Joel Salatin, known as "The Lunatic Farmer, has influenced me personally in so many realms of my life. He's caused me to look differently at everything from daily living to the food we eat, to the entertainment we consume, to vacations, to entrepreneurship, to parenting...he really covers it all, and so does this podcast.

Joel's farm, Polyface Farm in Swoope, VA, is one of the most famous farms in the world and services more than 5,000 families. Learn more about the farm at www.polyfacefarms.com. Learn more about Joel and his 12 published books at https://www.thelunaticfarmer.com/

Today, Brian Tracy illustrates the influential and life-changing power of solitude. Importantly, he points out that for most people the very thought of solitude makes them feel uncomfortable. Yet, Brian contends that solitude throughout the ages is the key to directly access the power of your subconscious mind. 

At first, going into silence is going to be utterly uncomfortable. There will be many distractions and unease before achieving a serene and calm mind. But when the mind is in a state of clarity, ideas will start to flow into you naturally. 

In sum, Brian highlights that great insights come from the superconscious mind. And the way to your superconscious mind is going into silence or solitude.

Farmhouse on Boone shares her experience with milking a cow with no previous experience! A great listen!

Winter on the homestead is a time of natural slowing down. The days are shorter; the list of projects is smaller. After my conversation with Melody, I’m not sure I know of anyone who embraces all of the beauty that winter brings better than she does. As a homesteader, homeschooler, homemaker, and hunter in Minnesota, Melody doesn’t let temperatures below zero keep her from enjoying the outdoors with her five children. No matter what climate you live in, Melody shares tons of ideas for embracing the winter season both indoors and out.

In this episode, we cover:

- How homeschooling allows the freedom to teach our children specific life skills

- What food Melody is hunting and cooking in winter

- Why you should want to know where your food comes from

- Secrets to enjoying frigid temperatures

- How Melody instills basic outdoor survival skills in her young children

- Preparing for winter on a homestead

- Outdoor and indoor hobbies in the winter

- What it looks like to experiment with sourdough

What does breakfast have to do with mental health? A good deal, according to Sally Fallon Morell, President of the Weston A. Price Foundation. Sally covers today the role nutrition plays in our wellbeing. Nutrient deficiencies can easily lead to mental instability. Sally reviews the nutrients needed for healthy brain and cellular function, like cholesterol and saturated fats. She explains how animal fats work synergistically in the body to create our own cannabinoids, chemicals that regulate reward pathways and increase dopamine release. She helps us understand what to put on the table and what to avoid. Bone broth is in, for example; MSG, soy, and GMOs are out. Basically, she helps us understand how to build a nutrient-dense foundation for good mental and physical health.

Today we're diving deep into the unseen world of sourdough microbes. Karyn Newman, author of the new book Sourdough by Science, personifies the many parts of our sourdough starters and explains the chemistry happening in our kitchens to help us make perfect sourdough loaves. Every time.

Find out the best time to feed your starter, why the fridge is your starter's friend, and what character in your starter is the most important one (and how to care for it best).

Even learn how to convert any traditional bread recipe to a sourdough one!

I learned so much from this episode, even what I've been doing wrong when I try to use my fresh flour to make my sourdough bread and how to fix it. (I couldn't believe how simple this is!)

About the author: Karyn Newman began her professional life in editing, then embarked on a career in the sciences after earning her PhD in cellular and molecular biology. And she also happens to love baking. She loves using her science background to help non-science folks understand the important details of making a perfect loaf of sourdough bread.