Carolina said two things to me when we talked. She said them about twenty minutes apart, so at the time, I didn’t see how they were connected. I do now.

After defining rewilding as a way of healing nature proactively, the first thing she said that snapped me to attention is that rewilding is mostly needed where there’s been more human interaction.

I had never thought about rewilding this way before. It’s a hard thought to shake though, partly because it stings a bit, and partly because it underscores the enormity of the task at hand to heal the marks we’ve etched into this place we call home.

Then Carolina dropped this wisdom gem,

“Never forget that nature provides…a spiritual renovation every time you’re there.”

This beautiful phrase, which she attributed to Tom Butler (author of Wild Earth), was new to me and struck a chord that’s still ringing. I think it’s powerful because it works on two levels.

The spiritual part speaks to the ineffable feeling from nature that moves through us, grounds us, buoys our spirits, and needs no words.

The renovation part implies restoration, which is exactly what environmental neuroscience shows us is happening to our brains on nature.

When I listened back to our conversation, my mind tethered the ideas of rewilding and spiritual renovation together in a sort of unbreakable relationship.

If we wish to have places in nature for spiritual renovation, which I’d say we need now more than maybe any other time in history, then we must protect the wild.

The potential for a self-reinforcing loop is tumbling away gently, steadily, in my brain. Connect with nature > experience spiritual renovation > take action to protect the wild > connect with nature > experience spiritual renovation, and so on. It’s a damn fine loop.

An opposing pattern also comes into focus, except it isn’t a loop, it’s a dead-end pathway. Nature disconnect > anxiety/depression/loneliness > diminishing wild > further disconnect > no wild. And, I have to say it. No wild, no calm. No wild, no stoke.

By joining these two thoughts from Carolina, I’m overcome by the importance of the rewilding work being done. Yes, it’s a fight for nurturing complete ecosystems at scale, but it’s also a fight for our hearts and minds. For the right to feel calm. For the right to feel stoke.

This is where the crucial work of Rewilding Chile comes into the picture.

In the latest episode of Nature Junkie Radio, I sat down with Carolina Morgado, the executive director of Rewilding Chile to understand their strategies, large-scale impact, and struggles of protecting huge swaths of nature to feed our collective spiritual renovation.

Here’s Carolina’s reflection on observing the impact this work can have on all of us.

“Some of these trees are over 4,000 years old. That kind of presence changes you.”

To me, this is a change worth every ounce of protection and I’m in both awe and deep gratitude for the work of the people at Tompkins Conservation and Rewilding Chile under Carolina’s leadership. Check out the episode summary below along with epic photos of the parks, wildlife, and the people of Rewilding Chile.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Visionary Leadership & People Working Together

Places Worth Protecting

Nurturing Wildlife

Community

Episode Summary

Back in the 1990s, Carolina Morgado was working for a river kayaking company in Chile when her first customer happened to be Doug Tompkins, the co-founder of Esprit and The North Face. At the time, Tompkins was quietly acquiring huge tracts of land across South America with a bold vision to create national parks and protect wild ecosystems at scale.

That encounter changed the trajectory of Carolina’s life. She went on to work alongside Doug and Kris Tompkins for over two decades at Tompkins Conservation. After Doug’s tragic death in 2015, Kris restructured the organization to ensure its long-term impact, leading to the creation of Rewilding Chile, where Carolina now serves as Executive Director.

In this episode of Nature Junkie Radio, Carolina shares what it takes to lead one of the most ambitious rewilding and conservation efforts on the planet. She breaks down what rewilding really means, how it differs from passive conservation, and about overcoming the most insane obstacles to making this work happen for the greater good.

We explore the three core pillars of Rewilding Chile’s work: National parks as a large-scale, long-term conservation strategy, wildlife rehab and reintroduction to rebuild complete ecosystems, and community engagement as the first line of both love and protection for wild places.

Carolina brings these ideas to life with powerful stories from Patagonia, from pumas roaming freely again (sometimes in unexpected places), to condors being reintroduced, to former sheep ranches transforming back into thriving ecosystems.

This conversation touches on biodiversity, climate resilience, wildlife conservation, and the future of national parks. Carolina paints a vivid picture of what’s possible when vision, scale, and long-term commitment come together.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Links

Rewilding Chile

@Rewildingchile Instagram

Route of Parks Patagonia (tons of helpful info for planning trips)

Tompkins Conservation

This post is about a recent podcast episode where I shared what I mean by Microdosing Nature. I also do a periodic newsletter, called Microdose Nature, which is a roundup of nature-y things (in small doses of course). They are separate but related things and you’re already subscribed. Hopefully the mud is clear. Enjoy!

There’s a curious thing about nature connection that’s been a thorn in my side for years. Broadly speaking (beyond ardent Nature Junkies), in conversations about wellbeing, specifically about the core pillars of wellbeing, nature connection rarely makes the top three.

Instead, the podium is taken by exercise, nutrition, and sleep. Just think how easily phrases like, “I need to get my steps,” or “How many grams of protein does that have?,” or “What was your sleep score last night?” roll off people’s tongues these days. Don’t get me wrong, these are all important pillars for living well, I just think nature ranks among them, if not first.

We need nature for survival (think fresh air, water, food). We also need nature to thrive (think decades of research showing that deliberate nature connection improves mental health pretty damn reliably). So why doesn’t it make the cut?

I think it’s like the opening parable from David Foster Wallace’s famous commencement speech, This is Water.

“There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, ‘Morning, boys. How’s the water?’ And the two young fish swim on for a bit and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, ‘What the hell is water?’”

As we move through life on autopilot, even though we are part of nature, and we’re swimming in it to survive and thrive, we don’t see it. Nature is everywhere and nowhere all at once.

While many factors feed into this, history plays a role too.

Back in the hunter gatherer days, everything we did in life was intertwined with nature. We were so tapped in. We didn’t have to think about doing nature connection, it was just life. Even as recent as one hundred years ago, up to forty percent of people were farmers.

We used to live in ecosystems that weaved us together with nature.

