Discover Ag

Ep 240 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into homemade sugar, surprise Western collabs, celebrity cowboy boot shopping, and what's really in your heavy cream. A viral reel reveals the complex 12-step process of making sugar from sugarcane—and the shocking truth that natural sugar is brown, not white. The hosts debate why we bleach sugar, flour, and rice, then explore an unexpected collaboration between Airstream, Stetson, and Taylor Sheridan's Four Sixes Ranch for a limited-edition Western trailer. While Natalie sees brilliant marketing, Tara argues it's impractical influencer bait for Coachella, not serious campers. The surprises continue with J-Lo spotted shopping for boots at Cowboy Christmas during NFR, leaving the hosts with endless questions and zero answers. They discuss the USDA's new pasture-raised labeling standards for chicken and dive into heavy cream drama—exposing how many brands now contain gums as cost-saving additives. The episode wraps with a kitchen science experiment on making homemade butter, plus announcements about their holiday break and upcoming Florida sugarcane farm content. What We Discovered This Week 🤠 🪩 Making sugar from sugarcane—and why it's naturally brown 🪩 Airstream x Stetson x Four Sixes: Western luxury or marketing stunt? 🪩 J-Lo spotted shopping for boots at Cowboy Christmas 🪩 USDA updates pasture-raised labeling for chicken 🪩 Heavy cream's hidden ingredient: gums everywhere 🪩 The kitchen science of making butter from cream CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro: Homemade Sugar, Western Airstream Collabs, J-Lo at NFR & Heavy Cream Drama 01:27 Discovery 1: Making Sugar from Sugarcane: The Wild 12-Step Process 04:13 Why Natural Sugar Is Brown (Not White!) 06:38 The Bleaching Debate: Sugar, Flour & Rice 08:19 Molasses, Brown Sugar & The Science Behind It All 10:15 Discover on the Road: Florida Sugar Cane Coming Soon 16:20 Discovery 2: Airstream x Stetson x Four Sixes: Taylor Sheridan's Western Collab 20:33 Tara's Hot Take: Why This Collab Misses the Mark 25:10 Ben Christensen Shoots the Campaign & NFR Memories 27:49 Discovery 3: J-Lo Spotted at Cowboy Christmas Shopping for Boots 32:08 Tara's NFR Experience: Fur Coats & Custom Furniture 37:28 Debrief: USDA Updates Pasture Raised Labeling for Chicken 44:16 Discovery 4: Heavy Cream's Hidden Ingredient - Gums Are Everywhere 50:03 Why Companies Add Gums: Fat Is Expensive 52:03 Making Butter from Heavy Cream: The Kitchen Science Experiment 55:30 Wrap-up and Holiday Break Announcement 🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by https://instagram.com/nataliekovarik/?hl=en — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and https://instagram.com/taravanderdussen/?hl=en — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist. 📲 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE • Website: https://discoverag.com/ • Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750 • Instagram: https://instagram.com/discoveragpodcast/# 🤝 PARTNERS AND SPONSORSHIPS PONCHO OUTDOORS Code "DISCOVER" $10 Discount MARY T FABER Bookkeeping Services for Rural Entrepreneurs OUR FARMS Code "DISCOVER" 10% ARMRA COLOSTRUM SUPPLEMENT Code "DISCOVER" 15% off (first order) SWEETWATER PILLOWS Code "DISCOVER" for a free tote TOUPS & CO Use link for 20% off FARM WIFE TALLOW Code "DISCOVER" 10% off TURTLEBOX OUTDOOR SPEAKERS Code "DISCOVER" free hat COZY EARTH Code "DISCOVER" 40% off SUNRISE FLOUR MILL Code "DISCOVER" 10% off DUCKWORTH Code "DISCOVER" 10% off Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.  

Ep 239 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into a Campbell's soup scandal, the CMA Awards crisis, a heartwarming veterans program, and the viral sesame seed discovery that has everyone rethinking their burger buns. A leaked audio recording from a former Campbell's VP calling their food "bleep for poor people" and claiming their chicken comes from a 3D printer goes viral, but the hosts argue the real issue isn't false ingredient claims—it's corporate culture and classism. The CMA Awards hit rock bottom with only 6 million viewers (down from 16 million a decade ago), sparking debate about country music's identity crisis and why they desperately need the Dancing With the Stars Gen Z marketer. On a positive note, the Armed to Farm program is helping veterans transition into sustainable agriculture with an 83% retention rate through hands-on training in everything from aquaponics to beekeeping. Plus, Cheetos launches a "Simply Naked" line without artificial dyes, and a viral video reveals where sesame seeds actually come from—growing in pods that burst open when ripe, which is literally the origin of "open sesame." What We Discovered This Week 🤠 🪩 Campbell's VP scandal and what it reveals about corporate culture 🪩 CMA Awards hit record-low ratings—what went wrong? 🪩 Armed to Farm: Veterans finding purpose in agriculture 🪩 Cheetos goes naked (the snack, not the hosts) 🪩 Sesame seeds: The viral food discovery we didn't know we needed 🪩 Open Sesame is literally about sesame seed pods bursting open CHAPTERS:  00:00 - Intro: Campbell's Mess, CMA Disaster, Veterans & Sesame Seeds 00:59 - Discovery 1: Campbell's VP Scandal & The 3D Printed Chicken Controversy 06:18 - The Food System Culture: Classism & Corporate Profit Over Quality 10:55 - Campbell's Stock Impact & Brand Innovation Opportunities 16:19 - Discovery 2: CMA Awards Hit All-Time Low with 6 Million Viewers 19:49 - Dancing With the Stars Strategy & Why CMAs Need a Gen Z Marketer 24:49 - Morgan Wallen Controversy & Country Music's Identity Crisis 27:16 - Discovery 3: Armed to Farm Program Helps Veterans Find Purpose 36:53 - Disco Debrief: Cheetos Goes Naked & The Maha Connection 40:49 - Discovery 4: The Sesame Seed Surprise—Where Do They Come From? 45:50 - Open Sesame: The Phrase Origin & Where Texas Produces Them 47:48 - Wrap-up and Monday's Dear Discos Interview with Duckworth Wool 🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by https://instagram.com/nataliekovarik/?hl=en — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and https://instagram.com/taravanderdussen/?hl=en — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist. 🪩 JOIN CLUB DISCOVER Want more Discover Ag? Become part of our exclusive Club Discover on Facebook! Vote on the articles we cover Connect with other Disco listeners Discover behind-the-scenes content 🎉 Join the community: https://facebook.com/groups/clubdiscover 📲 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE Website: https://discoverag.com/ Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750 Instagram: https://instagram.com/discoveragpodcast 🤝PARTNERS AND SPONSORSHIPS MARY T FABER Bookkeeping Services for Rural Entrepreneurs OUR FARMS Code "DISCOVER" 10% ARMRA COLOSTRUM SUPPLEMENT Code "DISCOVER" 15% off (first order) SWEETWATER PILLOWS Code "DISCOVER" for a free tote TOUPS & CO Use link for 20% off FARM WIFE TALLOW Code "DISCOVER" 10% off TURTLEBOX OUTDOOR SPEAKERS Code "DISCOVER" free hat COZY EARTH Code "DISCOVER" 40% off SUNRISE FLOUR MILL Code "DISCOVER" 10% off DUCKWORTH Code "DISCOVER" 10% off GROUNDED JOURNALS Code "DISCOVER" for savings Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.  

Ep 238 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into Jeff Bezos' role in the beef industry, the end of a 200-year-old publication, and why your FFA jacket just became a fashion statement. The hosts tackle viral claims about methane-reducing feed additives for cattle, separating Bill Gates' investments from Bezos' initiatives. They discuss the Bovaer controversy in Denmark where farmers are now required to use methane-reducing supplements, and explore the tension between environmental responsibility and farmer autonomy. Plus, the Farmer's Almanac is publishing its final edition after 206 years, FFA jackets have become the hottest vintage fashion item, and the hosts reveal why your Costco pecans are at least a year old. Stick around for a disco debrief on the first documented US death from Alpha-Gal Syndrome (the tick-borne meat allergy), plus a deep dive into the pecan supply chain. Spoiler: the US grows 80% of the world's pecans, but we ship them to Mexico to be shelled, then import them back. The food supply chain is wild, and the hosts break down why "fresh" is complicated. What We Discovered This Week 🤠 🪩 Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and the methane feed debate 🪩 Denmark mandates Bovaer for dairy farmers 🪩 The Farmer's Almanac publishes its last edition after 206 years 🪩 FFA jackets become vintage fashion gold 🪩 First US death from tick-borne meat allergy 🪩 Your Costco pecans are older than you think CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro: Bezos, Beef, Dead Almanacs & Viral FFA Jackets 03:15 Discovery 1: Jeff Bezos Controls Beef? The Methane Feed Controversy 07:42 Bill Gates vs Bezos: Who's Investing in What? 11:28 The Bovaer Debate: Denmark Makes It Mandatory 16:35 What's a Farmer's Job: Food or Saving the Planet? 22:18 Discovery 2: Farmer's Almanac Dies After 200 Years 28:05 Why We're Losing History in the Digital Age 34:20 Discovery 3: FFA Jackets Go Viral in Vintage Fashion 40:12 Should Non-FFA People Wear the Jacket? 45:30 Debrief & Discovery 4: First Tick-Borne Meat Allergy Death & Your Costco Pecans 50:15 The Pecan Truth: Why Your Nuts Are From Last Year (and Mexico) 56:40 Wrap-up and Thanks for Surviving Without Us 🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by https://instagram.com/nataliekovarik/?hl=en — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and https://instagram.com/taravanderdussen/?hl=en — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist. 🪩 JOIN CLUB DISCOVER Want more Discover Ag? Become part of our exclusive Club Discover on Facebook! Vote on the articles we cover Connect with other Disco listeners Discover behind-the-scenes content 🎉 Join the community: https://facebook.com/groups/clubdiscover 📲 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE Website: https://discoverag.com/ Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750 Instagram: https://instagram.com/discoveragpodcast 🤝 PARTNERS AND SPONSORSHIPS MARY T FABER Bookkeeping Services for Rural Entrepreneurs OUR FARMS Code "DISCOVER" 10% ARMRA COLOSTRUM SUPPLEMENT Code "DISCOVER" 15% off (first order) SWEETWATER PILLOWS Code "DISCOVER" for a free tote TOUPS & CO Use link for 20% off FARM WIFE TALLOW Code "DISCOVER" 10% off TURTLEBOX OUTDOOR SPEAKERS Code "DISCOVER" free hat COZY EARTH Code "DISCOVER" 40% off SUNRISE FLOUR MILL Code "DISCOVER" 10% off DUCKWORTH Code "DISCOVER" 10% off PONCHO OUTDOORS Code "DISCOVER" for $10 off Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.  

Ep 237 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara serve up a lighthearted holiday episode packed with farm-to-table realities, football meets farming, Western fashion collabs, and viral hippo content. Celebrity chef Tim Love explains why true farm-to-table dining is almost impossible — from inconsistent supply to the direct-to-consumer "ribeye problem." The hosts break down why local sourcing is so complex and why prices would have to rise by about 30% to make it viable. The Buffalo Bills celebrate National Farmer's Day by partnering with local dairy farmer "Farmer Shin," spotlighting New York's dairy industry. The segment also touches on quarterback Josh Allen's agricultural background, from FFA to his family's cotton and pistachio farms. Abercrombie & Fitch teams up with Kemo Sabe for a Western-inspired line. The hosts discuss whether blending mass-market and luxury works — and how the Yellowstone Effect continues to shape Western culture. A viral clip of a hippo eating a pumpkin during Denmark's Harvest Holiday leads to a conversation on seasonal feeding and closed-loop farming. The show ends with a story of a dairy farmer using colostrum to save a baby giraffe. BUT WAIT — there's more! The Disco Taste Test features a salted maple Dr. Pepper float perfect for Thanksgiving. Natalie spills hers, Tara swaps in Diet Coke, and both agree it's dangerously delicious. What We Discovered This Week 🤠 🪩 Chef Tim Love's farm-to-table reality check 🪩 Buffalo Bills highlight dairy farming 🪩 Josh Allen's FFA and farming background 🪩 Abercrombie x Kims Sabi Western collection 🪩 The Yellowstone Effect on culture 🪩 Salted Maple Dr. Pepper Float recipe 🪩 Viral hippo + Denmark's Harvest Holiday 🪩 Dairy farmers saving baby giraffes CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro: Farm-to-Table, Football, Fashion & Hippos 03:00 - Discovery 1: The Farm-to-Table Reality Check 05:00 - Supply Chain Challenges: Why 100% Local Doesn't Work 07:00 - The Ribeye Problem: Direct-to-Consumer Beef 10:00 - Price vs. Principles: Why Americans Won't Pay 18:00 - Discovery 2: Buffalo Bills & Dairy Farming 22:00 - Josh Allen's FFA Roots 28:00 - Discovery 3: Abercrombie's Western Release 30:00 - The Yellowstone Effect 39:00 - Disco Taste Test: Salted Maple Dr. Pepper Float 46:00 - Discovery 4: Viral Hippo Eats Pumpkin 52:00 - Farm-Zoo Connection: Dairy Farmers Save Giraffes 55:00 - Wrap-up and Happy Thanksgiving! 🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by https://instagram.com/nataliekovarik/?hl=en — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and https://instagram.com/taravanderdussen/?hl=en — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist. 📲 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE • Website: https://discoverag.com/ • Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750 • Instagram: https://instagram.com/discoveragpodcast/# 🤝 PARTNERS AND SPONSORSHIPS PONCHO OUTDOORS Code "DISCOVER" $10 Discount MARY T FABER Bookkeeping Services for Rural Entrepreneurs OUR FARMS Code "DISCOVER" 10% ARMRA COLOSTRUM SUPPLEMENT Code "DISCOVER" 15% off (first order) SWEETWATER PILLOWS Code "DISCOVER" for a free tote TOUPS & CO Use link for 20% off FARM WIFE TALLOW Code "DISCOVER" 10% off TURTLEBOX OUTDOOR SPEAKERS Code "DISCOVER" free hat COZY EARTH Code "DISCOVER" 40% off SUNRISE FLOUR MILL Code "DISCOVER" 10% off DUCKWORTH Code "DISCOVER" 10% off Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

Ep 236 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into the headlines shaping how we think about food's worth, transparency, and trends — from America's broken sense of food value to Japan's farmer-forward labels and even Nara Smith's $38 garlic oil collab. America's "food value problem" takes center stage as the hosts unpack why Americans spend less than 10% of their income on food — among the lowest worldwide — and what that says about how we price nutrition versus convenience. Then they explore Japan's photo-on-pack movement that connects consumers directly to farmers, redefining transparency and trust in the grocery aisle. Next, influencer Nara Smith launches a $38 garlic oil with a luxury twist, sparking questions about marketing buzzwords and the psychology of "premium" food. Finally, they tackle the McBee Dynasty crop-fraud sentencing, and end on an unexpected high note — Italian water buffalo enjoying massages and Mozart while producing world-famous mozzarella. What We Discovered This Week 🤠 🪩 America's broken food value system and what $6 beef really costs 🪩 Japan's "farmer photo" packaging trend builds consumer trust 🪩 Nara Smith's $38 garlic oil — luxury or marketing stunt? 🪩 McBee Dynasty's crop-fraud sentencing and its ripple effect 🪩 The pampered water buffalo behind Italy's prized mozzarella CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro: Beef Prices, Japanese Transparency, Nara Smith & Water Buffalo 01:00 - Discovery 1: America's Beef Price Controversy & the Real Food Value Problem 04:18 - Starbucks vs. Ground Beef: Breaking Down What Americans Actually Value 10:55 - The Direct-to-Consumer Reality: Why $7 Beef Is Actually Losing Money 13:24 - Argentinian Beef Imports & Secretary Rollins Interview Teaser 16:15 - Discovery 2: Japan's Farmer Photos on Food Packaging Revolution 18:23 - Cherry Tomato Baseball Cards: US Companies Already Doing This 25:01 - Discovery 3: Nara Smith's $38 Garlic Oil — From Scratch or From Marketing? 30:04 - Small Batch for 4.8 Million Followers? The Math Doesn't Add Up 34:00 - Disco Debrief: McBee Dynasty Patriarch Sentenced to 24 Months for Fraud 40:48 - Discovery 4: Italian Water Buffalo Massages & Mozart for Mozzarella 49:14 - High-Tech Barns Bashing Conventional Dairy: The Irony Explained 54:33 - Wrap-Up & Monday's Duckworth Wool Industry Interview Preview 🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by https://instagram.com/nataliekovarik/?hl=en — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and https://instagram.com/taravanderdussen/?hl=en — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist. 📲 CONNECT WITH US ONLINE • Website: https://discoverag.com/ • Podcast: https://pod.link/1615443750 • Instagram: https://instagram.com/discoveragpodcast/# 🤝 PARTNERS AND SPONSORSHIPS PONCHO OUTDOORS Code "DISCOVER" $10 Discount MARY T FABER Bookkeeping Services for Rural Entrepreneurs OUR FARMS Code "DISCOVER" 10% ARMRA COLOSTRUM SUPPLEMENT Code "DISCOVER" 15% off (first order) SWEETWATER PILLOWS Code "DISCOVER" for a free tote TOUPS & CO Use link for 20% off FARM WIFE TALLOW Code "DISCOVER" 10% off TURTLEBOX OUTDOOR SPEAKERS Code "DISCOVER" free hat COZY EARTH Code "DISCOVER" 40% off SUNRISE FLOUR MILL Code "DISCOVER" 10% off DUCKWORTH Code "DISCOVER" 10% off Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.