Listen to the small sounds caught in a rare, quiet night out at a cottage beside the highway as nature stands still.

Listen as the sounds of a thunderstorm in the city wash away the rest of the evening noise in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Enjoy the sounds of an early evening walk through the lively woods and along the bubbling stream as animals move all around.

Listen to the crisp sounds of walking on gravel and whispers of grasshoppers from this mid-September trek through the Highland Trails.

Listen to the crisp steps through a fresh layer of December snow and refreshing quiet on this afternoon walk on the Sheep Ranch Pathway Trail. 

This trail is a winter wonderland 2-mile hike and is filled with trees, a lake, and a few empty campgrounds located in Baldwin, Michigan. 

And with this comes a couple of unique sounds to listen for: 

The sound of footsteps through fresh snow, a few inches deep and sticking to the trees.

The quiet that’s hard to find on a normal day.

And the soft sniffles that give a sense of a sharp chill. 

For those interested, this episode was recorded with a DPA 4560 Core Binaural headset and a Sound Devices MixPre-6 digital recorder. 

Enjoy these wintry Outdoor Sounds.

Sheep Ranch Pathway | alltrails.com

In nature, there is sound even in the stillness. 

Midwest summer nights are beloved for the warmth isn’t around enough in Michigan. There is something special in the sound of these balmy nights. 

The sounds in this episode are simple:

Insects and animals that only come out at night.

The air you can sense even though it’s still.

And perhaps the humming of your neighbor’s air conditioning unit.

Listen as it all fades into the background, soothing in the quiet. 

And for those interested, this audio was captured using a Sennheiser mkh-416 shotgun mic and a Sound Devices MixPre-6 digital recorder.

These are Outdoor Sounds.

Listen to some late August, evening rain as we walk through the various terrains on the Blandford Nature Center’s Black Forty Loop.

This trail is a light hike, being just over a mile, and is a fantastic place for birdwatching and walking. But there is a variety of sounds to catch as you listen: 

The rain pouring onto the leaves and the umbrella (perhaps the most beautiful part)...

Each unique sound while walking through the various terrains of mud, grass, and gravel.

Midwest birds and insects, as well as the far-off sounds of cars…

And for those interested, this audio was captured using the onboard mics of a Zoom Hn5 digital recorder. 

These are Outdoor Sounds. 

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/michigan/black-forty-loop

This is Outdoor Sounds.

A podcast that takes your ears on a nature walk with a collection of audio recordings of hikes, storms, and nature sounds of all kinds. 

Take a listen to a sample of the adventures you’ll get to go on starting Thursday, March 30th. 

Join host and fellow hiker, Jeff Large, every Thursday for a new set of nature sounds. 

Make sure to follow Outdoor Sounds wherever you listen to podcasts. And feel free to connect for questions, feedback, or collaborations through [email protected].

Now sit back, take a breath, and enjoy a walk through nature with your ears.

Welcome to Outdoor Sounds. 

A nature walk…for your ears.

Every week, we’ll be sharing field recordings of hikes, rain storms, and nature audio. 

The podcast officially launches Thursday, March 30th. 

Join host, Jeff Large, in reconnecting with the lovely sounds of nature each week, and be sure to follow Outdoor Sounds wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Until then, go outside and listen as you walk. 

Take a moment. 

Listen.

And remember what nature sounds like. 

Outdoor Sounds launches Thursday, March 30th, with new episodes every Thursday.