Humans Outside

What is it about wilderness that draws us? And how do you find wilderness wherever you are?

Those are just two of the questions Jon Waterman, an author and adventurer best known for his work around Denali, the highest mountain in North America, tackles within the pages of his gorgeous new table-top book from National Geographic, Atlas of North America.

But this book sparks more than just awe for the wilds across the nation. In this episode Jon takes us on a journey through:

• The evolving definition of wilderness
• Why that definition and those places matter
• How we can experience the true essence of wild places

And yet wilderness isn't just about physical landscapes, Jon says. Learn why in this fascinating conversation. Listen now!

Connect with this episode:

Visit Jon Waterman's website

Check out his gorgeous new book, The Atlas of Wild America (affiliate link)

Follow Jon on Instagram

Follow Jon on Facebook

Join the Humans Outside Challenge

Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

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Some of the good stuff:

[2:26] Jon Waterman's favorite outdoor space

[3:35] How Jon became someone who likes to go outside

[6:26] Why Alaska is special to Jon

[7:06] Why wilderness matters

[10:36] What is wilderness, anyway?

[14:02] Did he leave anything out of the book?

[16:59] Did he almost skip including anything because it's just too special to him?

[22:22] Why going to wilderness is important

[28:30] How to get yourself into wilderness

[35:20] Why easy-access places are important, too

[37:22] Jon's favorite outdoor moment

When you love a daily schedule as much as I do, it can feel very risky to just drop what you're doing and chase a last-minute outdoor adventure. But sometimes that's just what the weather, conditions or mood calls for. And whether I seize the day or walk by the opportunity is up to me

I want to be someone who lives in the moment, knowing that I really do have time for outdoor adventures when they come calling. But was it so hard to remember that I do? And what happens when I step outside my comfort zone and go for it?

340: Why Is It Hard to Remember That I Do Have Time for Adventure? (Outdoor Diary)

Connect with this episode:

Join the Humans Outside Challenge

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Some of the good stuff:

[:35] It's "drop everything" conditions time

[2:04] Here are a bunch of reasons why I can't drop everything (actually they're excuses)

[3:09] A little bit about Nordic ice skating

[5:00] And then I did drop everything and go … twice

[6:41] Here's a few things I learned in the process

How can spending time outside change your perspective on self-care? And what if we've been thinking about self-care all wrong?

Scott Tatum is a self-care expert and new author who has carved a niche offering followers "friendly reminders" as he works on his own mental health. His new "Friendly Reminders" book offers an easy guide through the value of self-care, and in this episode he lays it all out for us, with a special emphasis on why it's important and the best way to find it and just why nature offers a spectacular map for making it happen.

This episode will help you get inspired to give your own value the priority it deserves, so that you can be better for everyone around you.

Listen now!

Connect with this episode:

Follow Scott Tatum on Instagram Connect with Scott on Facebook Read Scott's book, Friendly Reminders (affiliate link)Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Some of the good stuff:

[2:00] Scott Tatum's favorite outdoor space

[3:41] How Scott became someone who likes to go outside

[9:04] What is self-care?

[11:42] How is self-are different from self-worth?

[15:40] The limiting views of self-care that keep people down

[23:11] Why going outside is spiritual and physical experience and why that matters for self-care

[29:33] Steps for finding self-care outside

[33:35] Scott's favorite outdoor moment that is actually a whole human experience

Each and every time the weather starts to shift from pleasant and easy to cold, I forget how to get dressed. It's as if every lesson I've ever learned about layering and getting ready for heading outside when the temperature is below my favorite comfort zone just falls out of my head.

Don't be me.

Meanwhile, I'm out here being me so you don't have to. Catch my cautionary tale in this Outdoor Diary episode. 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:

[:45] My annual ridiculous problem

[1:08] Maybe we need an expert

[1:26] I… am cold.

[1:36] The problem

[2:35] We're gonna have to use the tools

[3:12] The hacks don't work unless you them

[3:49] Please take a note

What's it like to build your life around seizing the outdoors wherever you are, as if you're there on a clock?

That's how travel therapists Hailey and TR Jamar aka the Tie Dye Travelers live their lives as they work short-term contracts at spots around the U.S. with the goal of spending every spare second exploring nature wherever they are.

So how do they make it happen? And how can the lessons they've learned from living like this help you make the most of wherever you are regardless of how long you plan to be there? Hear their cool outdoor adventure stories and super useful advice in this fun episode of Humans Outside! Listen now.

Connect with this episode:

Visit the Tye Die Travelers website Connect with Hailey and TR on Facebook Follow the Tye Die Travelers on Instagram Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Some of the good stuff:

[1:59] Hailey and TR Jamar's favorite outdoor space [3:28] How they became people who like to go outside [6:51] The (important) meaning behind "Tie Dye Travelers" [8:39] Has traveling PTs always been a thing? [10:10] What working this way is like [14:18] Ever been tempted to say somewhere? [17:08] Ever feel like you've done it all? [20:04] Is checking off this list stressful? [21:03] What are some challenges to living this way? [25:34] What's the strategy for getting it all in? [32:09] The secrets to making it all happen

With my unexpectedly dangerous and near-disaster Grand Canyon hike two weeks in the rearview, I've been surprised by how raw I still feel, especially when it comes to facing discomfort outside near my house.

