The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

What if one of the best tools for raising capable, confident kids is already sitting in your kitchen?

In this episode, Ginny talks with Jack and Emmy Zhang, founders of Cooking for Levi and authors of Weeknight Winners: Family Dinners, about how cooking alongside their five-year-old son, Levi, has become about so much more than food. What started with Jack sharing his love of cooking has grown into a family rhythm that builds connection, confidence, curiosity, language, and real-world skills.

Jack and Emmy share practical ways to involve kids in the kitchen—even when they're yo...

Ginny welcomes midwife and longtime friend Beth Barbeau of Indigo Forest back for her tenth appearance to continue their conversation about birth, motherhood, and the often-overlooked postpartum season. Ginny shares the story of her third and final home birth and reflects on the different lessons each birth taught her—from realizing her body wasn’t broken, to seeing how small changes can dramatically affect outcomes, to discovering a deeper sense of confidence, surrender, and trust in herself.

The conversation then turns to what Beth calls the “fourth trimester” and why mothers and babies need far more rest, support...

Ginny Yurich sits down with Active Skin Repair founder Justin Gardner to talk about the surprisingly simple product that has become a go-to in the Yurich household for the inevitable cuts, scrapes, bug bites, burns, and skin irritations that come with an active childhood. Justin explains the science behind hypochlorous acid—a molecule naturally produced by the body’s immune system—and how he helped bring a medical-grade version of the technology from hospitals into everyday family life.

They explore why formulation matters, how Active Skin Repair can replace a cabinet full of single-use products, and why its no...

Ginny Yurich sits down with acclaimed designer Jean Stoffer and her daughter Grace Start for a conversation that reaches far beyond beautiful homes. Jean shares the remarkable, decades-long journey from earning $3.85 an hour at an interior design firm to building Jean Stoffer Design and Stoffer Home alongside her family—a story filled with unexpected turns, new skills, big risks, and a willingness to keep asking, “Why not try?” Along the way, Jean and Grace offer a refreshing picture of what can happen when parents recognize the unique gifts of their adult children and make room for them to contribute, grow...

Ginny Yurich sits down with psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Rick Hanson to talk about a truth mothers desperately need to hear: you deserve to be happy and healthy, too. Drawing from his new book A Happy Healthy Mom, co-written with his wife, Jan Hanson, Rick explains why motherhood can be profoundly depleting, and why caring for mothers is one of the most important ways we can care for children.

Together, Ginny and Rick explore practical ways to lower demands, increase support, and build resilience during the motherhood years. They discuss the invisible workload many mothers carry...

What if the secret to a calmer home isn’t organizing more—but taking more away?

Ginny sits down with New York Times bestselling author Myquillyn Smith to talk about her new book, House Hushing, and a refreshingly different approach to decluttering. Myquillyn introduces “backwards decluttering”: temporarily removing the visual noise from a room before deciding what deserves to come back. The goal isn’t a picture-perfect minimalist home, but one with enough margin to handle the beautiful mess of real life.

From empty kitchen counters and warmer lighting to meaningful collections, rounded edges, natural elements...

What happens when a kid who simply loves to draw grows up to create some of the most recognizable cartoons of a generation? Ginny sits down with legendary animator Butch Hartman, creator of The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom, to talk about creativity, storytelling, faith, and why developing real skills still matters—even in the age of AI. Butch shares how his father encouraged his artistic gifts, his unlikely path from Michigan to Hollywood, and the years of learning that eventually allowed him to become not just an artist, but a writer, producer, director, and entrepreneur.

Butch al...

What if the key to motivating young people isn’t lowering expectations—but changing the way we lead them? In this episode, Ginny sits down with Dr. David Yeager, author of 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People, to explore what’s really happening during the surprisingly long developmental window from puberty through the mid-20s.

Dr. Yeager explains why young people are especially sensitive to respect and social status—and how parents, teachers, coaches, and employers can use a “mentor mindset” that combines high expectations with genuine support. They also unpack a counterintuitive approach to stress: instead of r...

