What does a little girl digging worms on a glacial lake in Michigan's Upper Peninsula have to do with changing lives in Southwest Florida? Everything.

This week on the Girl Dad Outdoors Podcast, Greg sits down with Debbie Hanson — award-winning outdoor writer, former ESPN radio show host, professional freshwater fishing guide, and current Community Outreach Director for the Freedom Waters Foundation in Naples, Florida.

Debbie's story starts exactly where the best ones do — with a grandfather who never once thought twice about taking his granddaughter fishing. Those summers on a lake in the U.P. shaped everything that followed. And what followed is remarkable.

In this episode, Debbie and Greg dig into:

• How early outdoor experiences shape kids for life — and why it doesn't have to be a big adventure to make a big difference
• What nine years of guiding taught her about parents, kids, and managing expectations on the water
• The Freedom Waters Foundation's Heels & Reels program — putting at-risk teenage girls on the water, many for the very first time, and watching their confidence transform in a single day
• Why the water heals — and the science that backs it up
• Her simple, powerful advice for any dad who wants a stronger bond with his daughter

This one will hit you right in the chest. If you've ever wondered whether the small moments matter — Debbie Hanson is your answer.

🎙️ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

🙏 Thank you to our sponsors:

St. Croix Rods — Handcrafted rods built for serious anglers. stcroixrods.com

Seviin Reels — Performance reels engineered to perform when it counts. seviinreels.com

American Sportfishing Association— Advocates for the future of fishing in America. asafishing.org

🙌 HELP US HELP THEM

The Freedom Waters Foundation's Heels & Reels program puts at-risk teenage girls on the water — many for the very first time. Every dollar goes toward t-shirts, fishing rods, lunch, sunscreen, and sunglasses for girls who don't have the means to provide them for themselves. Small donations make a huge difference.

👉 Donate here: freedomwatersfoundation.org/donate

She was one of the first female saltwater fishing captains in Tampa Bay. She competed on the professional redfish tournament circuit as part of the first all-female team to qualify for a national championship — finishing in the top 10 out of nearly 250 mostly male teams. And after 30 years, she's still on the water. Captain Leiza Fitzgerald joins Greg at the stunning waterfront of Farlow's on the Water in Englewood, FL for an inspiring conversation.

Leiza opens up about what it took to carve out a career in a world that wasn't built for her — navigating sponsorships, single motherhood, saltwater stigmas, and a tournament circuit that didn't know what to do with two women who just kept catching fish. She shares the marketing genius that helped her outsell her male counterparts for sponsors, why she never wore a bikini on a tournament boat, and how that decision is the reason she's still thriving three decades later.

But at the heart of this conversation is something every Girl Dad will feel deeply — the unbreakable bond between a parent and a child built one fishing trip at a time. From her dad being her very first charter client (and nearly getting her in trouble over an oversized redfish) to her 29-year-old son who still joins her every opening morning of turkey season, Leiza leaves us with a reminder that echoes long after the lines are reeled in: it's never really about the fish.

This episode is brought to you by St. Croix Rods and Seviin Reels — two of the most trusted names in fishing. We're also proud to be supported by the American Sportfishing Association, whose advocacy work protects the access and conservation that make stories like Leiza's possible for the next generation of anglers. And a special thank you to the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau for welcoming us to one of Florida's most breathtaking fishing destinations. We are grateful for the support of all three in making this conversation possible.

In this episode of Girl Dad Outdoors, host Greg Thompson sits down with Karlee Winkelman — daughter of outdoor legend Babe Winkelman and a lifelong hunter, angler, and outdoor media personality in her own right. Karlee grew up with a fishing rod in hand almost from birth, tagging along on hunts as an infant and traveling across North America with her family for decades of wild adventures.

But this conversation goes deeper than just the fish stories. Karlee opens up about what it was like being raised by a father who made the outdoors his life's mission — and how those early experiences shaped who she became. She talks honestly about the challenges of being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated space, the power of authentic storytelling in outdoor media, and what she believes girl dads do that makes all the difference.

If you're a father trying to pass on a love of hunting and fishing to your daughter, this one is for you.

Topics covered:

• Growing up as Babe Winkelman's daughter — and stepping out of that shadow
• Her first memories of hunting and fishing with her dad
• What girl dads do right (and what they sometimes get wrong)
• Being a woman in the outdoor industry: challenges and evolution
• How authentic outdoor experiences build confident, capable daughters
• Her work in outdoor media and content creation