Nature Untold

Nature Untold

By Plug Tone AudioHealth & FitnessMental Health
Download on the App Store

Nature Untold episodes

  • Episode 4: Seasons of Sobriety with Carrie Hoffman

    Before we jump into the episode, in honor of Black History Month, we are announcing a fundraiser + gear giveaway to support The Loveland Foundation. From their website:

    “The Loveland Foundation was established in 2018 by Rachel Cargle in response to her widely successful birthday wish fundraiser, Therapy for Black Women and Girls. Her enthusiastic social media community raised over $250,000, which made it possible for Black women and girls nationally to receive therapy support. Black women and girls deserve access to healing, and that healing will impact generations.

    The Loveland Foundation is the official continuation of this effort to bring opportunity and healing to communities of color, and especially to Black women and girls. Through fellowships, residency programs, listening tours, and more, ultimately we hope to contribute to both the empowerment and the liberation of the communities we serve.”

    During the month of February, we will be fundraising and trying to hit $500 worth of donations. If we hit $500, I will make my own donation of $250. In order to donate, please Venmo me directly @Emilyholland14 (we are doing it this was so that we do not have to pay a fee to use a fundraising site, and ALL of the money can go directly to the Foundation). Any person who donates will be automatically entered to win FREE UST Gear! These winners will be announced on March 2nd.

    Okay, now onto the show.

    Carrie Hoffman is an entrepreneur, Uyoga instructor, business-owner, outdoors enthusiast, and sober advocate. She owns a plot of land that folks can rent to ‘glamp’ and camp near the Grand Canyon in Williams, Arizona. She has traveled all over the world and has a beautiful perspective on what is waiting for you on the other side of deciding to be sober.

    In this episode, we discuss:

    • How Carrie came to her sober life
    • How each year of her sobriety has carried with it a different theme
    • What is in her recovery toolkit now
    • Woo woo universe stuff (yup, you read that right. Guess you’ll have to listen to find out what that means)
    • Her joyful memories of yoga teacher training
    • How her drinking was numbing her potential for a fuller, more fulfilling life
    • What she gets up to in the Grand Canyon
    • Resources mentioned in this episode:

      • Refuge Recovery Program
      • Catch up with Carrie:

        • Carrie’s Instagram
        • Her business Instagram
        • Website
        • Thank you, as always, for listening to this episode. Please free free to follow along on the show’s Instagram, our private Facebook group, or wherever you’d like.

          56 min
        • Episode 3: Connection is Everything with Chris Marshall

          Chris Marshall lives in Austin, Texas and is the owner and founder of Sans Bar, a sober gathering place. He started this company to curate sober positive social experiences for everyone. He is now creating outdoor experiences for people craving healing and connection called ‘Fireside Connections.’ Chris has been sober nearly 15 years and shares his story with us in this episode.

          In this episode, we discuss:

          • Chris’ favorite non-alcoholic drinks as of late
          • Chris’ perspective on time-sober as a metric and how we may want to look beyond simply how much time you’ve been sober as your success metrics
          • The importance of having goals AND also celebrate growth in the moment
          • The magic in saying ‘no’
          • How everyone’s sober story is incredibly unique
          • Chris’ definition of sobriety for him and how it includes any sort of external influence that is used to solve an internal problem, including relationship and people
          • His childhood growing up with a father with schizophrenia
          • How childhood memories can be linked without any causality and how to undo some of the linkages we have with traumatic events in our lives
          • How alcohol made Chris feel connected for the first time in his teen life and how it quickly became a point of disconnection for him
          • Why it is important to keep talking openly and honestly about our trauma, pain, healing and sobriety - because we never know what might stick with someone and change their lives for the better
          • How impactful one trip to Seattle was for Chris and his sobriety
          • Chris’ recommendation for diversifying our sober influences and seeking out other perspectives
          • His new venture, Fireside Connections, which brings people out to camp, many times for the first time, and connect throughout a weekend
          • Chris’ advice on how to make our sober communities more inclusive
          • Resources mentioned:

            • Chris’ Business:

            • Sans Bar

              Instagram
            • Instagram accounts to follow:

            • Sober Black Girls Club

              Murdamex

              Sobriety Queen Connie

              Sober Voices
            • Event:

            • Sober Voices Summit
            • Podcast:

            • Sober Sessions


              54 min
            • Episode 2: One Breath At A Time with Shannon Walton

              Shannon Walton is an incredible human. She worked as an outdoor guide for many years, before entering a more traditional outdoor industry job, but now, she is the Executive Director of the Redside Foundation. Their mission is to support the health and strength of the Idaho guiding community. Shannon is more on the sober-curious side of the spectrum, going long bouts of time without substances, but not totally abstaining. She shares with us her way of coming to curiosity about her body and mind.

