Out There

For many of us, getting outside is more than just fun; it’s how we find inner stillness. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we decided to turn the mic over to you, our community. We asked how silence in nature has been significant to your mental health. On this episode, we’re sharing some of our favorite responses. --- Links: Support Out There on Patreon Tell a story at our Campfire Stories night Follow Out There on Facebook and Instagram --- Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke

For Paul Barach, hiking is an antidote to depression. Is it that way for everyone? This episode takes us from Washington State to Joshua Tree National Park and explores what happens when we try to impose our own life solutions on a loved one. --- Links: Support Out There on Patreon Tell a story at our Campfire Stories night Follow Out There on Facebook and Instagram --- Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke

We’re told to follow our dreams. But often, that’s disappointing. Reality typically doesn’t measure up to what we’d imagined. So what then? How do you reignite your passions? On this episode, we travel from an observatory in Puerto Rico to a hillside in New Jersey, and explore how one scientist overcame the disillusionment of academia. --- Links: Support Out There on Patreon Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke  

Our upcoming season is all about silence. From the Grand Canyon to South Korea, we’ll travel the globe, exploring how we find stillness amidst the noise — whether literal or figurative. Here’s a sneak peak at some of the stories. The season launches April 4, 2024. --- Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke  

Maya Kroth’s goal for the New Year was to build self-confidence, and she decided to start by taking herself snowboarding. But things did not go well. In this episode, Maya shares her story and explores how we can get our mojo back when life throws us curveballs. --- Links: Support Out There Subscribe to our email newsletter --- Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke  

Women are often told we can do anything we want in life: ride bikes, scale cliffs, surf waves. But in some areas of outdoor recreation, the gender gap remains shockingly large. In this episode, we visit a women’s mountain bike camp in Wyoming and explore what’s really needed to get people of all genders on equal footing. --- Links: Support Out There Rowdy Gowdy Camp Hub & Spoke  

This is a story about fear. It makes sense to be scared when we're facing danger. But what happens when disasters occur in unexpected places? In this episode, we travel from a desert in Utah to a suburb in Missouri and explore how a flood changed one woman's relationship with fear and risk. --- Support Out There on Patreon Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke.  

Learning something new as an adult can be daunting, especially when it's something that a lot of people have been doing since childhood. On this episode, Naomi Mellor takes us from a beach in Australia to an archipelago in the UK and explores how she got past her fears and pushed herself to take a big plunge. --- --- Links: Sign up for our email newsletter Support Out There on Patreon Follow us on Facebook and Instagram --- Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke  

Mykella Van Cooten was angry, and she didn’t know why. It got so bad that she began to feel unhinged. And then, she went to a little cabin in the woods. In this episode, she tells the story of what happened. It’s a story about stopping, about letting go, and about uncovering the real feelings that are buried deep beneath the surface. --- Links: Support Out There on Patreon --- Out There is a member of Hub & Spoke  

In Finland, it’s commonplace to go swimming in the winter — outdoors. The practice offers surprising mental-health benefits, and it isn’t just for die-hard adventurers. On this episode, we share the story of one woman who started “ice swimming” in an effort to soothe the brain by shocking the body. --- Links: Support Out There on Patreon --- Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke

As a nonbinary person, Newt Schottelkotte never felt at home in Appalachia. But then, they went on a road trip with their dad. Driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains, something started to shift. This is a story about figuring out how to be yourself without abandoning where you’re from. --- Links: Take our poll about next season's theme Sierra Club panel: Diverse Perspectives in Outdoor Media Support Out There on Patreon --- Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke

Carolyn McDonald's depression had gotten so bad that she couldn’t see a way forward. Then, one particularly miserable day, she went to the beach — and something happened that she never could have imagined. Something that opened the door to healing and sparked a deep and genuine joy. --- Links: Take our poll about next season's theme Support Out There on Patreon --- Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke

We’ve all had moments when we feel lost. Sometimes it’s literal; sometimes it's emotional. Either way, it’s unnerving. And lonely. This episode takes us from the deserts of California to the jungles of the Philippines, and explores how one young woman got back on track, when she lost her way, both literally and figuratively.   SUPPORT OUT THERE: Become a patron Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke.

When someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness, there’s often a flood of difficult emotions. Grief. Depression. Learning to live without hope. But more and more, people are experiencing that kind of anguish even when they’re perfectly healthy. In this episode, we bring you the story of a young man named Jacob Erickson, who almost died from climate anxiety — before a pivotal moment in nature rekindled his will to live. --- SUPPORT OUT THERE: Become a patron Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke.

This season, we’re exploring the theme SECRETS OF THE EARTH. Each episode, we’ll share a story about an outdoor experience that uncovered new truths. Through introspective personal narratives, we’ll harness the power of nature to make sense out of our lives and give us a fresh look at humanity. Here’s a little taste.   Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke.  

Every year, in the mountains of Vermont, a group of ultra runners gather for a 550-mile race called Infinitus. It’s one of the toughest trail running races in existence. Jordan Wirfs-Brock was no stranger to ultra marathons, but Infinitus broke her: she failed to finish. Surprisingly, though, the failure turned out to be one of the best things that's ever happened to her. This story first aired in 2016, and it won a gold medal for best independent podcast from Public Radio News Directors, Inc., or PRNDI.   SUPPORT OUT THERE: Become a patron Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke.

Dewey Gallegos and Jessica Flock bonded over their passion for the outdoors. But the thing they had in common was also one of their biggest differences. Their story explores how hard it can be to share the thing you love most, with the person you love most. PITCH US A STORY: Details here SUPPORT OUT THERE: Become a patron Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke

When Sam Anderson’s father invited him to go hunting for the first time, Sam was worried. What if he couldn’t bring himself to pull the trigger? And conversely, what if he could? What would that say about him? On this episode, Sam takes us into the woods of New Jersey and explores the emotional complexity of taking the life of an animal. This story first aired in 2017, and it won a gold medal for Best Independent Podcast from Public Radio News Directors, Inc. SUPPORT OUT THERE: Become a patron Out There is a proud member of Hub & Spoke.

We often hear that “the outdoors is free.” But for Charlsie Shaver, just driving to a trailhead was often cost-prohibitive; hitting the road to explore America’s wild places was a luxury she could only dream of. On this episode, Charlsie explores what it takes to build the life you want. How do you balance the need for stability with a thirst for freedom? And how do you keep dreaming, when you can barely pay the rent? This story first aired in 2019. SUPPORT OUT THERE: Become a patron Click here to see the full show notes for this episode. 

Why are some people overly generous? On this episode, we visit with a “trail angel" (someone who offers free food, drinks, and encouragement to thru-hikers on long trails), and we explore what makes a person commit acts of altruism for total strangers. (Hint: it’s probably not what you’d expect). This story first aired in 2018, and it won a gold medal for best independent podcast from Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, or PRNDI. SUPPORT OUT THERE: Become a patron Click here to see the full show notes for this episode.