Simple Doesn't Mean Easy

What if the best way to celebrate summer—and even strengthen your family—is by slowing down? As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we explore a different kind of patriotism today—one rooted in family, food, and connection.   We break down 15 practical ways families can spend less time on screens and more time creating meaningful memories together through simple real-food activities all summ...

Thinking about getting backyard chickens? There are 3 problems you really need to know about first. Most people see the fresh eggs, cute chicks, and homestead charm—but few talk about the challenges that catch new chicken owners completely off guard. What happens when your hens suddenly stop laying strong eggs? How do you deal with parasites without spending a fortune? And can you really protect y...

What if the very things you're rushing past today become the things you'd miss most tomorrow? In today's episode, you'll be challenged to see your relationships, struggles, and everyday moments through an entirely new lens. Through powerful stories of loss, grief, gratitude, and resilience, you'll discover why the smallest moments in life often matter the most—and why many of u...

In this eye-opening episode, you'll learn how chronic stress and anxiety sometimes manifest in surprising and even frightening physical ways. You'll discover why understanding these warning signs matters, what to do when a loved one experiences sudden confusion or memory loss, and how knowledge can help bring calm during a medical crisis. You'll also walk away with practical, research-...

Rachel McCord appeared to have everything: successful businesses, national media recognition, celebrity connections, and a thriving career. Then at just 32 years old, she received shocking news—she needed open heart surgery with significant risks. Facing her own mortality forced Rachel to reevaluate everything she believed about success, achievement, motherhood, faith, and purpose. In this powerfu...

It's time to get to the truth about the booming tallow skincare industry. Why did tallow products explode in popularity? How can you spot fake or low-quality tallow balms online? And are many mainstream skincare products doing more harm than good? Lily Wilmoth, founder of Hearth and Homestead, explains the science behind skin health, the importance of fat-soluble vitamins, and why ancestral sk...

In this episode of the Simple Doesn't Mean Easy podcast, Michelle Visser shares two game-changing techniques that can completely transform fresh milled flour bread baking. Michelle explains why fresh flour often produces dense, hard bread when used like commercial flour and breaks down the science behind hydration, bran, and gluten development. She introduces listeners to the powerful techniqu...

Join Michelle today for practical tips on making nutritious, real food breakfast options at home, with recipes and tips to help you incorporate more real food into your daily routines. Key Topics: Nutritional benefits of fresh flaked oats How commercial oats are processed and lose nutrients Simple methods to make your own flaked oats at home Recipes for nutritious oatmeal and granola The impact of...

What does the 2026 Farm Bill mean for you? In this eye-opening episode, Michelle breaks down the shocking prevalence of glyphosate in everyday foods and 4 Things you never knew about glyphosate (spoiler alert: It's even worse than you thought.) This episode explains how glyphosate impacts health, hormones, and nutrient absorption, and explores its links to infertility and chronic disease. The...

In this episode of Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy, Michelle breaks down the truth about cooking fats—and why many commonly used oils may be harming your health. She explains the dangers of hydrogenated seed oils, including their link to inflammation and chronic disease, and shares why switching to traditional fats like lard, butter, and tallow can make a meaningful difference. Michelle walks listeners s...

Is gluten really the problem? What if the real story starts long before your flour hits the kitchen? In this episode of Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy, we go straight to the source—literally. Michelle sits down with a multi-generational wheat farmer and miller to uncover what’s changed in our grain over time—and why ancient grains like einkorn are making a comeback. You’ll hear what’s happening in the s...

In this episode of Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy , Michelle sits down with Glenn Livingston, a former food industry insider turned expert in binge eating and food addiction recovery. After struggling with his own compulsive eating and reaching nearly 300 pounds, Glenn reveals how processed foods are deliberately engineered to trigger cravings at a neurological level—making overeating feel impossible to...

In this deeply personal Easter episode of Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy, Michelle shares a powerful reflection on faith, hardship, and the true meaning of provision. Walking through a painful season involving a loved one’s wrongful incarceration, she explores the Biblical story of manna and what it reveals about our modern obsession with self-sufficiency. From food storage and wheat berries to the limi...