              In this episode, we discuss:

              • What the Redside Foundation is and why Shannon got involved
              • Metaphors from rivers (and how Emily knows nothing about rivers)
              • Her 12-year guiding career and the beauty that comes with guiding
              • Why mental health, suicidal tendencies and addiction are large issues for the guiding community
              • Why she and her co-organizers worked to create the Healthy Happy Hour at the Outdoor Retailer show
              • How being sober, whether you choose to or you need to, is a very brave act
              • If the stigma around addiction is lessening and how much more work we still have to do
              • How she transitioned from guiding to a 9-5 ‘desk’ job and what recalibration came with that
              • What nutritional therapy is and why Shannon wanted to go to school for it
              • Why it is bad to eat while you’re looking at screens
              • What her relationship with alcohol is like now
              • How it is OKAY to be sober curious and to explore your mind and body with curiosity
              • Why you should give yourself foregiveness
              • Resources mentioned:

                • The Redside Foundation
                • Book: Four Arguments For The Elimination of Television
                • Catch up with Shannon:

                  • Instagram
                  • Trigger Warning: It is important to note that treating mental health disorders is a complex and personal topic. There are many different proven approaches to treating a disorder, all of which are valid. A vital, life-saving component for some includes medication management. Receiving treatment, of any kind, for mental health has historically been stigmatized so it is up to us to end the stigma and support those around us.

                    56 min
                  • Episode 1: Unadulterated Joy with Paddy O'Connell

                    Paddy O’Connell is a professional chit-chatter and word nerd, a pow-hunting enthusiast, a dog dad, and a self-described addict. Paddy spent much of his adult life in repetitive cycles of addiction and pain, which all came to a head when he was 29. His story includes depression and trauma, but it also includes laughter and pure, joyful moments. He works every day at his sobriety and strives to show others how beautiful sobriety can truly be.

                    In this episode, we discuss:

                    • The Marvel universe (no, that’s not a typo)
                    • What life was like growing up in an Irish family in Chicago
                    • Where he got ‘the gift of gab’
                    • Eruptions of unadulterated joy
                    • The moments that led up to Paddy confronting his addictions
                    • The importance of supportive and loving community
                    • His experience with a treatment facility
                    • How he came into recovery to finally get a rest, but came out with the opportunity for a truly joyful and freeing life
                    • Why the most dangerous words in the English language are ‘I got this’
                    • How the outdoor community should celebrate vulnerability as much as we celebrate sending it
                    • Resources mentioned in this episode:

                      • Books:

                      • Between The World And Me

                        White Fragility

                        60 Meters To Anywhere
                      • Magazines:

                      • Freeskier

                        Adventure Journal
                      • Writer:

                      • Steve Casimiro

                        How to catch up with Paddy:

                        • Instagram
                        • Website
                        • Thank you, as always, for listening to this episode. Please free free to follow along on the show’s Instagram, our private Facebook group, or wherever you’d like.

                          1 hr 7 min
                        • Trailer

                          Welcome to the Nature Untold Podcast! This is the trailer for this new show.

                          This podcast tells stories of sobriety, addiction and recovery as they intersect with the outdoor community and industry.

                          In this trailer, we discuss:

                          • Who I am
                          • Why I wanted to start this show
                          • My sobriety story (the shortened version)
                          • The goal of this show
                          • What to expect from the upcoming season
                          • You can follow along the happenings with the show and beyond at the links below:

                            • Instagram
                            • Facebook Group
                            • Website
                            • Thank you so much for listening! Season One drops Tuesday, January 5th! So excited for you to hear it.

                              12 min

                            About Nature Untold

                            From the publisher's feed

                            A podcast that explores the world of sobriety, addiction, recovery, and everything in between in the outdoor community and industry. Our goal is to normalize the discussion around these topics and offer nuanced stories that change perspectives. Started by Emily Holland, hosted by John Holdmeier.