The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Tom Vanderbilt joins Ginny Yurich on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast for a conversation about becoming a beginner again, even when adulthood makes it easy to stay on the sidelines. Thank you for bearing with some audio imperfections in this episode. The conversation itself is such a worthwhile one. Tom’s book Beginners is funny, thoughtful, and incredibly motivating, and this episode will make you want to try something new, let your kids see you struggle a little, and remember that learning does not have to belong only to childhood! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Kovac brings such a helpful father’s perspective to this conversation about homeschooling, work, maturity, and what actually prepares kids for adult life. Ginny and Dan talk about energetic kids, myths about homeschooling, the skills that matter most in today’s world, and why independence, teachability, time management, and real-life problem solving matter so much more than simply checking boxes. This one is full of wisdom, warmth, and the kind of perspective that helps parents breathe easier about the future. Explore Rachel Kovac’s book Their Future Is Shining Bright here and share this episode with someone who is trying to raise a child who can step into the world with confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa Katayama joins Ginny Yurich on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast for a thoughtful conversation about what Japanese culture can teach us about raising kids who are more capable, considerate, and at ease in the world. Ginny and Lisa talk through independence, cleanliness, sleep, food, nature, and the kind of daily expectations that shape children over time. What makes this conversation so strong is that it does not romanticize anything. Lisa shares the beauty of a culture that teaches kids to care for others from the beginning, while also being honest about the pressure that can place on mothers. It is the kind of episode that makes you step back, rethink what feels “normal,” and wonder whether some of the things we assume are necessary might not be. Grab your copy of The Japanese Way of Parenting here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melanie Shankle is one of those writers who can make you laugh on one page and hit something tender that makes you cry on the next, and this conversation with Ginny Yurich on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast goes right there. They talk about motherhood, daughters, mean girls, family pain, what it means to be deeply loved, and how the phrases that get handed down in a family can shape a whole life. It’s funny, sharp, moving, and full of the kind of honesty that makes you feel less alone as a woman and a mom. Explore Melanie’s books, Melanie's Podcast, and find Instant NYT Bestseller Here Be Dragons here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Thomas and Sissy Goff are back, and this conversation is incredibly relatable. Kids are more hesitant, more overwhelmed, and less willing to step into the very things that help them grow. Ginny talks with them about their new book Capable and what they are seeing after decades of counseling families: shrinking comfort zones, rising anxiety, and a culture that has made it harder for kids to practice real-life courage. This is a practical conversation that is full of direction. From letting kids experience disappointment to building flexibility, risk, and resilience in everyday moments, this episode will leave you thinking differently about what actually helps kids thrive. Get your copy of Capable here ! Find everything David and Sissy offer at https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com and on their podcast Raising Boys & Girls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Kovac returns for her third appearance on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich for a conversation that gets right to the heart of what so many families are thinking but do not always say out loud: the high school years matter deeply, adolescence is not a stage to hand over casually, and homeschooling through graduation can be thoughtful, rigorous, connected, and full of real hope. This episode is about more than transcripts and college plans. It is about protecting wonder, resisting conformity, building strong family relationships, and helping teens step into adulthood with substance, clarity, and confidence. Rachel brings wisdom, research, and lived experience to a conversation that feels steadying in the best way, especially for parents who have loved homeschooling in the early years but feel unsure about what comes next. Explore Rachel’s work and grab Their Future Is Shining Bright here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Douglas McKelvey writes like someone who has paid attention to both beauty and disappointment, and this conversation on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich is for anyone who has ever wondered whether the slow, hidden years still matter. Ginny and Douglas talk about Every Moment Holy, the new Rites of Passage collection, the sacred weight of ordinary life, the ache of delayed dreams, and the way wonder, nature, prayer, and imagination can pull us back to what is real when life feels rushed, flat, or uncertain. It is a thoughtful, deeply comforting episode about art, faith, parenting, growing up, letting go, and trusting that even the parts of life that seem small or off-course are not wasted. Explore Every Moment Holy here, including Rites of Passage, at everymomentholy.com and the Rites of Passage page, and find the live experience at everymomentholy.com/live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Glynetta Fletcher joins The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich for a conversation that gets underneath what’s actually happening in schools. With decades of experience as a teacher, principal, and now an advocate for boys, she talks plainly about patterns that are hard to ignore—early discipline, missed instructional time, and how quickly some kids start to feel like school isn’t for them. The discussion covers movement, relationships, trauma, and why behavior is often a signal, not the problem. At the center is a simple but important idea: the purpose of education isn’t compliance or test scores, it’s helping kids become who they’re capable of becoming. Learn more about Fletch and all she has to offer here Get your copy of He is Not a Gladiator here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caroline Miller joins The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich for a really grounded conversation about something most of us think we understand—goals—and why we actually don’t. She explains the difference between goals that work and goals that fall apart, why so many people lose momentum, and why feeling okay first isn’t optional if you want to follow through on anything meaningful. The conversation moves into things that don’t get talked about enough—how women are often treated when they aim high, what kids are missing when everything comes too easily, and how grit can either help you or quietly wreck you if it’s pointed the wrong way. It’s thoughtful without being complicated, practical without being formulaic, and full of ideas you’ll keep turning over after it ends. Learn more about Caroline and all she has to offer here Get your copy of Big Goals here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This conversation with Debra Fileta on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich gets right to the ache so many women are carrying: the feeling of being stretched thin by good things, needed by everyone, and running on empty. Debra brings the kind of wisdom that makes listeners feel both seen and steadied as she talks about burnout, boundaries, soul care, screen time, motherhood, friendship, homeschooling, and the deep-rooted beliefs that keep so many of us overextending ourselves. Her reminder to stop living at 100 percent and start building margin is extremely practical. This is the kind of episode that helps you exhale, tell the truth about how tired you are, and start making a way back to joy. Learn more about Debra here Also check out her books: Soul Care, People Skills, Any Day Emotions, and ⁠True Love Dates Listen to her podcast here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colton Dixon has spent years singing about faith, grit, and holding on when the road in front of you does not make sense yet, and this conversation on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich gets right to the heart of that. From American Idol (WATCH PIANO MAN ON THE RED GRAND PIANO!!) to fatherhood, touring, the staying power of “Build a Boat,” and the kind of courage it takes to keep showing up for your calling, this episode is full of the stuff that lasts. This particular conversation is extra unique because it happened in person and Ginny's daughters joined in with some of their own questions. It's personal and funny and it reminds you that a meaningful life is often built before the evidence arrives. The episode also includes a special performance featuring Colton on lead vocals, Brooklyn (13) on backup vocals, and Vivian (16) on guitar. Here the chorus off the top and the whole song at the very end Explore Colton’s music and tour, and find his Build a Boat children’s book here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Gary Chapman joins The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich for a warm, deeply practical conversation about why love can be sincere and still miss the mark, and what it looks like to really know the people right in front of us. This episode goes beyond the familiar idea of the five love languages and into the small but life-changing details that make someone feel seen, understood, and genuinely cared for. This is important for whether you’re loving a spouse, raising kids, or learning how to stay connected in the middle of a very full life. It’s thoughtful, hopeful, and full of the kind of wisdom that makes you want to pay better attention starting today. Learn more about Dr. Gary Chapman here , find The Love Language That Matters Most here , and take the Love Language quiz here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Licensed therapist Eli Harwood joins The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich for a deeply helpful conversation about attachment, emotional maturity, and the hidden ways our own unresolved feelings shape the atmosphere our kids grow up in. From anger and loneliness to body disgust, sadness, and numbing habits, Eli brings so much wisdom to the idea that healing ourselves is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. This episode is honest, practical, and full of hope for parents who want to become a safer, steadier place for their kids without pretending they have it all figured out. Eli’s new book, How to Deal with Your Emotions So Your Kids Don’t Have To, along with Raising Securely Attached Kids, offers real help for the work that matters most. Find Eli at attachmentnerd.com, on Instagram at @attachmentnerd, and through her books How to Deal with Your Emotions So Your Kids Don’t Have To and Raising Securely Attached Kids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich, Jeff Dillon and Ty Dannenbring talk about what happens when you stop waiting for community and just start right where you live. It doesn't need to be big, impressive things. Pancakes in the driveway or popsicles from a cooler can go a long way in helping establish and build close relationships. Sitting out front instead of disappearing into the backyard works, too. They talk about how small shifts turn into real relationships, the kind people are missing more than we realize. Learn more: https://partyinthefrontbook.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partyinthefrontbook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ginny Yurich sits down with Rachel Swanson on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast for a conversation that feels both grounding and hopeful for anyone thinking about fertility or walking through it. Drawing from her work in functional medicine, Rachel shares what she’s seeing as more women struggle to get pregnant and what can help. They talk through the everyday things that matter more than we think: food, light, time outside, stress, and the hidden environmental factors that quietly affect the body. This isn’t about doing everything perfectly or adding more pressure. It’s about understanding how the body works and making small, doable changes that support overall health—which, in turn, supports fertility. You can find Rachel at https://rachelswanson.com and on Instagram Get your copy of Trying! here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie Tyrell joins The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich for a conversation sparked by his remarkable new documentary The AI Doc, Or How to Become an Apocaloptimist. This episode explores what it feels like to be raising kids in a world changing at an incredible pace and why this technology isn’t something people can simply ignore. Through the lens of filmmaking and new fatherhood, Charlie offers a thoughtful, grounded perspective on AI, creativity, work, and the future. The conversation moves beyond fear and into awareness, helping listeners better understand what’s happening and where they still have a voice in it. It’s honest, steady, and deeply relevant for anyone trying to make wise decisions in a rapidly shifting world. Sign up here to learn more and get involved: https://theaidocgetinvolved.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich, Ginny sits down with Fortesa Latifi to talk about her fascinating and deeply nuanced book Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online. This conversation stays with you because it refuses easy answers. Together, they explore how sharing family life online can create income, flexibility, and opportunity for parents while also raising real questions about privacy, consent, and what it means for a child to grow up in front of an audience. Fortesa brings thoughtful reporting and real stories from both parents and kids, and instead of rushing to judgment, this episode leans into the tension. It’s an honest, layered look at a world we’re all participating in, whether we realize it or not—and one that may change how you see the content you scroll past every day. Learn more about Fortesa and her work here Get your copy of Like, Follow, Subscribe here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Acuff is back for his seventh appearance on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich, and this conversation is packed with the kind of practical, funny, encouraging wisdom that makes you want to change your life before the episode is even over. In this episode, Jon shares the heart behind his new book, Procrastination Proof, and the conversation moves far beyond productivity into the real stuff like fear, doubt, regret, ambition, family, motivation, future selves, and how to stop waiting for perfect conditions before you begin. It is possible to build something meaningful right where you are. Listen in and share with friends! Jon has a special link just for our listeners at jonacuff.com/outside Check out Jon's motivation ideas here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this moving episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast with host Ginny Yurich, Dr. Lee Warren shares what a lifetime in neurosurgery, war, devastating loss, and deep faith has taught him about pain, hope, grief, resilience, and the real power of the mind to change the brain. This conversation goes far beyond medicine into the places a scalpel cannot reach like automatic thoughts, unanswered prayers, the fear that follows heartbreak, and the daily choice to love tomorrow more than we hate how we feel today. It is wise, tender, and unexpectedly practical, especially for parents trying to raise strong kids in an anxious world, and it will leave listeners with something we all need more of right now: a steadier way to face what hurts and keep living with courage. Find Dr. Lee Warren and links to his books, substack, and podcast at DrLeeWarren.com Get your copy of The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery here Get your copy of I've Seen the End of You here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, I’m joined again by my dear friend Rachel Kovac, and this conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered if they can really keep going through the high school years. Rachel has written an incredibly practical, deeply encouraging book called Their Future Is Shining Bright , and we talk through everything parents actually need like dual enrollment, college applications, trade paths, transcripts, and all the options most of us didn’t even know existed. But more than that, we talk about what’s at stake during the teen years like identity formation, the messages kids internalize, and the opportunity we have to stay close and guide them through it. If you’ve felt that tension between wanting to continue and wondering if you’re enough, this episode will steady you and remind you why these years might be the most important ones to keep. Pre-order your copy of Their Future is Shining Bright today! And get your pre-order bonuses here. Learn more at RachelKovac.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices