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In this episode of Wildly Unplug, Lauren celebrates her latest public art installation—Man’s Best Friend—featured on a utility box as part of the SURGE project in Springfield Township. She shares the behind-the-scenes joy of the artist community and offers real talk on navigating art contests, rejection, and creative resilience. If you're an artist looking to apply or sponsor a future utility box, visit www.theartsconnect.us or email artinfo@springfieldtwp.org. This one’s for every artist who’s ever heard “no” and kept creating anyway because when you finally hear “yes,” there’s a SURGE of excitement that makes it all worth it!!!

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Hey nature lovers – Lauren here, and today’s podcast is a little different. I want to take you behind the scenes of one of the most personal, emotional chapters of my creative journey so far.

This is the story of how I wrote a book, poured my entire soul into it… and then got rejected. Not by a publisher, but by a platform that’s supposed to make self-publishing accessible.

This is the story of Wildly Unplug: A Creative Guide to Reconnect with Nature – and what happened when Amazon KDP said no. And the steps you can take to self-publish your own book!

If you’re writing your own book — or thinking about it — I’d love to hear about it.
Tag me. DM me. You’ve got a cheerleader in me. 💌

And if you want to read Wildly Unplug: A Creative Guide to Reconnect with Nature, it launches on Earth Day, April 22, 2025 — available on Amazon.

Click here to buy "Wildly Unplug: A Creative Guide to Reconnect with Nature"

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📖 Wildly Unplug Is Almost Here – A Sneak Peek into the Book That Started It All

Welcome back, Explorers, to Wildly Unplug – the podcast where we breathe deep, slow down, and reconnect with what really matters: nature, creativity, and our sense of wonder. I’m your guide, Lauren, and today’s episode – and blog – is extra special.

I’m beyond excited to officially announce something I’ve poured my heart into...

🌿 Wildly Unplug: A Creative Guide to Reconnect with Nature launches on April 22nd, 2025 – Earth Day 🌍

And I thought… what better way to celebrate than to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how this book came to life and a teaser of what you’ll find inside.

📖 A Peek Inside the Pages

In the episode, I read aloud the dedication, prologue, and introduction, and I’ll share just a few of those vibes here.

➡️ The book starts with a powerful call to unplug – from hustle culture, from perfectionism, and from unrealistic expectations.

➡️ You’re invited to remember the freedom of childhood summers, when the woods were our kingdom, and the streetlights were our clocks.

➡️ I guide you through the purpose of the book – not to give you a “one-size-fits-all” formula, but to offer approachable, meaningful steps to rediscover the healing power of the outdoors.

🌲 What You’ll Learn

The book is broken down into 10 "paths" – each one designed to gently nudge you deeper into connection with the wild. You'll explore:

• Unplugging from digital noise
• Noticing seasonal shifts
• Creating art from natural inspiration
• Reclaiming movement as joy
• Using your senses to ground yourself
• Journaling for awareness and clarity

Each chapter includes three levels of actions – Planting the Seed, Taking Root, and Branching Out – so you can pick what fits your lifestyle. You’ll also find checklists, worksheets, and reflections to keep things fun and flexible.

No gatekeeping. No guilt. Just nature, creativity, and you.

🎉 Launch Details

Wildly Unplug will be available as a paperback and ebook on Amazon starting April 22nd, 2025. Once the official link is live, I’ll drop it right here in the show notes and share across all platforms.

If you’ve ever felt that itch to slow down… if you've wanted to reconnect with your creativity or rekindle your love for nature… this book is for you.

🌟 How You Can Help

💬 Leave a review
🦋 Share with a friend who needs to reconnect
📚 Join the book launch celebration
🌿 Step outside and let the wild world in

If you’re feeling the nudge to start your own creative nature journey – maybe even your own podcast – or just want to be reminded of your wild side, come join me.

And hey – if you’d like to be a guest on Wildly Unplug, I’d love to hear your story. No fancy setup needed – just a quiet room, a Zoom connection, and your authentic voice.

Until next time,
🌱 Get outside and see what develops.

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Hey there, wild ones—and welcome back to Wildly Unplug, the podcast where we trade burnout for beauty, hustle for healing, and discover ourselves again through nature, art, and adventure.

So… you’re thinking podcasting might be for you? Then I’m here to tell you—it IS.
If you feel the nudge, the whisper, the wild idea that you have something to say—follow that. The world needs your voice. Your stories. Your perspective.

In this episode, I breakdown for you how to get started on your own podcasting journey!

My personal notes that I have shared with people who have asked me how to get started:

• Hosting Platform- https://www.buzzsprout.com/2278247. I like Buzzsprout because it is user-friendly, lets me upload transcripts, can create sound bites to use for social media, and has a monetization option. I used Podbean for the first podcast, and it is lackluster.
• Intro and Outro- Fivver. I used Bearnie Baggs on Fivver. I shopped around and asked several creators if they could do the style I was looking for. I asked for a Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom style- all of them asked, "What is that?" and only one took the time to look it up and provide me with a sample I liked, so he is the one I went with. I also asked for the song that he used for the background with no voice on it- it was a little extra, but then I have the rights to that song to use in between clips or if I ever decide to change the intro verbiage, I can do that and still have the same song.
• To find Guests- https://podcastguests.com/featured-guest/
• I use Google Drive under an email I made just for the podcast. I have an Excel style sheet (you will notice the name is in blue and underlined because I link it to the "script Google doc" with a checklist for each show to make sure I have done all the things and I also have a "script" for each show with a checklist, list of questions, and other info. Attached is a picture of my Excel checklist, and at the very end of this, I will have a link to the script so you can have visibility to your show.
• I schedule everything on Zoom and send the guest a Google Calendar invite through Zoom
• I save all my Zoom recordings on an external hard drive by the date
• To edit, I use Final Cut Pro. This is nice because I can export audio for the podcast and video for YouTube
• ITranscribe to get the transcript
• I use GoDaddy to host my website for my artwork and the show and blog ("field notes")
• Canva is handy for creating social media content- they also have a good section to help keep you "on brand" with your colors

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Welcome back to Wildly Unplug—where we share stories of nature, creativity, and conservation, and discover what unfolds when you step outside and reconnect with your inner wild. In today’s episode, I had the joy of speaking with Steffi, a holistic psychologist, intuitive artist, and the creator behind In Essence You Are Beautiful—a deeply moving project that helps others reconnect with their true selves through art, tapping, nature therapy, and more.

Steffi’s mission is as beautiful as her work: to remind people of their innate worth, and to help them rediscover their essence—even when life has pulled them away from it.

Steffi’s Top Tip for Connecting with Nature:

🔌“Just go. Be in nature. You don’t have to do anything—just observe, feel, and let it in. And if you can’t go to nature, bring nature to you. Then, look within. What did your child self love to do? Do that again. That’s where your essence lives.”

🛤️ How to Connect With Steffi

If you’re curious about intuitive art, soul portraits, tapping, or holistic therapy—Steffi offers her services both in-person and online, including shipping her artwork worldwide.

You can find her at:
🌐 In Essence You Are Beautiful
📸 Instagram

Photographer credit: Iris Kelly Reflections (insta: Iris.Kelly.Reflections)

Let’s hear your story! Click here to submit your tale.

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Welcome back to Wildly Unplug, where we share stories of nature, conservation, and creativity—and explore what develops when we unplug and step outside.

Today, I’m thrilled to introduce fellow podcaster Amy, creator and host of the Grounded in Maine podcast. With over 100 episodes, Amy’s show explores the vast world of sustainability with a refreshing, relatable perspective. Our conversation covered everything from homesteading myths to simple acts of mindful living—and a few laughs about chickens, roosters, and worm bins along the way.

Where to Find Amy

📌 Grounded in Maine Podcast on Instagram
📌 Listen to Grouded in Maine wherever you tune in

Amy’s Top Tip for Connecting with Nature:

🔌Simple and sweet: Get a bird feeder.

“It might make you feel old, but there’s something so magical about watching the birds come and go. It’s an easy way to start noticing the world around you.”

Whether it’s a hummingbird feeder or tossing out seeds, Amy believes small interactions with nature build lasting connections.

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Welcome back to Wildly Unplug—where we share stories of nature, art, and conservation. Today, I’m excited to give you a behind-the-scenes look at a memorable experience I had presenting Tide Lines: Journaling Nature’s Journey at the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) Conference in the beautiful city of St. Augustine, Florida in December, 2024.

Lauren’s Top Tip for Connecting with Nature:

🔌Don't overthink it. Whether you’re nervous about drawing or unsure what to write, just dive in. You’ll be amazed at the stories you uncover and the memories you create.

Like my own 16-year-old, who was so worried about researching the St. Louis Arch from his hotel room. It wasn’t until he went outside, explored, and experienced it firsthand that his project came alive—and earned him a perfect score.

Nature is waiting. Grab your journal, take a breath, and see what develops. 🌿

Let’s hear your story! Click here to submit your tale.

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Welcome back to Wildly Unplug, where we share stories of nature, conservation, and creativity. Today, I had the pleasure of chatting with Courtney Lynn Grace, an author, movie buff, and lifelong dog lover, about her journey into writing and her heartwarming children’s book, Finding a Home: The Adventures of Lady the Beagle.

Courtney’s story is a testament to following your passions, embracing creativity, and letting inspiration take you on unexpected journeys.

Practical Tips to Unplug & Connect with the Wild:

Courtney’s Top Tip for Connecting with Nature

🔌Incorporate nature into what you love.

🐾 Walk your dog.
📖 Bring a notebook and write outside.
🎬 Find outdoor locations that remind you of your favorite movies.

Nature is full of inspiration—you just have to look for it!

📚 Where to Buy Her Book: Finding a Home: The Adventures of Lady the Beagle is available on Amazon.

🔗 Follow Courtney:

• Facebook (Author Page): Courtney Lynn Grace
• Facebook (Movies & Reviews): Classics with Courtney
• Instagram: @classicswithcourtney

Let’s hear your story! Click here to submit your tale.

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