
The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
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 extensively to every area of childhood development. The importance here cannot be understated. Every year we aim to match nature time with the average amount of American kid screen time (which is currently 1200 hours per year). Have a goal. Track your time outside. Take back childhood. Inspire others.
Latest episodes

14 snips
Mar 26, 2025 • 59min
1KHO 451: Trust Your Kids More and Worry About Them Less | Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson, The Self-Driven Child
Dr. William Stixrud, a neuropsychologist and assistant professor, teams up with educator Ned Johnson to explore revolutionary parenting strategies. They challenge the pressure-driven culture, advocating for children's autonomy and the power of independent play to bolster mental health. With insights on fostering resilience and joy, they discuss the importance of trust between parents and children. They also emphasize the detrimental effects of toxic expectations and the need for 'radical downtime' to allow kids to thrive and explore their interests.

Mar 24, 2025 • 1h 1min
1KHO 450: There is Good News Even in Sad Stories | Annie F. Downs, Where Did TJ Go?
Annie F. Downs, a beloved author and speaker known for her insights into grief and faith, joins the discussion to share the heartfelt story behind her children's book, 'Where Did TJ Go?'. She candidly explores the themes of loss and resilience, highlighting the importance of hope amid sorrow. Annie reflects on her personal battles with self-image and food addiction, encouraging listeners to embrace their unique journeys. With a focus on planting seeds of hope, the conversation weaves through spiritual growth and the beauty found in life's challenges.

Mar 23, 2025 • 55min
1KHO 449: An Adventure Doesn’t Occur Until There’s a Flop | Thom Barrett, Living While Dying
What if the “flops” in life are actually the beginning of the real adventure? Thom Barrett joins Ginny Yurich on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast to share how a cancer diagnosis—and a midlife awakening—sparked decades of daring outdoor exploration. From falling off a 20-foot cliff in Colorado to kayaking with piranhas in the Amazon, Thom’s adventures are bold, raw, and deeply human. He opens up about building a DIY winter camper, adventuring with his daughters, redefining purpose in retirement, and how cancer shifted his entire view of living. This conversation is packed with humor, wisdom, and inspiration for anyone who’s wondering if it’s too late—or too scary—to begin again. Spoiler: It’s not.**Learn more about Thom hereGet your copy of Living While Dying here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 2025 • 58min
1KHO 448: Have We Removed the Greatest Teacher About How to Live? | Suzanne B. O'Brien, The Good Death
This is a must-listen-to episode!!! It's SO good and it will give you so much to ponder and talk about with others!!In this deeply moving episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with Suzanne O'Brien, author of The Good Death: A Guide to Supporting Your Loved One Through the End of Life. Suzanne, a registered nurse and death doula, offers a powerful, healing perspective on end-of-life care, emphasizing that death is not a medical event but a profoundly human experience. Through the lens of her expertise, Suzanne explores how we can reclaim the sacredness of dying, and the invaluable lessons it offers for living fully. She shares how, with the right knowledge and mindset, families can face death with peace and acceptance, avoiding regrets and embracing the opportunity for growth that end-of-life moments provide.Suzanne’s inspiring message encourages listeners to live each day with purpose, reflecting on the value of time and the importance of choosing to live fully—before we find ourselves looking back with regrets. This episode offers not just insights on how to support loved ones through the end of their journey, but also how to approach life itself with a heart full of gratitude, presence, and connection. A must-listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of both life and death, and how the two are inextricably linked.**Get your copy of The Good Death hereLearn more about Suzanne and all she has to offer here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 19, 2025 • 1h 36min
1KHO 447: The Powerful Lost Art of Becoming Mother | Beth Barbeau, Indigo Forest
Beth Barbeau, a midwife specializing in holistic healthcare and family wellness, shares her insights on navigating motherhood. She highlights the importance of embracing discomfort for growth and deeper connections with children. The discussion also explores personalized support in maternal healthcare and the impact of generational wisdom. Beth introduces her free webinar and guide to help parents manage childhood illnesses confidently, emphasizing that every act of care shapes the future. This conversation reassures mothers of their inherent bravery and the significance of their work.

