<![CDATA[The Global Grit Experience]]>ac24398c-e007-52fa-95ff-29b26aef3a4dTue, 14 Apr 2026 00:10:02 +0000Captivate.fmErika Gilsdorfhttps://artwork.captivate.fm/fe42e6ed-fe20-46b2-9b39-19642e447214/Grit-logo-small.jpgThe Global Grit ExperienceErika GilsdorfErika GilsdorfNATURE deserves our GRIT - Courage, curiosity, gratitude, hope and UNWAVERING determination to PROTECT it. This is Series One: For the Love of Nature - Minnesota.https://theglobalgritexperience.comtrueepisodicnopodcastSpring Migration is Here and Whoop, it's Beautifully Noisy!Spring Migration is Here and Whoop, it's Beautifully Noisy!Kelly Blackledge knows her birds! She's so much fun to talk with, especially this time of year during spring migration as the woods, wetlands, lakes and bird feeders start getting busy baby. And, beautifully noisy! It's SO much fun hearing the first sandhill crane of the year, or the loon, or so many other birds we all love.

Kelly has over 30 years' experience as an Interpretive Park Ranger and a degree in Animal Ecology. She helps coordinate her local Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds, is a volunteer for the Minnesota loon watcher survey, and you’ll be able to tell… LOVES birds.

Listen in, hear some bird calls, and impress your friends with a few fun facts.

Resources:

https://birdcast.org/

https://journeynorth.org/

]]>Kelly Blackledge knows her birds! She's so much fun to talk with, especially this time of year during spring migration as the woods, wetlands, lakes and bird feeders start getting busy baby. And, beautifully noisy! It's SO much fun hearing the first sandhill crane of the year, or the loon, or so many other birds we all love.

Kelly has over 30 years' experience as an Interpretive Park Ranger and a degree in Animal Ecology. She helps coordinate her local Detroit Lakes Festival of Birds, is a volunteer for the Minnesota loon watcher survey, and you’ll be able to tell… LOVES birds.

Listen in, hear some bird calls, and impress your friends with a few fun facts.

Resources:

https://birdcast.org/

https://journeynorth.org/

]]>70586335-9d33-4763-b266-14c63dc83333Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:55:00 -040019:16truefull114141Saturday Story- I was Drowning!Saturday Story- I was Drowning!A scuba debacle with my little brother.

If you have an adventure story, message me on FB or IG! It would be fun to share it.

Thanks for being a part of the Global Grit Experience!

]]>A scuba debacle with my little brother.

If you have an adventure story, message me on FB or IG! It would be fun to share it.

Thanks for being a part of the Global Grit Experience!

]]>35c038c3-e0fd-4746-b8fd-8b327a507fa2Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:10:00 -040005:27truefull113131A High Schooler's Perspective on Climate ActionA High Schooler's Perspective on Climate ActionToday’s guest is another kick ass and inspiring person I wanted to share with you. I recorded this episode before I even had a podcast. I love her grit and wanted to share her perspective as a teenager on climate action.

Myiesha Antoni is an 18 year-old dual enrollment senior in high school and getting her associates degree. Dang girl. She’s from Henning Minnesota and lobbied for climate action in Washington, DC with Citizens Climate Lobby.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy climate change organization with nationwide and international chapters.

Let’s meet this awesome girl who has A LOT of grit.

]]>Today’s guest is another kick ass and inspiring person I wanted to share with you. I recorded this episode before I even had a podcast. I love her grit and wanted to share her perspective as a teenager on climate action.

Myiesha Antoni is an 18 year-old dual enrollment senior in high school and getting her associates degree. Dang girl. She’s from Henning Minnesota and lobbied for climate action in Washington, DC with Citizens Climate Lobby.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy climate change organization with nationwide and international chapters.

Let’s meet this awesome girl who has A LOT of grit.

]]>f961a71a-15fb-4f40-a397-bbd165635947Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:55:00 -040012:43truefull112121It's the Poop Talk! Jim Makes Humanure Compost. What?!It's the Poop Talk! Jim Makes Humanure Compost. What?!My guest today is Jim Etzel from Hackensack, Minnesota. He’s the owner of Earth is Our Home Environmental Solutions. He’s all about having healthy soils to have healthy food and a healthy world. I met Jim at a recent community event through West Central Initiative and learned about his passion for composting….but not your typical composting. Yep, today, we’re having what he calls, the poop talk.

"It's like baking cookies. You gotta get the recipe right. You gotta get the ingredients right. It breaks this material down from the ‘ew’ to topsoil." Jim Etzel

If you want to get a hold of Jim, you can go to earthisourhome.net or call 218.252.3258. He'd love to talk with you.