What if some of the most incredible nature experiences aren’t across the world, but right outside your door? In this episode, Ginny talks with wildlife filmmaker and “America’s Nature Guy” Peter Schriemer about helping families rediscover the extraordinary wildlife, landscapes, and adventures hiding in ordinary places. Peter shares how a childhood filled with homeschooling, curiosity, and freedom outdoors eventually led to a career creating nature films, and why conservation begins with learning to love what’s in our own backyards.

Peter also takes us behind the scenes of his Beyond Your Doorstep series, exploring America’s often-over...

What if one of the simplest ways to sleep better, feel more alert, and support our health is something humans have been doing forever—following the sun? Ginny sits down with British science journalist Linda Geddes, author of Chasing the Sun, to explore how profoundly light shapes our bodies, from circadian rhythms and melatonin to mood, energy, and sleep.

Linda shares what happened when she increased her daytime light exposure and dramatically reduced artificial light at night—and how quickly her internal clock responded. They explore why even a gloomy day outdoors is far brighter than our indo...

What if the hardest parts of your childhood didn’t have to define the rest of your life? Ginny sits down with Emmy Award-winning producer, author, and entrepreneur Cassidy Gard to talk about her memoir, Cosmic Goodness: Surrendering the Shadows to Live in the Light. Cassidy shares how growing up amid addiction, emotional neglect, instability, and a lack of protection shaped her sense of self, and how she eventually began recognizing the invisible ways those experiences followed her into adulthood.

Cassidy’s story is also one of remarkable reinvention. At 17, she secretly completed an extra year of scho...

Being the person who holds everything together can often look like strength but sometimes you’ve lost yourself along the way. Dr. Alison Cook joins Ginny Yurich for a fascinating conversation about the inner patterns that drive us to overfunction, rescue, please, perfect, compare, and keep going even if some resentment has crept in.

Drawing from her fantastic new book, The Secure Soul, Alison explains the “controller” and “shadow” parts of ourselves, why old experiences of rejection and not belonging can still shape our reactions decades later, and how to notice the bids for connection coming from within ins...

What if one of the most common ways we reward kids is actually working against their energy, mood, and ability to learn? Ginny sits down with nutritionist and bestselling author Kelly LeVeque to unpack what happens inside a child’s body after a blood sugar spike—and why the constant stream of juice boxes, candy, sports snacks, classroom treats, and sugary rewards may matter more than we realize. Kelly explains blood sugar in refreshingly simple terms and shares how protein, fat, fiber, and whole-food carbohydrates can help kids stay more energized and regulated throughout the day.

The conv...

What do you want to leave behind - not just for the people you love, but in them? In this moving conversation, Ginny sits down with pastor and bestselling author Chris Hodges to talk about his book Legacy Letters: Timeless Principles I Learned, Lived, and Leave Behind. In Ginny's words, it's one of her favorite episodes ever!

Chris shares why reaching his sixties, raising five children, and becoming a grandfather to 12 (with another on the way) changed the way he thinks about success. Instead of simply building, he began asking what wisdom, habits, and values he wanted...

In this joy-filled episode, Ginny sits down with positive psychology expert Dr. Elaine O’Brien, author of The Power of Play, to explore why play isn’t just for kids—and why adults may need it more than we realize. Elaine explains how play supports us physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally, helping relieve stress, strengthen relationships, spark creativity, and bring more joy into everyday life. From adventurous and movement play to storytelling, puzzles, conversation, and simply having fun, this conversation expands our definition of what it means to play at every age.

Ginny and Elaine share wonderfully practi...

