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With four years of running this podcast behind me, I’ve been thinking about what I have learned from this journey and the many, many guests I’ve interviewed. Inspiration. Thought-provoking lessons. A change in perspective. All of my interviews and outdoor hours have left a mark on me. But this year, those are not my favorite takeaways. Instead? It’s all about connections like the ones I talk about in this episode of my Outdoor Diary. Listen now! Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Nature for Everyone: Working for Outdoor Inclusivity and Respect (Brandi Small, inclusivity advocate and hiker) She Went Outside to Finish Her Dad’s Epic Bucket List and Found Big Things About Herself (Laura Carney, author and bucket list chaser) Canoeing the Entire Mississippi River to Shatter Barriers (Cory Maria Dack, Canoe guide and inclusivity advocate) She’s Conquering Trails with a Rare Brain Disease (Crystal Gail Welcome, BIPOC and disabled thru-hiker) Some of the good stuff: [:35] Four years = a lot of takeaways [1:33] But my favorite thing right now? Connections [1:35] And here’s a bunch of my favorite examples, near and far [3:15] My other favorite connections? It’s you, of course.

When life comes at you hard -- pain, trauma, injury, loss, grief -- the outdoors is there just waiting for you to use it for healing. You just have to go outside. That’s what Denali Strabel, a semi-professional mountain runner and life-long Alaskan has found as she navigates the wide variety of victories and challenges life has thrown at her. From addiction to the loss of her identical twin sister, Rubye, Denali knows that by keeping the mountains a part of her, she can move through pain. In this episode Denali gifts us a rare window into what it’s like to actively move through grief after loss while still in the thick of it as she's daily making the decision to heal and move. Hear Denali share how the mountains, ocean and running have been key in helping her with this challenge and so many others -- and learn how you, too, can lean on heading into nature to get through the hard stuff. Listen now. Connect with this episode: Follow Denali Strabel on Instagram Follow Rubye Blake (Denali’s identical twin) on Instagram In honor of Denali’s nephew, Gunnar Visit Denali’s website Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Some of the good stuff: [3:20] Denali Strabel’s favorite outdoor space [5:45] Denali’s outdoor story [8:35] What it’s like to grow up in Seward [12:31] About Mount Marathon [16:05] Using nature to recover [22:25] The importance of reconnecting with the outdoors [29:53] All about Rubye Blake, Denali’s identical twin sister [35:44] What it’s like to lose a twin [44:22] Advice for dealing with grief when you’re in the thick of it [53:44] Denali’s favorite outdoor memory

It’s a question I’ve heard several times over my more than 2,300-day outdoor streak: ‘what do you do if you’re sick?’ Since I’ve never missed a day, and I’ve definitely been sick more than once, you can easily guess that I still go outside. And fortunately the benefits I find there -- even though getting out in it takes extra effort -- make it all worth it. Of course they do. In this episode I talk about how (and why) I get outside even when I’m sick and down for the count. 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] You can tell when I’m sick -- probably [:59] But then you might assume this [2:11] I gotta get out there, but it’s winter, so… [2:37] The best thing about the 20-minute minimum [3:10] Plus, then I’m grateful

One of my favorite benefits of spending time outside is how doing so daily has worked to better my relationships, giving me space to grow them in the context of nature. But did you know nature can also help when a relationship ends -- that it can literally be a part of healing heartbreak? In this Best Of episode we hear from best-selling author Florence Williams about her up close and personal study on that topic. You might remember Florence from her work on one of her previous books, The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative. She joined us to talk about the book in a previous episode of Humans Outside. In her new book Heartbreak (and the immersive audio book) Florence pairs her own experience with the kind of research she’s known for, and in the process lays out a map for using nature to heal from a broken heart. Connect with this episode: Read or listen to Heartbreak by Florence Williams (affiliate link) Hear Florence Williams’ previous episode on Humans Outside  Listen to Amy and Luke Bushats with Florence on the Outside Magazine podcast Follow Florence Williams on Facebook Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook   Some of the Good Stuff: [4:33] Florence William’s favorite outdoor space [5:46] All about Florence’s heartbreak [7:00] The not entirely secret story of Amy’s heartbreak [8:53] Why heartbreak becomes a book [12:58] Why she decided to try a nature cure [17:01] What she tracked for her project [23:00] Exactly how to heal heartbreak by going outside [29:00] Can healing happen close to home? [32:55] Why this is all actually really simple -- but not immediate  [40:05] One surprising thing Florence learned  

It was a sad closing to the week in my house as we said “goodbye” to our dog of 12 years. We brought so much joy to each other. But it was time to let her go. Chloe was there when I first started spending time outside for nature’s sake, so remembering her in an episode seemed like the least I could do to honor her place in our lives and the joy dogs bring so many of us. She was a very good girl. Terrible breath; but such a good girl. This one is for her. Connect with this episode: Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Some of the good stuff: [:42] It was harder than I thought it would be [1:30] What kind of dog is she? [2:04] All about best good girl, Chloe [4:18] Ever tried to write news stories while a dog snores? [5:19] Please, pet a dog

Every now and then you run across something that captures your imagination while giving you a connection to an outdoor experience you loved. That’s exactly how I felt the first time I came across one of the National Park posters designed by amateur parks historian Ranger Doug Leen and his team of artists and creators. The colors, design and connection to the past reminded me of all of the work and drama that went into protecting the lands I had come to love -- and why doing so is important. Many other collectors and park enthusiasts feel just as I do about the prints -- and the mystery and chase around creating them. In this episode Ranger Doug, so-called ‘Ranger of the Lost Art,’ tells the story of chasing down the historic park prints, creating new ones in their style and why these connect visitors to the national parks they love. Listen now. Connect with this episode: All about Ranger Doug’s art Buy the Ranger of the Lost Art table top book Follow Ranger Doug on Facebook Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Some of the good stuff: [2:10] Talking to Doug Leen from here [3:44] Ranger Doug’s outdoor story [5:53] A career that took him all sorts of place [7:48] How he became ‘Ranger of the Lost Art’ [16:21] What these posters look like [20:27] Why people like the posters [22:29] How the posters connect us with the parks [27:22] How people can support this work [30:17] Doug’s favorite outdoor space

