Podcast · Tech & Science

Outdoor Sounds

by Jeff Large · English · Tech & Science

Nature walks for your ears. Improving your work and rest with a new episode every week. 

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 38 min
Latest: 15 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026 · 32 minNew

Watching the Morning Commute

Distant highway traffic drifts across the water in this morning commute capture from a cliffside rental in Osage Beach. The morning commute. Not every recording is about untouched wilderness. My rental property in Osage Beach, Missouri, had a great, but distant view of a local highway bridge, so I captured what it sounded like first thing in the morning: the ambient flow of cars and trucks, likely people making their way to work while I sat back and watched from the cliffside. I’m not sure how many listeners will enjoy the sound of cars in the distance. But it was a defining feature of the…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

8 Oct 2026 · 1 hr
Summer Afternoon Boats on the Lake
Busy midday boat traffic on the Lake of the Ozarks: engines, wakes, and the sounds of a summer afternoon on the water. Listen in to this capture of busy midday boats enjoying the lake. Recorded during a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks, this episode is all about the energy of a summer afternoon on the water. Speedboats, pontoons, and other watercraft pass by in a near-constant parade, engines rising and fading as they approach and pull away, with wakes slapping against the shoreline in between. Compared to the quieter dock and evening recordings from this trip, this is the lake at its busiest.…
1 Oct 2026 · 15 min
Sipping on the Dock
A relaxed dockside moment at Lake of the Ozarks—waves, ambient lake life, and a well-earned drink. Me, a beverage, and the dock at my Lake of the Ozarks rental. After a busy day of boats and lake activity, there’s something nice about sitting still and letting the water do the talking—waves lapping against the shoreline, the ambient hum of the lake going about its evening business, and the occasional clink of a glass as I take another sip. Big thanks to Lake.com for partnering with me on this trip. Want to discover your next family vacation destination? Visit Lake.com. Recorded with a Sound…
24 Sep 2026 · 38 min
Boats, Birds, and a Creaking Dock
A summer evening at Lake of the Ozarks—boats, waves, birds, distant cars, and a creaking metal dock. Ever wonder what the Lake of the Ozarks sounds like on a summer evening? This episode captures a cliffside waterfront property in Osage Beach, Missouri, as the day eases into evening. Listen for the steady rhythm of waves rolling in below, boats passing in the distance, birds settling in for the night, and the occasional hum of cars along the road above. Every so often, the metal dock creaks and groans underfoot, adding its own voice to the mix. It’s a calmer, slower version of the lake than…
17 Sep 2026 · 31 min
Lake of the Ozarks at Sunset
Sunset ambience from a lakefront cliffside in Osage Beach—speed boats, pontoons, and jet skis on the Lake of the Ozarks. Lake of the Ozarks at sunset. This is a different kind of soundscape than usual: less solitude, more energy, capturing that golden-hour buzz of a lake in full summer swing as the sun goes down. I recently had the opportunity to stay on a beautiful lakefront property in Osage Beach, Missouri, perched along a cliffside stretch of the Lake of the Ozarks. Unlike some of the quieter, more remote spots featured on this show, this lake is a busy one—and you’ll hear it. Speed…
10 Sep 2026 · 35 min
The Mystery of the Disappearing Waterfall
A campus pond—birds, baby ducks, e-bikes, and distant traffic on the East Beltline. The mystery of the disappearing waterfall. A listener recently reached out with a request: record the waterfall on the Calvin College campus in Grand Rapids. (You know who you are, and thank you for the tip!) So I made the trip out, mic in hand, only to discover that the waterfall had vanished. Turns out they apparently shut it off for the summer. Whatever the reasoning, I showed up to a very waterfall-less pond. Not one to waste a trip, I recorded the scene anyway. What you’ll hear instead is a lively slice…
3 Sep 2026 · 31 min
Binaural Hike: Out of the Woods
A binaural walk out from a remote cabin—wagon wheels, slush, birds, and woodland creatures in true stereo. In this episode, you hear my trek as I reluctantly leave a secluded A-frame cabin tucked about a mile into the woods—pulling a wagon loaded with my gear back through the slush toward the car, the woods slowly waking up around me. Listen with headphones to get the true left-right experience of the hike: the wagon wheels creaking and crunching to one side, birdsong drifting in and out overhead, and the occasional rustle of some unseen woodland creature moving through the brush. This one…
27 Aug 2026 · 47 min
Solitude and a Wood Stove
The quiet crackle of a wood stove and the scratch of a pen while planning the year ahead in a remote A-frame. Find solitude. This is Outdoor Sounds. Solo escape in a little A-frame cabin for a yearly planning session. This isn’t technically “outdoors,” but the cabin is simple and remote enough that I’ll let it slide. This episode is a quiet one: the small wood stove ticking and crackling as it warms the space, the occasional shift of weight on a wooden chair, and me working through notes and intentions for the months to come. There's no rush to it—just the slow, steady work of thinking…
20 Aug 2026 · 25 min
Trekking Through a Mile of Melting Snow
During an overnight planning retreat, I stayed in a tiny A-frame cabin about a mile into the woods from the parking area. Warm enough that day to turn the snow into thick, messy slush—so enjoy the sounds of that walk, there and back. Recorded with a Sound Devices MixPre 6 and a Sennheiser shotgun mic. This is Outdoor Sounds. At the beginning of the year, I had the chance to stay in a tiny A-frame cabin for an overnight planning retreat, tucked about a mile into the woods from where you park your car. On this particular day, the temperature crept just high enough to turn all that snow into a…
13 Aug 2026 · 42 min
Woodstove Inside an A-Frame Cabin
The crackle and hum of a wood stove inside a small A-frame cabin during a solo winter planning retreat. Near the beginning of this year, I took my annual planning retreat—a tradition where I step away on my own to think through the year ahead. This time, that meant a few quiet days in a small A-frame cabin: just a table, a cot for sleeping, and a wood stove for warmth. It’s not technically an “outdoor” recording, but the spirit is the same. You’ll hear the stove doing its work—crackling, popping, settling—as it fills the small space with heat against the winter cold outside. In the…
8 Jan 2026 · 39 min
December Rain
Slushy Michigan rain in December. Slushy December rain. When you live in Michigan, the weather can be pretty unpredictable. It might be sunny, rainy, and snowy all at the same time. It’s actually been pretty cold and snowy over the last couple of weeks, but during a brief warm-up, nearly everything melted, and it even rained for a day before completely snowing over again. This recording of surprise winter rain was captured with the BasicUchos and F3 under an umbrella. These are Outdoor Sounds.
25 Dec 2025 · 48 min
Falling Snow on Autumn Leaves
Early winter snowfall taps against lingering autumn leaves, creating a soft, steady white-noise soundscape. This recording is subtle and calming. If you’ve never experienced Michigan, we’re lucky to have all four seasons and a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees. Most years, the leaves are long gone by the time the first real snow arrives—but this year was different. An early snowfall came before the trees had fully let go of their leaves. As the snow fell, tiny pellet-like flakes tapped against the dry, crispy leaves still clinging to the branches in front of my house. It created a sound I…
18 Dec 2025 · 30 min
Winter Commutes Home: Rush Hour Through the Trees
Evening rush hour heard from the edge of winter woods—traffic, falling snow, and quiet creaks carried through cold air. When you live close to a city, it’s hard to avoid the sound of traffic—especially in winter. With the trees bare and snow covering the ground, sound carries differently, traveling farther and standing out more sharply against the otherwise quiet landscape. Today’s recording captures exactly that feeling. The ambiance of passing cars mixes with the subtle sounds of winter: falling snow, distant creaks from the trees, and the occasional shift of cold air through the branches.…
11 Dec 2025 · 37 min
Frozen Winter Runoff
A half-frozen winter runoff flowing into the Rogue River—gentle tones of water and ice recorded on a cold Midwest day. The longer I spend listening to nature… the clearer the subtleties become. Winter has fully arrived here in the Midwest, and during a quiet walk through the town of Rockford, Michigan, I went searching for something worth capturing. Near the boardwalk, I came across a small runoff feeding into the Rogue River—partially frozen, partially flowing, and full of delicate textures. What drew me in was the contrast: the steady movement of water beneath and around sheets of ice. If…
4 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Yardwork 02
27 Nov 2025 · 23 min
Yardwork 01
20 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 46 min
Manly South Wales Australia
Traveling to Australia. This is Outdoor Sounds. Today’s episode is a special submission from a friend of mine, Jason Earle, the Founder of GotMold. Jason has been spending some time abroad and was able to capture some early morning nature sounds in Manly, New South Wales. It’s a popular beachside suburb of northern Sydney Australia. The recording start very quite and then comes to life with the calls of birds around the 30 minute mark. It’s an amazing array of sounds that I’m not familiar with being from West Michigan. So again, a huge thanks to Jason for sharing this recording. Enjoy.
20 Nov 2025 · 49 min
Wind Chimes
Wind chimes on a breezy day. This Outdoor Sounds. I’ve really been enjoying the simple things lately. We recently had a windy West Michigan day - it’s nature’s way of removing the rest of the leaves from the trees. And I capture the sounds of the little wind chime hanging off the roof on our deck. It was recorded with my Sennheiser Shotgun mic and Zoom F3 recorder.
20 Nov 2025 · 42 min
Church Silence
Church silence. This is Outdoor Sounds. Sometimes the best sound is when there is none at all. I recently stopped pray in the middle of the night at a church I knew was open. It was close to midnight, just barely raining, and silent in a way I haven’t heard in a long time. Fortunately I had my equipment in the truck so I set up in this little grove or grotto on the side of the building and let it record while I went in to pray. You can listen for a whole lot of nothing. Just a few passing cars and the faint drops of rain from the roof. I was recorded with my Lom basicucho mics and Zoom F3.
30 Oct 2025 · 34 min
Rain Runoff Stereo Version
23 Oct 2025 · 34 min
Rain Runoff Shotgun Version
16 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
Sunday Afternoon Stream
A running clean stream. This is Outdoor Sounds. Most of the time, I don’t need much. On this recording I sat in the woods on a Sunday afternoon for about an hour and a half while recording a beautiful little stream. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. This was recorded with my sennheiser mkh416 shotgun mic and zoom f3 digital recorder.
9 Oct 2025 · 26 min
Relaxing in the Woods
Sitting in the woods with nothing to do. This is Outdoor Sounds. This is a shorter recording from my hour and a half stint in the woods. The bummer is I didn’t check the battery before recording and I only captured about 20 minutes of it. Regardless, I hope you are as relaxed as I was listening to this. It was recorded with my LOM BasicUchos and MixPre 6.
2 Oct 2025 · 8 hr 23 min
Early Morning Songbirds at a Hocking Hills Campground (EXTENDED)
The Early Morning Songbirds at a Hocking Hills Campground episode was the most popular recording from last quarter. So, here is the audio looped for over 8 hours for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!
25 Sep 2025 · 58 min
Crackling September Bonfire
Unwind by a September bonfire as the crackle fades to embers, joined by crickets, night air, and wildlife in this calming outdoor soundscape. In this episode, you’ll join me for the wind-down of a family bonfire on a beautiful Sunday evening in September. As the fire slowly burns from bright crackles down to glowing embers, the surrounding nighttime soundscape begins to take center stage. You’ll hear the subtle rhythm of crickets, the occasional call of nearby wildlife, and the gentle rise and fall of autumn night air. This recording was captured in stereo using a Zoom F3 paired with LOM…
18 Sep 2025 · 31 min
Wandering the Hansen Nature Trail
Wandering the Hansen Nature Trail at Millennium Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Wandering the Hansen Nature Trail at Millennium Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This started as an expedition to record the sounds at the pond, but was interrupted by a family fishing, so I decided to wander instead. Listen for a variety of sounds like birds, bugs, water, people riding bikes, other people riding those goofy pedal boats that don’t really work, and more. It was recorded in stereo with the Zoom F3 and LOM basicUcho microphones. These are Outdoor Sounds
17 Sep 2025 · 41 min
Late Summer Bugs
Bugs celebrate their last summer hurrah on a noisy August night in the woodlands of Michigan. The transition between late summer into fall is made evident by one telltale factor: how loud the bugs get at night as August draws to a close. It’s like their last hurrah before the cold weather settles in. For this recording, I drove over to a local woods and set my equipment up on the back of the truck to capture the night activity. Recorded with the Zoom F3 and basicUcho mics. This is Outdoor Sounds.
4 Sep 2025 · 28 min
Rolling August Night Thunderstorm
Nighttime sounds transition as a storm rolls in in late August. A storm rolls in in late August. Today’s recording captures an amazing transition. It begins with another loud August evening, similar to the previous episode, and about 15 minutes in, it transitions to a thunderstorm. As the storm rolls in, all of the bugs and night sounds disappear, and it shifts to the quickly heightening sound of rain and thunder. This was recorded in stereo with the Zoom F3 and LOM basicUcho microphones. This is Outdoor Sounds.
28 Aug 2025 · 13 min
A Stroll Down the Shoreline of Lake Michigan
Taking a stroll on the shore of Lake Michigan. A short stroll down the shore of Lake Michigan. This episode was recorded with a DPA headset. So if you’re wearing headphones, the first half of the recording you’ll hear the waves in one ear and the ambience of beach goers in the other. You’ll hear when I’ve turned around to head back from where I came, as the waves and people switch ears, making for a truly immersive listening experience. These are beautiful, binaural Outdoor Sounds.
21 Aug 2025 · 47 min
Relaxing Campground Atmosphere
Relaxing camping atmosphere from within a tent at Hocking Hills Campsite. Relaxing in a tent as a storm blows in at Hocking Hills Campsite in scenic Logan, Ohio. This recording was made at the campsite from inside the tent. Listen for classic camp sounds like ambient talking, cars driving past, birds, and the wind picking up before a storm blew in. Recorded in stereo with the Zoom F3 and LOM basicUcho microphones. This is Outdoor Sounds.

About Outdoor Sounds

Nature walks for your ears. Improving your work and rest with a new episode every week. 

Outdoor Sounds is a English tech & science podcast from Jeff Large. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Jeff Large
Language: English
Category: Tech & Science
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 38 min
Latest episode: 15 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1677945346
Rights: 2023

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