Humans Outside

As a part of our annual summer break, we're re-publishing some of Humans Outside's best episodes. This one certainly qualifies. When Amy started her daily outdoor habit in 2017 she had no idea there was a whole world of others already tackling an outdoor effort of their own, formed around a different idea known as the 52 Hike Challenge. Through that program participants pledge to complete 52 hikes...

How do you know where a good adventure stops and something that's just not worth it starts? And can you tell when you're avoiding something because it's uncomfortable or if you're avoiding it because it's miserable and unnecessary, unrewarding suffering? Those are the questions Amy is asking this week as she scraps a long-planned adventure while thinking about things she's done that sound bad but...

What if instead of a "to do" list you made the opposite: a "not to do" list? Coming up with the things that should go on it is an exercise in self-awareness and the gift of perspective. And where can you really find that? Outside, of course! In this episode Amy discusses how she developed her "not to do" list and why heading into nature helped her make it happen. Connect with this episode: Join th...

It's summer break time at Humans Outside, which means it's the perfect time for some "Best Of" episodes. Today, LGBTQ outdoor advocate Mikah Meyer is known for his work representing his community and advocating for inclusion in nature. But that hasn't always been the case. In fact, when Mikah set out on his journey to become the youngest person to visit the over 400 National Park units in the U.S....

It took months of planning, but Amy and her family headed out for a three-day, totally unplugged adventure in a dream Alaska spot: a wild lagoon off the coast in an Alaska State Park. From otters to birdsong, kayak trips to perhaps too many days without a shower, this adventure was a picturesque keeper in Halibut Cove Lagoon of Kachemak Bay State Park. Listen now. Connect with this episode: Join t...

Happy solstice! Summer solstice is a big deal in Alaska where there's plenty of reason to celebrate the endless light. But midnight sun is not why Amy celebrates it, exactly. In this episode Amy talks about why the solstice is important to her -- and what she doesn't do on it. Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Follow Humans Outside on In...

As you're building a life around going outside, you might have found that making time to go outside is all about opting out of the things that don't matter to you so that you can opt into the things you do care about, like heading into nature.  This episode with bestselling author Cait Flanders is all about those choices. She joined us in October of last year to talk about her opt-out habit and I'...

You know how much Amy loves her small town and all the festivals and outdoor events it hosts. Thanks to one of the annual summer festivals, she's been thinking about the ways nature creates a sense of place, and why that matters to her. Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Some of the good stuff: [:45] The...

If your summer is heating up, you might be tempted to hide out in your cool and comfortable house instead of going outside. But just because it's hot outside doesn't mean you can't head into nature and have a great time. You just need the tools and tips to make it happen. And then there's the kind of heat you're dealing with. Hot and humid is one thing, but what about hot and dry? Since dealing wi...

What does it take to create summer moments so memorable, they feel like magic? That's what Amy has been thinking about as they take on the warm, endless sunlight summer days in Alaska. She noticed that all of her best summer memories have two things in common. Learn what they are in this episode of the Humans Outside Outdoor Diary. Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follo...

Going outside in hot weather can feel oppressive, suffocating and, well, not that fun. But with a little preparation and thought the hot seasons can be just as enjoyable as their cooler counterparts. But how do you dress, eat, and play to make that happen? In this episode of Humans Outside, Joe Jacobs, cycling enthusiast and owner, owner of ArkansasOutside.com joins us from the hot humid state of...

When school is out and so is the sun, it can feel like a waste to spend the day inside. But soaring temperatures can make getting outside just seem so hard -- especially if you're trying to take children with you for more than just some fun in the backyard. How do you get outside with kids in the heat, avoid the meltdowns -- literally and figurative -- and have an enjoyable and enriching time? Adv...

With warm temperatures and all the sunshine, Amy is ready for summer in Alaska. And she knows summer is the perfect time for you to try two outdoor-related challenges. Hear what they are and how you can get involved in this episode of the Humans Outside Outdoor Diary. Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Follow Humans Outside on Instagram E...

Simple and Easy Ways to 'Rewild' Your Life by Going Outside (Micah Mortali) It can be easy to think of practices like rewilding and mindfulness as being habits of only extra-zen, nature-based people. But if you're someone who likes to go outside or is building an outdoor habit, they are probably already a part of what you're doing, at least a little. So how can you do it more? And if you don't thi...

Don't like what's going on outside? Wait awhile, power through and it will change. That's just part of the truth about seasons Amy is clinging to -- and an important lesson she's learned -- as she deals with a fresh running injury. How does heading into nature and understanding outdoor seasons help with the rest of our lives? Hear about it in this episode of Amy's regular Humans Outside Outdoor Di...

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....

It's hard to ignore the song of the returning light and warming weather -- especially after a winter of darkness and cold. You aren't just drawn to it. it's like a magnet. In this Outdoor Diary episode Amy discusses a series of moments that happen over the creeping of spring that let her know that summer really is right around the corner, and the days of winter are in the past. Connect with this e...

Among the lifestyle challenges of living in a city are finding ways to create nature spaces near your home. While many city community green spaces are in the form of parks, everything from their upkeep to ease of access varies widely. And those spaces often aren't designed with a focus on what the community needs or who lives and plays there, creating a block for use by all. In Washington, D.C. th...

When was the last time you let curiosity be your guide as you headed outside? It can be easy to stuff that sense of wondering down and fall victim to box checking or making it to the destination. Curiosity, as cliche as it sounds, is what lets you enjoy the journey. In this Outdoor Diary Amy explores the simple way she's been working to let curiosity drive her decisions outside -- and why you migh...

Simple. Boring. Tired. You might think of just going for a regular walk as being something only people with nothing better to do make a part of their daily lives. But what if going for a walk isn't only an easy way to spend time outside, but also one that's so varied and beneficial that understanding the practice is a matter of scientific research? Author Annabel Streets was so startled by how muc...

Spending a lot of time outdoors? You might find that you've started caring about the environment more than you used to. While Amy was a kid, "environmentalism" was seen by her family as a bad thing. But today she knows loving nature means taking care of it. And so she's started doing some simple tasks to put those feelings into action. Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge F...

No matter where you live you probably regularly see at least one kind of animal outside your window: birds. City or country, birds serve the ecosystem while providing humans with beauty, curiosity and entertainment. And if you spend any time noticing them, you are already participating in birding. Feeling curious and want to learn more about these feathered friends? That's where today's guest, Yam...

As so many faith traditions celebrate holy days in the spring, Amy has been thinking about the spirituality of heading outside and the ways her faith background misses the boat on understanding and appreciating spirituality in nature. Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Text of Psalm 23 Some of the good s...

If you spend time with nature you might start to feel like the great outdoors is a friend that you want to take extra care of. Even if you've been interested in conservation before, it might now seem more personal, more important. But spending time outside also means you're using nature more than you used to. So how can you maximize your time in nature while also creating a minimalist lifestyle? T...

The great thing about nature is that it will always have what you need. But how do you know what that is? In this episode, Amy talks about a little bit of her journey to understand how to get what she needs from heading outside. Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Some of the good stuff: [:45] How seeking...