Modern Farming

Green Jean Foundation

Welcome to Modern Farming, the new podcast brought to you by the Green Jean Foundation. Join us each week, as we dive into different ways to think about agricultural production - looking at some methods to revolutionize what we do. The Modern Farming Podcast features a diverse panel of hosts and covers a wide range of topics. Our exclusive interviews with industry leaders, innovative discussions, and groundbreaking insights are something you won’t want to miss. But we’re more than just a podcast. The Green Jean Foundation is dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for agriculture and expanding knowledge to young minds. We provide schools with the necessary tools for students to have hands-on learning opportunities that connect to agriculture. For more information about the Green Jean Foundation, visit us at greenjeanfoundation.org and sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest news and events. Don’t miss out on the transformation happening in agriculture. Subscribe to the Modern Farming Podcast and let’s shape the future of farming together.

  1. When Learning Feels Like a Game with Joshua Forsman

    6d ago

    When Learning Feels Like a Game with Joshua Forsman

    What if the future of education looks more like game night? In this episode of Modern Farming, we sit down with Joshua, a lifelong board game enthusiast whose passion for play led him to help transform the way students learn. From collecting hundreds of board games and coaching chess to helping build innovative educational platforms, Joshua has seen firsthand how gamification can spark curiosity, increase engagement, and make learning memorable. Joshua shares his journey with Historical Conquest, Xogos Gaming, and My Learning Source, discussing how games are being used to teach history, science, math, personal finance, and more while creating meaningful opportunities for students and families. Tune in to learn how one simple idea is changing education: when learning is fun, students don't just participate, they thrive.

    36 min
  2. Cultivating S.T.E.M. Innovation with Francie Black

    Jun 19

    Cultivating S.T.E.M. Innovation with Francie Black

    This week, we sit down with Francie Black, a technology entrepreneur, educator, and innovator with more than 20 years of experience spanning product training, project management, software development, and business development.From leading internet development initiatives for a Fortune 500 company to consulting for major corporations and emerging startups, Francie has spent her career helping organizations navigate an ever-changing technological landscape. She also brought technology education to audiences nationwide as the host of ABC WLOS's weekly "Tech Time" segment, with her features syndicated to more than 100 television stations across the country.Today, Francie is the founder of Home Hacker Camp, where she inspires the next generation through robotics, programming, and STEM education.Join us as we discuss the future of technology, the importance of hands-on learning, and how empowering young people with technical skills can help prepare them for tomorrow's opportunities.

    24 min
  3. Growing Champions with Joanna Joseph of EVO Academy

    Jun 12

    Growing Champions with Joanna Joseph of EVO Academy

    This week, we sat down with Joanna Joseph of EVO Academy to discuss an exciting partnership with the Green Jean Foundation that is bringing agricultural education into the classroom. Joanna shares how EVO Academy is teaching students about the importance of agriculture, nutrition, and healthy living while helping young athletes understand the connection between what they eat and how they perform. We also had the opportunity to hear directly from some of EVO's students about their training, goals, and what they're learning through this unique educational experience. Join us as we explore how agriculture can be integrated into all aspects of education and why teaching the next generation about food, nutrition, and where their food comes from matters.

    14 min
  4. Turning Waste Into Opportunity With Zack Farr

    Jun 5

    Turning Waste Into Opportunity With Zack Farr

    This week on Modern Farming, we sit down with Zack Farr, Founder and CEO of Biotech Applied Research (BAR), to discuss how innovation is transforming agricultural and environmental challenges into opportunities. As a third-generation citrus grower, Zack witnessed firsthand the struggles facing Florida agriculture and set out to create practical solutions. Through BAR, he is pioneering the use of biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from wood waste, to improve soil health, enhance water quality, sequester carbon, and support sustainable farming practices. In this episode, Zack shares how one of the nation's first mobile biochar operations is bringing cutting-edge technology directly to farms and job sites, turning agricultural waste into valuable resources. He also discusses the importance of circular nutrient management, rural economic development, and creating "green collar" jobs that strengthen both local communities and the environment. Join us for a conversation about the future of agriculture, the power of innovation, and how farmers can play a leading role in environmental stewardship.

    22 min

  5. May 29

    Smart Water, Smarter Farming with Sonya Lee

    This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Sonya Lee, president of Ag-Tronix, to talk about her work in agriculture and the new age of irrigation technology. From precision water management to fully automated irrigation systems, Sonya shares how innovation is transforming the agriculture industry and helping farmers use resources more efficiently. Tune in for an insightful conversation about sustainability, technology, and the future of farming.

    24 min

  6. May 22

    Growing Purpose: How Vincent House Cultivates Mental Wellness Through Community & Gardening

    What happens when mental health support looks less like a clinic and more like a thriving community? In this powerful episode of the Modern Farming Podcast, we sit down with Elizabeth Statzer, Director of Vincent House Pasco, to explore a unique and deeply impactful approach to mental health recovery through the internationally recognized Clubhouse Model. For more than 23 years, Vincent House Pasco has been serving adults ages 18 and older living with diagnosed mental illness, offering something many traditional settings struggle to provide: purpose, belonging, dignity, and meaningful connection. Located on a beautiful 10-acre campus in Pasco County, Vincent House is anything but clinical. Here, members choose how and when they participate, becoming active contributors in a community designed around empowerment rather than treatment alone. With just five staff members, the clubhouse depends on its members to help keep daily operations running, creating real opportunities to build confidence, responsibility, and job readiness. From preparing meals in the kitchen to helping care for the property, members are gaining practical life skills while forming friendships and finding renewed purpose. A standout part of the program is the greenhouse and garden, where growth happens in more ways than one. Elizabeth shares how gardening has become a transformative tool for healing, education, and connection. Members learn hands-on agricultural skills while also engaging in conversations about nutrition, food systems, and wellness. The harvest even helps shape the clubhouse menu, creating a meaningful farm-to-table experience that reinforces healthy habits and teamwork. In this episode, we discuss: • What the Clubhouse Model is and why it works • How purpose and peer connection support mental wellness • The role of job preparedness and life skills in recovery • How gardening creates healing, confidence, and community • Farm-to-table nutrition education in a mental health setting • Why non-clinical spaces can be life-changing for adults navigating mental illness This conversation is a meaningful reminder that agriculture can grow far more than food. It can grow confidence, community, and hope.

    24 min

  7. May 15

    Feeding the Soil, Fueling the Future with Brad Turner

    What if the secret to healthier plants, stronger yields, and more resilient growing systems starts with what’s happening beneath the surface? In this next installment of our Soil Health Series, Brad Turner of Sand to Soil Services returns to The Modern Farming Podcast to dig even deeper into the living world beneath our feet. This episode explores the biology that powers thriving growing systems and why healthy soil is far more than just dirt. Brad breaks down the role of compost, compost teas, beneficial microorganisms, inoculants, biostimulants, and even the surprising role fish can play in feeding healthy gardens. From using fish-based inputs as a natural nutrient source to feeding soil microbes with carbon-rich materials, this conversation connects the science of soil health to practical, real-world growing strategies that growers of all sizes can apply. Whether you're a farmer, gardener, educator, or simply curious about what makes plants truly thrive, this episode is packed with valuable insight. In This Episode, We Cover: • What makes a growing system truly thrive • The role of compost in building healthy soil biology • Compost teas and how they introduce beneficial life into the soil • Microorganisms and why they matter more than most growers realize • Biostimulants and the “food” that helps biology and plants perform • Inoculants and how targeted microbes support plant health • How fish-based fertilizers and inputs can naturally support garden growth • The connection between carbon, biology, and nutrient availability • Practical ways growers can improve soil function naturally Healthy plants start with healthy biology—and healthy biology starts in the soil.

    54 min
  8. Rooted in FFA: Growing the Next Generation of Agricultural Educators

    May 8

    Rooted in FFA: Growing the Next Generation of Agricultural Educators

    In this week’s episode of The Modern Farming Podcast, we sit down with Mykaela Billingsworth, a University of Florida student on the path to becoming an agricultural educator. Mykaela shares how her early involvement in FFA programs sparked a lifelong passion for agriculture and inspired her commitment to teaching the next generation. She reflects on her experience raising and showing livestock, and how those hands-on skills translate into her work equipping students to participate in county fairs and agricultural competitions. Now serving as an intern at Bok Academy in Polk County and nearing the completion of her degree, Mykaela discusses the journey that brought her to this point and her vision for shaping the future of agricultural education.

    19 min
See All (80)

Trailer

About

Welcome to Modern Farming, the new podcast brought to you by the Green Jean Foundation. Join us each week, as we dive into different ways to think about agricultural production - looking at some methods to revolutionize what we do. The Modern Farming Podcast features a diverse panel of hosts and covers a wide range of topics. Our exclusive interviews with industry leaders, innovative discussions, and groundbreaking insights are something you won’t want to miss. But we’re more than just a podcast. The Green Jean Foundation is dedicated to fostering a deep appreciation for agriculture and expanding knowledge to young minds. We provide schools with the necessary tools for students to have hands-on learning opportunities that connect to agriculture. For more information about the Green Jean Foundation, visit us at greenjeanfoundation.org and sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest news and events. Don’t miss out on the transformation happening in agriculture. Subscribe to the Modern Farming Podcast and let’s shape the future of farming together.

Information

  • Creator
    Green Jean Foundation
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Green Jean Foundation
  • Show Website
    Modern Farming