Nature Junkie Radio

Microdosing nature doesn’t take a lot of time to feel present and restored, but you might need a bike. In this solo episode, I share a simple, but transformative practice I call microdosing nature, or the practice of engaging with nature in small, frequent moments to help replenish your stoke.  This time around, I share one of my go-to vehicles for microdosing nature, a casual evening bike ri...

In this episode I sit down with writer, educator, and author Blake Boles to explore an unconventional question. What if wealth had less to do with money, and more to do with freedom, purpose, and plenty of stoke-filled play time in nature? Drawing from his book Dirtbag Rich: High Freedom, Low Income, Deep Purpose , Blake shares the ethos and practical realities behind designing a life centered aro...

Back in the 1990s, Carolina Morgado was working for a river kayaking company in Chile when her first customer happened to be Doug Tompkins, the co-founder of Esprit and The North Face. At the time, Tompkins was quietly acquiring huge tracts of land across South America with a bold vision to create national parks and protect wild ecosystems at scale. That encounter changed the trajectory of Carolin...

You’ve heard me ask guests how they “microdose nature,” but what does that actually mean? In this solo episode, I finally break down one of the key principles of being a Nature Junkie . I share the origin story, from early morning surf sessions to noticing small, powerful moments of connection in everyday life, and how those experiences led me to the concept of microdosing nature. Then I connect t...

What if the buildings in your home town could reconnect you to nature? In this episode of Nature Junkie Radio , we explore the transformative power of public art with muralist Skye Walker, whose surreal, psychedelic depictions of Mother Earth and wildlife have become visual landmarks across North County San Diego and beyond. Named after Scotland’s Isle of Skye, Skye Walker grew up touring the coun...

In this solo episode of Nature Junkie Radio , I share one of my favorite research-backed practices for increasing nature connection: Noticing 3 Good Things in Nature . This simple exercise has been shown to increase nature connectedness and improve mental health without requiring more time, gear, or access to wilderness. The episode opens with a recent run-in I had with a great white shark. From t...

Nick Triolo is a runner and writer, both of which shape him and his beautifully deep musings on this thing we call life. He’s the managing editor at Magic Canoe, he teaches at the University of Montana, he’s been an adventure guide, he’s made films, and his writing has been featured in Orion, Outside Magazine, and many others. He recently published his first book called The Way Around: A Field Gui...

Guner Tautrim is a 6th generation land steward of Orella Ranch. He’s a surfer, boat captain, skater, snowboarder, master reclaimed wood worker, permaculturist, husband, and father. He’s the founder and operator of Gaviota Givings, Seaborn Designs, and sits on the board of the Gaviota Coast Conservancy. Guner and I recorded this episode from the living room of the house he built with his own hands...

Jeff Johnson is not only my doppelganger, but he’s a lifestyle and adventure photographer who made his name as a staff photog for Patagonia, and then as a freelancer for brands like Yeti, Roark, and Rivian with his images and stories filling pages of The Surfer’s Journal, Outside Magazine and many others. He’s a surfer, a former North Shore lifeguard, and a climber that goes after big walls in pla...

To slap a single label on Jon Rose would be inaccurate. But several might help, so here goes. Jon was a pro surfer during an era when being a Freesurfer was a good way to make a living. He’s been a model in partnership with brands like Dockers, Tumi, Kenneth Cole, and others. In 2009, he was called into action by the massive earthquake in Sumatra, which led to founding a non-profit called Waves fo...

When I first delved into nature research, it wasn’t long before I came across the name, Dr. David Strayer, our guest today on the latest episode of Nature Junkie Radio. What stood out to me was that his curiosity to understand the neuroscience of nature connection was informed by his direct experiences while river rafting, deeply immersed in nature. He felt what Edward Abbey felt in Desert Solitai...

Finding a campsite can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. But that was just the catalyst Josh Jackson needed to explore our western public lands for the last several years. And now he’s ready to tell their stories, along with his own. Josh is a writer, photographer, husband, father, and speaker whose work champions the wild beauty and overlooked value of America’s public lands. In his new book,...

