1000 Hours Outsides podcast

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Purchase Ginny's trio of books: ⁠Until the Streetlights Come On⁠, ⁠Homeschooling⁠, and ⁠1000 Hours Outside Activity Book  Pelvic floor problems are one of those “quiet” issues that can sneak into your life doing things like making hikes stressful, camping complicated, workouts frustrating, sleeping difficult, and even everyday mom life painful or exhausting. In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with clinical exercise physiologist and researcher Jenn Lormand, who shares her own intense story of birth trauma, prolapse, and being told she'd likely need repeat surgeries. But then she discovered a non-invasive path that helped her heal and build the program that's helped so many other women, too. You'll learn what prolapse actually is, why Kegels can sometimes make things worse, how hormone changes can change pelvic tissue, and simple “start today” ways to be kinder to your pelvic floor like better bathroom mechanics, reducing chronic strain, and thinking preventatively long before symptoms show up. Find Jenn's work, free quiz, and her signature program at https://tightenyourtinkler.com Use code 1000HOURS for $50 off the signature program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to  ‘Beautiful World', our intro song, by In Paradise and Two Better Friends If you love the opening and closing song It's a Beautiful World make sure to follow In Paradise and Two Better Friends for more of their music! ** In this conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with couples therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish to talk about relationship pain that so parents carry but rarely say out loud like feeling duped after the honeymoon stage, drowning in the mental load, and watching resentment grow when needs go unseen and unacknowledged. Tracy breaks down the overfunctioning–underfunctioning cycle, why “I cant do anything right” is a shutdown that blocks connection, and how repair (not perfection) is what keeps love alive especially when screens, stress, and exhaustion turn partners into roommates living parallel lives. You'll walk away with language you can use tonight, boundaries that actually work, simple acknowledgement habits, and a clearer picture of what's in your control to shift the dynamic. This episode also includes a powerful glimpse into postpartum vulnerability and the in-law pressures that can begin to fracture a marriage if you don't protect your “we.” Get your copy of I Didn't Sign Up for This here Learn more about Dr. Tracy and all she has to offer here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ The 1000 Hours Outside App is on sale for $24.99 on ⁠⁠iOs⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Android⁠ ** In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, host Ginny Yurich sits down with Sarah Adams (Mom Uncharted) for a candid, eye-opening conversation about what it costs kids when their lives become content. Together they unpack why children can't truly consent to a digital footprint, how the “it's harmless” mindset collapses in the age of AI, and what parents may not realize about the audience, the algorithms, and the long tail of a photo or video that never really disappears. Sarah also gets practical about everyday pressure points, like filming other people's kids, school and classroom privacy, and the way online trends are pulling childhood into an adult world too soon. If you've ever felt that quiet nudge to pull back, this episode offers language, clarity, and a better direction: a new normal that protects kids, preserves private spaces, and keeps real life bigger than the feed. Learn more at https://momuncharted.com and https://kidsarenotcontent.com Check out Sarah's brand new podcast called Parents Uncharted here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Screens don't just steal attention, they quietly change how your eyes work. In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with optometrist and dry-eye specialist Dr. Pam Theriot to explain what's really happening when we stare close-up for hours: we blink less, the oil layer of our tears can thicken and clog, and over time that can snowball into dry eye disease, even in younger adults. Dr. Pam shares a simple at-home “how long can you go without blinking” self-check, practical prevention habits, and easy tweaks for kids, readers, gamers, and anyone glued to a computer all day. It's one of those conversations that makes you want to walk away, look at the horizon, and start taking eye care as seriously as brushing your teeth. Check out Dr. Pam's TEDx talk here Learn more about Dr. Pam and all she has to offer here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ The 1000 Hours Outside App is on sale for $24.99 on ⁠⁠iOs⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Android⁠ ** In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with Bethany Mandel—writer, mom of six, and co-host of The Mom Wars—for a conversation that feels like a deep exhale. Together they talk about what actually helps families thrive: lowering the pressure, refusing the constant comparison game, and choosing a version of motherhood that's grounded, sane, and full of joy. Bethany shares how a big family can strengthen a marriage, how kids grow when we stop over-managing every moment, and why homeschooling (and life in general) can be less about doing more and more about letting go in the right places. If you've been craving a smarter, kinder take on modern motherhood this one will leave you encouraged. Follow Bethany at The Mom Wars Substack and listen to The Mom Wars Podcast Follow Bethany on Instagram and X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, host Ginny Yurich sits down with father-and-son duo Tim and Mark Shoemaker to talk about the conversations parents avoid until it's too late. Tim is an award-winning author who loves writing outdoors and Mark is a next-gen pastor who's spent years in the trenches with teens. Their new book, What to Say and How to Say It to Your Teen, is a practical guide to 30 tricky, real-life topics (screens, anxiety, work ethic, honesty, dating, porn, anger, and more) with the kind of language that keeps the relationship intact while still telling the truth. You'll hear why so many talks go sideways, how to aim for connection instead of “winning,” and why the goal of every hard conversation is to “come back safe” with trust still standing and the door open for follow-up. Get your copy of What to Say here Learn more about Tim and all he has to offer (so many books!!) here Learn more about Mark here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠here⁠ The 1000 Hours Outside App is on sale for $24.99 on ⁠iOs⁠ and ⁠Android⁠ ** Max Lucado is back with Ginny Yurich, and this one is a steadying exhale for parents and kids living under constant pressure. It's launch day for his new kids devotional Calm Thoughts for Kids and instead of vague “just calm down” advice, Max gets really practical: what to do with the nonstop “what if” thoughts, why gratitude is such a fast anxiety-interrupter, and how kids are carrying way more pressure than most grownups realize. He shares pieces of his own story (including the shame spiral he had to climb out of), plus these simple outdoor pictures that stick like storms, tents, rivers, and stepping-stones that make faith feel steady and doable, not abstract. You'll walk away with real words to say to an anxious kid, and a few new ways to steady your own mind too. Get your copy of Calm Thoughts for Kids here Get your copy of Anxious for Nothing here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet here The 1000 Hours Outside App is on sale for $24.99 on iOs and Android ** If you feel like you're parenting on hard mode right now—especially with ADHD in the mix—this episode is for you. Ginny Yurich sits down with Mike McLeod (GrowNOW ADHD) on launch week for The Executive Function Playbook and The Executive Function Playbook in Action, and they talk about what actually helps when you're worn out from the same battles on repeat. Mike breaks down why more lecturing usually makes it worse, what “use less language” really looks like in real life, and