Walking may be one of the simplest things we do, but what if changing how we walk could improve our energy, balance, focus, and overall sense of well-being? Ginny sits down with Dr. Jacques MoraMarco and Dr. Yun Kim, authors of Walking Your Way to Vitality, to explore the powerful intersection of walking, breathwork, mindfulness, Tai Chi, and ancient East Asian medicine. They unpack the idea of “vitality”—physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being—and explain why prevention, rather than waiting until something goes wrong, is at the heart of their approach to health.

From walking backward to improve...

What if walking could change the way you see your entire life? Beloved author Sean Dietrich returns to the podcast to talk about his new memoir, I Would Walk 500 Miles, chronicling the month he and his wife, Jamie, spent walking the Camino de Santiago across Spain. What begins as a physical pilgrimage through mountains, mud, ancient villages, and crowded hostels becomes something far deeper like a journey into identity, faith, suffering, community, and what it means to discover who you really are.

Sean shares why hours of walking can create an unexpected kind of clarity, what he...

What if the biggest problem in your relationships isn’t what you’re saying—but the fact that the other person hears it completely differently? Licensed therapist and author Jason VanRuler joins Ginny to talk about his new book, Discovering Your Communication Type, and the five communication styles—Peacemaker, Advocate, Thinker, Harbor, and Spark—that shape how we connect, handle conflict, and respond under pressure.

Jason explains why great communication is often more about listening than speaking, why vulnerability gives others the opportunity to love us well, and how childhood experiences can shape the way we approach hard conve...

Life gets heavy for everyone. Max Lucado returns to the podcast for a conversation about resilience, purpose, burnout, and what keeps people moving forward when life feels uncertain. We talk about why seasons of waiting often shape us more than seasons of success, how remembering past victories builds confidence for future challenges, the surprising value of solitude in an always-connected world, and why courage is usually quieter than we imagine. It's a conversation about playing the long game in faith, family, and life.

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Ginny Yurich sits down with National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Alastair Humphreys for a conversation that will change the way you see the world just outside your front door. From spending just fifteen intentional minutes outdoors each day to noticing the trees, birds, and forgotten places we've stopped seeing, Alastair shares why adventure begins with paying attention. This episode is full of hopeful, practical ideas for families who want to reconnect with nature, raise curious kids, and rediscover wonder in ordinary places. You'll never look at your neighborhood the same way again. Alastair also shares stories from his...

What if the hardest parts of your story aren't the end—but the beginning of God's redemption?

In this deeply moving conversation, Ginny sits down with bestselling author and radio host Susie Larson to explore how trust in God can transform even the most painful circumstances. Susie shares the remarkable story of overcoming childhood trauma, chronic illness, and decades of fear to discover a faith that is stronger than suffering. Together, they discuss why healing begins with knowing you're deeply loved, how the words we believe shape our lives, and why God's promises often become clearest in li...

Ginny sits down with Leslie Tyler of Pinwheel to talk about helping children develop self-control, good judgment, and genuine connection long before they ever have unrestricted access to technology. From the myth of finding the "perfect age" for a first phone to practical ways families can build healthy digital habits together, this conversation is packed with hopeful, realistic wisdom that leaves parents feeling equipped instead of overwhelmed. If you've ever wondered how to prepare your kids for a world that didn't exist when you were growing up, this episode will help!

Learn...

Some of the biggest challenges facing kids today have less to do with motivation and more to do with biology. Sleep scientist Dr. Joseph Dzierzewski from the National Sleep Foundation explains why nearly half of American children aren't getting the sleep they need, why teenagers are being asked to learn at the worst possible time of day, and how a lack of sleep affects everything from mood and learning to mental health and even car accidents. Ginny and Dr. Dzierzewski also dive into daylight saving time, homeschooling, outdoor light, screen habits, and the connection between getting outside and better...

Everyone is talking about what AI can do but this is an episode about what AI might be doing to us... and also why it tries to be so engaging. Trauma surgeon Dr. Jeremy Heffner shares the remarkable story behind his new book, Proof of the Impossible, weaving together his own recovery from PTSD with thousands of conversations he had with today's leading AI models. We explore why these systems are designed to keep us engaged, how they learn to mirror and influence human behavior, why authenticity may become our most valuable resource, and what every parent should understand...

