The Global Grit Experience

Erika Gilsdorf
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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. Loving on BUGS with Entomologist Jessica Wyn Miller

    5d ago

    Loving on BUGS with Entomologist Jessica Wyn Miller

    I've been hearing people saying lately how much they hate bugs or are scared of certain bugs and I’m like, I gotta do an episode on bugs…because we need bugs and they’re really so intricate and amazing. And, because I think it would be fun to learn a little bit more about them. My guest today is Jessica Wyn Miller. She’s an environmental entomologist and insect advocate. She’s the owner of Dragons Wynd that shares the wonder and fascination of the insects and the services they provide in our own yards and environments around the globe. She does a lot of talks and workshops and uses current research and interesting facts to help people laugh and inspire a respect for insect behavior, their heavy workload, and environmental needs. Jessica shares with us some bug fun facts, their role up the food chain for birds, fish, and turtles for example that we like to see in our yards, parks, lakes and rivers and how we can protect and nurture them to thrive. You can learn more about Dragons Wynd or reach out to Jessica below: jessica@dragonswynd.com dragonswynd.com https://www.etsy.com/shop/DragonsWyndInsects

    26 min
  2. Tips for Planting a Pollinator Garden

    May 26

    Tips for Planting a Pollinator Garden

    Today we’re talking about planting for pollinators! A few years ago I received a Lawns to Legumes pollinator habitat grant through a MN statewide education program called Blue Thumb which is part of the nonprofit, Metro Blooms based in Minneapolis. Metro Blooms partners with communities and folks to create outdoor spaces that’s good for the water and land like installing rain gardens that filter and clean water and native plantings the provide habitat for pollinators. With the grant, I started my first pollinator garden which has been addictive and now has transformed a once entirely mowed backyard to about 3/4’s pollinator garden… and it’s SO much fun to see all the flowers and life back there. I’ve invited Megan and Jennifer from Metro Blooms to talk with us about how to plant for pollinators. Megan Reich is with the Education Team and Jennifer Ehlert is Vice President of the for-profit Metro blooms Design+Build that does residential and commercial design, installation and maintenance of native landscapes. But, No matter where you live, this can apply to you. Each of our little pollinator spaces, big or small are like stepping stones across the landscape to help for example, migrating monarch make their journey. And, it’s, I think, super fun. Here are a few resources: Metro Blooms Website: https://metroblooms.org/ Blue Thumb Website: https://bluethumb.org/ Blue Thumb Planting Templates: https://bluethumb.org/public-resources/ Lawns to Legumes Habitat at Home Sign Up: https://bluethumb.org/lawns-to-legumes/habitat-at-home/ Lawns to Legumes Garden Tour Day: https://bluethumb.org/garden-tour-day/ National Wildlife Federation - Native Plant Habitats - https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native

    24 min
  3. Lessons Learned on a Winter Hike in the Colorado Rockies - a Saturday Adventure Story with Sawyer Gilsdorf

    May 23

    Lessons Learned on a Winter Hike in the Colorado Rockies - a Saturday Adventure Story with Sawyer Gilsdorf

    Sawyer Gilsdorf learned a few lessons on his snowy New Year's Day hike in the Colorado Rockies.

    26 min
  4. Building Nests to Help Loons

    May 19

    Building Nests to Help Loons

    With declining natural shorelines from development, loon numbers have been hurting. People like my guest Mark Backes on Big Fish Lake in Minnesota are building loon nests to help them out. Hear what goes into making a loon nest, the success they're having, and some fun loon facts along the way. The loon calls you'll hear are recorded on Gull Lake from a friend of mine and Minnesota's 'Loon Lady', Sheila Johnston.

    19 min
  5. The Environmental Fight to Save Public and Sacred Lands with Chris Riccardo

    May 12

    The Environmental Fight to Save Public and Sacred Lands with Chris Riccardo

    We are at a critical time when many of our public and sacred lands across the U.S. are being threatened. Political decisions, like the recent, totally disgusting vote passed to undo protections that block copper mining in the Boundary Water’s watershed, are at risk of setting precedents for other wilderness areas, like Utah's Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument. We need to stand together, across state lines for wilderness protection. Today’s Guest is Chris Riccardo, the Midwest organizer with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA). Hear about what's happening with the Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument, how congress is seeking to roll back protections, and what you can do (that's easy) to help. After listening, I hope you’ll take action and go to SUWA.org or make a quick call to your members of congress to vote NO on resolutions to undo the Grand Staircase-Escalante management plan. We gotta keep the pressure on together. For more info, Chris shared these resources: chris@suwa.org DC’s Switchboard: 202.224.3121 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/W1FceOMx_XQ https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fbdd127c2bfb421a8fe56f579f252892 https://gsenm.org/april-2026-newsletter/

    24 min
  6. Saturday Adventure Short - A Very Special Mother's Day with a Dog

    May 9

    Saturday Adventure Short - A Very Special Mother's Day with a Dog

    This was a Mother's Day of divine intervention.

    12 min
  7. Managing Kids' Screen Time with Author Erin Walsh

    May 6

    Managing Kids' Screen Time with Author Erin Walsh

    Today’s episode on the challenge of balancing technology or screen time for the kids in our lives I think is really relatable to so many of us. But, how is this related to the Global Grit Experience that's about nature and the outdoors? Well, when kids and teenagers would rather be looking at a screen inside than doing something outside, we’re losing that important connection to nature and the outdoors in our kids. My guest today is FABULOUS to give us some info and tips (without shame) on how to help us with the ever changing technology pressure on our kids. Erin Walsh is the co-founder of Minnesota-based Spark & Stitch Institute. Her work has been featured in publications like the Washington Post, Minnesota Public Radio, Psychology Today, and Parents.com and she co-authored the bestselling Tenth Anniversary Edition of Why Do They Act That Way? And, her latest book, It’s Their World: Teens, Screens, and the Science of Adolescence, is out now. Erin is also a parent herself and she gets it. Navigating technology for the kids in our lives is hard. But, she's hear to help. Take a listen. Erin also shared some resources with us below: Book: https://sparkandstitchinstitute.com/books/erin-walsh-its-their-world/ First Device Guide: https://sparkandstitchinstitute.com/learn/free-resources/first-device-guide/ New Device Agreement: https://sparkandstitchinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/First-Device-Agreements.pdf I'd Rather Inventory: https://sparkandstitchinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/Id-Rather-Inventory-2020.pdf

    45 min
  8. What's Next for the Boundary Waters with Sam Chadwick

    Apr 29

    What's Next for the Boundary Waters with Sam Chadwick

    Yowza that was a real blow with the recent Senate’s vote to overturn a 20-year ban on mining near the Boundary Waters. Argh! That vote from the House and then the Senate means voiding the protection of 225,000 acres in the Superior National Forest allowing the advancement to Twin Metals sulfide-ore copper mining upstream of the Boundary Waters wilderness near Ely, MN. This isn’t just about the Boundary Waters. These kinds of votes can set a precedent for other protected areas as well in the U.S. I’m just so disgusted as I know many of you are, too. So, let’s talk about it, get some info, see what’s next, and what we can do. My guest today is Sam Chadwick. Since 2014, Sam has helped lead the Ely, Minnesota-based national campaign to protect America's most-visited wilderness from proposed copper mining. As the Associate Director for Save the Boundary Waters and Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness, she's involved in advocacy, partnerships, and creative projects for this coalition of 400+ businesses, conservation, access, and sporting allies. Sam lives in Minnesota and loves exploring the outdoors with her kids. You can learn more and take action at www.SavetheBoundaryWaters.org

    29 min
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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
    2K
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Erika Gilsdorf
  • Show Website
    The Global Grit Experience