The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

What if walking could change the way you see your entire life? Beloved author Sean Dietrich returns to the podcast to talk about his new memoir, I Would Walk 500 Miles, chronicling the month he and his wife, Jamie, spent walking the Camino de Santiago across Spain. What begins as a physical pilgrimage through mountains, mud, ancient villages, and crowded hostels becomes something far deeper like a journey into identity, faith, suffering, community, and what it means to discover who you really are.

Sean shares why hours of walking can create an unexpected kind of clarity, what he learned from carrying nearly everything he needed on his back, and how strangers along the Camino became part of his story. He also opens up about his difficult childhood, losing his father at a young age, spending decades feeling as though he hadn't quite found himself, and the realization that perhaps we are far more loved - and far more than the labels and experiences that have defined us - than we realize.

This conversation moves effortlessly from hilarious stories about tutus, potatoes, peanut butter, and life-changing Spanish cheesecake to profound reflections on God, healing, play, suffering, simplicity, and the strange beauty of being a pilgrim. Ultimately, Sean discovered that the Camino isn't only a trail in Spain: we're all walking one. And sometimes stripping life down to its simplest elements - walking, eating, talking, laughing, and being with other people - helps us finally notice what has mattered all along.

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What if the biggest problem in your relationships isn’t what you’re saying—but the fact that the other person hears it completely differently? Licensed therapist and author Jason VanRuler joins Ginny to talk about his new book, Discovering Your Communication Type, and the five communication styles—Peacemaker, Advocate, Thinker, Harbor, and Spark—that shape how we connect, handle conflict, and respond under pressure.

Jason explains why great communication is often more about listening than speaking, why vulnerability gives others the opportunity to love us well, and how childhood experiences can shape the way we approach hard conversations. They also unpack the “Three Ds of Doom”—distraction, defensiveness, and dismissal—and why defensiveness often comes from confusing our mistakes with our identity.

Ginny shares a deeply personal story about broken relationships and a difficult apology, leading to one of Jason’s most powerful pieces of advice: when you’ve hurt someone, resist the urge to immediately explain yourself. From marriage and friendship to parenting adult children, this conversation is packed with practical ways to communicate better, repair relationships, and help the people we love feel truly heard.

Get Jason's book here!

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Life gets heavy for everyone. Max Lucado returns to the podcast for a conversation about resilience, purpose, burnout, and what keeps people moving forward when life feels uncertain. We talk about why seasons of waiting often shape us more than seasons of success, how remembering past victories builds confidence for future challenges, the surprising value of solitude in an always-connected world, and why courage is usually quieter than we imagine. It's a conversation about playing the long game in faith, family, and life.

Get your copy of Unshakeable Courage here !

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Ginny Yurich sits down with National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Alastair Humphreys for a conversation that will change the way you see the world just outside your front door. From spending just fifteen intentional minutes outdoors each day to noticing the trees, birds, and forgotten places we've stopped seeing, Alastair shares why adventure begins with paying attention. This episode is full of hopeful, practical ideas for families who want to reconnect with nature, raise curious kids, and rediscover wonder in ordinary places. You'll never look at your neighborhood the same way again. Alastair also shares stories from his beautiful new book Unwilded: Finding Our Way Back to Nature, along with simple habits that prove meaningful change starts surprisingly close to home.

LINKS:

• Alastair Humphreys: https://alastairhumphreys.com

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What if the hardest parts of your story aren't the end—but the beginning of God's redemption?

In this deeply moving conversation, Ginny sits down with bestselling author and radio host Susie Larson to explore how trust in God can transform even the most painful circumstances. Susie shares the remarkable story of overcoming childhood trauma, chronic illness, and decades of fear to discover a faith that is stronger than suffering. Together, they discuss why healing begins with knowing you're deeply loved, how the words we believe shape our lives, and why God's promises often become clearest in life's darkest seasons.

From the restorative power of time outdoors to the courage to reject fear, release shame, and keep walking in faith when nothing seems to be changing, this conversation offers hope for anyone facing impossible circumstances. If you've ever wondered whether God can redeem your story, this episode is a powerful reminder that He is still writing it.

Get Susie's book here!

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Ginny sits down with Leslie Tyler of Pinwheel to talk about helping children develop self-control, good judgment, and genuine connection long before they ever have unrestricted access to technology. From the myth of finding the "perfect age" for a first phone to practical ways families can build healthy digital habits together, this conversation is packed with hopeful, realistic wisdom that leaves parents feeling equipped instead of overwhelmed. If you've ever wondered how to prepare your kids for a world that didn't exist when you were growing up, this episode will help!

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Some of the biggest challenges facing kids today have less to do with motivation and more to do with biology. Sleep scientist Dr. Joseph Dzierzewski from the National Sleep Foundation explains why nearly half of American children aren't getting the sleep they need, why teenagers are being asked to learn at the worst possible time of day, and how a lack of sleep affects everything from mood and learning to mental health and even car accidents. Ginny and Dr. Dzierzewski also dive into daylight saving time, homeschooling, outdoor light, screen habits, and the connection between getting outside and better sleep.

Find more resources at https://thensf.org !

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Everyone is talking about what AI can do but this is an episode about what AI might be doing to us... and also why it tries to be so engaging. Trauma surgeon Dr. Jeremy Heffner shares the remarkable story behind his new book, Proof of the Impossible, weaving together his own recovery from PTSD with thousands of conversations he had with today's leading AI models. We explore why these systems are designed to keep us engaged, how they learn to mirror and influence human behavior, why authenticity may become our most valuable resource, and what every parent should understand before AI becomes a child's favorite companion. This conversation left me thinking about attention, purpose, struggle, and what it truly means to be human in an age of machines.

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Leadership isn't just for CEOs, pastors, or business owners—it begins at home.

In this conversation, Ginny sits down with bestselling author and leadership expert Andy Stanley to explore the timeless principles from his new book, What Great Leaders Do. While written for organizational leaders, Andy shares why these lessons may be just as transformative for parents.

Together they discuss the difference between problems that can be solved and tensions that must be managed, why trusting intuition often matters more than having all the answers, how to pursue clarity when certainty isn't possible, and why the strongest leaders play to their strengths instead of trying to become well-rounded. Andy also offers practical wisdom on protecting family over career, resisting the dangers of ego and entitlement, surrounding yourself with people who tell the truth, and building a life defined by character rather than achievement.

Whether you're leading a family, a team, a business, or simply trying to become a wiser, more intentional person, this conversation is filled with practical insights that can shape the way you make decisions, build relationships, and leave a lasting legacy.

Get Andy's latest book here.

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Children today have more comfort, more entertainment, more therapy, and more technology than any generation before them so why are they struggling so deeply? Jonathan Eckert, director of the Baylor Center for School Leadership and author of The Happiness Crisis, shares a perspective every parent needs to hear: the relentless pursuit of happiness may actually be standing in the way of joy. We talk about why struggle is essential, how overprotecting children can leave them less resilient, why community matters more than ever, what AI and social media are doing to the next generation, and how simple things like hospitality, outdoor play, meaningful work, and shared meals can change the trajectory of a child's life. This conversation is hopeful, practical, and full of ideas you'll want to carry into your own family.

Get your copy of The Happiness Crisis here

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