The Regenaissance Podcast

Ryan sits down with Joel Hollingsworth of Smoke River Ranch in Oklahoma, who lays out a clear, unflinching diagnosis of America’s decline. He then takes you through the solution, step by step, exactly whats required. In short, the miracle ahead has only one path, and that is a restored and vitalized rural America. Key Topics:Collapse and renewal of rural AmericaBuilding culture through community and soilRegenerative ranching and total grazingEconomic sovereignty and local productionReclaiming health and vitalityWhy You Should Listen: - Learn how rural collapse happened. - See how financialization hollowed America. - Understand why soil and economy are linked. - Discover how regeneration rebuilds communities. - Hear a practical plan for renewal.Resources mentioned:Book: The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael PollanBook: Extreme Ownership by Jocko WillinkConnect with Joel:Smoke River Ranch WebsiteX00:00:00 – America’s decline and lost vitality 00:04:30 – Joel’s story and Smoke River Ranch 00:11:00 – Finance replacing real production 00:20:10 – Centralization and moral decay 00:29:40 – What regeneration means 00:38:25 – Soil as civilization’s base 00:46:50 – Rebuilding local economies 00:56:30 – Tech and virtual fencing 01:05:00 – The real economics of farming 01:16:15 – Decentralization and freedom 01:28:10 – Work, dignity, and meaning 01:38:40 – Food, health, and strength 01:52:20 – Cultural cost of disconnection 02:09:00 – Rural vitalism in action 02:27:15 – Rebuilding soil, rebuilding America

When chronic illness left Cindy bedridden in her twenties, she began questioning everything she’d been taught about health - and later, about farming. What started as a search for healing led her and her husband to rebuild their land in Burneyville, Oklahoma, where TLC Ranch now stands: a regenerative bison ranch and certified organic pecan orchard rooted in living systems rather than chemicals. Through decades of trial, floods, and faith, Cindy discovered that the same principles that restore the body also restore the soil. This episode traces how her recovery became the land’s recovery - and what it really means to live and farm in alignment with nature.Key Topics- Healing through food and faith- From chemical sprays to organic farming- Bison behavior and herd management- The challenges of organic certification- Health, medicine, and trusting intuitionTimestamps 00:00:00 – Growing up outdoors and learning self-reliance 00:04:00 – Linking diet and chronic illness in the 1980s 00:08:00 – Healing through food and natural living 00:12:00 – From chemical farming to organic awareness 00:19:00 – Buying land and starting the ranch 00:27:00 – Discovering bison and learning their behavior 00:31:00 – Pecans as nutrient-dense local food 00:44:00 – Challenges of organic certification 00:53:00 – Replacing chemicals with biological inputs 00:58:00 – Managing herd health and natural balance 01:05:00 – Lessons from floods and renewal on the landWebsiteFacebookInstagram

Caden and Patrick are first-generation farmers in North Carolina who started Cable Family Farm while still in high school. Together, they’ve built a small-scale regenerative farm focused on pasture-raised poultry and no-till market gardening, proving that young people can make a living from the land through hard work, curiosity, and faith.Cable Family Farm practices regenerative farming focused on soil health, animal welfare, and local connection through small-scale, community-based food production.Key TopicsStarting a regenerative farm as teenagersLearning and adapting through trial and errorMaking small-scale farming sustainableSacrifice, purpose, and faith in farmingInspiring young people to reconnect with foodTimestamps00:00:00 – Discovering small-scale farming 00:02:45 – Launching Cable Family Farm in high school 00:06:00 – Rekindling friendship and building together 00:09:00 – Visiting Polyface Farm for inspiration 00:10:30 – Selling produce and entering markets 00:14:00 – Lessons from larger conventional farms 00:17:00 – Partnership, long hours, and learning curves 00:21:00 – Sacrifice and fulfillment on the land 00:25:00 – Bringing younger generations into farming 00:35:00 – Faith and stewardship of the land 00:40:00 – Balancing college with farm life 00:42:00 – Reflections on growth and purposeConnectInstagramFacebook 

This episode is a little different: instead of a sit-down podcast, I join Justin Rhodes for a live tour around his North Carolina farm. When you think of homesteaders, Justin Rhodes is the first person you think of. With over a million followers on YouTube and multiple successful books, Justin and his family have paved the way for new homesteaders through documenting their journey. A fourth-generation steward of his family’s land in North Carolina, Justin and his wife Rebecca raise their five children on it. What we cover:How rotational grazing restores pastures without seed or fertilizerThe challenges and realities of homesteading versus farming for profitBalancing family life, children, and farm responsibilitiesWhy many new homesteaders burn out and how to avoid itThe generational legacy of farming the same land and what it means for the futureTimestamps:00:01:30 — The breeds of cows on the farm and how milk is shared00:03:00 — Family land history and what the farm cost in the 1930s00:05:00 — Rotational grazing explained and why clover survives00:09:00 — Homesteading vs farming: growing food for yourself or for sale00:13:00 — Why most new homesteaders burn out and how to prepare00:17:30 — Finding a deeper reason beyond money to keep farming00:19:00 — Involving children in farm life and family teamwork00:21:00 — The multi-generational connection to land and legacy00:23:00 — Raw milk, safety, and family traditions00:25:00 — Industrial milk history, swill dairies, and why pasteurization beganJustin's YouTube channelInstagramFarm Website

Josh and Jessica Guptill run Rehoboth Farm in Suffolk, Virginia, where they raise pastured chicken, pork, lamb, beef, eggs, and turkeys. Neither came from a farming family - Josh left the Coast Guard and Jessica is a doula - but together they built their farm from backyard beginnings, guided by faith and a belief in producing “healing food.” Their path is unique: from DIY chicken pluckers and bartering for land to scaling up during COVID, they’ve made transparency and education central to their work. Today they not only provide nutrient-dense food but also host workshops and farm visits, giving their community a firsthand connection to how food is grown.This episode we discuss:What backyard chickens taught them about the realities of food productionHow different animals (chickens, pigs, sheep, cattle) work together to regenerate landWhy transparency and on-farm visits build trust between farmers and eatersThe role of farmers’ markets, and what separates thriving ones from failing onesHow faith and community shape their vision of farming as a vocationTimestamps:00:00:00 Josh & Jessica’s backstory and first encounters with farming00:07:00 Early challenges raising and butchering chickens00:13:00 Deciding to leave the Coast Guard and pursue farming00:19:00 Finding and moving onto their current Virginia farm00:25:00 Scaling up chickens, pigs, and lamb during COVID00:33:00 Why their farmers’ market works—and why others fail00:40:00 Marketing, transparency, and building customer trust00:48:00 The meaning behind the name “Rehoboth Farm”00:53:00 Questions consumers should ask at farmers’ markets01:00:00 Hosting on-farm classes and why visits matterWebsiteInstagramFacebook

In this episode, Jordan and I discuss the importance of economics, marketing, and storytelling in agriculture. Follow the tour on YouTubeJordan Green is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served multiple deployments before completing a five-year tour of duty in 2009 and transitioning into full-time farming with his wife, Laura.Together, Jordan and Laura founded J&L Green Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, where they raise pasture-based pork and poultry and 100% grass-fed beef on 500 acres, marketing their food directly to consumers.Key TopicsEscaping the industrial poultry system and its impact on animals and farmersApprenticeship at Polyface Farm and lessons from Joel SalatinMilitary service and how it shaped the decision to start J&L Green FarmThe struggles of starting a farm business during the 2008 financial crisisWhy marketing and storytelling matter as much as production in regenerative farmingTimestamps:00:00:00 Why cheap food threatens the survival of American farms00:03:00 Inside poultry houses: dust, ammonia, and farmer servitude00:08:00 Contracts, mortgages, and the trap of industrial poultry farming00:17:00 Apprenticeship at Polyface and scaling pasture-based livestock00:24:00 The reality of death and livestock farming behind the scenes00:29:00 Joining the Marines and balancing military life with farm dreams00:36:00 Starting J&L Green Farm with land, capital, and a Polyface contract00:40:00 Surviving the 2008 housing crash while building a farm business00:42:00 Why marketing is the hardest but most crucial part of farming00:49:00 The clash between fast tech and slow ecology in food production00:55:00 Building customer relationships, not flash sales01:00:00 Why most farms aren’t welcoming to the public and how J&L differsConnect with Jordan, J&L Farm:WebsiteInstagramFollow the tour on YouTube

Bryson Lipscomb, a military veteran and first-generation farmer at Triple Oak Farms, shares his journey from the corporate world to raising pastured pigs. He discusses the disillusionment with USDA meat processing practices, revealing the harsh realities of being a farmer. Bryson emphasizes the importance of food sovereignty and innovative solutions like Private Membership Associations. He also reflects on the impact of COVID-19 on food independence and the emotional toll of farming, underscoring the vital connection between community, faith, and stewardship in agriculture.

Farm tour #8. Isabelle and Garrett Heydt, of Rucker Farm in Virginia share their journey from vastly different childhoods to building a thriving regenerative farm and raising three young children. They discuss how they started with just a handful of chickens, grew into pigs and cattle, built community through barter events and markets, and navigated the challenges of balancing family life with the demands of farming. Their story highlights both the struggles and rewards of choosing a life close to the land.Rucker Farm is a regenerative family farm in Virginia raising pastured beef, pork, and poultry with full transparency and care for the land. They rotate animals daily, avoid confinement, and even invite the public to their on-farm harvests to reconnect people with real food.Key TopicsFrom contrasting childhoods to a shared farming pathStarting with 50 chickens and scaling upRaising a family while running a farmFamily, farming, and community at the centerRegenerative vs. conventional cattle operationsMarketing, markets, and authentic customer tiesTimestamps00:02:00 – Isabelle’s upbringing on Rucker Farm and her family’s farming background 00:07:00 – Garrett’s childhood in Baltimore and path into outdoor guiding 00:12:00 – Meeting in West Virginia, homesteading, and renovating their first house 00:20:00 – Moving back to Rucker Farm in 2020 during the pandemic 00:23:00 – Why they started with chickens and how it scaled into pigs and cattle 00:25:00 – Hosting barter tables and building community around food and farming 00:33:00 – Partnerships, land access, and support from American Farmland Trust 00:37:00 – Advice for new farmers on building relationships and opportunities 00:39:00 – Isabelle’s approach to marketing, storytelling, and authenticity 00:45:00 – The realities and challenges of farmers’ markets 00:55:00 – Educating consumers on cooking grass-finished beef 01:01:00 – Raising children on the farm and connecting them to natureConnect with Rucker FarmWebsiteInstagramFollow the tour on YouTube

Farm tour #7. Today we interview farmer Tony Eash, from Triple E farms. Triple E Farms is a family-run raw dairy and livestock farm in West Virginia, operated by brothers Tony and Phil. Farming since childhood, they grew up raising animals on pasture and chose a regenerative path after the sudden loss of their father. Today they produce 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised, non-GMO beef, pork, poultry, and raw dairy, combining traditional practices with appropriate modern technology to provide pure, nutrient-dense food for their family and community.Key topicsTransition from conventional dairy to regenerative farmingCommunity support and resilience after personal lossWest Virginia’s raw milk laws and policy changesWorking with Amish partners for poultry and turkey supplyAdvice for aspiring farmers entering regenerative agricultureTimestamps  00:00:00 Challenging perceptions of farmers and profitability 00:01:00 From Amish roots to dairy farming in Virginia 00:03:00 Turning away from commercial chicken houses 00:04:00 Starting with broilers and expanding to pigs, beef, and dairy 00:08:00 Growing up on a small hobby farm and making hay 00:12:00 Losing his father and coping through work 00:14:00 Mennonite community support after tragedy 00:18:00 Building a raw milk customer base 00:20:00 Raw milk laws in West Virginia 00:26:00 Questions to ask when buying milk or visiting farms 00:28:00 Testing, cleanliness, and raw vs. pasteurized costs 00:32:00 Balancing full-time jobs with farm demandsConnect with Triple EWebsiteInstagramFollow the tour on YouTube

Farm tour #6. On today’s episode, I speak with Ben and Hannah Yoder of Savage Mountain Farm. Drawing on their Amish–Mennonite heritage and a commitment to natural farming, they share how they’ve built a livelihood that prioritizes culture, family, and the small farm way of life.Ben and Hannah Yoder run Savage Mountain Farm, a 150-acre diversified, full-diet CSA on the Pennsylvania–Maryland line, rooted in Amish–Mennonite heritage and natural methods, raising produce, mushrooms, and pastured livestock while blending regenerative farming with homeschooling, community engagement, and a family-centered lifestyle.Key Topics:Reviving Amish–Mennonite farming heritageBuilding a full-diet CSA in a rural areaPreserving small farm culture over profitKeeping unprofitable crops for their cultural valueHomeschooling and raising kids through farm workTimestamps:00:01:00 Ben’s discovery of his Amish–Mennonite farming roots 00:09:00 Early farming experiences, WWOOFing, and meeting Hannah 00:11:00 Starting their farm on rented land and the move to their current site 00:14:00 Designing a full-diet, full-choice CSA for a rural market 00:22:00 Preserving small farm culture over the capitalist mindset 00:26:00 Why they keep unprofitable crops for cultural and family reasons 00:27:00 Children’s role in daily farm life 00:35:00 Hannah’s path from urban gardening to sustainable agriculture 00:49:00 Homeschooling philosophy and keeping kids engaged with life and work 01:00:00 How farming builds autonomy, resilience, and life skillsConnect with Savage Mountain:WebsiteInstagramFollow the tour on YouTube