The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

The most needed parts of childhood are disappearing right in front of us, and former school principal Mandy Davis believes parents need to pay attention. In her second appearance on The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Mandy shares why she walked away from a career in education, what finally convinced her to homeschool her own children, and why so many parents have been taught to trust institutions more than themselves. Ginny and Mandy talk about the myths surrounding homeschooling, the surprising freedom that comes from building an education around a real child instead of a system, and why confidence (not credentials) is often the missing ingredient. Whether you're homeschooling, considering it, or simply wondering if there might be a better way to support your child's growth, this conversation is a powerful reminder that nobody knows your child better than you do. Find Mandy at Home Built Education and get your copy of The Homeschool Bible.
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The things we hide have a way of holding us captive. In this deeply moving conversation, therapist and author Michael John Cusick joins Ginny Yurich to explore why so many of us keep spinning in the same patterns, whether it's addiction, anxiety, shame, people-pleasing, overwork, or simply feeling disconnected from ourselves and the people we love most. Drawing from his own story of childhood trauma, recovery, faith, and healing, Michael shares why lasting change isn't found in trying harder but in being truly known. They discuss attachment, parenting, embodiment, faith, relationships, and the four things every human being needs from womb to tomb: to be seen, soothed, safe, and secure. This is a conversation about wholeness, freedom, and the surprising truth that healing often begins the moment we stop hiding.

Links:

⁠Sacred Attachment book⁠

⁠Restoring the Soul Podcast⁠

Michael John Cusick: https://michaeljohncusick.com

Restoring the Soul: https://restoringthesoul.com
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Every child wants friendship, freedom, and fun. The question is where they'll find it. Catherine Price returns to The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast to talk about her new book The Amazing Generation, written with Jonathan Haidt, and why more young people are starting to question the role screens play in their lives. In this conversation, Catherine explains how tech companies compete for our attention, why so many older teens say they wish they had spent less time online, and what happens when children are given the tools to think for themselves. They discuss real friendship versus digital connection, the growing rebellion against constant screen use, the importance of boredom, hobbies, and outdoor play, and one powerful question every family should ask: If you had three extra hours every day, what would you do with them? This episode will leave you thinking differently about technology, childhood, and the person you're becoming.

Links:

Catherine Price: https://catherineprice.comThe Amazing Generation: https://www.amazinggeneration.comFamily Guide: https://catherineprice.com/family
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At seven years old, Suzanne Heywood left home for what was supposed to be a three-year sailing adventure around the world. She wouldn't return for ten years. In this extraordinary conversation, Suzanne joins Ginny Yurich to share the true story behind her bestselling memoir Wavewalker - a childhood spent crossing oceans, surviving shipwrecks, enduring hunger and isolation, and slowly realizing she was trapped inside someone else's dream. With no school, no stability, and few adults willing to step in, Suzanne became determined to educate herself as a way out. This is a story about resilience, grit, and the life-changing impact of ordinary people who show up at exactly the right moment. It's also a powerful reminder that children are not supporting characters in their parents' stories. This episode will entertain you and stay with you.

Learn more about Suzanne Heywood and Wavewalker: A Memoir of Breaking Free at suzanneheywood.com.
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We are drowning in advice and somehow more unsure of ourselves than ever. Austin Kleon returns to The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast to talk about creativity, childhood, boredom, trust, and why the people who build meaningful lives often stop looking for instructions and start paying attention to what fascinates them.

Drawing from his new book Don't Call It Art, Austin shares how his children taught him more about curiosity, imagination, and meaningful work than any creative writing class ever could. Ginny and Austin talk about John Holt, unschooling, screen culture, creative courage, and the surprising freedom that comes when you stop trying to control the future and start paying attention to what is right in front of you. This episode is a refreshing reminder that a fulfilling life is rarely built by following someone else's map. It grows from curiosity, wonder, and the willingness to see where the next step leads.

Get your copy of Don't Call it Art here !
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