In this episode of Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy, Michelle sits down with holistic health educator Karen “Zuzu” Arms to explore the powerful connection between the nervous system and chronic illness. Through deeply personal stories—including their daughters’ serious health struggles—they uncover how many conditions may be rooted in nervous system dysfunction rather than isolated symptoms. They break do...

In this episode, Michelle sits down with Amy Sprouse, a holistic health educator who studied public health at Johns Hopkins, to explore the powerful connection between gut health, nutrition, and children’s behavior. They break down details about processed foods' effects on children that you haven't thought about yet—and what parents can do about it. Amy shares a fresh perspective on why ki...

In this episode of Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy, Michelle Visser speaks with former food industry consultant Dr. Glenn Livingston, who once advised major food corporations on how to sell more processed foods. Dr. Livingston reveals how processed foods are intentionally engineered to keep consumers eating. From strategic packaging and advertising psychology to subtle flavor variations within a single b...

In this episode of Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy, Michelle Visser breaks down a major problem with current dietary guidelines: the confusing advice to eat more “whole grains.” Most shoppers assume that choosing whole wheat bread at the grocery store means they are making a healthier choice. But Michelle explains that many commercial breads labeled “whole wheat” are still made from refined flour and con...

Are whole grains as healthy as we think? Join me as we break down what really happens when you grind wheat berries into fresh milled flour. We'll discuss two nutrients that are almost entirely LOST when we mill fresh flour. But don’t panic. We'll also go over some simple solutions, from what you eat with your bread to what grains you mill for your bread. If you care about feeding your fami...

In this episode of Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy, Michelle breaks down why eggs may be the most underrated high-quality protein available today. With 97% digestibility and all nine essential amino acids, eggs provide complete protein in one simple, affordable food. But the real surprise? Eggs are one of the most bioavailable sources of lutein — a powerful carotenoid that protects eye health, filters bl...

Are expensive “healthy” snacks actually wrecking your gut — and your budget? Let's down the new food pyramid and dietary guidelines — what they got right, what still needs work, and why avoiding ultra-processed foods is the biggest win for your health. But here’s the practical part: instead of just saying “stop eating processed food,” Michelle shares 3 powerful food preservation methods that m...

Is gluten really the problem—or have we been blaming the wrong thing all along? This week, the FDA made headlines with a new move on gluten labeling, and many people celebrated it as a major win. But today we're going to break down why this decision won’t actually make us healthier—and may even make things worse. If you’ve gone gluten-free and still don’t feel great… If you’ve been told gluten...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Cate Shanahan—family physician, biochemist, and bestselling author—to uncover the hidden dangers of modern vegetable oils. Dr. Shanahan explains how eight commonly used seed oils disrupt cellular communication, fuel oxidative stress, and drive chronic disease. This episode unpacks the flawed history behind cholesterol fear, the role of industry influence, and...

In this episode of Simple Doesn’t Mean Easy, Michelle Visser breaks down three major flaws in the new food pyramid—including what it gets dangerously wrong about fruits, vegetables, meat, and especially grains. While applauding the new emphasis on protein, healthy fats, and real food, Michelle explains why food sourcing is the missing piece of the conversation. She unpacks why not all produce is n...

Wood heat has been labeled dirty, dangerous, and outdated—but is it true? In this episode, Michelle talks with Patrick Sieben, certified heater mason and Vice President of the Masonry Heater Association of North America, to unpack the myths surrounding wood burning. Patrick explains how masonry heaters, commonly used across Europe, burn wood so efficiently that they produce little to no smoke, use...

We don't need to rely on the grocery store, even if we will never live on a farm. Would you like to eat better and rely less on Big Food & grocery stores? Do you know you need to change the way you view food but don't know where to start? Do you know what to do if you want avocados but don't live where they grow? Learn how to eat seasonally and locally. Learn how to take on nutriti...