The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Ginny Yurich sits down with Ben Peterson, author of When Intelligence Isn’t Human: Navigating Your Faith in the Age of AI, for a timely conversation about what families need to understand as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly woven into everyday life.

Ben argues that the greatest concern isn’t simply what AI can do, but the role we allow it to play. As chatbots become more relational and technology grows increasingly personalized, young people may begin turning to AI for guidance, connection, and emotional support instead of parents, friends, faith, and real-world community. Together, Ginny and Ben explore the progression from social media’s battle for our attention to what Ben sees as an emerging battle for our affection—and why parents need to recognize the difference between using AI as a tool and allowing it to become a guide or relationship.

They also discuss social media, isolation, the importance of human connection, Ben’s decision to step away from social media, and a powerful question for evaluating technology: What is this costing me? Ben also shares about his five-week Parent’s Guide to AI and his work with military families through Engage Your Destiny.

Get Ben's book here!

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

My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.

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

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

Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS

Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off.

Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.

Active Skin Repair - Don’t forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products.

Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/1000hours with code 1000hours

Ka’Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order.

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International fashion model, actress, author, and educational freedom advocate Sam Sorbo joins Ginny for a wide-ranging conversation about homeschooling, parenting, and what it really means to prepare a child for adulthood. Sam shares how a family trip to Hawaii first caused her to question traditional schooling and ultimately led her family into home education.

Together, Sam and Ginny explore why homeschooling may be far less complicated than parents fear, the importance of protecting a child’s natural curiosity, and the freedom that comes from letting kids develop on their own timelines. They also look beyond the K–12 years, challenging the assumption that college must automatically come next. From entrepreneurship and early work experience to building a family economy, they discuss helping young adults discover their strengths and step meaningfully into the real world.

It’s a bold, thought-provoking conversation about education, faith, family, legacy, and having the courage to reconsider the path everyone else is taking.

Get Sam's book, Parent's Guide to Homeschool!

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What if one of the biggest ways to create a healthier home is hiding right underneath you while you sleep? In this episode, Ginny sits down with Tim Masters, founder of My Green Mattress and a mattress maker since his teenage years, to unpack what’s actually inside the place where we spend nearly a third of our lives.

Tim shares the remarkable story of how his daughter’s eczema and allergies led him to create an organic crib mattress—and eventually launch My Green Mattress in 2007. They explore flame retardants, fiberglass, foams, off-gassing, and what families should look for when choosing a mattress, along with the surprising benefits of wool for breathability, temperature regulation, comfort, and durability.

Tim also shares what nearly four decades of mattress-making have taught him about craftsmanship, why old-fashioned button tufting matters, and how buying fewer, better-made things can pay off for years. It’s a fascinating look at sleep, healthier homes, and the craftsmanship behind something we use every single night.

Visit www.MyGreenMattress.com and save 15% off on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional ten dollars off your cart!

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Ginny Yurich sits down with Danish dad, author, entrepreneur, and longtime unschooling parent Jesper Conrad for a wide-ranging conversation about fatherhood, family, creativity, and building a life around what matters most. Jesper shares how his wife’s battle with leukemia changed the trajectory of their family, eventually leading them to embrace full-time travel, homeschooling, and a more intentional way of living.

Jesper opens up about his own struggles with anger and frustration as a father and why he believes dads need more opportunities to talk honestly about parenting, vulnerability, and their relationships with their children. He explores the importance of attachment, repairing relationships after difficult moments, and moving away from control and power struggles.

They also dive into Jesper’s wonderfully eclectic approach to life—from writing books and carving spoons to building businesses and creating podcasts—and the value of learning by doing. Plus, Jesper offers powerful encouragement for homeschooling and unschooling families: stay a parent first, protect your child’s curiosity, trust the learning process, and remember that you don’t have to have the entire journey figured out before you begin.

Learn more about Jesper here!

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

Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours

My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.

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

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

Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS

Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off.

Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.

Active Skin Repair - Don’t forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products.

Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/1000hours with code 1000hours

Ka’Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order.

Fora Travel - Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours

Hey Polo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/1000hours or use code 1000HOURS and get 40% off your first year!

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

Ginny Yurich sits down with Tamara Neufeld Strijack, co-author of Reclaiming Our Students, for a powerful conversation about what children need to thrive in a world increasingly dominated by screens, schedules, and peer influence. Tamara explains why children are meant to orient around caring adults—and how strong relationships with parents, teachers, and mentors create the safety children need to learn, grow, and become themselves.

They explore the essential role of play, nature, movement, and the arts as “emotional playgrounds”—places where frustration, anxiety, and other emotions can safely move through rather than erupt as aggression. Tamara also unpacks the powerful shift from “mad to sad,” explaining why allowing children to experience disappointment and tears is actually part of developing resilience.

Plus, Ginny and Tamara discuss “collecting”—the simple practice of intentionally welcoming children back into relationship—and why feeling seen, enjoyed, and cared for can transform homes and classrooms. It’s a hopeful, practical conversation about slowing down, reconnecting, and making room for the experiences children were designed to have.

Get Tamara's book here!

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

Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours

My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com and save 15% on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.

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

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

Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS

Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off.

Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.

Active Skin Repair - Don’t forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products.

KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off.

Ka’Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order.

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