The Global Grit Experience

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

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

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.

Resources:

https://www.facebook.com/TheLoonLady/

https://www.nationallooncenter.org/

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:

[email protected]

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/

This was a Mother's Day of divine intervention.

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

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

This story is about a film shoot in Honduras, a lost dad, and a local. Sometimes intuition is everything.

I love adventure stories! If you have one, message me to be a guest on my podcast @theglobalgritexperience.

Hugs!

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 breathe.

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]