Homegrown Show with Ben Cummings

Military historian, museum founder, and autism advocate Aaron Bouma shares his experiences growing up autistic, the challenges he faced in school, how his special interests shaped his career, and why society still misunderstands autism. Aaron discusses Canada’s lack of adult supports, sensory overwhelm, ABA, nonverbal communication, mental health struggles, the “telepathy tapes,” military intellig...

In this in-depth conversation, Ben sits down with nutrition counselor and former firefighter/navy veteran Neil Burchill to uncover what’s really driving today’s health crisis. With over 20 years of experience and more than 10,000 clients, Neil breaks down why weight loss culture is broken , why muscle mass is the true predictor of long-term health, and why modern diets are leaving people malnouris...

Ben sits down with medicinal horticulturalist Zack Drost, a grower with more than 20 years of hands-on experience in cannabis cultivation, genetics, and plant-based medicine. Zack breaks down stigma, science, cannabinoids, terpenes, cultivation methods, natural medicine, and why cannabis is far more complex than THC percentages. This interview is ideal for growers, medical patients, homesteaders,...

In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with a Colombian economist and Canadian immigrant who explains—candidly—what’s happening to Canada’s economy, political culture, immigration system, and national identity. Drawing from personal experience with socialism, geopolitical instability, and economic collapse, he outlines the warning signs he sees repeating here at home. A challenging discussion...

In 1944, ordinary families grew 40% of America’s vegetables through backyard “Victory Gardens.”Today, that spirit of independence has been replaced by total reliance on grocery stores, corporate farms, and global supply chains — and it’s time to take it back. In this episode, Ben breaks down: How small gardens once fed nations Why modern “efficiency” is actually fragility How Bayer, Monsanto, Carg...

In this in-depth conversation, Ben sits down with Suzanne Fournier, Executive Director of the National Farmers Union in New Brunswick, to unpack the state of farming in Canada today — from corporate control and export dependency to food sovereignty, small farm challenges, and climate resilience. Fournier shares candid insights on how government policy, market concentration, and bureaucracy impact...

When you grab that pack of steak or chicken at the grocery store, do you actually know where it came from? How it was raised? How many hands it passed through before it reached your cart? In this episode, Ben pulls back the curtain on the modern meat industry — from industrial feedlots to mega-slaughterhouses — revealing how centralized, opaque, and disconnected our food system has become. She wal...

Across North America, small farmers and homesteaders are being regulated out of existence — one bylaw at a time. In this episode, Nicole breaks down the shocking new Grand Manan bylaw proposal in New Brunswick that could limit how many chickens, goats, or livestock you can own — and even force you to register your animals with the local government. What’s being sold as “sustainability” and “planni...

After three decades in Canadian law enforcement — from the RCMP to Chief of Police in Woodstock — Mitch MacMillan has seen the highs and lows of policing firsthand. In this candid interview, Mitch opens up about what’s really going on inside modern policing, public distrust, leadership failures, moral challenges, and life after the badge. He also shares touching stories of compassion, community, a...

Tech entrepreneur Ryan Groom shares his journey from early tech experiments in the 1980s to building cybersecurity companies, ethical hacking adventures, and launching new ventures like Kognitiv Spark (AI-enhanced remote support) and Rivur (live streaming and privacy chat app). He reflects on his grandfather's WWII legacy, the dark side of the internet from his work on child exploitation tools, th...

In this eye-opening episode of the Homegrown Show, host Sloane Rees sits down with the Executive Director of Sanctuary House, a 24/7 transition house in New Brunswick dedicated to providing safety and support for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Drawing from her experience in crisis intervention and mental health, the director sheds light on the alarming epidemic of intimate partner viol...

Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Annette Landman, a holistic health practitioner with over 16 certifications, including PhDs in natural and integrative medicine. In this episode of the Homegrown Show, Annette shares her transformative journey from battling chronic Lyme disease to becoming a leading voice in natural healing. 🌿 What You'll Learn: How Annette overcame debilitating migrai...

In this interview, we dive into the heart of the Valley Food Bank’s mission to combat hunger in a small Canadian community in 2025. Monica, a dedicated food bank leader, shares the stark realities of serving a growing need and relying on community donations, and stretching a single $50,000 government grant to feed families, seniors, and the homeless. From navigating rising costs and winter shortag...

An engaging conversation with Kevin Briggs, a third-generation dairy farmer from New Brunswick, Canada, as he shares his insights on dairy farming, raw milk advocacy, and the challenges of the industry. In this candid interview, Kevin discusses his lifelong experience with raw milk, its benefits, and the misconceptions surrounding it, emphasizing the importance of knowing your farmer for safe cons...

In my interview with Owen, we explored Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, driven by my long-standing curiosity and regret for not investing earlier when Bitcoin was pennies—now over $100,000. Owen explained crypto as digital assets traded peer-to-peer on blockchains, secured by cryptography, with Bitcoin standing out due to its first-mover advantage, fixed 21-million-coin supply, and decentralized, open-...

Leave a Like and Subscribe if you enjoyed! Subscribe! - https://bit.ly/SubscribeToHomegrownIn this powerful interview, we sit down with JM Fortier, pioneering farmer, author, and founder of The Market Gardener Institute, to uncover the truth about our food system. We dive deep into how "Big Agriculture" has co-opted the organic label, diluting its meaning and misleading consumers in purs...

In the interview, Margaret Johnson, MLA for Carleton Victoria and former New Brunswick Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries, discusses her passion for supporting agriculture despite not being a farming expert. A lifelong resident of Carlton County, she emphasizes the challenges farmers face, including regulatory hurdles, biosecurity requirements, and federal-provincial jurisdictiona...

In this interview, Canadian MP Richard Bragdon—Conservative member for Tobique-Mactaquac and Shadow Minister for Rural Development—shares his journey into politics, his passion for empowering rural communities, and his vision for Canada’s future. A vocal advocate for small farmers, Bragdon discusses the need to reduce regulatory burdens, lower taxes, and unleash the economic potential of rural Can...

In my conversation with Matt Wilson—dog trainer, hunter, and small business owner—we covered everything from training techniques to the challenges of modern life. Matt spoke candidly about running a dog training business during tough economic times, the emotional weight of working with troubled animals, and the importance of structure and discipline when communicating with dogs. Our talk shifted i...

This week I sat down with Megan, my massage therapist and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the human body, energy, and healing. We went way beyond the typical “back rub” conversation and got into the real stuff—how massage therapy is actual therapeutic work, what our muscles are holding onto (physically and emotionally), and why stress shows up in the body whether we realize it or not. We ta...

In my interview with Will, we dove into his passion for growing rare and unusual crops—plants you won’t find in a typical grocery store. Will emphasized that there's more to life than the familiar and convenient, tying his philosophy to the idea that change is the only constant. For him, cultivating unique varieties like the “Flaco Bianco” isn’t just about food—it’s about embracing transformat...

In my interview with Sara, she shared her inspiring journey from a burnout in veterinary medicine to starting a farm from scratch with no prior experience. Like many first-generation farmers, she and her partner Stephen were driven by a sense of urgency during the COVID pandemic, when empty grocery store shelves made them question the reliability of the food system. They began with just a little g...

"Essential oils" have been something that were a part of my life for about 20 years. They were something that my mom introduced me to when I was a lot younger, burning things like peppermint first thing in the morning to wake us up and then using things like Theives oil to ward off sickness. But it wasn't until into my university experience in academia when I studied more microbiology and virology...

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 My journey brings me to Ottawa, ON to visit a friend, see parliament hill, and I get a bike! IG: @cummingsbenj FB: @cummingsbenj Support me at:  benjcummings.com