The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Fear has a way of creeping into everything—from parenting and health to our future, relationships, and the pressure to keep up. But what if the answer isn’t trying harder to eliminate fear, but learning to trust God more deeply?

Ginny welcomes back bestselling author and speaker Christine Caine to discuss her new devotional, Whom Shall I Fear? 100 Devotions for Overcoming Fear and Living the Abundant Life. Christine shares practical wisdom for confronting fear through four powerful practices: rest, prayer, listening to the Holy Spirit, and finding strength in the joy of the Lord.

They explore why rest is ultimately an act of trust, how to discern what deserves our “yes,” what to do with unanswered prayers and disappointment, and why we must continually “check our markers” before we unknowingly drift into fear. Christine also shares deeply personal reflections on adoption, her biological mother, and learning to live peacefully with questions that may never be answered.

Plus, Christine discusses A21’s Global Freedom Summit and how parents can better understand and prevent online child exploitation.

Learn more about Christine here

Get a copy of Whom Shall I Fear here

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Ginny Yurich sits down with Barry Hoffner, author of Belonging to the World: A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth, to explore how profound loss led him on an extraordinary journey across 192 of the world’s 193 countries. After the sudden death of his wife, Jackie, Barry stepped away from his old life and eventually discovered that travel, movement, and connection could help him find his way forward.

Barry shares how a chance conversation inspired his quest to visit every country on Earth, the surprising community he found among fellow travelers, and why the journey ultimately became far more important than completing the list. Along the way, he discovered awe in unfamiliar places, generosity among people with very little, and a universal desire for dignity, belonging, and connection.

Ginny and Barry also discuss embracing unexpected opportunities, moving through grief rather than hiding from it, and the perspective that comes from experiencing the world firsthand. Barry shares how Jackie’s legacy now lives on through scholarships for young women in West Africa—and why some of life’s most meaningful chapters are the ones we never planned.

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What if getting dirty is actually good for your kids?

Ginny Yurich sits down with microbiome scientist Dr. Jack Gilbert, co-author of Dirt Is Good, to explore how exposure to the natural world helps shape a child’s developing immune system. Dr. Gilbert explains why dirt, animals, farms, siblings, pets, and everyday microbes aren’t necessarily things parents should fear—and why our increasingly sanitized, indoor lives may come with unintended consequences.

They unpack fascinating research on everything from dropped pacifiers and hand-washed dishes to dogs, farm visits, breast milk, bathing habits, and the billions of microbes we encounter simply by stepping outside. Dr. Gilbert also explains why common sense still matters: microbial exposure can be beneficial without ignoring genuine risks from pathogens.

The conversation closes with a surprising look at the connection between the gut microbiome, ultra-processed foods, and weight.

It’s a fascinating reminder that childhood doesn’t need to be sterile—and that letting kids dig in the dirt, interact with animals, and experience the messy natural world may be doing far more for their bodies than we realize.

Grab Dr. Jack's book here!

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Ginny Yurich sits down with Dr. Russ Harris, physician, therapist, and bestselling author of The Happiness Trap, for a powerful conversation about why our pursuit of happiness can actually make us miserable—and what to do instead.

Drawing on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Russ explains why a meaningful life isn’t one without anxiety, sadness, frustration, or fear. Instead of constantly trying to suppress uncomfortable emotions or distract ourselves from them, he shares practical tools for allowing difficult feelings to exist without letting them dictate our actions.

Russ walks Ginny through his “dropping anchor” technique using the simple ACE framework: acknowledge your thoughts and feelings, connect with your body, and engage with the world around you. They also explore urge surfing, self-compassion, breaking free from harsh self-judgment, and why there’s no “delete button” in the brain.

For parents especially, this conversation offers a freeing alternative to the pressure to create perfectly happy, successful lives—for ourselves or our children. A rich life, Russ reminds us, includes the full range of human emotion while staying connected to what truly matters.

Get Russ' book here!

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Ginny Yurich welcomes Dr. Will Cole back to the podcast for a fascinating conversation about why our bodies may be aging faster than ever—and what we can do about it. Drawing from his new book, Heal Your Cells: Reversing the Irreversible, co-written with Dr. Josh Axe, Will explores the emerging science of cellular health and the surprising ways our everyday lives influence how well our bodies function and recover.

They discuss why different organs can age at different rates, the healing power of nature, movement, mitochondrial health, and the growing interest in peptides. But Will also explains why optimizing health goes far beyond food and supplements: chronic stress, grief, trauma, relationships, and even joy can profoundly affect the body.

Will shares the deeply personal story of losing his father and how grief affected his own health, while offering a hopeful reminder that the body is remarkably resilient. From getting outside and rebuilding energy to creating “cellular safety,” this conversation is packed with practical ways to support healing, longevity, and a healthier life.

