Adult Scavenger Hunt
/During this time of sheltering in place, many of us are going for walks, runs, or bike rides in the same neighborhoods, day after day after day.
Let’s play a game to keep things fresh!
Photo by Hoàng Chương
“You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.”
— Andy Warhol
Here’s how it works
We’ll post a list of things to look for when you’re out and about.
If you see one of the items, snap a photo.
When you have photos of all five, email them to us (outtherepodcast1@gmail.com). The first person to get all the items on the list wins a prize.
Ready to start? Here’s the list!
An affirmation written in sidewalk chalk
Somebody walking a very tiny dog
Weeds growing through cracks in the pavement
A wild animal
Public art
Please make sure to maintain proper social distancing while doing this activity.
Live Event: Join us for an evening of true stories about first times
/You’re invited to Out There’s first ever live storytelling event!
Join us online from the comfort of your couch for an evening of true stories about first times.
At a time when a lot of us are beginners at spending so much time indoors, five talented storytellers will regale you live with tales of first times in the outdoors.
Grab a drink and a snack from the kitchen and settle in with us for an hour of captivating stories.
The details
When: Thursday, May 7 at 6pm PST / 9pm EST.
Where: register and attend online via Crowdcast by clicking here. Why not take 30 seconds and register now? Once you register Crowdcast will send you an email confirmation of registration, plus a handy reminder 10 minutes before the event starts.
How much? Free!
The storytellers
Amy Strieter
Amy, poet and naturalist, holds an MFA from The University of Oregon and a BA from Kenyon College. She has worked as a butterfly garden tour guide, an airport shuttle driver, a wildlife writer, a writing instructor, and an architecture firm administrator, among other things. She lives in Eugene, Oregon, where she thrives on quiet hikes, lively potlucks, jigsaw puzzles, flowering shrubs, and dark chocolate.
Ashley White
Ashley is a home-grown child of the Midwest. He always knew he wanted to explore remote places but didn’t have the resources to actually start until college. So he spent a ton of time in libraries and reading National Geographic magazines about the world beyond his neighborhood. In college, when Ashley was introduced to kayaking and backpacking, he knew he’d found his community.
He’s now married with four kids (yes, four), so his outdoor experiences must often be family friendly. But he’s committed to inculcating a love of nature into his children. And he still manages to go on a few trips a year that take him off the grid.
Jessica Taylor
Jessica has always been an adventurer and lover of nature, and her chihuahua, Foxy, joins her on most adventures. In February 2019, she left her 9-5 job to concentrate full time on her own business in Digital Marketing. From backpacking, to snowboarding, and skydiving to off-roading, Jessica is always up for the adventure.
Kayla Bordelon
A childhood spent with mud between her toes led Kayla to work as a trail builder, wilderness ranger, Peace Corps volunteer, interpretive park ranger, outdoor educator and international volunteering guide before settling down in North Idaho. Now she’s excited to build a little community and grow some roots. Besides playing in the mountains, Kayla dances Cuban salsa, advocates for climate action, and hosts a regular soup night.
Natasha Buffo
Natasha Buffo is a former Silicon Valley business analyst turned solo world traveller, snowboarder, and backpacker. Her writing career began in Uganda, Africa, discovering that words are the best device to properly share our most powerful experiences. From building her website dirtandtears.com, she’s developed a unique ability to evoke emotion, using stories of adventure to help us navigate through caregiving, grief, anxiety and depression.
When she’s not exploring the open road through the U.S. National Parks, or the cultures and trails of New Zealand and Peru, she resides in the remote town of Kirkwood, California, on the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
We look forward to joining you in curling up with a glass of wine as we listen to amazing stories from your fellow Out There fans.
-Willow and the Out There team
Be our summer intern!
/Out There seeks (remote) production intern for summer 2020
This internship is an excellent opportunity to work one-on-one with an award-winning podcast team, and develop your audio production, editorial and/or social media skills.
(Photo by Tommy Lopez)
About Out There
Nature has a remarkable capacity for helping us make sense out of our lives and the world around us. Out There is a testament to that power. Hosted by former Wyoming Public Radio reporter Willow Belden, the award-winning show explores big questions through intimate stories outdoors.
For example, a rock climber asks whether you’re a bad feminist if you do a sport just because your husband loves it. A young man on his first hunting trip explores whether we’re all capable of pulling the trigger. And a black birdwatcher explains why the outdoors is not as colorblind as many of us would like to believe.
New episodes are released every two weeks, and most take the form of first-person narratives, with highly edited scripts and detailed sound design. Occasionally, we also run interviews with authors or filmmakers, when the subject matter is spot on.
About the Internship
"Being the production intern this semester has been an awesome experience: I've been able to practice some sound design work, narrative editing and I even got to write my own story for the show! Willow's a great mentor for developing these skills, and she's taught me a lot about life in general too. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone who's excited about podcasting and wants to improve their storytelling skills."
— Ben Montoya, current production intern
We want you to be doing work you’re excited about, so we’ll tailor the internship to you, based on your goals, interests and skills.
Here are some things your internship could focus on (please indicate in your cover letter which of these interest you most):
Audio production — cutting tape, editing interviews, doing sound design/mixing for stories (this would require basic knowledge of audio editing software, such as Adobe Audition, though we will work with you to hone your skills)
Editorial — evaluating story pitches, pre-interviewing guests, booking interviews, editing scripts
Social media — help us grow our social media following and improve our social media content (we’re very open to new ideas!)
Suggest your own focus — if there’s something you could bring to the table that’s not listed above, we’re all ears.
Audio mix of an Out There episode
What You’ll Get
This internship is a chance to work one-on-one with an award-winning podcast team.
It’s unpaid, but you’ll have weekly meetings with Out There Host Willow Belden via phone or video chat, and you’ll get to put your mark on the show’s stories and social media.
Think of it as a mentorship, where you’ll learn what’s entailed in running a professional media operation, and gain fluency in skills you want to develop.
You’re also welcome to pitch us a story of your own; if it’s a good fit, we’ll work with you to develop it.
Script editing for Out There (Photo by Willow Belden)
Time Commitment
The internship lasts for one semester. We ask that you be ready to devote an average of 8 hours per week to it.
To Apply
Send a resume and cover letter to willow@outtherepodcast.com by May 15, 2020 with “Internship Application” in the subject line.
Please make sure to highlight relevant experience/skills, as well as the areas you’d most like to focus on (eg. audio production, editorial, etc.). If you’ve done previous audio work, please provide a link to a story that showcases your skills.
One final note: We strive to be a welcoming place for people and stories of all stripes. We want diverse voices on the show and behind the scenes, telling stories that encompass a wide array of experiences. If you feel you would bring an underrepresented perspective to Out There, please let us know!
Hopeful Hues
/A playlist for troubled times
Does it feel like it’s been a while now since you’ve started to #shelterinplace? Well, regardless of where you’re located, whether on the east coast, west coast, somewhere in between or across the border, we have a virtual hug JUST for you!
Our team, here at Out There, compiled a list of songs and stories that brought a smile to our faces, helped us find comfort, or refocused our perspective.
Whatever it is that you need right now, we hope the variety in the #HopefulHues playlist helps color your days with encouragement and inspiration.
(Hey, with over 25 tracks, and over eight hours of our best #quarantineandchill vibes, we got you covered for the entire day. Or we can be your buddy across a couple of days.)
Let us know what your favorite selections are, in the comments below.👇 And feel free to suggest additional songs or episodes that you think we should add.
If you hear something that a friend or family member might enjoy, don’t hesitate to share it; we all can benefit from that simple “This reminded me of you” message right now.
Stay Safe! 😷
Why we picked what we picked
FFT — Brené Brown’s Unlocking Us
"This episode is about how we handle being new at something ("FFT" stands for "F*cking First Time"). As we navigate a world that's been turned upside down, it's comforting to remember that we're all beginners in this scenario. The pandemic is scary and sad and lonely, but it's helpful to remember that our feelings are valid, and that if we approach them calmly, there are ways to cope.”
— Willow Belden, Host & Founder of Out There Podcast
Here Comes the Sun — Joshua Radin
“I love this modern remix of the classic. It's a soft, almost-eager reminder in times like these that the sun will still rise and there will still be a tomorrow. Just gotta keep believing.”
— Tiffany Duong, Out There Ambassador
The Friendliest Way — Out There
"You are sure to be smiling by the end of this episode. It's all about how kindness is the most effective way to get what you want. Plus, there are bikes in the story. And a tune from Star Wars.”
— Willow Belden, Host & Founder of Out There Podcast
This is Me — The Greatest Showman
“I love the movie The Greatest Showman and this is one of my favorite songs from it. It’s uplifting and encouraging. It reminds me that we are all different as we experience this time and it’s ok to be different. It reminds me that we need to be encouraging and be a light to each other instead of bringing each other down or be judgmental of each other.”
— Jessica Taylor, Out There Advertising Manager
This Tom Hanks Story Will Make You Feel Less Bad — The Daily
“During the COVID-19 pandemic we are being encouraged (and given an opportunity) to look out for each other in a way many of us never have before (staying home and social distancing); to do the right thing for others around us (even those further away and most we'll never know); to be kind when and how we can. This episode is inspiration and guidance for each of us in a time when many people aren't sure where to start.”
— Laura Johnston, Out There Ambassador Program Head
Mama — Jonas Blue
“I love the musicality of this song, and the reminder that despite what’s going on, stressing won’t help or change the situation. That one line that says ‘how can we waste it if we’re loving every day?’ - is such a good reminder in this season where everything seems halted, that if we’re doing our part to be a good neighbor, we’ll be back soon, and we’ll get through this.”
— Sheeba Joseph, Out There Audience Growth Director
A Poem About What Grounds You — Poetry Unbound
"Poetry is such a source of comfort to me right now. In this episode, the host, Irish poet Pádraig Ó Tuama, reads a poem by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, "On Listening to Your Teacher Take Attendance". In the face of feeling small and vulnerable, the poet grounds herself by revisiting good memories and feelings of being loved. We all feel vulnerable right now, and it is a great time to reflect on what we can hold on to, what reminds us who we are, in the face of challenge.”
— Alex Eggerking, Out There Strategic Advisor
Think & Drink: You're Invited!
/
Looking for something to occupy your mind for an hour?
Out There Host Willow Belden will be speaking at a virtual “Think and Drink” event hosted by the Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research on April 2 at 5:30pm MST.
The topic of discussion is “Telling It: How Stories Shape The World.” Other speakers include Bethann Merkel, director of the Wyoming Science Communication Initiative, and Arielle Zibrak from the University of Wyoming Department of English.
Grab a drink or your evening meal and join us for an hour of great conversation!
Calling all storytellers...
/
(Photo by Joshua Hanson on Unsplash)
Out There is about to turn 5!
To celebrate, we are throwing a birthday party in the form of our first ever live storytelling night...and you are invited!
If you’ve ever been to a storytelling event hosted by The Moth, this will be a little like that: an evening of live stories, told by listeners like you.
The details
When? May 7, in the evening (stay tuned for exact timing)
Where? A big hangout … online. We know that all of you are spread across the globe, so instead of holding the festivities in a particular city, we’re doing it online. That way, you can participate from wherever you are in the world.
Theme? Beginners.
Pitch us a story!
What stories do you have about beginners in the outdoors? Maybe a time when you tried something and it took you somewhere unexpected? Or a story of new beginnings?
Interpret this as broadly and creatively as you’d like, and send us your story pitch!
How to pitch: Simply take out your phone, record a two-minute pitch of your story as a voice memo, and email it to us at outtherepodcast1@gmail.com with the subject line “Beginners pitch.” Please be sure to include your name and where in the world you are located. Please submit your pitch by April 3, 2020.
