The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Ginny Yurich sits down with Dr. Kelly Cagle, educational researcher, former teacher, and host of the Parenting IQ Podcast, for a practical, hopeful conversation about what kids actually need to thrive in today’s school-and-screen-saturated world. Kelly shares her story of moving from Brazil to the U.S. at age 11, learning English through sheer curiosity (and PBS’s Arthur), and being pushed ahead through school, an experience that made her question how quickly we rush children through development. Together, they zoom out to look at what other countries do differently (including Finland’s later start and play-based early years), why the American system often rewards compliance over growth, and how that pressure can hit certain kids, especially those with ADHD, extra hard. You’ll also get immediately usable ideas for supporting ADHD at school and at home without turning your child into a “problem to manage.” Kelly explains why small accommodations can be game-changing (gum or mints for sensory input, permission to stand or pace, movement breaks, flexible seating), and why partnering with teachers matters more than picking the “perfect” school. The heart of this episode is Kelly’s grounded message: real school success starts at home, and “less is more” isn’t a vibe, it’s a strategy. If you’re trying to un-bubble-wrap your kids, rebuild healthy rhythms, and raise children with self-control, perseverance, and a sense of belonging, this conversation will leave you encouraged and equipped. Learn more about Kelly and all she has to offer here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this colorful and joy-filled episode of the 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with gardener, photographer, and author Sandra Mao (@sandraurbangarden) to talk about how a garden can become a feast for the eyes, and an adventure for the whole family. Sandra shares how she grew up gardening alongside her parents and grandmother, and how her own family’s garden began with simple container planting during quarantine… then blossomed into half a backyard full of vibrant surprises. Together, Ginny and Sandra explore the magic of colorful vegetables and flowers, from rainbow carrots and radishes to striped peppers, purple cauliflower, “dragon’s egg” cucumbers, and even yard-long beans. They also dive into practical, confidence-building tips for beginners: choosing a color palette, finding seed sources, saving seeds, managing pests, and keeping gardening fun (even when things grow wonky!). You’ll also hear about Sandra’s favorite easy-to-grow flowers like zinnias, marigolds, and calendula, plus how she dries herbs and petals, makes infused oils, and preserves harvests through canning and sun-drying. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by gardening or you’re looking for a way to get your kids excited to grow (and actually try vegetables!), this conversation will leave you inspired to plant something vibrant and step outside together. Get your copy of Vibrant Harvest here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adolescence is a training ground for belonging. Rosalind Wiseman (the Queen Bees and Wannabes author whose work inspired Mean Girls) names what adults forget: wanting to be part of a group isn’t a character flaw, it’s a deep developmental need. And the stakes aren’t superficial. The way kids handle loyalty, conflict, embarrassment, betrayal, and speaking up (or staying silent) becomes muscle memory they carry into adulthood. In a world where many kids feel the “middle-class script” they were promised doesn’t pay off, that longing to belong can turn into paralysis, resentment, or disengagement—and parents are left wondering when to step in, what to say, and how to be credible again. This conversation gets beautifully practical: how to respond when your child comes home with “the story” (and you weren’t there), why forced kindness scripts backfire, and how real social learning happens through messy, unsupervised, multi-age play—especially outside. Wiseman makes a compelling case that overly adult-driven schedules (and even toxic youth sports) can shrink a kid’s identity until it collapses under pressure, while neighborhood moments expand it: friend, helper, teammate, kid-who’s-known-by-name. You’ll leave with language that lowers defenses, strengthens connection, and helps your kids navigate their social world with dignity—plus a reminder that some of the best confidence-building on earth still looks like racing Big Wheels downhill and climbing trees. Learn more about Rosalind and everything she has to offer here Get your copy of Queen Bees and Wannabees here Get your copy of Masterminds and Wingmen here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the deepest friendships aren’t built on independence—but on dependence done with dignity? In this unforgettable conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with Kevan Chandler (living with spinal muscular atrophy) and pastor Tommy Shelton to talk about their new book, The Hospitality of Need—and the startling idea that letting people help you can be a form of generosity. Kevan’s life is filled with “weirdly clear needs,” and he shares how friends who volunteer to help him each morning don’t experience it as a burden, but as a gift: a predictable rhythm of brotherhood, trust, and real presence in a distracted world. Together, they reframe hospitality as more than hosting—it’s also showing up to be fed, allowing others to step into purpose, and creating communities where people don’t have to pretend they’re fine. From the friends who carried Kevan across Europe (and now help other families adventure through We Carry Kevan) to the biblical picture of friends lowering a man through a roof to meet Jesus, this episode will leave listeners asking a brave, practical question: What if my needs could become a doorway to love rather than something to hide? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve ever looked around your house, your calendar, or your marriage and thought, Why is this so hard for me?—this conversation is for you. In this episode, Ginny Yurich talks with licensed therapist and Struggle Care founder KC Davis about why overwhelm isn’t a character flaw, a lack of discipline, or a sign you’re doing life wrong. KC names the invisible mental load of daily living—meals, laundry, cleaning, caregiving, relationships—and explains why these repetitive responsibilities were never meant to be proof of your worth. Together, Ginny and KC explore practical, compassionate ways to lower that load without adding shame. From reframing household work as morally neutral, to letting go of “just clean as you go,” to rethinking fairness in marriages and families, this episode offers language and tools that actually help. KC shares gentle strategies for building momentum when you’re stuck, wisdom for dividing labor and rest more honestly, and a powerful reminder that community is built through realness and not perfection. This is an episode to save, share, and return to when you need permission to stop measuring your life by impossible standards. Learn more about what KC Davis has to offer including her podcast, courses, training, and more here: https://www.strugglecare.com Get your copy of How to Keep House While Drowning here Get your copy of Who Deserves Your Love? here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices