The Global Grit Experience

Erika Gilsdorf
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Nature

The Global Grit Experience is a podcast featuring inspiring people with grit - passion, perseverance and an unwavering dedication in protecting, and loving, nature and wildlife. Whoop! Whoop! Host Erika Gilsdorf (that’s me!) is an international, award-winning video producer, who leaves the camera behind (for the most part) to let conversations breathe authentically in a podcast that spans diverse guests and topics. I include mental health guests, too who help us cope with all the crap and find joy amidst all the junk happening to our outdoors. Uffda…it’s a lot! (I’m a Minnesotan if you can't tell). Most importantly, this is a podcast about inspiration, hope, action, and connection. We have each other my friends!

  1. 16h ago

    How a Small Group of Locals Created a Huge Nature-Based Park in their Hometown

    How do you make stuff happen - like saving a beautiful area from development and creating instead an amazing nature-based park that the locals, wildlife, and tourists love? Let’s find out in this episode with guest, Polly Andersen. Polly’s love of nature led her to champion the Wannigan Regional Park in her hometown of Frazee, MN. Resources https://wanniganpark.com/ Follow The Global Grit Experience: Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience Facebook: @theglobalgritexperience Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I SO appreciate you!

    How a Small Group of Locals Created a Huge Nature-Based Park in their Hometown

  2. Aug 11

    The Amazing Honey Bee Matriarchal Society and a Year in Beekeeping with Sawyer Gilsdorf

    Honey bees! In this episode I chat with Sawyer Gilsdorf, professional beekeeper with Björn’s Colorado Honey in Boulder, Colorado (and my awesome nephew) to learn what’s involved with beekeeping year round in colder winter climates. And, of course, learn some amazing honey bee fun facts and their intricate matriarchal society. Resources: Björns Colorado Honey Follow The Global Grit Experience: Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience Facebook: @theglobalgritexperience Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

    The Amazing Honey Bee Matriarchal Society and a Year in Beekeeping with Sawyer Gilsdorf

  3. Aug 4

    Why are Three Specific Bird Species the Focus of Conservation in Minnesota?

    Emilia Skogen fell in love with birds at a young age and has been working with them ever since. In today's episode, I talk with her about why she's specifically working with three bird species in Minnesota and what conservation for them looks like through forestry management. Emilia is a Minnesota Public Lands Conservation Forester with the American Bird Conservancy. RESOURCES https://abcbirds.org/ https://abcbirds.org/ways-to-give/ https://abcbirds.org/get-involved/ Outdoor Heritage Fund work - Details about the three bird species Emilia works with, where the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) works, and how many acres of habitat ABC has worked with partner agencies to manage for birds so far. https://abcbirds.org/where-we-work/north-america/great-lakes-ohf-grants/ FREE FORESTRY FOR MINNESOTA BIRDS GUIDE https://www.birds.cornell.edu/landtrust/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ForestryForMNBirdsGuidebook.pdf EMILIA SKOGEN CONTACT INFORMATION Fee free to email or call Emilia if they'd like more information on any topics, or want to connect with ABC's private lands foresters on managing their land for birds and other wildlife: eskogen@abcbirds.org / (612) 439-2011 Contact Emilia for any information about ball cactus. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WI DNR MOSS (managed old-growth silvicultural study) https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/research/moss Audubon MN secretive marsh bird surveys https://www.audubon.org/umr/projects/monitoring-secretive-marsh-birds-minnesota Follow The Global Grit Experience: Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience Facebook: @theglobalgritexperience Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

    Why are Three Specific Bird Species the Focus of Conservation in Minnesota?

  4. Jul 28

    Why Protecting Public Lands Matters - And How We Can Help

    In this episode I hit the North Country Trail with Matt Davis, the Regional Trail Coordinator for MN, ND and WI for the nonprofit, North Country Trail Association. We talk about this beautiful 5,000 mile trail, why public lands are important (in SO many ways), how they’re being taken away, sold, and at risk, and what we can do to stop this attack. Matt also shares a few summer tips to keep us safe and comfy hiking. Resources North Country Trail Association: northcountrytrail.org Sierra Club: https://www.sierraclub.org/issues/environment/public-lands Trust for Public Land: https://www.tpl.org League of Conservation Voters: https://www.lcv.org 5 Calls - An easy place to call your legislators to protect public lands: https://5calls.org/ Follow The Global Grit Experience: Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience Facebook: @theglobalgritexperience Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

    Why Protecting Public Lands Matters - And How We Can Help

  5. Jul 21

    We Just Experienced Climate Chaos in MN - What Do We Do Next?

    Minnesota's AQI hit record highs recently during the wildfires making it feel apocalyptic with smoky, brown skies, evacuated homes, and air quality that made it dangerous and painful to breathe. Erika sits down in the midst of it with guest Julia Frost Nerbonne, Executive Director of Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light to talk about what it was like experiencing climate chaos firsthand and what diverse faiths are doing together to move forward with climate solutions. This conversation is real, inspiring, and hopeful. Resources: www.mnipl.org Julia@mnipl.org 651.301.8195 Follow The Global Grit Experience: Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience Facebook: @theglobalgritexperience Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

    We Just Experienced Climate Chaos in MN - What Do We Do Next?

  6. Jul 14

    How Small-Scale Farming Changed Cody's Life

    Erika sits down and talks with farmer Cody Kurowski at his Sower’s Harvest Farm in Fergus Falls, MN to find out what got him into farming, why he’s going the chemical-free route, and how you farm year-round in a frigid winter state like Minnesota. Resources: Sower’s Harvest Farm https://www.sowersharvestfarm.com/ https://www.facebook.com/sowersharvestfarm/ https://www.instagram.com/sowersharvestfarm/ Summer Veggie Recipes: https://pinchofyum.com/summer-produce-recipes https://www.bakedbymelissa.com/blogs/recipes/farm-stand-salad https://www.homechef.com/meals/farmstand-salad Follow The Global Grit Experience: Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience Facebook: @theglobalgritexperience Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

    How Small-Scale Farming Changed Cody's Life

  7. Jul 7

    What's a Food Co-op & is 'Organic' for Real?

    What's different with a food co-op and can we really trust the organic food label? Erika talks with farmer and Manna Food Co-op General Manager, Ryan Pesch. Ryan started Lida Farm near Pelican Rapids, MN in 2004 and brings unique perspectives as a farmer, business person, and healthy foods advocate that is relevant wherever you live. Ryan refers to it as the good food movement in today's episode. Resources: https://mannafoodcoop.com/ Follow The Global Grit Experience: Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience Facebook: @theglobalgritexperience Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience. I appreciate you!

    What's a Food Co-op & is 'Organic' for Real?

  8. Jun 30

    FROGS! with Interpretive Park Ranger, Kelly Blackledge

    Love frogs? Toads? Kelly sure does and shares with us why. In today’s episode, Erika talks with Interpretive Park Ranger of 30 years, Kelly Blackledge to learn some fun facts about frogs, their sounds, how they survive in winter, and how they're doing out there. Resources: Frog & Toad Opera https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reptiles_amphibians/frogs_toads/opera.html Record your sightings on HerpMapper https://www.herpmapper.org/ Minnesota Frog Watch https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteering/frogtoad_survey/index.html FrogWatch USA https://www.akronzoo.org/frogwatch-usa-volunteers Malformed Frogs Found in MN https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-043-01/ Book: Peril in the Ponds: Deformed Frogs, Politics, and a Biologist's Quest by Judy Helgen (Author) Follow The Global Grit Experience: Instagram: @thegloabgritexperience Facebook: @theglobalgritexperience Visit: www.theglobalgritexperience.com Thanks for listening and being a part of The Global Grit Experience!

    FROGS! with Interpretive Park Ranger, Kelly Blackledge
See All (36)

About

The Global Grit Experience is a podcast featuring inspiring people with grit - passion, perseverance and an unwavering dedication in protecting, and loving, nature and wildlife. Whoop! Whoop! Host Erika Gilsdorf (that’s me!) is an international, award-winning video producer, who leaves the camera behind (for the most part) to let conversations breathe authentically in a podcast that spans diverse guests and topics. I include mental health guests, too who help us cope with all the crap and find joy amidst all the junk happening to our outdoors. Uffda…it’s a lot! (I’m a Minnesotan if you can't tell). Most importantly, this is a podcast about inspiration, hope, action, and connection. We have each other my friends!

Information

  • Creator
    Erika Gilsdorf
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Erika Gilsdorf
  • Show Website
    The Global Grit Experience