How do you overcome fear of outdoor unknowns? How do you get comfortable with nature-based risks like wildlife or finding danger when you’re all alone? What do you do about all of the outdoor “what ifs?” Those are questions natural science illustrator and art instructor Sandy McDermott found herself grappling with after an unexpected move from the northeast U.S. to Anchorage, Alaska. And as she looked for ways to move through her fears, she turned to a familiar comfort -- creating the art that pushed her to head outside to start with. In this episode Sandy talks about her ongoing journey towards getting comfortable with the uncomfortable and how you can overcome your own fears of the unknown in wild spaces. Listen now. Connect with this episode: Visit Sandy McDermott’s website Follow Sandy on Instagram Follow Sandy on Facebook Connect with Sandy on LinkedIn Register for Sandy’s newsletter Join the Humans Outside Challenge Follow Humans Outside on Instagram Follow Humans Outside on Facebook Some of the good stuff: [3:03] Sandy McDermott’s favorite outdoor space [5:24] What does a nature illustrator actually do? [7:24] The outdoor fears that surprised her in Alaska [9:48] Did the fear surprise her? [10:31] Normalizing the fear response [13:45] Did she ever consider just staying inside? [16:00] How all the problems add up [21:58] How art has helped her work through the fears [28:07] Is she surprised by where the journey has brought her? [28:05] It’s called “bearanoid” [33:21] What the combination of nature and art mean to her [35:42] Tips for getting over nature fears [45:38] Sandy’s favorite outdoor moment