Childhood is finite at just shy of 9.5 million minutes. We only get one shot at it. One of the biggest decisions we make is how we will use that time. Research has confirmed time and time again that what children are naturally and unabashedly drawn to, unrestricted outside play, contributes extensi…
The 1000 Hours Outside podcast is an absolute gem for parents, grandparents, educators, caregivers, and anyone interested in prioritizing childhood and nature in their lives. Hosted by Ginny, who brings a natural enthusiasm and genuine care to every episode, this podcast is filled with daily encouragement and practical tips for incorporating outdoor play into family life. Each episode is packed with reminders and easy ways to continue on the path of embracing nature and childhood. It's a must-listen for anyone looking to raise resilient, curious, and environmentally conscious children.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is the variety of guests that Ginny interviews. From educators to authors to experts in various fields related to childhood and nature, each guest brings a unique perspective and valuable insights. The conversations are informative and inspiring, providing listeners with new ideas, resources, and perspectives on parenting and education. The topics covered range from getting kids outside in different seasons to fostering creativity and independence in children. Every episode is a source of learning something new that can lead to an improved life for both parents and kids.
One potential downside of the podcast is that it may leave you with a long list of books to read! Many episodes feature book recommendations that pique the interest of listeners. While this is great for those who love reading and expanding their knowledge base, it might be overwhelming for some who are already juggling busy schedules. However, the wealth of information shared in the podcast makes up for this minor inconvenience.
In conclusion, The 1000 Hours Outside podcast is a truly uplifting and encouraging resource for families seeking to prioritize nature-based play in their lives. Ginny's hosting style creates a warm atmosphere that draws listeners in, while her diverse range of guests ensures that there's something valuable for everyone. This podcast has the power to change perspectives on childhood and connect deeply with the desire to raise children who love the earth. It's a beautiful production that provides energy, hope, and practical guidance for parents on their journey of outdoor exploration with their kids.
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. Visit www.MyGreenMattress.com and save 15% off on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional ten dollars off your cart! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/1000hours with code 1000hours Ka'Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order. Fora Travel - Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours Hey Polo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/1000hours or use code 1000HOURS and get 40% off your first year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ginny Yurich sits down with Tamara Neufeld Strijack, co-author of Reclaiming Our Students, for a powerful conversation about what children need to thrive in a world increasingly dominated by screens, schedules, and peer influence. Tamara explains why children are meant to orient around caring adults—and how strong relationships with parents, teachers, and mentors create the safety children need to learn, grow, and become themselves. They explore the essential role of play, nature, movement, and the arts as “emotional playgrounds”—places where frustration, anxiety, and other emotions can safely move through rather than erupt as aggression. Tamara also unpacks the powerful shift from “mad to sad,” explaining why allowing children to experience disappointment and tears is actually part of developing resilience. Plus, Ginny and Tamara discuss “collecting”—the simple practice of intentionally welcoming children back into relationship—and why feeling seen, enjoyed, and cared for can transform homes and classrooms. It's a hopeful, practical conversation about slowing down, reconnecting, and making room for the experiences children were designed to have. Get Tamara's book here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Ka'Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ginny Yurich sits down with physician, resilience expert, and Your Brain on Nature author Dr. Eva Selhub to explore the remarkable ways nature influences our brains, bodies, relationships, and overall well-being. Drawing from decades of research, Dr. Selhub explains why our increasing separation from the natural world—combined with constant screens, information overload, and chronic stress—may be taking a greater toll than we realize. They explore surprising research on everything from indoor plants and cognitive performance to texting, mental fatigue, dopamine, attention, empathy, and the accumulating effects of everyday stress. Dr. Selhub explains how nature can help restore an overwhelmed nervous system, improve our capacity to think and connect, and provide a powerful counterbalance to modern life. Plus, hear why pets can strengthen connection, how gardening and walking support the brain, why even the aromas of trees may influence our health, and how small doses of nature woven into everyday life can make a meaningful difference. Get Dr. Selhub's book here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Ka'Chava - Go to https://www.kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if one of the most effective parenting tools isn't another consequence or reward, but play? Ginny is joined by Dr. Kim Van Dusen, licensed marriage and family therapist, registered play therapist, and author of Parenting Through Play, to explore how play can transform challenging behavior, strengthen connection, and bring more peace into family life. Dr. Kim explains why play is a child's natural language and shares simple ways parents can use it to diffuse power struggles, ease transitions, and encourage cooperation without abandoning healthy boundaries. They also discuss the importance of decompression time, why saying “yes” more often can reduce conflict, and how parents can recognize when they're over-parenting and give kids more opportunities to build independence and confidence. Dr. Kim offers practical strategies for helping parents regulate themselves, making mealtimes and picky eating more playful, and continuing to connect through play as children grow into tweens and teens. This conversation is a refreshing reminder that parenting doesn't always have to become more serious when things get difficult. Sometimes, adding a little play is exactly what changes