This Outside Life

Join me at Shining Hope Farms as we learn how horses can help children with developmental delays or physical limitations. Their stories are mini miracles as to how horses can help children (and adults) cope with life and gain skills.You'll learn the difference between the terms, "horse therapy, equine therapy and hippotherapy," as well as what breed of horses make the best equine staff.To see photos and links, head over to the website, ThisOutsideLife.com/healingwithhorses.

The sea is full of free, nutritious food. And you don't have to go scuba diving to get it. I interview Tanya Stiller who leads foraging classes with forageSF based out of San Francisco. We learned about the types of seaweed, how to harvest it, local laws, and the health benefits. Be sure to visit the website to see photos of all the seaweed and demonstrations, plus pictures of books and links to buy them. www.ThisOutsideLife.com/seaweed.

The police have been in the news lately and it’s brought up all sorts of things. What is their training? What kind of person becomes a police officer? And a myriad of other issues are coming under the microscope. And it’s obvious, that being in the line of duty is a high-pressure job where things can go south quickly.But I wanted to know, what does a police officer do to off-gas all that stress? Does he sit at home and play violent video games like, “Call of Duty” for hours? Well, I can’t speak for, nor interview all of them around the country, but I do personally know one officer. Charlie Eubank is my step-son in law and an officer in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Or, “North Cackalacky” as the locals call it.)Charlie takes all that stress that comes with the job and goes under, underwater that is, to explore caves.Cave diving is a specialty branch of scuba diving. And it takes a special person to be able to withstand the psychological effects of being in tight places, underwater.I’m a rescue level scuba diver myself, and I can tell you, I don’t care HOW much money you pay me, I would NEVER do cave diving. It’s creepy, dangerous, and of course, dark. It requires you to sometimes remove your breathing equipment and drag it along behind you to fit through tight places. I get clammy hands just thinking about it. I have gone into the entrance of caves, looked around and signaled to my dive buddy, “Well, this is nice and I’ve had a look, but I am OUT of here!” I don’t stick around and exploreBut for this police officer, cave diving gives him an intense focus, and a thrilling experience that few understand nor have experienced.I think you’re going to be fascinated by this interview with Charlotte police officer, Charlie Eubank on the lure of cave diving.Visit the website: https://www.ThisOutsideLife.com/cavediving to see photos and videos of cave diving.

Scott Cook is well known in Silicon Valley and financial circles, but not many people know how important his annual backpacking trip is. We talk with Scott about why he makes a point to carve out time in his busy schedule every year to take this trip with old friends from high school.

I visit Wisconsin's Heartland Farm Animal Rescue. We meet famous pigs, emus, goats and more and learn how traumatized animals and kids can help each other heal.

Is it true cashmere sweaters are turning vast territories of China and Mongolia into a desert? Why is alpaca a more sustainable and oftentimes softer choice? How do you raise alpaca? Where can you find alpaca garments? Where can you buy alpaca yarn for knitting? We talk all things alpaca and the ugly truth about goats and how they are turning lush grasslands into deserts.

We find out from Porter McHenry if a fisherman’s life is like the show, “The Deadliest Catch.” And how salmon, crab, anchovy and squid fishing differs from each other. Porter’s father also had a short-lived career catching Great White sharks. And we find out how to keep a Great White alive on your boat. Plus, we learn why you never name your boat after your wife, only your mother or your grandmother.