Ginny Yurich sits down with Barry Hoffner, author of Belonging to the World: A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth, to explore how profound loss led him on an extraordinary journey across 192 of the world’s 193 countries. After the sudden death of his wife, Jackie, Barry stepped away from his old life and eventually discovered that travel, movement, and connection could help him find his way forward.

Barry shares how a chance conversation inspired his quest to visit every country on Earth, the surprising community he found among fellow travelers, and why the journey ultimately became far more important than completing the list. Along the way, he discovered awe in unfamiliar places, generosity among people with very little, and a universal desire for dignity, belonging, and connection.

Ginny and Barry also discuss embracing unexpected opportunities, moving through grief rather than hiding from it, and the perspective that comes from experiencing the world firsthand. Barry shares how Jackie’s legacy now lives on through scholarships for young women in West Africa—and why some of life’s most meaningful chapters are the ones we never planned.

Grab Barry's book here!

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

• My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com  and save 15% on your order during  their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.

• 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 

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

• Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast  and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.

• 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.

• Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/1000hours  with code 1000hours

• Ka’Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order.

• Hey Polo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/1000hours or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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

What if getting dirty is actually good for your kids?

Ginny Yurich sits down with microbiome scientist Dr. Jack Gilbert, co-author of Dirt Is Good, to explore how exposure to the natural world helps shape a child’s developing immune system. Dr. Gilbert explains why dirt, animals, farms, siblings, pets, and everyday microbes aren’t necessarily things parents should fear—and why our increasingly sanitized, indoor lives may come with unintended consequences.

They unpack fascinating research on everything from dropped pacifiers and hand-washed dishes to dogs, farm visits, breast milk, bathing habits, and the billions of microbes we encounter simply by stepping outside. Dr. Gilbert also explains why common sense still matters: microbial exposure can be beneficial without ignoring genuine risks from pathogens.

The conversation closes with a surprising look at the connection between the gut microbiome, ultra-processed foods, and weight.

It’s a fascinating reminder that childhood doesn’t need to be sterile—and that letting kids dig in the dirt, interact with animals, and experience the messy natural world may be doing far more for their bodies than we realize.

Grab Dr. Jack's book here!

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

• My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com  and save 15% on your order during  their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.

• 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 

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

• Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast  and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.

• 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.

• Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/1000hours  with code 1000hours

• Ka’Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order.

• Hey Polo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/1000hours or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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

Ginny Yurich sits down with Dr. Russ Harris, physician, therapist, and bestselling author of The Happiness Trap, for a powerful conversation about why our pursuit of happiness can actually make us miserable—and what to do instead.

Drawing on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Russ explains why a meaningful life isn’t one without anxiety, sadness, frustration, or fear. Instead of constantly trying to suppress uncomfortable emotions or distract ourselves from them, he shares practical tools for allowing difficult feelings to exist without letting them dictate our actions.

Russ walks Ginny through his “dropping anchor” technique using the simple ACE framework: acknowledge your thoughts and feelings, connect with your body, and engage with the world around you. They also explore urge surfing, self-compassion, breaking free from harsh self-judgment, and why there’s no “delete button” in the brain.

For parents especially, this conversation offers a freeing alternative to the pressure to create perfectly happy, successful lives—for ourselves or our children. A rich life, Russ reminds us, includes the full range of human emotion while staying connected to what truly matters.

Get Russ' book here!

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

• My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com  and save 15% on your order during  their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.

• 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 

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

• Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast  and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.

• 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.

• Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/1000hours  with code 1000hours

• Ka’Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order.

• Hey Polo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/1000hours or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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

Ginny Yurich welcomes Dr. Will Cole back to the podcast for a fascinating conversation about why our bodies may be aging faster than ever—and what we can do about it. Drawing from his new book, Heal Your Cells: Reversing the Irreversible, co-written with Dr. Josh Axe, Will explores the emerging science of cellular health and the surprising ways our everyday lives influence how well our bodies function and recover.

They discuss why different organs can age at different rates, the healing power of nature, movement, mitochondrial health, and the growing interest in peptides. But Will also explains why optimizing health goes far beyond food and supplements: chronic stress, grief, trauma, relationships, and even joy can profoundly affect the body.

Will shares the deeply personal story of losing his father and how grief affected his own health, while offering a hopeful reminder that the body is remarkably resilient. From getting outside and rebuilding energy to creating “cellular safety,” this conversation is packed with practical ways to support healing, longevity, and a healthier life.

Learn more about Dr. Will here!

Order his new book here!

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

• My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com  and save 15% on your order during  their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.

