too grown-up to notice and enjoy play? I don't mean you avoid it on purpose. I mean your grown-up brain just doesn't see it, isn't used to allowing it, crowds it out with other stuff and is just so, well, responsible. Kids don't have this problem. Play is how they learn and what they know. But adults, on the other hand … Here's what I learned this week by taking time to seize the play, and...

Depending on your background of using nature and heading outside, you might think of spending time outdoors as something you go do instead of something that's on the other side of your front door. And if you do make a habit of going into the nature that's close to home, you might be tempted to think that the same-old, same-old isn't as good as shaking it up and going somewhere news and different....

How does your connection to nature change when you focus on experiencing it through each of your five senses? With the chance to literally taste the outdoors at every turn, I leaned into the gifts of the land and explored how experiencing nature through my mouth (and stomach) makes me feel. Listen now! Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram...