Out There

Explorer Christopher Venter lost his eyesight very suddenly, at age 40.

He was an avid traveler, and at first, he couldn't imagine going on with life, if he couldn't see. But eventually, he regained the will to live and the courage to explore the world.

On this episode, he takes us on a journey from Sicily to Southern France and shows us the world as he experiences it — with his other four senses.

The story comes to us from the Armchair Explorer Podcast, a show on which the world's greatest adventurers tell their best stories from the road. At the end of the episode, we talk with Armchair Explorer host Aaron Millar about his show, and his desire to cure our "wonder deficit," one story at a time.

For Further Reading: You can find Christopher Venter's books here.

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On this bonus episode, we take you behind the scenes at Out There and tell you about a challenge that we're facing as a podcast.

It's a challenge endemic to the professional world, and we need your help in rising to it. (Don't worry: we'll make it easy to get involved).

Contribute to the Out There Internship Fund: Venmo | Credit Card

If there's anything universal that most long-distance hikers dislike, it's road walking. Asphalt is hot, tough on joints and tiring.

But the edges of roads can offer as many lessons as any alpine ridgeline.

On this episode, Kitty Galloway tells the story of something that happened on a highway in Idaho, which shifted her worldview.

It's a story about confronting the narrative that women are vulnerable — victims in the making. And it's about strength, fear, and learning to accept that two opposing truths can be valid at the same time.

For Further Listening: If you enjoy this story, check out the episode "Acceptance."

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Growing up, Heather Kitching was enamored with rural life. She dreamed of living in the countryside, riding horses, wearing cowboy boots, and listening to country music.

But when she got a little older, she learned something about herself that threw a wrench into that dream. She realized that if she was going to be her true self, she'd need to leave behind the place she loved.

On this episode, she shares her story. It's a story that first ran a few years ago, but it's just as good now as it was then.

For Further Listening: If you enjoy this story, check out the episode "Out of the Shadows."

Better outside: What has gotten better since being moved outdoors due to the pandemic? Leave us a voice message, and we might use it on the show!

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Have you found yourself at odds with family members or close friends over diverging values? The past year has dredged up tensions over many issues — from racial justice, to proper pandemic behavior, to a highly politicized presidential election.

How do we nurture our relationships with loved ones, when the values that are central to our being are challenged?

On this episode, Stephanie Maltarich tells the story of a trip she took with her father in rural Ohio. The week they spent together outdoors highlighted the deep divides that existed in their politics and values, but their conversations around the campfire also laid some groundwork for reconciling with those divides.

If you enjoy this story...check out an episode called "The Truths We Hold."

Pandemic silver linings: what has gotten better since being moved outside? Leave us a voice message, and we might play it on the show!

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When Tara Karineh and her husband embarked on a thru-hike with their three-year-old daughter, Acacia, they weren't sure she'd be able to finish the trail.

Acacia regularly went hiking with her parents, but a multi-day backpacking trip took things to a different level.

On this episode, Tara tells the story of their attempt of the Trans-Catalina Trail, exploring what it takes for a small child to accomplish something big.

If you enjoy this story, check out the episode "Fractured Self," which explores coming to terms with your new identity after becoming a parent.

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When Kelsie Wilkins moved to New York City, she quickly became overwhelmed. She was surrounded by more people than she had ever been around in her life, yet she felt an acute sense of isolation. She had never felt so alone in a crowd.

But eventually she did something that helped her belong. It began with a walk, and ended with a sense of connection.

On this episode, Kelsie shares her story.

If you enjoy this story, check out the episode "Before It's Too Late."

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On this episode: A story about a cyclist in NYC, which explores how to get what you want — the friendly way.

Plus, a vision for an outdoor utopia. In a perfect world, what would the outdoors look like? We hear from outdoor leaders and listeners about their version of perfection in nature.

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This year has been a time of profound isolation, and many of us are alone for the holidays.

But, hard as it may feel, being alone is not always bad.

This episode takes place in the desert in Utah back in 2015, and it explores how something sad and lonely can turn out to be an emotional victory.

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Grand adventures often change us. They help us process complicated emotions and work through our problems.

But what if the forward progress is temporary? What if all the good vibes end, when you return to the "real world"?

On this episode, Paul Barach shares the story of his Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, and explores the difficult process of going home to a life that looks bleak and broken.

If you like this story, check out "The Tools to Thrive." It's a story about a thru-hike on the Camino de Santiago, and it explores whether nature is actually necessary for an emotional reset.

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