Humans Outside

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.

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Join the Humans Outside Challenge

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Some of the good stuff:

[:45] The first thing you need to know

[1:00] What this means for endless light

[1:35] What I mean when I say I celebrate summer solstice

[2:28] Why I celebrate these things

[2:50] What the solstice means to me

[3:00] (Am I old?!)

[3:20] The patterns it brings

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'm excited to re-share this episode with you.

Connect with this episode:

Visit Cait Flanders' website

Buy Cait's book, Adventures In Opting Out: A Field Guide to Leading an Intentional Life

Buy Cait's book, The Year of Less

Listen to Cait's podcast

Follow Cait on Instagram

Some of the good stuff:

[3:22] Cait's favorite outdoor space

[4:54] How Cait became someone who likes to go outside

[7:59] All about her shopping ban

[16:46] Preparing for the stories you wish you were telling yourself

[18:38] The decision to opt-out

[24:37] The importance of helpers

[27:04] Where do you find such a helper?

[32:25] What hiking has to do with going outside

[36:56] Can you pursue life with a nature emphasis without opting out?

[41:00] Does spending time in nature help you understand your opt-out choices?

[43:27] Tips for opting out

[52:03] Cait's favorite outdoor gear

[55:34] Cait's favorite outdoor moment

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

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Some of the good stuff:

[:45] The place understanding created by going outside

[:55] A reminder that I love where I live (as if you forgot)

[1:39] Why a sense of place matters

[1:55] Lessons from a morning in town

[2:28] What other people have to do with this

[2:53] The emotional connection to the changes of nature

[3:40] The appreciation that drives it

[4:10] The safety of pattern

[4:30] The recent festival that was a reminder of all this

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 with those different kinds of summer heat can utilize different tricks, we've split this subject into two episodes: one on hot and dry and one on hot and humid.

In this episode Cassidy Feltenberger, an outdoor enthusiast who loves to play in the desert, shares her best tips for getting outside safely and comfortably in the dry, baking heat.

Connect with this episode:

Connect with Cassidy Feltenberger on Instagram

Connect with Cassidy Feltenberger on LinkedIn Join the Humans Outside Challenge

Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Some of the good stuff:

[3:00] Cassidy Feltenberger's favorite outdoor space

[4:09] How Cassidy became someone who likes to go outside

[6:15] How she learned to go outside in the heat

[7:45] How do you get used to it?

[13:07] What to wear in the heat

[16:15] But does anyone actually use the zip-off pant part?

[18:49] Making hot weather pants multi-season

[23:28] All about sunburns

[26:49] Hydrating and more

[31:33] All about the good snacks

[33:21] Keeping busy in the heat

[37:15] Secret sunscreen tip

[40:44] Cassidy's favorite outdoor gear

[41:53] Cassidy's favorite outdoor moment

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

Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

Some of the good stuff:

[:50] What makes for a great summer memory?

[1:08] Core memories are like this

[2:39] 2 things core summer memories have in common

[2:50] Here's the first thing

[3:30] Here's two examples

[5:00] Here's the second thing

[6:17] Testing the theory

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 Arkansas in the southern U.S. to share his best tips and tricks for getting outside and having a great time no matter how hot the weather gets.

Connect with this episode:

Visit ArkansasOutside.com

Find Joe on Arkansas Outside on Facebook

Follow Arkansas Outside on Instagram

Following Arkansas Outside on Twitter

Find Joe Jacobs on LinkedIn

Some of the good stuff:

[3:37] Joe Jacob's favorite outdoor space

[4:32] How Joe became someone who likes to go outside

[6:26] What Joe does outside now

[7:42] Just how hot is it in Arkansas?

[9:28] How to get used to that heat

[12:04] Is heat harder than cold?

[13:45] How to dress for the heat

[15:44] Why cotton is all the evil

[18:04] Comfort is key

[21:01] Baggy vs fitted clothes

[23:22] Finding the breeze

[24:58] The power of a fan

[26:02] The power of cold towels

[28:51] The importance of snacks

[34:01] Did you forget a hat?

[34:56] OK but what should you do when it's hot?

[40:44] You really will get used to it

[41:34] Joe's favorite outdoor gear

[44:13] Joe's favorite outdoor memory

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?

Adventure mom India Tate makes a lifestyle of getting out for adventures with her two little boys. And since she lives in Atlanta, Georgia, she knows what hot looks and feels like. In this episode she shares her best tips and tricks for making it through hot adventures with her family.

Connect with this episode:

Follow India Tate on Instagram

Follow India Tate on Facebook

Join the Humans Outside Challenge

Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Some of the good stuff:

[2:44] How India Tate became someone who likes to go outside

[6:12] How she started getting her kids outside, too.

[8:35] Mini golf league?

[10:24] Keeping kids cool through what they wear

[14:57] Keeping it cheap

[16:40] All about shoes

[18:00] We are strongly pro-snack

[23:40] Tricky water and hydration

[27:27] Getting ready for that hot weather

[32:48] Tricks for hot summer day fun

[38:40] How to get ready for all kinds of heat

[44:19] Favorite outdoor gear

[46:57] India's favorite outdoor moment

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

Episode 20: The Powerful Connection of Movement, Nature & Grief (Lisa Hallett)

Wear blue: run to remember Memorial Day registration

Some of the good stuff:

[:45] One thing to know about Amy

[1:12] Secret background of the original Humans Outside challenge

[2:09] Something for you to think about

[3:00] Where to find more about the Humans Outside challenge

[3:15] A new challenge for everyone around Memorial Day

[3:35] Why Memorial Day is important to Amy's family

[3:50] The point of Memorial Day

[4:25] How you can mark Memorial Day

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 think you've added them, how can you make them happen while balancing a modern life?

In this episode Micah Mortali, rewilding expert and dean of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership, shares his insights and tips of rewilding, mindfulness and even meditation. Author of the book "Rewilding, Meditations, Practices, and Skills for Awakening in Nature," Micah's extra-practical tips make a rewilding habit accessible for any outdoor-lover.

Connect with this episode:

Buy "Rewilding, Meditations, Practices, and Skills for Awakening in Nature" by Micah Mortali (affiliate link)Follow Micah's school, Kripalu, on Instagram Listen to Brene Brown talk with Dr. Amishi Jha about productivity and meditation Visit Kripalu's website Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Join the Humans Outside Challenge

Some of the good stuff:

[1:52] Why this recording is a little different

[2:41] Micah Mortali's favorite outdoor space

[4:41] Amy's regular moment of mindfulness

[5:16] What Micah thinks about that moment

[6:34] How Micah became someone who likes to go outside

[9:32] The spiritual connection of nature and how it's weird some religions are confused

[10:55] Other Christian faith traditions and nature

[13:42] What is "rewilding?" [20:45] How a nature draw plays out for city-dwellers

[23:35] Mindfulness and task-focus in nature

[29:56] The challenge of meditation for focused people

[32:22] How rewilding and mindfulness fit into a daily nature habit

[37:02] What the pandemic taught us about rewilding

[40:27] Simple tips for rewilding and mindfulness in nature

[42:47] Micah's favorite outdoor moment

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 Diary.

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] Good and bad habits

[1:10] The problem with ankles

[1:50] What Amy missed this month

[2:20] Things learned instead

[2:30] Risk is inevitable

[2:52] Get friends like this

[3:35] The important thing about seasons

[4:02] The good and not so good things about fireweed