The Meatcast by EPIC Provisions

This week we're talking to Carrie Richards from Richard's Grass Fed Beef. Like many, Carrie stumbled onto the better meat movement through a personal quest for better health. Unlike many, she turned it into her career. Carrie and I discuss... ·  Her journey from wedding photographer to regenerative rancher ·  A big expensive mistake she made early on ·  How the pandemic has highlighted where the bottlenecks exist in the meat supply chain Relevant LinksRichard's Grassfed Beef Richard's Grassfed Beef Instagram Savory Institute Land to Market Program American Grassfed Association The Lean Farm

This week we're talking to Bobby Gill from The Savory Institute.  Since Bobby was last on the Meatcast he's given a TED talk on the TEDx stage, he's turned the tables on lab-grown meat, and he was mentioned by name on the Joe Rogan podcast.  Bobby gives us the scoop on What its like to prepare for and give a TED talk  The impact COVID19 has had on Savory's plans for 2020 Why the pandemic has given us renewed perspective on where and how we get our food RELEVANT LINKSBobby's TedX Talk: It's not the cow, it's the how Alan's Savory's TED Talk Savory.global

This week we bring back our first ever guest, the podfather of Paleo and New York Times best-selling author, Robb Wolf.  Robb has been a guest multiple times on podcasts like Joe Rogan and continues to be a leader in the ancestral-health and regenerative ag movement.  During our conversation he and I cover: How decisions by Google and Facebook have resulted in 90%+ web traffic declines for health websites like his, Nutritional Therapy Association, and others His upcoming book and documentary with Diana Rodgers, Sacred Cow, and how it could be Regen Ag's answer to plant-based documentaries such as “Game Changers” His views on how his sodium intake was impacting his athletic performance and ultimately inspired him to launch an electrolyte supplement  Relevant Links Sacred Cow Book & Documentary LMNT Quick reminder: The views and opinions expressed by those on the podcast are their own, and don't always represent those of EPIC or its affiliates.

This week we are digging into the science behind the Carnivore Diet with the "Carnivore MD", Dr Paul Saladino.  During our conversation Dr. Paul shares... The health issues that ultimately led him to discovering the Carnivore Diet His thoughts on getting the vitamins and minerals you need from meat Why he suggests that for many, loading up on fruits and vegetables may not be the right approach His take on what scientific research say about our need for fiber and building a healthy gut on a Carnivore Diet If you listened to our previous episode on Carnivore with Dr. Shawn Baker, consider that an introduction to the Carnivore Diet whereas this episode is definitely a deeper dive on all things Carnivore.   Relevant Links The Carnivore Code Dr. Paul Saladino on Instagram Quick reminder: The views and opinions expressed by those on the podcast are their own, and don't always represent those of EPIC or its affiliates.

This week we've got Danny Vega, a former college athlete and strength & conditioning coach, who's now a trusted expert and coach within the Keto community. During our conversation, Danny and I cover His journey from Division 1 athlete and strength coach, to Keto Coach How his knowledge as a power and strength athlete influences his approach to food Why he got his family to eat this way, and how they tackle family celebrations like birthday parties? We've talked with a few members of this community, but this is our first conversation where we really explore views like Danny's on family-wide adoption. Relevant Links Fat Fueled Family Danny Vega Instagram The views and opinions expressed by those on the podcast are their own, and don't always represent those of EPIC or its affiliates.

