The Life Stylist
Death-Free Diet Fantasies vs. Regenerative Farm-To-Fork Food of the Future w/ Mollie Engelhart #547
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Moving from veganism to regenerative farming, Mollie Engelhart highlights the benefits and challenges of this shift in ideology.
- The impact of glyphosate on human health and its presence in daily products like beer is a major concern in farming practices.
- Balancing health protection against modern threats without succumbing to fear is crucial for maintaining well-being.
- Controversies around regenerative agriculture emphasize nuanced viewpoints, reducing suffering in food production, and acknowledging the inevitability of death.
- The podcast explores the harsh financial impacts of the pandemic on restaurants, forcing closures and significant revenue losses.
Deep dives
Living the Best Life on a Sustainable Ranch Farm
A sustainable ranch in Bandera, Texas offers a unique experience with regenerative farming, providing fresh farm-to-table dining and accommodations in tiny houses and manufactured homes. The property aims to host various gatherings, from wellness retreats to family reunions, offering organic, regenerative food along with plans for a brewery that incorporates closed-loop waste management to feed dairy cattle.
Glyphosate Awareness and Health Implications
Discussions around the widespread use of glyphosate in farming shed light on its health impacts and presence in everyday products like beer. The revelation that wheat crops are sprayed with glyphosate before harvest to maintain schedules raises concerns about its potential effects on human health, including allergic reactions and its impact on vital microbiology.
Balancing Awareness and Fear in a Modern World
Navigating the challenges posed by environmental factors like EMF exposure, blue light, and toxic substances emphasizes the importance of being aware without succumbing to constant fear. The speaker highlights the struggle to maintain a balance between safeguarding health against modern threats while not becoming overwhelmed by fear and the importance of surrender in certain situations.
Challenges and Reflections on Regenerative Agriculture
The podcast delves into the complexities and controversies surrounding regenerative agriculture, highlighting the speaker's personal journey from being a lifelong vegetarian to embracing regenerative farming practices. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of nuanced viewpoints, lessening suffering in food production, and confronting the reality that all life involves elements of death amid societal and personal reflections on dietary choices.
Challenges and Inconsistencies During the Pandemic
The pandemic brought about constant changes in regulations, creating chaos for business owners, like the speaker managing restaurants facing shifting rules that impacted operations adversely. The rules changed abruptly, from dining restrictions to booth separations, leading to financial losses and uncertainty. The speaker faced challenges with ever-evolving regulations and employees who were fearful, causing conflicts and navigating these unpredictabilities while trying various strategies to adapt and survive.
Financial Struggles and Cultural Shift in the Restaurant Industry
The financial toll of the pandemic on restaurants was significant, with consistent sales declines impacting sustainability post-pandemic. The speaker described the changing landscape of dining culture, highlighting people's preference for staying in, cooking at home, and a shift away from traditional dining experiences. The once vibrant restaurant scenes faced downturns, leading to closures and revenue losses, presenting challenges for businesses to adapt to new dining norms, impacting sales and operations.
Safety Concerns and Uncertainty in Los Angeles
The safety perception in Los Angeles post-pandemic has shifted, reflecting changes in the social and cultural dynamics. While safety isn't explicitly mentioned as a concern, implications suggest a less favorable feeling of safety in public spaces. The speaker described a different atmosphere in LA, particularly during late hours, contrasting it with historical references to the city's prior edginess. The uncertainty and changing dynamics in LA's restaurant and social scenes point to a complex and evolving environment.
The Impact on Businesses and Owners
The pandemic's aftermath led to severe repercussions for numerous businesses, including restaurants, resulting in closures and financial strains. The speaker emphasized the devastating effects on restaurant owners, with a substantial percentage forced out of business. Personal accounts of draining savings, selling properties, and enduring financial hardships underscore the harsh realities faced by those in the industry, highlighting the long-lasting impact disrupting livelihoods and economic stability.