]]>My guest today is Jim Etzel from Hackensack, Minnesota. He’s the owner of Earth is Our Home Environmental Solutions. He’s all about having healthy soils to have healthy food and a healthy world. I met Jim at a recent community event through West Central Initiative and learned about his passion for composting….but not your typical composting. Yep, today, we’re having what he calls, the poop talk.

"It's like baking cookies. You gotta get the recipe right. You gotta get the ingredients right. It breaks this material down from the ‘ew’ to topsoil." Jim Etzel

If you want to get a hold of Jim, you can go to earthisourhome.net or call 218.252.3258. He'd love to talk with you.

]]>8f79c7bb-4dab-4621-b29d-c60cfeba1b80Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:00:00 -040018:24truefull111111Does it Really Matter Trying to Make Your Voice Heard?Does it Really Matter Trying to Make Your Voice Heard?We're asked to make calls, write letters, sign petitions, protest…to make our voices heard to the higher ups in congress. But does it matter? Do our efforts actually ever make it up the food chain to make a difference?

I invited Ben Anderson to give us a little insight into this.

Ben has worked for three members of congress from Minnesota, the US House Committee on Agriculture, and at the US Department of Agriculture.

He shares what he thinks works, matters, and is most effective.

]]>We're asked to make calls, write letters, sign petitions, protest…to make our voices heard to the higher ups in congress. But does it matter? Do our efforts actually ever make it up the food chain to make a difference?

I invited Ben Anderson to give us a little insight into this.

Ben has worked for three members of congress from Minnesota, the US House Committee on Agriculture, and at the US Department of Agriculture.

He shares what he thinks works, matters, and is most effective.

]]>5eeaee48-caf5-44d8-8ef3-b8db3353ff3cSun, 29 Mar 2026 19:50:00 -040020:14truefull110101Staying Grounded & Centered When You're Going Off the RailsStaying Grounded & Centered When You're Going Off the RailsThere's no better time than NOW to freshen up our skills on being grounded, centered and living our authentic lives, especially when everything is cray-cray and some of us are about to go off the rails (if we haven't already). I feel 'ya.

I’m big into mental health and I’m super excited about my guest, Tessa Wolden, whose going to give us some good tips on how to manage today's roller coaster(s) and tap into nature and the outdoors to help.

Tessa is a Board Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with over 13 years of experience. She’s recently launched her own private practice, Wind Wave Counseling, based in Edina, Minnesota.

Resources:

climatementalhealth.net

https://workthatreconnects.org/

www.windwavecounseling.com

]]>There's no better time than NOW to freshen up our skills on being grounded, centered and living our authentic lives, especially when everything is cray-cray and some of us are about to go off the rails (if we haven't already). I feel 'ya.

I’m big into mental health and I’m super excited about my guest, Tessa Wolden, whose going to give us some good tips on how to manage today's roller coaster(s) and tap into nature and the outdoors to help.

Tessa is a Board Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with over 13 years of experience. She’s recently launched her own private practice, Wind Wave Counseling, based in Edina, Minnesota.

Resources:

climatementalhealth.net

https://workthatreconnects.org/

www.windwavecounseling.com

]]>7d8c3a29-3bc8-4af4-9873-954b7fb63f5aTue, 24 Mar 2026 20:05:00 -040025:07truefull1991What's Populism, It's Current Rise, and Why Critical Thinking is....Well... CriticalWhat's Populism, It's Current Rise, and Why Critical Thinking is....Well... CriticalThis was kind of a deep dive that I absolutely loved. I learned so much from Dennis in this episode. Dennis Jacobs is a retired physics professor, pilot, and aeronautical engineer. He’s the author of multiple books including The Search for Science and From McEnergy to EcoEnergy, America’s Transition to Sustainable Energy, cowritten with Sociology Professor and wife, Dr. Karen Branden (also a prior podcast guest). He and Karen built and live in an environmentally friendly house in Northern Minnesota.

I could talk with Dennis about a kazillion awesome topics but I asked him what he’s most passionate about sharing and sees as a major concern when it comes to the environment. His answer….the rise of populism.

]]>This was kind of a deep dive that I absolutely loved. I learned so much from Dennis in this episode. Dennis Jacobs is a retired physics professor, pilot, and aeronautical engineer. He’s the author of multiple books including The Search for Science and From McEnergy to EcoEnergy, America’s Transition to Sustainable Energy, cowritten with Sociology Professor and wife, Dr. Karen Branden (also a prior podcast guest). He and Karen built and live in an environmentally friendly house in Northern Minnesota.

I could talk with Dennis about a kazillion awesome topics but I asked him what he’s most passionate about sharing and sees as a major concern when it comes to the environment. His answer….the rise of populism.

]]>66633529-8e07-4a71-b07f-bb68a0dbe28bMon, 23 Mar 2026 07:45:00 -040019:28truefull1881There was this Crevice...There was this Crevice...Sometimes it's fun to just hear some outdoor adventure stories. This short story was an adventures with my dad.

]]>Sometimes it's fun to just hear some outdoor adventure stories. This short story was an adventures with my dad.

]]>acfb8029-55d6-4007-8204-827ff7719062Sat, 21 Mar 2026 11:40:00 -040006:42falsefull1771Building a Net Zero Energy Home Was Easier Than They ThoughtBuilding a Net Zero Energy Home Was Easier Than They ThoughtVan and his wife Sue built a net-zero energy home 12 miles out of Alexandria, MN. As much as I wanted to know how they did it, it was why they did it that intrigued me.

Dr. Van Gooch is a retired professor of Biology from the University of Minnesota at Morris, where he taught for 35 years. After retirement, he and Sue set themselves to this challenge.

And, even if building a net-zero home isn’t in your cards, Van has good tips on what we can each do to save energy and money in where we live.... and how we live.

If you have questions or would like to talk with Van about building a net-zero or energy efficient home, you can reach him at:

goochv@morris.umn.edu

320-283-5222

]]>Van and his wife Sue built a net-zero energy home 12 miles out of Alexandria, MN. As much as I wanted to know how they did it, it was why they did it that intrigued me.

Dr. Van Gooch is a retired professor of Biology from the University of Minnesota at Morris, where he taught for 35 years. After retirement, he and Sue set themselves to this challenge.

And, even if building a net-zero home isn’t in your cards, Van has good tips on what we can each do to save energy and money in where we live.... and how we live.

If you have questions or would like to talk with Van about building a net-zero or energy efficient home, you can reach him at:

goochv@morris.umn.edu

320-283-5222

]]>761e106b-29ee-496e-a885-9eba45e43ff2Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:05:00 -040021:08truefull1661It's Not Always About Playing Nicey-NiceIt's Not Always About Playing Nicey-NiceI find it interesting why we do the things we do. And, why we feel compelled to play nicey-nice when it comes to talking about the environment and climate action. I get it. No one, including myself, wants to be beaten over the head with anything, especially 'shoulds', 'coulds' or major ass guilt trips. But yet, we want to take action and action can sometimes be SO damn overwhelming and frustrating as 'f'. Especially when we don't see the results we want fast enough or even sometimes, at all.

Today’s guest, Dr. Karen Branden, is going to give us a bit of an inside look from a sociologist’s perspective on how we work, especially when it comes to creating change and when, yep, sometimes, it's okay to be our fierce selves.

Dr. Karen Branden has a PhD in Sociology, and has been a professor of Sociology for over 20 years. She’s taught at schools around the world and is currently a professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Minnesota State University Moorhead. One of the classes she teaches, that really piqued my interest, is Society and the Environment. Karen’s joining us from her home in Rochert, MN.

]]>I find it interesting why we do the things we do. And, why we feel compelled to play nicey-nice when it comes to talking about the environment and climate action. I get it. No one, including myself, wants to be beaten over the head with anything, especially 'shoulds', 'coulds' or major ass guilt trips. But yet, we want to take action and action can sometimes be SO damn overwhelming and frustrating as 'f'. Especially when we don't see the results we want fast enough or even sometimes, at all.

Today’s guest, Dr. Karen Branden, is going to give us a bit of an inside look from a sociologist’s perspective on how we work, especially when it comes to creating change and when, yep, sometimes, it's okay to be our fierce selves.

Dr. Karen Branden has a PhD in Sociology, and has been a professor of Sociology for over 20 years. She’s taught at schools around the world and is currently a professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Minnesota State University Moorhead. One of the classes she teaches, that really piqued my interest, is Society and the Environment. Karen’s joining us from her home in Rochert, MN.

]]>5ef19d0f-b0ce-486b-b8f3-6ce87b4b3de2Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:45:00 -040022:18truefull1551Dominion Over or Dominion Among - A Refreshing Religious Perspective I Wish Everyone Could HearDominion Over or Dominion Among - A Refreshing Religious Perspective I Wish Everyone Could HearToday, we’re talking with Pastor Beth Monke. I wanted to talk with Beth to hear about climate action from a religious or spiritual perspective. Beth is a Pastor at the Grove Lake Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota AND she’s a climate activist! Whoop! Whoop! Beth is the Citizen's Climate Lobby (CCL) co-leader for the Fergus Falls, MN chapter. Beth has a lot of depth and wisdom you'll love to hear.

Citizen's Climate Lobby is a nonpartisan organization that empowers every day people (like you and me) to work together on climate policy. There are 420+ chapters across the US and 150+ international chapters on 6 continents. Pretty cool if you’re looking for ways to get involved in your own community. Beth is also a former outpatient mental health therapist.

]]>Today, we’re talking with Pastor Beth Monke. I wanted to talk with Beth to hear about climate action from a religious or spiritual perspective. Beth is a Pastor at the Grove Lake Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota AND she’s a climate activist! Whoop! Whoop! Beth is the Citizen's Climate Lobby (CCL) co-leader for the Fergus Falls, MN chapter. Beth has a lot of depth and wisdom you'll love to hear.

Citizen's Climate Lobby is a nonpartisan organization that empowers every day people (like you and me) to work together on climate policy. There are 420+ chapters across the US and 150+ international chapters on 6 continents. Pretty cool if you’re looking for ways to get involved in your own community. Beth is also a former outpatient mental health therapist.

]]>482677c5-bfb2-4b86-8b17-a972097dcc28Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -040017:28truefull1441Kids are Thriving in Dacia's Outdoor Nature SchoolKids are Thriving in Dacia's Outdoor Nature SchoolDacia Dauner built an outdoor nature school in Bemidji, MN. Picture a combo of a twenty something below winter and kids in cozy yurts for classrooms…. and you have Apple Blossom Nature School. She (and the kids and other teachers) have GRiT!

Dacia Dauner is the founder of Apple Blossom Village, a micro-school that provides nature-based programs for kids, families and the community year round.

]]>Dacia Dauner built an outdoor nature school in Bemidji, MN. Picture a combo of a twenty something below winter and kids in cozy yurts for classrooms…. and you have Apple Blossom Nature School. She (and the kids and other teachers) have GRiT!

Dacia Dauner is the founder of Apple Blossom Village, a micro-school that provides nature-based programs for kids, families and the community year round.

]]>c9f07d10-a299-48c9-9cde-1124d92be5c6Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:55:00 -040019:43truefull1331How to be Active, Politically Speaking -ugh, Without Losing Your ShitHow to be Active, Politically Speaking -ugh, Without Losing Your ShitOne of the biggest things we can do for the outdoor places we love and a world we want to see where nature is priority and not a commodity is vote. Speaking up, standing up and voting for nature takes GRiT… but like I say, nature deserves some of our grit, right? Let’s learn a few tips on what we can do without losing our wits in the process.

Celeste Koppe is the Communications Officer on the Board of Directors for the Detroit Lakes Minnesota League of Women Voters. League of Women voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy.

]]>One of the biggest things we can do for the outdoor places we love and a world we want to see where nature is priority and not a commodity is vote. Speaking up, standing up and voting for nature takes GRiT… but like I say, nature deserves some of our grit, right? Let’s learn a few tips on what we can do without losing our wits in the process.

Celeste Koppe is the Communications Officer on the Board of Directors for the Detroit Lakes Minnesota League of Women Voters. League of Women voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy.

]]>175f046c-3de0-4315-ada3-50c616de1495Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:45:00 -040023:54truefull1221It's Too Much! Mental Health Tips to Cope When the World's Challenges are Tearing You Up.It's Too Much! Mental Health Tips to Cope When the World's Challenges are Tearing You Up.The Global Grit Experience is about having GRIT... passion and perseverance and an unwavering dedication to protecting nature despite challenges. And there are a lot of challenges out there right now, holy hell. Especially for the environment.

But, having grit can sound exhausting, right? Especially when we’re worn out, overwhelmed and want to hide under the covers.

So, I thought it would be good to kick this baby off with what I think is top tier important…your mental health. Because, without it, we burn out and drop out and that’s not good for you, for us, or for our precious outdoors. Because we each have something to contribute! Right? We’re amazing!

My first guest...whoop whoop... is Dr. Aligada here in my hometown.

Dr. Jonathan Aligada is an adult clinical psychologist at Sanford Health in Detroit Lakes, MN. I’ve interviewed Dr. Aligada before for a mental health video series and am SO grateful he’s able to join us for this podcast.

Thanks for tuning in!

]]>The Global Grit Experience is about having GRIT... passion and perseverance and an unwavering dedication to protecting nature despite challenges. And there are a lot of challenges out there right now, holy hell. Especially for the environment.

But, having grit can sound exhausting, right? Especially when we’re worn out, overwhelmed and want to hide under the covers.

So, I thought it would be good to kick this baby off with what I think is top tier important…your mental health. Because, without it, we burn out and drop out and that’s not good for you, for us, or for our precious outdoors. Because we each have something to contribute! Right? We’re amazing!

My first guest...whoop whoop... is Dr. Aligada here in my hometown.

Dr. Jonathan Aligada is an adult clinical psychologist at Sanford Health in Detroit Lakes, MN. I’ve interviewed Dr. Aligada before for a mental health video series and am SO grateful he’s able to join us for this podcast.

Thanks for tuning in!

]]>2596ce04-219b-4639-ad3d-1b14279820f1Sat, 28 Feb 2026 17:15:00 -040028:48falsefull1111