Humans Outside

The more time you spend outside, the more you might be thinking about doing what you can to make sure the thing you love so much -- nature -- is taken care of and around for others to enjoy, too. It's a bummer to watch something you enjoy so much disappear or be carelessly shoved aside. In this "best of" Humans Outside episode Meg Carney, an outdoor minimalist, author and podcast host shares her t...

Life is full of forks in the road -- literally and figuratively. And over my more than 2,000 days going outside every single day for at least 20 minutes I've noticed something: the more I practice making decisions outside, the better I am at making them inside. Why is that and why does it matter? Listen now. Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Inst...

One of the most frequent questions I get when it comes to heading outside is whether my family goes with me and, if so, how I get them out there. While the truth is that my daily outdoor habit is my habit and my family isn't always with me, they often are. And I'm working hard to make going outside a part of who my kids are, just like heading outside has become a part of who I am. So how do I make...

When it comes to balancing a desire to spend time outside with indoor obligations that keep your job and life running, a little bit of organization goes a long way. I've realized that powering through one simple planning task every one of us faces is the difference between living in harried chaos and feeling like everything is under control with plenty of time for everything I want to do, includin...

How do you work through fear of outdoor unknowns? How do you get comfortable with nature-based risks like wildlife or finding danger when you're all alone? What do you do about all of the outdoor "what ifs?" Those are questions natural science illustrator and art instructor Sandy McDermott found herself grappling with after an unexpected move from the northeast U.S. to Anchorage, Alaska. And as sh...

Got hard stuff? Me, too. Fortunately for all of us, there's nature to help with that. One of the best things I've ever learned while recording episodes of Humans Outside is to think about nature as a container for all the tough stuff of life. So how do you do that? Listen now to find out. Connect with this episode: How to Use the Outdoors As Therapy (Judith Sadora) Join the Humans Outside Challeng...

It might also be trendy, but backyard chicken keeping isn't just a delightful way to source a parade of fresh eggs and endless chicken entertainment, it's also the perfect lure for getting outside regularly right where you are. And while, yes, keeping any outdoor animal provides the obligatory outdoor chore list, a backyard coop can also draw you into nature in ways that don't include coop cleanin...

Tackling big challenges outside offers plenty of opportunities to learn big lessons. But this one? This takeaway is something I am going to be able to leverage for every outdoor experience. It all started with some insight from a Humans Outside podcast guest and became crystal clear during a recent big adventure on a very windy mountain run. So what's the lesson and how can it help you? Listen now...

How does spending time outside impact or help humans who are tackling life with various forms of neurodivergence or with an autism diagnosis? Dad and daughter duo Ian and Eve Alderman, who share both an autism diagnosis and a love of hiking, are navigating the world - literally - one hike at a time. With the support of mom Sarah, the Scotland-based family is teaching Eve to pair her unique abiliti...

If getting excited about spring weather despite all of its unpredictability makes me a fool, then so be it. But while the uncertainty of spring can be exasperating, it also carries some important reminders that can help you lean into making the most of it, other seasons -- both outside and inside -- and events outside your control. Ready to be a fool for spring, too? Listen now. Connect with this...

How Travel Photography Can Connect You to Humans Outside (Lola Akinmade Åkerström, travel photographer) We spend a lot of time talking about the act, art and benefits of connecting with nature. But what about connecting with the humans who live on the land? What about seeing and being seen no matter where you are or what kind of nature you call home? Travel photographer Lola Akinmade Åkerström has...

When I started my outdoor habit it was because I needed a way to push myself outside daily, no matter what. But over those more than 2,000 days I have discovered facets that are especially meaningful to me. Listen now. Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Some of the good stuff: [:35] Why I first started m...

Do you head outside for your mind, body, spirit -- or all three? And when you're out there, do you find there's one specific activity or facet that is simply your favorite? That really moves you -- literally or figuratively? That heals whatever part of you is feeling the most neglected today? Tammah Watts followed a bird from her kitchen window while she was working on ways to physically heal. But...