This week we've got Dr Shawn Baker, an accomplished athlete and orthopedic surgeon who's credited with popularizing the Carnivore Diet.  He has been featured on other podcasts including Joe Rogan.  Today Dr Shawn and I discuss... His journey from traditional western medicine to Carnivore diet evangelist His success as an athlete while on a Carnivore diet We identify some of the most common mistakes he sees people make when they first adopt a Carnivore diet We discuss who might not be a good fit for the Carnivore diet New Year 2020, a lot of people are adopting new habits and goals.  If the Carnivore Diet is something you're curious about, this is going to be a great listen for you. Relevant Links MeatRX Dr Shawn Baker on Instagram  

The Meatcast returns with founder of Perfect Keto and author of The Keto Answers book, Dr. Anthony Gustin. We discuss His journey from practicing medicine, to food entrepreneur, to author.  How he uses food as a tool for mental performance His recent first hunting experience Why he wants to demolish and expose food brands that are out for profits rather than the health of their consumers Whether you're a carb conscious rookie, a vet, or even just curious about finding the right diet for you, this is a great conversation with one of the most respected leaders in health and wellness.

Meatcasters! This week, we discover the seductive power of Bison and how two Canadians end up living in the hill country of Texas.  We're talking to Roam Ranch managers, Cody Spencer and Julia Mitchell, and we cover What about Roam compelled these two to uproot their lives and move across a continent A day in the life running a regenerative ag ‘field laboratory' Why farmer strong is a real thing and how they prioritize their fitness  If you've ever been in the presence of people whom you immediately wish you could bottle up and sprinkle into your life on a daily basis, that's Cody and Julia.  I mean that in the least serial killery way. I don't know how else to describe it, but their personalities really shine through in this short interview and I hope yall are as charmed as them as I am. To end the episode, I explain how you can play a role in the parenting of my children. Relevant Links Roam Ranch Herd Podcast

Meatcasters! This week we're combining the power of solar power and regenerative agriculture.  We're talking to Trent Hendricks, from Cabriejo Ranch. Trent and his team are working with Silicon Ranch to graze ruminant animals to help manage the acres that their solar panels sit on. In addition to this next-level initiative, Trent and I discuss…. Why Trent's creativity far outweighs his Spanish Trent's journey from cheesemonger to regenerative rancher Regenerative parenting - raising kids with holistic management principles Trent is probably one of the most charismatic and passionate people I've spoken to for the Meatcast and you can really hear it come thru during our interview. Also, learn how you can have a dramatic impact on my mom's self esteem. Relevant Links Cabriejo Ranch Silicon Ranch launches Regenerative Energy

Meatcasters! This week we're diving into the world of autoimmunity with health and wellness expert, Carly Brawner, otherwise known as @Frolicandflow.  If you've ever suffered from symptoms like poor digestion, rashes or eczema, low energy, listen in as Carly explains how she discovered and managed her autoimmune issues with diet and lifestyle and how she's helping others do the same.  It's a really interesting deep dive into the “AIP” community, one that EPIC has long served and one that continues to grow. Carly and I also discuss... Is an AIP diet for everyone? Being a strength-training newb Setting up digital boundaries when you're an “influencer” This week's INSIDE EPIC, we talk about INSIDE EPIC.  Huh? Listen in and find out what I mean. Relevant Links Frolic and Flow Bison Harvest at Roam Ranch - where I got to meet Carly! John Berardi's Autoimmune Journey - discussed during our convo!

Meatcasters! This week we've got Sammy Moniz, from Feeding the Frasers.  What began as a way for Sammy to chronicle her favorite recipes, has evolved into an online brand with over 200,000 fans!  All following Sammy as she feeds herself and the fittest man on earth, fiancee and three-time CrossFit Games champion, Mat Fraser.  And this is just her side hustle! By day, Sammy is arguably the Jerry Maguire of CrossFit, working with a team to help manage the sports top athletes.  That list of athletes includes past CrossFit champions Katrin Davidsdottir, Annie Thorsdottir and perennial contenders like Pat Vellner, Brooke Wells, Laura Horvath, and the EPIC team favorite, Brent Fikowski. Listen as Sammy and I discuss The genesis of Feeding The Frasers and how she actually feeds the Fittest Man on Earth Why the role of agents and sponsors are even more critical in CrossFit than other professional sports How she ended up at our founder's ranch, holding a bloody bison heart and cleaning out bison skulls. For this week's INSIDE EPIC, I shoutout EPIC Meatcast fan, Mad McLaughlin or @quirkyseeker. I'd love to hear you rank your meat….cast episodes. Call 512-686-MEAT and tell me what your favorite Meatcast episode was and why.  We'll pick a couple of winners to send a gift bag too and we may publish your entry on the Meatcast! Finally, I give you the inside scoop on how to make our finance team incredibly anxious!

I recorded the intros & outros of this episode in the back of a Lyft.  No, Lyft is not a sponsor of the Meatcast (yet?!) just a necessity to get this week's episode out on time.  So not only do you get to meet a renowned bug scientist, you also get to meet my Lyft driver, Yancy! Alright, we've covered plenty of four-legged species on the Meatcast, but what about those 6,8, or hundreds of legs?  This week we talk to bug scientist and regenerative farmer, Jonathan Lundgren. Some may recognize Jonathan from features in the Washington Post and NPR about his exile from the USDA, after his research uncovered the harmful impacts of pesticides on the bee population.  He and I touch on the impact that episode had on his life as well as…. How insects play a critical role in the taste, color, and smell of food Why insects are facing a mass extinction event greater than the dinosaurs faced Why insects play a larger role in regenerative agriculture than cows, pigs or chickens For this week's Inside EPIC, in honor of Independence Day, I help you declare freedom from one of the most common tyrannies of the internet.  

You may have tried a Paleo diet, but what about a Paleo workout routine? Erwan Le Corre is the founder of MovNat, a fitness practice that asks us to get outside and reclaim much of the movements we've lost in modern society, movements like crawling, carrying, balancing, bounding, etc.  Erwan's used these principles to train everyone from Navy SEALs and MMA champions to everyday folks like you and I! Listen as Erwan and I discuss…. Why is resurrecting our human movement critical to our physical longevity and health? How can you incorporate MovNat into your existing workout routine? Using MovNat as a way to introduce movement and play with your kids For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we answer what is probably our number one consumer complaint.  Why are EPIC bars so hard to open?! Finally we give you another opportunity to win an EPIC prize...or lose your job? Relevant Links MovNat Outside Magazine: The Workout that Time Forgot Amazon: The Practice of Natural Movement

Meatcasters! This week we peel back the shell on eggs!  First, I'm joined by the owner and CEO of Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs, Jesse LaFlamme. Jesse is the third generation of the family business that has turned Pete and Gerry's into a leading organic egg producer in the US. EPIC is proud to use Pete and Gerry's egg yolks in our new Rise & Grind bars! During our conversation, taped live at Expo West, Jerry and I discuss... The evolution of the egg industry in the past 40 years and why the egg aisle at your grocery store looks so different today The challenges of scaling a small family business and retaining your values and standards What should you and I be looking for when we buy eggs at our grocery store? For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we go behind the scenes of our new Rise & Grind bars and bring back Charlie Lucas from the EPIC product development team!  Charlie shares some of the surprises he ran into working with egg yolks for this launch and he explains why some of our most critical R&D work was done on a hotel room electric stove. Finally I share how anyone, ANYONE, can snag our new Rise & Grind bars for free for a limited time only! Relevant Links Pete and Gerrys Introducing EPIC's new Rise & Grind bars

Meatcasters! This week I'm joined by former Navy SEAL, Micah Fink.  Micah and his organization, Heroes and Horses, has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Men's Journal, and supported by celebrities like Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, and brands like Yeti and Modern Huntsman. I'm confident this is one of the most powerful, bold, and inspiring conversations I've had on this podcast. During our conversation Micah and discuss... How Micah decided to become a Navy SEAL amid the rubble of 9-11 What it takes to make it thru BUDS and become a Navy SEAL Why Micah's using horsemanship to help veterans cope with PTSD and depression For this week's INSIDE EPIC, I bring my mom onto the Meatcast to rank Vietnamese meats.  Yes, seriously, my mom. Why? Listen and find out! She also drops a bombshell that shatters a long standing Meatcast facade. Make sure you're subscribed to the Meatcast and our newsletter via epicprovisions.com.  We're going to be launching new products in the coming weeks and you can be first to get your hands on special offers, cool swag, and life-changing prizes! Relevant Links Heroes and Horses Mens Journal: Horse Power: How Wild Mustangs Are Helping Veterans Return to Civilian Life Modern Huntsman: An Interview with Micah Fink

This week, we're talking paleo baby food with the founders of SerenityKids, Joe and Serena.   SerenityKids was the first baby food company I had ever seen combining ethically sourced meat with the convenience of pouches.  As a new parent, I was incredibly excited about their launch and signed up for their first batch of pre-orders. But my order, and everyone else's, were delayed for almost two years! I talk to Joe and Serenity about this two year delay during our conversation and we also discuss... How recently becoming parents has impacted them as entrepreneurs How do you develop products for babies? Taste testing? Choosing flavors? The trust involved with making food that parents feed their infants and toddlers On this week's INSIDE EPIC, I preview groundbreaking research that proves beef has the power to reduce greenhouse gases.  This news will be the focus of its own Meatcast episode, but I wanted to share the breaking news and give yall an opportunity to share this incredible research with your community! Check out the links below if you're a conscious carnivore who wants to support the movement of better meat, rather than less meat. Relevant Links SerenityKids Study: White Oak Pastures Beef Reduces Atmospheric Carbon Infographics and Instagram-friendly assets to share the LCA research Meatcast Episode 4: Will Harris  

Meatcasters! This week we've got the 2nd fittest man in 2017, elite CrossFit Games athlete, Brent Fikowski.  Brent has finished in the top four at the last three CrossFit Games and is one of the sport's most popular athletes. That popularity, however, is credit to his personality rather than his results. As you'll see in our interview, he's incredibly thoughtful about his training, his life, and gives us an honest and interesting glimpse into the mind of a professional athlete. Brent and I discuss... The best trash talkers in CrossFit His disappointing performance during this year's Open A typical day in his first season as a full-time athlete The one element he realized was missing in his training and life recently Canadian nude pottery (not the answer to above) We recorded this episode live at EPIC HQ during a week where Brent spent some time with our team in Austin and also with our founders at Roam Ranch! For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we answer our very first Meatcast Mailbag question!  Listen in and see if your question made it onto the Meatcast! And finally, we reveal the cure for MEAT FOMO. Relevant Links Brent's Instagram BrentFikowski.com The Professor Project  

Meatcasters! This week I talk to Dr. Michelle Thomas, the Animal Welfare Manager at Applegate Farms.  Applegate is widely recognized as a leader and pioneer in sustainably sourced meats, but most of you know them for their deli meats and bacon. During our conversation Dr. Michelle Thomas  and I discuss How do you keep high sourcing standards in the face of an incredibly fast growing business? The resources, attention and time Applegate puts into their relationship with farms and ranches Her career prior to agriculture, I guarantee yall could never guess it! I make my biggest Meatcast mistake ever For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we unveil the MEATCAST MAILBAG.  You can now be a guest on the EPIC Meatcast by calling 512-686-MEAT.  I explain how and we share our first Meatcast Mailbag entry! Relevant Links Applegate Farms Making a Big Bet on Regenerative Agriculture Applegate Farms

This week I chat with firefighter, pro snowboarder, and personal trainer, Shawna Mayo!  Shawna's long been an EPIC ambassador, and recently, her profession as a firefighter hit close to home for the EPIC team. One of our dear friends, Chris Kerston from the Savory Institute, lost his home in the deadly Camp Fire, a fire that Shawna actually helped battle and fight.  During our conversation, Shawna and I discuss... Her experience fighting the Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history A day in the life of a firefighter and the strict rules and routines she practices to ensure her and her team are ready for the unknown The challenges of being a female firefighter and her journey to a life lived outdoors WARNING: This week's episode features some graphic details of what Shawna witnessed while fighting the Camp Fire and some may find these upsetting. For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we talk morning routines and how you can win an EPIC Rise And Grind insulated camp mug!  I also share an insider hint on an upcoming new product launch! Relevant Links Shawna Mayo Instagram EPIC ambassadors share their morning routines Adee Cazayoux's Journaling Habit

