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.

• Getting okay with growth
• Noticing when it's coming
• Embracing what it brings

Listen to this episode of Humans Outside 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: [00:35] Here's a highly philosophical observation about the sun

[01:28] We've got some signs of spring up in here

[02:31] Let's get aware of seasons

[03:11] No solar eclipse here, but we do have seasons changing

[03:29] There's sun and I'm not mad about it

[04:00] Just over here learning from nature for my inside life, once again

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 Nicole talk about staying stafe outside in this "best of" episode.

Connect with this episode:

Visit Nicole Snell's website

Visit Nicole's Girls Fight Back website

Watch Nicole's Outdoor Defense YouTube series (it's really good!)

Book a one-on-one session with Nicole

Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn

Follow Nicole and Girls Fight Back on Facebook

Follow Nicole on Instagram

Follow Girls Fight Back on Instagram

Join the Humans Outside Challenge

Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

Some of the good stuff:

[4:06] Nicole Snell's favorite outdoor space

[4:52] How Nicole became someone who likes to go outside

[7:16] How she got into self-defense

[14:05] Why people (often women) feel unsafe alone outside

[20:12] What self-defense tools should people use?

[26:54] What we mean when we say "use your words."

[28:55] Why she didn't say "I'm sorry"

[31:57] The role of intuition

[37:41] How to make the outdoors more safe for everyone

[41:10] Top three tips for self-defense in nature

[44:41] Nicole's favorite outdoor memory

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!

Connect with this episode:

Join the Humans Outside Challenge

Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Listen to Alastair Humphrey's episode on Humans Outside

Listen to my episode about my scary Grand Canyon trip

Some of the good stuff:

[00:35] Tree Hugging as Gratitude

[01:20] Grounding Experience of Tree Hugging

[01:41] Winter Contrast and Appreciation in Seattle

[02:49] Monthly Sit Spot Reflection

[03:08] Observations and Gratitude for Trees

[04:36] Emotional and Sensory Connection with Nature

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!

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] Signs of spring and easter

[1:19] Here's where I see new life in nature

[1:58] Excuse me winter, please leave permanently

[2:21] Here's some personal symbols I see

[2:48] Why I look to the birds

[4:12] And why you should find your own symbols

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 organizations and executives. With an industrial and organizational psychology master's degree, she works with her clients to lean on nature in and out of the city, a concept also shares in her new book "Turn to the Sun."

In this episode of Humans Outside Brittany talks about:

• Finding nature wherever you are
• The gifts of an outdoor habit in an urban environment
• How noticing nature can raise awareness for other things

Listen now!

Connect with this episode:

Visit Brittany Gowan's website Read Brittany's book "Turn to the Sun" (affiliate link)Follow Brittany on Facebook Follow Brittany on Instagram Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Some of the good stuff:

[2:17] Brittany Gowan's favorite outdoor space

[4:02] How Brittany became someone who likes to go outside

[4:57] How do people react to the idea of nearby nature?

[6:02] Ways to find natures in the city

[8:23] Why birds are cool for this

[10:59] How to build awareness for nature in a city

[13:06] How to create space for nature

[15:03] The art of nature visualization

[22:53] Do houseplants move you towards nature?

[28:00] The top thing Brittany has learned through her outdoor practice

[34:01] Brittany's favorite outdoor moment

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:

• Sacrificing other things you want/need to do
• Living with the discomfort of flexibility
• Preparation and vision

But is it worth it? Yes.

Listen to this episode to hear more 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] Just a little introvert dilemma

[1:06] Answering the call of adventure despite inconvenience

[2:56] You're going to have to make some sacrifices

[3:40] Some of them will be related to flexibility

[5:07] Regrets? None so far.

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 letter about the power of sunshine

[1:52] Remember back like two weeks ago when you thought you were done for?

[2:22] It's all about powering through to the light

[3:27] Will I ever get the memo?

Connect with this episode:

Join the Humans Outside Challenge

Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

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 have had a similar problem, maybe we need someone to help us avoid it happening again.

Enter: Luc Mehl and Sarah Histand, adventure experts who happen to be married to each other.

You've probably heard Sarah here before, bringing insight on adventuring in ways that feel safe. Luc is a trip planning expert who has done major expeditions in Alaska and teaches courses on heading into the wilderness while having fun and not dying. Together they're the perfect pair to help us with this problem.

In this episode hear:

• Luc's advice for building a solid adventure group
• What to do if you're stuck on adventure with someone who is falling apart
• How to be kind to yourself (and others) while deal with the whole thing.

Listen now!

Connect with this episode:

Check out coaching with Sarah on Mind & Mountain

Take one of Luc's cool adventure courses

Follow Sarah on Instagram

Follow Luc on Instagram

Join the Humans Outside Challenge

Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Some of the good stuff:

[3:33] Sarah's favorite outdoor space

[4:04] But wait, Luc has a different favorite

[4:50] Luc and Sarah's outdoor stories (plus, how they met)

[8:05] What is risk management and why is it important?

[11:04] It sounds harsh, but are there simply people who shouldn't be invited on adventures?

[12:20] How to figure out who is the right fit for your trip

[13:45] What to do when you thought your had it figured out, but actually you did not

[17:41] The role of people picking in trip planning

[20:24] What to do when you get into the adventure and now you've got real problems

[26:45] The fear of offending someone

[29:29] Think about it as "carrying pride"

[32:28] So you're in a bad situation. Here's what to do next.

[37:50] The rumors are true: don't leave a buddy (or frienemy) behind

[41:40] How to avoid an emotional stress injury

[45:16] Luc and Sarah's favorite outdoor moments

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.

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'm betting you have some outdoor thing you hate. Don't be a hero about this.

[1:01] Here are some really good examples

[1:55] And here's the thing I hate, thank you.

[2:04] I need you to hang on while I get this off my chest.

[4:06] Obviously, it's not going to keep me inside

[4:34] Which means I have to take a few steps to move through it

[6:54] Here's a fun fact about Amy in March

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.

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] Man-made destruction without warning

[1:45] I assumed it wasn't major. Boy was I wrong.

[2:55] Only Treebeard has the words for this

[3:45] These trees were my friends

[4:50] It feels like a heavy loss

[5:12] My bad for trusting anyone on the internet

[6:22] But I do think this is a universal experience