Raising Connections

Send us Fan Mail Communities are built with hospitals, libraries, schools, and LEEF certified farms. Farmers tell their stories. Neighbors learn the value of land stewardship.  Elizabeth Hoffman, Program Manager for Maryland's new Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program, joins Rachann to discuss this statewide program that will recognize and reward conservation efforts, prom...

Send us Fan Mail Communities are built with hospitals, libraries, schools, and LEEF certified farms. Farmers tell their stories. Neighbors learn the value of land stewardship. Elizabeth Hoffman, Program Manager for Maryland's new Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program, joins Rachann to discuss this statewide program that will recognize and reward conservation efforts, promo...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take for entrepreneurs, farm owners, and pet lovers to step away for a two-week Irish escape?  Join host Rachann Ennis Mayer on Raising Connections as she catches up with Fora Travel advisor Joyce Johnson. They discuss the vital pre-planning needed for farm and pet owners heading overseas, the magic of small-group travel, and how unexpected moments—from divining rods...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know jack-o'-lanterns were originally carved from turnips? Or that pumpkins are technically fruits... and even berries? 🤯 Step into the pumpkin patch and uncover the fascinating roots of Halloween with a farmer's perspective. Rachann is joined by writer, artist, horticulturist, and community leader Kevin Dayhoff to discuss this spooky holiday! From the ancient t...

Send us Fan Mail A Federal Wildlife Biologist Walks into a Kombucherie Step inside the world of kombucha, where green tea, fruits, and vegetables come together in a lively, fermented sweet tea that has become a favorite sparkling probiotic beverage. In this podcast Rachann sits down with Eric Kelchlin a brewer and Federal Wildlife Biologist, to explore the science, craft, and culture behind this n...

Send us Fan Mail Tune in to Learn: How Cornfusion becomes comedy, a four-acre maze turns into mayhem, what keeps families laughing, and why fir trees take seven years to become Christmas trees. Step into the world of agritourism as Rachann talks with Lisa of Showvaker's Quality Evergreens Farm. They explore the creativity behind the modern corn maze, from choosing a unique theme to designing...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder what happens when a certified spirits specialist decides to ditch the alcohol and start shaking up the mocktail world? What does it take to build a successful and inclusive beverage brand in a highly competitive beverage industry? In this podcast, Rachann sits down with Lexx Mills, one of the two sisters behind Stursi. Discover how they've built a thriving mocktai...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why mushroom cultivation looks more like a high-tech science lab than traditional farming? A devastating chicken disease forced a sudden and brilliant pivot into the world of gourmet mushrooms. In this podcast Rachann speaks with Iain Davis of Manchester Mushroom Farm. They follow the journey from laboratory-grown spores and sterile environments to successful harvest f...

Send us Fan Mail Join Rachann Mayer and Kaitlyn Harless, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Science Coordinator of The American Chestnut Foundation, as they discuss the American Chestnut Tree that once dominated forests throughout the Appalachian Range stretching from Maine to Georgia. Valued as a major cash crop for its lumber and abundant nuts, this species played a vital role in the biology and ecology...

Send us Fan Mail Step inside a thriving greenhouse operation with 25-acres under cover, where horticulture, people, and precision come together to provide locally grown plants and flowers that are distributed throughout the East Coast. In this podcast, Rachann catches up with Tyler Van Wingerden, CEO of Catoctin Mountain Growers, five years later.  Tyler talks about how e-commerce and customer fee...

Send us Fan Mail Rachann talks with Tyler Van Wingerden of Catoctin Mountain Growers in Keymar, Maryland. Started in 1985, Catoctin has 18 acres of under-glass greenhouse and 15 acres of outdoor growing space, providing top quality annuals, perennials, mums, and poinsettias to retail partners across the mid-Atlantic region. Tyler and his three siblings all work in the family business. Originally r...

Send us Fan Mail  This week, Rachann Mayer talks with AI and ethics expert Gina Marshall Johnson, PhD, to break down how AI learns, how it's evolving, and the ethical tensions shaping its use in education, business, and everyday life. They explore the critical issues of fairness, transparency, accountability, bias, risk, and plagiarism, to help listeners understand both the opportunities and...

Send us Fan Mail Choosing an international university is more than pursuing a degree. In this episode of Raising Connects, Rachann Mayer talks with Sarah Humphries, a long-time kennel technician and aspiring animal scientist with a bold why‑not attitude, who’s heading back to Scotland for her second year at the University of Glasgow. They have a wide-ranging conversation about math, animal science...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why fair season feels so magical? It turns out, when you grab a funnel cake, watch 4-H projects, and check out the local livestock, you're actually participating in an ancient tradition!  Communities come together to celebrate the harvest and the traditions that have connected generations for centuries. Rachann explores the history of fairs, from their Latin root...

Send us Fan Mail Tune in as Rachann Mayer talks with Christy Yingling, owner of Goat for the Soul, to discover how tiny Nigerian Dwarf goats - a 4H project that turned into an agritourism dream - help people melt away stress, lower cortisol, and boost happy hormones through the power of animal therapy. From farm-hosted classes to partnerships with local vineyards, creameries, and breweries, this e...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a resilient family farm meets a global crisis and a massive business evolution? In the second part of this special "Then and Now" series, host Rachann Mayer and Tony Brusco, CEO of South Mountain Creamery, return to catch up on the modern-day realities of running a multi-generational operation that's rooted in community. Convenience Meets Integrity...

Send us Fan Mail Join host Rachann Mayer as she revisits a 2019 conversation with Tony Brusco, CEO of South Mountain Creamery. What does it take to save a family farm when the traditional dairy industry pushes you to the brink? Find out in this special two-part series as we look at the pivot that saved everything, and transformed a traditional dairy farm into a thriving creamery. From the gritty e...

Send us Fan Mail Today Rachann and Maryland's State Veterinarian Jennifer Trout look at the science, surveillance, and control measures being used to protect livestock and communities in the state of Maryland.  New World Screwworm - why is it new? Lone Star and Asian Long-horned ticks - do they really cause beef allergies? What role do your shoes play in keeping your barnyard bio secure?  Joi...

Send us Fan Mail Today Rachann talks with Mikahla Insalaco, from To Win Again Farm. Mikahla brings a fresh insight into how a licensed acupuncturist blends a smart adaptogenic approach to compliment treatments. Horses intuitively respond to a diverse range of holistic healing modalities—from the precision of acupuncture and the grounding stimulation of a vibraplate to the respiratory benefits of a...

Send us Fan Mail Set sail with Rachann Mayer and Captain Jan Miles aboard Pride of Baltimore II; a replica Baltimore Clipper modeled after the swift privateer tall ships of the War of 1812: ships built for speed, commerce raiding, and daring blockade runs with cargo. Captain Miles' seasoned, steady leadership embodies seamanship, entrepreneurship, and the fine art of storytelling. Everywhere...

Send us Fan Mail The Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) is the county’s designated anti-poverty organization, a non-profit designed to meet community needs. CAC is dedicated to fighting poverty by helping people become economically self-sufficient. Tracy Broccolini, President of the CAC talks with Rachann about their five core services of Early Childhood Education, Energy Assistance,...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast originally released in December 2025, kennel owner Rachann Mayer and three long-time clients share heartfelt memories of Mariah-Belle Manor Kennel - a journey of care, trust, kindness, and a tribute to seasons of life, generosity, and the expansion that made this kennel a true family for pets and people alike. Mt. Airy Dog Boarding and Daycare at Mariah-Belle Manor...

Send us Fan Mail From a podcast first released in July 2024, Rachann talks with Erin Gilmore, a well-known local photographer who can be seen at equine events throughout Maryland and Virginia. From her website eringilmorephotos.com, "My specialty in equestrian photography stems from my many years as an equestrian journalist and photographer, and during my career I’ve been lucky enough to stan...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Rachann talks with Joanna Veltri, owner of Nuthatch Gardens. Joanna’s farm opens a window into modern flower farming — the hustle, the bird sightings, and the business smarts behind every bloom. She blends personal stories with practical insights on crops, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and the messy magic of growing flowers. Unused blooms become compost...

Send us Fan Mail Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day in parts of the US. In this rebroadcast from 2023, Rachann talks about the history of Decoration Day when people began decorating graves with wreaths and flags after the Civil War, although the tradition didn't start in the United States, but in ancient Rome! Support the show www.raisingconnections.com