When Melanie Hempe’s oldest son became so addicted to video games that he dropped out of college, she realized she had unknowingly handed her child an experiment with devastating consequences. What began as “just middle school gaming” escalated into an all-consuming addiction that stole years of real life, purpose, and potential. Out of that heartbreak came ScreenStrong—a movement to help parents break free from the myths that screens are harmless fun, and to give families tools to protect childhood, rebuild connection, and raise kids who are confident, creative, and truly alive. In this gripping and hope-filled conversation, Melanie joins me to expose the hidden costs of excessive gaming and social media use, from conformity and loneliness to wasted potential and fractured family bonds. More importantly, she offers a roadmap out—practical strategies, proven resources, and a reminder that it’s not too late to reroute your child’s story. If you’ve ever felt uneasy about the role of screens in your home, this episode will give you both the courage and the clarity to choose differently. Get your copy of Kids' Brains and Screens Home Edition ⁠here⁠ Get your copy of The Adventures of Super Brain ⁠here⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you raise kids without smartphones, video games, or social media in a world where nearly everyone else is plugged in? Twins Andrew and Evan Hempe are living proof that screen-free childhoods don’t leave kids behind—they launch them ahead. In this powerful and refreshing episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich welcomes Andrew and Evan to share their firsthand experience growing up differently—and why it gave them the confidence, creativity, and connection so many of their peers are missing. From conversations about dating in the digital age to battling conformity with humor and real hobbies, these 21-year-olds deliver truth with clarity and heart. They also expose the myth of the “binge gamer,” give parents permission to follow their gut, and make the case that raising screen-free kids isn’t just possible—it’s better. This episode is a must-listen for every parent wondering if the effort is worth it. It is. You’ll walk away inspired, equipped, and ready to raise originals in a culture that desperately needs them. Get your copy of Kids' Brains and Screens Home Edition here Get your copy of The Adventures of Super Brain here *** A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them ALL out below:  Select Quote: Head to www.selectquote.com/1000hours to learn more.  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 NIV Application Bible - visit www.NIVapplicationbible.com if you’re looking to grow in your understanding of Scripture and make it real in your daily life. Cozy Earth - Upgrade your summer sleep at www.cozyearth.com and use code OUTSIDE for 40% off their best-selling sheets, loungewear, and more. Lagoon - Go to LagoonSleep.com/OUTSIDE and take their awesome 2 minute sleep quiz to find your match.Use the code OUTSIDE for 15% off your first purchase Brave Books - Right now, you can get 20% off your first purchase at www.BRAVEBooks.com/1000hours with the code 1000HOURS. COSMO - Right now, COSMO is running an amazing back-to-school deal, plus free shipping and a risk-free 30-day guarantee. Head to www.cosmotogether.com/1KHO  to grab one today. NurtureLife - Head to NurtureLife.com/1000HOURS55  and use code 1000HOURS55 for 55% off your first order PLUS free shipping. Earthley - Use the code 1000hours to get 10% off your next purchase at www.earthley.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this radically honest and thought-provoking episode, Andrew Laubacher (aka ALob) returns to share the life-altering decision that changed everything: stepping away from the platforms designed to keep us addicted and unhappy. From addiction and burnout to healing and purpose, Andrew opens up about the crushing weight of social comparison, the lies of digital liberation, the trappings of pornography, and how seven days without a mirror in the woods revealed more about his worth than seven years online ever could. Now the executive director of Humanality, Andrew is leading a global movement to restore our humanity. Humanality offers tools, courses, and community for those ready to live differently. Together with host Ginny Yurich, they unpack what it means to opt out. If you've ever felt your soul is slowly being scrolled away, this conversation is a wake-up call and a way forward. 👉 Learn more or start your own Humanality Village: https://www.humanality.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the key to parenting isn’t molding your child into a smaller version of you—but learning to truly see them for who they are? In this deeply moving conversation, Ian Morgan Cron, bestselling author of The Road Back To You, returns to The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast to talk about the Enneagram, emotional self-awareness, and how these insights transform the way we parent, love, and lead. Ian shares how understanding the “shadow side” of our personalities can unlock healthier relationships, save marriages, and most importantly, help us raise children with compassion rather than control. From hilarious stories about streaking in high school to powerful reflections on his mother’s larger-than-life presence, Ian’s wisdom is as entertaining as it is practical. Together we explore how to pay attention, set boundaries, and embrace the unique wiring of the kids right in front of us. This is a conversation that will leave you laughing, reflecting, and rethinking what it really means to raise emotionally healthy kids in today’s world. Get your copy of The Road Back To You here Get your copy of The Fix here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if Mondays became the best day of your week? That’s exactly what happened when Beth Barth launched the Girls Adventure Club—a group that’s taken families from scuba diving in pools to kayaking the Apostle Islands, from hike-sledding in the snow to trapeze lessons under the sky. In her podcast debut, Beth shares how a simple idea turned into a vibrant community where moms and daughters connect, inspire, and explore together—and how you can do the same where you live. This episode is a guide for parents who want their kids off screens, building friendships, and experiencing real adventure—without breaking the bank. From budget-friendly tips to practical leadership strategies, Beth proves that adventure can be as simple as a toe-dip or as grand as a world-schooling trip. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—say yes, go, and watch your kids light up. Learn more about the Girls Adventure Club here Purchase the Adventure Club Leadership Guide here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when an entire generation grows up micromanaged, chauffeured, and monitored as if childhood itself were a dangerous crime? In one of the most eye-opening and hilarious episodes of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Lenore Skenazy — author of Free-Range Kids and co-founder of Let Grow — joins Ginny Yurich to expose the absurdity of today’s fear-based parenting culture. With razor-sharp wit and decades of cultural insight, she dismantles the myths that keep parents locked in anxiety and kids locked out of real life. From Halloween candy scares to daycare workers logging every bathroom break, Lenore reveals how fear has crept into every corner of childhood — and why it’s robbing our kids of resilience, joy, and independence. But this isn’t just cultural critique — it’s a blueprint for freedom. Lenore shares why worrying is just a false form of control, why exposure to reality (not more rules) is the cure for parental anxiety, and why unstructured play may be the most important “classroom” of all. Packed with humor, wisdom, and unforgettable one-liners, this conversation challenges parents to step out of the fear stew and give their kids back what they’re desperate for: agency, trust, and the chance to grow. If you’ve ever felt torn between protecting your kids and preparing them for the real world, this episode is your wake-up call — and possibly the permission slip you’ve been waiting for. Learn more about Let Grow and all they have to offer here Get your copy of Free Range Kids here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the key to reclaiming our health isn’t in a pill bottle, but beneath our feet? In this thought-provoking conversation, Ginny Yurich sits down with David Montgomery and Anne Biklé—renowned authors of The Hidden Half of Nature and What Your Food Ate—to uncover the forgotten connection between soil, farming, and human well-being. Together they reveal why most farmland is “sick,” why pesticides often create more pests instead of fewer, and how earthworms, microbiomes, and even flavor itself hold the blueprint for restoring vitality to our food and our bodies. This episode isn’t just about farming—it’s about us. From the hidden costs of hydroponics to the way ultra-processed foods hijack our natural “body wisdom,” Montgomery and Biklé show how what we eat is inseparably tied to how it was grown. Their message is both sobering and hopeful: if we change the way we treat the land, we can change the way we feel. Packed with science, story, and practical solutions, this conversation will change the way you see every bite of food—and remind you that giving nature even half a chance changes everything. Get your copy of What Your Food Ate here Get your copy of The Hidden Half of Nature here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if everything you’ve been taught about success, work, and happiness is incomplete? In this powerful conversation, Harvard professor and bestselling author Arthur Brooks joins Ginny Yurich on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast to share the science of happiness—and why every parent needs to hear it. With warmth, humor, and