Nordic Tales & American Trails

This week on Nordic Tales & American Trails , we're heading underground again! With Erik joining Jan Gustavsson (Trapperlodge) for the Badger BBQ this weekend, and with time being a little tight lately, we decided to revisit one of our earlier conversations. In this re-release of Episode 39 , Erik and Adam sit down with Jan, one of Sweden's most experienced den hunters, to explore the...

In Part 2 of Nordic Tales & American Trails , Erik continues his conversation with Mr. Loghead from Working Terrier History , exploring the traditions, practical experiences, and future of hunting with working terriers. They discuss the relationship between hunting, wildlife management, and conservation, along with how different cultures, environments, and legislation shape hunting traditions...

In this episode of Nordic Tales & American Trails , Erik sits down with Mr. Loghead from Working Terrier History for the first part of a three-hour conversation exploring the history, traditions, and future of working terriers. They discuss the origins of terrier work in Britain and Europe, how hunting traditions shaped different breeds, and the influence of kennel clubs and show standards on...

One year ago today, we lost our friend and former podcast guest Ask Hyldgaard to suicide . To remember Ask and mark one year since his passing, we are re-releasing Episode 38 of Nordic Tales & American Trails — the conversation we were fortunate enough to have with him about dogs, hunting, tracking, and his unique journey through life. Ask was a Swedish wounded-game tracker, dog handler, and f...

In this episode, Erik catches up with Wayne Dixon for another chapter of Bjorn to Be Wild , following Bjorn as he takes his first steps from puppyhood toward becoming a hunting dog. Wayne shares what he has learned from watching Scotty raise her puppies naturally and how early exposure to the outdoors, other dogs, wildlife, and different environments can influence confidence, independence, and hun...

Originally released as a two-part conversation, we’re bringing both parts together as one full episode. This week, Erik Rhodin sits down with Derek Hall for the complete conversation exploring hunting with dogs — from the deserts of Arizona to the forests of Scandinavia. Erik and Derek dive into what makes a good hunting dog, how breeds and hunting styles adapt to different environments, and the c...

In this crossover episode, Erik is joined by Frank Sievers from High Country and Handmade for a wide-ranging conversation about hunting dogs, different breeds, and hunting traditions in Sweden and North Idaho. Erik and Frank compare the dogs they hunt with and how different game, landscapes, regulations, and hunting seasons influence the breeds hunters choose. From Blueticks, Plotts, and other hou...

In this episode, Erik sits down with Robin Tangen from Norway and Justin Smith from Virginia for a conversation about Treeing Walker Coonhounds, bear hunting, breeding, and the connections hunting dogs create across the Atlantic. Robin and Justin share the story of how their friendship developed through hounds, including Robin traveling to the United States to hunt and eventually bringing a Treein...

In this episode, Erik sits down with Swedish hunter and longtime hunting advocate Torbjörn Larsson for a wide-ranging conversation about hunting, game management, conservation, and hunting culture across Europe. Torbjörn shares his journey from growing up as a hunter in Sweden to becoming chairman of the Swedish Hunters Association and later president of FACE – the European Federation for Hunting...

In this episode, Erik catches up with Wayne Dixon for another chapter of Bjorn to Be Wild , following the development of his young West Siberian Laika, Bjorn. At just under six months old, Bjorn's hunting drive and personality are starting to show more and more. Wayne shares updates from recent bear encounters, time in the woods, and how Bjorn is learning from the older dogs around him while begin...

In this episode, Erik sits down with Ben Brochu of Hinterland Outdoors for a wide-ranging conversation about hunting, trapping, wildlife management, and adventure in the Canadian wilderness. Ben shares his journey from growing up around trapping and the outdoors in Alberta to building Hinterland Outdoors and guiding hunters across remote country. The conversation covers everything from moose, bear...

In this episode, Erik and Adam continue their conversation with John White from Louisiana, diving deeper into the world of hunting with hounds and spending more time on one of John’s other passions: deer hunting with dogs. John shares his experience with deer hounds, including what he looks for in a good deer dog, how dogs are trained and conditioned, and the differences between running deer and h...

In this milestone 100th episode , Erik and Adam sit down with John White from Louisiana for a wide-ranging conversation about hunting dogs, field trials, breeding, and the traditions that shape dog hunting in North America. John is a competitive beagler and multiple field trial champion who shares his passion for hunting dogs, breeding, and developing dogs for both competition and real hunting. We...

In this episode, Erik sits down with James Edwards for a wide-ranging conversation covering Scandinavian hunting, hunting with dogs, and the lessons learned from adventures on both sides of the Atlantic. The conversation explores the differences between hunting cultures in Europe and North America, how wildlife adapts to hunting pressure, and how regulations, terrain, and tradition shape the way w...

In this episode, Erik, Adam, and Jeffrey Vang dive into the world of dog hunting for wild boar, breaking down different styles, strategies, and how hunters adapt their dogs to the field. Jeffrey shares his experience from nearly a decade in hunting dogs, explaining why he focuses more on traits, drive, and adaptability than pure bloodlines when building and developing dogs for real hunting situati...

In this episode, Erik sits down with Matt Miller to explore his journey from growing up hunting in New Zealand to building a life in Sweden, and how those experiences have shaped his approach to hunting, wildlife management, and conservation. Matt shares his perspective on the differences between hunting cultures, regulations, and game management in New Zealand, Sweden, and Africa. We discuss ethi...

In this episode, Erik and Adam sit down with Kylin White to explore what it was like growing up hunting rabbits and deer with dogs in rural Louisiana. Kylin shares how hunting has been a part of his family for generations, from following his father and grandfather through the woods to developing a lifelong passion for working dogs. The conversation covers the traditions of rabbit hunting with Beag...

In this episode, Erik and Adam catch up as a new hunting season begins in Sweden. They discuss what they're looking forward to in the months ahead, upcoming hunts, podcast plans, and the projects they've been working on behind the scenes. The conversation also marks the launch of the Nordic Tales & American Trails Merch Store . After months of planning, designing, and testing, we finally share...

We sit down once again to continue documenting the real-time development of a young West Siberian Laika on the path toward becoming a solo bear dog. This episode centers around one of the most important—and often most difficult—aspects of dog training: consistency. We discuss why every interaction with a young dog matters, how small inconsistencies can create confusion, and why successful training...

In Part Two of our conversation with Mikael Kronstrand, we continue our discussion by diving deeper into the equipment, technology, and practical decisions that shape modern hunting. From rifles and optics to GPS systems, dog boxes, and hunting vehicles, Mikael shares what has changed over the years, what equipment has proven itself in the field, and where hunting technology is heading next. We al...

In this episode, Erik and Adam sit down with Swedish hunter and dog handler Mikael Kronstrand for a conversation covering hunting dogs, breeding, hunting equipment, and the technology shaping modern hunting. Mikael shares his thoughts on developing young hunting dogs, breeding for consistency, and how different breeds mature over time. The discussion explores tracking work, scent training, and the...

In this episode Chris Sundström returns for a conversation focused on importing and exporting hunting dogs between Europe and North America. Drawing from years of experience on both sides of the Atlantic, Chris shares the realities of moving hunting dogs across borders, navigating regulations, and helping dogs adapt to new environments, game species, and hunting styles. We discuss common mistakes,...

⚠️ Re-upload Notice ⚠️ We had an issue with the original Spotify upload, so we're re-uploading this episode in hopes of fixing it for everyone. The original version still works for most listeners, but hopefully this resolves any problems for those who were having trouble. In this episode, Erik sits down with Andreas Gering to discuss his journey with hunting hounds, importing American Bluetick Coo...

In this episode, Erik sits down with Andreas Gering to discuss his journey with hunting hounds, importing American Bluetick Coonhounds to Sweden, and the challenges of developing and hunting these dogs in a very different environment. Andreas shares his experiences hunting in both Sweden and the United States, comparing hunting traditions, dog culture, training methods, and the regulations that sh...

In part three of Bjorn to Be Wild, Erik sits down once again with Wayne Dixon to continue documenting the real-time development of a young West Siberian Laika toward becoming a solo bear dog. This episode focuses on something often overlooked in hunting dog development — nutrition, health, and the bond between dog and handler. Wayne shares his thoughts on feeding strategies for both puppies and ad...