how simple, hands-on tools can build self-regulation, motivation, and independence over time. It's hopeful, practical, and honestly a relief because you walk away with things you can try right away, not just more advice to carry. Get your copy of The Executive Function Playbook here Get your copy of The Executive Function Playbook in Action here Learn more about GrowNOW and all they have to offer here Sign up for Executive Function summer camp here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Half the world is wired for less stimulation and many of them have spent years wondering if that means something is wrong with them. In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with counselor and bestselling author Holley Gerth to talk about introversion with both warmth and real brain science: why “introvert” isn't the same as “shy,” how dopamine and acetylcholine shape what drains you or restores you, why deep processing can make you tired even when you “didn't do that much,” and how strategic solitude can actually make relationships more sustainable—especially for kids. It's a freeing conversation for anyone who's ever felt too quiet, too intense, too sensitive, or just plain awkward… and a reminder that awkwardness is often what makes us more human, more likable, and easier to connect with. Get your copy of The Power Purpose of Introverts here Learn more about Holley and all she has to offer here Take Holley's Introvert Quiz here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Purchase Ginny's trio of books: Until the Streetlights Come On, Homeschooling, and 1000 Hours Outside Activity Book *** Isaac French grew up in a world that feels almost impossible now: no TV, no smartphone, real responsibility, deep community, and childhood measured in projects, skills, and time outside. In this episode, In this episode, Ginny Yurich sits down with the now widely known artist-builder and entrepreneur behind some of the most captivating stays in the country to talk about what that kind of upbringing produces—and why it matters. Isaac shares the stories behind restoring a 120-year-old train car, building Live Oak Lake, and designing spaces where nature is the amenity and hospitality actually changes people. It's a conversation about raising capable kids, choosing limits that create freedom, and recovering a life with texture—craft, beauty, faith, family, and the outdoors at the center. It was one of Ginny's absolute favorite episodes to edit. You're going to love it! Learn more about Isaac and all he has to offer (including his newsletter that tens of thousands of people receive) here Check out Isaac's incredible storytelling abilities on his YouTube channel here Learn more about the Live Oak Lake project here Learn more about Rail Car 306 here Learn more about The Nook here Book a Train Stay!! Follow Isaac on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the 2026 Kick-Off Pack as part of the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (available through January 12th!) *** Many people spend their lives fighting a quiet battle over whether they are truly lovable. In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with attachment expert ⁠Adam Lane Smith ⁠to talk about insecurity, emotional safety, and why so many people live in fear of being abandoned, exposed, or “found out.” Adam explains how early attachment wounds shape adult relationships, why some people live in constant performance mode, and how fear slowly sabotages intimacy, purpose, and creativity. This is an honest, intense, and hopeful conversation about what it means to feel secure, stop earning love, and finally make peace with yourself. Learn more about Adam and all he has to offer (including his courses) here Get your copy of Slaying Your Fear here Get your copy of Exhausted Wives, Bewildered Husbands here Find Adam on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠, ⁠X⁠, and ⁠YouTube⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the 2026 Kick-Off Pack as part of the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (available through January 12th!) *** This episode with Tim Timberlake is about learning how to keep going when life doesn't smooth out the way you hoped it would. Tim shares what he's learning in real time—about slowing down, paying attention, and not living like happiness is always somewhere “later.” You'll hear practical ideas like why uneven steps force you to be present, how a “pivot” can create space when you feel stuck, why shortcuts usually cost more in the long run, and how small beginnings actually matter more than we think. It's the kind of conversation that helps you breathe a little deeper, rethink your pace, and take your next step without overcomplicating it Learn more about Tim and all he has to offer here Get your copy of The Bumpy Road to Better here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the 2026 Kick-Off Pack as part of the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (available through January 12th!) ** Ginny Yurich talks with Ginger Naylor, CEO of Outward Bound about why challenge, play, and real-world adventure shape people in ways classrooms alone never can. Ginger shares how the outdoors becomes a classroom for learning resilience, confidence, communication, problem-solving, and leadership - and why kids (and adults) need unstructured experiences, healthy risk, and a little discomfort to grow. They talk about how childhood has become over-engineered, how nature's unpredictability trains the brain for a changing world, and why stepping outside changes more than just your scenery. The conversation also introduces Outward Bound's Nationwide Reset Day on Saturday, January 24, 2026, inviting families and communities to put the screens down for a bit and take back their time, attention, and sense of calm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the 2026 Kick-Off Pack as part of the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (available through January 12th!) ** Ruthann Zimmerman grew up Old Order Mennonite with horse and buggy, big gardens, a family milk cow, workdays that revolved around real needs and real rhythm. In this conversation, she and Ginny talk about what happens when “old ways” collide with the modern world and why so many families are searching for the kind of home life that builds capable kids. This conversation is about a return to skills, chores, and shared work that create something most families are missing: steady connection. And then Ruthann says it plainly: there's a difference between food and nutrition and in a world full of convenience, it's skills that put nutrition on the table. You'll hear practical, doable starting points (no, you don't need a milk cow), but also the deeper why: children need the natural reward cycle of effort, mastery, and a job well done because artificial highs from screens can flatten the rest of life. If you've felt the urge to simplify, to shrink your supply chain, to rebuild family culture from the inside out this episode will feel like a deep exhale and a clear next step. Learn more about Ruthann Zimmerman and all she has to offer here Get your copy of The Heart of the Homestead here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out the 2026 Kick-Off Pack as part of the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (available through January 12th!) *** The world our kids are heading into is changing so fast that the old map from childhood to adulthood doesn't work anymore—and Issy Butson (Stark Raving Dad) explains why that matters right now. We talk about how AI is already reshaping work (starting with entry-level roles), why school still rewards sitting still and fitting in, and what actually builds the kind of young person who can thrive when the future is unclear: autonomy, real competence, and genuine connection. Issy breaks down the research behind motivation (Self-Determination Theory) and makes a powerful case for boredom, agency, mixed-age community, and real-world learning—not as trendy ideas, but as essential training for adaptability. If you've ever had wobbly knees in your homeschool journey (or you're just trying to raise resilient kids in a rapidly shifting world), this episode will steady you and give you language for what you already sense is true. Learn more about everything Issy has to offer here Check out The Complete Life Without School Collection here Check out Issy's Podcast here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ Check out the 2026 Kick-Off Pack as part of the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (available through January 12th!) ** This episode turns “just have better phone habits” on its head and replaces it with something that works. Seán Killingsworth explains why individual willpower can't solve a problem that's environmental: when every hangout, hallway, and lunch table becomes a screen habitat, connection gets crowded out and kids grow up feeling constantly “on stage.” But this isn't a despair episode. It's a blueprint for moving forward. Seán's Reconnect Movement is building phone-free spaces (with a simple “phone valet” system) where real friendship becomes possible again. The movement is showing up on college campuses, in high schools, and in local communities. If you've been craving a realistic way to give kids what they're actually starving for this conversation will show you how to start and encourage you to keep at it. Learn more about The Reconnect Movement and how you can get involved here Watch Sean's keynote at James Madison University here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠ Check out the 2026 Kick-Off Pack as part of the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ (available through January 12th!) ** Ginny Yurich sits down with Psychology Today editor and author Hara Estroff Marano to talk about the quiet shift that started long before smartphones—and why it's been devastating for kids. Drawing from A Nation of Wimps, Hara explains how fear and rapid cultural change pushed parents into “invasive” parenting, accidentally transmitting anxiety and squeezing play, risk, and independence out of childhood. The result isn't safer, stronger kids—it's more rigidity, perfectionism, and fragility. This episode is a steadying, permission-giving reset: play isn't extra, it's training for uncertainty; disappointment is information; and childhood doesn't need to be optimized to be successful. If you've felt the pressure to manage every outcome, this conversation will help you step back, rebuild resilience the natural way, and give your kids what they actually need to grow up well. Get your copy of A Nation of Wimps here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠⁠here⁠ Check out the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle that includes the 2026 Kick-Off Pack ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** Screens don't just fill time. They also begin to shape what feels normal in a child's brain, body, and relationships. In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with family researcher and bestselling author Arlene Pellicane to talk about what kids lose when devices become the default (attention, affection, conversation, imagination), and what parents can rebuild with simple, steady choices. You'll hear why “background TV” isn't as harmless as it seems, how early screen exposure can set a lifelong pattern of seeking instant stimulation, why gaming and social media can hijack identity, and how to handle screen-time conflict when spouses (or even grandparents) aren't on the same page. This is practical, hopeful encouragement without guilt: delay what you can, replace screens with real-life skills and two-hands activities, and protect the one thing your kids can't swap out later—their capacity for connection. Learn more about Arlene and all she has to offer here Get your copy of Screen Kids here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've been feeling the pressure—burnout for you, overwhelm for your teen, and a constant sense that everyone is behind—this conversation with Dr. Greg Hammer (Stanford physician, mindfulness teacher, and author) is a deep exhale. Ginny Yurich and Dr. Hammer talk about why teens are carrying stress we never had (smartphones, comparison, eco-anxiety, school fears), and why his simple GAIN practice—Gratitude, Acceptance, Intention, and Nonjudgment—isn't “floofy,” it's a practical way to rewire the brain toward steadiness and joy. You'll hear why gratitude is the foundation of happiness, how “small bites” change family culture, and why nature itself can bring us back to the present where happiness actually lives. Listen and share this with a friend who needs hope, and if the show has encouraged you, leaving a review truly helps other families find it. Get a copy of The Mindful Teen here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Ginny Yurich talks with cybersecurity expert and longtime IT professional Ben Gillenwater about what actually changed when the internet moved into kids' pockets and why so many parents feel unequipped to respond. Ben brings decades of experience working with complex systems and translates it into clear, usable guidance for families: where the real risks are, why common “parental controls” often fail, and how addictive algorithms, anonymous chat, and AI are reshaping childhood in ways we can't ignore. This conversation is practical, honest, and focused on reclaiming attention, safety, and uninterrupted time with the people we love. Learn more about Ben and all he has to offer here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Angela Hanscom—founder of TimberNook and author of Balanced and Barefoot—is back, and this conversation goes somewhere we've never gone before: the behind-the-scenes yes that built a worldwide movement out of one mom's quiet, out-of-her-comfort-zone obedience. We talk entrepreneurship in this episode and so much more. If you've ever felt pulled toward something meaningful but intimidating, this episode will be the nudge forward you need. Angela also talks about motherhood in the middle of all that work: your kids are watching your courage, humility, and resilience. We talk fear (ticks, travel, being the center of attention), discernment (how to recognize what's from God), and why 60 minutes of movement isn't remotely enough for kids who are made to move for hours. Angela shares what thrilling play actually looks like and why it's one of the most practical ways we can push back on the social-emotional crisis we're seeing in children. If this episode encourages you, share it with a friend who needs hope—and please leave a review. It's one of the simplest ways to help more families find this message. Thanks for listening! Get your copy of Balanced and Barefoot here Check out TimberNook here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get Ginny's Top 10 Books of 2025 list for FREE ⁠here⁠ Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠here Check out the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle that includes the 2026 Kick-Off Pack ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ Ginny Yurich, founder of 1000 Hours Outside, starts 2026 in the most Ginny way possible: a rare, slightly-uncomfortable solo episode chosen on purpose, because New Year's Day landed on episode 666, and she decided to “fall on the sword” herself. From there, she pulls you into the real origin story of 1000 Hours Outside: a young mom in over her head, three little kids, no sleep, and the first truly good day she'd had in years, September 2011 at a Michigan park, when four to six hours outside (a Charlotte Mason idea she initially thought was ridiculous) changed everything. This episode is a rally cry for families who want more peace, more play, more courage, and less screen-shaped childhood, plus practical ways to start tracking, building a life with “not enough time for screens,” and letting nature become the place where kids grow up incrementally… and parents learn to trust them. Along the way, Ginny shares her top 10 most meaningful books of 2025 (out of 210 books read during the year!), the quotes that steadied her this year, and why reading, walking, and outside time are “time-protection” habits in a world designed to co-opt attention. She also reads the marketing language from Replika AI out loud, because it genuinely alarms her, and makes a clear, compassionate case for choosing the real thing: real friends, real discomfort, real growth, real life. The episode closes with hope for listeners carrying heavy burdens into the new year, and ends with “Beautiful World,” a song and musical collaboration featuring Ginny's daughters because the whole point is this: childhood isn't meant to be performed on a screen. It's meant to be lived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check out the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle that includes the 2026 Kick-Off Pack ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ Get your free 2026 tracker sheet ⁠here ** If you've been living in that exhausted loop—your kid pushes, you react, everyone feels awful, and then you hate how the day ended—this conversation will feel like someone opened a window in your house. Kirk Martin (The Calm Parenting Podcast) helps you name what's actually happening when you're “triggered" and why your anxiety often creates the exact opposite outcome you want. Together we talk about the real-life triggers that hijack parents (dawdling, messes, perceived disrespect), how to stop taking kid behavior personally, and how to slow your world down enough to respond with clarity instead of resentment. Then we go deeper because strong-willed kids don't just test your patience, they test your marriage. Kirk shares practical ways couples can stay aligned, how to stop getting played off each other, and why your home doesn't need more lectures or tighter control—it needs connection and a little more fun. This is the perspective shift every tired parent needs: the very traits that irritate you now may be the same traits that will make your child brave, persuasive, resilient, and capable later. You're not behind. You're not failing. And you can start changing the tone of your home today. Learn more about Kirk and all he has to offer (including his podcast and courses) here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check out the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle that includes the 2026 Kick-Off Pack ⁠here⁠ Get your free 2026 tracker sheet here ** If you've ever looked around at your family and thought, Why is everything so hard right now? - this episode will make you feel less alone, and a whole lot more clear. Ginny Yurich sits down again with Mike McLeod, author of The Executive Function Playbook, and it's one of those conversations that puts language to what parents are living every day: the exhaustion of being your child's “prefrontal cortex,” the nonstop prompting, the homework vortex, and the fear that this isn't getting better. Mike is honest about ADHD being serious and also full of hope about what actually helps kids build independence. You'll learn why ADHD is better understood as an executive function developmental delay, why “not everything is a screen problem” but the internet-connected screens are in a league of their own, and why play and boredom aren't frivolous extras. Mike explains working memory and why it matters and so much more. This episode is a rallying cry for parents who want to protect childhood, lower the temperature in their home, and give their kids back the experiences that build a capable life. If it helps you, share it with a friend and leave a review. Get your copy of The Executive Function Playbook here Get your copy of The Executive Function Playbook in Action here Learn more about GrowNow ADHD here Listen to Dr. Russell Barkley on YouTube here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check out the 1000 Hours Outside Mega Bundle that includes the 2026 Kick-Off Pack here Get your free 2026 tracker sheets here ** In this conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with natural playscape designer and author Rusty Keeler to talk about what kids are actually built for: climbing, hiding, building, negotiating, tumbling, experimenting, and testing themselves in the real world. Rusty shares how a trip to Europe shifted his whole philosophy from equipment-based playgrounds to wild, nature-rich spaces full of loose parts, nooks and crannies, mud, water, tools, and possibility—plus why his book Adventures in Risky Play is basically a permission slip for parents who feel like childhood has gotten over-managed. Rusty reminds us that kids don't need us to manufacture wonder. They need time, space, and a little more trust. Find Rusty's work (including his Play Nature Podcast) and explore the book/resources he mentions here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Modern life is quietly thinning out things that matter like friendship, purpose, contentment, and presence. In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich talks with pastor and author Noah Herrin about what it actually looks like to grow into manhood in a culture that keeps lowering expectations while demanding more attention than ever. They talk about why real friendships don't happen by accident, why community without commitment never lasts, and why some men need to stop waiting for connection and start “friend hunting” on purpose. This is a hopeful, honest conversation for husbands, fathers, teen boys, and the parents raising them. Noah shares simple boundaries that protect family life, tools for using technology without being owned by it, and a brilliant system for capturing ideas without mental clutter. If you've felt the tension between wanting a meaningful life and feeling pulled in ten directions, this episode names it—and offers a better way forward. Get your copy of Welcome to Manhood here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Gustin didn't set out to be a parenting voice. He became one the hard way. In this conversation, Jon talks honestly about early exposure to alcohol, years of running from anxiety, and what happened when becoming a father forced him to stop numbing and start paying attention. He shares what it was like to quit drinking, face anxiety head-on, and rebuild his marriage and inner life while raising young kids. There's no dramatic turnaround story here—just the quiet, difficult work of changing patterns so they don't get passed down. From there, the conversation turns to modern childhood. Screens. Phones. Messy houses. Kids growing up too fast. Jon makes a simple but urgent case: childhood needs protection—not through fear or control, but through attention. Paying attention to what kids are doing, who they're becoming, and whether they're being pushed into an adult world too soon. This episode is for parents who sense something is off, who don't want to overreact or opt out of modern life—but who also refuse to sleepwalk through it. Thoughtful, steady, and deeply reassuring. Learn more about Jon and all he has to offer here Pre-order Jon's book, The Tired Dad here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your *FREE* 2026 1000 Hours Outside Tracker Sheet here: https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/trackers Focus, confidence, and emotional regulation don't start with worksheets. They start with crawling, climbing, messy hands, and sensory play. In this conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with pediatric physical therapist and TimberNook provider Kathryn Kraft to talk about why the developing brain needs touch and movement and what happens when kids are rushed, managed, and transitioned every 20 minutes. You'll hear why TimberNook's “time and space” makes such a radical difference for child development, why free play looks chaotic before it looks creative, and why the simplest outdoor objects can become the best kind of therapy. Kathryn's work is built for all kids. She shares how her nonprofit LIVEfor began after insurance cut off therapy for a baby who still needed support and how that moment grew into outdoor programs where children with mobility challenges and neurodiversities aren't separated from other children. You'll hear practical ideas for making outdoor play accessible for all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you feel like you're living at hummingbird speed—heart racing, always “behind,” never quite done—this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. Eryn Lynum is back for her second appearance, and she brings the kind of gentle, sturdy wisdom about how all of nature rests and prepares to rest. Through