Learn more about Dr. Will here!

Order his new book here!

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Ginny Yurich sits down with Dr. Tamara Rosier, founder of the ADHD Center of West Michigan and author of Your Brain’s Not Broken and the new Your Brain’s Not Broken for Teens and Young Adults, for a practical and encouraging conversation about navigating life with ADHD.

Tamara explains why ADHD is about far more than attention or hyperactivity, exploring its often-overlooked effects on emotions, motivation, executive function, and identity. She shares why teens with ADHD may develop several years behind their peers in executive functioning—and why parents need the courage to look at the child in front of them rather than measure them against conventional timelines.

They also unpack Tamara’s memorable four-quadrant framework for understanding motivation, from draining “yellow” tasks and anxiety-fueled “red” productivity to mindless “blue” downtime and the life-giving “green” experiences that genuinely recharge us. Along the way, Tamara offers practical strategies for procrastination, avoidance, time blindness, and helping teens build independence without shame.

It’s a hopeful conversation about understanding how an ADHD brain works, finding language for difficult struggles, and giving young people the time and tools they need to flourish.

Learn more about Dr. Rosier here!

Get her book here!

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Ginny Yurich sits down with Ben Peterson, author of When Intelligence Isn’t Human: Navigating Your Faith in the Age of AI, for a timely conversation about what families need to understand as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly woven into everyday life.

Ben argues that the greatest concern isn’t simply what AI can do, but the role we allow it to play. As chatbots become more relational and technology grows increasingly personalized, young people may begin turning to AI for guidance, connection, and emotional support instead of parents, friends, faith, and real-world community. Together, Ginny and Ben explore the progression from social media’s battle for our attention to what Ben sees as an emerging battle for our affection—and why parents need to recognize the difference between using AI as a tool and allowing it to become a guide or relationship.

They also discuss social media, isolation, the importance of human connection, Ben’s decision to step away from social media, and a powerful question for evaluating technology: What is this costing me? Ben also shares about his five-week Parent’s Guide to AI and his work with military families through Engage Your Destiny.

Get Ben's book here!

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International fashion model, actress, author, and educational freedom advocate Sam Sorbo joins Ginny for a wide-ranging conversation about homeschooling, parenting, and what it really means to prepare a child for adulthood. Sam shares how a family trip to Hawaii first caused her to question traditional schooling and ultimately led her family into home education.

Together, Sam and Ginny explore why homeschooling may be far less complicated than parents fear, the importance of protecting a child’s natural curiosity, and the freedom that comes from letting kids develop on their own timelines. They also look beyond the K–12 years, challenging the assumption that college must automatically come next. From entrepreneurship and early work experience to building a family economy, they discuss helping young adults discover their strengths and step meaningfully into the real world.

It’s a bold, thought-provoking conversation about education, faith, family, legacy, and having the courage to reconsider the path everyone else is taking.

Get Sam's book, Parent's Guide to Homeschool!

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What if one of the biggest ways to create a healthier home is hiding right underneath you while you sleep? In this episode, Ginny sits down with Tim Masters, founder of My Green Mattress and a mattress maker since his teenage years, to unpack what’s actually inside the place where we spend nearly a third of our lives.

Tim shares the remarkable story of how his daughter’s eczema and allergies led him to create an organic crib mattress—and eventually launch My Green Mattress in 2007. They explore flame retardants, fiberglass, foams, off-gassing, and what families should look for when choosing a mattress, along with the surprising benefits of wool for breathability, temperature regulation, comfort, and durability.

Tim also shares what nearly four decades of mattress-making have taught him about craftsmanship, why old-fashioned button tufting matters, and how buying fewer, better-made things can pay off for years. It’s a fascinating look at sleep, healthier homes, and the craftsmanship behind something we use every single night.

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Ginny Yurich sits down with Danish dad, author, entrepreneur, and longtime unschooling parent Jesper Conrad for a wide-ranging conversation about fatherhood, family, creativity, and building a life around what matters most. Jesper shares how his wife’s battle with leukemia changed the trajectory of their family, eventually leading them to embrace full-time travel, homeschooling, and a more intentional way of living.

Jesper opens up about his own struggles with anger and frustration as a father and why he believes dads need more opportunities to talk honestly about parenting, vulnerability, and their relationships with their children. He explores the importance of attachment, repairing relationships after difficult moments, and moving away from control and power struggles.

They also dive into Jesper’s wonderfully eclectic approach to life—from writing books and carving spoons to building businesses and creating podcasts—and the value of learning by doing. Plus, Jesper offers powerful encouragement for homeschooling and unschooling families: stay a parent first, protect your child’s curiosity, trust the learning process, and remember that you don’t have to have the entire journey figured out before you begin.

Learn more about Jesper here!

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