Mar 17, 2025 • 54min
1KHO 446: The Transformative Power of 10 Hours of Recess Each Week | Kensie Wiebe, Timbernook
In this inspiring episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich talks with Kensie Wiebe about the groundbreaking initiative of incorporating TimberNook's outdoor play program into a traditional school. Kensie shares how her school made the bold move to offer 10 hours of outdoor play each week, fostering a deeper connection to nature and allowing kids the space for unstructured, autonomous play. She highlights the benefits of mixed-age groups, the importance of longer outdoor sessions, and how these changes have had a lasting impact on the children’s emotional, social, and physical development.Kensie also discusses how this shift has not only benefited the students but has improved teacher satisfaction as well, with teachers noting higher productivity and better engagement in the classroom. As the program continues to grow, Kensie reflects on the ripple effect this initiative has created, challenging the conventional approach to education by prioritizing play and outdoor time. This episode will leave you reconsidering the importance of nature in children’s development and how schools can play a key role in transforming the way we educate.**Find out more about how to bring TimberNook to your school or your area hereGet a copy of Balanced and Barefoot here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 16, 2025 • 51min
1KHO 445: From Ninja Warrior to Nature | Anthony Porter, Outdoor Anthony
In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich chats with Anthony Porter, a four-time American Ninja Warrior contender, nature educator, and creator of the Epic Nature Journal. We dive into Anthony’s incredible journey from parkour to outdoor survival, his passion for helping kids embrace nature, and his unique perspective on adventure. Anthony shares his top tips for getting outside, from survival skills to finding your personal "totem" for outdoor fun. His hilarious, hands-on approach to education, including how to clean wounds with a banana peel and the fascinating science behind snakes’ heat-sensing abilities, will inspire listeners of all ages to reconnect with nature and embrace their own adventurous spirit. Whether you're a parent looking for fresh ways to spark outdoor interest in your kids or a nature lover seeking new challenges, this episode is full of inspiration and laughter.**Check out Anthony's Epic Nature Journal hereFind everything Anthony Porter here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 12, 2025 • 1h 12min
1KHO 444: It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn | Greta Eskridge
In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Ginny Yurich welcomes back her dear friend Greta Eskridge for a critical discussion on protecting children from the pervasive reach of porn. Greta shares her own family’s journey, the hard-earned wisdom she’s gained from years of research, and the urgent need for parents to step into these conversations with courage.From shocking statistics to practical scripts, this episode equips parents with the tools to safeguard their kids' innocence and prepare them for a world where exposure is almost inevitable. We tackle why the industry is working so hard to normalize porn, the lifelong impact of early exposure, and how we can build a compelling offline life for our kids. Greta’s new book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn, is more than a resource—it’s a battle cry for parents to rise up and fight for the next generation.This is not an easy conversation, but it’s one we must have. Don't miss it.**Get your copy of It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 10, 2025 • 60min
1KHO 443: I Want to Exercise But... | Katy Bowman and Diana Hill
Best-selling author Katy Bowman and clinical psychologist Diana Hill explore the common struggle of knowing we should exercise but feeling stuck. They discuss 44 reasons that keep people sedentary and share practical, mindset-shifting solutions. Emphasizing flexibility and self-acceptance, they redefine fitness beyond traditional workouts, suggesting 'movement snacks' throughout the day. With humor and personal anecdotes, they empower listeners to integrate movement into their lives, even amidst parenting challenges, without the pressure of fitness culture.

Mar 7, 2025 • 57min
1KHO 442: The Tension of Becoming | Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith, Being Fully Known
Are you stuck in one lane, afraid to explore the deeper parts of who you are? Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith joins Ginny Yurich to discuss the tension of becoming—the uncomfortable yet necessary process of stepping into our fullest selves. Together, they unpack why so many people resist change, the hidden attacks that come when we embrace growth, and how rest is more than sleep—it's a way of life. Dr. Dalton-Smith shares insights from her latest book, Being Fully Known, and her groundbreaking framework on the seven types of rest, challenging us to rethink work-life balance and instead pursue work-life harmony. This conversation is packed with wisdom on identity, courage, and finding the sacred part of your work. If you’ve ever felt like you’re more than the roles you’ve been assigned, this episode is for you!**Get your copy of The Tension of Becoming hereLearn more about every Dr. Saundra has to offer here**Download your free 1000 Hours Outside tracker here >> https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/trackersFind everything you need to kick off your 1000 Hours Outside Journey here >> https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/blog/allthethingsOrder of copy of Ginny's newest book, Until the Streetlights Come On here >> https://amzn.to/3RXjBlN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices