The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

On this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich talks with science journalist and bestselling author Alex Hutchinson about a shift that’s been happening for decades: kids are exploring less, adults are settling sooner, creativity is declining, and screens are filling the space where real-world discovery used to happen. Drawing from his new book The Explorer’s Gene and the research behind the “explore vs. exploit” dilemma, Alex explains why safety, convenience, and passive entertainment may be costing us more than we realize—and why active exploration is the key to building adaptable, confident, creative humans in an uncertain future. This conversation reframes how we think about play, risk, childhood freedom, and even our own life choices, offering practical language for what families are up against and a hopeful vision for how small, everyday adventures can restore the skills we’re losing.

Get your copy of The Explorer's Gene here

Get your copy of Endure here

Learn more about Alex and all he has to offer here
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Bart and Shannon Millard of MercyMe share the story behind the years they now call “the flower chair”—a season of grief, chronic stress, parenting strain, and quiet disconnection that nearly reshaped their family for good. What followed wasn’t a dramatic rescue but a slow return through counseling, community, and the hard grace of facing what they had tried to survive alone. In this honest conversation with Ginny Yurich, they talk about the pre-2004 and post-2004 turning point, a child’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis, marriage under pressure, the surprising role of mentor Tim Timmons, and the real story behind how I Can Only Imagine changed their lives. Their new book Even If and the film I Can Only Imagine 2 reveal what they call “personal evidence of God’s goodness” in the middle of the mess—especially for parents carrying something that doesn’t just go away.

Preorder 'Even If' here

Learn more about Bart and Shannon here

Order 'I Can Only Imagine' here

A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them ALL out below: 


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Wayfair - Go to www.wayfair.com and shop all things home


Cure Hydration- head to www.curehydration.com/outside to find a retailer near you

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In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, host Ginny Yurich sits down with theologian and author Joel Muddamalle for a conversation that feels both ancient and urgently relevant. Drawing from Joel’s new book The Unseen Battle, they explore spiritual warfare not as something sensational or fear-driven, but as a daily, lived reality shaped by attention, truth, imagination, and small choices. From why Eve didn’t panic when the serpent spoke, to how modern distractions quietly gain a foothold in our lives, to why standing firm matters more than fighting harder, this episode invites listeners to see Scripture in full color and to recover a grounded, hopeful confidence. It’s thoughtful, accessible theology for parents, skeptics, and anyone who senses there’s more happening beneath the surface of ordinary life.

🔗 Get your copy of Joel’s book, The Unseen Battle

🔗 Check out Stranger Theology: https://www.strangertheology.com
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In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with father-daughter duo Drew and Ava Miller—homeschoolers, musicians, and the heart behind Petal Honey Co—to talk about the kind of life shift you never see coming, but later realize was guidance all along. What started as a random stop at a honey-for-sale sign turned into beekeeping, bottling, rebuilding after hard losses, and building real community through local food and hands-on work. We talk about the beauty of honey, the stewardship of creation, why pollinators matter, and how “outdoor work” can quietly change a family—slowing you down, strengthening you, and giving kids purpose you can’t manufacture indoors. You’ll also hear about Drew and Ava’s music (recorded as a time capsule of their ages), Ava’s love of incubating chicks, and a childhood outdoor memory that will make you want to plan a trip and reread the books that shaped you. L

Check out Petal Honey Co here

Check out | Miller and Co music here
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In this episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, host Ginny Yurich sits down with farmers and authors Staci and Jeremy Hill of Gooseberry Bridge Farm to explore a decades-long shift: how much everyday knowledge has disappeared in just a few generations. From growing and preserving food to involving kids in real, meaningful work, this conversation is about reclaiming skills that once made ordinary life possible and still matter more than we realize. We talk about seasonal living, raising capable kids, why a full pantry isn’t fear-driven but thoughtful, and how learning to work for your food changes the way you see time, effort, and family life. This episode is about is about remembering what used to work and choosing a more grounded way forward.

Get your copy of The Preserver's Garden here

Learn more about the Hills at https://www.gooseberrybridge.com

Follow the Hills on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/gooseberrybridgefarm/
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