everything. Grab Dr. Van Dusen's book here! Learn more abou her work here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Ka'Chava - Go to https://www.kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happens when the faith that once sustained you no longer feels big enough for the questions you're carrying? Ginny sits down with bestselling author Ian Morgan Cron to explore the newly re-released Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim's Tale, a novel about a burned-out pastor whose crisis of faith sends him on an unexpected pilgrimage through Italy and into the life and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi. Ian shares why seasons of questioning don't necessarily signal the loss of faith—they can become invitations into something deeper, richer, and more resilient. Together, he and Ginny explore pilgrimage, the wisdom of ancient Christian traditions, the importance of listening to our bodies, and what can happen when we step outside our routines and relinquish control. They also explore St. Francis's profound connection to the natural world and why time outdoors can awaken wonder, restore perspective, and reconnect us with God. It's a thoughtful conversation about embracing mystery, paying attention, and allowing our faith to grow alongside us through every season of life. Get Ian's book here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Ka'Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if one of the best tools for raising capable, confident kids is already sitting in your kitchen? In this episode, Ginny talks with Jack and Emmy Zhang, founders of Cooking for Levi and authors of Weeknight Winners: Family Dinners, about how cooking alongside their five-year-old son, Levi, has become about so much more than food. What started with Jack sharing his love of cooking has grown into a family rhythm that builds connection, confidence, curiosity, language, and real-world skills. Jack and Emmy share practical ways to involve kids in the kitchen—even when they're young or parents aren't confident cooks themselves. From pouring and stirring to choosing ingredients, exploring foods from around the world, and eventually learning more advanced skills, small opportunities to contribute can have a lasting impact. They also discuss how food naturally opens doors to sensory exploration, vocabulary, geography, culture, and meaningful family conversation. It's a joyful reminder that children don't always need another activity or screen to keep them occupied. Sometimes they simply need to be invited into the things we're already doing. Grab the cookbook here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Ka'Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ginny welcomes midwife and longtime friend Beth Barbeau of Indigo Forest back for her tenth appearance to continue their conversation about birth, motherhood, and the often-overlooked postpartum season. Ginny shares the story of her third and final home birth and reflects on the different lessons each birth taught her—from realizing her body wasn't broken, to seeing how small changes can dramatically affect outcomes, to discovering a deeper sense of confidence, surrender, and trust in herself. The conversation then turns to what Beth calls the “fourth trimester” and why mothers and babies need far more rest, support, and protection after birth than our fast-moving culture typically allows. Beth offers practical ideas for creating a slower postpartum period, setting boundaries with visitors, accepting help, and giving the body time to recover. Ultimately, Ginny and Beth explore a bigger question: What does birth and postpartum ask of us—and what can it give back? Their answer keeps returning to something simple but increasingly countercultural: slow down, create margin, seek support, and make space to experience one of life's biggest transitions. Sign up for Beth's newsletter here! Considering Natural Birth? Register for her "Live Chat With Beth" here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Ka'Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ginny Yurich sits down with Active Skin Repair founder Justin Gardner to talk about the surprisingly simple product that has become a go-to in the Yurich household for the inevitable cuts, scrapes, bug bites, burns, and skin irritations that come with an active childhood. Justin explains the science behind hypochlorous acid—a molecule naturally produced by the body's immune system—and how he helped bring a medical-grade version of the technology from hospitals into everyday family life. They explore why formulation matters, how Active Skin Repair can replace a cabinet full of single-use products, and why its non-stinging, scent-free approach has resonated especially strongly with parents looking for simpler, cleaner options. Justin also shares the entrepreneurial journey behind growing the company from personally mailing its first orders to serving more than a million customers and landing on shelves in every CVS. Plus, hear about the company's expansion into hydration products and mineral sunscreens, the grit required to build a category-defining brand, and why sometimes the best products for getting kids outside are the ones that make parents a little less worried about what happens when they get there. Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ginny Yurich sits down with acclaimed designer Jean Stoffer and her daughter Grace Start for a conversation that reaches far beyond beautiful homes. Jean shares the remarkable, decades-long journey from earning $3.85 an hour at an interior design firm to building Jean Stoffer Design and Stoffer Home alongside her family—a story filled with unexpected turns, new skills, big risks, and a willingness to keep asking, “Why not try?” Along the way, Jean and Grace offer a refreshing picture of what can happen when parents recognize the unique gifts of their adult children and make room for them to contribute, grow, and build something together. They also discuss Jean and Grace's children's book, We Are Home When We Are Together, and its message of trusting God through moves, changing seasons, and the inevitable transitions of family life. From raising adaptable kids to navigating the empty-nest years, respecting adult children, embracing imperfect and well-lived-in homes, and trusting God with what comes next, this episode is a beautiful reminder that home is ultimately less about where we live and more about the people—and the faith—we carry with us. Get their beautiful book here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ginny Yurich sits down with psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Rick Hanson to talk about a truth mothers desperately need to hear: you deserve to be happy and healthy, too. Drawing