How to deal with mental and physical challenges–on the farm and beyond
Dr. Robert Fetsch grew up on a dairy farm in Texas, and saw first hand the stresses of rural life. He now works with farm and ranch families with disabilities and helps them manage their stress, anger, depression, and suicidal thinking. He is co-project director of the Colorado Agrability project, Professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences Department at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
More Episodes
Episode 176 – Painterland Sisters Yogurt: Regeneration at Every Step from Farmer to Consumer
Painterland Sisters Yogurt: Regeneration at Every Step from Farmer to Consumer Hayley and Stephanie Painter saved their farm by creating a national yogurt brand — and they’re committed to fostering not only nutrient dense, regenerative food, but also health at every...
Episode 175 – Agave, Mesquite, and a Carbon Drawdown Game-Changer
Agave, Mesquite, and a Carbon Drawdown Game-Changer André Leu knows what it takes to take massive amounts of carbon out of the atmosphere and put it into the soil permanently. We talk about his new book, The Regenerative Agriculture Solution. André Leu is co-founder...
Episode 174 – Commerce, the Destruction of Nature, and the Uphill Path to Sustainability
Commerce, the Destruction of Nature, and the Uphill Path to Sustainability Sara Dant‘s book, "Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West," covers the long history of human habitation on the North American continent — from the time that megafauna like...
Episode 173 – Colorado Peaches: Delicious for the Eaters, Fair for the Workers
Colorado Peaches: Delicious for the Eaters, Fair for the Workers Gwen Cameron grew up on Rancho Durazno, her family's peach farm. She was pursuing a career in journalism when her father asked her if she wanted to come back and take over the farm. She agreed and never...
Episode 172 – Black Farmers Regenerating Land in the Face of Historical — and Current — Racism
Black Farmers Regenerating Land in the Face of Historical — and Current — Racism P. Wade Ross‘s great grandfather was a runaway slave who bought land in Texas. His descendants founded Texas Small Farmers and Ranchers Community Based Organization, a non-profit that...
Episode 171 – Empowering Women in Agriculture
Empowering Women in Agriculture Women have been invisible in agriculture for too long: not counted in the census, not taken seriously for their work and management achievements, excluded from access to capital and credit––and even farm equipment is not made for their...
Episode 170 – The Wild Adventures of a New Mexico Hemp Farmer
The Wild Adventures of a New Mexico Hemp Farmer Doug Fine was an international journalist before he moved to New Mexico to start a polyculture farm and embrace a rural way of life. He’s the author of six books, including four on hemp and cannabis, and his film...
Episode 169 – Sarah Wentzel-Fisher on Working Lands, Community, Science, and more
Sarah Wentzel-Fisher on working lands, community, science, and more Sarah Wentzel-Fisher is executive director of Quivira Coalition. A native of South Dakota, she came to her work in agriculture and leadership via a circuitous path that included the creative arts,...
Episode 168 – Pueblo Values + Engineering Expertise = Resilient Landscapes
Pueblo Values + Engineering Expertise = Resilient Landscapes Phoebe Suina grew up on Cochiti and San Felipe Pueblos in New Mexico, where she learned about land, water, cultural values and practices from her extended family and community. With advanced degrees in...
Episode 167 – Documentary Digs Deep into Grazing Science — and Society
Documentary digs deep into grazing science — and society A decade ago, documentary filmmaker and musician Peter Byck brought together a diverse group of scientists who were studying agriculture from a whole-system perspective — something that was, and still is,...
Episode 166 – Saving Seeds, Saving Ecosystems
Saving Seeds, Saving Ecosystems Seed Savers Exchange is a small non-profit that's making a big difference. For a half century, they've been saving seeds, getting them out into gardens, telling their stories — and cultivating biodiversity that has been diminished with...
Episode 165 – Investing in Regenerative Ag
Investing in Regenerative Ag Dirt Capital Partners takes a "slow money" perspective on investing, helping farmers get land access and regenerate not only the soil but also their communities. Amanda Zakharov is director of investments and Martín Lemos is director of...
Episode 164 – From Suburban Chicago to Rural Montana: the Journey of a Bison Rancher
From Suburban Chicago to Rural Montana: the Journey of a Bison Rancher Matt Skoglund was an attorney with a conservation non-profit, but over time was drawn to work on the land. With no prior agrarian experience he started a successful bison ranch using regenerative...
Episode 163 – A Matter of Conscience: Will Harris on Regenerating an Industrial Ranch
A Matter of Conscience: Will Harris on Regenerating an Industrial Ranch In his new book, Will Harris describes the moment when he saw that his industrial ranch was cruel to animals and bad for the land. Before he'd ever heard the phrase "regenerative grazing" he...
Episode 162 – The Robber Barons of Today’s Food Industries
The Robber Barons of Today's Food Industries Iowan Austin Frerick saw his home state transform from a world of farms to one of toxic factory food and hollowed out rural communities. Yet he offers optimism and real solutions. Austin Frerick grew up in Iowa, which in...
Episode 161 – Farm Aid: Food, Festivity, and Fighting for Farmers
Farm Aid: Food, Festivity, and Fighting for Farmers In 1985 Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young organized a concert to benefit farmers and spread awareness of the crisis U.S. farmers were facing. Held in Champaign, Illinois, before a crowd of 80,000 people,...