Our guest today, Captain Liz Clark is one of those courageous souls who turned her massive dream into a reality. Liz sailed into the wild unknown on her 40-foot sailboat, named Swell, and voyaged around the world for 10 years. As you might imagine, she’s got a few stories to tell.  After her trip she wrote a moving memoir about her experiences, and aptly titled the book Swell: A Sailing Surfe...

Hey everyone, we’re back in action! Today’s guest is Timmy O’Neill. Timmy is best known as one of the top climbers in the world. He holds records for speed ascents in Yosemite, he’s put up first ascents in Patagonia, he lived in a cave in Joshua Tree for 60 days, he’s been in numerous adventure films and documentaries, my favorite being 180 South, he’s made films like Soundscape, he co-founded Par...

John Hook is a Funtographer, supermodel, and next-level biohacker (you won’t believe what he used to fuel his body and mind to swim maxing Waimea Bay for 9 hours of energy. It’s a secret that Huberman, Rogan, and Ferriss couldn’t find if they searched in dark, Himalayan caves for decades. Spoiler Alert: No, it’s not ashwagandha infused yak milk).  All kidding aside, John is an ace photographe...

Kate Williams is the CEO of the non-profit 1% for the Planet. She’s dedicated the last decade to a wide range of environmental conservation efforts by building and leading an awesome team, and expanding the 1% for the Planet model and impact globally. On top of that, she’s just a gem of a human and I always enjoy chatting with her about all things brand impact.  In our conversation we get int...

Wallace J. Nichols, or J as he’s better known to friends and family, is the author of the book Blue Mind: The Surprising Science that Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do. His book, and his continual work on spreading its message, sparked a global Blue Mind movement that I hope will keep rippling out for decades to...

Hey everyone, we’ve got another legend on the pod today - Chris Burkard. Chris is a master storyteller, adventurer, and world class Nature Junkie. His jaw dropping photography takes us to some of the most remote and raw places on the planet, he has a TED talk that will motivate you to get way out of your comfort zone, he’s made several award winning films, and his beautiful photo essay books grace...

Krystle Wright is an adventure photographer, cinematographer, and director from Australia. To Krystle, the world has no boundaries, and she will do whatever it takes to shoot from her unique perspective— whether that means hanging from remote, sketchy cliff edges, swimming through jagged, unexplored canyons, or trudging for days through gnarly weather to chase storms, often wearing flip flops. In...

Grant Trebilco, battled with mental health challenges for years without seeking treatment, and was hospitalized in 2012, diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a manic episode. The ocean, surfing and good people were Grant’s lifelines through tough times after he was released from the hospital. After hiding his mental health challenges for years, he decided it was time to start talking and sharing...

Dr. Adam Gazzaley is a neuroscientist, neurologist, inventor, author of the book The Distracted Mind , a nature photographer, entrepreneur, and investor. He’s the founder and executive director of Neuroscape, and the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology, and Psychiatry at UCSF.  He’s also the co-founder and Chief Science Advisor of Akili at Jazz Venture Partners, he’s...

Dr. Adam Gazzaley is a neuroscientist, neurologist, inventor, author of the book The Distracted Mind , a nature photographer, entrepreneur, and investor. He’s the founder and executive director of Neuroscape, and the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology, and Psychiatry at UCSF.  He’s also the co-founder and Chief Science Advisor of Akili at Jazz Venture Partners, he’s...

Serge Dedina leads the international team at WILDCOAST, the non-profit that he co-founded in 2000. A former California State Parks Ocean Lifeguard, Serge was elected to two terms as Mayor of Imperial Beach, California from 2014-2022. His innovative coastal and ocean conservation work has been reported on by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NBC News, Washington Post, BBC, NPR, Wall Street Jou...

Ben Goldfarb is an independent conservation journalist. His new book Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet was named one of the best books of 2023 by the New York Times. He’s also the author of Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter. He’s the winner of the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. His writing has appeared in The Atlan...

Welcome! Water photography has been a deep passion of mine for the last decade, which is why I’m stoked to share that we have one of the greats on the show today - San Diego’s Todd Glaser. Todd was a staff photographer at Surfer magazine for over a decade where he landed more than a dozen covers. When Kelly Slater and Rob Machado want to make images, they give Todd a call. As an artist he has amaz...