265: Grief, Healing, and the Outdoors: Jason Stout's Journey from Loss to Purpose

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Will welcomes Jason Stout, founder of Stoutreach, to share his story of grief, healing, and the outdoors. Jason opens up about experiencing multiple profound losses as a child—including the deaths of his sister, grandmother, and father—and how those early tragedies shaped the course of his life. Jason describes how time in nature helped him begin to heal and led him to dedicate his career to supporting others who are grieving. From guiding wilderness expeditions for teens who have lost loved ones to facilitating peer support programs for military families and veterans, Jason has developed a unique and impactful model that blends outdoor experiences with emotional healing. His work was recently recognized with the 2024 Richard Louv Prize for Innovation in Nature Connection. Will also reflects briefly on the recent passing of his own father and the ways in which the outdoors continues to offer space for connection and reflection. This episode explores the intersection of grief, nature, and human resilience—reminding us that while loss is universal, healing is possible when we reconnect with ourselves, each other, and the natural world. Learn more about Jason's work at missionstoutreach.org. Discover upcoming men's retreats that our podcast host, Will White is faciliating at WMAI.org.