Wondering if you really do have time for that epic outdoor adventure in the middle of your otherwise normal life, or not quite sure if you can make it happen? That’s how I felt recently while trying to balance my desire to head out for an ice skating trip to a glacier with having 1 million surely very important things to do. Did I actually have time? Would I be dropping too many balls by going? The answer, of course, was that, yes, I had time. You have time to add some fun to your schedule, too. And in this episode I share some ideas for making it happen. 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] My brain said no but my heart said go [1:32] The work I’ve been doing on my brain [2:31] Epic things come when you make the time [2:44] A series of three helpful tips for making time for epic stuff during normal life

How do you handle zero-fun outdoor time? Push through and get the goal anyway before calling it quits? Wrap it up and head back to the car? Beat yourself up about quitting? Know that it’s OK? This week on a mountain adventure with a few friends I found myself having zero fun time. The whole thing just didn’t feel right. And I was big done. So what did I do? 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: [:46] OK, so I like a challenge [:59] But even I have to draw a line [1:55] So I started trying to work with my nervous system [2:48] But you know what? No. [3:44] Here’s the permission we didn’t need but we have anyway

How well do you know the outdoor areas near your home? I don’t just mean the obvious spots, I mean all of the spaces. And what would happen if you took the time to truly and deeply explore them? That’s something British adventurer and author Alastair Humphreys set out to discover as part of a personal project that turned into his new book, Local. Dividing the region into one-kilometer grid squares, Alastair systematically experienced all of the outdoor spaces near his urban home, and in the process became not only more familiar with where he lived, but also grew a deep appreciation for the nature around him found in some of the most unlikely places. In this episode you’ll hear all about Alastair's truly local adventure, plus some of the simple benefits of taking time to enjoy everything -- the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful -- that nature has for you close to home. Listen now! Connect with this episode: Follow Alastair Humphreys on Facebook Follow Alastair on Instagram Visit Alastair’s website Buy Alastair Humphrey’s new book, Local (affiliate link)   Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Some of the good stuff: [3:08] Alastair Humphrey’s favorite outdoor space [4:02] Alastair’s outdoor story [5:46] What “Local” is about -- project and book [8:37] What is “nearby nature?” [10:35] For the record, I don’t have this outside my window [11:38] What did Alastair find during his project that surprised him? [15:21] Embracing technology to make outside time better [17:59] The inspiration to fix problems [21:55] A mind shift to gratitude and curiosity [26:12] Taking the time for adventures big and small [28:36] How anyone can get started on a project like Local [34:03] Alistair’s favorite outdoor moment

If you’ve been keeping your outdoor habit for awhile just like me, you might be looking for a way to give it a little boost. Or maybe you’re new to this, but want to add a little spice or specific outings to your outdoor life. If that’s you, this easy new outdoor habit I’m trying this year is probably the perfect fit. It’s a simple, low time commitment and interesting option and I can’t wait to see how it goes over the coming months. Want to join me? Learn all about it in this episode of Humans Outside. Listen now! Connect with this episode: About Alister Humphrey’s “year in a tree” Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Some of the good stuff: [:28] I was worried about getting stuck in a rut [:54] I was curious about forest bathing [1:22] And then I heard this idea from Alastair Humphreys -- brilliant! [2:19] How I picked my own version [3:24] Here’s what I picked [4:05] Here’s what I did while I was there [5:04] You should do this, too!

One of my favorite things I’ve gained from heading outside every day? The discovery that I have an incredibly useful superpower. No, it’s not x-ray vision, time travel or flying, which is a bummer because those would all be very cool. It’s a move power -- the power to make myself do things I don’t want to do. And you cannot imagine how helpful this superpower is in all sorts of circumstances. I think you have a superpower, too. Let's figure out what it is. 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] I was here when I remembered my superpower [1:14] This is my superpower and why I love it [2:35] I think you have a superpower, too -- here’s what it might be [3:29] Why these superpowers matter

If new habits or a wellness practice refresh is on your mind, you’re in good company. The start of a new year or new season often feels like the perfect time for a refresh. But if you’re going to squeeze in a new helpful habit or practice, you might need to phase out an old, less-helpful one. And that’s easy to say, but hard to do. In this episode of Humans Outside, wellness coach and habit expert Sarah Hays Coomer walks us through how to build good habits and get rid of old ones while talking through practical examples of how to make it happen. Listen now! Connect with this episode: Visit Sarah Hays Coomer’s website Read Sarah’s Forbes column Follow Sarah on Instagram Follow Sarah on Facebook Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook   Some of the good stuff: [2:54] Sarah Hays Coomer’s favorite outdoor space [4:28] How Sarah became someone who likes to go outside [7:12] A little bit on the nuts and bolts of habits [9:29] Some practical habit building [14:41] The seasons of habits [18:20] The cruel irony of flexibility vs. consistency [19:30] Why some habits are hard to break [22:23] What a growth mindset has to do with it [24:00] The curiosity factor [28:30] Microdosing wellness [31:00] Fitting in the stuff you know you like even when the internet calls your name [34:18] Breaking out of a ‘bad’ habit [37:16] You really do have time [39:52] Sarah’s favorite outdoor moment