• 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 

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

• Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast  and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.

• 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.

• Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/1000hours  with code 1000hours

• Ka’Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order.

• Hey Polo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/1000hours or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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

Ginny Yurich sits down with Dr. Tamara Rosier, founder of the ADHD Center of West Michigan and author of Your Brain’s Not Broken and the new Your Brain’s Not Broken for Teens and Young Adults, for a practical and encouraging conversation about navigating life with ADHD.

Tamara explains why ADHD is about far more than attention or hyperactivity, exploring its often-overlooked effects on emotions, motivation, executive function, and identity. She shares why teens with ADHD may develop several years behind their peers in executive functioning—and why parents need the courage to look at the child in front of them rather than measure them against conventional timelines.

They also unpack Tamara’s memorable four-quadrant framework for understanding motivation, from draining “yellow” tasks and anxiety-fueled “red” productivity to mindless “blue” downtime and the life-giving “green” experiences that genuinely recharge us. Along the way, Tamara offers practical strategies for procrastination, avoidance, time blindness, and helping teens build independence without shame.

It’s a hopeful conversation about understanding how an ADHD brain works, finding language for difficult struggles, and giving young people the time and tools they need to flourish.

Learn more about Dr. Rosier here!

Get her book here!

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

• My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com  and save 15% on your order during  their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.

• 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 

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

• Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast  and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.

• 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.

• Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/1000hours  with code 1000hours

• Ka’Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order.

• Hey Polo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/1000hours or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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

Ginny Yurich sits down with Ben Peterson, author of When Intelligence Isn’t Human: Navigating Your Faith in the Age of AI, for a timely conversation about what families need to understand as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly woven into everyday life.

Ben argues that the greatest concern isn’t simply what AI can do, but the role we allow it to play. As chatbots become more relational and technology grows increasingly personalized, young people may begin turning to AI for guidance, connection, and emotional support instead of parents, friends, faith, and real-world community. Together, Ginny and Ben explore the progression from social media’s battle for our attention to what Ben sees as an emerging battle for our affection—and why parents need to recognize the difference between using AI as a tool and allowing it to become a guide or relationship.

They also discuss social media, isolation, the importance of human connection, Ben’s decision to step away from social media, and a powerful question for evaluating technology: What is this costing me? Ben also shares about his five-week Parent’s Guide to AI and his work with military families through Engage Your Destiny.

Get Ben's book here!

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

• My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com  and save 15% on your order during  their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.

• 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 

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

• Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast  and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.

• 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.

• Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/1000hours  with code 1000hours

• Ka’Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order.

• Hey Polo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/1000hours or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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

International fashion model, actress, author, and educational freedom advocate Sam Sorbo joins Ginny for a wide-ranging conversation about homeschooling, parenting, and what it really means to prepare a child for adulthood. Sam shares how a family trip to Hawaii first caused her to question traditional schooling and ultimately led her family into home education.

Together, Sam and Ginny explore why homeschooling may be far less complicated than parents fear, the importance of protecting a child’s natural curiosity, and the freedom that comes from letting kids develop on their own timelines. They also look beyond the K–12 years, challenging the assumption that college must automatically come next. From entrepreneurship and early work experience to building a family economy, they discuss helping young adults discover their strengths and step meaningfully into the real world.

It’s a bold, thought-provoking conversation about education, faith, family, legacy, and having the courage to reconsider the path everyone else is taking.

Get Sam's book, Parent's Guide to Homeschool!

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

• Hey Polo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to ⁠heypolo.com/1000hours⁠ or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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

What if one of the biggest ways to create a healthier home is hiding right underneath you while you sleep? In this episode, Ginny sits down with Tim Masters, founder of My Green Mattress and a mattress maker since his teenage years, to unpack what’s actually inside the place where we spend nearly a third of our lives.

Tim shares the remarkable story of how his daughter’s eczema and allergies led him to create an organic crib mattress—and eventually launch My Green Mattress in 2007. They explore flame retardants, fiberglass, foams, off-gassing, and what families should look for when choosing a mattress, along with the surprising benefits of wool for breathability, temperature regulation, comfort, and durability.

Tim also shares what nearly four decades of mattress-making have taught him about craftsmanship, why old-fashioned button tufting matters, and how buying fewer, better-made things can pay off for years. It’s a fascinating look at sleep, healthier homes, and the craftsmanship behind something we use every single night.

Visit www.MyGreenMattress.com and save 15% off on your order during their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional ten dollars off your cart!

Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to ⁠heypolo.com/1000hours⁠ or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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

Ginny Yurich sits down with Danish dad, author, entrepreneur, and longtime unschooling parent Jesper Conrad for a wide-ranging conversation about fatherhood, family, creativity, and building a life around what matters most. Jesper shares how his wife’s battle with leukemia changed the trajectory of their family, eventually leading them to embrace full-time travel, homeschooling, and a more intentional way of living.

Jesper opens up about his own struggles with anger and frustration as a father and why he believes dads need more opportunities to talk honestly about parenting, vulnerability, and their relationships with their children. He explores the importance of attachment, repairing relationships after difficult moments, and moving away from control and power struggles.

They also dive into Jesper’s wonderfully eclectic approach to life—from writing books and carving spoons to building businesses and creating podcasts—and the value of learning by doing. Plus, Jesper offers powerful encouragement for homeschooling and unschooling families: stay a parent first, protect your child’s curiosity, trust the learning process, and remember that you don’t have to have the entire journey figured out before you begin.

Learn more about Jesper here!

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

• Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours 

• My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com  and save 15% on your order during  their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.

• 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 

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

• Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast  and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.

• 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.

• Boll & Branch - Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/1000hours  with code 1000hours

• Ka’Chava - Go to https://kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order.

• Fora Travel - Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours 

• Hey Polo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to heypolo.com/1000hours or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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

Ginny Yurich sits down with Tamara Neufeld Strijack, co-author of Reclaiming Our Students, for a powerful conversation about what children need to thrive in a world increasingly dominated by screens, schedules, and peer influence. Tamara explains why children are meant to orient around caring adults—and how strong relationships with parents, teachers, and mentors create the safety children need to learn, grow, and become themselves.

They explore the essential role of play, nature, movement, and the arts as “emotional playgrounds”—places where frustration, anxiety, and other emotions can safely move through rather than erupt as aggression. Tamara also unpacks the powerful shift from “mad to sad,” explaining why allowing children to experience disappointment and tears is actually part of developing resilience.

Plus, Ginny and Tamara discuss “collecting”—the simple practice of intentionally welcoming children back into relationship—and why feeling seen, enjoyed, and cared for can transform homes and classrooms. It’s a hopeful, practical conversation about slowing down, reconnecting, and making room for the experiences children were designed to have.

Get Tamara's book here!

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

• Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at ⁠Foratravel.com/1000hours⁠ 
• My Green Mattress: Visit ⁠www.mygreenmattress.com⁠  and save 15% on your order during  their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.
• 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 
• Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to ⁠MuzzleSleep.com⁠ and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. 
• Zenni Optical- Go to ⁠www.zenni.com/podcast⁠  and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.
• 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.
• KT by Knix - Go to ⁠www.KnixTeen.com⁠ , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off.
• Ka’Chava - Go to ⁠https://www.kachava.com⁠ and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order
• HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to⁠ ⁠https://heypolo.com/1000hours⁠⁠ or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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

Ginny Yurich sits down with physician, resilience expert, and Your Brain on Nature author Dr. Eva Selhub to explore the remarkable ways nature influences our brains, bodies, relationships, and overall well-being. Drawing from decades of research, Dr. Selhub explains why our increasing separation from the natural world—combined with constant screens, information overload, and chronic stress—may be taking a greater toll than we realize.

They explore surprising research on everything from indoor plants and cognitive performance to texting, mental fatigue, dopamine, attention, empathy, and the accumulating effects of everyday stress. Dr. Selhub explains how nature can help restore an overwhelmed nervous system, improve our capacity to think and connect, and provide a powerful counterbalance to modern life.

Plus, hear why pets can strengthen connection, how gardening and walking support the brain, why even the aromas of trees may influence our health, and how small doses of nature woven into everyday life can make a meaningful difference.

Get Dr. Selhub's book here!

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

• Fora Travel: Become a Fora Advisor today at Foratravel.com/1000hours 
• My Green Mattress: Visit www.mygreenmattress.com  and save 15% on your order during  their Labor Day Sale. Plus, use code 1000hours for an additional $10 off your cart total when you purchase any mattress.
• 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 
• Muzzle Sleep Tape - Go to MuzzleSleep.com and use code 1000HOURS for 10% off. 
• Zenni Optical- Go to www.zenni.com/podcast  and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders over $65.
• 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.
• KT by Knix - Go to www.KnixTeen.com , and use code 1000HOURS for 15 percent off.
• Ka’Chava - Go to https://www.kachava.com and use code 1000HOURS for 15% off your first order
• HeyPolo - Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to ⁠https://heypolo.com/1000hours⁠ or use code 1000HOURS and get 70% off your first year!

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