The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

What if one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the opportunity to struggle?

Bestselling author Jessica Lahey joins Ginny for a powerful conversation about two of the biggest challenges facing families today: raising capable, independent kids and protecting them from a culture of addiction. Drawing from her books The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation, Jessica explains why our instinct to protect children from discomfort can unintentionally rob them of confidence, resilience, and the ability to solve problems on their own.

They discuss why kids need real responsibility, how unstructured play and outdoor adventures build self-efficacy, and why allowing children to experience manageable failure is one of the most loving things a parent can do. Jessica also shares evidence-based research on substance use prevention, including why delaying alcohol and drug use matters, how clear family expectations reduce risk, and why connection—not control—is one of the strongest protective factors we can offer our children.

From helicopter parenting and grade portals to dopamine, executive function, anxiety, and the importance of letting kids figure things out for themselves, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and encouragement for every parent navigating the teenage years—and the years leading up to them.

If you've ever wondered whether you're helping too much, or how to raise children who are prepared for real life, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

Grab a copy of The Gift of Failure here

A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below:

BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month.

Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns

IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership

Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS

woom Bikes - Go to woom.com and use code 1000HOURS at checkout for 10% off your new bike purchase, excluding the woom WOW.

Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off.

Ethos Life Insurance - Get your free quote at ethos.com/1000hours

Active Skin Repair - Don’t forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every great story leaves you different than it found you. Filmmaker Chris Dowling joins Ginny to talk about the art of telling stories that make people laugh, think, and see the world a little differently. They dive into his new faith comedy Bad Counselors, why summer camp is the perfect setting for transformation, what it takes to make a movie that feels honest instead of preachy, and why choosing presence with your family is sometimes the greatest creative decision you can make. Whether you love movies, care about raising great kids, or simply appreciate a story that stays with you long after the credits roll, this conversation will leave you seeing storytelling in a whole new way.

Go see Bad Counselors this week!! Learn more here

A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below:

BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month.

Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns

IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership

Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS

woom Bikes - Go to woom.com and use code 1000HOURS at checkout for 10% off your new bike purchase, excluding the woom WOW.

Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off.

Ethos Life Insurance - Get your free quote at ethos.com/1000hours

Active Skin Repair - Don’t forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fertility crisis isn't just about adults who are trying to have a baby. It may start years earlier than we realize. In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Ann Shippy shares why the everyday choices we make as families can shape not only our own health but the health of generations to come. Ginny and Dr. Shippy talk about environmental toxins, nutrition, stress, time outside, the surprising role dads play in fertility, and why she believes parents should already be thinking about protecting their teenagers' fertility. If you've ever wondered whether the little choices really matter, this episode offers both practical ideas and genuine hope. Learn more about Dr. Shippy and The Preconception Revolution at https://annshippymd.com and https://everybabywell.com.

A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below:

BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month.

Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns

IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership

Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS

woom Bikes - Go to woom.com and use code 1000HOURS at checkout for 10% off your new bike purchase, excluding the woom WOW.

Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off.

Ethos Life Insurance - Get your free quote at ethos.com/1000hours

Active Skin Repair - Don’t forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world our kids are growing up in has changed faster than most of us can keep up with, but this conversation left me more hopeful than afraid. Dave Boden shares practical wisdom for raising Gen Alpha in an age of anxiety, AI, endless screens, and constant pressure to perform. We talk about resilience, emotional health, why kids need stretch zones instead of comfort zones, and how parents can help children build the kind of character that will matter no matter what the future looks like. If you've ever wondered how to prepare your kids for a world that didn't exist when you were growing up, this episode will leave you encouraged and equipped. Dave's book, Raising Gen Alpha, is available wherever books are sold. Connect with Dave at https://daveboden.uk and subscribe to his newsletter, Empowering the Next Generation.

A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them out below:

BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month.

Quince - Visit www.quince.com/outside and get free shipping and 365 day returns

IXL Learning - Head to www.ixl.com/1000hours to get an exclusive 20% savings on your membership

Whisker - Take care of your cats while taking an additional $50 off bundles with code 1000HOURS when you shop www.whisker.com/1000HOURS

woom Bikes - Go to woom.com and use code 1000HOURS at checkout for 10% off your new bike purchase, excluding the woom WOW.

Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off.

Ethos Life Insurance - Get your free quote at ethos.com/1000hours

Active Skin Repair - Don’t forget to put this in your first aid kit! Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com and use the code 1000HOURS to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of life's biggest questions don't have easy answers, but maybe they aren't meant to. In this thoughtful conversation, Faith Eury Cho shares why curiosity is a gift, how motherhood changed her understanding of God's presence, and what it looks like to trust Him before everything makes sense. Her idea of "practicing sacred assumptions" offers a fresh way to walk through disappointment, grief, and unanswered prayers without losing hope. Whether you're reading Never Alone with your kids or wrestling with your own questions, this conversation is an invitation to know God more deeply, right in the middle of ordinary life.

Get your copy of Never Alone, Experiencing Friendship with God, and preorder Unlikely and Anointed

Learn more about Faith and all she has to offer here
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices