So, You Talk to Cows? A Podcast for Agricultural Communicators

Once in a while, you get a co-worker and you just vibe. Dr. Courtney Meyers is one of those people for me. Early in our academic careers, our offices were next door to each other and the rest is history. We share grammar pet peeves, are non-native Texans, enjoy cinnamon rolls alongside our chili, love to visit National Parks together, and we frequently dress alike.  Aside from her fabulous fashion...

Managing the communications efforts for a university is a huge job. Doing the job when the university is in crisis even bigger.  Chris Cook was the director of communications for Texas Tech University during three major crises. Two of them you may have heard of, but I wanted to talk to him about the crisis you probably  didn't hear about or may have forgotten.  Sometimes crises are best handl...

Delaney Howell is an ag journalist and podcaster. Her agricultural news podcast covers national news topics important to ag producers everywhere, and she is on the leadership team for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. 

Bryan Mudd is the weeknight anchor at KAMC-TV (ABC) in Lubbock, Texas. He is a staple in Lubbock television, conducts great interviews, and is a good journalist and reporter. In this episode, we cover all sorts of topics, especially the importance of local journalism, inspiring young people to seek careers in news, and working on a master's degree with a full time job. 

Scarlett Hagins Madinger is the Vice President of Communications at Kansas Livestock Association . In this episode, she talks about several recent crises, including HPAI in cattle (bird flu), as well as being prepared for whatever could happen next.  I've known Scarlett for a LONG time. She's an alum of our program and a good friend. We even did a workshop together at Ag Media Summit in...

Rural newspapers create a "community conversation" according to this episode's guest. I interviewed the editor/publisher of The Canadian Record, Laurie Ezzell Brown. The newspaper is located in Canadian, Texas, a beautiful community on the eastern edge of the Texas Panhandle. The paper has an excellent website and Facebook page that serves the community well.  https://www.canadianre...

It's a beautiful thing when science and communications are done well. Dr. Mindy Brashears does both very, very well. She communicates complicated information in a way that's simple to understand, and she's a very likeable person. She shares stories of her research in the United States and South America, plus she tells us about her experience as the Under Secretary for Food Safety. ...

Communicating about severe weather is something we all need to understand. However, the current system in the United States can be a little confusing. Dr. Chris Weiss, professor of atmospheric science at Texas Tech explains the system for us, then tells us about the research he's conducting. I would love to hear from you. Contact me at erica.irlbeck@ttu.edu Website Purchase my book here. 

Lots of crises can be prevented when they're in the issues phase through good communication, leadership, and management. Earlier this year, I attended a webinar hosted by today's guest, Frankie Gould, on issues management and communication. Plus, I've known Frankie for years through the Association for Communications Excellence, and have always enjoyed her wisdom and experience she...

Communicating the climate crisis is a difficult and emotional task. Texas Tech University's Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is a scientist that communicates a tricky subject, yet she remains positive and continues with her work.  She's active on LinkedIn and Twitter. Subscribe to her newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/fae4224ba66d/subscribe-to-katharine-newsletter

Severe weather comes in lots of forms: drought, blizzard, thunderstorm, tornado, flooding, dangerous heat, extreme cold, and possibly more. However, weather can be hard to forecast consistently, and sometimes the public is jaded to the weather warnings. Yet weather is one of the most important factors to a successful agricultural operation, and that's why I asked KAMC-TV (ABC, Lubbock) Chief...

Cindy Cunningham is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable communicators I know, especially when it comes to preparing for and responding to a crisis. She  worked in the pork industry for several years and is now at Woodruff. She is such a pro, and is always helpful to communicators from across the ag industry.  Find Cindy's company, Woodruff here: https://wearewoodruff.com/ Link to th...

Emily Leonard is the evening anchor for WTVA in Tupelo, Mississippi, and was previously in Lubbock at KLBK/KAMC. She is a Texas Tech graduate and an excellent reporter.  In this episode, she tells us how to be helpful to the media in the event of a natural disaster, and for some reason, her area of Mississippi has experienced more than its share of severe weather in the past few years.  Emily shar...

David Doerfert is a co-worker, friend, and mentor AND he developed the agriculture crisis management framework. Dr. Doerfert is one of the best researchers I know, and it was a joy to talk about his research and thoughts on the topic of crisis communications.  Link to book: https://connect.xanedu.com/serve/xe/xaneducustom/store/catalogue/25901/?fbclid=IwAR3olcrpbEdymSa8ii9cZrQ8owUxULr0o8p5qqH5zA48...

Faith Peppers is now the director of communications for USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. However, in her career, she has managed communications for a major newspaper and the University of Georgia's agricultural extension service.  She has a wealth of knowledge and ideas on managing issues and crises and she shares her ideas with us in this episode.  The Crisis Communications...

For all former students requesting Lindsay Kennedy and I do a show together: we hear you and we grant your request. Dr. Lindsay Kennedy is my coworker, but more importantly, my friend and kindred spirit. Also she is an outstanding communicator. Before she came back to Texas Tech to join our faculty, she worked in the grains industry and had to manage two crises. She shares her experience in this e...

Season 3 of the So You Talk to Cows podcast focuses on risk and crisis communications. I just finished by book, The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources, and I'm teaching a graduate class on the same subject this semester. The topic of crisis comm is on my brain, so let's talk more about it in the podcast! Season 3 starts on September 4. Direct link...

I wrote a book! Not only did I write it, the book is being published. XanEdu is publishing my book and it is available. I have had conversations with several ag communicators who would like to write a book, and I encourage anyone that wants to write, to do so. It's not easy, and it's not quick, but I have loved this experience and would love the opportunity to do more of this. Maybe not...

If you have attended Ag Media Summit, you have probably experienced an event planned by Diane Johnson. She is the Ft. Worth based owner of Details by Design. Although she has slowed down her business in recent years, she still plans and assists with other events.  She is highly organized  and always professional.  In this episode, she shares her suggestions for putting your best foot forward and p...

Tara VanderDussen is one of the most influential leaders in social media advocacy for the agricultural industry. She is a courageous myth buster and does a fabulous job of promoting dairy and ag in general. In this episode she shares some of her strategies and plans for creating a good platform. I met Tara for the first time when I interviewed her after a devastating blizzard took a toll on New Me...

Janet Adkison is the embodiment of an agricultural communicator. Her degree is in farm broadcasting. She has worked for radio stations, ag radio networks, ag television, and now she is working in public affairs and advocacy for the Missouri Farm Bureau. She is an excellent reporter and has a fabulous voice.  And she's super nice!  She was relatively new in her job at MoFB and still learning t...

Do cool things with cool people is great advice. Dr. Courtney Gibson is a cool person that I like to do cool things with. She's my co-worker and friend, and she is also the retiring Texas Tech University Faculty Senate President. She shares her experience with us, and also gives us some graphic design tips. Dr. Gibson is a phenomenal graphic designer, and she's highly creative, so much s...

Jennifer Warren is the Vice President of Communications for National Sorghum Producers. She is an excellent and visionary communicator, and she is also a wonderful internship supervisor. Students in our program that intern in Jennifer's office are always highly prepared, grow in their professionalism, and they get really great experiences, like going to trade shows, photo shoots, story interv...

To lead off Season 2, we are going to focus on getting and keeping a job. Cara Ferrell is one of the most knowledgeable people I know on this topic. She worked in career services at Oklahoma State for years and is highly trained in inner-office protocol and etiquette.  I asked her to share some of her favorite job getting tips, as well as her advice for being a great coworker. She recommended a bo...

New things are in store for the second season of the podcast. I like for my podcast to accompany what I'm currently teaching, and for the summer semester, we're focusing much of our content on job and internship readiness. It doesn't matter if you're 20 and seeking an internship or 42 and a seasoned veteran, there are always new things we can do to improve our communications sk...