from his new book A Happy Healthy Mom, co-written with his wife, Jan Hanson, Rick explains why motherhood can be profoundly depleting, and why caring for mothers is one of the most important ways we can care for children. Together, Ginny and Rick explore practical ways to lower demands, increase support, and build resilience during the motherhood years. They discuss the invisible workload many mothers carry, learning to let things go, asking more of partners, avoiding over-giving, managing anxiety and anger, and recognizing the small moments of goodness woven into ordinary days. Ginny also shares how getting outside transformed her own experience of motherhood, while Rick explains how nature, perspective, and intentionally “taking in the good” can help restore an overwhelmed nervous system. This is a compassionate, practical conversation for any mom who has ever felt exhausted, stretched thin, or like she's running on empty Get Rick's book here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if the secret to a calmer home isn't organizing more—but taking more away? Ginny sits down with New York Times bestselling author Myquillyn Smith to talk about her new book, House Hushing, and a refreshingly different approach to decluttering. Myquillyn introduces “backwards decluttering”: temporarily removing the visual noise from a room before deciding what deserves to come back. The goal isn't a picture-perfect minimalist home, but one with enough margin to handle the beautiful mess of real life. From empty kitchen counters and warmer lighting to meaningful collections, rounded edges, natural elements, and the “infrastructure of welcome,” Myquillyn shares practical ways to create a home that feels both simpler and deeply personal. She and Ginny explore why our surroundings affect our moods, how clutter becomes a silent—or not-so-silent—to-do list, and why hospitality is less about having a spotless house and more about creating space for people. This conversation is an invitation to create a home that asks less of you—and gives you more room to actually live. Grab a copy of Myquillin's book here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happens when a kid who simply loves to draw grows up to create some of the most recognizable cartoons of a generation? Ginny sits down with legendary animator Butch Hartman, creator of The Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom, to talk about creativity, storytelling, faith, and why developing real skills still matters—even in the age of AI. Butch shares how his father encouraged his artistic gifts, his unlikely path from Michigan to Hollywood, and the years of learning that eventually allowed him to become not just an artist, but a writer, producer, director, and entrepreneur. Butch also shares the story of becoming a Christian at 35 and why he ultimately shifted his focus toward creating faith-filled entertainment for children. His latest project, The Garden, combines animation, music, humor, and Scripture in an effort to create uplifting children's programming at a level that can compete with mainstream entertainment. This is an especially encouraging conversation for parents raising creative kids. Butch challenges listeners not to fear AI or changing technology, but to keep learning, creating, and developing the gifts they've been given. His message is simple and hopeful: don't bury your talents—build them, use them, and see where they can take you. Learn more about Butch here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if the key to motivating young people isn't lowering expectations—but changing the way we lead them? In this episode, Ginny sits down with Dr. David Yeager, author of 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People, to explore what's really happening during the surprisingly long developmental window from puberty through the mid-20s. Dr. Yeager explains why young people are especially sensitive to respect and social status—and how parents, teachers, coaches, and employers can use a “mentor mindset” that combines high expectations with genuine support. They also unpack a counterintuitive approach to stress: instead of removing every challenge, help young people understand that stress can actually be fuel for meeting it. From giving teenagers meaningful responsibility to helping them connect hard work with a larger purpose, this conversation offers practical shifts that can dramatically change how young people respond. It's a fascinating look at why “you are needed” may be one of the most powerful messages we can give the next generation. Get Dr. Yeager's book here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if some of the most incredible nature experiences aren't across the world, but right outside your door? In this episode, Ginny talks with wildlife filmmaker and “America's Nature Guy” Peter Schriemer about helping families rediscover the extraordinary wildlife, landscapes, and adventures hiding in ordinary places. Peter shares how a childhood filled with homeschooling, curiosity, and freedom outdoors eventually led to a career creating nature films, and why conservation begins with learning to love what's in our own backyards. Peter also takes us behind the scenes of his Beyond Your Doorstep series, exploring America's often-overlooked National Wildlife Refuges. From migrating bobolinks and bizarre “timberdoodles” to rare salamanders, bison, wetlands, and urban wildlife, the conversation is a reminder of just how much is happening around us when we slow down enough to notice. Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to give kids time, space, and freedom outside. As Peter puts it, you have to be outside to see stuff—and one ordinary afternoon in nature can become an adventure you'll remember forever. STAY TUNED and follow along here for exciting things coming from Peter soon! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if one of the simplest ways to sleep better, feel more alert, and support our health is something humans have been doing forever—following the sun? Ginny sits down with British science journalist Linda Geddes, author of Chasing the Sun, to explore how profoundly light shapes our bodies, from circadian rhythms and melatonin to mood, energy, and sleep. Linda shares what happened when she increased her daytime light exposure and dramatically reduced artificial light at night—and how quickly her internal clock responded. They explore why even a gloomy day outdoors is far brighter than our indoor environments, how our relationship with winter affects us, and the surprisingly powerful connection between outdoor time and childhood myopia. This fascinating conversation reveals just how disconnected modern life has become from the natural rhythms our bodies evolved to follow—and how simple changes like getting outside in the morning, spending more time in daylight, and dimming the lights at night can help bring us back into sync. Don't miss Linda's book here! A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if the hardest parts of your childhood didn't have to define the rest of your life? Ginny sits down with Emmy Award-winning producer, author, and entrepreneur Cassidy Gard to talk about her memoir, Cosmic Goodness: Surrendering the Shadows to Live in the Light. Cassidy shares how growing up amid addiction, emotional neglect, instability, and a lack of protection shaped her sense of self, and how she eventually began recognizing the invisible ways those experiences followed her into adulthood. Cassidy's story is also one of remarkable reinvention. At 17, she secretly completed an extra year of school, graduated early, saved her money, and left for New York, where a chance casting call launched an unconventional education that eventually led to a career in television and media. She and Ginny explore the power of asking bold questions, refusing to live according to someone else's timeline, learning outside traditional systems, and trusting that sometimes the smallest decisions can completely redirect a life. The conversation ultimately turns toward healing: motherhood, faith, sobriety, perfectionism, relationships, and breaking generational patterns. Cassidy shares how becoming a mother has reshaped what matters to her, why she wants her children to have the freedom to be messy and fully alive, and how she learned to stop measuring her life against “borrowed timelines.” It's a powerful conversation about discovering that your past may explain who you became, but it doesn't have to determine who you become next. Get Cassidy's book here! ** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Being the person who holds everything together can often look like strength but sometimes you've lost yourself along the way. Dr. Alison Cook joins Ginny Yurich for a fascinating conversation about the inner patterns that drive us to overfunction, rescue, please, perfect, compare, and keep going even if some resentment has crept in. Drawing from her fantastic new book, The Secure Soul, Alison explains the “controller” and “shadow” parts of ourselves, why old experiences of rejection and not belonging can still shape our reactions decades later, and how to notice the bids for connection coming from within instead of shaming or ignoring them. They also talk about friendship, parenting teenagers, loneliness, dating, the healthy dance between closeness and independence, and why play and fun matter more than we think. Learn to answer the question: Is this actually mine to carry? Learn more about Dr. Alison Cook and grab your copy of The Secure Soul !! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if one of the most common ways we reward kids is actually working against their energy, mood, and ability to learn? Ginny sits down with nutritionist and bestselling author Kelly LeVeque to unpack what happens inside a child's body after a blood sugar spike—and why the constant stream of juice boxes, candy, sports snacks, classroom treats, and sugary rewards may matter more than we realize. Kelly explains blood sugar in refreshingly simple terms and shares how protein, fat, fiber, and whole-food carbohydrates can help kids stay more energized and regulated throughout the day. The conversation goes beyond nutrition to ask a bigger cultural question: Why have we started using sugar as a reward for everything? From sports and school to church and extracurricular activities, Kelly argues that treats have shifted from occasional celebrations to everyday incentives. She shares a compelling alternative—recognizing children for effort, teamwork, perseverance, and character instead of automatically handing them something sweet—and explains why changing these norms may actually make life easier for parents. Kelly also breaks down her simple “Fab Four” approach—protein, fat, fiber, and greens—and explains how families can use it without counting calories, banning foods, or creating anxiety around eating. Ginny and Kelly also touch on hunger hormones, GLP-1, processed foods, and the confusing world of modern nutrition, ultimately returning to a remarkably simple idea: give kids a strong foundation of nourishing whole foods, teach them what food does for their bodies, and let treats become celebrations again instead of the price of participation. Get a copy of Kelly's book here! A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What do you want to leave behind - not just for the people you love, but in them? In this moving conversation, Ginny sits down with pastor and bestselling author Chris Hodges to talk about his book Legacy Letters: Timeless Principles I Learned, Lived, and Leave Behind. In Ginny's words, it's one of her favorite episodes ever! Chris shares why reaching his sixties, raising five children, and becoming a grandfather to 12 (with another on the way) changed the way he thinks about success. Instead of simply building, he began asking what wisdom, habits, and values he wanted to pass to the generations coming behind him. Chris and Ginny explore the principles that matter even more in an age when information is everywhere: patience, perseverance, attitude, intentionality, encouragement, and a willingness to act before everything feels perfect. Chris explains why he believes patience can be a competitive advantage, why attitude is a choice rather than a feeling, and why making each day a “masterpiece” starts with identifying a few things that truly matter and actually doing them. He also shares the surprising power of writing down your dreams, including how a seemingly impossible bucket-list goal eventually led to a ride in an F-16. The conversation ultimately comes back to something beautifully simple: slowing down enough to notice your life. Chris shares his daily ritual of feeding the birds, spending time outside, and finding a quiet moment that replenishes rather than merely distracts him from the pressures of life. And in a fitting conclusion, he tells the story of fishing with his grandfather—the man who taught him to respect nature, treat people well, and live by principles worth passing on. This episode is an invitation to consider the life you're building, the people you're influencing, and the legacy that may already be taking shape in the ordinary moments you share with the people you love. Get Chris' book here! A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this joy-filled episode, Ginny sits down with positive psychology expert Dr. Elaine O'Brien, author of The Power of Play, to explore why play isn't just for kids—and why adults may need it more than we realize. Elaine explains