As the weather changes outside and one season starts to become another, it's a good time to think about what happens when seasons change for humans. I don't mean the outdoor seasons -- but those count, too. I mean the seasons of humans, that it's OK to change over time and what happens when you lean into the changing instead of resisting them. Listen now! Connect with this episode: Join the Humans...

Curious about dog mushing? You're in good company. Dog racing, known as mushing, is one of the many sports that draws tourists and lures enthusiasts to live in Alaska. But not everyone who mushes is a pro-racer tackling the Iditarod or keeping a huge yard of sled dogs. The north and Alaska are full of amateur racers who take on the sport because they both love dogs and the time in nature running a...

I can hardly believe it: I am hitting 2,000 days in a row of my outdoor habit. That's 2,000 days of spending at least 20 consecutive minutes outside every single day, no matter the weather. So what have I learned over 2,000 days? Unlike my 1,000 day mark, my 2,000th day is in the dead of winter. That means my three 2,000th day lessons are winter lessons -- and they look a little different than the...

We're taking a beat this week and bringing you a "best of" episode, this time on something you might be struggling with as winter turns into more winter, then into the spring of deception, then back to winter: getting your children outside even when it's cold and no one wants to. That's always a big problem here even with older kids, especially as the winter days drag on and everyone is kind of ov...

What would happen if you made room each week for one big adventure and one little adventure? It's a pretty simple concept: each week, purposefully do one small out of the ordinary, a "little adventure," and one thing bigger that might take up to several hours, a "big adventure." They don't have to be outside. But they certainly can be. In this episode Amy explains how she's taking on the challenge...

When was the last time you experienced a sense of awe in nature? Feeling awe is something many outdoor users chase. But can you even define the experience of awe? Or is it one of things where you just know it when you see it? Where can you best find it? And what are the benefits of spending time outside purposefully chasing the feeling? Professor Dr. Dacher Keltner joins us in this episode to tack...

It's been three years since I launched the Humans Outside podcast in the early winter of 2020. It's been an incredible ride of learning, growth and outdoor adventures for me as I've connected with 101 Humans Outside guests and recorded over 270 episodes. But what were some of the ones that have stuck with me the most? In this episode I talk about my favorite takeaways from three years of Humans Ou...

The deep, cold, dark winter of the north is a unique experience that both challenges and inspires. On the one hand, it shows you things about nature and about yourself you'd never see in the long hours of warmer daylight. On the other, it carried a depth that at times feels insurmountable. Among the winter enthusiasts and survivors are cyclists, people out there riding their bikes through, on and...

When so many outdoor adventures are or can be solo, when conquering big things is about your internal drive, why does community matter? After attending a local workshop hosted by a semi-pro runner and friend, I've been thinking about why showing up for others and having them show-up for me isn't just important, it's life changing. Hear why in this Outdoor Diary episode. Connect with this episode:...

Life is full of opportunities for problem solving, for looking at challenges in a fresh way, for reshaping the landscape to peel out an unexpected solution. And what does it take to get there? Creativity. You might be thinking about creativity as it relates to art, but that's not what I'm talking about. Instead I mean the creativity found in how you approach the world. And heading outside? It has...

How do you feel about falling? Or, perhaps more importantly, how do you feel about getting up again? One of the top lessons of Amy's outdoor habit is the inevitability of falling and all of the lessons getting OK with it brings. Learning to fall and be OK with it has not only opened the door to trying and learning new things, but given her a better understanding of risk and recovery in her indoor...

Ever seen that meme that asks "why do I live some in a place where the air hurts my face?" Heading outside in harsh conditions can feel like a personal attack that has your whole body and mind screaming "noooooooooo!" You want to want to do it, but you don't. You know there's no actual danger, but if feels like there is. You want to be someone who goes outside and does cool stuff, but you can't fi...