We Followed Our Hearts

Is it better to listen to reason, or defy your own better judgement?

Grace and Tom on a beach in Maine (Photo courtesy Grace Henes)

Grace and Tom on a beach in Maine (Photo courtesy Grace Henes)

When it comes to making decisions, we often know what we should do. But then there's that little voice, urging you to throw caution to the wind. What happens when we give into that voice - when we make a decision that's clearly irrational - that everyone tells us is a mistake?

This is a story about young love, a cross-country road trip, and a tough question: whether you should follow your head or your heart.

 
 
We both knew how hard it was, struggling through a long-distance relationship. And then what? Another year, miles apart, only to find out we still couldn’t live in the same place?
— Grace Henes
 
 

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My Inner Teenager

Discovering the line between confidence and arrogance

Mt. Adams, the second peak on the Presidential Traverse, was engulfed in fog and raging winds when Bassam Tarazi attempted it. (Photo by Bassam Tarazi)

Mt. Adams, the second peak on the Presidential Traverse, was engulfed in fog and raging winds when Bassam Tarazi attempted it. (Photo by Bassam Tarazi)

When Bassam Tarazi set out to hike the 23-mile Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire, he wasn't worried. It was a nice summer day, he had a lifetime of mountaineering experience behind him, and compared to his other outdoor conquests, this would be easy.

But over the course of the next few hours, he would come to realize what a dangerous miscalculation he had made. It was a miscalculation that would scare him to the point of tears and would cause him question the value of his own confidence.

On this episode, he shares his story. It's a story about what happens when your inner teenager takes over -- when you cross the invisible line between confidence and cockiness.

 
 
 
 
 
I thrived off of the momentary discomfort that comes from putting yourself out there and taking risks, because the rewards were so fulfilling.
— Bassam Tarazi

Bassam Tarazi is an explorer and author based in Portland, Oregon. His latest book is called Borders, Bandits and Baby Wipes: A Big Adventure in a Tiny Car.

Support for this episode comes from...

 
 
 
 

Nothing Left to Give

A homeless man, a lost cat, and a relationship that healed the scars of a broken past

Michael King was homeless, depressed, and drinking. Tabor was a lost, injured and hungry. One rainy night in Portland, Oregon, the two found each other.

Even though Michael had nothing to offer -- no money, no shelter -- he rescued the little cat. And she adopted him. 

On this episode, we talk with writer Britt Collins, who wrote a book chronicling their story.

It's a story of love and tenderness, and of the surprising things that can happen when those who have nothing left to give, decide to give anyway.

 
 
She gave him someone to love and care for. ... Michael craves that; he’s a nurturer.
— Britt Collins
 
 
 
Michael and Tabor. (Photo courtesy Britt Collins)

Michael and Tabor. (Photo courtesy Britt Collins)

Britt Collins' book is called Strays. It's available in hardcover on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, and in other bookstores now, and it comes out in paperback in June.

Britt is also launching a cat festival in London this summer. Yes, a cat festival.


Support for this episode comes from...

 
 
 

With My Toes in the Sand

Breaking free of the urge to run when the going gets rough

Susan Conrad in her kayak on the inside passage. (Photo courtesy Susan Conrad)

Susan Conrad in her kayak on the inside passage. (Photo courtesy Susan Conrad)

Throughout her whole life, whenever things weren't going well, Susan Conrad's tendency was to run. She ran from one problem to the next, one job to the next, one man to the next. 

But seven years ago, she embarked on a trip that would change all that. She decided to kayak the Inside Passage, a 1,200-mile coastal route from Washington State to Alaska -- by herself.

On this episode, she shares her story. It's a story of a troubled past (#MeToo), and of a journey that changed the way she approaches life -- a journey that taught her patience, and showed her how to appreciate where she is -- right here, and right now.

