Hi this is Chris Morgan you're listening to the wild on KUOW over the next hour we're going to be playing past episodes from our podcast and today it's all about the power of spending time out in nature, what it does for your mind and body.

It feels like a topic that comes up a lot these days as so many people are looking for ways to clear the mind in our busy world.

And wow I think part of it is because we've all been through a lot since this podcast episode

was released in 2019, A devastating global pandemic halted all of us.

COVID seemed to unearth and accelerate the need for a bit of nature for so many people.

I feel very fortunate. I love wild places and I spend a lot of time in them,

but it doesn't have to be wilderness, as we'll hear.

Sometimes just sitting under a tree is enough to reap the benefits of time

outdoors. So this episode is all about disengaging and going out into natural spaces.

I join a therapist, a forest therapist, and I have a conversation

with Florence Williams who wrote the book The Nature Fix. It's a fascinating conversation and actually I think about it all the time when I'm out in the woods

But I also think that we've got to be mindful of not completely tuning out, you know

There's a world around each of us with humans in it, and there's always

a lot of important stuff going on for us to be aware of. A tricky balance sometimes, right?

Ironically, I like to think that quiet time in nature helps to remind us that connecting with other people

is very important, and also good for your health.

I always tell my grown kids, don't forget, smile at strangers. And note about this

episode the original version of the podcast included a quote from John Muir.

We decided to remove it after learning about his past racist statements against indigenous

and black people. So let's head out to a place outdoors near my home in Bellingham, Washington.

I'm in Bellingham, Washington.

I'm in this little patch of forest near my house,

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