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For our 50th episode, we’re not pulling any punches.

Jim sits down with Jerod McDaniel, a farmer, cattleman, and unapologetic contrarian from Texhoma, Oklahoma, who’s made a name for himself by doing what most in agriculture won’t: calling out the broken systems, the lazy thinking, and the comfortable lies.

Jerod took over his family’s operation at 18 and has spent the last three decades doing things differently because the mainstream often gets it wrong. From planting low-pop corn in the dust-blown Oklahoma Panhandle to challenging the way we manage herds (and people), Jerod brings real-world wisdom and the kind of honesty that makes people squirm and think.

In this episode:

• Why he thinks most ag narratives are theater and how to spot the lies
• How learning by failure built his bullshit radar
• What cattle management taught him about human behavior during COVID
• The problem with breeding for docility livestock and in society
• How he raises kids who can think, act, and challenge the status quo

This isn’t just a conversation. It’s a wake-up call wrapped in cowboy grit.

If you’re tired of corporate-sanitized ag talk, this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

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In this solo episode of Patio Pondering, Jim reflects on a moment at the Indiana State Fair that left him unsettled when he witnessed something wrong and didn’t speak up. What started as an uncomfortable memory became a deeper reckoning with silence, regret, and the choices we make in real time.

This isn’t just a story about livestock or county fairs. It’s about leadership, responsibility, and the moments we carry with us long after they’ve passed. Jim shares how this experience made him reflect on times in work, home, and community where silence felt safer but left a scar.

If you’ve ever looked back and wished you’d spoken up, this one’s for you.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Why we stay silent when we know something’s wrong
• The internal battle between comfort and conviction
• How leadership often starts in everyday, unscripted moments
• What it means to carry regret—and how to be ready next time

Tune in for an honest, unpolished look at one of the hardest things to admit: the times we didn’t speak and wish we had.

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You know him as the voice of AgriTalk, delivering market insights with clarity and conviction. But in this episode, Chip Flory sits on the other side of the microphone to share the personal journey that shaped his life in agriculture media.

This is not a conversation about markets or grain reports. Instead, we dig into Chip’s rural Iowa upbringing, the influence of his mother’s writing, and how the struggles of the 1980s farm crisis helped shape his passion for communication. We explore the family moments, career pivots, and faith-driven lessons that turned Chip into one of agriculture’s most trusted voices.

Whether you're a farmer, broadcaster, or someone who just appreciates the stories behind the people who shape the ag conversation, this one’s for you.

We dig into:

• How his mother’s rural newspaper work sparked his passion for storytelling
• The family farm sale that rerouted his future—and nearly fractured his family
• What it was like reporting from the CBOT in the pre-digital era
• Lessons learned about hedging, basis, and the emotional weight of writing with impact
• Why farmers are more business-savvy than the stereotypes give them credit for

Tune in for a heartfelt and humble conversation with the man behind the mic.