Root Cause
A podcast for farmers exploring practical strategies for profitability, soil health, and regenerative agriculture through expert interviews.
This is a practical, business-oriented podcast for modern farmers, hosted by peers who are in the trenches themselves. It translates the principles of regenerative agriculture and soil health into tangible ROI, moving beyond theory to discuss specific products, techniques, and financial strategies. The conversational, multi-host format keeps the tone grounded, often using the hosts' own farm operations as a real-world lab for the ideas being discussed.
“Unlike more academic podcasts, Root Cause stands out by relentlessly connecting soil health to profitability. The hosts' active involvement in farming and ag-tech businesses lends immediate credibility and a practical, problem-solving lens to every conversation, focusing on what works in the field and on a balance sheet.”
Who hosts this show
Root Cause is a podcast dedicated to helping farmers thrive by exploring innovative strategies, cost-cutting measures, and operational optimization. Hosted by farmers and ag business owners Kaleb Dinwiddie and Amanda Bell Newcom, the show features interviews with agricultural experts to provide actionable advice on everything from soil biology to USDA paperwork, always with an eye on the bottom line.
Credentials & credits
- Kaleb Dinwiddie: Farmer in West Tennessee (Corn, Wheat, Soybeans, Cotton).
- Kaleb Dinwiddie: Owner of Rooted Ag Systems, a farm financial software company.
- Kaleb Dinwiddie: Owner of Holganix Midsouth, a sustainable agriculture technology distributor.
- Amanda Bell Newcom: Identified as a host in episode descriptions.
Other ventures
- Rooted Ag Systems (Kaleb Dinwiddie).
- Holganix Midsouth (Kaleb Dinwiddie).
- Silver Oak Farms (Kaleb Dinwiddie).
- Vibe Farmer (A recurring, conversational sub-series on the same podcast feed).
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01Roots & ROI with Austin Cisneros | RC #27Jun 19, 2026 · 29 min
- 02The Truth About Soil, Food & The Future of Agriculture with Mark Dodd | RC #26May 14, 2026 · 1h 22m
- 03Simplifying USDA Reporting with MyAgData | RC #25Apr 2, 2026 · 23 min
- 04Vibe Farmer - Episode 6Apr 1, 2026 · 32 min
- 05Breaking the Curse with Jim Martindale | RC #24Mar 19, 2026 · 59 min
- 06Vibe Farmer - Episode 5Mar 18, 2026 · 41 min
- 07Vibe Farmer - Episode 4Mar 10, 2026 · 30 min
- 08Faith and Farming with Cliff Carter | RC #23Mar 8, 2026 · 51 min
Notable episodes
- 01The Truth About Soil, Food & The Future of Agriculture with Mark Dodd | RC #26
Features a guest with an exceptionally diverse career, from farming in the Midwest to managing a 2-million-acre operation in Russia and starting a coffee shop in the Virgin Islands.
- 02Roots & ROI with Austin Cisneros | RC #27
A core example of the show's thesis, connecting regenerative ag practices directly to profitability with a guest who transitioned from being a school teacher to a soil advisor.
- 03Simplifying USDA Reporting with MyAgData | RC #25
A highly practical episode that tackles a universal pain point for US farmers—paperwork and data reporting—and shows how technology can save time and money.
- 04Faith and Farming with Cliff Carter | RC #23
Showcases the podcast's ability to handle deeper, more personal topics, discussing legacy, faith, and overcoming adversity in a multi-generational farming family.
What you'll be asked on this show
Hosts Kaleb Dinwiddie and Amanda Bell Newcom run a conversational interview, often opening by summarizing a guest's unique career path to establish their authority. They build rapport by sharing their own farming challenges and successes that relate directly to the guest's expertise. The interview progresses from the guest's origin story and personal motivations into the practical, 'how-to' aspects of their work. They frequently ask clarifying questions to define technical jargon for the audience and use lighthearted, personal questions to add color to the discussion. The closing is typically a direct request for a key takeaway and where listeners can find the guest.
The show is a conversational, multi-host interview. Episodes typically open with the hosts providing context on the guest's expertise and how it relates to their own farming experiences. The dynamic is a friendly, tag-team approach that allows for follow-up questions and personal anecdotes, making complex topics accessible.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
10 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.
origin
2- Q.01
“Can you tell us about your background and the career path that led you here?”
This is a common opening question used to establish the guest's credibility and personal connection to agriculture.
- Q.02
“Who started the company and what was the mindset behind it?”
This question explores the founding principles and origin story of a guest's organization.
process
1- Q.01
“What problem does your company or service solve for farmers?”
A direct question that cuts to the core value proposition of the guest's work.
mindset
2- Q.01
“What's your 'why' for your company or your work today?”
Asked after discussing a guest's history to understand their current mission and motivation.
- Q.02
“What keeps you passionate and motivated to be involved in agriculture every day?”
This question seeks to uncover the guest's personal drive and values.
advice
2- Q.01
“What was your biggest takeaway from our [shared experience, e.g., field visit]?”
Leverages a shared, hands-on experience to elicit a guest's specific expert opinion.
- Q.02
“How can people find you and what's a key takeaway for our listeners?”
This is the standard closing question, providing a call to action and summarizing the main point.
technique
1- Q.01
“What is [a specific technical term, e.g., an inoculant]?”
The hosts often pause to define industry jargon for the benefit of the broader audience.
industry
1- Q.01
“Does [a specific observation] correlate to [a broader health or environmental topic]?”
Used to connect a technical farming concept to a larger, more relatable human-interest theme.
personal
1- Q.01
“Who is easier to teach, fourth graders or farmers?”
A humorous question used to build rapport by comparing a guest's past and present careers.
Signature segments
- · Vibe Farmer (sub-series)
- · Branded musical intro
- · Host personal anecdotes from their own farms
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically agricultural consultants, ag-tech founders, and seasoned farmers with a unique, hands-on perspective. The show books individuals with deep expertise in areas like soil biology, farm data management, and agronomy, often highlighting those with non-linear career paths who bring a fresh viewpoint to the industry.
- Austin Cisneroson Roots & ROI with Austin Cisneros | RC #27
- Mark Doddon The Truth About Soil, Food & The Future of Agriculture with Mark Dodd | RC #26
- Michelle Tresselon Simplifying USDA Reporting with MyAgData | RC #25
- Jim Martindaleon Breaking the Curse with Jim Martindale | RC #24
- Cliff Carteron Faith and Farming with Cliff Carter | RC #23
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Based on episode descriptions, sponsors are agricultural companies offering products and services that align with the show's themes of profitability, sustainability, and yield maximization. The primary sponsor mentioned is "Rooted," which appears to be related to host Kaleb Dinwiddie's own company, Rooted Ag Systems.
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 Root Cause?
- The primary hosts are Kaleb Dinwiddie, a farmer and owner of Rooted Ag Systems, and Amanda Bell Newcom. Other co-hosts frequently join the conversations.
- What is the podcast about?
- It focuses on helping farmers improve their business through practical advice on soil health, regenerative agriculture, technology, and financial strategies.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast appears to release episodes on a regular, near-weekly basis.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is primarily a multi-host interview show featuring conversations with experts in various fields of agriculture.
- What is 'Vibe Farmer'?
- Vibe Farmer is a recurring series on the same channel that is more informal and conversational, often featuring hosts Kaleb and Rachel discussing life and farming in a less structured format.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube and Spotify.
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
Podcasts like Root Cause
Silicon Valley Girl
Silicon Valley Girl
An entrepreneur interviews the founders and scientists building the next wave of AI to uncover practical strategies for career and business growth.
The Arena
The Arena
A daily sports debate show where 3-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas and a panel of former pros give unfiltered takes on basketball news.
Backstage with Millionaires
Pankaj Chauhan
A weekly news show and documentary-style channel breaking down the biggest stories and trends in the Indian startup and venture capital ecosystem.
Thomas Brush
Thomas Brush
A podcast for aspiring indie game developers, hosted by a solo dev who interviews peers about the practical and emotional journey of making games.
The Founder's Dream | Abhishek vyas
The Founder
A Hindi-language business podcast featuring long-form interviews with Indian startup founders about their real-world journeys and industries.
Rusty Quill Podcasts
Rusty Quill Podcasts
A network feed from a London-based production house specializing in full-cast speculative fiction and horror audio dramas.
HAHA Podcast
Three Korean-American sisters and YouTubers bring their chaotic, unfiltered group chat to a weekly video podcast.
Sports Yaari
Sports Yaari
A high-cadence Indian sports media channel delivering daily news, reactive analysis, and passionate opinions primarily focused on the Indian national cricket team.