the stunning design of creation Eryn helps us see what we've forgotten: rest isn't a reward for finishing everything. It's part of the design. It's how we were meant to live. Together, Ginny and Eryn talk about Sabbath in a real-life family rhythm—preparing for it, protecting it, and letting it become the day that reconnects you to God and the people you love most. They explore “Selah pauses,” seasons of waiting , and the quiet truth nature keeps repeating: everything fruitful has a rhythm. If you're heading into a new year craving calm, clarity, and a pace that actually feels sustainable, press play—then share this one with a friend who's running on fumes, and leave a quick review so more families can find it. Get your copy of The Nature of Rest here Check out the Nat Theo Podcast here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Sina McCullough did everything “right.” She had a PhD in nutrition. She cooked from scratch. She bought organic. And still, her health fell apart. Autoimmune disease. Chronic infections. Miscarriages. Crushing fatigue. At her lowest point, she couldn't lift a cup to drink without her young son helping her. In this episode, Sina tells Ginny the moment she hit rock bottom and the prayer she prayed asking God for one more chance at life. What happened next is hard to explain away: off the floor in three days, pain-free in three months, disease-free in a year. And a promise she made to spend the rest of her life helping others find their second chance too. This conversation isn't about perfection or fear or doing everything. It's about clarity. Sina explains why food labels often give a false sense of security, why “gluten-free” and “organic” don't always mean what we think they do, and why healing can't be reduced to a sticker on a package. She and Ginny talk about getting outside as real medicine—breathing in microbial diversity, regulating the nervous system, letting nature do what it's always done best. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, confused, or quietly discouraged because you're trying so hard and still not feeling well, this episode will meet you where you are. No shame. No hype. Just hope, wisdom, and the reminder that your body and your life may be more resilient than you've been led to believe. Get your copy of Beyond Labels here Learn more about Dr. Sina McCullough and all she has to offer here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this unforgettable conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with viral kindness creator Jimmy Darts, author of Undercover Kindness to talk about the stories behind his videos and his book: the grandparents sleeping in their car who stopped to help wrap a gift, the mom who handed over a burrito from her backpack without hesitation, and the quiet power of people who give even when they don't have much. The heart of this episode is simple and surprisingly practical. You don't have to fix anyone. You don't have to be heroic. You just have to notice people. Jimmy shares how generosity shaped him as a child, why five dollars matters more than we think, and how walking, slowing down, and being present opens the door to real connection. It's a conversation about faith, parenting, and choosing an outward posture in a culture that trains us to look away. If you've ever wondered how to raise generous kids or how to soften your own heart again this episode will stay with you. Jimmy on Instagram: @jimmydarts Jimmy on YouTube: @JimmyDarts Undercover Kindness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ginny Yurich sits down with Dr. Kelly Cagle, educational researcher, former teacher, and host of the Parenting IQ Podcast, for a practical, hopeful conversation about what kids actually need to thrive in today's school-and-screen-saturated world. Kelly shares her story of moving from Brazil to the U.S. at age 11, learning English through sheer curiosity (and PBS's Arthur), and being pushed ahead through school, an experience that made her question how quickly we rush children through development. Together, they zoom out to look at what other countries do differently (including Finland's later start and play-based early years), why the American system often rewards compliance over growth, and how that pressure can hit certain kids, especially those with ADHD, extra hard. You'll also get immediately usable ideas for supporting ADHD at school and at home without turning your child into a “problem to manage.” Kelly explains why small accommodations can be game-changing (gum or mints for sensory input, permission to stand or pace, movement breaks, flexible seating), and why partnering with teachers matters more than picking the “perfect” school. The heart of this episode is Kelly's grounded message: real school success starts at home, and “less is more” isn't a vibe, it's a strategy. If you're trying to un-bubble-wrap your kids, rebuild healthy rhythms, and raise children with self-control, perseverance, and a sense of belonging, this conversation will leave you encouraged and equipped. Learn more about Kelly and all she has to offer here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this colorful and joy-filled episode of the 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with gardener, photographer, and author Sandra Mao (@sandraurbangarden) to talk about how a garden can become a feast for the eyes, and an adventure for the whole family. Sandra shares how she grew up gardening alongside her parents and grandmother, and how her own family's garden began with simple container planting during quarantine… then blossomed into half a backyard full of vibrant surprises. Together, Ginny and Sandra explore the magic of colorful vegetables and flowers, from rainbow carrots and radishes to striped peppers, purple cauliflower, “dragon's egg” cucumbers, and even yard-long beans. They also dive into practical, confidence-building tips for beginners: choosing a color palette, finding seed sources, saving seeds, managing pests, and keeping gardening fun (even when things grow wonky!). You'll also hear about Sandra's favorite easy-to-grow flowers like zinnias, marigolds, and calendula, plus how she dries herbs and petals, makes infused oils, and preserves harvests through canning and sun-drying. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by gardening or you're looking for a way to get your kids excited to grow (and actually try vegetables!), this conversation will leave you inspired to plant something vibrant and step outside together. Get your copy of Vibrant Harvest here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adolescence is a training ground for belonging. Rosalind Wiseman (the Queen Bees and Wannabes author whose work inspired Mean Girls) names what adults forget: wanting to be part of a group isn't a character flaw, it's a deep developmental need. And the stakes aren't superficial. The way kids handle loyalty, conflict, embarrassment, betrayal, and speaking up (or staying silent) becomes muscle memory they carry into adulthood. In a world where many kids feel the “middle-class script” they were promised doesn't pay off, that longing to belong can turn into paralysis, resentment, or disengagement—and parents are left wondering when to step in, what to say, and how to be credible again. This conversation gets beautifully practical: how to respond when your child comes home with “the story” (and you weren't there), why forced kindness scripts backfire, and how real social learning happens through messy, unsupervised, multi-age play—especially outside. Wiseman makes a compelling case that overly adult-driven schedules (and even toxic youth sports) can shrink a kid's identity until it collapses under pressure, while neighborhood moments expand it: friend, helper, teammate, kid-who's-known-by-name. You'll leave with language that lowers defenses, strengthens connection, and helps your kids navigate their social world with dignity—plus a reminder that some of the best confidence-building on earth still looks like racing Big Wheels downhill and climbing trees. Learn more about Rosalind and everything she has to offer here Get your copy of Queen Bees and Wannabees here Get your copy of Masterminds and Wingmen here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the deepest friendships aren't built on independence—but on dependence done with dignity? In this unforgettable conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with Kevan Chandler (living with spinal muscular atrophy) and pastor Tommy Shelton to talk about their new book, The Hospitality of Need—and the startling idea that letting people help you can be a form of generosity. Kevan's life is filled with “weirdly clear needs,” and he shares how friends who volunteer to help him each morning don't experience it as a burden, but as a gift: a predictable rhythm of brotherhood, trust, and real presence in a distracted world. Together, they reframe hospitality as more than hosting—it's also showing up to be fed, allowing others to step into purpose, and creating communities where people don't have to pretend they're fine. From the friends who carried Kevan across Europe (and now help other families adventure through We Carry Kevan) to the biblical picture of friends lowering a man through a roof to meet Jesus, this episode will leave listeners asking a brave, practical question: What if my needs could become a doorway to love rather than something to hide? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've ever looked around your house, your calendar, or your marriage and thought, Why is this so hard for me?—this conversation is for you. In this episode, Ginny Yurich talks with licensed therapist and Struggle Care founder KC Davis about why overwhelm isn't a character flaw, a lack of discipline, or a sign you're doing life wrong. KC names the invisible mental load of daily living—meals, laundry, cleaning, caregiving, relationships—and explains why these repetitive responsibilities were never meant to be proof of your worth. Together, Ginny and KC explore practical, compassionate ways to lower that load without adding shame. From reframing household work as morally neutral, to letting go of “just clean as you go,” to rethinking fairness in marriages and families, this episode offers language and tools that actually help. KC shares gentle strategies for building momentum when you're stuck, wisdom for dividing labor and rest more honestly, and a powerful reminder that community is built through realness and not perfection. This is an episode to save, share, and return to when you need permission to stop measuring your life by impossible standards. Learn more about what KC Davis has to offer including her podcast, courses, training, and more here: https://www.strugglecare.com Get your copy of How to Keep House While Drowning here Get your copy of Who Deserves Your Love? here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trauma therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber join us to name the pattern so many of us live in: trying harder when our nervous system is begging for gentleness. Aundi shares the moment a mentor asked her a question that changed everything—Have you ever tried softer?—and why real healing is “thousands of tiny decisions” that slowly move us toward safety, connection, and joy. This conversation is full of hope you can actually use: cues of safety, the power of repair (for us and our kids), and a beautiful practice Aundi calls beauty hunting—learning to notice what restores you, especially outdoors. You'll hear why play matters, how our early stories shape attachment and even our view of God, and why compassion is not weakness. Explore Aundi's work at her site aundikolber.com and find her writing on Substack ⁠aundikolber.substack.com⁠. Get your copy of Try Softer here Get your copy of Strong Like Water here Get your copy of Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the most loving thing you could do for your child today is protect their right to play? In this landmark 650th episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with Heather Shumaker, author of the modern classic It's OK Not to Share, to talk about why childhood no longer feels like childhood and how we can change that. Together, Ginny and Heather paint a compelling vision of kids outside for hours, solving their own conflicts, learning impulse control while they wait for the truck or the swing, and discovering that deep, creative play (and not early academics) is what truly prepares them for life. If you've ever felt the pressure to enroll in one more class, push early reading, force sharing at the park, or make everyone “be friends,” this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. Heather gives you concrete scripts (what to say instead of “be nice,” “share,” or “say you're sorry”), shows why “play fighting” and chase games are often exactly what kids need, and shares the powerful toolbox behind her follow-up book It's OK to Go Up the Slide and her middle-grade novel The Griffins of Castle Cary. As we celebrate 650 episodes, Ginny invites you to join the mission: listen in, send this episode to a friend who's worried they're “behind” because their child just wants to play, and leave a podcast rating and review. Your share might be the nudge another parent needs to slow the schedule, protect those long, muddy hours outside, and finally believe: there will always be time for academics, but there won't always be time for play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the life you've worked for—your city, your career, even your identity—dies overnight? In this tender, hope-filled conversation, Ginny sits down with Bible teacher and missionary kid Mikella Van Dyke, whose childhood stretched from refugee camps on the Thai–Myanmar border to hiking the Himalayas and dancing for the princess of Thailand. As a “third culture kid” who never quite fit in either Thailand or the U.S., Mikella shares how a lonely ninth-grade year, culture shock, and years of bouncing between countries left her with a deep identity crisis that eventually drove her into the pages of Scripture. Later, an unplanned pregnancy ended her dream of dancing professionally in New York City—and yet that loss became the doorway to Chasing Sacred, the ministry and new calling she never could have imagined. Learn more about Mikella's story and her new book Chasing Sacred. Together, Ginny and Mikella explore a simple, powerful way to read the Bible through the inductive Bible study method—asking good questions, honoring context, and letting God's Word move from head knowledge to heart change in the middle of real life with kids, frogs, dirt bikes, and dishes. They talk about daily “manna” moments in Scripture, how to spot teaching that's pulled out of context online, why courage sometimes means defying cultural norms, and how family missions trips to Little Lambs International in Guatemala have given their children a bigger vision for God's world. If you've ever felt like your dreams died with motherhood—or you're longing for an anchor in the chaos—this episode will invite you to see your own story, and your hours outside, as sacred ground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this riveting conversation, West Point graduate, Iraq veteran, and pediatric chiropractor Dr. Stanton Hom shares how he went from a “clean bill of health” on paper to a body and nervous system in crisis and how surfing, sunlight, grounding, and neurologically focused chiropractic care completely reset his life. He and Ginny dig into why over half of kids now have at least one chronic illness, how belief systems about genes and medicine quietly shape our parenting, and why so many teens say they “feel old” long before adulthood. They also talk about birth culture, homebirth vs. hospital norms, the pressure around pediatric visits and heel-prick tests, and why it can feel tyrannical when parents are punished for asking questions or wanting slower, more thoughtful care. Dr. Stan paints a hopeful, practical path forward: freedom-focused care that helps families need the system less over time, protects informed consent, and puts the nervous system back at the center. He explains how spinal health, heart rate variability, and movement (including unstructured play and time in nature) act as powerful epigenetic inputs that can change the trajectory of a child's health and even a family tree. If you've ever felt uneasy about “standard of care,” or wondered why your outdoor kids seem to skip so many of today's common problems, this episode will give you language, courage, and a roadmap. Learn more about Dr. Stanton Hom and Future Generations Chiropractic at futuregenerationssd.com Explore his Future Generations Podcast and Future Foundations course at thefuturegen.