The Peter Byck Show

Peter Byck
  • 5.0 (20)
  • SCIENCE

Peter Byck, director of "Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there" hosts in-depth and personal conversations withscientists, farmers, educators, artists, and intriguing individuals worldwide. For the past two years, we’ve been traveling the world with Roots So Deep — and filming a brand-new podcast along the way.

  1. 5D AGO

    The Bottlenecks for Regenerative Ag with Jon Lundgren

    Peter sits down with Dr. Jon Lundgren, an ambitious scientist and a farmer who has been part of our team since 2013, when he worked with Peter to assemble  the research team featured in the docuseries Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there).  Dr. Lundgren is an agroecologist, Director of the ECDYSIS Foundation, and CEO for Blue Dasher Farm. He received his PhD in Entomology from the University of Illinois in 2004, and was a top scientist with USDA-ARS for 11 years before resigning to focus on alternate agricultural practices. Jon’s work focuses on the alarming loss of biodiversity on farm land, including critical pollinators and other insect life. As he says “That system is collapsing, and what's replacing it is exactly what you're talking about. It's farming with a connection to the natural world. It's farming with a connection to family and to community in ways that the industrialized food system really pulled out. We're going to be able to offset all of our carbon emissions using our food system while increasing life on the planet,as well as reversing desertification and improving the resilience of our rural communities and human health problems.”  Through the years, Jon taught Peter a lot. And there's one elemental thing he'll never forget. That farmers are the true scientists, and that the Roots So Deep science team was there only to measure what the farmers were doing and not get in their way.  Sign-up for our newsletter: https://rootssodeep.org/take-action/newsletter-sign-up Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carbon_cowboys "When you stand on healthy soil, there's a universe beneath your feet."

    45 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Who funded us? Did it influence our results? with Marion Nestle

    In this episode of The Peter Byck Show, Peter sits down with well known critic of Big Ag research Marion Nestle, a beacon of scrutiny when it comes to keeping a sharp eye on food industry funded research. Marion Nestle is Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University (NYU), and Visiting Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University. In 2019, Peter reached out to Marion to see what she would think about our AMP grazing research that you see in “Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there)”. We sought funding from big food, clothing, and even oil companies, figuring they should all help pay to get the carbon out of the air where it's become a problem, and into our soils, where it offers a ton of solutions. We knew that would invite pushback, which is why we worked with skeptics and critics from the beginning to ensure our methods - and our results - would stand up to the strictest scrutiny. In this episode, Peter and Marion discuss our goals, our funders, and our approach behind our $10 million research budget. You can read all of our funding history here: https://rootssodeep.org/amp-research/funding-sources-for-research-and-documentary Sign-up for our newsletter: https://rootssodeep.org/take-action/newsletter-sign-up Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carbon_cowboys "When you stand on healthy soil, there's a universe beneath your feet."

    38 min
  3. Drop-in #4: Can Regenerative Cheeseburgers Help the Climate?

    FEB 16 · BONUS

    Drop-in #4: Can Regenerative Cheeseburgers Help the Climate?

    We met regenerative rancher, consultant, and entrepreneur Silas Hedley-Lawrence after he found himself in an online debate with journalist George Monibiot - who believes animal agriculture must come to an end no matter how the cattle are raised. Our community knows cattle raised through AMP grazing are actually a benefit to the world, and Silas has seen the power of these regenerative practices first-hand on his farm and the farms of his clients. We hope you enjoy this conversation about the data of regenerative agriculture, Silas' experiences teaching these practices to farmers all over the world, and the development of the first regenerative Smash Burger! To learn more about Silas, check out the following sites: Grassfed Farmer: https://www.grassfedfarmer.com Cotswald Cattle Company: https://www.cotswoldcattle.com Old Salt Co-Op: https://www.oldsaltco-op.com Sign-up for our newsletter: https://rootssodeep.org/take-action/newsletter-sign-up Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carbon_cowboys "When you stand on healthy soil, there's a universe beneath your feet."

    19 min

  4. FEB 10

    Fred Provenza: Healthy Soils, Healthy Animals, Healthy People

    Author, professor, and leader Fred Provenza has been studying how animals balance their own diets when given a choice. Over the course of 300 research papers, he has helped illustrate the fact that everything is connected - from the health of our soils to the health of plant life to the health of livestock to human health.  He has authored three books, including “Nourishment: What Animals Can Teach Us about Rediscovering Our Nutritional Wisdom”, “Foraging Behavior: Managing to Survive in a World of Change”, and “The Art & Science of Shepherding: Tapping the Wisdom of French Herders” - we encourage you to look them up! It is a joy to see the world the way Fred does. In this wide ranging conversation, Fred and Peter discuss the importance of soil health, the connection between the health of our foods and our own thriving, and the challenges facing a world that overlooks how interconnected things truly are. Sign-up for our newsletter: https://rootssodeep.org/take-action/newsletter-sign-up Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carbon_cowboys "When you stand on healthy soil, there's a universe beneath your feet."

    1h 2m
  5. Drop-in #3: Oil Well In Reverse - Closing the Carbon Cycle Using the Carbon Cycle with Russ Conser

    FEB 2 · BONUS

    Drop-in #3: Oil Well In Reverse - Closing the Carbon Cycle Using the Carbon Cycle with Russ Conser

    In our third drop-in for The Peter Byck Show, Peter and Russ Conser discuss Russ’s epiphany around soil health after meeting Peter over a decade ago.  As Russ said then, AMP grazing is like an oil well in reverse. Instead of extracting and burning carbon, regenerative grazers draw down carbon and incorporate it into the soil system. As Russ says “putting it back to work, investing it in the business of life.” After a long career in the oil and gas industry searching for carbon-rich “source rocks” that indicated rich deposits, Russ immediately saw the correlation between those ancient deposits and the carbon-rich soil of AMP grazers.  As Russ says, “this is the way nature works!” Sign-up for our newsletter: https://rootssodeep.org/take-action/newsletter-sign-up Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carbon_cowboys "When you stand on healthy soil, there's a universe beneath your feet."

    9 min

  6. JAN 27

    Happy Cows with Roots So Deep's Dr. Janice Swanson

    We already know regenerative practices work all around the globe leading to healthier food, better farmer finances, stronger local communities, and a brighter future. But what about the animals? Are they better off? In this episode of The Peter Byck Show, Peter catches up with “Roots So Deep” science team member Dr. Janice Swanson. Dr. Swanson has provided scientific service to government, industry and scientific animal welfare advisory committees including: the United Egg Producers, McDonalds, Food Marketing Institute, Bob Evans, Darden, Leprino Foods and Tysons. She was co-chair of the scientific revision leading to the third edition of the Federation of Animal Science Societies Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching, chairs the taskforce charged with the annual review and revision of the Michigan Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices for the Care of Farm Animals administered under the Michigan Right to Farm Act, and recently served as the scientific co-director of the Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply Project. As a Co-Principal Investigator for our Roots So Deep research team, Janice observed the animal welfare on all five of our farm pairs - and discovered yet another benefit to AMP grazing: healthier, happier animals. When livestock are allowed to live lives in harmony with nature,  we can all feel better about where our food is coming from.  We’ve even heard from vegans that say this kind of animal agriculture is something they can support! Sign-up for our newsletter: https://rootssodeep.org/take-action/newsletter-sign-up Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carbon_cowboys "When you stand on healthy soil, there's a universe beneath your feet."

    45 min

  7. 09/11/2025

    How CNN's Bill Weir Learned it's Not the Cow, it's the How

    Way back in 2023, CNN's Bill Weir reported on the launch of the Hometown Roadshow. As the chief climate correspondent, Bill had heard lots of folks claim cows were "eco-villains."  Luckily, he was open minded enough to listen to the most recent research. Over the years, Bill has been a consistent champion of regenerative agriculture - even including it in his book "Life As We Know It (Can Be)." We often hear the question "how do we make regenerative agriculture mainstream?" We think voices like Bill's, supported by serious science and storytelling, is a big part of that puzzle. Sign-up for our newsletter: https://rootssodeep.org/take-action/newsletter-sign-up Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carbon_cowboys "When you stand on healthy soil, there's a universe beneath your feet."

    54 min

  8. 08/06/2025

    Love of Small Farmers Radicalized James Rebanks

    James Rebanks loves small farmers, and the struggles they face break his heart. That’s why he wants every farmer to know the incredible benefits of AMP grazing. James' books "The Shepherd's Life", "English Pastoral", and "The Place of Tides" have encouraged farmers from all over the world to consider working with nature. But did you know he counts legends like Allen Williams, Greg Judy, and Gabe Brown as his mentors? As a multi-generational shepherd from the UK raising cattle and sheep on his ancestral land with new techniques, James has become a powerful champion of AMP grazing all over the world. During Peter's conversation, James shares his passion for rural communities, the challenges we face spreading our shared message of hope, and just how incredible life can be when you work with nature instead of fighting it. NOTE: We had a few production hiccups, so you may see a few jump cuts within the video version of this podcast. Thanks in advance for being forgiving! Enjoy this episode? Be sure to check out the rest of the series here on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9sL-T7FNhj0jVKYlwbbDidIIS0MzIEX4 Join our community on Discord! https://discord.com/invite/VWQHSzkJXS Sign-up for our newsletter: https://rootssodeep.org/take-action/newsletter-sign-up Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carboncowboys/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carbon_cowboys "When you stand on healthy soil, there's a universe beneath your feet."

    45 min
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5
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About

Peter Byck, director of "Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there" hosts in-depth and personal conversations withscientists, farmers, educators, artists, and intriguing individuals worldwide. For the past two years, we’ve been traveling the world with Roots So Deep — and filming a brand-new podcast along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Peter Byck
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Peter Byck Show
  • Show Website
    The Peter Byck Show

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