The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Home is supposed to be where a child can exhale—but for Stephen McWhirter, growing up in a preacher’s family meant watching public faith and private violence collide, then carrying that silence into years of rebellion, addiction, and rage. In this tender, unforgettable conversation with Ginny Yurich, Stephen shares what it cost to keep the “everything’s fine” mask in place, how a copy of The Case for Christ landed in the middle of his darkest night, and why real healing often begins when we stop hiding and start telling the truth. You’ll hear a refreshingly grounded take on parenting kids who act out, the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and the surprising kindness of God that can meet someone right where they are and change everything. Stephen’s book is Radically Restored: How Knowing Jesus Heals Our Brokenness and his music includes “Come Jesus Come” and “My Right Now.” Learn more about Stephen and all he has to offer here Get your copy of Radically Restored here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Janissa Jackson, a clinical psychologist and LearningRx center director who evaluates and treats cognitive learning challenges. She explains why reading struggles can make everything feel harder. Short-term memory, processing speed, and intensive brain-training are highlighted. Conversations also touch on attention declines, concussion recovery, adult ADHD, and her grounding ranch life.

Dr. Nicole Cain, integrative mental health practitioner and author of Panic Proof, offers practical, body-based ways to make panic more manageable. She explores early warning signs with a stoplight model. Learn about panic packs, cold and tactile tools, the TIPS framework, puzzles and movement as resets, hormone links, and simple salience-reset exercises.

Dr. Robert Brooks, Harvard-trained psychologist and resilience expert known for strengths-based parenting, joins to explore honoring children’s islands of competence. He explains how charismatic adults help kids gather strength. Short conversations cover empathy-first discipline, small social moments that build resilience, and how parents can model healthy screen and AI habits.

James Nestor, author and science journalist behind Breath, explores how breathing shapes health and performance. He discusses indoor CO2 and its cognitive toll. He explains why mouth breathing causes snoring, fatigue, and anxiety. He covers nasal breathing benefits, jaw development, and simple air-quality fixes you can try right away.

Alex Hutchinson, science journalist and bestselling author of The Explorer's Gene, explores why safety and convenience have shrunk real-world curiosity. He unpacks the explore versus exploit dilemma, genetics and novelty-seeking, and the decline of childhood roaming and creativity. Short stories and practical ideas highlight how active, hands-on exploration rebuilds adaptable, confident learners.

Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe and songwriter of I Can Only Imagine, and his wife Shannon, a mother and co-author, share their story. They discuss the “flower chair” season of grief and disconnection, navigating a child’s type 1 diabetes, the slow work of counseling and community, and how their book and film grew from these family struggles.

Joel Muddamalle, theologian and author of The Unseen Battle, explores spiritual warfare as a lived reality shaped by attention, truth, imagination, and small choices. He discusses Eden’s ancient context, how small footholds form, social media’s subtle dangers, the armor of God reframed as standing in Christ, and teaching kids to imagine Scripture with hope.

Ava Miller, homeschooler, musician, and beekeeper who incubates chicks and sells honey and eggs. Drew Miller, former worship leader turned homesteader and cofounder of Petal Honey Co. They talk about how a honey-for-sale sign launched a family business. Topics include learning beekeeping, rebuilding after hive losses, adding chickens, music as a time capsule, and community-focused local food and stewardship.

Jeremy Hill, farmer and co-founder of Gooseberry Bridge Farm, shares practical farming and preservation systems. Staci Hill, farmer, photographer, and co-founder, brings seasonal living and involving children in farm work. They discuss relearning lost everyday skills, pantry-as-utility not fear, freeze-drying vs canning, hands-on homeschooling through farm tasks, and building soil and resilient family rhythms.