Discover Ag

Ep 244 | Apparently, we all care about the food pyramid again. It's back in the spotlight thanks to a viral White House reel and a 12-year-old South Park prediction.
This week on Discover AG, Natalie and Tara break down what's actually new (and what's not) in the updated food pyramid, celebrate a global win for women in agriculture, and highlight the sheep farmers behind Ralph Lauren's 2026 Winter Olympics collection. They also dig into the real history of vanilla to discover why it's so expensive — and not even a little bit basic.
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 South Park predicted the new food pyramid
🪩 2026 is the International Year of the Woman Farmer
🪩 Ralph Lauren's 2026 Winter Olympics Collection
🪩 Whole milk is back in schools… but is it really?
🪩 What makes vanilla so expensive
CHAPTERS: 
00:00 - Intro
01:41 - New Food Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines
15:22 - International Year of the Woman Farmer: What Still Needs to Change
21:35 - The Oregon Sheep Farmers Behind Team USA's Olympic Wool
32:15 - Disco Debrief: Will Whole Milk Actually Return to Schools?
37:40 - The History of Vanilla and Why It's So Expensive
ONESKIN: Head to https://www.oneskin.co/discover and use code DISCOVER to get 15% off your order! Mention Discover AG after checkout to support the show.

MASA CHIPS: Use code DISCOVERAG for 25% off your first order at https://MasaChips.com/discoverag

DUCKWORTH: DuckWorth Merino Wool products are made with wool grown at their Montana Ranch. They carefully manage every step of the process, from fiber to finished garments, to create a durable and beautiful Montana Born, USA Made product. Use code DISCOVER to save on your next order at https://www.duckworthco.com/
🪩 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/#

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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
SUNRISE FLOUR MILL 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 243 | Are villages making a comeback? Have we been cutting pomegranates wrong this whole time? Does Pfizer really control your cheese? And is grocery store honey actually… honey?
This week on Discover AG, Tara and Natalie explore the buzz around "agrihoods" — residential neighborhoods built around working farms instead of a clubhouse or golf course. They also take a nostalgic trip down memory lane with 30 country songs turning 30, learn a genuinely helpful hack to avoid the "pomegranate blood bath," and investigate viral food claims that Pfizer "owns cheese" and grocery store honey is "one of the most altered foods on the shelf."
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 Agrihoods and why "villages" are trending again
🪩 30 country songs turning 30 — and why they've stood the test of time
🪩 A method to cut pomegranates that avoids the usual mess
🪩 The truth about Pfizer "owning cheese"
🪩 What the internet is getting wrong about grocery store honey
CHAPTERS: 
00:00 - Intro + Setting the Record Straight on Sugar
02:11 - Agrihoods Explained 
05:34 - Community in Small Towns vs. Cities
16:02 - 30 Country Songs Turning 30
25:26 - The Pomegranate Cutting Hack You Wish You Knew Sooner
33:01 - Disco Debrief: Does Pfizer Really Own Our Cheese?
39:33 - Grocery Store Honey: Myths and What's True

Cozy Earth: Use code DISCOVER for 20% off at https://cozyearth.com/
Masa Chips: Use code DISCOVERAG for 25% off your first order at https://MasaChips.com/discoverag


🪩 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

GROUNDED JOURNAL Code "DISCOVER" 
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
SUNRISE FLOUR MILL 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 242 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara unpack a major policy shift in regenerative agriculture, a heartwarming (and delicious) NFL story, and the wildest winter sport you've probably seen but never knew the name of.

From Secretary Brooke Rollins' $700 million regenerative ag pilot program to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gifting his offensive line quarters of premium Wagyu beef, this episode covers the intersection of agriculture, policy, and pop culture in the most entertaining way possible.
But that's not all! The hosts dive into skijoring's new professional circuit (yes, horses pulling skiers through obstacle courses is now a legit sport with a $250K prize pool), celebrate whole milk's long-awaited return to school cafeterias, and explore the fascinating world of pearl farming after a viral video blew their minds. Plus, they share behind-the-scenes stories from their Discover on the Road oyster episode and why they're now oyster snobs for life. It's policy, sports, luxury gems, and dairy wins all in one action-packed episode.
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 $700M regenerative ag program: What it means for farmers
🪩 Josh Allen's quarter-cow Christmas gifts to his O-line
🪩 Skijoring: The professional winter sport you need to see
🪩 Whole milk's return to school cafeterias
🪩 How oysters make pearls (and why we forgot to ask our oyster farmer)
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro: Politics, Pro Sports, Pro Skiing & Oyster Pearls
01:00 - Discovery 1: $700M Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program Announced
05:00 - Where the Money Comes From: EQIP & CSP Programs
11:00 - Corporate Partnerships & Matching Funds
12:00 - Six Generations Separated from the Land
18:13 - Discovery 2: Josh Allen's Quarter Cow Gifts to Offensive Line
20:00 - The Cost Comparison: Beef vs. Side-by-Sides
24:00 - Discovery 3: Skijoring Goes Professional with $250K Prize Pool
29:00 - Norwegian Origins & 1928 Olympics Demonstration
34:48 - Disco Debrief & Discovery 4: Whole Milk Returns to Schools & Pearl Farming
36:00 - New York Overturns 2012 Milk Rules
39:30 - How Oysters Create Pearls: The Four-Year Process
47:00 - Ancient Roman Oyster Farming & Christmas Feast
50:00 - Wrap-up and Discover on the Road Oysters Launch
🪩 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

GROUNDED JOURNAL Code "DISCOVER" 
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 241 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara kick off 2026 with viral conspiracies, bucking bulls in Manhattan, and giant potato drops.
A fear-mongering reel claims grocery store rice is actually plastic pellets — and people are buying it. The hosts debunk the conspiracy while highlighting a real rice crisis: Louisiana farmer Meryl Kennedy's White House meeting with President Trump about subsidized foreign rice undercutting American growers. Then, it's PBR week in New York City as Madison Square Garden transforms with 750 tons of dirt for three days of professional bull riding sandwiched between Knicks games. Plus, Taylor Sheridan's Landman inspires a TCU land management class, and Apple Girl Kate joins Mike Rowe and Theo Von for a Made-in-USA gift guide special.
Finally, Boise rings in 2026 by lowering a 17-foot fiberglass potato — because who needs a ball drop when you can celebrate agriculture? The hosts explore quirky New Year's traditions from chili drops to atomic bombs across America, plus Dutch donut recipes, Tara's bucking bull dreams, and whether Theo Von is shooting his shot with Apple Girl Kate.
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 Plastic rice conspiracy & the real crisis facing American rice farmers
🪩 PBR's 750-ton dirt transformation at Madison Square Garden
🪩 Landman inspires education (but land management degrees already exist)
🪩 Mike Rowe & Theo Von's Made-in-USA holiday gift guide ft. Apple Girl Kate
🪩 Idaho's giant potato drop & America's quirkiest New Year's traditions
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro: Plastic Rice, PBR in NYC, Landman & New Year's Potatoes
02:02 Discovery 1: The Plastic Rice Conspiracy Going Viral (It's Fake)
04:20 Fear-Mongering for Profit: The Cult Vibes of Fake Food Content
07:19 Real Rice Crisis: Meryl Kennedy's White House Visit
08:03 $12 Billion Bailout Discussion & Fair Trade vs Handouts
12:26 Comment Section Backlash: Why Farmers Can't Win
18:33 Discovery 2: PBR Takes Madison Square Garden (750 Tons of Dirt!)
19:44 Tara's Bucking Bull Dreams & Subconscious Shopping Decisions
22:00 The 24-Hour Venue Transformation That Will Blow Your Mind
27:51 PBR Schedule, World Finals & The Next Gen Youth Showcase
29:40 Discovery 3: Landman Inspires TCU Class (But Land Management Already Exists)
36:25 Disco Debrief: Apple Girl Kate Meets Mike Rowe on Theo Von Podcast
39:00 Direct-to-Consumer Magic: Supporting American Makers
42:00 Smithy Cast Iron, Danelle's Candies & The Oddly Sweet Dolls
46:00 Discovery 4: Idaho's Giant Potato Drop & Quirky New Year's Traditions
48:05 Chili Drops, Taco Bells & Atomic Bombs: America's Wildest Celebrations
52:41 Dutch Donuts, Spanish Grapes & Denmark's Plate-Throwing Tradition
54:22 Wrap-up: Happy New Year Discos & What's Coming on Discover Ag on the Road
🪩 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

GROUNDED JOURNAL Code "DISCOVER" 
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 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.