The Regenaissance Podcast

The Regenaissance
  • 4.7 (13)
  • EARTH SCIENCES

Hosted by @Regenaisanceman with the mission of reconnecting us back to where our food is grown & exposing everything that is wrong with our broken food system. We are more disconnected from our food than we ever have been. I sit down with ranchers and farmers to give them a voice and hear their stories, helping paint a picture of what it really looks like to support humanity with food. I also will be talking to others involved in the agriculture space as there is a lot that goes into it all. My hope is that from hearing this podcast you will begin to question what you eat and where from.

  1. The Maude Family Ranch - Beef, Pork, and 115 Years of Tradition (Live Farm Tour) - Maude Hog & Cattle | #112

    1D AGO

    The Maude Family Ranch - Beef, Pork, and 115 Years of Tradition (Live Farm Tour) - Maude Hog & Cattle | #112

    Charles and Heather Maude are 5th generation ranchers in South Dakota running a direct-to-consumer beef and pork operation built on land their family has worked for over 115 years. This tour covers the full operation - cattle, hogs, grain storage, equipment, and the irrigated river bottom at the center of a federal land dispute that drew national attention. Watch this alongside the full-length podcast episode for the complete story behind what you're seeing on the ground.Key Topics Direct-to-consumer beef and pork - how it actually worksCattle finishing and feeder calf productionFarrowing crates - the honest case for and againstWhy feed quality determines meat quality in hogsGrain storage, forage systems, and matching stocking rate to grassThe disputed river bottom and the federal land disputeWhat You'll Learn How a small ranch runs multiple livestock enterprises on limited acresWhy weaning date is a range management decision, not just an animal oneWhat farrowing crates are actually for and why a skeptic changed her mindHow monogastric and ruminant digestion produce fundamentally different meatWhat 115 years of private land management looks like - and what happens when it's challengedWhy boundary disputes in the rural West are common, and criminal indictments are not Connect with Charles & Heather WebsiteInstagramFacebook Timestamps 00:00:00 — Introduction and context 00:02:00 — Cattle paddock: finished beef and this year's steer calves 00:04:00 — Weaning early — a drought and range management decision 00:06:00 — Grain bins: what they store and how they work 00:08:00 — Farrowing facility: why the crates exist 00:13:00 — Hog nutrition: simple stomach vs. ruminant digestion 00:15:00 — Pasture-raised pork: why quality and finish time differ 00:18:00 — Legacy equipment: grandfather's tractors and the 1948 truck 00:24:00 — The fence line: terrain, flooding, and where fences actually go 00:25:00 — The Forest Service dispute begins 00:27:00 — No written violation, no due process, criminal charges 00:28:00 — Working toward resolution: the Small Tracks Act 00:30:00 — Secretary Rollins, the temporary use agreement, and what changed 00:33:00 — The survey stakes, the crop damage, and the escalation 00:37:00 — What the land trade proposal was and why it was rejected 00:39:00 — What this case means for ranchers and private landowners 00:41:00 — Final reflections

    41 min
  2. Zombie Apocalypse Cows and the Future of American Ranching (Live Farm Tour) - Smoke River Ranch | #111

    MAR 18

    Zombie Apocalypse Cows and the Future of American Ranching (Live Farm Tour) - Smoke River Ranch | #111

    Joel Hollingsowrth has spent years doing something most people wouldn't dare try - building a regenerative cattle ranch from scratch, with no money, no inherited land, and no roadmap. And yet, it has become one of the pioneering regenerative farms in the nation.  Joel is joined by David, who left an Ivy League PhD program to ranch in rural Mexico before landing here, and Daniel, the herd manager responsible for translating Joel's system into daily practice.  Together they walk us through mob grazing at extreme stocking densities, a heritage genetics breeding program built for a world without antibiotics, virtual fencing technology, and a community ownership model designed to solve the financing problem that stops most regenerative farmers before they start. This is a conversation about what it really takes (the stubbornness, the financial creativity, the ecological thinking, and the human community) to build something lasting and that works. KEY TOPICS Ultra-high-density mob grazing and how it mimics bison impact to restore soil and seed banksHeritage breed genetics (Piney Woods, composite bulls) and building "zombie apocalypse" cattleVirtual fencing technology and its potential to transform daily ranch labourThe herd share financial model and how community capital makes regenerative ranching viableReviving rural community through food sovereignty, nutrient density, and local economic energyWHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why stocking density, not just rotation, is the key lever in regenerative grazingHow cows' hooves act as seed planters and why "weeds" like thistles are actually healing the soilWhat rumen fill and manure consistency tell a herd manager about animal health and forage qualityWhy cattle genetics matter as much as grazing method, and what "adapting to the system" looks likeHow Joel financed his ranch with no money down, and why the herd share model is a blueprint others could followCONNECT WITH JOEL Smoke River Ranch WebsiteX TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome to Oklahoma: Joel, David & the Smoke River story 08:00 – What's broken in rural America and what Smoke River is rebuilding 12:00 – Fresh Rx Oklahoma: food as medicine and local supply chains 15:00 – How Joel got started: a $1/year lease, no capital, and a Twitter DM 19:00 – Virtual fencing: digital paddocks and 60 hours of saved labour per week 21:00 – Heritage breeds: Piney Woods cows, composite bulls, and the genetics program 25:00 – Mob grazing explained: why five moves a day and what stocking density actually means 31:00 – Herd management with Daniel: rumen fill, manure scoring, and daily cattle metrics 36:00 – Sick cow protocols and building a self-selecting genetics program 45:00 – Weeds as healers: thistles, pioneer species, and soil succession

    47 min
  3. Building a Regenerative Ranch Around Bison (Live Farm Tour) - TLC Ranch | #110

    MAR 11

    Building a Regenerative Ranch Around Bison (Live Farm Tour) - TLC Ranch | #110

    Fascinating episode, touring a regenerative bison and pecan farm! A first for me.  A bit about the ranch & tour... TLC ranch is located in Souther Oklahoma. It's ran by Cindy Sheffield (who tours us today) and her husband Tread and their two daughters and husbands, where they raise bison and manage a large organic pecan orchard. The ranch began in 1997 when the family purchased land that many others had passed on, seeing potential where others did not. What started as weekend trips for hunting and time outdoors gradually turned into a long-term commitment to steward the land. Over the years the family developed ponds, trails, and eventually planted thousands of pecan trees, which are now grown using organic and regenerative practices. More recently they fulfilled a long-standing goal of bringing bison back to the property. Today the ranch combines pecan production with bison grazing, reflecting the family’s focus on building a working farm that supports both the land and the people who depend on it. What we cover: Starting a bison ranch after decades of owning landManaging parasites and animal health on pastureRotational grazing and integrating chickens behind bisonThe economics and risks of pecan farmingFloods, disease, and the unpredictable realities of agricultureConnect with the farm:WebsiteFacebookInstagram Regenaissance Youtube Channel Timestamps: 00:00:00 Regulations and differences between bison and cattle 00:02:20 How TLC Ranch began and why the family chose bison 00:03:40 Flooding, parasites, and losing animals in the herd 00:05:00 Transitioning to rotational grazing for parasite control 00:06:30 Plans to integrate meat chickens behind the bison 00:08:00 How bison grazing behavior differs from cattle 00:12:50 Handling bison and working animals through the chute system 00:17:00 Field harvesting a bison and the reality of on-farm slaughter 00:19:30 The challenge of finding truly clean food and produce 00:24:00 Managing a pecan orchard and harvesting the crop 00:27:00 Weather risks, floods, and the economics of farming 00:29:00 Why consumers need to understand the realities farmers face

    30 min
  4. Does Being Organic Matter? (Live Farm Tour) - Cable Family Farm | #109

    MAR 4

    Does Being Organic Matter? (Live Farm Tour) - Cable Family Farm | #109

    Caden and Patrick run Cable Family Farm in Piedmont, North Carolina, where they manage a small 80 bed no-till market garden along with pasture-raised eggs and chickens. Caden started the farm at 18, and then a few years later was able to convince Patrick to join him. Their main concern starting the farm was how would they make money? This tour shows how they produce their crops and animals in a healthy, sustainable way, along with their marketing and production approach to creating a viable small-scale farm production. It was fascinating and productive to hear from these young farmers how they approach farming, why their not organic, the systems they run to stay viable and efficient, and understanding why they chose this career path over everything else (hint, farming food can be incredibly meaningful). Key Topics Building an 80 bed no-till market garden from grassTools and systems for small-scale vegetable farmingPasture-raised eggs and chickensOrganic practices without certificationEconomics and tradeoffs on small farmsConnect with Caden & Patrick: InstagramYoutubeOther links Timestamps   00:00:00 Introduction to Cable Family Farm 00:01:00 Building a no-till market garden 00:06:00 Broadforking and minimal soil disturbance 00:10:00 Weather risks and crop failures 00:14:00 Time and cost of starting a garden 00:19:00 Organic practices vs certification 00:23:00 Simple greenhouse and seed starting 00:27:00 Egg layers and rotational grazing 00:32:00 Raising pasture-raised chickens 00:35:00 Why chickens are healthier on pasture

