Discover Seed Oil Grandma, Texas' Cotton Problem & Boston's Big Rodeo Return
Release Date: 10/09/2025
Discover the New Food Pyramid That South Park Predicted 10 Years Ago
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...
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Discover Agrihoods: The "Fastest Growing" Real Estate Trend in Agriculture
Discover Ag
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...
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Discover Josh Allen Gives ¼ Cow, Trumps $700M Regenerative Ag Program, Skijoring & Whole Milk In The School!
Discover Ag
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...
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Discover Are We Eating Plastic Rice?!, Mike Rowe’s Apple ShoutOut, Taylor Sheridan’s College Class & PRB Goes To NYC
Discover Ag
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...
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Discover How Sugar Is Really Made, J-Lo at NFR, Taylor Sheridan's Stetson Airstream, & Why You May Want To Avoid Heavy Cream!
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...
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Discover Campbell's 3D Chicken Scandal, CMA's Record Low Ratings, Helping Veterans Farm & The Origins of Your Sesame Seeds
Discover Ag
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...
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Discover Bezos & Gates Taking Over Beef, the 200-Year-Old Almanac ENDS, FFA Jackets Go Viral & Spoiler - Your Pecans Are From Mexico
Discover Ag
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...
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Discover the Farm-to-Table Myth?, Buffalo Bills Celebrate Dairy Farmers, Abercrombie Goes Western & Viral Hippo Content!
Discover Ag
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,”...
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Discover Argentinian Beef and America's $6 Steak Problem, McBee’s Prison Sentencing & Bougie Water Buffal
Discover Ag
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...
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Discover Why Your Milk Expires So Fast, 75,000 Sheep on a Floating Ark & Lonesome Dove's Gen Z Revival
Discover Ag
Ep 235 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into viral food myths, western nostalgia, and the surprising ways agriculture moves around the globe. From debunking dairy misconceptions about why American milk "expires so fast" to dismantling an Italian chef's garlic myth, the hosts tackle the misinformation swirling through social media kitchens. They explore the unexpected Gen Z revival of the 1985 western epic Lonesome Dove, dive into Coca-Cola's AI-powered mission to save the orange juice industry from citrus greening disease, and unpack the reality behind viral footage of 75,000...
info_outlineEp 231 | This week on Discover Ag, Natalie and Tara dig into generational food debates, Boston's rodeo revival, and Texas' fight against an invasive pest — with plenty of banter along the way.
First up: A viral reel sparks debate about seed oils and generational food culture. An "almond daughter" confronts her "seed oil grandmother" about pantry staples, but the comment section isn't having it. Natalie and Tara explore how different generations relate to food, why we're so divided on nutrition, and whether we've optimized ourselves into confusion.
Then, the rodeo returns to Boston for the first time in nearly 100 years — complete with skyscrapers, city hall plaza, and plenty of PETA protesters. The hosts discuss the logistics of transforming downtown into a rodeo arena, why animal activists are so vocal about rodeos, and whether this cultural moment will stick around.
Next, Bose drops a butter-yellow Bluetooth speaker packaged like a stick of butter, and the marketing genius (or missed opportunity) has everyone talking. Plus, a quick debrief on Steven McBee heading to BravoCon and what that means for ag's crossover into mainstream entertainment.
Finally, Texas agriculture faces a new threat: the cotton jassid, an invasive leaf hopper spreading fast from Florida to the cotton belt. Tara talks to a local cotton farmer about what this pest could mean for the multi-billion dollar industry — and why Georgia growers are already devastated.
BUT WAIT — there's more!
Stick around for a bonus mini-interview with Jeff Risley, Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Farmers of America (REFA). If you've ever considered solar, wind, or any renewable project on your farm, this conversation is a must-listen. Jeff breaks down peer-to-peer resources, lease negotiations, succession planning, and how REFA helps farmers make informed decisions about long-term energy opportunities. Learn more at https://renewableenergyfarmers.org
What We Discovered This Week 🤠
🪩 Seed oil grandma vs. almond daughter: a generational food war
🪩 Boston's first rodeo in nearly 100 years
🪩 Bose's butter-yellow speaker (and why it's not called butter yellow)
🪩 Steven McBee is headed to BravoCon
🪩 The cotton jassid invasion threatening Texas agriculture
🪩 Renewable energy opportunities for farmers and ranchers
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro: This Week on Discover Ag
01:00 - Discovery #1: The Viral "Almond Daughter vs. Seed Oil Grandma" Reel
05:00 - The Generational Food Divide and the Rise of Convenience
11:00 - Optimizing Food: Has Our Generation Swung Too Far?
15:00 - Is Modern Food WORSE? The Ultra-Processed Food Conversation
16:44 - Sponsor: Mary T Faber's Solutions (Bookkeeping)
17:50 - Sponsor: Our Farms (Farm-to-Table Marketplace)
19:00 - Discovery #2: Boston's First Rodeo in 100 Years
24:00 - Why Hasn't Boston Had a Rodeo? Strict Animal Welfare Laws
25:22 - "Animals Are Being Killed!" Fact-Checking Rodeo Misinformation
29:00 - Discovery #3: Bose's Butter Yellow Speaker & Viral PR Stunt
33:00 - Turtle Box Speaker Review: The Unbeatable Outdoor Speaker
36:57 - Sponsor: Sunrise Flour Mill (Heritage Wheat)
37:44 - Debrief: Steven McBee is Going to BravoCon!
40:35 - McBee Farms Season 3 Confirmed & Why We Love The Show
42:52 - Discovery #4: Cotton Jassid Emergency Threatens Texas Agriculture
45:00 - Georgia Cotton Decimated: A Farmer's Perspective on the Leaf Hopper
48:00 - Rapid Timeline: How the Pest is Sweeping Across the US
50:56 - The Realities of Agriculture & The Need for Modern Tools
51:48 - Mini Interview: Renewable Energy Farmers of America with Jeff Risley
🪩 WELCOME TO DISCOVER AG
A top-ranked podcast where agriculture meets pop culture. Hosted by @NatalieKovarik — western tastemaker & millennial cattle rancher — and @TaraVanderDussen — sustainability expert & millennial dairy farmer. Every week, we dive into the top headlines in food, agriculture, and Western culture with a pop culture twist.
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