Modern Farm Girls Podcast

We’ve reached the final episode of the Sustainable Dish podcast, and I am joined by my friend Robb Wolf to help me close it out. During this casual conversation, we look back on how our ideologies and priorities have changed over the years - from the time of a dogmatic approach to Paleo to now when we are better able to incorporate nuance when it’s needed. And it wouldn’t be a conversation with Robb if we didn’t debunk the latest study vilifying meat. The latest study from Harvard finds a correlation between red meat consumption and type 2 diabetes. Like other epidemiological studies before it, this, too falls apart once you start digging into the data. The chat concludes with an update from Robb about what’s in the future for LMNT. And I report the latest news from GFJA. Episode resources and transcripts are available at www.sustainabledish.com. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 271: Fireside Chat with Robb Wolf   Episode Credits: Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our hosts

As Sustainable Dish comes to a close, my co-host, James Connolly, and I wanted to reflect on some of our favorite episodes. They may be your favorites if you’ve been a long-time listener. If you are new to the show, these may be the episodes you’ll want to check out first. James and I have had the good fortune to meet incredible and interesting people while learning a lot along the way. Listen in as James and I take a trip down memory lane. Diana’s favorite episodes: Episode 117: Dr. Sylvia Karpagam  Episode 244: Pablo Manzano, PhD  Episode 98: The Stolen Goat with Lauren Manning Episode 173: Nick Offerman Episode 197: Florence Williams  Episode 203: Maui Nui Venison  Episode 248: Well for Culture  Episode 249: Dr. Tommy Wood    James’s favorite episodes: Episode 238: Isle Kohler Rollefson Episode 140: Sean B. Carrol Episode 252: Dan Egan Episode 257: Ulba Bosma  Episode 226: Chloe Sorvino   Episode resources and transcripts are available at www.sustainabledish.com. You can also watch this episode on YouTube

It’s no secret that our food system is broken. Food production has been consolidated and corporatized, leading to the illusion of choice and abundance. The reality is a landscape of nutrient-poor, ultra-processed convenience food. As a nation, we are overfed, and undernourished, and “lifestyle” diseases are compromising our health and happiness.  On today’s show, my co-host, James Connolly, sits down for an in-depth conversation with Jennifer Stojkovic. Jennifer is a food-tech leader, founder of Vegan Women Summit (VWS), and author of The Future of Food is Female. That’s right - Jennifer advocates for plant-based eating!  She is also passionate about tapping into the potential of women to change the food system. Her book, The Future of Food is Female, features women who are using their expertise and wisdom to change the food industry. Listen to this episode with an open mind. While I don’t wholeheartedly agree with everything Jennifer states during the conversation, she hits on many of the same points we’ve d

Will Harris, owner of White Oak Pastures, has been a guest on Sustainable Dish many times. This time, he is joined by his daughters, Jenni and Jodi. They are part of the 5th generation in this 6-generation family farm in Bluffton, Georgia. They’ve helped turn White Oak into more than a farm but a tourist destination. On this episode of the show, I chat with the Harris Family about how White Oak Pastures has evolved over the years and revitalized the town of Bluffton. Not only do they ship their high-quality meat all over the US, but they also offer: Home goods made from byproducts from their herds,  Workshops and educational events for those who want to learn more about regen ag  A full-scale restaurant that serves 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, featuring ingredients fresh from the farm And an RV park and cabin rentals so you can see it all for yourself Will latest project is his book, A Bold Return to Giving a Damn: One Farm, Six Generations in the Future of Food. It’s out now! I am asking my commun

Gareth Wyn Jones is a hill farmer in Wales and a passionate advocate for grazing livestock as a means for environment and human health. Gareth’s family has been grateful stewards of the land for 375 years, growing produce and raising livestock. He has been using his media presence to provide honest information about farming in hopes of sending the message that livestock is not the primary source of our environmental woes.  He acknowledges the divide between urban and rural and the loss of our connection to the land. The divide creates the opportunity for people to be easily misguided and misled by the people in power.  Gareth’s message is for people to come together and “build a better world on our bellies.” Listen in and get inspired by Gareth’s message. Episode resources and transcripts are available at www.sustainabledish.com. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 267: Gareth Wyn Jones   Episode Credits: Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our hosts are Diana Rodgers and James Co

Andrea Bemis started her blog, Dishing Up the Dirt, as a way to document her life as a farmer and home cook. When she and her husband, Taylor, wanted to settle down, they moved to his family farm in Massachusetts. Eventually, they wanted to start something for themselves, so  Andrea and Taylor bought six acres in Parkdale, Oregon, which became Tumbleweed Farm. Through farming, Andrea found a love of food. She began by sharing recipes with her CSA, which grew into a book, Dishing Up the Dirt. Now, Andrea is a mother with a passion for instilling an appreciation for food in her children. Her newest book, Let Them Eat Dirt, features simple,  nutrient-dense foods perfect for the pickiest eaters. Episode resources and transcripts are available at www.sustainabledish.com. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 266: Andrea Bemis   Episode Credits: Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our hosts are Diana Rodgers and James Connolly. Our producer is Emily Soape. And, of course, we are grateful

There’s lots of buzz around lab-grown meat right now, and you may be thinking, “What is this stuff?” On this episode, I am joined by Paul Wood, AO (Officer of the Order of Australia), who is going to give us a crash course on lab-grown meat, including the process of growing meat from cells, all in inputs involved, actual cost behind production, and the final product results. Paul takes the emotion, ethics, and politics out of the issue by focusing only on the business and technology aspects.  Through his analysis, he has come to one conclusion - it won’t work - at least in its current form. There is a lot of work and tech advancement needed to produce cell-based meat at a level to make good on the lofty promise of feeding the world. Succinctly put, the technology works, but the business models don’t. As an immunologist with decades of experience in vaccinations and large-scale fermentation, Paul has an in-depth understanding of what it takes for these tech companies to produce food-grade products and the chal

“What to eat?” This is a question we ask ourselves several times a day.  The answer seems simple enough, but there are endless factors that drives this decision: your values, budget, time, mood, and last but not least - taste.  To answer this question, Martin Cohen, PhD, taps into philosophy. Dr. Cohen is a British philosopher who blends “psychological and social studies with philosophical theory” and aims to explain complex problems in easy-to-understand ways.  His latest book is I Think Therefore I Eat: The World’s Greatest Minds Tackle the Food Question. Throughout this book, Dr. Cohen uses the wisdom of philosophers to answer the question: “What to eat?” Episode resources and transcripts are available at www.sustainabledish.com. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 264: Martin Cohen, PhD   Episode Credits: Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our hosts are Diana Rodgers and James Connolly. Our producer is Emily Soape. And, of course, we are grateful for our sponsors, Global Food

We are dipping back into the archives to bring you an episode especially for “Supplement September.” We are taking a deep dive into the importance of nutrition for fertility and pregnancy. While women often shoulder the responsibility of all things related to preconception and birth, my guest today, Ayla Barmmer, MS, RDN, LDN says that nutrition in men during this time is just as critical. For over 15 years, Ayla has been advancing the health and empowerment of thousands of clients, patients, peers, and mentees, at the intersection of nutritional science, functional medicine, and evidence-based holistic solutions. Ayla owns and operates Boston Functional Nutrition, an integrative and functional nutrition multi-clinician practice that specializes in women’s health and infertility. She is also the founder of FullWell, a fertility wellness brand, widely endorsed by health practitioners for its quality and education.  Episode resources and transcripts are available at www.sustainabledish.com. You can also watch t

My good friend, Chris Kresser, M.S., L.Ac, is back on the show. It’s been a while since our last conversation, so today, we are catching up on what’s new in his world. As an internationally recognized leader in ancestral health and functional integrative medicine, you may be familiar with his work. He is the author of The Paleo Cure and Unconventional Medicine and the founder of the ADAPT Practitioner Training Program.  In an effort to reach more lives, he developed the supplement line,  Adapt Naturals, a streamlined stack of supplements designed to meet the most critical needs.  If you are like me, you may be skeptical of the supplement industry. And there is good reason to be - financial interests, misleading information, poor quality products, and the list goes on. It is difficult to find supplements that you can trust and that actually work. With Chris’s extensive research and time interacting with patients, I put my trust in his products above the rest. This is the perfect episode if you have supplement