    37 min
  5. Developing Outdoor Pig Genetics, Regenerating Grass Through Nitrogen Cycling, & Natural Parasite Control (Live Farm Tour) - Rehoboth Farms | #108

    FEB 25

    Developing Outdoor Pig Genetics, Regenerating Grass Through Nitrogen Cycling, & Natural Parasite Control (Live Farm Tour) - Rehoboth Farms | #108

    About Rehoboth & Josh & Jessica:This was a really fun tour. The farm has an interesting backstory. It was initially just a backyard chicken hobbyist farm, and then after feeding themselves and friends, they saw the health impact and the localized food impact - then began trading meat for land access.  Josh spent years during 2015-18 waiting for the right property top open up, with multiple failed attempts, before securing the current farm in 2018.  They launched full-time in 2019, saw rapid growth during 2020 with that demand spike, and then developed the farm into what it is today, a regenerative grazing operation and direct-to-consumer product platform.  Neither Joss or Jessica grew up farming, but health concerns, lack of localized food option and expense of quality food triggered their shift to farming.  They have a faith-driven vision for the farm, and “Rehoboth” means “God made room”.  Jessica leads customer engagement, and Josh leads the systems and operations on the farm.  You can connect to Josh and Jessica via the links below: WebsiteInstagram Key topics & Timestamps:00:00:00 Tractor use and cutting pasture for regrowth 00:01:00 Turkey shipping losses and hatchery challenges 00:03:00 Why turkey poults are fragile in the brooder 00:04:00 Thanksgiving turkey pickup on farm 00:05:00 Broiler setup and water system improvements 00:08:30 Compost piles and feeding pumpkins to livestock 00:10:30 Rotating pigs and natural mineral foraging 00:14:00 Outdoor pig genetics vs confinement genetics 00:22:00 Moving broilers to build soil nitrogen 00:24:00 Multi-species grazing and parasite management

    1h 25m
  6. Direct-To-Consumer Raw Milk, Soil Temperature & Biology, Grass Recovery, Grazing Management, & Species Diversity (Live Farm Tour) - Triple E Farms | #107

    FEB 18

    Direct-To-Consumer Raw Milk, Soil Temperature & Biology, Grass Recovery, Grazing Management, & Species Diversity (Live Farm Tour) - Triple E Farms | #107

    Our farm tour of Tony Eash's pasture raised pork, chicken and beef farm. Tony grew up farming alongside his brother Phil in West Virginia, learning animal care and haymaking at a young age. After the sudden loss of their father, the brothers leaned on their Mennonite community for support and chose to continue farming. Tony tours us through his farm, his way of life, and you're able to see how much he cares about farming, the land and animals, and the importance of delivering quality food to consumers. He's had a few battles with the government to get us his great food! All is shared in the farm tour. Enjoy. Link to our full podcast episode with Tony as well:Spotify Apple Key Topics Direct-to-consumer raw milk and nationwide shippingSoil temperature, grass recovery, and grazing managementFarm economics, burnout, and scaling sustainablyRegulation, labeling, and transparency challengesGenetics, pasture diversity, and animal health decisionsWhat You’ll Learn Why covered soil stays cooler and supports biologyThe difference between grass recovery and true restHow raw milk is tested, bottled, and shippedWhy many dairies fail despite high productionHow farmers adapt systems to survive long-termConnect with Triple E WebsiteInstagram Follow the tour on YouTube Timestamps   00:00 — Why direct-to-consumer food systems matter 06:40 — Shipping meat and milk across the U.S. 14:30 — Raw milk testing, bottling, and sanitation 23:10 — Regulation, labeling, and legal pressure 31:40 — Dairy economics and why production fails farmers 41:20 — Genetics, grass-fed transitions, and herd losses 50:30 — Soil temperature, grazing height, and cooling livestock 54:10 — Rest vs recovery and pasture decision-making

    59 min
  7. Vermont 4th Gen Maple Farm: Syrup Quality, Tree-tapping, Forest Management, & Vermont's Unique History (Live Farm Tour) - Baird Farm | #106

    FEB 11

    Vermont 4th Gen Maple Farm: Syrup Quality, Tree-tapping, Forest Management, & Vermont's Unique History (Live Farm Tour) - Baird Farm | #106

    This one was fun. Jacob and Jenna tour us through Baird Farm, a fourth-generation Vermont maple farm operating since 1918. They walk me through the sugarbush, tubing systems, and sugarhouse, and how its all made/stored/sold and its history. Fascinating stuff - hope you get something out of it.  Key Topics Modern maple syrup production vs traditional bucket methodsThe maple sugaring season and weather dependenceReal maple syrup vs imitation and blended productsForest management, biodiversity, and tree healthGenerational farming and maintaining a family-run operationWhat You’ll Learn Why maple syrup is produced in a short late-winter window, not year-roundHow modern maple syrup is collected using tubing and vacuum systemsWhat tapping a maple tree involves and how trees are protected long-termHow much sap is required to make real maple syrupWhy Vermont consistently produces some of the highest maple yieldsConnect with Jason & Baird Farm: WebsiteInstagramFollow the tour on YouTube Connect with Regenaissance:Website & MerchInstagramXSubstack (Ag News & History) Timestamps:  00:00:00 – Introduction and farm history 00:04:40 – Buckets vs modern maple tubing systems 00:07:10 – What maple syrup actually is (and isn’t) 00:12:00 – How maple tubing and vacuum systems work 00:16:40 – Tapping trees and protecting long-term tree health 00:22:00 – The maple syrup production window and season length 00:25:10 – Why Vermont dominates U.S. maple production 00:31:00 – Forest management, biodiversity, and resilience 00:38:20 – Labor, infrastructure, and modern maple realities 00:45:30 – Generational farming and transitioning the farm forward

    1h 36m
  8. How Ranches Stay Profitable Without Compromising Animal Welfare (Live Farm Tour) - Wrich Ranches | #105

    FEB 6

    How Ranches Stay Profitable Without Compromising Animal Welfare (Live Farm Tour) - Wrich Ranches | #105

    A walk-through tour of Wrick Ranches in western Colorado with rancher Jason Wrick, covering calf weaning, water systems, drought realities, regenerative grazing decisions, and how a working ranch stays financially viable through direct-to-consumer beef, on-farm retail, and diversified income streams. Key Topics Calf weaning and animal welfare in real ranching conditionsWater rights, irrigation, and farming during long-term droughtHay reserves, soil fertility, and nutrient cycling through cattleRegenerative grazing within economic and regional constraintsDirect-to-consumer beef and building resilient rural businessesWhat You’ll Learn Why calves must be weaned and how it’s managed responsiblyHow irrigation systems actually work on a western cattle ranchWhat drought means in practice for hay, water, and stocking ratesHow regenerative grazing must adapt to local climate and economicsWhy direct consumer support is critical for small ranch survivalConnect with Jason:WebsiteInstagram Check out the farm tour episode on our YouTube  Timestamps  00:00:00 Introduction to Rick Ranches and the ranch tour 00:01:45 Calf weaning and animal welfare misconceptions 00:07:45 Irrigation systems and on-farm water infrastructure 00:12:30 Colorado water rights and drought realities 00:14:45 Hay management and nutrient cycling strategy 00:18:15 Regenerative agriculture and regional context 00:21:30 Consumer support and direct-to-consumer beef 00:31:00 Farm store, trust-based sales, and community 00:38:30 Weddings, rentals, and diversified ranch income 00:41:00 Grazing management and closing reflections

    45 min
See All (128)

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Hosted by @Regenaisanceman with the mission of reconnecting us back to where our food is grown & exposing everything that is wrong with our broken food system. We are more disconnected from our food than we ever have been. I sit down with ranchers and farmers to give them a voice and hear their stories, helping paint a picture of what it really looks like to support humanity with food. I also will be talking to others involved in the agriculture space as there is a lot that goes into it all. My hope is that from hearing this podcast you will begin to question what you eat and where from.

Information

  • Creator
    The Regenaissance
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    128
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Regenaissance
  • Show Website
    The Regenaissance Podcast

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