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The 3-Day Effect

By: Florence Williams
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$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

  • 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
    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
  • 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
  • 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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What listeners say about The 3-Day Effect

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Dee
  • 09-02-2020

a bit targeted

maybe ok for people with ptsd. but not ur general well being podcast... deleted after half an episode.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Easy listen and very interesting

Would have loved a solid conclusion as to whether the 3 day effect is scientifically proven but really enjoyed the exploration of the theory anyway.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing audio book

I loved it. Easy to understand, based on real experiences of real people. It motivated me and reassured me that nature is where we all belong in the end and we all need a reset by exposing ourselves to wildlife and away from the cities.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

revealing

super! memorable & moving. very authentic. helpful. diverse stories reflecting healing powers of our nature.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

awe inspiring

i love the use of both empirical and anecdotal evidence; brilliantly researched and produced. brb, running into the forrest

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

life changing

I was about to take a job that pays real good today.

after this book realised what I always new money is not every thing.

so i turned it down just got a tent sleeping bag going into the Forrest for 3 to 10 days alone.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Easy listening, enjoyable but not gripping

A nice listen and interesting, but somehow lacking a sense of satisfaction. A nice introduction to the topic. Mostly people's experiences but lacking depth of information.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this series!

this series was inspiring and uplifting, and informative! the overlapping of voices every so often is my only criticism.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

charming

the science.is light on, but the story is sweet and worthwhile as it is inspiring

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great

loved it. it has me thinking about nature and how to explore it. Worth the coin.

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