The My Outdoorsy Mom Podcast
The My Outdoorsy Mom Podcast is your go-to space for real-life motherhood, nature play, outdoor parenting, and raising confident kids through everyday adventures.
I’m your host, Julianne Nienberg—a mom of three, backyard adventure enthusiast, and your go-to gal for helping you get outside and make meaningful memories with your kids.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to be a “perfect” parent, this show is for you.
Here, we ditch the guilt and lean into the kind of simple, soul-filling time outdoors that works for busy, real-life families—no Pinterest-worthy nature crafts required.
Each week, I’ll bring you conversations about motherhood, nature play, travel, entrepreneurship, and all the messy, magical moments in between.
You’ll hear from fellow moms, outdoor educators, small business owners, and everyday women who are building a life connected to the rhythms of the seasons and the joy of unstructured outdoor time.
Expect practical tips, honest stories, and encouragement that feels like chatting with your outdoorsy best friend over coffee—because that’s what this space is all about.
Whether you’re raising wild little explorers, growing a business during nap time, or just trying to survive dinner hour without losing your mind—I see you.
And I’m here to remind you that getting outside doesn’t have to be complicated. Nature meets you wherever your feet are.
So grab your coffee, toss some snacks in your bag, and let’s make some memories together.
This is The My Outdoorsy Mom Podcast—and I’m so glad you’re here.
The My Outdoorsy Mom Podcast
EP 20: When the World Feels Heavy
I had a totally different episode planned for today—but with everything going on in the world, I just couldn’t hit publish on a lighthearted topic.
Instead, this short solo episode is a heart-to-heart about what I’m holding onto in a heavy season. I share how my faith grounds me, what I’m choosing to consume (and not), and the kind of space I want to cultivate moving forward—online and offline. If you’re feeling the weight of the world lately, this one’s for you.
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Hey friends. I had a totally different episode planned for this week all about how we’re slowly becoming a sports family, and what that’s looked like in this season with my three kids. But truthfully? I couldn’t publish it right now.
With everything happening in the world these past few weeks, there’s an undeniable heaviness that I’m feeling. And maybe you’re feeling it too.
I just couldn’t bring myself to publish an episode on sports when what I really wanted was to sit with you in this and share what’s on my heart.
“I’ve been wrestling with this question: What do we do when the world feels broken?
I’m not a political commentator. I’m not an expert. First and foremost, I’m a woman who loves Jesus and proclaims Him as my savior. And if you don’t know Jesus, know that He loves you. I’d encourage you to pick up a Bible and read it. Secondly, I’m a wife to my loving husband and a Mom of three beautiful children.
I”m reminded of scripture in the Bible, the book of John, Chapter 16, verse 33 which is John’s account of Jesus’ life and words, Jesus, says “in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer; i have overcome the world.” I’ve been repeating this scripture in my heart and in my mind because it’s one of the many verses in the bible that remind us that this heaviness is not the end. Jesus overcame sin and death.
And what these last few weeks have shown me is that the more noise I consume, the more I feel the weight of despair creeping in. And that weight doesn’t make me a more compassionate parent. It doesn’t make me a more loving friend. It doesn’t move me toward goodness. And I’m beginning to understand how I need to fiercely guard my heart and my mind against the content I consume, – because anything that’s not rooted in goodness, just steals my peace and joy.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about what kind of space I want to create with this podcast, on my blog, and on social media.
And here’s what I know for sure:
I want to continue to build something that brings goodness, truth, and beauty into your ear, into your inbox, and your life.
Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
God’s given me a unique opportunity to bring goodness and beauty into my little corner of the internet, and it’s an opportunity I don’t take lightly.
I want to offer hope—not the new-age feel good optimism but grounded, steady hope that reminds you who you are and whose you are.
I want this to be a space where my faith isn’t watered down. I’ve been feeling convicted to share more. Because when I think about where my love for nature comes from its because it’s where I feel God the most. I want to speak from a place of conviction, but also compassion. I want this to be a space Where people who don’t share my beliefs still feel welcome to listen, to learn, to ask questions, to have healthy and rich dialogue.
One of the reasons I’ve felt so pulled to pause lately is because every so often, I hit a wall with social media.
I love connecting with you on Instagram, don’t get me wrong. I love connecting with you all even more in person. I love the creativity and community there. I’ve met some of the most amazing and gifted people through social media. But the pressure to perform on that platform is… well, it’s insurmountable.
The metrics. The analytics. The likes. The shares. The constant need to grow. The hamster wheel of creating more content to stay top of mind. All on a space I don’t even own, right? As creators, as business owners, we’re all participating on this platform that we have no control over. If IG shut down tomorrow, all of my content (and all the hours of work I’ve poured into it, and yes it is work) would be gone.
And honestly? It’s all noise that takes me away from what I actually value and the mission I’m committed to sharing with all of you: getting outside. Getting outside with my kids without this incessant urge to capture every moment digitally without the compulsivity of checking my phone for the time, to add to my grocery list. The pull of this little black rectangle that is supposedly keeping us all “connected” right?
I know this may speak more to content creators and the influencers in my audience but after speaking with so many friends in this industry, it’s clear that we’re all spending so much time trying to be present on social media, when what we really need is to be present in our real lives.
Present on that bike ride with our kids. Present on the trail. Present at the dinner table. Present in prayer. Present as we change diapers. Present even when we’re up in the middle of the night.
So what now? Well, I’m not disappearing. But I am choosing to more closely guard my heart with what I consume and how I spend (and how much of my time I spend) on social media. This has become my job - and one that I’m learning requires more even more personal boundaries.
I’m choosing to use my voice and my little corner of the Internet to point to truth, to celebrate beauty, to invite goodness.
Because we live in a broken and fallen world, we’ll never be able to control or make sense of the chaos, the death, and destruction that plagues our earthly home.
But we can cultivate peace within our hearts and in our family. And let that peace pour out to others.
So I want to leave you with a very simple Outdoorsy challenge this week –
Leave your phone at home and get outside. Watch your kids climb a tree. Breathe. Look for something beautiful. Let the silence speak.
I’ll get back to regularly scheduled content soon but today - I just wanted to sit with you and remind you that beauty is out there and God in His goodness, created things in nature that would naturally bring our hearts back to a state of rest. I hope you find some rest today, friend. Until next time.