groundbreaking research, Brooks reveals why retirement shouldn’t be the goal, why conflict in families is a sign of abundant love, and why your kids are shaped far more by what they see you do than by what you say. His insights on the four pillars of happiness—faith, family, friendship, and work—will challenge cultural myths and leave you rethinking the way you parent and the way you live. From the dignity of work to the difference between “deal” friends and “real” friends, Brooks offers a blueprint for building a life of deeper meaning. You’ll hear surprising truths about money (hint: buying experiences beats buying stuff), why falling in love is the most entrepreneurial act you’ll ever take, and how beauty and nature reawaken parts of our brain that modern life neglects. If you’ve ever wondered how to raise kids who thrive—and how to find more joy yourself—this episode is full of practical wisdom and hope. Get your copy of The Happiness Files here Don't miss From Strength to Strength! Get it here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four years ago, Dr. Chris Winter—the world’s “Sleep Whisperer” and author of The Rested Child —became the very first guest on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast. The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast. That one conversation sparked a journey that’s now reached 550 episodes and over 12 million downloads. In this milestone episode, Dr. Winter returns to share why screens, light, and temperature may be quietly sabotaging your family’s sleep—and how surprisingly simple changes can transform both rest and mood. With practical, often ingenious tips (think: lightbulb swaps, dimmer switches, and even warming a bed with water bottles), this episode will leave you feeling empowered to help your kids and yourself sleep better starting tonight. From the lost “time cues” of old TV schedules to the role of heavy work in preparing the body for deep rest, Dr. Winter reveals fascinating insights you won’t hear anywhere else. He explains why the average pediatrician gets only an hour of sleep training, why excessive sleepiness in kids is often misdiagnosed, and why he believes no child should be labeled with depression or attention issues without a sleep evaluation. Whether you’re a sleep science geek or a tired parent desperate for solutions, this full-circle conversation will leave you both nostalgic and newly equipped for the school year ahead. 💬 If you’ve loved this show over the years, please take a moment to rate and review—it helps us climb toward that #1 spot! A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them ALL out below:  Select Quote: Head to www.selectquote.com/1000hours to learn more.  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 NIV Application Bible - visit www.NIVapplicationbible.com if you’re looking to grow in your understanding of Scripture and make it real in your daily life. Cozy Earth - Upgrade your summer sleep at www.cozyearth.com and use code OUTSIDE for 40% off their best-selling sheets, loungewear, and more. Lagoon - Go to LagoonSleep.com/OUTSIDE and take their awesome 2 minute sleep quiz to find your match.Use the code OUTSIDE for 15% off your first purchase Brave Books - Right now, you can get 20% off your first purchase at www.BRAVEBooks.com/1000hours with the code 1000HOURS. COSMO - Right now, COSMO is running an amazing back-to-school deal, plus free shipping and a risk-free 30-day guarantee. Head to www.cosmotogether.com/1KHO  to grab one today. NurtureLife - Head to NurtureLife.com/1000HOURS55 and use code 1000HOURS55 for 55% off your first order PLUS free shipping. Earthley - Use the code 1000hours to get 10% off your next purchase at www.earthley.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think school readiness means knowing letters, numbers, and how to sit still—but what if those are the outcomes, not the foundations? In this powerful episode, pediatric physical therapist and founder of Tots on Target, Dr. Allison Mell, reveals the “hidden” developmental milestones that set kids up for academic and social success—things like crawling, balance, crossing the midline, and even clapping games. These early motor and sensory experiences—often displaced by screens—are how the body feeds the brain. When kids skip them, it shows up in surprising ways: struggling with handwriting, falling out of chairs, or bouncing off friends in circle time. Allison and Ginny explore why these physical milestones matter so deeply and what parents can do—at any age—to help kids thrive. You'll leave this episode with practical strategies, renewed confidence, and a deeper understanding of how movement builds strong, capable learners. Whether your child is just learning to crawl or heading into middle school, this conversation is your blueprint for supporting natural development in a world that’s rushing childhood. 🔗 TotSpot Membership 🔗 Tots on Target Blog 🔗 Follow Allison on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices