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America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston

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Baratunde Thurston

America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston

PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Tuesdays at 9 PM beginning July 5
Wednesdays at 2 AM beginning July 6

 
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Airs on Fusion on Saturdays at 4 PM beginning July 9

 


Enjoy a new six-part series hosted by New York Times best-selling author and outdoor enthusiast Baratunde Thurston. His adventure-filled journey explores the diverse array of regions across the United States and how those landscapes shape the way Americans work, play and interact with the outdoors. 

From wilderness pilots flying “below the rim” in Idaho to coal miners turned beekeepers in Appalachia to Black surfers catching waves in Los Angeles, Thurston introduces us to a vivid cast of characters whose outdoor lives are shaped by where they live. 

AMERICA OUTDOORS reveals a deeper understanding of our passionate yet complicated relationship with the outdoors.

Episodes

Death Valley: Life Blooms
It is the hottest place on Earth, but Death Valley is remarkably full of life. Baratunde Thurston seeks out the extremes of this national park and finds an outdoor mecca for those who embrace its heat, isolation, and natural beauty. Meet an ultra-marathoner who runs in the brutal heat of summer, the mayor of a town of one, and an elder of the Timbisha Shoshone tribe, who helps us see that this is a place where life blooms.

 

Idaho: Tied to the Land
Life on the American frontier is evolving. To find out how, and what it means, Baratunde ventures into the wild of Idaho in search of its outdoor culture. He finds ranchers and backcountry pilots sharing the wilderness with newly resettled refugees and sees how climate change is wreaking havoc on the age-old salmon fishery. 

 

Los Angeles: It’s a Vibe
Baratunde explores his adopted hometown to learn how Angelinos connect with the outdoors in their sprawling city. From kayakers saving a polluted river to Black surfers claiming their place on the waves, preserving access to outdoor LA is something worth fighting for.

 

Appalachia: A Different Way
Appalachia may seem like a place locked in time, but its people know a thing or two about change, especially when it comes to the outdoors. From a trail-blazing hiker to a 21st century forager, Baratunde meets the people driving a revolution in how we see and interact with nature. 

 

Tidewater: Homecoming
Along the coast of North Carolina, there is more to outdoor life than sun and surf. As he treks through a daunting swamp, soars above the dunes on a Wright Brothers glider, and tracks wild horses on the beach, Baratunde discovers how these outdoor environments were shaped by a surprising force: history.

 

Minnesota: A Better World
What does the wild mean to Americans today? To find out, Baratunde journeys into Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region, one of the last places where you can hike or paddle your way into the remote wilderness. From passionate birders to harvesters of wild rice, he encounters a fascinating cast of characters—and hears from them why wilderness means so much.

Season Preview
America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston
Season Preview
2:40
Published:
Rating: TV-PG

Take a look at this sneak peak of AMERICA OUTDOORS WITH BARATUNDE THURSTON