This week I was lucky enough to chat with Amy Culp, who leads sports nutrition for the University of Texas Athletics program! Amy's team plays a critical role in the performance of top tier college athletes and I had so many questions about how someone handles a job with such high stakes.  Amy and I cover: How much nutritional knowledge are many of these D1 athletes coming to school with? How she prescribes guidance to such a wide variety of athletes in different sports, positions, all with different goals. The relationship between the nutritionists and the team coaches.  The evolution of collegiate sports nutrition, and how she prepares Longhorn athletes for both the field of play, and the game of life For this week's INSIDE EPIC, I share our new major product launches coming in June! And finally, I take a moment to share my gratitude and reflect on the two year birthday of the Meatcast!

This episode is something I've wanted to do since the Meatcast began, 50 episodes ago!  This week, we cover the art of butchery with butcher and restaurant owner, Ben Runkle, from the award-winning Salt & Time butchery and restaurant in Austin, Texas.   Butchery plays such an incredible role in our daily lives, yet most of us give it little thought or attention. The art of butchery all but vanished in the United States, but has seen an incredible resurgence thanks to folks like Ben and communities like EPIC's!  During our conversation Ben and I discuss…. His journey from veganism to butchery! A butcher vs. a “meat cutter” What should we be looking for in our local butchers? What are some of the most underrated cuts of meat? If you've ever eaten a piece of meat, and wondered about the role proper butchery plays in how that meat tastes, how it chews, and the life it led prior to your palate and plate -- listen in! For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we're lucky enough to chat with Shauna Sadowski who heads up the Sustainability team for Natural and Organic brands at General Mills.  What does it mean to work on sustainability at a big food company? What are the pros and cons, what makes it exciting, what makes it hard? We dive into all of this with Shauna! [37:00] Relevant Links Salt & Time How Salt & Time Ramped Up New Wave Butchery in Austin

Meatcasters! This week we talk to former Google exec Tom Chi, about how he went from working on virtual reality glasses and self-driving cars to using soil, trees, and oceans to tackle climate change.  Tom helped lead GoogleX, Google's ‘big idea moonshot factory'.  When you're leading ambitious projects with such grandiose ideas, it actually makes a ton of sense to spend the rest of your life working with companies to tackle a problem as complex as climate change!  I'll admit I was a little nervous before this conversation because I knew, fundamentally there were some places Tom and I would disagree. But I also knew that could facilitate better discussion and I wasn't disappointed. Tom and I discuss His time leading GoogleX and his approach to rapid prototyping to develop innovation quickly and with little resources How taking his silicon valley approach to the environment can be both helpful and harmful Why he's choosing to support both Regenerative Agriculture and ‘lab-grown meat' when many would argue they're in conflict with one another His investments in the health of soil, trees, and water and why he believes those three pillars are our keys to reversing climate change. For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we hear from two more Whole30'ers! First up is Sydney, who illustrates how critical it is to get and have a good support system for your first Whole30, and she also tells us how how she got her parents to try out their first Whole30!  [44:40] Next up is Ingianni!  She shares how her first Whole30 helped her cure the eczema that had been plaguing her for most of her life!  As a fellow eczema sufferer, who cured it after getting nutritionally ‘woke', this conversation really hit home for me.  Especially when I found out, the source of her eczema, turned out to be a Whole30 compliant food! We also talk about the challenge of adopting something like Whole30 when food plays such a critical role in your family's culture. [53:50]   Relevant Links Tom Chi TED Talk: Rapid Prototyping Google Glass