how play supports us physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally, helping relieve stress, strengthen relationships, spark creativity, and bring more joy into everyday life. From adventurous and movement play to storytelling, puzzles, conversation, and simply having fun, this conversation expands our definition of what it means to play at every age. Ginny and Elaine share wonderfully practical ways to become lighter and more playful: try a “clockless day,” smile at the people you encounter, turn mundane chores into games, experiment with playful breathing exercises, seek out novelty, and spend time noticing the constantly changing natural world. They also explore Elaine's Splash Dance approach, which combines aqua fitness, music, movement, and positive psychology in an activity that can bring everyone from children to adults in their 90s together. Most importantly, Elaine makes the case that play shouldn't be something we wait to stumble into—it's something worth intentionally building into our lives. Whether it's creating a “joy jar,” trying something new, moving our bodies, getting outside, connecting across generations, or simply making room for spontaneity, small doses of play can change the way we experience our days. This episode is an invitation to stop taking life quite so seriously, rediscover what lights you up, and remember that growing older doesn't have to mean growing out of play. Get Dr. Obrien's book here! A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Walking may be one of the simplest things we do, but what if changing how we walk could improve our energy, balance, focus, and overall sense of well-being? Ginny sits down with Dr. Jacques MoraMarco and Dr. Yun Kim, authors of Walking Your Way to Vitality, to explore the powerful intersection of walking, breathwork, mindfulness, Tai Chi, and ancient East Asian medicine. They unpack the idea of “vitality”—physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being—and explain why prevention, rather than waiting until something goes wrong, is at the heart of their approach to health. From walking backward to improve balance and body awareness to synchronizing your breath with your steps, this conversation is packed with simple practices that can change an ordinary daily walk. Dr. MoraMarco and Dr. Kim explain several walking styles from the book, including mindfulness walks, Tai Chi-inspired animal walks, and circle walking, while discussing the importance of balance as we age and the surprising power of bringing our full attention to movement. Even counting your steps, noticing your feet hitting the ground, or repeating a simple phrase while walking can help pull the mind away from worry and back into the present moment. Best of all, none of this requires expensive equipment, a gym membership, or an elaborate exercise program. The message is remarkably accessible: start where you are, move more, breathe intentionally, and allow walking to become something greater than simply getting from one place to another. The doctors also explore acupuncture, stress, the body's fight-or-flight response, and why practices like walking, time in nature, community, and mindfulness can help us slow down and reconnect with ourselves. It's an encouraging reminder that one of the most powerful tools for a healthier, more vibrant life may already be right beneath our feet. Get their book here. A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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. Get Sean's book here A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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! A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress. BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 • Unwilded: Finding Our Way Back to Nature • Blackwell's (free US shipping): https://blackwells.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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! A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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. For more on Andy Stanley, visit: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AndyStanleyOfficial Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy_stanley/ X: https://x.com/AndyStanle Your Move: https://yourmove.is Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brandon Webb knows what it takes to perform under extreme pressure. As a combat-decorated Navy SEAL sniper instructor, entrepreneur, and bestselling author, he's spent a lifetime studying resilience. But in this conversation, he explains why the greatest test of leadership isn't on the battlefield—it's at home. Drawing from his new book Puddle Jumpers, Brandon shares the practical parenting principles that helped him raise independent, confident, and emotionally resilient children. He and Ginny explore why kids need opportunities to fail, how small acts of independence build lifelong confidence, the surprising power of visualization and positive psychology, and why parents should prepare children for the world instead of trying to protect them from it. They also discuss the importance of mentors, creating a home your adult children want to return to, choosing family over career, and how sharing your own failures can become one of the greatest gifts you give your kids. Whether you're raising toddlers, teenagers, or launching young adults into the world, this conversation is packed with memorable stories and practical wisdom for building resilient families in an increasingly fragile culture. Get Brandon's new book here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Twenty years after the release of The Jesus Storybook Bible, Sally Lloyd-Jones joins Ginny for a heartfelt conversation about the unexpected journey behind one of the most beloved children's Bibles ever written, and why the way we tell children about God matters more than we often realize. Sally shares the personal experiences that shaped her writing, from growing up with an image of a demanding God to discovering the overwhelming kindness and love at the heart of the gospel. Together, they explore why stories have the power to reach children (and adults) in ways that lessons never can, how wonder and imagination nurture lifelong faith, and why simplifying truth is one of the hardest—and most important—tasks of a writer. The conversation also looks ahead to the upcoming 20th anniversary Jesus Storybook Bible tour, the creative process behind Sally's books, the importance of preserving childhood in an age of screens, and why reading great stories aloud continues to shape hearts across generations. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, educator, writer, or simply someone longing to rediscover childlike wonder, this episode is a beautiful reminder that God's story has always been a story of grace, and that the best stories don't just teach us, they change us. Get your copy of the renowned Jesus Storybook Bible here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When we teach children to trust their feelings, we give them one of the most powerful tools they'll ever have for staying safe. In this important conversation, Ginny sits down with attorney, child wellness advocate, and author Joy Stevenson-Laws to explore why feelings—not rules—are often a child's first line of defense. Inspired by her own family's experience, Joy explains how children process the world through emotions long before they can fully understand logic, and why validating those feelings can create the trust children need to speak up when something doesn't feel right. Together they discuss Joy's new picture book, Secrets That Sparkle and Secrets That Sting, a beautifully written resource that helps families distinguish between joyful, harmless secrets and unsafe secrets that should always be shared with a trusted adult. They also explore practical ways parents can foster meaningful conversations, help children recognize what their bodies are telling them, and create homes where every feeling is welcomed without shame or dismissal. This episode is an encouraging reminder that emotional awareness isn't about raising fearful children—it's about raising confident, connected kids who know their voices matter. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, or caregiver, you'll come away with practical tools to strengthen trust, deepen communication, and help children develop the lifelong skill of listening to their intuition. A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65. Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What happens after the miracle? Paralympic gold medalist, ESPN broadcaster, Dancing with the Stars finalist, and bestselling author Victoria Arlen joins Ginny Yurich for one of the most honest conversations she's ever had about life after survival. Victoria shares the unimaginable story of spending four years trapped inside her own body with two rare neurological conditions before relearning how to walk, swim, and ultimately compete on the world stage. But this conversation goes beyond the comeback story. Victoria opens up about the hidden cost of trauma, the pressure of being called an inspiration, the mental health struggles that followed her incredible achievements, and why writing her new book, The View Is Worth It, became so important. Together, Ginny and Victoria explore forgiveness, faith, burnout, learning to rest, and how healing often begins long after everyone else thinks you're "better." Victoria also reflects on the profound role her mother played throughout her journey, how childhood memories of Lake Winnipesaukee became a lifeline during years of being locked inside her body, and why the outdoors can provide hope that lasts a lifetime. This is a moving conversation about resilience, purpose, and discovering that sometimes the greatest victory isn't overcoming adversity, it's learning to simply be present and embrace the beauty that's been there all along. Get Victoria's book here! A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS woom Bikes - Go to woom.com and use code 1000HOURS at checkout for 10% off your new bike purchase, excluding the woom WOW. Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Ethos Life Insurance - Get your free quote at ethos.com/1000hours Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Some of the best family memories start with things going completely off the rails. Father-daughter duo Marty Ohlhaut and Grace Ly join Ginny Yurich to tell the hilarious, harrowing, and surprisingly moving story behind Tent for Seven, their memoir about a family camping trip filled with lost hiking boots, packed campgrounds, a washed-out road, a terrifying injury, two knocked-out teeth, bears, and strangers who seemed to show up at exactly the right moment. Somehow, the trip that went so spectacularly wrong became part of what held their family together. This conversation is a reminder that we don't need perfect vacations or elaborate plans to give our kids a childhood they'll remember. Sometimes we just need to go, stay open to the adventure, and trust that even the mishaps may someday become the stories we love telling most. Find Tent for Seven and more from Marty Ohlhaut at https://martyohlhaut.com and Grace Ly at https://www.gracelyauthor.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if raising capable, confident children could feel less like a constant power struggle, and more like a partnership? In this episode, Ginny welcomes Simone Davies, Montessori educator and co-author of The Montessori Baby, The Montessori Toddler, and The Montessori Child, for the podcast's first-ever conversation about Montessori parenting. Simone explains how Montessori principles can be used at home to help children grow in independence, responsibility, curiosity, and confidence. She shares why parents are meant to be guides rather than bosses or servants, how a thoughtfully prepared environment can reduce nagging and conflict, and why slowing down gives children the time they need to explore, practice, solve problems, and develop at their own pace. They also explore the four major stages of childhood, from birth through age 24, including the often-overlooked stability and enormous intellectual capacity of children ages six to twelve. Simone offers practical ideas for following a child's interests, involving them in real family life, supporting hands-on learning, and preparing them for the gradual independence of adolescence and young adulthood. This encouraging conversation is a reminder that children are far more capable than we often assume, and that parenting can become more peaceful when we learn to observe, trust, guide, and let go. Learn more about Simone here. A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS woom Bikes - Go to woom.com and use code 1000HOURS at checkout for 10% off your new bike purchase, excluding the woom WOW. Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Ethos Life Insurance - Get your free quote at ethos.com/1000hours Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Movement isn't a distraction from learning—it's one of the ways children learn best. In this conversation, Ginny sits down with educator and author Mike Huber to explore why rough-and-tumble—or "whole body"—play is one of childhood's most misunderstood and essential experiences. Drawing from decades of classroom experience and research, Mike explains how movement helps children develop self-regulation, social awareness, empathy, confidence, and even the ability to focus and learn. Together, they unpack the difference between healthy risk and hidden hazards, why today's children often lack meaningful agency over their own movement, and how physical play teaches kids to read nonverbal cues, build trust, assess risk, and strengthen friendships. They also discuss why fidgeting and movement are often signs that the brain is trying to regain focus—not evidence that a child isn't paying attention. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver, this episode offers a compelling case for embracing movement instead of suppressing it—and practical encouragement for raising children who are confident, capable, and deeply connected to both their bodies and the world around them. Get your copy of Embracing Rough and Tumble Play here A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS woom Bikes - Go to woom.com and use code 1000HOURS at checkout for 10% off your new bike purchase, excluding the woom WOW. Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Ethos Life Insurance - Get your free quote at ethos.com/1000hours Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In a culture that celebrates hustle and constant productivity, is it actually possible to succeed at work without sacrificing the rest of your life? In this episode, Ginny sits down with Megan Hyatt Miller - CEO, author, speaker, and host of The Double Win Podcast, to explore why overwork has become the norm and what it looks like to build a life where both your career and your family can thrive. Megan shares her personal journey from stay-at-home mom to business leader, explaining how raising children with significant needs forced her to rethink traditional ideas about success, productivity, and balance. Together, she and Ginny discuss practical strategies for setting healthy boundaries, finding meaning beyond work, embracing rest as a performance advantage, and intentionally cultivating the parts of life that truly matter. The conversation also explores the surprising value of gardening, beekeeping, time in nature, entrepreneurship, raising capable children, overcoming fear, and why our best ideas often come when we slow down instead of speeding up. Whether you're building a business, balancing work and family, or simply longing for a more intentional life, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and refreshing encouragement. Get your copy of Win At Work, Succeed At Life here A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS woom Bikes - Go to woom.com and use code 1000HOURS at checkout for 10% off your new bike purchase, excluding the woom WOW. Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Ethos Life Insurance - Get your free quote at ethos.com/1000hours Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this heartfelt conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with beloved Bible teacher Anne Graham Lotz (daughter of Billy Graham) and her daughter, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright, to explore the timeless story of Joseph through their new book, God Won't Leave You There. Together they unpack what Joseph's life teaches us about trusting God through unexpected hardship, betrayal, seasons of waiting, and life's sudden detours. From devastating setbacks to remarkable redemption, Anne and Rachel-Ruth share deeply personal stories of cancer, heart attacks, and family trials, revealing how God remained faithful in their darkest moments. They discuss the importance of maintaining a strong work ethic, serving others even while suffering, choosing forgiveness over bitterness, and embracing the character God builds during seasons we would never choose for ourselves. The conversation also offers practical encouragement for parents, touching on favoritism, speaking blessings over our children, and creating a family legacy rooted in faith. It's a rich, hope-filled discussion that reminds us that no matter how long the waiting lasts, God is always working behind the scenes, and He never leaves us where we are. Get a copy of God Won't Leave You There: Joseph's Story here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if the hobbies you love aren't distractions from your purpose—but part of it? In this conversation, Ginny sits down with Brianna Lambert, author of Created to Play, to explore why God designed us not only to work, but also to create, collect, restore, cook, play games, make music, build, and delight in the world around us. Together they unpack how our hobbies can deepen our faith, strengthen our relationships, cultivate patience and humility, and remind us that we were never meant to live by productivity alone. Whether you're a maker, a gardener, a collector, a baker, a reader, a restorer, or someone who's forgotten what you used to love doing, this episode is an invitation to rediscover the joy of play—and to see your passions as gifts that point back to the Creator. In this episode, you'll hear: Why hobbies are more than "just for fun" The forgotten meaning of the word avocation How play helps us grow spiritually Why efficiency isn't the highest goal The surprising ways hobbies strengthen relationships How to embrace the unique ways God designed you to create, explore, and delight This conversation might just give you permission to pick up that hobby you've been putting off—and discover that it's been part of God's plan all along. Get your copy of Created To Play here A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS woom Bikes - Go to woom.com and use code 1000HOURS at checkout for 10% off your new bike purchase, excluding the woom WOW. Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Ethos Life Insurance - Get your free quote at ethos.com/1000hours Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The person who delivers your baby can shape far more than what happens on the day your baby is born. Beth Barbeau is back for her ninth conversation on the podcast, and this time I'm finally telling the story of my first home birth after two C-sections and what that experience taught me about my body, motherhood, and the kind of care women need before, during, and after birth. We talk about the differences between OBs, midwives, and doulas, why the relationship with your provider matters so much, what I wish I had understood about postpartum recovery, and why every baby makes you a new mother, whether it's your first or your seventh. Beth also has an incredibly helpful FREE guide, Who Delivers Your Baby?, that walks through your options and gives you the information I wish I'd had when I was starting out. Find Beth, the free guide, her newsletter, and more at Indigo Forest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What if one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the opportunity to struggle? Bestselling author Jessica Lahey joins Ginny for a powerful conversation about two of the biggest challenges facing families today: raising capable, independent kids and protecting them from a culture of addiction. Drawing from her books The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation, Jessica explains why our instinct to protect children from discomfort can unintentionally rob them of confidence, resilience, and the ability to solve problems on their own. They discuss why kids need real responsibility, how unstructured play and outdoor adventures build self-efficacy, and why allowing children to experience manageable failure is one of the most loving things a parent can do. Jessica also shares evidence-based research on substance use prevention, including why delaying alcohol and drug use matters, how clear family expectations reduce risk, and why connection—not control—is one of the strongest protective factors we can offer our children. From helicopter parenting and grade portals to dopamine, executive function, anxiety, and the importance of letting kids figure things out for themselves, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and encouragement for every parent navigating the teenage years—and the years leading up to them. If you've ever wondered whether you're helping too much, or how to raise children who are prepared for real life, this episode will challenge and inspire you. Grab a copy of The Gift of Failure here A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below: BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS woom Bikes - Go to woom.com and use code 1000HOURS at checkout for 10% off your new bike purchase, excluding the woom WOW. Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. Ethos Life Insurance - Get your free quote at ethos.com/1000hours Active Skin Repair - Don't forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The fertility crisis isn't just about adults who are trying to have a baby. It may start years earlier than we realize. In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Ann Shippy shares why the everyday choices we make as families can shape not only our own health but the health of generations to come. Ginny and Dr. Shippy talk about environmental toxins, nutrition, stress, time outside, the surprising role dads play in fertility, and why she believes parents should already be thinking about protecting their teenagers' fertility. If you've ever wondered whether the little choices really matter, this episode offers both practical ideas and genuine hope. Learn more about Dr. Shippy and The Preconception Revolution at https://annshippymd.com and https://everybabywell.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The world our kids are growing up in has changed faster than most of us can keep up with, but this conversation left me more hopeful than afraid. Dave Boden shares practical wisdom for raising Gen Alpha in an age of anxiety, AI, endless screens, and constant pressure to perform. We talk about resilience, emotional health, why kids need stretch zones instead of comfort zones, and how parents can help children build the kind of character that will matter no matter what the future looks like. 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 leave you encouraged and equipped. Dave's book, Raising Gen Alpha, is available wherever books are sold. Connect with Dave at https://daveboden.uk and subscribe to his newsletter, Empowering the Next Generation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Some of life's biggest questions don't have easy answers, but maybe they aren't meant to. In this thoughtful conversation, Faith Eury Cho shares why curiosity is a gift, how motherhood changed her understanding of God's presence, and what it looks like to trust Him before everything makes sense. Her idea of "practicing sacred assumptions" offers a fresh way to walk through disappointment, grief, and unanswered prayers without losing hope. Whether you're reading Never Alone with your kids or wrestling with your own questions, this conversation is an invitation to know God more deeply, right in the middle of ordinary life. Get your copy of Never Alone, Experiencing Friendship with God, and preorder Unlikely and Anointed Learn more about Faith and all she has to offer here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Every parent reaches a moment when someone else has an opinion about what's best for their child, but there comes a point when you realize the responsibility ultimately rests with you. In this conversation, Paul Voss shares the deeply personal story behind his daughter May's autism diagnosis, the fear and uncertainty that followed, and the unexpected hope his family found along the way. We talk about navigating conflicting advice, making difficult health decisions, raising eight children through extraordinary challenges, and discovering that love often grows strongest in the places we never would have chosen. Whether you're parenting a child with special needs or simply trying to make thoughtful decisions for your family, this episode is a moving reminder that no one will ever know your child the way you do. Grab your copy of Autism Sucks here. Find out more about Paul and all the resources he offers here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There is no expertise that supersedes a parent who knows their child. That idea sits at the heart of this conversation with Dr. Siobhan Dunnavant, an OB-GYN with more than 25 years of experience who believes the best doctors don't silence questions. They invite them. We talk about finding the confidence to trust your instincts, navigating medical decisions without fear, raising kids in a world of screens, and why connection, movement, and time outside still shape healthier families. If you've ever walked away from an appointment feeling unheard or wondered whether you're allowed to question the experts, this conversation is for you. Learn more and find support at HealthyKidsAlliance.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most of us assume we'll appreciate life more someday. Gretchen Rubin makes the case that "someday" starts with the next choice we make. In her second visit to the podcast, we talk about why happiness is less about getting everything you've ever wanted and more about noticing what's already good, letting go of the little things that steal your joy, finding your people, and making room for more play, more gratitude, and more delight. I left this conversation wanting to pay better attention to my own life, and I think you will too. Listen in, then tell me which idea you're going to try first. Get your copy of The Happiness Project here Learn more about Gretchen and all she has to offer here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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