 
 
 
I knew I was going down the wrong path when I found myself rummaging through my backcountry first-aid kit for pain pills that were prescribed years ago for emergencies.
— Susan Conrad
 

Special thanks to Steve Jahn and Ben Wells for recording Susan's story. Steve and Ben are part of Burnt Breakfast, a 5-piece band specializing in "mud blues" in the Puget Sound area of Washington State.

Support for this episode comes from...

 
 
 

The More I've Given Up

A guest interview about the happiness gained through living with less

Rob Greenfield (Right) goes dumpster diving with his partner, Cheryl Davies. (Photo courtesy Rob Greenfield)

Rob Greenfield (Right) goes dumpster diving with his partner, Cheryl Davies. (Photo courtesy Rob Greenfield)

We're switching things up a bit today, and bringing you excerpts from an episode of Wild Ideas Worth Living.

Wild Ideas Worth Living is a podcast about people who have wild ideas -- ideas that others think are crazy -- and do them anyway.

On this episode, we talk with host Shelby Stanger about her choice to give up a stable career in order to pursue her passion and launch her show. And we bring you excerpts from her interview with Rob Greenfield, a man who has created a life he loves through living with less.

Rob lives on $5,000 a year -- voluntarily. He has no credit card, no bills to pay; and he's undertaken challenges like producing zero waste while biking across the country.

 
 
 
 
If I don’t have a $100 cell phone bill, which is $1,200 a year, that means $1200 worth of work that I don’t have to do, which means I can be doing what I love to do.
— Rob Greenfield
 
 

This episode sponsored by...

 
 

A Few Steps Closer

What happens when you start to forget the person you lost?

Lara McCaffrey and her family pose for a selfie at torrey pines State Natural Preserve. (Photo by Lara McCaffrey)

Lara McCaffrey and her family pose for a selfie at torrey pines State Natural Preserve. (Photo by Lara McCaffrey)

When we lose a loved one, distracting ourselves can sometimes make grieving easier. We dive into work, school, hobbies — anything to keep our minds busy.

This often helps dull the pain. But it can also make you forget things you didn't think you could, like what your loved one looked or sounded like. And when you forget things like that, it’s almost worse than being sad.

Writer Lara McCaffrey had such an experience, and on this episode, she shares her story. It’s a story about trying to heal yourself in the wake of a devastating loss—and about the struggle to dull the pain, without losing that special connection with the person you’ve lost.

This episode is sponsored by...

I was spending so much energy trying NOT to think about my dad, that I was literally forgetting him. ... And so now, not only was he gone physically, but I couldn’t feel his influence on me anymore. It’s like he was miles away. Unreachable.
— Lara McCaffrey
 
 

The Sand Is For Me

A city girl, a mysterious illness, and a surprising love affair with nature

Mari Andrew was leading a charmed existence. At 30 years old, she had a book deal, was living in Spain, learning Flamenco, and making a living through her art.

And then one day, she came down with a mysterious disease. A disease that would turn Mari's life on its head.

The illness kept her hospitalized for a month -- and disabled long after that. It took her away from the things she loved and shattered her sense of identity.

But it also resulted in something unexpected: a relationship with the natural world that was as powerful as it was surprising.

Producer Greta Weber brings us Mari's story.

Illustration by Mari Andrew

Illustration by Mari Andrew

This episode sponsored by...

 
 

Podcast Past, Podcast Present, Podcast Yet-To-Come

Alex Eggerking (right) came on board as Out THere's marketing and business development director earlier this year. In September, she and Willow (left) spent several days in Wyoming, brainstorming, hiking -- and celebrating successes,

Alex Eggerking (right) came on board as Out THere's marketing and business development director earlier this year. In September, she and Willow (left) spent several days in Wyoming, brainstorming, hiking -- and celebrating successes,

2017 has been a big year for Out There:

  • We grew from a one-woman show, to a team of three; 
  • We started producing the podcast twice as often;
  • We won the gold medal at PRNDI (a national organization of radio producers) for best independently produced podcast nation-wide; 
  • We increased our listenership more than seven-fold; 
  • We signed on our first sponsors.

