The Outside Professor
The Outside Professor
Naturalist Studies
Exploring naturalist topics and ancestral skills that were once part of universal human knowledge and remain valuable today.
#14 - Nature Immersion Practices
Chi-Wei Chang, an ecotherapy instructor, discusses the science of how nature immersion supports mental health, emphasizing that spending time in nature isn’t just relaxing—it’s a vital practice for mental and emotional well-being. She also explains how modern indoor lifestyles, manmade noise, and screen exposure overstimulate our nervous systems, while connecting with nature—through breathing, sensory awareness, and mindful time outdoors—helps restore balance, reduce stress, and boost creativity.
Apr 9
58 min
#13 - Interpreting the Weather
How do extreme weather events form—and how can you recognize when one is becoming dangerous? In this episode, veteran meteorologist Troy Kimmel explains how to interpret large-scale weather patterns and spot the warning signs that often appear before disasters like the 2025 Texas floods. He breaks down the climatic factors that cause flash floods, prolonged heat waves, and major winter storms, and shares practical ways individuals and communities can react to developing conditions and prepare before the worst hits.
Jan 24
1 hr 16 min
#12 - Connecting to Nature Through Music
Leïla Six is a singer-songwriter on a mission to remind us all that we are nature. She writes about the ecological challenges we are facing, the circle of life and the beauty of seasons, and how she uses music to situate the human experience within its broader natural context.
Dec 16, 2025
58 min
#11 - Eavesdropping on Animals
Wildlife sculptor and author George Bumann shares insights from his new book Eavesdropping on Animals and explores how learning to interpret the language of animals can transform the way you experience nature—not only in remote settings but also right outside your own door.
Sep 23, 2025
1 hr 38 min
#10 - Getting Kids Out in Nature
Educator Kyra Stephenson, 'The Nature Lady', discusses the transformative effects nature based-education has on children's attitudes, behavior, and desire to learn along with tips for implementing in any school setting.
Jan 7, 2025
1 hr 15 min
#9 - Finding Spirituality in Nature
Minister and author Peter Haas discusses how nature was integrated in the spiritual and religious traditions of early man and how it is still relevant to modern society.
Jan 26, 2024
1 hr 14 min
#8 - Backpacking Best Practices
An experienced long distance hiker, backpacker and all-around tough guy, Jack Crowley discusses what he has learned through the years scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro, high Himalayan passes, and the rugged peaks of the California Sierras and Rocky Mountains.
Sep 7, 2023
1 hr 27 min
#7 - Birding and Nature Connection
Avian expert Mikael Behrens discusses how birding expanded his view of the outside world and helped facilitate his own nature connection journey.
May 11, 2023
1 hr 15 min
#6 - Trailing Animals
Senior tracker and instructor Preston Taylor discusses his experiences of trailing animals, the scientific value and personal enjoyment gleaned from it, and how to learn this ancient skill that humans relied upon for thousands of years.
Dec 1, 2022
1 hr 5 min
Load more