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The 3-Day Effect

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The 3-Day Effect

By: Florence Williams
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About this listen

The 3-Day Effect is a look at the science behind why being in the wild for a minimum of three days can make us happier, healthier and more creative. Whether it's rafting down Utah's Green River, backpacking in Colorado wilderness or strolling through Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., scientists are finding that immersions in nature can reduce anxiety, enhance creativity and boost overall well-being.

Join science journalist Florence Williams in an immersive audio exploration of the mind and outdoors in six chapters following former Iraqi war veterans, sex trafficking survivors, and even a bookish nature hater journeying to the wild. Meet the innovative field researchers working to strengthen the science for a nature cure through real-time physiological, psychological and cognitive measures over three days outside.

When you add The 3-Day Effect to your library you will receive all 6 episodes, each with a runtime of approximately 25 minutes. To hear more great podcasts and short listens, visit Audible.com/AudioShows.

©2018 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2018 Audible Originals, LLC Mental Health Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Ep. 1: A Wild Antidote

    Ep. 1: A Wild Antidote
    Sep 27 2018

    David Strayer, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Utah, noticed he gets his best ideas when he’s in the wilderness for three days, so he decided to study what he calls the Three Day Effect. Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix, takes him on a hike to learn more about what this research shows. She meets up with others who we’ll be following in this series, including veteran and activist Stacy Bare and writer Eric Weiner, who would much rather be darting in and out of cafes than river canyons. Florence, herself going through a divorce, signs on for a three-day research trip in the wilderness, hoping the emotional benefits will rub off.
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    21 mins
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  • Ep. 2: Floating Through PTSD

    Ep. 2: Floating Through PTSD
    Sep 27 2018

    Can three days on a wild river help cure veterans with PTSD? In this chapter, Florence Williams alights on Utah's Green River with a group of veterans and the scientists who are studying their brains outside, including Stacy Bare from chapter one and researchers from the lab of David Strayer, cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Utah. Florence and the veterans talk about trauma and resilience while rafting, hiking and undergoing a series of experiments. They look at their brain waves over time and also test their cognitive performance.
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    28 mins
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  • Ep. 3: A Place of Comfort

    Ep. 3: A Place of Comfort
    Sep 27 2018
    What if a lot of what we’ve heard about wilderness therapy is wrong? That it shouldn’t be about finding oneself through hardship and challenge, but about finding a place of comfort instead? Florence goes backpacking in Colorado with an all-women’s group of sex-trafficking survivors through She Is Able, a nonprofit based in Atlanta, Georgia. The women and their guides, along with therapists who specialize in trauma and wilderness therapy, upend everything she thought she knew.
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    35 mins
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All stars
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I really enjoyed this series and listened to them all in quick succession. Florence Williams takes us on a fascinating journey hearing how nature can positively impact upon people who need to rebalance or heal.

I loved this

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A joy to listen to an awe-affirming study. Keep up the good work, Florence. Thanks.

Very interesting

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such an interesting subject. I have been researching this subject for a while. It truly is something schools need to teach, infact everyone needs to know how powerful the free stuff of nature is to our mind body and spirit.

The 3 day effect

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This series was so enlightening. It is always good to know nature is beneficial to humans but this also has the science behind it as well.

Excellent Series

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Found it to be a relaxing listen and thought provoking at times. Gets you out of your head

Nice, easy listening

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After listening to these - amazing sound quality and narrating is full of life - I want (even more than before) pack a bag and spend at least 3 days in nature 🏞 Far away from cities, pandemic, violence, news, etc and just experience some quiet beauty and awe.

Great reporting, it's like you're there

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Awesome.. I just knew camping was magic! Now there's proof.. Well worth a listen to.

Awesome thank you! I really need to get camping...

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Really badly edited; Florence is narrating but vefore she's done someone cuts over her so you lose the end of her speech and the start of theirs. And too much background noise. Frustrating because I'm really interested in this and it's making listening really difficult.

Really interesting, BUT..

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listened to it over the space of 3 days, very interesting. As a countryside management student the connection and analysis of the effects of nature on wellbeing really gave me something else to consider whilst out in the field

Very insightful

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This was my first audible podcast listen. I loved this experiment and would love to hear more about the effects of being in nature on people's mentality. I think the journalist is lovely and would like to listen to more from her.

Loved this.

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