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*FREE DOWNLOAD* - Birth Locations Pros and Cons Sign up for Beth's newsletter here Birth used to be surrounded by aunties, sisters, grandmothers, and the kind of generational wisdom that quietly steadied women through one of life's most transformative experiences. Today, many of us enter motherhood with “no idea”—no idea what our options are, what our bodies can do, or how deeply birth shapes not only our babies but us as well. In this incredibly personal conversation, Ginny sits down with her dear friend and longtime midwife Beth Barbeau for Beth's 8th appearance on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast. For the first time, Ginny walks through the early chapters of her own birth story from planning an elective C-section, to being “disqualified” from a birth center, to navigating confusing hospital interventions and how a single gracious sentence from a friend changed everything. Together, they explore why modern maternity care leaves so many women scared and uninformed, what we've lost as a culture when birth moved out of community spaces, and how reclaiming knowledge can shift an entire motherhood journey. This episode offers hope, validation, and a path back to confidence for any woman who has ever felt swept along rather than supported. Learn more about Beth and all she has to offer here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this tender, hope-filled conversation, Ginny sits down with father, farmer, author, and Grammy-winning songwriter Rory Feek to trace the surprising path from growing up in poverty in Kansas to writing hit songs in Nashville, building a 150-year-old farmhouse life at Hardison Mill, and hosting The Homestead Festival on his Tennessee farm. Rory shares how the “big breaks” in his story actually came from tiny, hidden moments: a stranger insisting he read Rick Bragg's All Over but the Shoutin', a small charity concert that quietly opened the door to a TV show and film, and a simple hymns album recorded quickly and cheaply that went on to win a Grammy and comfort countless grieving hearts. Along the way he talks about Joey, about loss and love, and about how books like This Life I Live and Once Upon a Farm grew out of his own search to understand what God was doing through hardship, homesteading, and ordinary days. If you need a reminder that your simple, unseen faithfulness matters, this episode will meet you right where you are. Rory and Ginny also step straight into the questions parents are asking right now: What do we do with AI, screens, and an attention-starved world and how do we give our kids a rich “curriculum of life” instead? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin Whitmel Earley once believed he could outwork sleep, outrun stress, and think his way out of anxiety until his body forced him to face the truth. In this powerful return to The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Justin shares how a sudden collapse into panic, insomnia, and intrusive thoughts exposed the danger of living as if we are machines instead of human beings with God-given limits. Together, Justin and Ginny unpack the core message of his newest book, The Body Teaches the Soul—that many of our deepest struggles aren't solved by trying harder, but by relearning how to live inside the design of our bodies through breath, rest, rhythm, and habit. From box breathing and breath prayers to Sabbath, sleep, and the quiet power of daily “trellis habits,” this conversation brings theology down into the lungs, the nervous system, the dinner table, and the bedtime routine. You'll hear how limits are not a punishment but a gift and how ignoring them quietly erodes our peace, our families, and our faith. This episode is for anyone who feels stretched thin, chronically tired, or quietly anxious as well as for parents trying to pass something better to their children. Check out Justin's podcast here: https://www.intentionalfatherhood.org Get your copy of The Body Teaches the Soul here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our attention is quietly falling apart and it's changing who we are as parents, partners, and people. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Marc Berman, professor of psychology at the University of Chicago and a pioneer in environmental neuroscience, explains why our “directed attention” is at a breaking point in the age of constant pings, dings, and screens. Drawing from his groundbreaking research and his new book, Nature and the Mind, Dr. Berman gives us language we can use to understand why we're so depleted and why a walk outside can feel like someone quietly handing us our life back. This episode weaves together childhood memories under Michigan spruce trees, the birth of a new field (environmental neuroscience), and the sobering reality that our ability to focus may be one of the most important moral and relational issues of our time. But this episode isn't just a diagnosis. It's also a deeply hopeful prescription. Dr. Berman unpacks the “50-minute miracle,” showing how a simple walk in a park can boost attention and memory by around 20%, rivaling more invasive interventions and even helping people with depression and ADHD think more clearly and act with more self-control. You'll hear why kids often melt down after school (their tanks are empty), how nature time after school pickup can restore their capacity for homework and kindness, and how design choices like trees on your street, plants in the classroom, fractal patterns and natural light in your home offer “micro-doses” of restoration throughout the day. From grief and rumination to screen time, executive function, and school policy, this episode is a roadmap for parents who sense that something is off and are ready to rebuild our children's attention and joy through simple, consistent time in nature. Get your copy of Nature and the Mind here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world of shifting sands, where kids are nudged toward algorithms, apps, and endless activities, S. D. Smith returns to the 1000 Hours Outside Podcast to talk about giving our children something sturdier to stand on. Ginny and Sam share stories of real-life hospitality, hikes in West Virginia, rainbows over the New River Gorge, and the way shared adventures and shared stories bind families together. From the Green Ember universe to his newest book Helmer and the Dragon Tomb, Sam describes his mission to offer “new stories with an old soul” that root kids in courage, virtue, and hope—stories that still matter fifty years after we're gone. Together they wrestle with the pressure modern parents feel: rising anxiety about the future, the lure of AI shortcuts, and the constant competition for our kids' attention. Sam and Ginny make a compelling case that reading and writing are not outdated school tasks, but deeply human practices that shape a child's inner world, imagination, and even their sense of calling. You'll hear practical ideas for “tricksy parenting” that makes reading the reward, setting cozy book “traps,” inviting dads into the culture of story, and helping young writers grow in skill instead of outsourcing their creativity to machines. This episode is a gentle but galvanizing invitation to choose books over bots, shared chapters over scrolling, and to give our kids a living connection to something timeless. See everything S.D. Smith has to offer here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a world where adults avoid risk, children grow up on screens instead of playgrounds, and workplaces drift toward loneliness, Ben Swire argues that what we're really missing is experiential connection. In this conversation with Ginny, Ben—an introvert who once dreaded team-building—shares how “safe danger” transformed both his life and his work. From IDEO's culture of curiosity to biweekly “creative play dates,” he explains why people blossom when they're given space to try, fail, try again, and be seen. Together, Ben and Ginny explore how joy, optimism, vulnerability, and play aren't personality traits but skills that grow only through experience. They talk about the crush of conformity, the epidemic of loneliness, and why pessimism is really fear in disguise. You'll walk away with practical ideas for your home, workplace, or classroom. This is an episode that gently reminds us: people don't just want fun, or comfort, or entertainment. They want to grow. They want to belong. Most of all, they want connection. Get your copy of Safe Danger here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Misty Copeland is one of the most famous ballerinas in the world—the first African American woman promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre and a cultural icon whose influence reaches far beyond the stage. In this inspiring conversation with Ginny Yurich, Misty reflects on her unlikely beginning: a shy, introverted thirteen-year-old living in motels who found her way into a free ballet class on a Boys & Girls Club basketball court. Movement became her lifeline, offering stability, confidence, and a sense of belonging she had never known. Misty reveals how discovering ballet “late” became her superpower and how exposure, encouragement, and one adult who says try this can alter the entire trajectory of a child's life. Ginny and Misty explore what embodied, hands-on experiences give children in an era dominated by screens including resilience, emotional release, friendship, leadership, and a much bigger sense of what's possible. Misty shares the mission behind her Bunheads series, Firebird, and the Be Bold Foundation, as well as her new Be Bolder program for older adults, each designed to expand access to movement and the arts. This episode is a powerful reminder that childhood doesn't need to be accelerated; it needs to be lived in motion. When we give kids space to move, explore, and follow their curiosity, we're not just filling their time—we're opening entire worlds. Get your copy of Life in Motion here Get your copy of Bunheads, Act 2 here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When pediatric occupational therapist and TimberNook founder Angela Hanscom steps into the woods, she sees what most of us miss: children rebuilding the very systems in their brains that make attention possible. In this deeply hopeful conversation, Angela explains why daily outdoor play isn't just “good for kids”—it's biologically essential. From spinning and hanging upside down to tumbling down hills, nature gives children the movement their vestibular system craves, activating the brain's built-in attention network and counteracting the effects of our screen-heavy world. Schools partnering with TimberNook are reporting calmer classrooms, fewer behavior challenges, and even more academic risk-taking as children spend long, unstructured stretches in nature. But this episode goes beyond brain science. Angela and Ginny explore the social, emotional, and leadership skills that develop when adults step back and let the woods take the lead. You'll hear powerful stories of children negotiating conflicts, comforting friends, forming “clans,” navigating risk, and discovering capability without adults micromanaging every move. It's a reminder that the richness of what happens in the woods grows more than attention spans; it grows confidence, resilience, empathy, creativity, and identity. If you need encouragement, inspiration, or simply permission to let go a little, this conversation will shift how you see childhood and how you support it. Get your copy of Balanced and Barefoot here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a culture that trains children to perform their lives instead of live them, Sharon Hodde Miller returns to explore why so many young people feel fragile, insecure, and exhausted and why the solution isn't more confidence, but a bigger purpose. Drawing from Free of Me and her new devotional Gazing at God, Sharon explains the overlooked root of modern insecurity: we've taught kids to evaluate their worth through constant self-focus, endless mirrors, and the metrics of the attention economy. Together, Sharon and Ginny uncover how shrinking our children's purpose down to “finding themselves” has left them anxious, isolated, and unsure of who they are apart from an audience. This conversation offers a hopeful, deeply practical way forward. Sharon shares how hiddenness, beauty, and turning our gaze toward God free us from the heaviness of self-preoccupation and how parents can help kids grow up rooted in something far larger than likes, identity quests, or online performance. From navigating rejection to reimagining purpose, this episode invites families to step out of the spotlight, rediscover joy, and remember that the healthiest life isn't the one constantly seen…but the one securely grounded in love, calling, and connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the biggest predictor of your child becoming a lifelong reader has nothing to do with phonics programs, library incentives, or natural talent and everything to do with protecting space in their day? Cognitive psychologist Dr. Daniel Willingham joins Ginny to reveal the surprising truth about how kids learn, why background knowledge matters more than ever, and why reading aloud long past early childhood gives kids an academic and emotional advantage. With warmth and clarity, Dr. Willingham explains the “fourth grade slump,” the power of expertise, and how AI is reshaping the skills our kids will need most in the future. This episode offers a hopeful and doable path for families who want to reclaim reading in a screen-saturated world. You'll learn why limiting screens is the single most effective way to help kids choose reading for pleasure. Dr. Willingham shares why children don't need perfection, programs, or pressure; they need a home where learning is valued, distractions are dialed down, and reading is woven into the family rhythm. Encouraging, practical, and deeply grounding, this conversation shows that every parent can raise a reader starting today. Have fun. Start now. Get your copy of Why Don't Students Like School here Get your copy of Outsmart Your Brain here Get your copy of Raising Kids Who Read here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Childhood isn't a race, and in this hopeful conversation, Ginny Yurich and Cosmo Technologies founder Russell York remind us why slowing the pace is one of the greatest gifts we can offer our kids. Together they explore how delaying smartphones protects a child's attention, imagination, and sense of self at a time when technology is accelerating faster than childhood can keep up. Russell shares the research, the stories, and the practical realities behind giving kids connection without overwhelm—and why a simple smartwatch can open the door to real-world confidence, outdoor play, and independent moments that kids absolutely need in order to thrive. This episode paints a picture of what growing up well can still look like: kids roaming the neighborhood, meeting friends at the park, reading at the library, learning to trust themselves, and coming home filled up instead of drained. Ginny and Russell talk about shifting from fear to trust, restoring a child's natural rhythm, and giving parents tools that strengthen—not replace—the bond between parent and child. With real clarity and encouragement, they show how small choices can make a big difference, and how giving kids the gift of growing up slowly leads to calmer homes, stronger families, and a childhood full of wonder instead of hurry. They also discuss the brand new partnership between their organizations and the launch of the Cosmo x 1000 Hours Outside Adventure Bundle, ⁠available here!⁠ This is a limited-edition offer designed for families like ours who value connection, freedom, and real-world adventure. With the bundle you'll get: ✅ FREE JrTrack 5 Kids Smartwatch ✅ FREE custom 1000 Hours Outside wrist band ✅ FREE extra teal wrist band ✅ 1000 Hours Outside logo sticker ✅ 3 months of Cosmo Membership FREE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices