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The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

1KHO 915: Stop Sanitizing Childhood | Dr. Jack Gilbert, Dirt is Good

Sep 10, 2026 · 1h 3m

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About this episode

What if getting dirty is actually good for your kids? Ginny Yurich sits down with microbiome scientist Dr. Jack Gilbert, co-author of Dirt Is Good, to explore how exposure to the natural world helps shape a child’s developing immune system. Dr. Gilbert explains why dirt, animals, farms, siblings, pets, and everyday microbes aren’t necessarily things parents should fear—and why our increasingly sanitized, indoor lives may come with unintended consequences. They unpack fascinating research on everything from dropped pacifiers and hand-washed dishes to dogs, farm visits, breast milk, bathing habits, and the billions of microbes we encounter simply by stepping outside. Dr. Gilbert also explains…