Patio Ponderings
Exploring the Expected and the Obscure in Agriculture
From a lifetime in agriculture to deep dives into leadership, rural life, and the evolving food system, Patio Pondering is a podcast where thoughtful conversations meet the open air. Hosted by Jim Smith, Ph.D., a seasoned Swine Nutritionist, agricultural thinker, and storyteller, this podcast explores the connections between our agricultural roots and the broader world.
What started as daily reflections—scribbled with a morning coffee in hand—has grown into a podcast that uncovers the insights, challenges, and sometimes-forgotten history of the industry that feeds us all. Whether solo pondering or engaging in candid discussions with guests, this show digs into everything from livestock production to food trends, rural business shifts, and the personal stories that shape agricultural life.
Now available in both audio and video formats, Patio Pondering brings these discussions to life on YouTube and podcast platforms alike. Whether you prefer to listen on the go or watch the conversation unfold, you’ll find fresh perspectives, candid storytelling, and the kind of conversations that make you think twice.
Subscribe and join the conversation—because agriculture is more than just dirt and livestock. It’s a story worth telling.
Episodes
56 episodes
Episode 56: Chloe Buchanan - From 4-H to Embryology - IVF, Leadership, and Ag Roots
Chloe Buchanan grew up in Leo, Indiana, found her footing in 4-H, and now manages a Great Lakes team at Trans Ova Genetics as a professional services embryologist—doing on-farm IVF collections, embryo transfer (fresh...
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Episode 56
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1:07:05
Episode 55: Delaney Howell — Progress Over Perfection, Ship It, Then Get Better!
Former Market to Market host and Ag News Daily co-founder Delaney Howell shares why her motto is “Progress Over Perfection.” From farming in Tama County to running a boutique marketing agency and launching her new initiat...
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Episode 55
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1:08:00
Episode 54: Let Them Talk!
In this solo episode of Patio Pondering Podcast, Jim reflects on the art of interviewing after listening to Patrick Bet-David’s podcast conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The experience sparked a key question ...
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Episode 54
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9:43
Episode 53: Farming, Retirement, and the Iron Trap
Farmers often say, “My land is my retirement plan.” But what happens when that plan never gets cashed in?In this solo Patio Pondering episode, Jim Smith, Ph.D. dives into the hard realities of retirement planning in agricu...
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Episode 53
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8:01
Episode 52: Solo Thoughts on the Crop Tour and the Black Box
In this solo episode, Jim shares his perspective on the Pro Farmer Crop Tour, crop yield estimates, and how farmers can cut through the “black box” of USDA reports. Drawing on his 2020 scout experience, he recounts fields that ranged fro...
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Episode 52
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17:00
Episode 51 - Feed: The Unsexy 70 Percent
Every business has a “70%” — the single biggest cost or effort that quietly drives success or failure. In pig production, that 70% is feed. It’s not flashy, it’s not exciting, but it makes or breaks profitability.In this solo episo...
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Episode 51
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11:20
Episode 50: Against the Grain: Jerod McDaniel on Bullshit, Big Ag, and the Power of Speaking Up
For our 50th episode, we’re not pulling any punches.Jim sits down with Jerod McDaniel, a farmer, cattleman, and unapologetic contrarian from Texhoma, Oklahoma, who’s made a name for himself by doing what most in agriculture...
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Episode 50
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1:49:31
Episode 49: The Silence That Stuck With Me
In this solo episode of Patio Pondering, Jim reflects on a moment at the Indiana State Fair that left him unsettled when he witnessed something wrong and didn’t speak up. What started as an uncomfortable memory became a deeper reckonin...
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Episode 49
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11:33
Episode 48: Not About Markets – Chip Flory on Family, Faith, and Finding His Voice
You know him as the voice of AgriTalk, delivering market insights with clarity and conviction. But in this episode, Chip Flory sits on the other side of the microphone to share the personal journey that shaped his life ...
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Episode 48
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1:19:00
Episode 47 – The Harvest Dance: From Overalls to Organized Farm Crews
In this solo episode of Patio Ponderings Podcast, host Jim Smith, Ph.D.—farmer, swine nutritionist, and ag communicator—reflects on the evolving face of modern agriculture.Over the past few weeks, Jim watched hay and wheat straw...
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Episode 47
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7:10
Episode 46: Emily Flory Carolan — From Grain Carts to Cold Calls
In this episode of Patio Pondering, I sit down with longtime Ag Twitter friend and powerhouse Corteva territory manager Emily Flory Carolan. From cold calls in cornfields to designing homes during a sabbatical from ag, ...
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Episode 46
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1:23:01
Episode 45: From Livestock to Leadership - How 4-H and Farm Life Shaped Band Director Colby Stackhouse
What do show pigs and school bands have in common? According to Colby Stackhouse, a whole lot more than you'd expect.In this episode of Patio Pondering, I talk with Colby—band director at Leo Junior/Senior High School<...
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Episode 45
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1:18:49
Episode 44: Jim Smith - Uneven Corn Emergence, Soil Compaction, and the Hard Truths We Avoid
In this solo episode of Patio Pondering, host Jim Smith, Ph.D., a swine nutritionist and farmer from Northeast Indiana, digs into the agronomic and personal lessons behind uneven corn emergence in the 2025 growing season. Drawin...
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Episode 44
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10:28
Episode 43: Mark Johnson - Feed, Faith, and Finding Purpose After the Fall
What happens when a swine industry veteran opens up about the real cost of leadership, sobriety, and finding purpose after decades in feed sales?In this powerful episode of Patio Ponderings, Jim Smith sits down with Mark Johnso...
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Episode 43
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1:05:48
Episode 42: Jen Campbell — The Double-Edged Sword of ‘Tell Your Story’
In this episode of Patio Pondering, host Jim Smith, Ph.D., sits down with writer and farmwife Jen Campbell to tackle a topic close to every ag communicator’s heart — and frustration: the double-edged sword of “Tell your stor...
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Episode 42
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1:23:10
Episode 41 – Kaylee Keppy-McDonnell: Communication, Boundaries, and Foundations in Ag
In this episode of Patio Pondering, host Jim Smith, Ph.D., sits down with Kaylee Keppy-McDonnell to explore the themes that have defined her journey through agriculture: communication, boundaries, and foundational values.From he...
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Episode 41
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1:07:30
Episode 40: Amber Hoopengardner: Reinvention, Resilience, and the Power of Connections
“AT Amber would not be AT Amber if she had not been Miss Allen County.”In this episode of Patio Ponderings, host Jim Smith, Ph.D. sits down with Amber Hoopengardner to explore her journey of reinvention after a career s...
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Episode 40
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1:11:25
Episode 39 - From the Ranch to Bougie Backyard Chickens: Exploring Ag Innovation (and a Few Surprises) with Tracey Snider
In today’s episode of Patio Pondering, I’m joined by Tracey Snider, an agricultural leader whose career path has taken her from life on the Ranch to helping farmers and food companies connect more meaningfully with innovatio...
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Episode 39
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1:29:00
Episode 38 – From Setback to Starting Over: First Patio Pondering from the Patio
In this special episode of Patio Pondering Podcast, Jim shares his personal story of overcoming career loss, finding new purpose, and building a new life after a job setback — all recorded from the patio where it b...
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Episode 38
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15:42
Episode 37: Karen Corrigan - Honest Insights on Life that Lead to Good Agronomy and Life Skills
Karen Corrigan joins Patio Ponderings to talk agronomy, opportunity, and saying "yes" to success—plus a few laughs with friends along the way.In this episode of Patio Ponderings, Jim Smith sits down with Karen Corrigan, Certifie...
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Episode 37
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55:32
Episode 36: Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should
In this solo episode of Patio Pondering, I explore the increasingly urgent topic of farmland preservation and rural land use through the lens of personal experience and regional change.Sparked by a conversati...
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Episode 36
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9:40
Episode 35: From Sheep to Pigs - Amanda Minton on Ag Roots, Swine Innovation, and Resilient Leadership
Episode Description (Final Version): In this episode of Patio Pondering, we sit down with Amanda Minton, Manager of Reproductive Solutions at AcuFast Swine Genetics and Purdue University alum, to explore the journ...
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Episode 35
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1:10:58
Episode 34: A Solo Discussion on Resilience and Returns - One Lamb and One Stock at a Time
In this solo episode of Patio Ponderings, we take a short detour from exploring agriculture roots to reflect on today’s economic climate and personal resilience strategies.I dive into the impact of recent tariffs on agricu...
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Episode 34
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12:19
Episode 33: Hayden Heigele - From Pasture to Porch: Building Frosty Bunk Directo To Consumer Beef Business
In this episode of Patio Ponderings, I sit down with Hayden Heigl, founder of Frosty Bunk, a fast-growing direct-to-consumer beef sales business based in Kansas. Hayden shares the story behind launching his local beef bra...
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Episode 33
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1:32:08
Episode 32: The Lost Agricultural Heritage of Northeast Indiana & Northwest Ohio, a Solo Discussion
"I remember riding with my grandfathers to deliver grain to the St. Joe Elevator in St. Joe, Indiana. Across the railroad tracks sat Crow’s Rainbow Farm Center. At the time, it felt like these places would always be there—until they weren’t...
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Episode 32
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10:30