Running a successful bison ranch takes more than land and a dream. Jon Sepp, one of the founders of Roam Free Ranch, will agree. Jon knew from childhood that bison ranching was in his future. After 10 years in the military, he transitioned to ranch life in Montana. But it wasn’t until meeting Brittany Masters, the other half of the Roam Free team, that pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. Brittany was ready to escape the grind of the corporate world and she brought her marketing talents to Roam Free.  Together they were able to bring high-quality bison products to market and communicate their mission to consumers. You can even find their products in most Costcos now! Listen in as Jon and Brittany talk about their journey to get where they are today. Episode resources and transcripts are available at www.sustainabledish.com. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 261: Roam Free Ranch   Episode Credits: Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our hosts are Diana Rodgers and James

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness in adults. And who better to explain the connection between sight and diabetes than an ophthalmologist? Dr. James Muecke has been working as an ophthalmologist in Adelaide, South Australia, for over 30 years. In 2020 he was named Australian of the Year for his work with the nonprofit, Sight for All.  Shortly before this honor, he began exploring the link between nutrition and eyesight. Now he is using his recognition to spread the message that losing vision to diabetes is not inevitable. Diabetes can be put into remission, and vision can be restored with the help of nutrition and lifestyle interventions. James is currently working on a book that compiles the lessons learned through his work. During this episode, James shares some of his case studies and gives advice to anyone that might be concerned about their vision. Listen in as James and I chat about the two major impacts on the eye in people with diabetes, vision check recommendations, an

If you ever get the chance, go to the Old Salt Festival in Montana. It’s a celebration of people coming together to support land stewardship in Montana. This year I was fortunate to be one of the speakers along with others in the regenerative space, plus regional authors, poets, and musicians.  Now that I’ve returned and things have settled a bit, I have Cole Mannix, president and founder of Old Salt Co-op, on the show to talk about his experience with ranching and growing his business. Cole grew up in a ranching family but spent a brief time in Boston pursuing a master's in theology before returning to his ranching roots in Montana. When he returned, he started working for a startup beef cooperative and then became the Associate Director at Western Landowners Alliance. Ultimately, in 2020 he left to begin forming Old Salt Co-op. Cole’s vision for Old Salt is to be “more than a meat company.” It is a regional meat economy with vertically integrated enterprises. The goal is not to produce meat for a national m

If you’ve been considering a career in nutrition, my podcast producer, Emily Soape, RD, has some sage advice.  After years of weighing the pros and cons of going the route of registered dietitian, she finally completed the journey of obtaining the official designation of “RD”. As Emily explains in the episode, this may not be the optimal choice for everyone. It comes down to your ultimate goals for your career and your personal strengths. There are many options. Currently, Emily is working as a clinical dietitian while figuring out her career's next steps.  Listen in for advice on getting started with a dietetic internship and how real world experience changes perspective. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 258: Emily Soape, RD Episode Credits: Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our hosts are Diana Rodgers and James Connolly. Our producer is Emily Soape. And, of course, we are grateful for our sponsors, Global Food Justice Alliance members, and listeners. GFJA members get early

Sugar is ubiquitous. Our grocery stores are brimming with sugar-added products, both from the usual suspects like cereal, soda, and other sweet treats and from products marketed as “healthy” that can contain a whopping dose of the sweet stuff. Likely though, if you’ve been following my work for awhile, you already know this. But how did we get here?  The new book, The World of Sugar: How the Sweet Stuff Transformed Our Politics, Health, and Environment over 2000 Years, seeks the answer. On this episode, my co-host, James Connolly is interviewing the author, Ulba Bosma. Ulbe is a Senior Research for the International Institute of Social History. His research centers on labor and labor relations viewed from a social, historical, and geographical lens. Ulbe’s unique perspective brings to light how sugar production affected cultures worldwide through industrialization, labor migration, and human health. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 257: Ulbe Bosma Episode Credits: Thank you to all who’ve ma

Shannon is the Chef & CEO of Sap Bush Hollow Farm, a three generation family business.  After graduating with a PhD in sustainable agriculture, Shannon became a subversive cookbook author as a means to get her message out into the world.  She went on to write six additional books, started a podcast, and expanded the family business. Throughout this growth, Shannon found herself overworked, stretched thin, and searching for a better way. This episode originally aired June 8, 2021. The pandemic was still in full swing in many parts of the country. People recognized the fragility of our food system, and some of us were starting to reevaluate how we spent our time. Even with the crisis behind us, those two things remain true. In this interview with Shannon, she shares how she began to rethink how she viewed money and time. She also discusses her most recent book, Redefining Rich which is full of lessons learned as an entrepreneur trying to balance family and career.  If you’ve recently taken a step back to ex

“Why do we have to do it like everyone else?” This is the question that Jill Winger asked herself years ago that led to impulse-buying a neglected farmstead with her husband. After years of learning “old-fashioned” skills required for homesteading, like raising chickens, preserving food, and maintaining a great sourdough starter, she is now a mentor and teacher for those who want to do the same.  Her website, The Prairie Homestead, is a vast resource for homesteaders at every level: from the urbanite with nothing more than windowsill space to long-time farmers looking for community.  In her new book (available for pre-order now), Old Fashioned on Purpose: Cultivating a Slower More Joyful Life, Jill shares lessons learned from choosing to turn from modern conveniences and adopt skills of self-sufficiency. In this episode, we discuss how Jill got started homesteading and where she sees the movement headed now. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 255: Jill Winger Episode Credits: Thank you to all

Pilar Egüez Guevara, PhD is the director and founder of Comidas que Curan, an independent education initiative to promote the value of traditional foods through research and film. Her documentary Raspando Coco (Scraping Coconuts) received several awards and was presented at film festivals in the United States, Europe, and Japan.  This episode was pulled from the archives and aired initially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although it may feel like the woes of this time are behind us, Pilar’s message is evergreen: traditional foods are essential to the health and well-being of all global cultures.  You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 254: Pilar Egüez Guevara, PhD Episode Credits: Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our hosts are Diana Rodgers and James Connolly. Our producer is Emily Soape. And, of course, we are grateful for our sponsors, Global Food Justice Alliance members, and listeners. GFJA members get early access to ad-free podcasts, free downloads, and you’ll be helping get

Duke Phillips III started his ranching journey without any land to his name and grew it into Ranchlands, a ranching business that encompasses 5 ranches in 4 states. Together with his family and team, Duke stewards almost 400,000 acres with a mission to promote the conservation of ranch lands, ranching legacy, and preserving the quality of life of the people associated with ranching.  In October, I am honored to join Ranchlands at the Zapata Ranch for a full weekend of ranch experiences. Plus, I am presenting my Sustainavore workshop, which includes personalized nutrition consultations. This special event takes place October 26-29, 2023, and space is incredibly limited, so act fast! You can learn more about the workshop here. And be sure to check out all the other events going on at the ranch.  In the meantime, check out this episode with Duke to learn about his unique background and how Ranchlands became a thriving business. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 253: Duke Phillips III Episode Cr

Phosphorus is essential for life. It’s the second most abundant mineral in the body and critical for bone structure and bodily functions. Like humans, plants need phosphorus, too, and because of this, it is a key component of fertilizer.  Phosphorus also has a dark side. It’s used to make firebombs, rat poison, and nerve gas. The increased reliance on phosphorus has created dangerous conditions for humans and animals through its misuse and overuse.  Award-winning journalist Dan Egan explores both sides of phosphorus in his new book, The Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance.  Episode resources and transcripts are available at www.sustainabledish.com. You can also watch this episode on YouTube: Episode 252: Dan Egan Episode Credits: Thank you to all who’ve made this show possible. Our hosts are Diana Rodgers and James Connolly. Our producer is Emily Soape. And, of course, we are grateful for our sponsors, Global Food Justice Alliance members, and listeners. GFJA members get early access to ad