Send us a text

In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, Jim sits down with longtime friend, fellow FarmHouse brother, and ag-industry leader Mark Voors for a conversation that blends leadership, personal growth, faith, and the deep internal work that shapes a meaningful career.

Mark’s path has taken him from FFA State Officer, to roles with John Deere, Monsanto, Cargill, and ultimately to his current position at Beck’s Hybrids. But the titles only scratch the surface. What Mark shares in this conversation is much more personal:

• how coaching—not managing—became his true calling
• what confidence really means in sales and leadership
• how organizations unintentionally limit the people they rely on most
• the moment a painful performance review shifted the entire trajectory of his life
• the difficult but necessary move from head knowledge to heart knowledge in his faith
• why internal reflection is often harder than any job we work in agriculture

This is an episode grounded in honesty and growth. Mark speaks openly about pride, shame, career pivots, spiritual clarity, and the courage it takes to look inward when life demands it.

If you’ve ever wrestled with purpose, leadership, self-worth, or the quiet pull toward something deeper, Mark’s story will meet you right where you are.

Send us a text

In this episode of Patio Pondering, Jim sits down with longtime friend, FarmHouse fraternity brother, and Purdue Dairy Judging Coach Brian Engleking to explore a life shaped by dairy cattle, youth leadership, and an unexpected medical crisis that forced him to rebuild from the ground up.

Brian shares his journey from growing up on a small Indiana dairy farm to becoming a Holstein classifier, evaluating more than 250,000 cows across 47 states and several countries. He reflects on how those years on the road shaped his eye for cattle, his understanding of the dairy industry, and his appreciation for the people who make agriculture work.

The conversation turns deeply personal as Brian describes the brain bleed that ended his classification career and required him to relearn basic motor skills. With honesty and clarity, he talks about the frustration, fatigue, faith, and perspective that emerged from that season of rebuilding.

Today, Brian has found his second dream job as the coach of the Purdue Dairy Judging Team, where he mentors college students in livestock evaluation, reasons, communication, and confidence.

Together, Jim and Brian discuss:

• What dairy farmers really look for when evaluating cows
• How FFA, 4-H, and dairy judging shape work ethic and leadership
• Why real conversation still matters in a phone-driven world
• How adversity can reorder a life and reveal a new calling
• The lessons agriculture teaches about resilience, purpose, and starting again

If you enjoy agriculture stories that blend livestock, leadership, and life perspective, this episode will resonate deeply.

Send us a text

In this solo episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, host Jim Smith reflects on one year of living alcohol-free — not from rock bottom or rehab, but from a quiet decision to reclaim clarity, creativity, and control.

Jim shares the real story behind his turning point — the morning-after moment that made him realize alcohol had become more ritual than reward. From there, he talks about how quitting drinking changed his focus, relationships, and mental clarity without judgment or preachiness.

If you’ve ever thought about cutting back, rethinking your relationship with alcohol, or just wondering what life feels like on the other side, this episode is an honest look at how one year sober can reshape your perspective — and your peace.

Key topics:

• Why I quit drinking after my son’s birthday party
• How the ritual of drinking was harder to break than the alcohol
• What changed in 365 days without alcohol
• How clarity, creativity, and calm replaced my nightly pour
• Why quitting drinking was the best decision I made for myself

Keywords: sobriety podcast, quit drinking story, one year without alcohol, sober living, recovery podcast, self-improvement, mental clarity, bourbon habit, lifestyle change, personal growth, motivation, mindfulness, sober curious.

☕ “Sometimes the biggest change isn’t giving something up — it’s gaining yourself back.”