Today’s guest is Hallie Pond from Pine River, MN. I asked her to be a guest because I don’t know about you, but I can get so damn angry and frustrated with things going on in the world….and with our fellow human beings, who some, I’m confident we can all agree, are real shits.

But, anger builds conflict and conflict can start to break down communication. And, what we need now more than ever is clear, honest, bold communication.

Hallie Pond is the founder of Truespace Consulting. She helps people connect more authentically, building skills to enhance communication and engage in conflict in healthy, dignified (I don’t think that includes dropping the f-bomb) and courageous ways. She holds a masters in Organizational Psychology and an advanced certificate in Cooperation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University.

So, deep breath...let’s pick up a few tips from Hallie on how to go forth in this crazy world.

You can learn more at truespaceconsulting.com about Hallie's conflict resiliency training, coaching and mediation for businesses, schools, and communities.

Scott is SO INSPIRING! Man, he in his signature black cowboy hat has been making serious headway for nature in southwest Minnesota.

I’ve been to his land, got to walk among his restored prairie and soak in the quiet, see all sorts of wild flowers and watch more fireflies at night than I’ve seen since I was a kid.

Scott Rall runs his own business by day and is a conservationist every other second of his life. He’s a 30-year volunteer for Pheasants Forever, was awarded the Hero of Conservation Award by Field and Stream magazine, and has SO Much GRIT dedicated to giving wildlife a place to breath.

Scott wanted me to let you know he’d love to talk with any of you interested in as he calls it, 'catching the conservation fever'. He’d be happy to give any tips or help on how to do restoration work or taking steps in conservation.

You can reach him on socials @habitatchampion

His number is 507.360.6027

Or email is [email protected]

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/

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!

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.

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.

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.

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:

https://www.climatementalhealth.net/

https://workthatreconnects.org/

www.windwavecounseling.com

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.

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