Discover Ag Podcast
Two millennial women—a cattle rancher and a dairy farmer—break down the week's headlines where agriculture and pop culture intersect.
A weekly news commentary show from the perspective of two active agricultural producers. The hosts analyze current events, from disease outbreaks like New World Screwworm to viral food trends and policy changes like the 'Great American Cotton Plan'. [899kzsBtOGg, hEw-0mjiuWs] They blend industry headlines with pop culture discussions, such as fact-checking the TV show 'Yellowstone' or discussing the 'Farmer Wants a Wife' finale, to make agriculture accessible and relevant to a broader audience. [hEw-0mjiuWs]
“Unlike journalists or academics, the hosts are a practicing rancher and dairy farmer, offering a grounded, insider's perspective on agricultural news. Their blend of professional expertise (farming, environmental science) with pop culture savvy sets them apart from more traditional, farmer-focused industry podcasts.”
Who hosts this show
Discover Ag is co-hosted by Natalie Kovarik, a fourth-generation cattle rancher in Nebraska, and Tara Vander Dussen, a fifth-generation dairy farmer and environmental scientist in New Mexico. Kovarik, who has a background as a pharmacist, now runs Kovarik Cattle Co. with her husband. Vander Dussen applies her scientific background to help dairy farms with regulatory compliance and sustainability. Together, they use their hands-on experience to dissect news and trends in food, farming, and Western culture.
Credentials & credits
- Natalie Kovarik: 4th Generation Cattle Rancher
- Natalie Kovarik: Co-Owner, Kovarik Cattle Co.
- Natalie Kovarik: Former Pharmacist
- Tara Vander Dussen: 5th Generation Dairy Farmer
- Tara Vander Dussen: Environmental Scientist
Other ventures
- Natalie Kovarik: Kovarik Cattle Co.
- Tara Vander Dussen: New Mexico Milkmaid (blog/brand)
- Elevate Ag (E-Course & Podcast, co-founded by both)
- Discover Ag on the Road (YouTube Series)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Wait, Is Modern Wheat Actually Genetically Modified?Jun 25, 2026 · 47s
- 02Discover Why Wheat Became One of the World's Most Controversial CropsJun 25, 2026 · 52 min
- 03Are Consumers Actually Willing to Pay for "Born in the USA"?Jun 24, 2026 · 47s
- 04Why "Natural" on a Label Often Means NothingJun 23, 2026 · 53s
- 05Discover New World Screwworm is Back, FWAW's Finale & Food Labels That Pay FarmersJun 18, 2026 · 1h 12m
- 06
- 07
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01Discover Why Wheat Became One of the World's Most Controversial Crops
A deep-dive episode that exemplifies their format of using pointed, rapid-fire questions to debunk common myths about a single ingredient (wheat).
- 02Discover New World Screwworm is Back, FWAW's Finale & Food Labels That Pay Farmers
Showcases their ability to cover breaking agricultural news (a parasite outbreak) alongside pop culture commentary ('Farmer Wants a Wife').
- 03Discover Steak 'n Shake's MAHA Takeover, A Cowgirl's Viral Ranch Invite & America's Cotton Plan
A strong example of their news-roundup style, connecting a fast-food chain's marketing to national agricultural policy and viral social media moments.
What you'll be asked on this show
When conducting interviews, host Natalie Kovarik often opens with a "Hard Rapid Fire Questions" segment, directly addressing the most common and controversial consumer questions about a topic (e.g., GMOs, glyphosate). [lzbU5tThJAQ] This tactic sets a tone of transparency and acknowledges audience skepticism from the start. The hosts frame interviews around questions submitted by their listeners, and after the initial rapid-fire round, they circle back to explore the nuances of each topic, such as the history of wheat hybridization or the specifics of food labeling. [lzbU5tThJAQ, hEw-0mjiuWs]
The show is a co-hosted news and commentary format, often starting with a segment called "Discovery of the week". [899kzsBtOGg] Episodes mix analysis of several recent headlines with occasional deep-dive interviews with subject matter experts. The hosts' rapport is central, as they share personal anecdotes from their farm and ranch lives to illustrate broader points. [899kzsBtOGg]
Questions the host keeps coming back to
11 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
controversy
4- Q.01
“Is [modern crop] genetically modified?”
This is often a lead-off question in a 'rapid-fire' segment to immediately address a major consumer misconception.
- Q.02
“Is [crop] sprayed with glyphosate?”
Asked early and directly to tackle a common food safety concern head-on.
- Q.03
“Is organic healthier than conventional?”
A recurring rapid-fire question used to compare different farming practices for the listener.
- Q.04
“What are your thoughts on the '[viral topic]' debate?”
The hosts use this to engage with online controversies and get their co-host's or guest's take.
process
2- Q.01
“Do food labels actually mean anything?”
This challenging question serves as a starting point for a deeper discussion on food marketing versus verified claims.
- Q.02
“Is 'heritage wheat' an umbrella term or something specific?”
This type of question seeks to clarify marketing terms and help consumers navigate food labels.
origin
1- Q.01
“What is the origin story of your company?”
Used to establish the guest's personal connection and motivation behind their brand.
backstory
1- Q.01
“What is the evolution of conventional [crop]?”
The host asks this to provide historical context for modern agricultural practices.
industry
1- Q.01
“Do labels help or hurt consumer understanding of food?”
This explores the broader impact and effectiveness of the food labeling system.
personal
1- Q.01
“Did you ever think [your industry] would become such a trending topic?”
A personal question asked after technical details to get the guest's perspective on their field's cultural relevance.
advice
1- Q.01
“Which specific labels mean what?”
A practical question aimed at giving listeners concrete definitions for terms they see at the grocery store.
Signature segments
- · Welcome to Discover Ag, where agriculture meets pop culture...
- · Discovery of the week
- · Hard Rapid Fire Questions
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically industry practitioners and experts who can provide deep, specific knowledge on a topic. This includes farmers pioneering specific crops, founders of food brands, and heads of organizations that deal with agricultural verification and labeling. [lzbU5tThJAQ, hEw-0mjiuWs]
- Derek Dykstraon Discover Why Wheat Became One of the World's Most Controversial Crops
- Leann Saunderson Discover New World Screwworm is Back, FWAW's Finale & Food Labels That Pay Farmers
- Marty & Darrold Glenvilleon Discover Why Wheat Became One of the World's Most Controversial Crops
- Jessie Jarvison Discover New World Screwworm is Back, FWAW's Finale & Food Labels That Pay Farmers
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Sponsors are often direct-to-consumer brands whose products align with the show's agricultural and natural-materials focus. Examples include Sunrise Flour Mill (heritage grains), Duckworth (wool apparel), and Cozy Earth (home goods), suggesting an audience interested in quality, provenance, and natural fibers. [899kzsBtOGg, hEw-0mjiuWs, lzbU5tThJAQ]
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
People also ask
- Who are the hosts of Discover Ag?
- The podcast is hosted by Natalie Kovarik, a fourth-generation cattle rancher from Nebraska, and Tara Vander Dussen, a fifth-generation dairy farmer and environmental scientist from New Mexico.
- What is the format of the show?
- It's a weekly co-hosted podcast that analyzes news and trends at the intersection of agriculture and pop culture. Episodes often feature a roundup of recent headlines and sometimes include interviews with industry experts.
- Is the podcast still being produced?
- Yes, the podcast releases new episodes weekly, typically on Thursdays.
- Where can I listen to Discover Ag?
- The podcast is available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, with video versions of the episodes available on their YouTube channel.
- What are the hosts' credentials?
- Natalie Kovarik is a rancher and former pharmacist. Tara Vander Dussen is a dairy farmer and a working environmental scientist who consults on sustainability and regulatory compliance for farms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Meet Your Hostsdiscoverag.com
- [02]Influencer - Natalie Kovarikwomeninag.com
- [03]Speakers - Cornell CALScals.cornell.edu
- [04]A conversation with dairy farmer and “Ag-vocate” Tara Van Dussenyoutube.com
- [05]Kovarik Cattle Cokovarikcattleco.com
- [06]Blog - Tara Vander Dussentaravanderdussen.com
- [07]RancHER: Natalie Kovarik: Embracing ranch life one role at a timeagproud.com
- [08]Discover Ag Official Websitediscoverag.com
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