The Heart of Rural America

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke welcomes her middle sister, Courtney Coughlin , a businesswoman, entrepreneur, and homeschooling mother of four. They discuss Courtney's various ventures, including her boutique CCXO and her cut flower business, Three Sisters Blooms . The sisters reflect on the importance of family, faith, and community, and share their predi...

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke welcomes back Chris Earl of CK6 Consulting to discuss the current state of the American beef industry. They review the past year's sales and reflect on the significant improvements in beef pricing for producers. Chris shares his insights on the economic and political factors that are shaping the industry, the importance of resilie...

t’s been said that the farm and ranch is the best place to raise children. As a mom of four kids, I feel so blessed to be able to teach kids about life, faith, family, community, and being true stewards of the land, livestock, and the people around them through the avenue of raising cattle. A calling from God led Tyler and I to become licensed foster parents in 2019, and since then, we’ve had a do...

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke visits Cowgirl Confident in Afton, Oklahoma to explore key topics in agritourism and veterinary practice. Amanda interviews Arielle Honovich from Ridge Ranch, NY , about her journey into livestock breeding and agritourism near New York City. Arielle shares valuable insights on managing farm operations, handling visitors, and...

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke highlights Taylor Blake, a viral social media sensation and a Florida farm girl at Knuckle Bump Farms. Taylor shares her journey of merging her love for farming and social media, starting with her viral TikTok video featuring her emu, Emmanuel. She discusses the importance of authenticity, consistency, and finding unique content f...

Learn more about Bulletproofing Your Direct-To-Consumer Beef Enterprise: https://amandaradke.com/products/bulletproof-your-beef-business In this solo episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke dives deep into the logistics and strategies behind building a successful direct-to-consumer beef business. Sponsored by Reverse Rocking R Ranch, the episode begins with the promotion of the...

In this compelling episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke brings back guest Dave Duquette of Western Justice . Duquette discusses his latest documentary on property rights titled ' The Great Pocatello Land Grab ,' which reveals the forced annexation of historic ranches in Pocatello, Idaho, and exposes corrupt developer schemes. The conversation also covers broader issues...

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke discusses the impact of misapplied USDA regulations on American cattle producers with guests Robert Groom and Patrick Robinette. They delve into historical policy changes and the negative effects on the market, explaining how existing laws, if correctly enforced, could benefit U.S. cattle producers by ensuring proper labeling...

Host Amanda Radke sits down with Tate Bennett, Director of Rural Policy at the America First Policy Institute, to unpack a newly announced USDA plan presented by Secretary Brooke Rollins that aims to fortify the U.S. beef supply, rebuild capacity, lower consumer costs, and keep family ranchers on the land. They discuss why cattle producers reacted to recent pricing comments, what the plan actually...

In the second part of this special episode, Amanda Radke and her guest Chris Earl discuss crucial topics facing the American beef industry. They explore the upcoming American Angus Association's annual convention in Kansas City, touching upon the expected delegate vote and the association's new partnership with Jeff Bezos on methane and emission studies. They heavily emphasize the importance of ad...

In this episode of the Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke and Chris Earl discuss the implications of recent comments made by President Donald Trump regarding beef pricing. They explore the challenges faced by ranchers, the role of government in agriculture, and the importance of advocating for the beef industry. The conversation delves into the genetics of beef production, the monopoliza...

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke welcomes Jared Sorensen, a third-generation rancher from Nevada and the host of the Profitable AgSteward YouTube channel. They discuss Jared's journey from taking over the family ranch to transforming it into a profitable and resilient operation through regenerative agricultural practices. Jared shares his experiences with fi...

In this replay episode of “The Heart Of Rural America,” Amanda Radke talks about the importance of sharing our agricultural stories and how we can impact the next generation of consumers to be empowered and informed on where their food comes from with sweet and simple stories. As the author of eight children’s books, Amanda shares why she got started writing books; how she is debunking misconcepti...

Amanda sits down with retired Vikings linebacker, Chad Greenway, to chat about his 11-year career in the NFL, lessons learned back at home on the family farm, and business tips for any entrepreneur or agricultural enterprise to utilize. To book Chad as a speaker, reach out to him on Instagram or Twitter @chadgreenway52For all Gray Duck products, including the newly released Spiked Nitro Cold Brew...

In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke interviews Dr. Liz Fiedler Mergen, a lifelong friend and agritourism entrepreneur. Liz shares her journey from growing up on a beef farm, pursuing a career in nursing, to eventually purchasing a family farm and starting a successful flower farming business. She discusses the challenges she faced, including the sudden death of...

In this episode of 'The Heart of Rural America' podcast, host Amanda Radke reconnects with country music artist and agricultural advocate Clare Dunn . Clare shares important updates about the ongoing challenges facing rural America, including the threats posed by eminent domain and environmental policies that could devastate family farms and ranches. The conversation also touches on the controvers...

Rich Brazil, DVM Read more about the USDA's 5-Pronged Strategy To Combat New World Screwworm here: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/nws-visit-policy-brief.pdf In this episode of The Heart of Rural America podcast, host Amanda Radke discusses the pressing issue of the New World Screwworm and its impact on beef producers with Dr. Rich Brazil, a veterinarian from California. The con...

Breaking free of the chains of Nashville and record labels profiting off the values and backs of hard-working rural Americans, country music artist Clare Dunn does not hold back in sharing the stories that need to be told through powerful songs that we can relate to. Clare says, “I just finally decided, I’m going to live an integral, authentic life, and if people don’t like my opinions, that’s oka...

In this episode of the Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke discusses strategies for agricultural entrepreneurs to finish 2025 strong. She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's 'why', measuring success through data, building relationships, and managing finances effectively. The conversation also covers the significance of seasonality in marketing, celebrating successes, and the...

Genetic Allies Sale: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/500436371/ In this episode of the Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke discusses various pressing issues in the agriculture sector, particularly focusing on the beef industry. She highlights the current state of beef prices, consumer demand, and the challenges posed by carbon pipelines and USDA policies. Amanda also shares insights...

In this episode of the Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke and Chris Earl discuss the current state of the Angus cattle industry, the importance of independent ranching, and the implications of corporate influence on agriculture. They emphasize the need for ranchers to tell their stories, market their products effectively, and maintain control over their genetic resources. The conversatio...

In this powerful episode of The Heart of Rural America , Amanda Radke sits down with South Dakota landowner Senator Mark Lapka to discuss the growing controversy around carbon pipelines, federal eminent domain, and the far-reaching implications of HR 4135. The conversation unpacks how 45Q tax credits may be placing a financial burden on taxpayers, why many in agriculture are skeptical of carbon se...

In this conversation, host Amanda Radke sits down with Jeb Smith, a multi-generational farmer and the president of the Florida Farm Bureau, to unpack the rich history and diverse landscape of Florida agriculture. Together, they discuss the enduring legacy of farming families, the pressures of urbanization, and the fight for water rights in a state facing increasing environmental and economic chall...

In this episode, Amanda Radke celebrates the two-year anniversary of her podcast, Heart of Rural America. She reflects on her journey from journalism to podcasting, the challenges faced by rural communities, and the importance of faith in her life. Amanda shares her experiences with Beef Magazine, the lessons learned, and her commitment to advocating for independent farmers and ranchers. The episo...

In this episode of the Heart of Rural America podcast, Amanda Radke discusses the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities, particularly in agriculture. Joined by Senator Mark Lapka and attorney David Begley, they delve into the controversial topics of wind and solar energy, federal subsidies, and the implications of climate change policies. The conversation emphasizes the importance...