Needless to say, it's been an exciting ride. And we're even more excited about the year ahead.

On this episode, we preview some of the stories we have in the works, share feedback from you (our listeners), and introduce you to the people behind the scenes at Out There.

We also offer a vision for the future. We talk about what we want to build with Out There, what kind of company we hope to become, and how you fit into that picture.

EVery great artistic endeavor involves notes scrawled on a napkin at a bar, right? 

EVery great artistic endeavor involves notes scrawled on a napkin at a bar, right? 

Also, because it's Giving Tuesday, we're asking for your help in supporting Out There. Support comes in all different forms -- whether it's making a donation, writing us a review on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts, recommending the show to others, or buying Out There swag (which, by the way, is 20% off today; listen to the episode for the discount code!)

We are continually humbled by the kind words and generous contributions we receive from listeners, and we can't thank you enough for your support. Here's to many wonderful years to come!

 

The Same Humanity

 

When disaster brings out the best in us

Hundreds or even thousands of volunteers brought donations of medicines, bottled water, baby food, pet food and more to a donation center in Mexico City following the September earthquake there. (photo by Maya Kroth)

Hundreds or even thousands of volunteers brought donations of medicines, bottled water, baby food, pet food and more to a donation center in Mexico City following the September earthquake there. (photo by Maya Kroth)

Journalist Maya Kroth was in Mexico City this fall, when a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck.

Hundreds of people died; it was the deadliest quake in a generation. But in the weeks after the earthquake, Maya watched something happen out in the streets of Mexico City that made her think about disasters a little differently. 

As she would learn, tragedy has a way of bringing out the best in people -- a way of weaving us together into a giant invisible tapestry, held together by our common humanity.

 
If this had happened in the U.S., I would’ve waited for someone in charge to tell me where to go, what to do. But here, it’s like everybody knows that nobody is really in charge, so they just do it themselves.
— Maya Kroth
 

Maya Kroth has been on Out There before. Her previous piece, Another Channel, tells the story of one of those eerie coincidences that can't quite be explained by science.

This episode sponsored by...

 
 
 

Coyote's Beauty Secrets

Breaking free of the need to hide who you are

Photo courtesy Becky Jensen

Photo courtesy Becky Jensen

Becky Jensen was that girl with the acne and the crooked teeth. The girl who always felt she had to hide, in order to be accepted.

As she grew older, even though her complexion improved, the emotional scars persisted. But last year, on a backpacking trip in Colorado, something happened that changed how Becky sees herself. 

On this episode, she shares that story. It's a story about one of those tiny moments that ends up having a profound impact on our lives. And it's about learning to accept your own beauty.

 
 
The more I worked to hide my flaws, the more I blended in, and the verbal judgments eased up. I learned that it pays to hide.
— Becky Jensen
 

Want to read the whole story? Misadventures Magazine published a print version. Go back and reread all your favorite parts, see additional photos, and share with friends!

Becky has been on Out There before. If you liked this story, check out her other piece, The Motherload. It's about how doing something selfish can be good for those around you.

This episode sponsored by...

 
 

When Nature Knows Best

Why reaching my breaking point was exactly what I needed

Idaho for Website.jpg

Two years ago, I made a plan for how to rekindle my happiness.

A smothering melancholy had settled over my life at the time: I was reeling from the disintegration of a long-term relationship, and had been working myself to the bone as I struggled to start my own business. So I planned out a 500-mile bicycle trip through the mountains of Idaho.

I figured a tough solo adventure would clear my mind and wrench me out of my gloom. What I hadn't bargained for, was that the trip would break me.

On this episode, I share the story of what happened. It's a story about planning, and failing. And it's about learning to let go, and allowing the universe steer you in the right direction.

 
Maybe nature made that bike ride so miserable because she knew I’d never abandon my plan unless that plan truly broke me. So she forced me to quit.
— Willow Belden
 

The Friendliest Way

Do we live in a world where nice people can finish first?

Bike Lane Cropped for website.jpg

New York City isn't known for being bike friendly. The streets are busy, drivers are impatient, and pedestrians often clog the bike lanes. So if you're a cyclist, it often seems like raising your voice is the only way to get anywhere.

But last New Years, something happened on the Brooklyn Bridge that changed the way one New Yorker thinks about biking in the city. The man's name is Noam Osband, and on this episode, he shares his story. It's a story about how we communicate with strangers -- and about how to get what you want.

 
Sometimes, kindness doesn’t seem like an option. Even for a happy-go-lucky guy like me.
— Noam Osband
 
 

SPOILER ALERT: The video below is rad, but you might want to listen to the story before watching it...

In My Own Hands

Suicide 1 CROPPED.jpg

What re-ignites the will to live?

 

Kaleen Torbiak has tried to kill herself many times. She grew up in a troubled family, spent years struggling with depression, and was convinced that the world would be better off without her.

But one November day in 2015, everything changed. That day, Kaleen walked into the woods, determined to end her life -- and came out a few days later fighting to live. 

On this episode, Canadian journalist Heather Kitching explores what happened during those fateful days. The story gives us a glimpse into one woman's tortured mind, and examines what it takes to make a person want to live again.

 
It’s amazing how on Friday, I wanted to commit suicide, and by Sunday I’m frozen from my hips down and all I wanted do is live.
— Kaleen Torbiak
Music for this story included the song "Comfortable Mystery 2" by Kevin MacLeod.
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline in the U.S. can be reached at 800-273-8255.
 

If a Badger Dreams

What happens when science and literature don't have all the answers?

Photo Courtesy Charles Foster

Photo Courtesy Charles Foster

Charles Foster has been fascinated with animals for as long as he can remember. He wants to know what makes them tick, how they experience the world, what they dream about.

This curiosity has been all-consuming for Charles since childhood. It's a curiosity that began with a blackbird in a Yorkshire garden, and eventually resulted in a radical experiment -- an attempt to "become" a badger.

On this episode, Brooklyn-based reporter Kaitlyn Schwalje brings us Charles' story. It's a story about obsessive curiosity, and about the surprising things that can happen when you never stop asking questions.

 
My training as a veterinarian ... forced me to approach these animals in a drearily mechanistic way, which made them more difficult to understand.
— Charles Foster
 
Music on this episode includes works by Aaron Leeder.

Small Beauty on the Appalachian Trail

She Explores brings us a guest interview about thru-hiking as a black woman

Rahawa Haile. (Photo courtesy Rahawa Haile)

Rahawa Haile. (Photo courtesy Rahawa Haile)

What's it like doing something that People Like You almost never do?

This week, we introduce you to another outdoor podcast we think you'll love: She Explores. We chat with the host, Gale Straub, and share her thought-provoking interview with Rahawa Haile, a black woman who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2016.

Rahawa is an Eritrean-American writer, and author of the essay “How Black Books Lit My Way Along the Appalachian Trail,” which was published on Buzzfeed.

As one of the few black women to thru hike in 2016, Rahawa talks about how her experience is different than the “typical” hiker. She explains that despite popular belief and best intentions, the Appalachian Trail isn’t a great equalizer.

Fear and Loving

What if the world isn't yours for the taking?

PHoto courtesy Jackie SOfia

PHoto courtesy Jackie SOfia

Outdoor adventures have a remarkable ability to instill a sense of confidence in us.

In 2009, Jackie Sofia went on a trip that did just that. It was a cross-country bike ride, which she was undertaking with dozens of other riders.

When she set off, Jackie was shy and socially anxious -- terrified by what she was about to do. Four thousand miles later, she had been forced out of her shell and fallen in love with risk taking. It was a transformation that would shape the course of her next few years, emboldening her to go places and achieve things she never would have dreamed of in the past. Suddenly, the world was full of possibilities. 

But what happens when that newfound confidence gets shattered -- when you realize you might not be invincible? 

On this episode, Jackie shares her story.

Jackie Sofia is a producer for Kerning Cultures, a podcast that dissects the complex narratives of the Middle East through stories. She’s also the co-founder of Sitti Soap, a social enterprise that employs Palestinian refugee women.

The Human Race

Bernadette Murphy approaches the finish line at the Tahiti Mo'orea Half Marathon. (PHOTO COURTESY BERNADETTE MURPHY)

Bernadette Murphy approaches the finish line at the Tahiti Mo'orea Half Marathon. (PHOTO COURTESY BERNADETTE MURPHY)

Learning to belong after life falls apart

When Bernadette Murphy flew to an island in the South Pacific, her friends thought she was indulging in an extended tropical vacation. But the three months she spent on the Island of Mo'orea were anything but relaxing.

In the past two years, Bernadette had lost her father, left her marriage, and sent her youngest child off to college. Now, she was struggling to reassemble the shattered bits of her existence. As it turns out, fleeing to a tropical Paradise wasn't an instant cure for her problems.

But when she signed up for a half marathon, things started to change.

On this episode, Bernadette shares the story of what happened. It's a story about running a race. But more than that, it's about midlife reinvention -- about learning how to belong, after you've given up life as you knew it.

 
Having left my own family, I feel at times like an intruder with my brother’s family, as if, in giving up mine I’ve given up the right to belong to a family at all.
— Bernadette Murphy
Bernadette Murphy lives in Los Angeles. Her latest book, Harley and Me, is now out in paperback.
 

Off the Hamster Wheel

How losing the thing you love can make you happier

Photo courtesy Matt MIller

Photo courtesy Matt MIller

For Matt Miller, cycling was golden. It was his exercise, his commute, and his therapy. When he was in the saddle, troubles seemed to melt away, and he felt free -- completely, utterly free.

So when he set out for a cross-country bike tour the summer after graduating college, he thought it would be the adventure of a lifetime. And for a while, it was. But then, something happened that turned his world upside down.

Producer Bianca Taylor brings us Matt’s story. It’s a story about how we define ourselves, and even distract ourselves, with the thing we most love to do. And it looks at what happens to us when that thing is taken away.

 
You gotta learn to love all the scary parts, all the emotional parts, all the weird insecurities — all the things that ... you’re just trying to sequester.
— Matt Miller

Music for this story includes works by Aaron Leeder.

 

The Motherload

Why a selfish act can end up being good for everyone

Becky Jensen on the Colorado Trail. (Photo courtesy Becky Jensen)

Becky Jensen on the Colorado Trail. (Photo courtesy Becky Jensen)

Becky Jensen had a lot of things going for her: sweet kids, a caring fiance, a promising career. But deep down, she wasn't happy. So last summer, she left everything (and everyone) behind to do a 500-mile hike by herself.

On this episode, she shares her story. It's a story about relationships -- both with your family, and with yourself. And it's about the surprising things that can happen to those relationships when you do something selfish -- something just for you.

For the first time in a long time I realized I wasn’t responsible for anyone, or anything, except me.
— Becky Jensen
 

What the Future Will Hold

How a mysterious bird collection could unlock tomorrow's scientific secrets

this black-crowned night heron is part of a large collection of stuffed birds that were discovered at a school in laramie, wyoming in 2016. (photo by Willow Belden)

this black-crowned night heron is part of a large collection of stuffed birds that were discovered at a school in laramie, wyoming in 2016. (photo by Willow Belden)

When evolutionary biologist Brian Barber first heard that some stuffed birds had been found at a Wyoming high school, he didn't think too much of it. But as luck would have it, the mysterious collection would turn out to be a goldmine. 

On this episode, we tell the story of a treasure trove of forgotten specimens that could help with scientific breakthroughs decades or centuries down the road.

The story takes us from the prairies of Wyoming in the 1960s to a fancy research facility today, and shows the surprising things that can come about from a project that started on someone’s kitchen table.