Irish Mike Smith’s Podcast

Today I am excited to have Brandon Sheard from The Farmstead Meatsmith website and farm community.  I have been a member of their online program for several years and have learned so much about growing animals responsibly, butchering, curing, smoking and preserving. They have been an inspiration to my wife and I both in faith and in what it takes to build a responsible faith-centric farmstead.   Today Brandon and I cover a wide range of topics that have a consistent thread through them on faith and of course farming and how they intersect in our lives.   For full show notes please visit https://www.lakejoyfarmstead.com/podcast-meatsmith SHOW NOTES I would like for to share your individual faith journey and how it has intersected with farming (or completed) When someone tells you that consuming beef is bad for the environment, what is your reaction and how would you respond? Natural order is used a lot in your talks, tell us more about what that means in general, our relationship with God, and you personally Rosary and other meditation, even the liturgy itself as meditation - And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. PIGS - "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." — Winston Churchill. MORE INFORMATION For more information on the Farmstead Meatsmiths, check out their website where you will find links to their on-farm classes, upcoming speaking engagements, as well as access to their online library of both free and paid content. There are dozens of videos and the online forums is rich with great content provided by the Sheard's and so many others.  

Today on the podcast I am excited to have Anna Sakawsky, creator of www.thehouseandhomestead.com as well as the editor of Homestead Living magazine. Anna and her family live in the middle of Vancouver Island and have maximized their homesteading space on a smallish piece of land and have made it their mission to inspire others to start homesteading right where they are and with whatever they have. Anna's passion for her family and the homesteading lifestyle they have created are infectious.   Make sure you check out the show notes at lakejoyfarmstead.com/podcast-anna SHOW NOTES What is Anna and families back story? How did you get to Vancouver Island? How did you get started (and why) with your homestead and that way of life? When communicating your story/message what would you describe as your specialty/focus? What would your 'elevator speech' sound like? What makes your homestead website and classes different from other homesteaders? What makes yours unique? What is it like in Canada/Vancouver Island specifically when homesteading? Weather? Landscape? Openness (or not) of community? How is this way of life being received there? You have a membership and courses. Tell us about them. What will we find? You had your own magazine. Tell us about that and what transitions have been made in that space. MORE INFORMATION To find out more information about Anna and her work you can check out www.thehouseandhomestead.com and you can follow Anna on Instagram and download her eBook here.   If you want to find out more information and register for next years "Modern Homesteading" conference in Coeur d'Alene, ID you can check that out here: www.modernhomesteading.com   Anna is the editor of an in print and digital magazine (where I too have been fortunate to contribute to). You can find out more information and subscribe here: homesteadliving.com   Anna referenced the following additional resources:   Melissa K. Norris' Pioneering Today.   Book by Jill Winger: Old Fashioned on Purpose: Cultivating a Slower more Joyful Life as well as her vlog www.theprairiehomestead.com.   Book by Jonathan Haidt: The Anxious Generation: How the Greatest Wiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.   The Man in Arena Quote - Theodore Roosevelt   It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, sot that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat. - T Roosevelt

Today I am excited to have Darron Marzolf of Falling River Meats, a 4th generation butcher from the Puget Sound.  We discuss the history of the butcher business in his family, how things have changed since his family started, and how small farmers can work better with local butchers. We then dive deep into a fun conversation about various cuts of beef and pork that have many different names based on the cut itself, culture and more.  You will laugh and I hope learn a lot about why partnering with the right butcher can make a big difference on your farm. SHOW NOTES Tell me the history of the butcher business in your family How have things changed since your family started? Discuss the difference between WDA and USDA slaughterhouse facilities How can the small farmer work better with guys like you? Walk us through the classic butcher of a beef and a pig. What are a few differences between US style butchering of these animals and other cultures? What are the “butcher cuts” and how have they changed over the years When a family buys a share of beef or pork, they are getting cuts that seem to have been forgotten over time, cuts like chuck roast, eye of the round, country style ribs (pork) and so on. Why did that happen and what do you tell people on how to cook them especially for a mid week real-life meal. When you cut open a beef or pork, what are you looking for? How do you know that the beef or pork was raised well? What would you like to tell us small farmers who are trying to reengage homestead practices?  We want to feed our own families and raise some food for others in our community, how can we be different from the big slaughterhouses? MORE INFORMATION Custom Butcher: www.marzolfmeats.com Visit the Falling River Meats butcher shop in North Bend at 108 W North Bend Way, North Bend, WA 98045 or at www.fallingrivermeats.com.

SHOW NOTES   Today I am excited to have our feed supplier, Brad Murphy and The Red Bridge Farm. We use their feed for our cattle, pigs and birds. We have had EXCELLENT feedback from our customers on the quality of the feed and how our livestock turn out.  We recently had the opportunity to visit his feed plant in Kettle Falls, WA and were struck by the commitment to quality, local ingredients, designed to grow our (and your) homestead animals promoting responsible husbandry in our state.     Tell us a little about yourself, your family and what led you to making feed Why Kettle Falls in particular? You are known for non gmo, no corn and no soy in your feed, why is that important? Share "behind the curtain" on how you developed the specific ratio/recipe for each feed. We grown swine for example, tell us how you arrived at that ratio You promote "cavalry oil." Tell us about that, why you make it, and the process.  You told me that your raw ingredients are sourced locally, tell us more about that? If you had a way to "train your farmers/customers" on how to grow their animals or run their farms, what would you say or suggest? How can we support you and feed store? Where can people find out more information about your work and your product?   www.theredbridgefarm.com Red Bridge Farm YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theredbridgefarm1254   https://www.raisingtinydinosaurs.com/ Cavalry Oil Info: https://www.theredbridgefarm.com/cavoil Canola Cold Extraction: https://youtu.be/8kXT5YRiTEs?si=K70FUIwJuXE9tV00

Join me in a discussion with Larry Snyder as a mentor to many at Starbucks, professional photographer, author and auctioneer. For full show notes go to www.irishmikesmith.com/podcast/snyder   www.lakejoyfarmstead.com www.blackclovecountry.com  

Wow has the Puget Sound real estate market changed in 6 months. Join me as Garrett Brown and I discuss what is new this winter and what we can expect in 2023!

This is a re-release and updated production of a podcast from last year. Join me in my discussing with Matthew Rudolph where we discuss the rise of Celtic Christianity throughout Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe via prominent figure like Patrick of Ireland. Show notes can be found at www.irishmikesmith.com/podcast-celtic-christianity

Today we discuss the Rise of Christianity throughout Ireland and the UK via the "apostles of Ireland." For Show Notes go to irishmikesmith.com/podcast-celtic-christianity

Today we welcome Lulu Redder of Feral Woman Farm in the Snoqualmie Valley. We discuss chicken husbandry, small scale farms, and why working and buying food from small farmers is better for everyone. How did you get into small scale farming? do you describe yourself as a farmer, homesteader, something else? Why are small scale farms important? I know you work with chickens and pigs, what else do you do? Lets talk chickens: Where do you start? Is there a difference between chickens who lay eggs and ones we eat for dinner?  Tell me how that process goes. What does "husbandry" mean and how does it work with chickens? What is the timeline, daily chores, etc.? What does butcher day look like? How does the WSDA vs USDA work for small scale chicken producers? Can you sell them? if so, how and where? Tell us about your classes and other events you do/teach. How can one support you and other small scale farmers?   Show notes: www.irishmikesmith.com/podcast-feral

Today my guest is Kevin Finch, founder and executive director of Big Table, a non profit focused on the needs in the largest industry in the world, with the highest amount of need, the folks who work at restaurants. We will discuss the genesis of the vision for Big Table as a former pastor and food writer and continue through the cities where Big Table operates currently, how to get involved and the uniqueness of the "unexpected 20." You will love the energy and passion that drives Kevin as he shares his heart for those that cook for and serve us when we eat out. Quote: "To a guy with a hammer as his only tool, everything looks like a nail." You can find out more information at www.big-table.com.

Note: This is a re-release of my very first episode with some post production edits and in honor of my dad's 80th birthday. On today's podcast I have the honor of having James Lovell, director of development for the Chief Seattle Club in Seattle, WA as a guest. Not only has James been an advocate for the homeless, specifically in the Native American community, he has become a good friend. James also is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band reservation of the Chippewa nation near Belcourt, ND which is where my dad's native side is from. Today we discuss the Chippewa, or Ojibwe, the heritage, culture, artwork and travels of this great band of American Indians. 

Join me as I kick off Season 2 with Garrett Brown, licensed Realtor in Washington state where we chat about the market in 2022 and into next year, how a seller would get ready to list their home, and a some personal stories about my time "off" battling Covid.

Today our guest is Ron Alford, Professional Coach at Southwestern Consulting and author of the recently published book Redefining Possible.   We cover his upbringing, introduction to selling books each summer with Southwestern and the sales and life skills he learned by doing it and how he carried it into a successful career as a professional coach, speaker, and now author!

Today our guest is Dave Selden of 33 Books!   We cover the genesis of the 33 Books tasting note pocket journals, upcoming projects and why having a tactile, handwritten journal is so much better than the apps!

Today our guest is Bill and Beth Fishburn who are in the process of fulfilling their dream, starting a brewery!   We cover the early years of home brewing, beer in the PNW in general, and the new project, Six Pennies Brewery, being built in Rainier, WA and their unique way of getting YOU to be a part!   Full show notes can be found at irishmikesmith.com/podcast-six-pennies.

Today's guest is Ron Medved of the Pacific Institute. In the show we discuss his upbringing in Tacoma, WA, his football career at Bellarmine Prep, the University of Washington and eventually the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. We then move into his work with renowned author and speaker Lou Tice, and the founding of the Pacific Institute. We discuss sports psychology, psychology for government leaders and professionals, high performance, and the ground breaking early use of "video tape" to get the message of neuroscience psychology out to become an international firm in a short amount of time.   We finish with "what is next," focusing post-pandemic on mental health and the continued work of the institute.   Full show notes at irishmikesmith.com/podcast-medved

This episode of the podcast is an interview with Tim Cruickshank, US Navy Seal, Retired and the founder of Bonefrog Coffee and Bonefrog Cellars. We discuss some of his Navy Seal background, service and the genesis of the coffee and wine label and why remembering the men and women who have served and died in service to our country is so important.

My guest today is Dave DeVries, missional and pastoral coach and winemaker!  We will discuss briefly is unique career and we find out about DeVries Estates, his family wine label.  We will take a "layman's" journey through wine, specifically in Washington state, how he and his wife got into winemaking, and a little about several of their wines.  Join us as we talk DeVries estates' award-winning wine!

On today's podcast, I am honored to talk my favorite sport, football, with Mike Shigley, former youth football coach and led the rise of the junior football program for Eastside Catholic, the first faith-based youth football program on Seattle's eastside. We discuss football as a dad, a coach, and a fan and why football matters. You can find the show notes at: www.irishmikesmith.com/podcast-football-matters

In today's podcast, I am pleased to welcome Barbie van Horn, a passionate follower of all things chocolate. She is the founder of findingfinechoclate.com and the PNW Chocolate Society with another Seattle-area chocolate legend, Lauren Adler. Today we take time to discuss the difference in chocolate between the big brands and the small-batch, bean to bar chocolate, their differences, origins and even tasting notes. We also discuss chocolate tasting vs eating and how you can train your palette to pick up the subtleties of fine chocolate. Barbie also shares some of her favorite producers, both local and international, and takes us into her library of chocolate and what she is eating right now. You can find the show notes at www.irishmikesmith.com/podcast-finding-fine-chocolate

Episode 2 of the podcast is an interview with Executive Director of New Horizons, Rob Stewart, where we discuss the youth homeless ministry in downtown Seattle he helps lead. We cover the following: Tell me a little bit of the story on how you got to New Horizons. Home, schooling, other experience that brought you to Seattle. Tell me the primary purpose of NH. Has it evolved since you got here? If so, how? What are some of the top issues facing young people who have left the foster system today? How has the pandemic affected you, the work, and the young people? Tell me about the bridge between faith and non faith based charity work. What works? What does NOT work? Where does the money come from? Where does it go? Do you have any specific stories you can share? What else do we need to know about NH, the city of Seattle, and these issues these young people are facing? After the show you can find the show notes at: www.irishmikesmith.com/podcast-new-horizons

On today's podcast I have the honor of having James Lovell, director of development for the Chief Seattle Club in Seattle, WA as a guest. Not only has James been an advocate for the homeless, specifically in the native american community, he has become a good friend. James also is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band reservation of the Chippewa nation near Belcourt, ND which is where my dad's native side is from.   Today we discuss the Chippewa, or Ojibwe, the heritage, culture, artwork and travels of this great band of American Indians.   After the show you can find the show notes at irishmikesmith.com/podcast-ojibwe.