A few tips for the pitch:
Tell us the actual story, not just what it’s about. In other words: What happened? And how did it change you?
This isn’t the end product, and it doesn’t have to be totally fleshed out, but we do want a sense of the arc of your story and what impact it had on you.
(Photo by Arthur Miranda on Unsplash)
Mark your calendars for May 7
…and get ready to curl up with a glass of wine and hear amazing stories from your fellow Out There fans.
Thank you all for listening to the show. It’s been a wild ride so far, and we are excited to see what the next five years bring for the show.
-Willow and the Out There team
Out There Podcast seeks audience growth director
/
Growing our listenership is one of our top priorities for 2020, and we’re looking for an enthusiastic person to join our team on a freelance basis to bring Out There’s award-winning stories to new listeners.
The role will involve a good understanding of Out There’s brand, audience and mission, and an ability to translate that understanding into successful audience growth initiatives.
This is a paid role involving a modest monthly stipend plus performance bonuses. Beyond financial reward, we are a fun, creative team, and we’re excited to welcome an additional person on board to help shape the future of the show.
Responsibilities
Drive and execute audience growth initiatives for Out There Podcast. This will include working with our existing team to develop a growth plan for the year ahead, reviewing progress on a regular basis, and executing planned initiatives.
There is a lot of scope for the audience growth director to set the agenda for the role and come up with new ideas to expand the show’s audience. We want you to be creative! The role could involve initiatives across:
PR
Cross-promotions and paid advertising on other shows
Listener referral programs
Social media marketing
SEO
Paid digital campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Audience research (e.g. listener surveys, creating personas, etc.)
Requirements for the role
This is a freelance contract position.
Must be based in North America.
Compensation
Monthly stipend of $200, plus regular performance bonuses.
Beyond financial compensation, you will join a fun, collaborative, supportive team with a keen interest in seeing you grow and succeed in this role.
Please note: we recognize that the fixed compensation element of this role is modest. Out There is an independent show on a shoestring budget, and so far, it’s been essentially a labor of love for everyone involved. We sincerely hope to be able to pay everyone competitive wages in the future. But for the time being, please know that you will be earning more than anyone else on the team, including the host and founder.
Experience and skills
1-2 years experience in marketing (ideally podcast/media marketing) or other relevant field
Excellent communication and organizational skills
Proactive and enthusiastic
Passion for the outdoors is a bonus
To apply
Please send a resume and cover letter highlighting relevant experience (especially marketing experience) to willow@outtherepodcast.com and alex@outtherepodcast.com by Jan. 31, 2020. Please put “Growth Director Application” in the subject line.
Out There's New Years Resolutions
/
As an independent production where we’re all chronically overworked and underpaid, it can be easy to focus so much on business growth that you lose sight of creative goals and artistic vision.
So, as we head into a new decade, here are some resolutions aimed at sparking joy, nurturing innovation, and maintaining balance for the Out There team.
Play more.
Experiment artistically. Tell stories in new ways. Try things just because they sound fun and exciting, even if we’re not positive they’ll “work” for the show.
Relax on holidays.
It’s so easy to get sucked into the mindset that holidays are for catching up on work. Let’s banish that notion.
On future holidays, Out There team members will be expressly encouraged to ignore their emails, close their laptops, and recharge their spirits.
Celebrate tiny victories.
So often, as soon as one project is finished, we instantly launch into the next. That’s not a bad thing; it’s important to look ahead and keep up the momentum. But when we focus only on the tasks ahead of us, we fail to appreciate how far we’ve come.
Successes, however small, should be recognized and celebrated.
Happy New Year to all, and best wishes for 2020!
Drop everything and listen
/
Holiday listening recommendations from the Out There team
If you had to pick one episode of one podcast to recommend, what would it be? We’re not talking about episodes you liked; we’re talking about episodes you LOVED. Episodes you couldn’t stop thinking about. Episodes that made you look at your world in a new way.
Here’s what Out There team members came up with, when asked for their favorites:
“Frozen Alive Redux” from Outside Podcast
Recommended by Stacia Bennett, Out There Ambassador
The entire “Science of Survival” series from Outside is spectacular, but this was my absolute favorite episode, and one I find myself frequently recommending to friends.
The episode describes the process of literally freezing (becoming hypothermic to the point of unconsciousness) from a first-person perspective. It is so vividly detailed, so expertly crafted, and so realistic that you’ll be shivering before long while listening to it, even on a hot summer day. Listen and learn what physiological changes the human body goes through as core body temperature plummets, and how cold we can get and still stay alive.
“Dear Economist, I need a Date” from Planet Money
Recommended by Tiffany Duong, Out There Ambassador
Even though it’s about dating, I have used the lessons from this podcast in so many ways in my life. I used it to change careers, i.e. from law to ocean advocacy, by not falling for the sunk cost fallacy of law school or loss aversion fallacy (I was miserable staying a lawyer, and quitting is scary, but I won’t be worse off than miserable, and I have huge potential upside: being happy). The perceived loss of stability was a red herring because I was so miserable.
I also use it whenever I’m in a funk by making a similar excel spreadsheet and forcing myself to try 50 new things. It works every time.
How to Be a Girl: Daily life with my transgender daughter
Recommended by Willow Belden, Out There Host
I rarely binge-listen to podcasts, but How to Be a Girl is un-put-down-able. It is narrative storytelling at its best: tightly woven episodes that keep you on the edge of your seat and challenge your understanding of what it means to be human. Host Marlo Mack uses the most intimate of stories (her experience raising a transgender child) to explore nuanced psychological and social questions, and she has her finger squarely on the pulse of an important civil rights battle.
Note: This is a serial podcast, so you start with episode 1 and listen in order.
“Bill Nye” from the Armchair Expert
Recommended by Ali Shinn, Out There Ambassador
This episode takes me right back to being a kid again, eager to learn something new. Dax Shepard’s podcast is amazing and informative, but this episode brings one of my childhood heroes into the real world.
Dolly Parton’s America
Recommended by Laura Johnston, Out There Ambassador Coordinator
This show is from the creators of Radiolab and is unique, clever, fun and like an onion with so many layers of depth. It’s chock full of incredible interviews with Dolly Parton herself but also academics, students, freedom fighters, a doctor and other people impacted by her work and her place in the world. To listen to it is to be amazed at how much you’ll learn but also how incredible the reporting and editing is to pack so much into each episode. You don’t have to be a country music fan or a Dolly Parton fan to like this podcast.
If you listen to Radiolab, you’ll love this for a similar style but an entirely different story to tell. Dolly Parton’s America is a 9-part series that is magnetic and fascinating and thought provoking. It explains the history and story of Dolly Parton in her own words and others’ but also how she is able to bring together people who have political, socioeconomic, age, gender and other differences.
This series encourages listeners to think about important and controversial topics that extend from her music and her place in the world. It’s about Dolly, her music, her mountain upbringing and even how we operate as individuals in the world. Even if you don’t start binging on her music, you’ll learn so much about Dolly Parton and her important place in the history.
Could not stop listening!
“Defending your home from a raging wildfire” from Outside Podcast
Recommended by Ashley White, Out There Ambassador
With wildfire so abundant around the world, this episode really struck a chord with me. The storytelling was amazing, and I felt like I was with the main characters throughout their journey.
“Bijlmer (City of the Future)” from 99% Invisible
Recommended by Jessica Taylor, Out There Advertising Manager
Pitch us a story!
/Calling all radio producers, writers, and storytellers…
Photo by Christina Morillo
Out There, the award-winning podcast that explores big questions through intimate stories outdoors, is taking pitches — and we’d love to hear from you!
What we're looking for:
We want narratives that are deeply personal, and that also explore a broader question. Your story should have a compelling, thought-provoking plot, vivid scenes, and surprising moments of introspection. First-person narratives are especially appealing!
The piece needs to have a connection to the outdoors, but it doesn’t have to be about wilderness adventures or feats of strength; some of our best stories - like this one - involve the urban outdoors.
Length is flexible — ideally 10 - 15 minutes.
How to pitch:
If you’re interested in doing a piece – or if you already have a story in the works that you think would be a good fit – we’d love to hear from you. Just email willow@outtherepodcast.com, with "Out There Pitch" in the subject line.
Please make sure your pitch includes:
what your story is about -- i.e. the basic storyline, character(s), outcome
the big idea/question the piece will explore
the overall takeaway
In addition, please include some info about yourself, and point me to an example or two of your work.
Photo by Pixabay
Just to be up front:
We are an independent show on a shoestring budget, so we can’t pay nearly as much as I would like to ($200 - $350, depending on the complexity of the story and whether or not you’re doing your own sound design/mixing). I realize this is more of a token than actual compensation, and I really, really, REALLY hope to be able to do better in the future. But for now, that’s what I’ve got.
I can, however, promise to be a fun, supportive editor, and to help you bring to life a story you’ve been wanting to tell.
One final note:
Out There strives to be a welcoming place for stories and producers of all stripes. We want diverse voices on the show, telling stories that encompass a wide array of experiences.
We know that not everyone can afford to work for pennies, and that economic factors can present real barriers to making and keeping a show like ours diverse. We don’t want money (or lack thereof) to prevent you from telling your story.
If you feel you would bring an underrepresented perspective to the show, let us know when you submit your story; we will do our best to pay you more than our usual rates if at all possible.
Looking forward to hearing your ideas!
#ThankYouPatrons
/Patrons are the best people on the planet
Recently, I was listening to an interview with David Sedaris on Wyoming Public Radio.
When asked to share "wise life insights," Sedaris said: "The only bit of wisdom I have — and it's really good advice — is to write thank-you letters."
I remember thinking, 'YEAH.'
I have always loved letter writing. Something about putting pen to paper — actual pen to actual paper — is supremely calming. It allows you write at the pace you think.
It also allows you to transmit a tiny bit of joy to another person. How wonderful it is to receive a hand-written letter — a letter from a real person, filled with real thoughts and musings, penned just for you! Such things are treasures, amidst the usual barrage of bills and advertisements.
A blog post is a sorry excuse for a thankyou card.
But I wanted to express my gratitude nonetheless.
Simply put, Out There would not exist without the generosity of listeners who contribute to the show. Your support makes it possible to do what we do.
Not only that, but patrons — collectively — are changing the way our society values art. In short, you are wonderful, magical beings, and I adore you unequivocally.
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.
Nov. 19 is #ThankYouPatron day, a day to celebrate supporters of independent creators.
If you’re interested in becoming a patron of Out There, HOORAY!!!
Be our intern!
/
Out There is looking for a production intern to join our team for the spring of 2020.
The internship is an excellent opportunity to work one-on-one with an award-winning podcast team, and develop your audio production, editorial and/or social media skills.
About Out There
Nature has a remarkable capacity for helping us make sense out of our lives and the world around us. Out There is a testament to that power. Hosted by former Wyoming Public Radio reporter Willow Belden, the award-winning show explores big questions through intimate stories outdoors.
For example, a rock climber asks whether you’re a bad feminist if you do a sport just because your husband loves it. A young man on his first hunting trip explores whether we’re all capable of pulling the trigger. And a black birdwatcher explains why the outdoors is not as colorblind as many of us would like to believe.
New episodes are released every two weeks, and most take the form of first-person narratives, with highly edited scripts and detailed sound design. Occasionally, we also run interviews with authors or filmmakers, when the subject matter is spot on.
This is what the audio mix of an Out There episode looks like.
About the Internship
We want you to be doing work you’re excited about, so we’ll tailor the internship to you, based on your goals, interests and skills.
Here are some things your internship could focus on (please indicate in your cover letter which of these interest you most):
Audio production — cutting tape, editing interviews, doing sound design/mixing for stories (this would require basic knowledge of audio editing software, such as Adobe Audition, though we will work with you to hone your skills)
Editorial — evaluating story pitches, pre-interviewing guests, booking interviews, editing scripts
Social media — help us grow our social media following and improve our social media content (we’re very open to new ideas!)
Suggest your own focus — if there’s something you could bring to the table that’s not listed above, we’re all ears.
What You’ll Get
This internship is a chance to work one-on-one with an award-winning podcast team.
It’s unpaid, but you’ll have weekly meetings with Out There Host Willow Belden (if you’re working remotely, these meetings will be via phone or video chat), and you’ll get to put your mark on the show’s stories and social media.
Think of it as a mentorship, where you’ll learn what’s entailed in running a professional media operation, and gain fluency in skills you want to develop.
You’re also welcome to pitch us a story of your own; if it’s a good fit, we’ll work with you to develop it.
This is what script editing for Out There looks looks like
Time Commitment
The internship lasts for one semester. We ask that you be ready to devote an average of 8 hours per week to it.
To Apply
Send a resume and cover letter to willow@outtherepodcast.com by Dec. 1, 2019 with “Internship Application” in the subject line.
Please make sure to highlight relevant experience/skills, as well as the areas you’d most like to focus on (eg. audio production, editorial, etc.). If you’ve done previous audio work, please provide a link to a story that showcases your skills.
One final note: We strive to be a welcoming place for people and stories of all stripes. We want diverse voices on the show and behind the scenes, telling stories that encompass a wide array of experiences. If you feel you would bring an underrepresented perspective to Out There, please let us know!
Out There wins national gold medal
/Exciting news!
Out There has won a major national award from Public Radio News Directors, Inc., or PRNDI, a nationwide association of public radio journalists.
PRNDI's annual awards honor the best audio stories of the year — kind of like the Oscars for public radio — and we're thrilled to announce that our episode "Selfless Acts" won first place in the independent podcast division.
The episode was written and produced by Out There Host Willow Belden and edited by Becky Jensen.
This is Out There's fourth PRNDI award.
Last year, our episode “The Instinct to Kill” took first place in the independent podcast division; in 2017, the episode "High on Failure" also received a gold medal; and in 2016, we took second place for "Failure in Success."
It's an honor to be recognized by the most respected voices in public radio. And as always, it's an absolute delight to be making the show for all of you, our listeners.
Support award-winning storytelling
Out There host Willow Belden wrote and produced “Selfless Acts".
Listeners frequently compare Out There to shows like This American Life — shows with big teams, substantial budgets, and the support of a radio station or network.
The recognition we’ve received from PRNDI affirms that our stories are on par with those produced by much bigger operations. But unlike those shows, Out There is produced independently and operates on a shoestring budget.
Out There is a full-time job for Host Willow Belden and a substantial time commitment for other team members, yet we earned less than $1.50/hour from the show last year. We love making this podcast, but we also need to support ourselves.
Your contribution in any amount makes it possible to keep bringing you the stories you love.
Be an Out There ambassador!
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Out There ambassador Stacia Bennett is a former teacher, now in nursing school. And yes, she is wearing a dinosaur dress. (Photo courtesy Stacia Bennett)
Are you an avid Out There listener?
Do you take pleasure in going outside, reflecting on life, and sharing your stories on social media? Do you bring an underrepresented perspective to the outdoor community?
(“Underrepresented” can refer to ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, geography, etc. Simply put, it's any voice that you feel needs more representation in the outdoor community).
If this sounds like you, we want you to apply to be one of our ambassadors!
We’re looking for a few listeners to become official ambassadors for the show.
You'll join our current ambassadors @nonbinarynomads and @adventurelikeagirl in showcasing and promoting the podcast, posting about the outdoors and bigger life questions, and engaging listeners in new and creative ways.
The goal of the ambassador program is to broaden our listenership, foster a sense of community amongst our audience, and spark vibrant discussions within that community. Don’t worry, we’ll guide you and be clear about how we want this to happen. We want you because of your voice, your enthusiasm and your ability to reach new listeners.
What’s it like?
We asked our current ambassadors to weigh in on their experiences; here’s what they had to say…
We’re looking for ambassadors who can commit to:
sharing Out There-related content on social media and/or other outlets (eg. blogs) at least once a week
engaging in periodic in-person outreach activities
attending monthly team meetings (via video chat)
You don’t have to be a known quantity or already a recognized ambassador. You don’t have to be a sponsored athlete. Out There strives to be a welcoming place for individuals of all stripes, and we're looking for ambassadors with a wide array of voices, backgrounds, experiences and ideas.
Please note, this is a volunteer opportunity but also a way to advance your online presence, hone your communications skills and build an online portfolio. We also have swag for you!
Preference will be given to candidates with at least 1,000 followers on social media.
APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MAY 30, 2019.
Out There ambassador Jaye Groves is an avid backpacker. (Photo courtesy Max Crooks and Jaye Groves)
Can you spare $2 for Out There?
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This kitten has nothing to do with anything, but it’s pretty cute. (Photo courtesy of the Internet)
I have a confession to make.
For a long time, I was kind of cautious about Out There. I wasn't sure I could make the show a success, so I held onto a part-time day job to hedge my bets.
Finally, last spring, I quit the day job. I decided it was time to take a leap of faith and truly commit to Out There.
For the past year, I’ve been working on the podcast full time, and I’ve been pouring everything into it. I want to make it the best show it can be, and I want it to grow and thrive and become a beloved household name.
I also want to be a good boss to the people who work with me. I want to treat them well, and compensate them for their time.
But the reality is that I don’t have the money to do that. Last year, I made less than $1.50 an hour from the show. And none of my colleagues fared any better.
We’ve made that work for a while, but it can’t work forever. We absolutely love making the show, but we also need to pay the rent and put food on the table.
My goal for the coming year is to raise enough money to pay myself and my team at least minimum wage.
Minimum wage is still … minimum wage. But it would be such a big step up from where we are right now.
So, if you’re in a position to help us out, we’re asking that you make a financial contribution to the show.
We have a goal of raising $3,000 a month on Patreon, which is a crowd-funding platform that lets you make monthly contributions to creative endeavors you care about.
You can pledge any amount – even if it’s just a dollar or two a month. Those little contributions really do add up, and we appreciate and value every single one.
This photo also has nothing to do with anything. But…puppies. (Photo courtesy of the Internet)
We have several exciting new rewards to offer you as a thankyou for your support.
For example...
For a pledge of $20 per month (or more), you'll get to join our brand new Postcard Club, where you'll receive a handwritten postcard from me a couple of times a year.
At our highest pledge level, we’ll thank you by highlighting a nonprofit of your choice on the show. That way, you get to support Out There and give some love to a cause you care about.
If you're already a patron…
First off, THANK YOU. You’re the best.
Secondly, if you’d like to take advantage of the new rewards, here’s how to change the amount of your pledge. (It's super easy).
Let’s get to know each other!
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Dearest listeners,
Thank you so much for tuning in to us! We have grown a lot since we last ran an audience survey in early 2017. And since we exist for and because of YOU, we would love to get to know you a little better.
So we put together this spiffy new survey.
If you complete the survey, you will:
Have our undying gratitude
Get a discount code for 30% off your next purchase of Out There merchandise
Be entered into a drawing to win: 1) a pair of Smith sunglasses, 2) an Out There goodie pack (including your choice of an Out There hoodie or T-shirt, stickers, and a mug), and 3) a Hydroflask tumbler
If you have any questions about the survey, please email Willow at willow@outtherepodcast.com.
And don't worry — we won't sell your info to anyone!
Cheers,
— Willow and Alex
From thriving to surviving, without losing hope
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The beach near Tess Ley’s home in Melbourne, Australia (Photo courtesy Tess Ley)
By Tess Ley
We had an epic holiday period planned for the 2018/2019 break.
We were going to have a party for 400 people, to thank them for supporting us through my cancer journey. Two days later was my husband’s family Christmas function, with over 50 people. The next day, Christmas: say no more. And boxing day? Jetting over to New Zealand for a two-week camper van trip through the South Island with our one- and four-year old to relive our honeymoon. Hiking, horse-riding, kayaking, swimming with dolphins.
Like I said, it was meant to be an epic four weeks of love, fun and celebration.
But, two weeks out, we found out I have 35 cancerous spots throughout my brain, four spinal lesions and… well, let’s just say that travelling and hiking remote NZ was not highly recommended by my doctors.
On top of that, our four-year-old was diagnosed in hospital with a rare (and transient) condition that would likely leave him bed-bound for two to six weeks.
So, there go those amazing plans of ours.
In the swiftness of a doctor’s consultation or two, we went from the idea of thriving through the holidays to simply hoping to survive the holidays.
It’s a phenomenon that every adventurer knows well: how to shift gears when something fucks up on a grand scale.
Whether the weather turns and we can’t visit family across the country, or a sudden illness or injury precludes us from the hike we were planning, shifting gears is something adventurers do with great grace. The resilience we have learnt from years on the trail or in the saddle or in kayaks or however you choose to adventure, comes to the fore, and we actively make the best decisions we can in the circumstance.
Some days we’re left trying to choose which flavour of shit-sandwich we want to eat, and the options aren’t particularly pleasant. But most days, there will be something magical there. Some alignment of the moons that we’d previously discounted, and now are able to take advantage of.
A few days ago, exhausted from full-brain radiation, we ended up at the beach at the end of our street. We sat, with the grains of sand sifting between my toes and the sounds of the water lapping the shore. It wasn’t remote or romantic; dogs and kids and adults were everywhere, there was the smell of artificial sunscreen in the air and there was litter in the sand. BUT: It was still grounding. I could still put my hands in the earth, and feel the water at my feet. My boys still found rocks and shells and jelly fish to explore. The sun was on my back, and the wind was in my soon-to-fall-out-hair and while it wasn’t how I had pictured that day, it was still perfect.
This moment in nature brought me back to myself, reminding me that life is always here, living away, ebbing and flowing like the tide, no matter your intentions or agenda. I felt that this was more than survival, something closer to thriving.
It’s not always easy finding those silver linings. But if you have the power to create a village around you — whether it is family, friends, online kindred spirits, animals, or the very sky itself — there is often a way to make your situation shine. To know that the wild is for all of us, that it has so very much wisdom to offer us and an open invitation to thrive with it, wherever we are.
So how do we move from the “thriving” we wanted into “surviving,” without losing our hope, joy, and momentum?
For me, this time, it’s embracing that at least I’ll be losing all my hair in the midst of summer (arguably the best time to lose it, I suppose). It is embracing that by foregoing New Zealand, we are able to spend time at the beach with family and friends. And it is appreciating that my initial prognosis was that I wouldn’t see this holiday period at all. So as awful as brain cancer is, it means I'm still alive.
I hope you all can get out into whatever wild you can today and take some time for peace for yourselves.
“Some days we’re left trying to choose which flavour of shit-sandwich we want to eat, and the options aren’t particularly pleasant. But most days, there will be something magical there. Some alignment of the moons that we’d previously discounted, and now are able to take advantage of.”
Tess Ley and her son (Photo courtesy Tess Ley)
“It wasn’t remote or romantic; dogs and kids and adults were everywhere, there was the smell of artificial sunscreen in the air and there was litter in the sand. BUT ... the sun was on my back, and the wind was in my soon-to-fall-out-hair and while it wasn’t how I had pictured that day, it was still perfect.”
