Here at Nature Unplugged, we are hugely passionate about the importance of mental health. That’s a big reason why we do what we do. While our focus is more on the preventative (upstream) side of things we know how important it is to be prepared and to know what to do in a mental health crises. Our guests today are from the San Diego Suicide Prevention Council. Yeni Palomino and Lora Cayanan are here to share about the importance of suicide prevention, provide some tips and tools for how to be pr...
Nov 02, 2021•50 min
Do you know where your food comes from? It’s an important question and one that's becoming increasingly difficult to answer. Now, you don't have to be a maniac in the grocery store scrutinizing every label and ingredient, but it is important to be curious about what goes into your body. That's one of the reasons why we’re huge proponents of gardening and farming—it's a direct connection to your food source. Today, we have the opportunity to speak with Javier Guerrero, President and CEO of Coasta...
Oct 19, 2021•49 min
We’re very excited to have the musician, surfer, and nature enthusiast, Matt Lamkin, on the podcast. Matt has just released his latest album, Dirty Job, the second of his solo career. In addition to talking about his new album we’re going to explore the role nature plays in his creative process and how both nature and music can play a positive role in our mental health. SHOW NOTES: Matt Lamkin Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/39w5Sb2ixdewzZAX6MJ6Jw Matt Lamkin BandCamp: https://mattlamki...
Oct 05, 2021•35 min
We are so excited to be teaming up with an awesome nonprofit, 2B-Rad, for a great cause this October. Our month-long Hike-A-Thon (called the ENU Challenge: Hike 2B-RAD) has a dual purpose: to help you experience nature unplugged and help others participate in outdoor adventures. It's a win win! Raised funds from this year's event will benefit individuals and families who are experiencing a financial or emotional hardship by providing scholarships to participate in a variety of outdoor programs. ...
Sep 21, 2021•31 min
One of the most important aspects of living well in the digital age is to develop a spirit of play. We’re not talking about video games or digital games, we’re talking about unplugged play and moving our bodies. Our guest today, Stephen Jepson, is a world renowned expert on health, wellness and play. SHOW NOTES: BIO: Stephen Michael Jepson was born May 31, 1941 in Sioux City, Iowa. After receiving his MFA from Alfred University in 1971, he went on to open his studio in Geneva, Florida, and began...
Sep 07, 2021•43 min
What’s your stance on social media? Do you love it? Hate it? Or, are you somewhere in between? For most of us, our relationship with social media is complicated. We recently read Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by Jaron Lanier. We found this book to be informative and inspiring and we’re excited to share our thoughts and takeaways. SHOW NOTES: http://www.jaronlanier.com/general.html CREDITS: Intro and Outro Song: The Soft Pack - Mexico
Aug 24, 2021•38 min
Living in the digital age can be stressful. With nonstop information, to-do lists, news cycles, notifications, accessibility...it can easily feel overwhelming. What happens when you get stressed? Do you go into a survival mode (fight or flight) response? Or, do you have a different way to respond? Of course, how we deal with stress plays a huge role in our health and wellbeing. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Mark Kalina to dive into the science behind the central nervous system. We look at w...
Aug 10, 2021•36 min
Have you had your mind blown recently? Perhaps you had an opportunity to visit a place of epic natural beauty like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite. Or, maybe you spent some time looking up at the stars on a clear night. There is a word to describe this complex and mysterious feeling, awe. In this episode, we are going to dive into what awe is and the growing body of research around why it can make you happier, healthier, and more connected to others. SHOW NOTES: The Science of Awe: https://ggsc.ber...
Jul 27, 2021•34 min
Here at Nature Unplugged, we are all about wellness in the digital age. And, we look at the work we do as preventative (upstream) mental health work - getting outside, healthy boundaries with tech, exercising, etc. Our guest today has dedicated his life to helping people with addiction recovery and mental health issues. We have the privilege of speaking with Dave Marlon. Dave is here to share his story about addiction, recovery, and what we can do to improve our mental health whether we’re deali...
