The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Ben Higgins—best known from The Bachelor—joins Ginny Yurich for a rare, honest conversation about what it’s like to be visible to millions and still feel deeply alone. Ben shares how a painful childhood marked by his father's illness, a career-ending injury, and addiction shaped his hunger to be seen, and why fame never healed the ache he hoped it would. This episode traces the turning points that changed his life: choosing connection over numbing, faith over performance, and purpose over applause. From carrying heartbreak in public, to building a marriage and becoming a father, to telling other people’s stories through his book Alone in Plain Sight, Ben reflects on what actually makes a life meaningful. This is a conversation for anyone who’s ever felt overlooked, misunderstood, or exhausted by pretending. It's a reminder to show up where your feet are.

Get your copy of Alone in Plain Sight here

Grab some coffee from Generous Coffee here
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Danielle Kartes is back—and this time, she’s walking into the pressure cooker of Next Level Chef. Filmed in Ireland, judged by Gordon Ramsay, and completely outside her comfort zone, this season marks a stunning new chapter for a woman who once lost everything she thought defined her life. In this episode, Danielle shares the long road that led here: a failed restaurant, years of financial uncertainty, a marriage that nearly didn’t survive, and the slow, holy work of rebuilding from the ground up. We talk about motherhood, faith, perseverance, and why you don’t actually lose yourself in hard seasons. This is a conversation for anyone in the middle of an “ugly” chapter who needs permission to hope again and courage to keep going.

Explore Danielle’s books and recipes at https://rusticjoyfulfood.com and grab a copy of her memoir You Were Always There , or The Best Kids Cookbook, or Meant to Share (or all three!)

Preorder My Very First Baking Book (launches April 7)
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New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Breheny Wallace joins Ginny Yurich to name something many people feel but rarely have words for: the deep human need to matter—not just to belong, but to be valued and to add value. Drawing from her new book Mattering, Jennifer shares why so many people feel invisible in modern life, why transitions can shake us to the core, and how small, specific choices rebuild connection. You’ll leave with practical prompts you can use tonight (“Where did I add value? Who made me feel valued?”), a fresh lens on kids and achievement culture, and a better knowledge of creating mattering spaces.

Learn more about Jennifer and all she has to offer here

Get your copy of Mattering here

Get your copy of Never Enough here

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


BetterHelp: Visit  www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS  today to get 10% off your first month


Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns


Hungry Root - Go to www.hungryroot.com/1000HOURS and use code 1000HOURS to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life


IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership


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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Get our top ranked mobile app for iOS or Android!

Listen to  ‘Beautiful World’, our intro song, by In Paradise and Two Better Friends

How do you help kids connect what they see in nature with what they believe about God?

Ginny talks with bestselling author and Fierce Marriage/Fierce Parenting co-founder Ryan Frederick about his new children’s book series Adam & Iota, stories designed to help kids explore the human body (DNA, blood, growth in the womb) while building a bigger, brighter category for wonder, design, and the glory of God in creation.

Ryan breaks down the powerful difference between general (natural) revelation, what creation shows us about God - and special revelation, what Scripture reveals about God’s character, salvation, and how we live. They discuss why “there’s no such thing as a neutral education,” how a Christ-centered worldview changes the way we teach everything from science to history to beauty, and why parenting is always discipleship, whether we acknowledge it or not.

You’ll also hear practical encouragement for homeschool and family life, the “mental load” in marriage, and why wonder (from hummingbirds to DNA) can become a daily discipleship tool, especially when you’re outside.

Learn more: fiercemarriage.com • fierceparenting.com • theologykids.com

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


BetterHelp: Visit  ⁠www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS⁠  today to get 10% off your first month


Quince - Visit ⁠www.quince.com/outside⁠ and get free shipping and 365 day returns


Hungry Root - Go to ⁠www.hungryroot.com/1000HOURS⁠ and use code 1000HOURS to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life


IXL Learning - Head to ⁠www.ixl.com/1000hours⁠ to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership


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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get our free Top Ten 1000 Hours Outside Podcast Books from 2025⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if the simplest solution to so many modern childhood struggles is… more play?

Ginny sits down with Pat Rumbaugh - aka “The Play Lady” - a longtime PE teacher, coach, TED Talk speaker (yes, she hula-hoops while she talks), and founder of Let’s Play America. Pat shares what she’s witnessed since she began teaching in 1981: a steady decline in free, child-led, neighborhood play, and the ripple effects it has on kids, families, and communities.

Together, they unpack why play builds flexibility, creativity, empathy, resilience, and real-life social skills, and why multi-age, unstructured play is so different from adult-led activities and overscheduled sports. Pat also offers practical, doable ways to bring play back: hosting a Play Day, creating StoryWalks, adding “play stations” to existing community events, and even closing your street so kids can safely take over the space again.

If you’ve been craving more connection, more laughter, and more “real kids outside” moments, this episode will give you both the why and the how.

Learn more: letsplayamerica.org

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


BetterHelp: Visit  ⁠www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS⁠  today to get 10% off your first month


Quince - Visit ⁠www.quince.com/outside⁠ and get free shipping and 365 day returns


Hungry Root - Go to ⁠www.hungryroot.com/1000HOURS⁠ and use code 1000HOURS to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life


IXL Learning - Head to ⁠www.ixl.com/1000hours⁠ to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership


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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices