The Homestead Education Podcast

In this episode, Amanda Radke shares her journey as a fifth-generation cattle rancher, passionate educator, and advocate for the real stories of American agriculture. She discusses how direct-to-consumer beef sales, land rights, and truthful storytelling are shaping the future of rural America, inspiring producers and consumers alike.

Main Insights:

• Amanda’s background as a South Dakota rancher and author of children&rsq...

In this episode, Susan Poizner shares her journey into urban orchards, emphasizing the importance of understanding and caring for fruit trees. Her insights are especially valuable for community groups, schools, and individuals committed to food resilience and ecological harmony.

• The crucial minimums needed to keep fruit trees healthy and productive
• How to sel...

Homesteading and education aren’t just about what you know or how much you can produce. They’re about the mindset, skills, and real-life experiences that shape how you live, work, and contribute to the world around you.

And the truth is, more families than ever are questioning traditional education… but many aren’t sure what to replace it with or how to confidently teach their kids real-world skills.

In thi...

Homesteading isn’t just about land, animals, or how much you can produce. It’s about the mindset, lifestyle, and intentional choices behind how you live.

And the truth is, more people than ever are craving a slower, more self-sufficient life… but many feel like they don’t have enough land, time, or experience to even begin.

In this episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner sits down with Mary ...

Success in agriculture isn’t just about working harder — it’s about learning how to manage the pressure, responsibilities, and mindset that come with the lifestyle.

And the truth is — burnout, overwhelm, and mental exhaustion are affecting more people in agriculture than ever before… but few are talking about how to navigate it well.

In this episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner sits...

Agriculture isn’t just happening in the fields — it’s happening on the airwaves, in policy conversations, and in the everyday decisions that impact what ends up on our tables.

And the truth is — most people have no idea how much is happening behind the scenes… or where to find reliable information when it does.

In this episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner sits down with Addison Stod...

Sugaring isn’t just for the Northeast anymore. And the truth is — there are opportunities for food, resources, and self-sufficiency sitting right in our own backyards… if we’re willing to look a little closer.

In this episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner sits down with David Knudson of Montana Maple Works to talk about the surprising world of tapping trees for syrup in the Western U.S. &m...

Food systems are shifting. Farming is shifting. And the reality is — making a living in agriculture today looks nothing like it used to.

In this episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner sits down with Lexi Wright of the Farming on Purpose podcast for a real conversation about what it actually takes to make farming work in today’s economy — from direct-to-consumer sales to managing multiple income st...

Food systems are shifting. Education is shifting. And in 2026, the question isn’t if things need to change — it’s how we do better moving forward.

In this Season 7 kickoff episode of The Homestead Education Podcast, Kody Hanner takes a hard look at the current state of agriculture, the rise of AI and digital influence, and the growing disconnect between people and their food.

From the dilution of farming practices...

Food and agriculture have never been louder — and clarity has never been harder to find.

As we move into 2026, grocery prices are rising, agricultural education is being shaped by broken systems, and AI is changing how information spreads. So how do we actually do better?

Season 7 of The Homestead Education Podcast is focused on rebuilding agricultural education at a human scale — not to turn everyone into farmers, but ...

In this episode, I share an update on Ranger, our Great Pyrenees livestock guardian who is still missing, and how our family is moving forward while holding onto hope. I also talk about our plan to bring home a new working male dog, what we’re looking for in a ranch-ready name, and how we’re navigating the emotions of change while keeping the homestead running.

Then I dive into my annual New Year reflection, including m...

In this episode, I’m talking about working dogs—and what happens when one goes missing. After a brief life update, I share the story of our livestock guardian dog, Ranger, and the events leading up to his disappearance. From late-night disturbances to injuries on multiple dogs, this episode explores the reality of relying on a guardian dog to protect a farm and the emotional weight of not knowing what happened.

I also a...

In this episode, Kody sits down with Lindy Bryant of Northwoods of Idaho—Air Force veteran, disaster response specialist, and creator of the Grab and Go Binder and Survival in a Bottle kits.

They break down real-life preparedness for normal people: families, single parents, seniors, urban dwellers, and rural homesteaders who want to be ready for power outages, job loss, medical emergencies, and everyday “mini disasters&...

In this episode, Kody chats with Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, about helping farmers sell meat directly to consumers in today’s market. Katie shares how she transitioned from teaching elementary school in rural Iowa to building an online farmers' market that connects producers with buyers nationwide. Together, they unpack the difference between custom-exempt and retail meat sales, how insp...

In this episode, Kody tackles one of the most complex and often misunderstood topics in America: the food stamp system and its impact on personal responsibility, nutrition, and self-sufficiency. She traces its origins from FDR’s 1939 program to today’s SNAP, uncovering how a system designed to feed the hungry gradually created a culture of dependency. Drawing from her own experience as a single mother who once relied on...

In this episode, Kody sits down with Greg and Kristen Leininger, founders of Steader, to share how their own homesteading challenges sparked the idea for a faith-led, community-driven app built to reconnect local food systems. They open up about turning that vision into a working platform that helps neighbors buy, sell, and trade. From their family’s journey toward a simpler, purpose-filled life to their mission of helping ot...