Leadership isn't just for CEOs, pastors, or business owners—it begins at home.

In this conversation, Ginny sits down with bestselling author and leadership expert Andy Stanley to explore the timeless principles from his new book, What Great Leaders Do. While written for organizational leaders, Andy shares why these lessons may be just as transformative for parents.

Together they discuss the difference between problems that can be solved and tensions that must be managed, why trusting intuition often matters more than having all the answers, how to pursue clarity when certainty isn't possible, and why th...

Children today have more comfort, more entertainment, more therapy, and more technology than any generation before them so why are they struggling so deeply? Jonathan Eckert, director of the Baylor Center for School Leadership and author of The Happiness Crisis, shares a perspective every parent needs to hear: the relentless pursuit of happiness may actually be standing in the way of joy. We talk about why struggle is essential, how overprotecting children can leave them less resilient, why community matters more than ever, what AI and social media are doing to the next generation, and how simple things like...

Brandon Webb knows what it takes to perform under extreme pressure. As a combat-decorated Navy SEAL sniper instructor, entrepreneur, and bestselling author, he's spent a lifetime studying resilience. But in this conversation, he explains why the greatest test of leadership isn't on the battlefield—it's at home.

Drawing from his new book Puddle Jumpers, Brandon shares the practical parenting principles that helped him raise independent, confident, and emotionally resilient children. He and Ginny explore why kids need opportunities to fail, how small acts of independence build lifelong confidence, the surprising power of visualization and positive psychology, and wh...

Twenty years after the release of The Jesus Storybook Bible, Sally Lloyd-Jones joins Ginny for a heartfelt conversation about the unexpected journey behind one of the most beloved children's Bibles ever written, and why the way we tell children about God matters more than we often realize.

Sally shares the personal experiences that shaped her writing, from growing up with an image of a demanding God to discovering the overwhelming kindness and love at the heart of the gospel. Together, they explore why stories have the power to reach children (and adults) in ways that lessons never...

When we teach children to trust their feelings, we give them one of the most powerful tools they'll ever have for staying safe.

In this important conversation, Ginny sits down with attorney, child wellness advocate, and author Joy Stevenson-Laws to explore why feelings—not rules—are often a child's first line of defense. Inspired by her own family's experience, Joy explains how children process the world through emotions long before they can fully understand logic, and why validating those feelings can create the trust children need to speak up when something doesn't feel right.

Together they...

What happens after the miracle?

Paralympic gold medalist, ESPN broadcaster, Dancing with the Stars finalist, and bestselling author Victoria Arlen joins Ginny Yurich for one of the most honest conversations she's ever had about life after survival. Victoria shares the unimaginable story of spending four years trapped inside her own body with two rare neurological conditions before relearning how to walk, swim, and ultimately compete on the world stage.

But this conversation goes beyond the comeback story. Victoria opens up about the hidden cost of trauma, the pressure of being called an inspiration, the mental...

Some of the best family memories start with things going completely off the rails. Father-daughter duo Marty Ohlhaut and Grace Ly join Ginny Yurich to tell the hilarious, harrowing, and surprisingly moving story behind Tent for Seven, their memoir about a family camping trip filled with lost hiking boots, packed campgrounds, a washed-out road, a terrifying injury, two knocked-out teeth, bears, and strangers who seemed to show up at exactly the right moment. Somehow, the trip that went so spectacularly wrong became part of what held their family together. This conversation is a reminder that we don’t need pe...

What if raising capable, confident children could feel less like a constant power struggle, and more like a partnership?

In this episode, Ginny welcomes Simone Davies, Montessori educator and co-author of The Montessori Baby, The Montessori Toddler, and The Montessori Child, for the podcast’s first-ever conversation about Montessori parenting.

Simone explains how Montessori principles can be used at home to help children grow in independence, responsibility, curiosity, and confidence. She shares why parents are meant to be guides rather than bosses or servants, how a thoughtfully prepared environment can reduce nagging and conflict, and wh...

Movement isn't a distraction from learning—it's one of the ways children learn best.

In this conversation, Ginny sits down with educator and author Mike Huber to explore why rough-and-tumble—or "whole body"—play is one of childhood's most misunderstood and essential experiences. Drawing from decades of classroom experience and research, Mike explains how movement helps children develop self-regulation, social awareness, empathy, confidence, and even the ability to focus and learn.

Together, they unpack the difference between healthy risk and hidden hazards, why today's children often lack meaningful agency over their own movement, and how physic...

In a culture that celebrates hustle and constant productivity, is it actually possible to succeed at work without sacrificing the rest of your life?

In this episode, Ginny sits down with Megan Hyatt Miller - CEO, author, speaker, and host of The Double Win Podcast, to explore why overwork has become the norm and what it looks like to build a life where both your career and your family can thrive.

Megan shares her personal journey from stay-at-home mom to business leader, explaining how raising children with significant needs forced her to rethink traditional ideas...

In this heartfelt conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with beloved Bible teacher Anne Graham Lotz (daughter of Billy Graham) and her daughter, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright, to explore the timeless story of Joseph through their new book, God Won't Leave You There. Together they unpack what Joseph's life teaches us about trusting God through unexpected hardship, betrayal, seasons of waiting, and life's sudden detours.

From devastating setbacks to remarkable redemption, Anne and Rachel-Ruth share deeply personal stories of cancer, heart attacks, and family trials, revealing how God remained faithful in their darkest moments. They discuss the importance of...

What if the hobbies you love aren't distractions from your purpose—but part of it?

In this conversation, Ginny sits down with Brianna Lambert, author of Created to Play, to explore why God designed us not only to work, but also to create, collect, restore, cook, play games, make music, build, and delight in the world around us. Together they unpack how our hobbies can deepen our faith, strengthen our relationships, cultivate patience and humility, and remind us that we were never meant to live by productivity alone.

Whether you're a maker, a gardener, a co...

The person who delivers your baby can shape far more than what happens on the day your baby is born. Beth Barbeau is back for her ninth conversation on the podcast, and this time I’m finally telling the story of my first home birth after two C-sections and what that experience taught me about my body, motherhood, and the kind of care women need before, during, and after birth. We talk about the differences between OBs, midwives, and doulas, why the relationship with your provider matters so much, what I wish I had understood about postpartum recovery, and wh...

What if one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the opportunity to struggle?

Bestselling author Jessica Lahey joins Ginny for a powerful conversation about two of the biggest challenges facing families today: raising capable, independent kids and protecting them from a culture of addiction. Drawing from her books The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation, Jessica explains why our instinct to protect children from discomfort can unintentionally rob them of confidence, resilience, and the ability to solve problems on their own.

They discuss why kids need real responsibility, how unstructured...

Every great story leaves you different than it found you. Filmmaker Chris Dowling joins Ginny to talk about the art of telling stories that make people laugh, think, and see the world a little differently. They dive into his new faith comedy Bad Counselors, why summer camp is the perfect setting for transformation, what it takes to make a movie that feels honest instead of preachy, and why choosing presence with your family is sometimes the greatest creative decision you can make. Whether you love movies, care about raising great kids, or simply appreciate a story that stays with...

The fertility crisis isn't just about adults who are trying to have a baby. It may start years earlier than we realize. In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Ann Shippy shares why the everyday choices we make as families can shape not only our own health but the health of generations to come. Ginny and Dr. Shippy talk about environmental toxins, nutrition, stress, time outside, the surprising role dads play in fertility, and why she believes parents should already be thinking about protecting their teenagers' fertility. If you've ever wondered whether the little choices really matter, this episode offers both...