Raising The Steaks: Craft, Care, and the Customer: What Makes a Great Steak
Steak Bites
Welcome to Raising the Steaks, a special series within the Steak Bites podcast that takes you behind the scenes at Colorado Craft Beef. We tackle listener questions, break down industry trends, and dig into the real issues shaping our food system, health, and the future of American ranching. No fluff—just honest conversations, expert insights, and a closer look at what it takes to bring high-quality beef from our ranch to your plate. In this episode, we dive deep into what truly makes a great steak—from genetics and grazing to dry aging and consumer cooking habits. Kara shares the...
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Why Craft, Legacy, and Truth Still Matter — A Conversation with Pete Roberts
Steak Bites
In this episode of Steak Bites, we sit down with Pete Roberts — co-founder of Origin USA and Jocko Fuel, and a fierce advocate for American manufacturing, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship. What starts as a sharp, 30-minute dive into the erosion of quality, the consequences of outsourcing, and the decline of U.S. industry evolves into a full-spectrum conversation about business, legacy, culture, and the future of the American dream. Pete breaks down how consumers were conditioned to trade quality for convenience, how deceptive “Made in the USA” labels mislead the public, and why...
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Raising the Steaks: From the Ground Up: How We Raise Calves—and Our Daughters
Steak Bites
Welcome to Raising the Steaks, a special series within the Steak Bites podcast that takes you behind the scenes at Colorado Craft Beef. We answer your questions, unpack industry shifts, and dive into the real issues shaping our food, health, and the future of American ranching. No fluff—just raw insight, expert takes, and an honest look at what it really takes to raise high-quality beef from pasture to plate. In this episode, Jay Knight interviews Colorado Craft Beef co-founder Kara Smith for a deep look at spring branding, animal health, and raising cattle the right way—from the ground...
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From Octagon to Homefront: UFC’s Raquel Pennington on Feeding Strength
Steak Bites
In this episode of Steak Bites, UFC champion Raquel Pennington shares a powerful look at how mental discipline, nutrition, and motherhood intersect in her life as both an elite athlete and intentional parent. She details how transitioning to a whole-food, largely carnivore-style diet—centered on high-quality red meat, eggs, fruit, and vegetables—dramatically improved her skin, energy, sleep, recovery, and overall performance. Even outside of fight camp, Raquel continues to feel stronger, leaner, and more balanced by prioritizing nutrient-dense, ancestral foods. The conversation moves from...
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It’s More Than Beef—It’s a Life’s Work
Steak Bites
Ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes in rural veterinary medicine—or what it takes to ensure the health and welfare of the animals that become part of our food system? In this episode of Steak Bites, Dr. Darcy joins us to share her journey as a rural veterinarian and the lessons learned along the way. From middle-of-the-night calving calls to helping ranchers navigate vaccine protocols and antibiotic decisions, Dr. Darcy brings a practical, compassionate, and deeply human perspective to animal health. She talks about the long hours, the responsibility, and the grit it takes to...
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Food, Policy & Power: How What We Eat Shapes the Nation
Steak Bites
In this episode of Steak Bites, Kara Smith sits down with Katharine Lotspeich for a wide-ranging conversation on the intersection of food systems, policy, and how what we eat shapes the future of our nation. Katharine brings her unique perspective, growing up on a dairy farm and working in both state legislatures and the agritech sector, providing invaluable insight into how food and agricultural policies are created—and how they often miss the mark when applied in real-world settings. Together, Kara and Katharine explore the disconnect between food production and consumption in America....
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Ranching by Nature's Clock: What Really Fuels Great Beef
Steak Bites
In this episode, Jay Knight sits down with Kara Smith to explore the realities of spring on the ranch and the deep connection ranchers have with nature. Kara explains how spring turnout—when cattle are released to graze—isn’t just about a calendar date. It’s a careful balance of temperature, moisture, and pasture readiness, especially in the unique Colorado Sandhills, where native grass supports sustainable, efficient beef production. They dive into the complexities of managing cattle on native rangeland, touching on topics like short growing seasons, animal health, and the importance...
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Flames of Excellence: Crafting a Five-Star BBQ Experience
Steak Bites
joins the podcast to discuss his passion for barbecue and live fire cooking, which started at a young age under the influence of his Texas-born father. He shares how cooking over charcoal became a lifelong love, bringing people together and creating lasting memories. Jack explains how he turned this passion into a career by hosting high-end barbecue experiences, partnering with top brands, and working with luxury hotels to elevate the backyard barbecue into a five-star experience. His philosophy centers around building community through food, connecting people to their meals, and valuing...
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Raising the Steaks: Staying True to the Craft
Steak Bites
Welcome to Raising the Steaks, a special series within the Steak Bites podcast that takes you behind the scenes at . We tackle listener questions, break down industry trends, and dig into the real issues shaping our food system, health, and the future of American ranching. No fluff—just honest conversations, expert insights, and a closer look at what it takes to bring high-quality beef from our ranch to your plate. In this episode of Raising the Steaks, we dive into the philosophy and future of Colorado Craft Beef. The discussion centers on staying true to their expertise—producing...
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Own It All: Leadership, Parenting & Growth with Jamie Cochran
Steak Bites
In this episode of Steak Bites, host Kara Smith sits down with , Chief Operating Officer of Echelon Front, to explore leadership, resilience, and the power of extreme ownership. Echelon Front, founded by former Navy SEALs Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, is built on the principles outlined in their bestselling book, . shares her unconventional career path—leaving a secure role in higher education to take a risk with . As she initially stepped into an administrative role, her willingness to check her ego, add value, and embrace leadership ultimately led her to become COO of the company. The...
info_outlineIn this compelling episode of Steak Bites, host Kara Smith delves into the transformative journey of Anne Montgomery, co-founder of First in Nutrition. Anne’s unique path—from her roots in the fire service to pioneering a movement in nutrition and wellness—highlights her commitment to lasting health through a balanced relationship with food. Together, Kara and Anne explore how food culture within high-stress professions can foster habits that unintentionally harm health. Drawing from her firefighter experience, Anne describes how her career embedded a cycle of emotional eating, with meals often serving as responses to both celebrations and challenges.
Anne and her husband Jonathan, motivated by personal health wake-up calls, started First in Nutrition to promote sustainable wellness, especially for those in demanding service roles. Their shared realization—that caring for themselves is essential for serving others—led to a focus on balanced nutrition that doesn’t compromise the joy of food. Kara and Anne discuss emotional ties to food, rethinking it as both a celebration and a fuel source, and share strategies to break the emotional eating cycle by recognizing genuine hunger versus comfort-seeking.
The episode covers practical insights on balanced eating, from the benefits of protein and fat for satiety to the vital role of whole foods for hormonal and overall health. Anne sheds light on protein as a key nutrient for muscle, immune health, and satiety, noting how processed foods often displace protein-rich choices in modern diets. Fat’s significance as a lasting energy source and essential hormone support is highlighted, along with the importance of consuming well-rounded meals that include protein, fat, and complex carbohydrates to help prevent energy crashes and overconsumption.
For women, balancing nutrition becomes especially important to support hormone health. Anne emphasizes nutrient-dense, balanced diets over restrictive plans that often harm women's wellness in the long-term. The episode also discusses how athletes can benefit from tracking protein and caloric intake to ensure peak performance and optimal recovery, underscoring how balanced fueling plays a critical role in supporting intense physical activities.
As the discussion closes, Kara and Anne present three foundational dietary shifts for listeners to implement in 2025 for better health and energy management, wrapping up a thoughtful conversation on building a healthier relationship with food without sacrificing enjoyment or flexibility.
We'll leave you with some food for thought: In a world where every choice matters, approach consumption with mindful intention, seek knowledge, engage in meaninful conversations, and shape your legacy with purpose. Each moment is an opportunity for growth and impact.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. If you enjoyed today's episode, please rate, review, and share the Steak Bites podcast. Your feedback helps us grow and reach more listeners like you.
We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, questions, and suggestions by contacting us at [email protected]
For more information about Colorado Craft Beef, visit us online at coloradocraftbeef.com
Stay connected, stay inspired, and keep fueling your legacy. Until next time, savor each bite of existence and let your actions resonate with the wonder of the world.