Traveling Via Nature Podcast

Have you ever wanted to be in the great outdoors, but the weather wasn’t so great or you couldn’t leave the house?

Maybe you just want more time in nature than you are already getting.

We’ve all traveled in one way or another without leaving the comfort of our homes, be it through books, looking at pictures, documentaries, exploring a new place on your Peleton, or tasting a recipe from a faraway land.

Some people love to experience the world through sound, capturing all the richness an audio file can hold, picked up by a microphone that hears even the faintest of whispers.

Jeff Large, a Michigan-based entrepreneur and podcaster, has been recording his adventures since March 2023 under the banner of Outdoor Sounds. He records the show solo and each episode is produced by his team at Come Alive.

The weekly podcast ranges from wildlife to weather, and you never know what you’re going to hear next.

He likens his podcast to “nature walks for your ears.”

Want to go on a hike?

You can ‘tag along’ as Jeff navigates the Knapp Valley Forest Hiking Trail.

Fan of frogs?

There’s a whole episode devoted to spring peepers and their nocturnal serenades.

Each episode begins with a quick description of what you’re about to hear, where the recording was made, as well the tech used to record (generally the MixPre-6 and DPA Binaural headset).

Jeff paints the picture for just shy of sixty seconds, after which point you are invited into the soundscape of your Outdoor Sounds experience.

Each episode ends with the experience gently trailing off, free from closing dialogue or musical cues.

To give you an idea of ‘where you can go,’ check out this short list highlighting some of Outdoor Sounds’ more recent episodes.

Hiking & Trail Walks

If you enjoy the immersive crunch of gravel paths, birdsong in the trees, and the steady rhythm of a good hike, you’ll feel right at home with the sound of soft earth underfoot.

Each one of these episodes captures a different walk in the woods or along a forest trail:

Water & River Sounds

Do you like falling asleep to the sound of a babbling brook or to the lapping of ocean waves?

Many Outdoor Sounds listeners told Jeff that they loved listening to his podcast because it made it easier to fall asleep! Admittedly, I can relate.

Bearing this feedback in mind, he produced extended, looped versions of a peaceful, aquatic nature.

Lull yourself into slumber or use these recordings as a gentle buffer to block out distractions while you work:

Note: These are looped recordings meant to play in the background for extended periods.

Wildlife & Animal Sounds

While you can hear birdsong in a variety of Outdoor Sounds episodes, some recordings shine a spotlight on an individual species.

From spring peepers (frogs) to Canada geese in a turf war, all the wild things get their moment in these episodes.

Maybe one day, we’ll get to hear the call of the loon! See the titles below:

Regarding spring peepers, this episode might be a helpful sleep aid if you grew up in North America and were accustomed to falling asleep to the chorus of male peepers during mating season.

Spring peeper (frog) sitting on a rock with purple flowers and green foliage in background — Spring peeper

Although spring peepers mate just once a year, mating season lasts between three to four weeks. Vocalizations start around dusk and generally usher in the dawn the following morning.

The episode runs about 30 minutes with the odd bullfrog adding to the ambience.

Canada Geese by the water — Canada geese by the water

Okay, now for the geese! As a Canadian, allow me to apologize for the geese.

They can be boisterous and territorial, as you’ll hear in the recording. If you don’t want to be ambushed by a Canada goose, walk a dog. Canada geese are naturally deterred by them.

That said, lots of ambient sounds are heard in this recording, from the sound of walking, people talking as Jeff passes them (or vice versa), and the melodious sound of church bells chiming nearby as you stroll the Mishawaka Riverwalk Loop in Indiana.

Weather & Storm Ambience

Tent covering with rain on it, children camping

Does thunder and rain bring you comfort? This episode captures the soothing power of a passing storm, as heard from Jeff’s basecamp at Hocking Hills State Park.

The episode was recorded from the safety of a tent, and you can hear the pitter patter of rain hitting the fly or covering of the tent.

Riding Out the Storm takes you back to summer camp, whether sheltered by a tent or cabin, complete with rolling thunder.

This episode was recorded in stereo with a Zoom F3 and LOM basicUcho microphones:

Riding Out the Storm

Urban & Evening Ambience

Man riding a BMX bike uphill against the sunset

Just when you thought all of Jeff’s recordings were in rural locations, you’re taken on a nighttime ride through the city, offering a subtle mix of motion, urban quiet, and evening air.

You can hear cycling of the bicycle wheels on the 3.5 mile BMX ride through the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan recorded using Jeff’s Zoom F3 and DPA Binaural headset.

There’s even a friendly, “How goes it?” to kick off your ride:

Nighttime City Bike Ride

One recording was made at a vacation rental, including an episode recorded from a hot tub on the Kalamazoo River.

A Nature Podcast For All Seasons

Since Jeff releases content year-round, some of the episodes are recorded in the bleak midwinter, including a hiking in the snow on the Sheep Ranch Pathway Trail.

He makes time to do the things that he loves, which includes getting out of the house and traveling more.

The dedication Jeff and his team at Come Alive has shown to this unique area of audio tourism has resulted in attracting listeners from around the world to the hinterlands of Michigan, topping podcast charts in the Nature category in Canada, Australia, and South Africa.

The podcast’s highest listenership stateside comes from Michigan, Virginia, Georgia, and Illinois.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is to be a better listener. I touch on it in this post. Another thing would be how amazing and healing nature is. It’s something I think most of us know but it’s another thing to go out and experience it.

“Take a walk with no agenda, no devices, and no plan. See what you notice – both in yourself and around you. It’s a lot better than sitting in front of your computer.” – Jeff Large

Immersive Audio Adventures On-Demand

Truly, Outdoor Sounds has it all.

Want to hear insects? You got it.

Sipping coffee on the porch during a steady rainfall? Beans are roasted and ready to go!

How about a woodland trek on the Blue Heron Trail or a neighborly walk on the Richmond Park Trail in Grand Rapids? Outdoor Sounds can take you there, too.

Michigan Vacation Rentals on Lake.com

In celebration of Outdoor Sounds and the absolute “Pure Michigan” the podcast exudes, I thought it would be lovely to highlight some places where you can stay in Michigan.

The state is known for its delightful upper peninsula (UP) and access to four of the five Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron.

Maybe your next family vacation will be in this beautiful place.

The state’s motto, “Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam, Circumspice,” translates to, “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.”

This couldn’t be truer of the great state of Michigan. From the grandeur of horse-drawn carriages on Mackinac Island (where cars are not allowed) to whitewater rapids and fishing galore, this state has everything your family could want on a getaway into nature with weather that at times can rival Florida.

Lake.com features idyllic listings in The Great Lakes state, including a number of A-Frame cabins in Au Gres, and an entire home in Gaylord that sleeps twelve people (pets are allowed at the house, too!):