Minimum Wage and Impact on Business Costs
Increasing the minimum wage during the pandemic raised concerns beyond fair pay, highlighting the complex effects on business costs and operations. The rise in costs due to wage hikes led to supply chain issues, price increases, and platform fees from services like Uber Eats, posing challenges for profitability. Addressing the inequity involves considering broader impacts beyond wage adjustments and navigating cost escalations across different business aspects.
Contrasting Regulations: California vs. Texas
Comparing regulatory environments in California and Texas reveals stark differences in bureaucratic processes and support structures. Operating a business in California involved extensive permits and bureaucratic hurdles, highlighting challenges in simple tasks like obtaining an electrical box. In contrast, Texas showcased streamlined regulations and responsive interactions, fostering a more efficient and human-centered approach to administrative requirements, emphasizing the importance of local support and flexibility in regulatory frameworks for businesses.
You may have heard, Mollie Engelhart’s name is in the news.
A second generation restaurateur, chef Mollie Engelhart leads two locations of her Sage Regenerative Kitchen in SOCAL and has opened a sprawling homesteader/hosting/hospitality business here in Texas, Sovereignty Ranch. But the internet pitchforks are out over her shift to regenerative farming.
A vegetarian herself, and longtime vegan, Mollie took it upon herself to learn the intricacies of farming – a practice made familiar by her father and a life spent in the food industry. In doing so, she realized the pitfalls of veganism and the potential benefits of regenerative farming.
Our conversation covers this shift in ideology – and in menu offerings – which has ignited fury among the staunch vegan community, how and why she was called to make such a change, working through protests at her restaurants, and what it could mean for her business in the future.
We also talk about her experience running brick-and-mortar restaurants in the epicenter of squashed rights, the red-pill moment which led to clashes with her own staff, and our shared pull to Texas, to freedom, and the differences in bureaucracy we’ve seen since relocating here.
Mollie is passionate and informed, a killer combo for anyone looking to shake up well-established norms and expectations. Her methods are the future, and her voice is one we’ll be hearing a lot more of in the coming months and years.
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is presented for educational and exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for diagnosing or treating any illness. Those responsible for this show disclaim responsibility for any possible adverse effects from the use of information presented by Luke or his guests. Please consult with your healthcare provider before using any products referenced. This podcast may contain paid endorsements for products or services.
THIS SHOW IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
QUANTUM UPGRADE | Get a 15 day free trial with code 'LUKE15' at quantumupgrade.io.
AND…
BLUSHIELD | Use the code LUKE to save 10% off your order at blushield-us.com.
AND…
PIQUE | For a limited time, get up to 15% off plus a rechargeable frother and cup at piquelife.com/luke
AND…
ALITURA NATURALS | As a special gift for my listeners, use code “LIFESTYLIST” for 20% off and FREE SHIPPING in the US on your order at alituranaturals.com.
MORE ABOUT THIS EPISODE:
(00:00:08) Mollie Engelhart on Her Background in Veganism
(00:17:36) Revealing the Hard Truths Related to Farming
(00:31:53) Intro to the Wide Benefits of Regenerative Farming
(01:02:42) Swift Blowback After Announcing a Reversal on Veganism
(01:26:26) Issues & Opportunities in Modern Meat Processing
(01:41:50) Surviving as an LA Restaurant During the Plandemic
(02:14:38) Spreading the Good Word of Regenerative Farming
Resources:
• Sage Regenerative Kitchen: sageregenkitchen.com
• Sovereignty Ranch: sovereigntyranch.com
• Instagram: @chefmollie
• YouTube: @chefmollie5334
• I’m so proud to have officially launched my first collection of merch! Shop all the new designs at lukestoreymerch.com.
• Are you ready to block harmful blue light, and look great at the same time? Check out Gilded By Luke Storey. Where fashion meets function: gildedbylukestorey.com
• Join me on Telegram for the uncensored content big tech won’t allow me to post. It’s free speech and free content: www.lukestorey.com/telegram
The Life Stylist is produced by Crate Media.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
