The Germinate Podcast

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...

In this captivating conversation, Joe Sampson and Chris Morbitzer explore the rise of AI from personal fascination to practical implementation. Joe recalls his first brush with ChatGPT in 2022, while Chris traces his journey back to the early days of natural language processing. Together, they discuss how AI has evolved, the dangers of blind reliance, and how it’s reshaping everything from manufac...

In this insightful and forward-thinking episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Sampson reconnects with long-time industry leader Leah Olson, a powerhouse in Canadian agriculture, policy, and ag-tech innovation. With a career spanning the rail industry, seed innovation, autonomous equipment (DOT), and executive leadership roles like AMC and Pammi, Leah shares her journey, the reality of being a...

In this episode, host Joe Sampson sits down with Steve Bruere, President of Peoples Company, to explore how farmland ownership, management, and investment are transforming in today’s agricultural economy. Steve shares his personal journey from growing up on a small farm in Warren County, Iowa, to building one of the largest farmland real estate, management, and investment firms in the U.S. With op...

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast , host Joe Sampson welcomes Matthew Rassi , founder of Twenty Helping Hands , a lean manufacturing consultant and operational strategist. With a background spanning 25 years in manufacturing, Matthew shares how his corporate experience evolved into launching his own consulting firm—driven by a passion for servant leadership and empowering teams. Together, J...

In this heartfelt episode of The Germinate Podcast , host Joe Sampson sits down with former University of Iowa basketball star and current faith-driven entrepreneur Al Lorenzen . Together, they explore the often-overlooked spiritual cost of worldly success and how true fulfillment only comes through a relationship with Jesus. From NCAA tournaments to running a ranch-based equine therapy nonprofit,...

In this special live episode recorded at Tech Hub Live in Des Moines, Iowa , Joe hosts a riveting panel discussion with leaders from across agriculture, technology, and law. Panelists include: Grateful for the thoughtful insights from this powerhouse group: Rhishi P. – Founder, Metal Dog Labs Christopher Dolan– Partner, Faegre Drinker Tami Craig Schilling – Strategic Comms, Bayer Crop Science Arth...

In this special edition of The Germinate Podcast , host Joe Sampson is joined by Adam Steen , who is running for Governor of Iowa, for a raw and powerful conversation recorded on the morning of September 11th. Still reeling from the shocking attack on Charlie Kirk, the two explore the spiritual, cultural, and emotional toll of evil in America—and how the nation has drifted away from truth. Steen s...

In this captivating episode, host Joe Sampson sits down with Gary Wickham , the visionary CEO of MagrowTec , to uncover the journey of a scientist turned serial entrepreneur who’s revolutionizing agriculture. From growing up in a family of nine in Ireland and falling in love with science as a kid in his father’s lab, to building a $300M business and founding a disruptive agri-tech company, Gary’s...

In this eye-opening episode, Joe Sampson chats with Natalie Kovarik, co-host of the Discover Ag podcast, about the whirlwind of food misinformation, agriculture myths, and what it really means to eat well in a world overloaded with social media soundbites. They explore the viral TikToks, trending health fads, glyphosate debates, and even whether Europe really has better food. From Natalie's ba...

In this episode of the Germinate Podcast , host Joe Sampson welcomes David Thompson, National Marketing and Sales Director at Stine Seed , for a wide-ranging conversation that dives into the evolution of agriculture, innovation in seed genetics, and the philosophy that fuels industry giants like Harry Stine . The episode opens with a compelling story about Harry Stine's global influence, follo...

In this real-talk episode of the podcast, Joe Sampson welcomes back sales leader Brian Timothy Kreifels for an unfiltered discussion on why relationships—not just quality or product—drive success in sales. They kick things off with a casual yet heartfelt golf story that quickly tees up the episode’s major theme: knowing your customer . From the marketing brilliance of Sidney Frank (the man behind...

In this episode, Joe Sampson reconnects with longtime friend Jason Swanson, Vice President at Business Publications Corporation (BPC) in Des Moines. The conversation journeys from their early days selling ads at CityView to BPC’s evolution into a powerhouse for Iowa’s business community. Jason shares how BPC has adapted over 42 years, maintaining its focus on high-value, niche content while embrac...

In this episode, host Joe Sampson welcomes Tracey Wiedmeyer, co-founder of Gripp , a software platform revolutionizing agricultural maintenance through dead-simple QR code tagging. Introduced through mutual connections at FEMA, Tracey discusses how Gripp came out of Purdue University’s venture studio, Dial Labs, to address the chronic issue of equipment record-keeping in agriculture. Tracey shares...