Not anymore. Our context has shifted radically since then. Flash forward through a series of revolutions (agricultural, industrial, digital, and now AI) and we’re surrounded by screens and the built environment instead of nature.

We now live in a system where the default setting disconnects us from nature.

Let that sink in for a moment. If we wish to have strong and resilient mental health, it requires swimming upstream on some level to defy the default.

To do that, I think we need new practices. From my view, if we are to regain connection, we need proactive, deliberate, and doable nature practices that work within this techno-tsunami of modern life.

This is precisely why I came up with the idea of Microdosing Nature. Here’s my current working definition for it.

I have a completely naive wish here. I would love to see Microdosing Nature become as well understood and fluently applied in everyday life as are exercise, nutrition, and sleep behaviors. But not in a sterile and didactic way.

To me, Microdosing Nature is meant to be a playful, wondrous, and meaningful way to connect with nature anywhere, anytime.

It pulls less from the gym and performance realm, and more from the delicious dimensions of awe, wonder, and art with healthy sips drawn from the ancient practices of of yoga, meditation, and contemplation. All with a dash of psychedelia to inoculate it from the insatiable part of The System that loves to commodify everything.

This, dear reader, is where you come into the picture. Ultimately, it’s up to you to Microdose Nature however you damn well please and make it your own.

And that’s the beauty of it. There’s an almost infinite number of ways to Microdose Nature. Nick Triolo shared with me on the pod that he likes to take a break during his trail runs, spread eagle on the ground, make sure as much of his skin is touching the earth as possible, and dig his fingers in like he’s holding on for dear life because “that checks my nervous system, lowers my blood pressure a little bit.” There’s an open invitation here to fly your own freak flag with this practice. Seriously, let it rip.

In the most recent episode of Nature Junkie Radio, I shared what I mean by Microdosing Nature, how I came to the practice, my definition of it, some research behind its effectiveness, and how to turn it into a daily practice.

I also cherry picked a few awesome examples of Microdosing Nature from previous podcast guests like world renowned photographer Chris Burkard, surfboard shaper and writer Christian Beamish, BLM roamer and author Josh Jackson (also one of my fave Substacks Forgotten Lands Project), and 1% for the Planet CEO Kate Williams.

Give it a spin if you’re keen to explore more about Microdosing Nature.

Check out the show notes below along with one of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken while Microdosing Nature.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Summary

You’ve heard me ask guests how they “Microdose Nature,” but what does that actually mean?

In this solo episode, I finally break down one of the key principles of being a Nature Junkie.

I share the origin story, from early morning surf sessions to noticing small, powerful moments of connection in everyday life, and how those experiences led me to the concept of microdosing nature.

Then I connect the dots between my experiences and science, including research showing that it’s not time in nature that matters most, but how we pay attention to it. As nature connection researcher Miles Richardson puts it, “Wellbeing is about moments, not minutes.”

Here’s what we’re tapping into:

• What “microdosing nature” means (and my working definition)

• The science behind how small moments in nature reduce stress, improve mood, and restore focus

• Why tiny, repeatable behaviors are the key to lasting habit change

• Simple ways to microdose nature in the morning, during the workday, and at night

• Inspiring and helpful examples of microdosing nature from past guests who have trained their attention to see nature everywhere, daily

If you need ways to connect with nature that are actually doable during busy days or chapters of life, this one’s for you. You don’t need hours. You don’t need a big plan or fancy gear. You just need a moment, the willingness to notice it, and the openness to let it land.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Links

Nature Junkie Radio - Chris Burkard

Nature Junkie Radio - Christian Beamish

Nature Junkie Radio - Josh Jackson

Nature Junkie Radio - Kate Williams

Among the sea of lifeless cinder block, cement, and brick structures that often comprise our built environment, thin layers of paint boldly break the pattern.

Bright pops of color mix and swirl. Local wildlife, flora, and landscapes weave together in surreal fashion with a symbol of Mother Nature holding scene. The painting resuscitates a once mute building. It now thrives with life. It has character. It has a story to tell. And that story wants to become your story, our story.

In the latest episode of Nature Junkie Radio, I sat down with artist and muralist Skye Walker to talk about the power of public art.

I’ve always appreciated murals because they’re like little islands of stoke that rise above the monotony. They feel like positive acts of defiance that make me think to myself, Fuck yes, art still lives! But it’s more than that too.

Skye’s murals forge connection in ways that hadn’t crossed my mind before we talked.

Their elements and visions tie us back to moments he experienced in nature, like surfing, bodysurfing, and backpacking.

“Any way I can get time in nature, not just for feeling good, but maybe I’ll go out and I’ll see something interesting happen, a pelican fly a different way and a tree doing something kind of weird with its limb that gives me an idea for a piece of art.”

Their stories reflect our communities back to us.

“I recently finished a 70-foot mural behind Seaside Market in Cardiff…it ended up being this piece that celebrated the community of Cardiff and it had everybody in silhouette walking to go do what they love, biking, surfing, pushing their baby carriages, walking their dog because that is Cardiff. Everybody’s moving around through the community together, doing all these beautiful things outside.”

They elicit a sense of wonder that helps carry us forward.

Skye shared with me that after he finished the Cardiff mural, a friend said “That mural is my favorite thing you’ve ever done. I just feel so happy every time I walk by.” Skye added,

“In the context of a world where we’re getting just absolutely annihilated on social media daily…to have that moment where you’re out moving around and you see something that makes you smile and makes you feel happy enough to tell the artist…I mean that’s just a frickin’ win!”

Personally, I think art is a huge win for all of us and I’m grateful to artists like Skye putting in the work to make it happen. I think we need art now more than ever. If you’re keen for some color-infused nature in your life, please check out Skye’s murals across the country along with behind the scenes photos and episode notes below.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

From Nature Vision to Community Connection

Episode Summary

What if the buildings in your home town could reconnect you to nature? In this episode of Nature Junkie Radio, we explore the transformative power of public art with muralist Skye Walker, whose surreal, psychedelic depictions of Mother Earth and wildlife have become visual landmarks across North County San Diego and beyond.

Named after Scotland’s Isle of Skye, Skye Walker grew up touring the country in his parents’ bluegrass band, The EarthWalkers, spreading a message of environmental stewardship way before it was even a thing. He later worked as a designer and art director for iconic action-sports and lifestyle brands like Rip Curl and prAna before throwing himself more fully into creating large-scale mural installations. In 2018, Skye embarked on a “Sea to Sea” tour in a Sprinter van, painting 30 murals in 29 states, bringing his vision of the interconnectedness of nature to walls across America. Flash forward and Skye’s painted hundreds of murals, brightening the walls of companies like Whole Foods Market and Kelly Slater’s Outerknown headquarters.

We sat down at Skye’s home in Encinitas to talk about why murals give towns identity and emotional resonance, how public art can reconnect us to nature in small, daily ways, the role of nature, symbolism, and wildlife in his creative process, the tension between art, technology, screens, and the coming AI wave, and of course we get into Skye’s favorite ways to microdose nature to breathe inspiration into his art.

This conversation reframed public art for me as community connection and as transforming the built environment into nature experiences. If you care about nature connection, art, creativity, or the future of human expression in a digital world, this episode will expand your lens.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Links

Skye’s Website

Skye’s Instagram @skyewalker_art

Hello there fellow Nature Junkies. We’ll get to the shark in a minute. I thought it would be helpful to start the year (ahem, a little late out of the gate) with something you can do to elevate your stoke.

When I started Nature Junkie Radio, I wanted to make sure that in addition to the in-depth interviews, that I could leave you with some practical actions you could take to deepen your connection with nature on the daily. This is where the rubber meets the road.

It’s also a big driver of why I end most of my interviews by asking guests how they microdose nature. Because it takes the previous hour of meandering through subtle, often philosophical terrain (which I absolutely cherish by the way and consider a spiritual thing), and boils it down to what people actually do. So far, not one guest has given the same answer. And I love that.

Take Nick Triolo for example, writer and kora practitioner (worth looking up!), who shared that one of his favorite ways to microdose nature is to pause for a moment, and acknowledge each direction of his view, north, south, east, and west as a way to center and connect with place. It’s a beauty and I’ve been trying it lately myself as a way to open up perspective and get out of my oftentimes ruminating hamster wheel of a mind.

In the latest episode of the pod, I share one of my favorite techniques for microdosing nature. It’s called Noticing 3 Good Things in Nature and it’s about as simple as it gets.

It’s also backed by solid research that shows it increases nature connectedness and sustained mental health improvements, only takes a few minutes, and doesn’t require any fancy gear, tech, planning, or access to wild spaces.

This short, 11-minute episode starts out with a story about a recent encounter I had with a great white shark (not my favorite way of microdosing nature!), and ends with what I hope are some practical techniques to help replenish your stoke.

Check out the show notes below and promise me you’ll get outside soon. I’m sitting on a stack of amazing guests to be scheduled for the pod so stay tuned!

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Summary

In this solo episode of Nature Junkie Radio, I share one of my favorite research-backed practices for increasing nature connection: Noticing 3 Good Things in Nature. This simple exercise has been shown to increase nature connectedness and improve mental health without requiring more time, gear, or access to wilderness.

The episode opens with a recent run-in I had with a great white shark. From there I give an overview of the research that shows why actively noticing nature (instead of more time in nature) is an effective protocol for your mental wellbeing.

I close by offering a few practical ways to apply this technique in your daily life, anytime and any place you can pause for a moment to pay attention.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Links

Actively Noticing Nature (Not Just Time in Nature) Helps Promote Nature Connectedness by Miles Richardson, Iain Hamlin, Carly W. Butler, Rory Thomas, and Alex Hunt. 2022.

One thousand good things in nature: Aspects of nearby nature associated with improved connection to nature. Miles Richardson, Jenny Hallam, Ryan Lumber. 2015.

Three good things in nature: a nature-based positive psychological intervention to improve mood and well-being for depression and anxiety. Rosaline Keenan, Ryan Lumber, Miles Richardson, David Sheffield. 2021

Whenever I’m around majestic mountain peaks I can’t help but wonder what it might look like from up top. Summits tug at our innermost curiosity. To see what we’re made of, to see what mystery awaits on the other side. What if we tugged back, in the opposite direction?

Turns out it’s a pretty old question. Kora, as it’s called in Tibetan, is the ancient practice of circumambulating around sacred places, like massive mountain peaks, instead of summiting them.

For many Indigenous cultures around the world, going to the summit is considered off limits. Some say leave it to the gods. Other decry summits as places where sketchy stuff happens. They’re called death zones for a reason.

Summits are also the source of snow and ice that melts from those 20,000 foot-plus peaks, rushes down into torrential rivers, flows swiftly toward civilization, and eventually filters into the cold elixir that greets our lips and bathes every cell in our bodies as life-giving water.

So yeah, maybe there’s room to look at summits a little differently.

Our latest guest on Nature Junkie Radio, Nick Triolo, felt a growing tension around having a narrow focus on summiting. And he came to it through pain.

Nick’s had a long affair with ultrarunning, the style of running where 100 mile races and suffering are the norm. One time he blacked out in a gas station bathroom near the finish. In another he had to be revived at the finish line by smelling salts and a team of nurses. At a race in San Diego, the medical examiner forced him to drop out after he “Filled a dixie cup to the brim with bloody urine the color of espresso.” Still, he wanted more.

The Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run was calling. He blacked out again at the finish.

Hours later, as he came to in a bathtub full of ice, he realized that “Something had to die at that finish line in order for something else to be born.”

That moment birthed a multi-year fascination with kora that would take him around the world. It opened up a vast new narrative for his relationship with moving through landscapes that became his first book, The Way Around: A Field Guide to Going Nowhere.

Nick takes us on along for the ride as he circumambulates Mount Kailash in Tibet, Mount Tamalpais in California, and unexpectedly the toxic Berkeley Pit Mine in Butte, Montana. Each circle becomes the climbing of internal mountains, a social experiment, myriad perspectives on every sacred site, and a reckoning with with how we’re shaped by our landscapes.

Here’s Nick’s take on considering kora,

“For me, this invokes far more interesting experiences in the natural world and totally recalibrates my perception of Self and Other: curiosity over conquest, questions over answers, restraint over capture, process over destination, abundance over scarcity…This, I think, is the central invitation.”

I absolutely loved this conversation with Nick. It was a buoyant and fitting way to close the Nature Junkie circle of 2025. I hope it gives you an opportunity reflect on how you might open up the path of 2026 with a new set of eyes. Check the rad photos and episode notes below. See you at the beginning of the next circle.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

The Way Around

Episode Summary

Nick Triolo is a runner and writer, both of which shape him and his beautifully deep musings on this thing we call life. He’s the managing editor at Magic Canoe, he teaches at the University of Montana, he’s been an adventure guide, he’s made films, and his writing has been featured in Orion, Outside Magazine, and many others. He recently published his first book called The Way Around: A Field Guide to Going Nowhere. The great nature writer Robert Macfarlane described Nick’s book as “Smart, funny, wise of mind, and vast of heart.” I couldn’t agree more, Nick’s book stirred deep thoughts in me about the current state of things on this planet, made me laugh, and serves as a solid reminder to stay open and curious as we travel through life.

Nick joined me over the interwebs from the Western Sierra foothills where he was enjoying a break from his home in Missoula, Montana. We talked about the ancient practice of kora, or circumambulation - in essence walking around the base of mountains (or other sacred sites) instead of summiting them - as a way to examine both inner and outer landscapes from different perspectives. We also talked about how is relationship with trail running joined him up with Death Cab for Cutie’s Benjamin Gibbard, the raw natural beauty he experienced practicing kora in Tibet, how life might be different if we didn’t need to summit, the social nature of kora, and we try to figure out the new skillset needed to deftly move between grief and joy in this complex modern era.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Links

The Way Around: A Field Guide to Going Nowhere by Nicholas Triolo

Nick’s Website

Nick’s Instagram (@nicholas.triolo)

Nick’s Substack (The Jasmine Dialogues)

Some story ideas come to you in a flash. Others marinate over decades, becoming far more than the original story could have ever been. Guner Tautrim’s story is the latter. And now it’s published in issue 34.6 of The Surfer’s Journal in a piece titled “The Captain of Orella,” and the first article I’ve ever written and photographed for the journal. I’m still kinda freaking out about it.

If I had told Guner’s story thirty years ago, it would have been rollicking ride. He grew up on Orella Ranch, a 300-acre chunk of land purchased by his great-great-great grandfather Bruno in 1866, perched on the Gaviota coast between El Capitan and Refugio.

The foundation of his youth included raising animals, surfing, building skate ramps, and backpacking the Sierras. When we first met, he was deep into a surf-inspired sailing mission from Hawaii to Australia via the Coconut Milk Run. Beyond that was anybody’s guess.

The trip was replete with turquoise reef pass tubes, battles with sharks, hellish storms, breakdowns, and mentorship from Captain Buzz, who drank a bit much. An adventurous story to be sure, but incomplete at best.

Guner’s seafaring voyage shaped his life in ways he couldn’t have imagined.

Along the way he fortified his ranch-raised work ethic, learned how to keep is cool in heavy situations, observed the foodways and wood carving skills of Indigenous communities, and then read a book that changed everything.

While docked in Australia, Guner’s dad bought him a copy of Permaculture - A Designers’ Manual by Bill Mollison. As he studied the tome, it lit him up It lit him up with ideas for the future. On the latest episode of Nature Junkie Radio, Guner opened up the aperture on permaculture.

“It’s an ecological design science for human habitation. It’s looking to nature and designing with nature. It encompasses everything like food, shelter, water, but it’s also community, it’s also finance…basically everything that makes up living as a human. If you’re dealing with it as a human, you can use permaculture.”

Guner even applies permaculture as a lens for approaching his marriage. No, I’m not kidding. As Guner put it, “We don’t do permaculture, we use permaculture.” That idea struck a chord, and left me wondering where else might we be able to use permaculture in our lives - beyond sea, soil, and sawdust.

Upon return to the Gaviota Coast over twenty-five years ago, Guner has been culminating everything he learned from surfing, sailing, skating, snowboarding, ecology, Indigenous culture, woodworking - and channeling it through the permaculture lens to build a life deeply connected with nature and his family on Orella Ranch.

If you need something to stir your wanderlust or you’re just keen to learn more about land stewardship, pick up copy The Surfer’s Journal 34.6, check out the photos below (a mix from the TSJ article plus behind the scenes), and click listen to tap into nature with Guner Tautrim - The Captain of Orella.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Sea

Soil

Sawdust

Family

Episode Summary

Guner Tautrim is a 6th generation land steward of Orella Ranch. He’s a surfer, boat captain, skater, snowboarder, master reclaimed wood worker, permaculturist, husband, and father. He’s the founder and operator of Gaviota Givings, Seaborn Designs, and sits on the board of the Gaviota Coast Conservancy.

Guner and I recorded this episode from the living room of the house he built with his own hands using heaps of natural building techniques to collaborate with nature. He shared the history, land, and happenings of Orella Ranch, his nature-immersed upbringing (with a cameo from his mom), his hugely impactful sailing trip aboard Ishi (including sketchy close encounters with hungry sharks), his definition of permaculture and its ethics, tales of gathering “free” wood, and navigating succession to the seventh generation.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Links

Guner on Instagram (@gaviota_guner)

Gaviota Givings on Instagram (@gaviota_givings)

Permaculture. A Designers Manual by Bill Mollison

Sailing the Farm by Ken Neumeyer

In 1968 three friends stood atop Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia holding a rumpled flag that read “Viva Los Fun Hogs.” Dick Dorworth, Doug Tompkins, and Yvon Chouinard looked thoroughly gassed.

As they should have. The summit represented the culmination of a road trip from Ventura to Patagonia in a secondhand van that had run the gauntlet. Along the way the crew scored unridden waves, escaped real jobs (at least temporarily), woke one morning to rifles pointed in their faces, skied a volcano in Chile, and ultimately climbed Fitz Roy.

In the photo captured of the moment, their faces reveal to me a deep knowing. It’s as if the hundreds of miles of dusty washboard roads jostled loose a core truth in them, along with a few nuts and bolts.

Here’s that core truth as plain as I can state it: this is a fucking great way to live. “Viva Los Fun Hogs” hence became the rally cry to pack as much nature-driven radness and stoke into life as possible.

When my recent guest on the podcast, Jeff Johnson, heard the rally cry of these legendary Patagonians, he thought to himself,

"Fun hogging… I didn’t know there was a name for it.”

The phrase resonated because this is how Jeff approaches his life too.

Jeff Johnson first came onto my radar when my friend and iconic surf writer Steve Barilotti had written a treatment for what would become the adventure film 180 South. Steve relayed something like, “I think you’d like Jeff, he surfs, skates, climbs, is a photographer, and writer. He’s the real deal.”

In the film, Yvon Chouinard concurred with Barlo, describing Jeff affectionately with a hint of reverence for his own youth, “Jeff is the real thing, he’s just a total dirtbag.”

When Barlo put Jeff on my radar, I realized I not only had a doppelganger out there (same name, same age, same outdoor obsessions, same haircut), but a fellow fun hog.

Since then, Jeff and I have shared plenty of cases of mistaken identity. A couple months back, The Surfer’s Journal sent me a check intended for Jeff after I had already been paid for my article (yes, I have my first TSJ story coming in a few weeks, more on that later). I’m not sure if Jeff owes me any money, but it’s possible he’s hiding something.

To celebrate both of us being Nature Junkie Jeff Johnsons, I thought it would be fun to share a few mirror images below from the life of a couple fun hogs.

If you’re wondering where we diverge, Jeff’s a regular foot, I’m a goofy. His mountain exploits led him to climbing, mine snowboarding. We’ll figure out the rest later.

Check out the episode show notes and photos below if you’re ready to double down on the Jeff Johnson situation.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Surf

Skate

Mountains

Talking Story

Episode Summary

Jeff Johnson, is not only my doppelganger, but is a lifestyle and adventure photographer who made his name as a staff photog for Patagonia, and then as a freelancer for brands like Yeti, Roark, and Rivian with his images and stories filling pages of The Surfer’s Journal, Outside Magazine and many others. He’s a surfer, a former North Shore lifeguard, and a climber that goes after big walls in places like Yosemite. Jeff featured as the lead character in one of my favorite adventure films,180 South. He’s published three books including Bend to Baja, 180 South: Conquerors of the Useless, and more recently Way High Kick Turn, which is an insider’s look into East Bay skateboarding culture from the mid-70’s to late 80’s. Jeff is a brand ambassador for Leica cameras, has his own shoe model with SeaVees and recently launched an apparel and gear brand called SPC/LST.

Jeff and I enjoyed our conversation from the lanai of his house on the North Shore of Oahu where we laughed about the crazy cases of mistaken identity we’ve dealt with over the years of sharing the same name and a mutual group of friends. I learned about his photography inspirations, the overlap between climbing and surfing, his insights from years of documenting Nature Junkies, managing the double-edge sword of social media, his most influential mentors (including Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard), making sense of his role in the film 180 South, his new apparel brand SPC/LST, and we finish with a lightning round of doppelganger questions to truly understand the common ground of being a Jeff Johnson.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Links

Jeff’s Instagram

Jeff’s Website

SPC/LST

Bend to Baja: A Biofuel Powered Surfing and Climbing Roadtrip

180 South: Conquerors of the Useless

180 South Film by Chris Malloy

Way High Kick Turn

Jeff’s Signature Shoe Model with SeaVees

As an opening question for Jon Rose, I put a set of doors in front of him, each of which represented his recent adventures, and asked him to pick the one that resonated most.

Door number one was summiting the 14,179 foot Mount Shasta (twice) so he could ride his snowboard down it. Door two involved riding horses with gauchos in South Brazil. Door three marked the completion of a ten-year project, in which Jon and his Waves for Water team built a house for a woman named Anjali in a Nepalese village. This resilient woman is a mother and widow who had lost nearly everything in the horrendous earthquake of 2015.

Without hesitation, Jon busted open door number three which led to a fun, inspiring, and thoughtful conversation between us.

I painted those doors into the picture because I knew they’d give you a quick sense of Jon Rose. World traveler. Surfer. Fun hog. Humanitarian. Mountaineer. Storyteller. Seeker. A person open to - and quite comfortable with - playing in the mystery of the unfolding present moment.

Reflecting on the connection he made with Anjali, Jon opened up about how powerfully it hit, and how it stirred something deep below the surface within him.

“It was this very…peak moment of my life…I just felt so in right relation with my soul at that moment…more than I ever had in my life.”

It was hard for him to make sense of it. He hadn’t even spent enough time with Anjali to explain the depth of connection they shared. It defied logic. The phrase he kept coming back to was that it felt like some kind of Soul Contract shared knowingly between the two of them.

We did eventually get to the gauchos and Jon’s respect for how they approach their lives, he shared vivid stories about how Mount Shasta’s Panther Meadows fed his imagination as a kid, and he snapped to life the taught through-line that nature has been in his full-circle journey from mountain, to water, to mountain.

As we both grappled with the challenges of this hyper-modern era, Jon was crystal clear on the solution,

“I think nature is the best answer to this fast-paced, technologically driven gravity that is pulling us.”

I couldn’t agree more.

If you’re game to knock open a few soul doors, please have a listen to my latest episode of Nature Junkie Radio with Jon Rose. Official episode notes and rad photos of Jon in action below. If you dig it, please share it with a friend.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Summary

To slap a single label on Jon Rose would be inaccurate. But several might help, so here goes. Jon was a pro surfer during an era when being a freesurfer was a good way to make a living. He’s been a model for brands like Dockers, Tumi, Kenneth Cole, and others. In 2009, he was called into action by the massive earthquake in Sumatra, which led to founding his non-profit called Waves for Water. To date, his organization has positively impacted nearly 4 million people with access to clean water, activated programs in over 40 countries, and responded to over 30 disasters globally. He’s also a photographer, storyteller, and in recent years has been doing high altitude mountaineering in the Himalayas. Yep, he’s a first rate Nature Junkie.

Jon joined me from his home in Lake Tahoe and we talked about him completing a ten year project in Nepal to build a house for a widow, his Mount Shasta upbringing that led to an early father and son dirtbag surf mission deep into Baja and mainland Mexico, his globetrotting pro surfing career, the founding of Waves for Water, the wisdom he’s learned from indigenous communities around the world, prioritizing nature over tech, and nature’s role in psychedelic integration work.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Links

Jon Rose on Instagram

Jon Rose’s Website

Waves for Water

Waves for Water on on Instagram

IG Reel from Jon/W4W of Anjali’s House Unveiling (have some tissues handy, it’s emotional)

Plenty of people go river rafting and leave it at that. They have fun. They realize being in nature for a few days makes them feel good. Then they move on with their lives. Not Dr. David Strayer, our guest on the latest episode of Nature Junkie Radio. He had to paddle way past the feel-good phase.

But it started that way for him too. Initially, as Dr. Strayer rafted down the San Juan River he felt the same resonance that pulsed through the hearts and words of naturalists like Abbey, Muir, and Thoreau. He noticed that after a couple days on the river,

“Things changed, you became kind of recalibrated, you forgot what day of the week it was…You became much more connected to the natural world. You became more part of it, rather than separate from it. I noticed that I was thinking differently, clearly, less stressed out, and more…relaxed and…more in the moment.”

Being a cognitive neuroscientist, this only fueled his curiosity. He’d return from these trips and dive into the research to understand what was driving these experiences. The existing science was encouraging, but it didn’t quite satisfy. He knew he could apply cutting edge neuroscience to the problem.

What makes Dr. Strayer’s research unique (and beyond difficult!) is that he does his experiments in the wild.

“The biggest part of the whole challenge was actually having to figure out how to take the really expensive and sensitive electrical recording equipment that you use for recording brain activity or other kinds of physiological measures…outside and not having it immediately be destroyed by the wind and rain and sun.”

All that tinkering took about 10 years to get dialed, and now he’s got some answers.

I was giddy at the chance to peer under the hood of our brains with Dr. Strayer and brimming with questions. Stuff like…

• What happens in our brains when we’re immersed in nature?

• Is nature connection offering something in addition to the benefits of exercise?

• What works better (or first?) Attention Restoration Theory or Stress Recovery Theory? Are they possibly linked?

• Is there any merit to the fractal hypothesis?

• What’s the “nature dose” we should be aiming for daily/weekly?

• Is there evidence to support the anecdotal “3-Day Effect”?

• How does virtual nature exposure compare to real nature exposure?

We get into all of this. If you like to nerd out on science and dive below the surface, then click play on this new episode of Nature Junkie Radio. If you’re worried it will be too sciency for ya, don’t worry, Dr. Strayer helps it go down easy. Lastly, hop down below to scope some rad images of Dr. Strayer’s research in the wild shot by the amazing Lucas Foglia along with all the episode deets.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Summary

Dr. Strayer is a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Utah and a pioneer in the emerging field of environmental neuroscience. He’s published numerous papers on how nature affects our attention, cognition, and creativity, but he doesn’t take the typical approach. Many of Dr. Strayer’s studies are actually conducted in the wild, which is much harder than you think.

Dr. Strayer joined me from a place near the water in Port Townsend Washington while I was at home in San Diego. We talked about the white water rafting experiences that drove his scientific curiosity about nature, overcoming the challenges of the early days of doing research in the wild, Attention Restoration Theory, Stress Recovery Theory, The 3-day effect, virtual reality nature vs. real life nature, fractals, forest bathing, and more. This one’s for those of you who like to dive below the surface level understanding of nature connection.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Links

Dr. David Strayer at The University of Utah

The Nature Fix by Florence Williams

The 3-Day Effect audiobook by Florence Williams

Dr. Adam Gazzaley

Dr. Ruthann Atchley

Dr. Paul Atchley

Dr. Marc Berman

Lucas Foglia Photography (thanks for the images Lucas!)

When was the last time you were in a place free from everything everywhere all at once trying to hijack your attention? A place where there was enough peace and quiet to hear yourself think and feel the steady rhythm of your heartbeat? Yeah, it’s been a while for me too.

But I do know where to find it, and so does our latest guest on Nature Junkie Radio, Josh Jackson.

You could look to the obvious nature haunts. The Yellowstones, the Rockies, and the Sierras of the world. That’s often my reflex. Like a needle dropping into the well-worn groove in the vinyl, track one reliably crackles out of the speaker, “Let’s go to Yosemite.” And I oblige.

Because it works. These places are reliable stoke-producers. They possess awe-inspiring beauty. They force me to slow down. They test my physical limits. And they’re iconic for a reason. Plunk down your tripod at Tunnel View in Yosemite Valley and try to take a bad photo. Not happening. Nearly every shutter click could be postcard.

Tracking up the 395 north, Lone Pine Peak and Mount Whitney vie for my attention, and they get it every time. I don’t tire of their majesty. But my eyes do wander. And when they do, they drift east to what Josh calls the Forgotten Lands.

These landscapes cause questions to pinball through my mind. What was it like for indigenous people to live there and how did they survive the gnarly weather extremes? What kinds of critters are having a scratch and sniff?1 Could there be unknown plant species with healing properties that haven’t yet been identified? What deeper questions might float to the surface with a night under those stars? These places hold mystery, and that’s what tugs at me.

When Josh looked east on that same drive, his questions tugged harder than mine, so he took the bait. Originally, he just needed a campsite. But his frustrating search kicked off a quest to explore our public lands, which led to far more than he could have imagined. Here’s Josh on how these lands seeped into him.

“The desert often sings quietly..for me those experiences in the desert, walking by myself, in solitude, under the stars, listening to the coyotes howl at night were some of the most profound times I had.”

After years of meandering through these vast landscapes, Josh wrote and photographed a beautiful book called The Enduring Wild about his travels, which ended up being as much a journey to the self as it was through the BLM lands. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be dog-earing pages, getting dirt stuck in the binding, and spilling coffee on it as I too visit these Forgotten Lands.

If you need a soothing space to quiet your mind, or a little mystery that seems sorely lacking in our modern lives, then I invite you to visit some of our public lands, and fall in love with them like Josh did. Then tell a story about it. We need these lands, and therefore, they need our stories to help protect them.

I hope this new episode of Nature Junkie Radio with Josh Jackson, his insightful book, his Forgotten Lands Project Dispatches on Substack, or his photography below will be the nudge you need to make it happen.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Summary

Finding a campsite can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. But that was just the catalyst Josh Jackson needed to explore our western public lands for the last several years. And now he’s ready to tell their stories, along with his own.

Josh is a writer (check out his insightful dispatches from public lands on his Forgotten Lands Project Substack so check it out!), photographer, husband, father, and speaker whose work champions the wild beauty and overlooked value of America’s public lands.

In his new book, The Enduring Wild Josh takes us along his journey of exploring California’s BLM lands through thought-provoking essays and immersive photography.

Josh and I spoke at Crystal Cove State Park on a late spring morning, after enjoying a hike together through the hills overlooking the ocean. In our conversation Josh shares the catalyst for his book, the unexpected beauty of public lands, and the lost art of slowing down. We delve into place attachment theory, environmental challenges, current threats to BLM lands, reciprocity, and how to carry out the most ridiculously simple act of noticing nature.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Episode Links

The Enduring Wild by Josh Jackson

Josh on Instagram @forgottenlandsproject

Josh’s Substack Forgotten Lands Project

Josh’s Website

Bureau of Land Management

The Solace of Open Spaces by Gretel Ehrlich

A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey

Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place by Terry Tempest Williams

Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

Place and Placelessness by Edward Relph

Baba Dioum

Place Attachment Theory

This America of Ours by Nate Schweber

The Trouble with Wilderness by William Cronon

The State of Change by Laura Cunningham

The California Field Atlas by Obi Kaufmann

A question that gnaws away at my insides constantly is whether or not I’m sending it big enough in life. Most of the time, it’s a quick no. And it stings like a potent venom.

But there have been a few resounding hell yes moments. The day I surfed Pipeline for the first time as a teenager, heart pounding out of my chest. The time I rallied a few friends to hike an Eastern Sierra backcountry peak at midnight to carve some buttery pow turns, lit only by the glow of the full moon. Having kids. Deciding to pull up sticks with the fam and move to Australia for a couple years. Meaningful yesses, all of them, but few and fleeting to be sure.

And that’s precisely why asking ourselves whether or not we’re turning our crazy ideas into actions, jamming as much life into life as we can, and stretching ourselves beyond the comfort couch is an important one.

When I asked Captain Liz Clark what advice she has for young girls and women (and really, for all of us) who want to pursue the wild things in life, her voice became animated as she said this,

“Yeah, I would say that it's really, really important for us to follow those big dreams and desires, even if they don't end up panning out exactly like we imagine them…and that through those, we learn to know ourselves and push ourselves…so my advice to young women and girls is follow something that you love. Do something that doesn't make sense…just make those things a priority because they are really much more important than our society puts value on.”

If you need a little inspo to help nudge your next send, I invite you to drop into my conversation with Captain Liz Clark on Nature Junkie Radio and check out photos from her voyage below.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Summary

Captain Liz Clark is one of those courageous souls who turned her massive dream into a reality. Liz sailed into the wild unknown on her 40-foot sailboat, named Swell, and voyaged around the world for 10 years. As you might imagine, she’s got a few stories to tell.

After her trip she wrote a soul-stirring memoir about her experiences, and aptly titled the book Swell: A Sailing Surfer’s Voyage of Awakening. Her story is as much an exploration of her inner landscape as it is about the beautiful, and oftentimes terrifying, experiences in the vast wilds of the open ocean.

Our conversation found Liz at her home in Tahiti, where she’s now married, adjusting to life on land, running her local environmental non-profit (A Ti’a Matairea), and continuing to live a life deeply intertwined with nature. We talked about the benefits of tuning into the subtleties of nature, taking care of our planet, dodging deadly lightning storms, and the importance of turning our most audacious dreams into reality.

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Episode Links

Liz Clark’s Website

Liz Clark’s Instagram

Liz Clark’s Book, Swell: A Sailing Surfer’s Voyage of Awakening

Liz Clark’s Non-Profit A Ti’a Matairea

Show Notes

Hey everyone, we’ve got another legend on the pod today - Chris Burkard. Chris is a master storyteller, adventurer, and world class Nature Junkie. His jaw dropping photography takes us to some of the most remote and raw places on the planet, he has a TED talk that will motivate you to get way out of your comfort zone, he’s made several award winning films, and his beautiful photo essay books grace the coffee tables of people around the world. He’s even owned alpacas. Seriously. Beyond that, he’s a husband, father, and just a solid human that’s always willing to share his stoke.

In true Burkard fashion, he took this interview while parked off the side of the Ring road in Iceland near a river surrounded by majestic mountains. Chris and I talked about raising kids to explore nature, traversing both the inner landscape of our minds as well as raw outer landscapes, whether or not photography elicits flow, striking the balance between work and play, his new film The Forgotten Coast, making meaning out of trips and stories through continuous reflection, learning how to properly chill out, and what it means to Chris to be an environmentalist.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Links

Chris Burkard’s Instagram

Chris Burkard’s BTS Instagram

Chris Burkard’s Website & Print Shop

The Forgotten Coast Film

Play by Stuart Brown and Christopher Vaughan

Connect with Nature Junkie

Instagram: @naturejunkieradio

Website: www.naturejunkielife.com

Show Production Credits

Hosted by Jeff Johnson

Podcast cover art by Ahab Nimry

Outro music by Tyler Johnson

Editing by Aashish M.

Show Notes

Wallace J. Nichols, or J as he’s better known to friends and family, is the author of the book Blue Mind: The Surprising Science that Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do. His book, and his continual work on spreading its message, sparked a global Blue Mind movement that I hope will keep rippling out for decades to come.

Sadly, J passed away only a handful of months after we recorded this interview. While his loss will be deeply felt by many around the world forever, he wanted his powerful message to be shared and the work is far from done.

In this interview, J delivers a masterclass on Blue Mind. Over the last decade, J honed the fundamentals of Blue Mind so tightly, which means that this conversation is layered with his wisdom that I know I’ll be studying for years to come. I hope you find something meaningful in this conversation, and if you do, please share it with a friend so we can keep J’s wave flowing out into the world.

Thank you J for the mentorship you’ve given me, even when you didn’t know it. I’ll be forever grateful. Deepest condolences to J’s family and may he rest in peace. As J always said - “I wish you water.”

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Links

Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do

Exploring Our Blue Mind: Dr. Wallace J. Nichols at TEDxSanDiego 2012

Neuroconservation -- your brain on nature: Wallace J. Nichols at TEDxSantaCruz

Blue Mind in the Desert | Dr. Wallace J. Nichols | TEDxFountainHills

Wildcoast / Serge Dedina

Bobby Lane

Justin Feinstein’s research on float tanks

Run It by My Morning Jacket

Motherfucker Awards by Kyle Thiermann

Wallace J. Nichols Memorial Fund Go Fund Me

Connect with Nature Junkie

Instagram: @naturejunkieradio

Website: www.naturejunkielife.com

Show Production Credits

Hosted by Jeff Johnson

Podcast cover art by Ahab Nimry

Outro music by Tyler Johnson

Editing by Aashish M.

Show Notes

Kate Williams is the CEO of the non-profit 1% for the Planet. She’s dedicated the last decade to a wide range of environmental conservation efforts by building and leading an awesome team, and expanding the 1% for the Planet model and impact globally. On top of that, she’s just a gem of a human and I always enjoy chatting with her about all things brand impact.

In our conversation we get into Kate’s early nature experiences and how they show up for her as leader today. She shares the origin story of 1% for the Planet by Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia along with Craig Matthews, the founder of Blue Ribbon Flies. Kate lays out the powerful simplicity of the 1% model, the impact they’re making, and the characteristics of the people and brands that comprise the 1% for the Planet community. Since I recently attended the 1% for the Planet Global Summit in San Diego, I also shared some brief interviews from brands and non-profits to help you get a sense of what it means to collaborate under this model.

For individuals, I highly encourage you to reach for brands bearing the 1% for the Planet badge because they’re walking the talk. For brands looking for ways to ramp up your impact and avoid greenwashing, please check out 1% for the Planet and reach out to Kate and her team to learn more.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Links

1% for the Planet

@1percentftp

Zafrán

Germinar

Thin Green Line

More about Constance “Connie” Mwandaa

Connect with Nature Junkie

Instagram: @naturejunkieradio

Website: www.naturejunkielife.com

Show Production Credits

Hosted by Jeff Johnson

Podcast cover art by Ahab Nimry

Outro music by Tyler Johnson

Editing by Aashish M.

Show Notes

John Hook is a Funtographer, supermodel, and next-level biohacker (you won’t believe what he used to fuel his body and mind to swim maxing Waimea Bay for 9 hours of energy. It’s a secret that Huberman, Rogan, and Ferriss couldn’t find if they searched in dark, Himalayan caves for decades. Spoiler Alert: No, it’s not ashwagandha infused yak milk).

All kidding aside, John is an ace photographer known for his moody Pipeline shots on film, his reality-bending double exposures, and his unique eye for capturing the magic of Hawaii through the lens of a local tourist. He’s a badass with his craft and seems to be having the most fun.

I wanted to talk with John because he was one of a handful of photographers that got to shoot the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational from the water - twice! It’s such a rare phenomenon that it’s akin to being an astronaut. Also, John is a fun storyteller and I knew if we talked story he would bring his experience to life in a way that helps you feel like you’re right there in the water with him (jet skis revving and all!). We also get into what stokes him out on nature, his spirit animal, his creative inspirations (there might be aliens involved), and how we’re just tiny little visitors on this weirdly beautiful planet!

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Links

Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational

John Hook on Instagram

John Hook Prints at The Surfer’s Journal

Polynesian Voyaging Society

Connect with Nature Junkie

Instagram: @naturejunkieradio

Website: www.naturejunkielife.com

Show Production Credits

Hosted by Jeff Johnson

Podcast cover art by Ahab Nimry

Outro music by Tyler Johnson

Editing by Aashish M.

Show Notes

Hey everyone, we’re back in action! Today’s guest is Timmy O’Neill. Timmy is best known as one of the top climbers in the world. He holds records for speed ascents in Yosemite, he’s put up first ascents in Patagonia, he lived in a cave in Joshua Tree for 60 days, he’s been in numerous adventure films and documentaries, my favorite being 180 South, he’s made films like Soundscape, he co-founded Paradox Sports, an organization dedicated to defying the idea that people with so called “disabilities” can’t live a life of adventure. Besides all of Timmy’s achievements, I’ve always found him to be a fascinating, high-stoke human who makes a lot of meaning out of his connections with nature so it’s an honor to share our conversation.

In this convo we cover Timmy’s childhood nature haunts, his Joshua tree cave epiphanies, how wild nature enables time travel that transcends epochs, the radness of rocks and how they slow us down. We attempt to unravel the mystery of stoke, Timmy shares his love of wordplay and writing the lyrics of life, founding Paradox Sports, letting moonrises melt frustration, making the film Soundscape with Eric Weihnmayer, and his favorite nature book recommendations.

Enjoy the ride,

Jeff

Episode Links

Timmy O’Neill on Instagram

Timmy O’Niell’s Website

Paradox Sports Non-Profit

Soundscape Film

Timmy’s Band - Par Avion

The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf

A World on the Wing by Scott Weidensaul

An Immense World Ed Young

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Wild Life Documentary on Kris Tompkins

Connect with Nature Junkie

Instagram: @naturejunkieradio

Website: www.naturejunkielife.com

Show Production Credits

Hosted by Jeff Johnson

Podcast cover art by Ahab Nimry

Outro music by Tyler Johnson

Editing by Aashish M.