Is it normal to feel like this after a big scare? And why is it happening? If you missed the recap of my dangerous (and dramatic) Grand Canyon rim-to-rim adventure, you can hear it here -- plus I have a very important but easy thing that I really need your help with.

Hear it all 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] It's been two weeks since the canyon and I'm still feeling like this

[:46] First a short recap of what happened

[2:26] A thing I really do need your help with, pretty please

[4:01] I'm still feeling raw and here's why

[5:15] This is a human thing, and I'm good with that

[6:05] Here's your permission to experience this human thing, too

[7:04] No, but really please rate and review! Help a friend out.

The modern world is designed to make us continually chase more, more, more -- more stuff, more entertainment, more ease. But what if by realizing the triggers that feed into that more-ness you could not just break the cycle, but use it to make your life better, more fulfilling and have more time to do what you like, such as getting outside? The pattern that feeds into the more-ness is the subject of Michael Easter's new book "Scarcity Brain." After joining us in 2021 to talk about his book "The Comfort Crises," he's back to help us learn how to break out of the scarcity loop and instead move into a pattern of abundance.

In this episode you'll hear:

• All about "scarcity brain"
• How to break the scarcity loop by heading outside
• How to find an abundance loop instead

Listen now!

Connect with this episode:

Follow Michael Easter on Instagram Visit Michael's website and subscribe to his newsletter Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Some of the good stuff:

[3:46] Michael Easter's favorite outdoor space

[5:12] How Michael became someone who likes to go outside

[7:16] What is scarcity brain?

[11:53] Examples of scarcity loop in real life

[18:35] Shame and the scarcity loop

[20:37] What does an abundance loop?

[22:48] How to break the scarcity loop

[25:34] Why outside is great for this

[28:01] Ways Michael chooses abundance

[30:31] How it felt getting this secret out

[32:35] The connection between scarcity brain and getting uncomfortable

[36:30] Michael's favorite outdoor moment

You've been wondering what happened on the Grand Canyon trail that made it so hard to talk about. Now, after sitting with the story for more than a week, I'm ready to talk about it. Here's what went wrong, what I wish I had done differently beforehand and how we can all avoid being part of what causes this kind of problem in the future. Spoiler alert: honesty is the best policy -- with yourself and with others.

Hear the whole story -- or at least my side of it. Listen now.

Connect with this episode:

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Some of the good stuff:

[:35] I wish this story was about something different

[1:50] Here's what you need to know about the canyon hike

[3:10] Here's what training is for

[4:21] How our hike was set-up -- and what I should've known in advance

[7:35] Here's where things started getting very dangerous

[9:26] Finished at last

[9:40] The aftermath

[10:38] Two important lessons here

What happens when you mix a real, no kidding fear of going outside, a comedian, sharp wit and a no holds barred look at what's really going on with outdoor recreation gate-keeping? You get an honest, hilarious and confronting look at what heading outside means in America -- and how you can change that.

That's the theme of Ivy Le's narrative Spotify podcast FOGO, or Fear of Going Outside. Unlike basically every other guest I've ever had on Humans Outside, Ivy is definitely not outdoor-minded. But after trying outdoor stuff including camping and hunting, she's got some takeaways to share that we all need to hear.

Maybe the AI tool I use to help me with show notes says it best (or at least funniest). According to that tool, in this episode you'll hear about:

• The anecdote for attracting attention in a state park.
• Challenging traditional ideas of camping and encouraging exploration for people of color.
• Ivy's difficulty finding a nature store and going to REI instead.
• Acceptance of rats in New York City as sentient neighbors.

(OK, this AI tool is fired -- but you're intrigued, aren't you?)

Want to know what those takeaways have to do with anything? Listen now!

Connect with this episode:

Check out the FOGO podcast Follow Ivy on Instagram Follow Ivy on Facebook Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Some of the good stuff:

[2:32] Wherein we bond over plumbing [3:48] Ivy's favorite outdoor space [5:17] Making a show about going outside when you hate going outside [8:19] Did she find anything outside she actually likes? [10:30] When REI is something happens to you [13:30] The stuff she had to overcome to get out there [23:08] What has to happen to making getting outside less hard [27:08] Yes, she really tried hunting. Here's what happened. [35:43] What's really going on in the outdoor industry [42:19] Ivy's favorite outdoor moment, and she does actually have one.

The changing leaves and crisper air has me a little moody as I feel the last wisps of sunny weather and sunshine moving out of my grasp. I can be sad -- and believe me, I am.

But what happens if, instead, I'm excited? And how can a simple change in terminology change my perspective?

Consider this: instead of looking at the changes as a "termination" of what you love, look at them as a "anticipation" of what's to come.

Here's how that's changing my mood. 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] It's that time again whether you like it or not

[:50] Here are some of the symptoms

[1:19] A little terminology

[1:39] Followed by a shift in perspective

[2:36] Here are just some of the things I like

[3:26] No, I actually am excited