Jul 13, 2021•36 min
A big part of wellness in the digital age is using technology with intention. While we talk a lot about the importance of boundaries with our screens and devices, it’s also important to get in touch with what aspects of technology we love and appreciate. As a reminder, we’re not anti-tech! In this episode, we’re going to talk about some of our very favorite types of tech and how technology can actually serve and inspire us in our mission of wellness in the digital age. SHOW NOTES: NU News: Sloth...
Jun 29, 2021•31 min
“What would our lives be like if our days and nights were as immersed in nature as they are in technology?” - Richard Louv. This is one of our favorite quotes by one of our favorite authors. And, it’s a great question to ponder as we get ready for summer. In this episode we explore some of our favorite tips on how to have a fun, engaging, balanced, and nature filled summer. In short, it’s all about ways to experience nature unplugged this summer. SHOW NOTES: NU News: Piano man playing for rescue...
Jun 15, 2021•27 min
We’re living in an incredible age, with access to technology that makes our lives more convenient and comfortable. However, the countless benefits come with a cost. When things are overly comfortable and convenient it can make it very hard to be intentional. It’s easy to find ourselves on auto pilot and just going through the motions. Happiness and fulfillment happen when we are intentional about how we live, how we eat, how we move, how we engage with nature, how we connect with others, and how...
Jun 01, 2021•31 min
What comes to mind when you hear the word nature? Do you envision mountains and forests and other wild, remote, and untouched wilderness? Or, do you think about suburban parks or gardens? Or, perhaps something totally different. In this episode we look at reframing our definition (and mindset) around what nature is. SHOW NOTES: ENU Wellness Membership & Program: https://www.natureunplugged.com/enu-membership Chanell Stone Nature Photography NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2021/...
May 18, 2021•23 min
This episode is dedicated to all the mom’s out there. With Mother’s Day right around the corner (on Sunday, May 9th) we want to highlight motherhood in the digital age...the good, the bad, and the ugly. We speak with our good friend and all star mom, Liz Bandy. Liz shares some of her experience raising two little ones, working remotely full time and being a wife/partner in the digital age including some of her challenges and successes. SHOW NOTES: ENU Wellness Program: https://www.natureunplugge...
May 04, 2021•33 min
Earth Day...it’s almost here! With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, this is the perfect time to explore how we can enjoy Mother Earth and do it in a caring and sustainable way. One of the best ways to do this is by following the Leave No Trace principles which we’ll dive into in this episode. SHOW NOTES: Earth Day: https://www.earthday.org/ Leave No Trace: https://lnt.org/ NU News: FaceTime for Chimps in the Czech Republic: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2021/03/16/czech-zoo-arrang...
Apr 20, 2021•31 min
Do you want to get out and experience nature more often but aren’t sure where to go? Or, are you looking to mix up your nature adventures? This episode is all about how to get more green time (nature time) into your life...and by default less screen time. We start off by talking about the benefits of nature (it’s always good to remind ourselves of the benefits). We’re also going to share some of our favorite tips and resources to help you enjoy the outdoors more often and with greater ease. This...
Apr 06, 2021•28 min
In this episode we have the chance to speak with our very own Luke Humphrey. Luke is new to the Nature Unplugged team currently working as a guide in training. We’re going to explore the iGen experience and hear about his perspective on wellness in the digital age. We will also dive into his journey of working through being overwhelmed with the tech in his life and coming to a place of more balance and intentionality.
Mar 23, 2021•32 min
Are you looking for some practical tools and resources for staying balanced in our noisy digital world? Our philosophy and contract for wellness in the digital age are designed to do exactly that. And, they are now available to you for free on our website. These are great tools to help keep ourselves accountable and in balance. In this episode we’re going to take a look at our philosophy and contract. Stay tuned to hear how to get access to these awesome resources!
Mar 09, 2021•28 min
It’s almost here! In this episode we’re excited to talk about the launch of our latest book, Experience Nature Unplugged: A Guide to Wellness in the Digital Age. We’re going to give an overview of the book and share about the ENU (Experience Nature Unplugged) Method. Experience Nature Unplugged comes out in paperback on Amazon.com and wherever books are sold on Monday, March 1st 2021.
Feb 24, 2021•25 min
In this episode we explore new ways to get more green time in your daily life. Hear about our gardening successes and failures, tips to move your indoor activities outside and how to bring more nature into your home. We also have a guest interview with our good friend and gardening guru, Kiyonna Navarro, who gives us insight into her home-gardening and community gardens in San Diego.
Feb 16, 2021•32 min
In this episode we have the pleasure of speaking with Michelle Abbey, a certified forest therapy guide and nutritionist whose work is deeply inspired by nature. We explore the practice of forest therapy (also called forest bathing) and many of the positive physical, emotional, and psychological health benefits that come from deep connection with nature.
Dec 09, 2020•28 min
In this episode we have the opportunity to speak with award winning journalist and author Richard Louv about his newest book Our Wild Calling: How Connecting with Animals Can Transform Our Lives — and Save Theirs. Louv is the author of ten books, including Last Child in the Woods; The Nature Principle; and Vitamin N. Translated into 22 languages, his books have helped launch an international movement to connect children, their families and communities to nature.
Nov 25, 2020•41 min
We often talk about tips, tricks, and different ways to create a healthy relationship with technology and reconnect to nature, like turning off notifications, getting your phone out of your bedroom, and scheduling unplugged time. While these practices are critical for wellness in the digital age, there is also a lot we can do in terms of our inner work. We’ve created this three part series to take a closer look at what’s going on beneath the surface. The three main categories of inner work are m...
Oct 21, 2020•26 min
The Social Dilemma is a recently released documentary on Netflix which explores the dangerous human impact of social networking. Have you seen it? If not, it’s a must-see. If you have seen it, has it changed your relationship with social media? This movie is so up our alley that we felt compelled to share our take on the film.
Oct 07, 2020•28 min
What boundaries do you have with the technology in your life? With summer coming to an end and school back in session (some in person, some virtual), it’s a great time to reexamine our tech boundaries. In this episode we’re going to dive into what boundaries are and how to help put them in place as we transition into a new season
Sep 16, 2020•26 min
At Nature Unplugged we’re all about wellness in the digital age. And, a big part of wellness is movement. We know that with the rise of screen time and tech use often comes more sitting and a more sedentary lifestyle. Movement is key and running is one of the most simple and accessible ways to get wonderful movement. But here’s the thing about running, on the upside it’s a great way to get exercise with minimal gear and hassle required. On the down side, it totally sucks. At least that’s how I u...
Jul 14, 2020•31 min
Summer is here! It's an amazing time to get out and mix it up in nature. It’s also key to be safe while having fun in the sun. The question is, what’s your go to sunscreen and what’s in it? In this episode we have the opportunity to speak with Maxine Chapman, Co-Founder of SurfDurt reef safe sunscreen. We explore how to stay safe and protected while enjoying the great outdoors. We also examine what a big difference mineral based sunscreen can make on the environment and on our own health. SHOW N...
Jun 30, 2020•30 min
How has nature inspired your path in life? In this episode we have the opportunity to speak with author James Thompson. He is the author of Create Your Own Path, and he currently lives and works around Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada. Thompson’s path has been deeply inspired by his time exploring the great outdoors. He believes in the transformative power of nature for clarifying your purpose and bringing you peace about the future. BIO: James Thompson is the author of Create Your Own Path, an...
Jun 24, 2020•44 min
Do you find yourself spending more time on news and social media among the pandemic and all the uncertainty? If so, you may be doomscrolling. And, you're not alone. It turns out that many of us are spending much more time on social media and news platforms. In this episode we explore doomscrolling, what it is, why it’s so hard to look away, and what we can do about it. SHOW NOTES: - ENU Scavenger Hunt: https://etsy.me/3fyLsTo - ENU Adventures (Summer Program): https://www.natureunplugged.com/enu...
Jun 16, 2020•27 min
As humans we crave security and a sense of control. And, we’re living in a time full of uncertainty and fear. There is uncertainty about the state of our country and the world, the economy, political situation, race relations, and of course our health and wellbeing in the midst of this pandemic. How do we live well while we’re in times of uncertainty, stress, and fear? In this episode we have the opportunity to speak with Integrative health and wellness expert Mark Kalina, M.D. to get his take o...
Jun 10, 2020•33 min
