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The 3-Day Effect

Written by: Florence Williams
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  • Summary

  • 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
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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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Psychology Mental Health
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Great message

The series was a wonderful collection of reasons to get out into nature and embrace its healing effects

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Loved it!

Really great listen. I cried several times while listening to the individual stories of people using the outdoors/nature to overcome trauma. And I can attest to the fact that being outside in nature really helps my anxiety.

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2 people found this helpful

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  • B
  • 2019-12-02

so what's the enlightening message at the end?

This series is very well delivered. if you are looking for a light listen during daily dog walks, this fits the bill. I did tune out during the city man episode. And since the narrator kept hinting at the important message at the end of the series, I skipped to listen to the last episode at that point and didn't find the promised enlightening message. The Awe factor? was that it? In any case, this would make a great 15 minutes Ted talk.

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4 people found this helpful

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Profile Image for Frances

Encouragement

Loved it, a very inspiring and beautiful stories of resilience and triumph from various forms of struggles. It is amazing how nature can "ground" you and improve your mood naturally. The narrators perspective as well as those involved on the 3 day effect were inspiring and interesting. Would recommend this and already have recommended this to friends and family.

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Moving stories

Enjoying listening to some of the stories. This series is a bit different, short episodes that are a nice break from longer reads. Narration is great.

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Profile Image for JohnS

A confirmation of nature's benefits

This is a very good introduction for skeptics of nature's influence on our brains and bodies. From personal experience, one does not need 3 days for the effects to be felt. Simply spend time regularly outside and beyond the city limits and one feels different upon returning to the grunge of every day life. It's great that science is confirming some of the effects.

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Immersive

I enjoyed the format of the different episodes being individual stories, which brought the listened one step closer to the conclusion after each one.

In short, being outside is good for you. The key is to be in awe every so often.

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Profile Image for IronLloyd

You want to know how to be awesome? listen!

This audible podcast will help a lot of people. The study here is not new, we have always knew that nature will somehow help us recover and be grounded but the biggest difference is that this podcast is back up by scientific data with interpretations from neuroscientist. Keep it up!

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Profile Image for Mahsana

war talk!

I'm Iranian and seen war. there is too much talk about soldiers who were in Iran golf or Iraq and seen trauma. I was one of those who were left behind the war. The difference is that I was in my country , living with my freinds and family...seen or hearing American's who were there to kill us and now they experience trouma is ironic

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8 people found this helpful

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A must read for anyone struggling with mental heal

This is a great reminder of how important movement and nature are for mental health! Her voice is soothing and thoughtful

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3 people found this helpful