Tess Ley is one of Out There’s ambassadors. She lives in Australia and is an adventurer, mother, and full-time cancer patient. She’s spent the last two years working to balance her time in hospitals with her time in nature. Follow her on Instagram here.
Into the Blue
If you enjoyed Tess’s piece, you’ll probably also love this story, about leaving behind a career that’s sucking the joy out of life.
2018 is a wrap. How is Out There REALLY doing?
/Why we’re only earning $1.50/hour and other (more uplifting) thoughts
“How’s the podcast doing?” Everyone asks this, and it’s one of the hardest questions to answer.
On the creative side, it’s been an exciting year:
Willow quit her day job this spring and has been focusing on Out There full-time since then
We launched a new advice segment, which, though ultimately not quite the right fit for the show, was a huge learning experience
We selected our first cohort of Out There ambassadors, and brought on board a new team member — Laura Johnston — to head up the ambassador program
We started producing the show fortnightly, instead of just twice a month
We won a prestigious national award for our 2017 story “The Instinct to Kill”
We hosted our first ever storytelling workshop
But then there are the numbers questions, which are more nuanced. So we wanted to give you a peek behind the scenes at how things are really going for us.
Out There by the numbers in 2018
The good news: Out There covered its third party costs AND had a little money to spare, for the first time ever!
The bad news: We still have a ways to go before we can make a profit after paying our staff what they deserve.
But we are big believers in celebrating every little victory.
Where our money came from in 2018
The most exciting part of the numbers for us is how much difference your financial contributions make to the overall financial position of the show. We would LOVE to be a listener-supported show to the greatest possible extent, and rely less and less on ad revenue, which is a less reliable source of income for us.
A huge thank you to everyone who has given their financial support to the show in 2018. Every dollar makes such a big difference to us.
Expenses
As for where the money goes? Well, a lot of different places, it turns out.
Story costs include: Freelancer payments, travel expenses for reporting trips, etc.
Tech/IT costs include: Website, audio hosting, cloud backup, editing software, etc.
Admin costs include: Office supplies, postage, etc.
Merch costs include: Getting t-shirts, stickers, etc. made
A quick note on ‘staff compensation’: although it looks like it makes up a decent chunk of the pie, we want to stress that we are by no means paying anyone what they deserve for the time they put into the show.
A reality check for the Out There team (and some motivation for 2019)
As we mentioned above, we still have some way to go before we are truly making a profit.
And as for how much WE — Willow and Alex — currently bring home for producing, editing and hosting the show, as well as strategizing about and executing our marketing and business development efforts...well...we’ll let this chart speak for itself:
As you can see, we each took home peanuts for the number of hours we put in; our wages equated to about $1.50/hour.
Of course we never expected to get rich off Out There in 2018 (nor probably ever), and we are thrilled to have created a show we love that allows us to take home anything at all.
But if we are to continue to make Out There, we need to eventually bring in, you know, a living wage (shock horror!).
Needless to say, this is front and center for us in 2019. We hope that, by sharing this, you will better understand our efforts to grow and bring in new advertisers, and will be patient as we interrupt stories to run their ads and ask YOU for financial contributions.
2018 was a year to try NEW things
Experimenting with new ideas was front and center for Out There in 2018. Safe to say, some of those ideas worked better than others. But in all things — and particularly in this podcasting landscape where everyone is figuring out how to grow and connect with audiences, and make sustainably profitable shows — we are learning. And we are starting 2019 with a million new and better ideas.
Dear Nature Segment
One of our goals for 2018 was to experiment with new and different content. Given that we heard so often from listeners that the show had helped them as they navigated tough times in their own lives, we decided to produce a new advice segment for the show: Dear Nature. It was getting away from our storytelling roots, but we saw the success of shows like Dear Sugars and thought it might be a good fit for our audience.
We found two wonderful advice columnists, Becky Jensen and Angus Chen, and started producing the segment monthly.
After six months, we ran an audience survey to ascertain how you all felt about the segment. We received some really wonderful feedback, but overall it wasn’t the resounding endorsement we had hoped for. About 40 percent of respondents loved the segment, but the rest felt ambivalent or actively disliked it.
Many of you said you preferred the original Out There stories, and urged us to make more of those, rather than focusing on advice. That feedback gave us valuable insight into why you all love listening to the show, and will inform our future thinking around new segments.
We are so glad we gave it a shot. We got to work with two wonderful human beings. We got to engage with you all about the show and deepen our understanding about what you seek from it. Once again we were reminded how incredibly special it is to have an audience who gives their feedback freely and generously, and why we place so much trust in what you have to say.
Out There Facebook Group
Your feedback led us to conclude that the Dear Nature segment wasn’t exactly the right thing to continue with at this time. But a lot of listeners expressed a strong desire for advice, saying they wanted the ability to share stories and discuss questions big and small.
So through our new Facebook group we set out to create a forum where we at Out There, and the producers who tell the stories on the show, can join listeners in conversation, as we seek to better understand ourselves and the world around us.
Through the group, we are creating an online community for Out There listeners and producers — a place for you to connect with us and with each other; a place where you can ask questions, whether about weekend hiking plans or potential career changes; a place where you can engage in discussion, and swap stories and advice.
Who knows? Maybe the group will lead to the creation of an entirely new kind of segment for the podcast in time. In the meanwhile, we are glad for another way to connect with you all.
If you haven’t done so already, you can join the group here.
Ambassador Program
Stacia Bennett
Max Crooks (Left) & Jaye Groves (Right)
Tess Ley
Alex Moritz-Hanson
One thing a lot of podcasts (particularly indies like us) struggle with is how to grow and reach new listeners. Research continues to show that one of the most common ways people find out about shows is word of mouth, along with recommendations from sources they trust (like blogs, websites, magazines etc.).
With that in mind, we set out in late 2018 to try something new in this space. Over the last couple of months, we have put together an ambassador program, designed to help spread the word about Out There to new audiences and spark vibrant conversations among our current audience.
We were overwhelmed with excellent applications from listeners keen to be ambassadors for the show. And we were proud to announce our first cohort of ambassadors: Stacia Bennett, Max Crooks and Jaye Groves, Tess Ley and Alexandra Moritz-Hanson. They all embody the Out There ethos: they ask big questions about themselves and the world around them; they find strength, inspiration and healing in nature; and they harness their experience of the world outside to tell stories that make us think.
Huge thanks to Laura Johnston, who approached us with the idea for the ambassador program and has been instrumental in driving it forward. And thanks to each of our wonderful ambassadors. You can follow them on social media by going to our ambassador page.
Stay tuned for more news from the program, plus future calls for ambassador applications. The easiest way to stay in the loop is to sign up for our email newsletter, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram (@outtherepodcast).
Sign up for our email newsletter below
Our First Storytelling Workshop
In October, we ran our first ever live event — a workshop in Laramie, Wyoming, about how to tell compelling stories about the outdoors!
The workshop, which was a collaborative effort with the University of Wyoming Art Museum, drew participants from across the country, from Utah to New Jersey. It was a delightful chance to share tips and tricks that we’ve learned through our years of storytelling.
We hope to run similar events in other locations in the future.
Some wins for the show
Out There Host Willow Belden with our 2017 PRNDI award
We took home gold
For the third year in a row, Out There took home a PRNDI award — kind of like the Oscars for public radio — winning first place in the independent podcast division for our episode "The Instinct to Kill". It is such an honor to be continually recognized by the most respected voices in public radio.
Thanks to YOU, we got a much-needed equipment upgrade
This fall, we realized that it was time for an equipment upgrade if we wanted to keep making a show with the highest production values. But we don’t currently have a budget big enough for much new equipment, and so we put the call out to listeners, appealing for anything people could give towards a wish list of new items.
We were completely blown away by the generosity of our listeners. Thanks to you, we were able to get all the items on our list, and we can’t wait to bring you audio in 2019 with a great-sounding new microphone and some beautiful new music.
2019 will be the year of…
Becoming more diverse
The outdoors industry is notoriously white, male and affluent. And the podcasting industry isn’t always much better at giving space for diverse voices.
Part of our mission is to make the concept of ‘the outdoors’ more accessible to all. But we haven’t been outstanding in doing that to date.
Contrary to our intentions, this has become a show mostly about white people, white people’s problems, and white people’s reality. And while we’re at it, mostly straight, upper middle class white people.
Basically, we’ve been talking the talk about wanting to be inclusive, but not walking the walk.
We intend for 2019 to be the year that we actively do something to fix this. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we release more details around these goals.
Getting to know our current audience
We conducted a survey in early 2017, which gave us valuable insight into who YOU are: how you found out about the show, why you listen and what you think could be improved.
We have seen many new listeners join us since we ran that survey, and so it is time for us to run an updated survey to make sure we still have a good understanding of who you are and what you want.
Keep a look out for this over the next couple of months! We would LOVE your participation.
Expanding the team
We are currently seeking an ad coordinator, someone to be responsible for selling ad space on the show and maximizing the revenue we bring in from ad sales. Take a look at the job description here. If this sounds like something you, or someone you know, would be interested in, get your skates on and send us your resume plus a cover letter by January 4!
More international collaboration
Our Marketing and Business Director, Alex Eggerking, is moving back to Australia and having a baby this spring. So while team meetings might become more logistically difficult (we’ll have an 18-hour time difference to contend with), we are excited to add a truly international dimension to the show.
Special thanks
We want to thank each and every one of you for listening to the show in 2018 and supporting us in all the myriad ways that you do.
We want to call out special thanks to:
Laura Johnston for heading up our ambassador program with such curiosity, enthusiasm and warmth.
Our ambassadors — Stacia Bennett, Max Crooks and Jaye Groves, Tess Ley and Alexandra Moritz-Hanson.
Erika Burns for marketing support early in the year.
Everyone who has supported the show financially — both our monthly supporters and our occasional contributors. If you would like to support the show, you can do so via Patreon or make a one time contribution via PayPal.
Everyone who bought something off our wish list, or contributed money for us to purchase items — your generosity really did blow us away.
With love and warmest wishes to you all for a happy and healthy 2019,
— Willow and Alex
We’re hiring an advertising coordinator!
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Job Description
General
Out There, the award-winning outdoor-themed podcast, is looking for an enthusiastic person to join the team on a freelance basis to drive and manage the process of selling Out There’s ad inventory to potential advertisers. The role will involve a good understanding of Out There’s brand, audience and mission, and an ability to translate these to identify leads and close deals with brands who will be a good fit for the show.
This is a commission-based role, so there is certainly money on the table. Beyond financial reward, you will also join a fun, collaborative, supportive team with a keen interest in seeing you grow and succeed in this role.
Responsibilities
Drive and manage the process of coordinating ad sales on Out There episodes. This will involve:
Managing Out There’s advertising calendar
Identifying new leads
Outreach and pitching Out There’s ad inventory to new and existing leads
Fielding and managing inbound advertising requests from brands and agents
Negotiating and closing advertising orders
Making sure production team has copy/talking points to script the ads
Assisting with invoicing
Remuneration
15% revenue commission on every ad spot sold
Requirements for the role
This is a freelance contract role, with time expectation of approximately 10 hours per week
Must be based in North America
Experience and skills
Excellent communication and organizational skills, and attention to detail
Proactive and enthusiastic
Proficient with Excel and Google Sheets
Preferably 2+ years of sales, marketing, and/or advertising experience
We would ideally love someone who has experience working with outdoor brands
To apply, send a resume + cover letter to both Willow Belden (willow@outtherepodcast.com) and Alex Eggerking (alex@outtherepodcast.com) with the subject line ‘Advertising Coordinator Role’ by end of January 4, 2019.
