Humans Outside

When was the last time you thought about the way learning to notice and navigate changing seasons affects how you view your indoor life?

One of the best things about spending a lot of time outdoors is how it prompts you to pause and see how the world is shifting day by day. Are you ready for it? Are you taking it as it comes?

No matter how you approach the shift in seasons, one thing is certain: getting used to changes outdoors can teach you a thing or two about changes indoors.

Ready for solo adventure? Feeling safe?

Getting out there by yourself can feel like a real safety risk. I absolutely love going out alone, but I know it comes with pros and cons. 

But it doesn't mean I don't go. It just means I go empowered.

Nicole Snell, a safety expert and owner of Girls Fight Back who specializes in self-defense in the outdoors, has a different idea. In this episode she shares her best tips and tricks to empower you to get into nature solo while also staying safe. 

Hear Ni...

When did you last hug a tree? I mean literally, actually hug a tree?

Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but hang with me, because this silly thing has been recharging and reshaping how I feel about heading outside.

Listen now!   

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Listen to Alastair Humphrey’s episode on Humans Outside

Listen to my episode about my scary Grand Canyon trip

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The changing of seasons is the perfect time to look around for signs of changing life outside.

But what if instead of just seeing the signs, you looked at them as encouragement for your day? What if you saw them as symbols of hope that you can take with you or find whenever you need a little push through your day?

What would you choose?
How would it help you?

Learn about my chosen symbol in this episode of Humans Outside. Listen now!

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If you’ve ever spent time living in a major city, you know finding nature takes a lot more intentionality than if you spend all of your time in a rural environment. You might even think about experiencing nature in a city as happening in spite of the concrete jungle, not because of it.

But what if you flipped that on its head? What if you learned ways to appreciate nature because of the city it’s in?

That’s something today’s guest, Brittany Gowan, has become good at as part of her work coaching...

You know the photos don’t tell the whole story: doing something cool outdoors or going on an epic adventure takes work.

And I don’t just mean deciding where to go and then peeling yourself out of your house. I mean:

But is it worth it? Yes.

Listen to this episode to hear more now!

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You’d think after all of these days outside over years of keeping my outdoor habit, I’d have figured out that after feeling some kind of way in the winter, I am an entirely new person when the daylight comes back.

But no.

So this is a letter from current me to future me, based on the experience of past me. And I bet these me-s can you help you, too.

Listen now.

Some of the good stuff:

[:35] Dear all the Amys: listen up

[:48] This is a le...

Remember my rim-to-rim hike in the Grand Canyon that became a dangerous disaster after another member of the group put us all at risk? Yeah, that wasn’t great. But when I shared that story, I immediately received a parade of messages from Humans Outside followers and podcast fans with their own stories of outdoor misadventures caused by someone else’s poor choices.

There’s some comfort in knowing my experience wasn’t unique. But it also made me think maybe there’s a lesson there on what we can all do better next time. If so many of us...

There are just certain outdoor things that drive me absolutely bonkers. They make my nerves feel like tattered edges, especially if they’ve been going on for awhile.

And that’s a problem, because I am committed to getting outside every single day, no matter what. … and that “no matter what” includes stuff I don’t like, and even stuff I hate.

So what do I do when this happens? I take these three steps.

Listen now.

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They clear-cut part of my backyard trails and I’m devastated (Outdoor Diary)

When I heard the saws, I should’ve known it was not a good thing, not just a trail crew clearing wood downed on the trail.

I never guessed the loss those sounds were bringing. And when I saw it, I stood in disbelief.

I guess that’s the risk brought by loving something. When it’s taken away, a piece of you feels gone, too.

Listen now.

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