The Germinate Podcast

In this solo episode of The Germinate Podcast , Joe Sampson shares a real time reflection on what he is seeing across the agriculture industry after spending several weeks on the road meeting with companies, attending conferences, and having conversations with leaders across the space. Joe frames this episode as a “state of the union” for agriculture, technology, and business, offering a candid pe...

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast , Joe Sampson sits down with Kerry Juhl to explore the foundational role that health, fitness, and daily habits play in long term performance and quality of life. Drawing on more than three decades of experience in the health and wellness industry, Kerry shares practical insight into how individuals and organizations can take a more intentional approach to...

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast , Joe Sampson sits down with Megan Ratcliff, co-founder of Clarity in Motion Collective, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way businesses operate, market, and make decisions. Megan shares her perspective on AI as more than just a tool. She frames it as a transformation that requires a shift in mindset, not just technology adoption. Wit...

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with Dan Schultz, an agricultural marketing strategist known for challenging the way the industry thinks about marketing, sales, and brand building. Dan shares his perspective on why traditional marketing approaches in agriculture are broken and how companies can rethink their go to market strategy to drive real business outcomes. Dra...

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Sampson sits down with recent graduates Jack O’Brien and Shae Doherty to explore what it feels like to step out of the structured world of college and into the uncertainty of the professional workforce. Their conversation highlights the mix of excitement, anxiety, opportunity, and curiosity that many young professionals experience during this tran...

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Sampson sits down with Zac Engler, Chief AI Officer at C4 Tech Services, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the modern workforce and what it means for businesses navigating rapid technological change. Zac works with organizations across industries to develop AI strategies, train teams, and build custom AI solutions that improve pr...

Podcast: The Germinate Podcast Host: Joe Sampson Guest: Chelsea Bodin and David James In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with labor and employment attorneys Chelsea Bodin and David James of Nyland Johnson Lewis to unpack one of the most complex and rapidly evolving areas of business today: the employee employer relationship. What begins as a conversation about HR trend...

Host: Joe Sampson Guest: Roger Murdock In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with longtime industry leader Roger Murdock for a wide ranging conversation about agriculture, innovation, relationships, and what it really takes to stay relevant in a changing world. Roger’s journey into agriculture was anything but conventional. Originally pursuing telecommunications and worki...

Host: Joe Sampson Guest: Jason Walsmith In this unique and deeply reflective episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with longtime Iowa musician and creative entrepreneur Jason Walsmith, best known as one half of the band The Nadas. What begins as a nostalgic look back at the 1990s Iowa music scene quickly becomes a powerful conversation about grit, reinvention, creativity, and the...

In this wide-ranging and deeply insightful episode of  The Germinate Podcast , Joe Sampson sits down with James Shurts of Great Plains Manufacturing for an honest conversation about leadership, resilience, and navigating one of the most challenging periods the ag equipment industry has faced in decades. James brings nearly 30 years of experience across agriculture, manufacturing, product strategy,...

In this forward-looking episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with ag-tech founder and industry thought leader Chris Hunsaker for a wide-ranging conversation about innovation, efficiency, and the future of agricultural equipment. Chris shares his journey from growing up on a farm in southern Idaho to leading a technology-driven company focused on improving how farms manage operat...

Automation is one of the biggest buzzwords in manufacturing — but according to Matt Henley of THG Automation, most companies are asking the  wrong first question. Instead of “How do we automate everything?”, Matt makes the case for a smarter approach: Start simple. Start where you win fast. And stop turning automation into a science project. Joe and Matt dive into the real-world mindset shift comp...

Podcast: The Germinate PodcastHost: Joe SamsonGuest: Jason KiesauLinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-kiesauIn the first episode of 2026, Joe Samson sits down with leadership consultant and social intelligence expert Jason Kiesau for a deeply personal and practical conversation about leadership, behavior, and human connection. Jason shares his powerful personal story, from growing up in...

In this deeply insightful conversation, host Joe Samson is joined by leadership coach, speaker, and executive leader Chick Herbert for an honest look at what effective leadership really requires in today’s rapidly changing world. Chick brings decades of experience, spanning public companies, private companies, nonprofits, consulting, and executive coaching and shares why leadership remains both si...

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Samson sits down with Tim Burenga of WorkSaver for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, resilience, faith, and what it truly takes to build and sustain a business through uncertain times. Tim shares candid reflections on growing up in a family business, witnessing firsthand the sacrifices and pressure his parents endured during challengin...

In Part 2 of this year-in-review conversation on The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Samson continues the discussion with Tim Dunn and Mike Parsh, diving deeper into generational change, youth development, education, and the long-term implications for the workforce. The episode opens with a candid discussion about teenagers growing up in a world dominated by smartphones and constant feedback loops. Th...

In this special, reflective episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Samson is joined by close friends Tim Dunn and Mike Pash for an unscripted conversation that blends technology, faith, friendship, and the importance of presence in an increasingly chaotic world The discussion opens with a candid look at technology and AI, not as a threat, but as a tool—one that should ultimately serve people r...

In this episode of  The Germinate Podcast , host  Joe Samson  welcomes  Elad Segal , co-founder and CEO of  DriftSense , for a wide-ranging conversation that blends agtech innovation, entrepreneurship, and real-life perspective from Israel during an ongoing conflict . Elad joins the show from Israel and opens up about what it’s like to build a company, raise a family, and lead a team while living...

In this episode, Joe Samson sits down with  Christopher Pudenz , Economist and Economics & Research Manager at the  Iowa Farm Bureau , to unpack what’s really happening in today’s cattle and grain markets. Chris explains why his dad’s feedlot will be empty this Christmas for the first time in 50 years, how recent policy changes and plant closures have hammered cattle futures, and why “high pri...

In this episode, Joe Sampson sits down with Colin Hurd, a serial entrepreneur and the founder of multiple agtech companies, including Mach, to explore the intersection of innovation, labor challenges, and automation in agriculture. Colin shares his entrepreneurial journey, from building his first tillage product in college to scaling and selling Smart Ag to Raven Industries, and now building Mach—...

In this heartfelt and insightful episode of The Germinate Podcast , host Joe Sampson sits down with Ben Hellbusch, President of Duo Lift Manufacturing, to explore the rich history, values, and bold moves shaping the family-run company. Coming off the 75th Anniversary of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA), Ben shares how his grandfather began building equipment in the back of a mil...

In this special 40th episode of The Germinate Podcast , host Joe Sampson welcomes his longtime friend and industry veteran Cor Lodder , recently retired from Walinga , a Canadian manufacturer with global impact in agricultural transport equipment. Cor shares the incredible 70+ year story of Walinga—from his grandfather's immigration with a leather satchel full of tools to becoming a global com...

In this powerful episode of The Germinate Podcast , host Joe Sampson sits down with Cory Carlson , a former corporate executive turned faith-driven leadership coach and author. Cory opens up about the imposter syndrome he faced climbing the corporate ladder, and how coaching transformed his life and career path. Now the founder of the Rise Community , Cory helps men live intentionally, lead authen...

In this on-the-ground episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Sampson reconnects with Illinois farmer Matt Perreault, live from his combine during harvest. Matt offers an unfiltered look at what it’s really like to farm corn and soybeans in 2025 amidst volatile markets, tightening margins, and shifting global trade dynamics. They dive into: • Why consistent weather hasn't necessarily equale...

In this eye-opening episode, host Joe Sampson welcomes Grant Kimberley, a leading voice in U.S. agriculture and Senior Director at the Iowa Soybean Association. Together, they break down the perfect storm facing American soybean farmers—from rising input costs and collapsing demand to the devastating impact of U.S.-China trade tensions. Grant offers rare behind-the-scenes insight into how Brazil’s...