Meatcasters! This week we've got former CrossFit Games champion and garbage disposal connoisseur, James Hobart. Even if you've never done CrossFit, if you've ever googled it, James is in your internet history! He is the male athlete CrossFit uses in most of its exercise demo videos….that was until he was recently replaced by my grandfather. Well, not my grandfather, but somebody's grandfather! James and I chat about that and… Winning the CrossFit Games with multiple teams including Rich Froning's Team Mayhem, The big changes we've recently seen in the CrossFit Games season.   Garbage disposals. For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we follow Hope and I to Denver where she takes on the challenge of ordering Whole30 at an airport restaurant and well...ultimately fails.  [40:57] Finally we make a major announcement that could save you lots of money!  [44:57] Relevant Links James Hobart's Instagram MorningChalkup: Asia goes HAM

Meatcasters! This week we've got New York Times bestselling author, Nina Teicholz, talking about her book, The Big Fat Surprise. In The Big Fat Surprise, Nina argues that the dietary advice recommended by the majority of our doctors and nutritionists was all built on faulty science. She chronicles decades of studies to illustrate that what we think we know about saturated fat, cholesterol, and heart disease, it might be all wrong and Nina explains why butter, meat and cheese are part of a healthy diet.   As promised, for this week's INSIDE EPIC we chat with a couple of team members taking on Whole30 this January!  First up is Catalina, a marketing manager on the Annie's team. She's a Whole30 veteran having done three of them already, but this year's was, well...different.  As in her Whole30 actually was just a Whole4. How does a Whole30 fall apart? Catalina is brave enough to share with us! [44:15] Props again to Catalina for having the guts to share that with us! I hope she inspires some of yall who have had a small slip up to hop back on the wagon. Speaking of hope, our next Whole30er is indeed, Hope!  She leads our EPIC marketing communications and this is her first Whole30! One of the biggest challenges of Whole30 is eating out, and not only did Hope eat out during Week One of her first of Whole30, she went on a date!  Listen to Hope explain how that went and stay tuned for more of her journey! [49:04]   Relevant Links The Big Fat Surprise WSJ: Nina Teicholz: The Last Anti-Fat Crusaders The Nutrition Coalition

The Meatcast is officially returning January 14th, but we thought we'd give you this mini-Meatcast episode by re-sharing a brief conversation we had one year ago with Whole30 co-founder, Melissa Hartwig! In less than 10 minutes, she gives some great tips and insights that'll help both Whole30 rookies and veterans alike! Check out the links below for more info on Melissa, Whole30, and the EPIC Whole30 Kit! Relevant Links Whole30 EPIC's Whole30 Kit Melissa Hartwig on the MindBodyGreen Podcast

Meatcasters! This week we try something new! We go behind the scenes at EPIC and show you what happens when we don't have enough salmon to support the growth of our salmon products! You'll hear from our Salmon fisherman, Steve, on what caused the massive disruption in this year's sockeye salmon harvest and how we managed through it.  You'll also get to be a fly on the wall, as our team taste tests the improved salmon products. This is definitely a different episode format for us, so please listen and let us know what you think! Also, you still have an opportunity to get a FREE Impact Journal, listen to find out how! Relevant Links EPIC Blog: Sockeye Salmon Shortage Meatcast Episode 32: Fred's Alaska 2018 Impact Journal: Get yours while supplies last!  

Meatcasters! This week, we talk to filmmaker, hunter, conservationist, adventurer, none other than Donnie Vincent.  Donnie's profound respect for nature, his incredibly physical approach to hunting, and his vision for storytelling have turned him into a household name among the younger hunting community. He's been profiled by Men's Health and interviewed on the Joe Rogan podcast.   During our conversation, Donnie and I discuss [2:01] Hunting predators such as bears and mountain lions His physical approach to hunting, why he chooses to hunt this way and how he trains for it The respect he has for nature and the animals he kills For this week's Inside EPIC, we go behind the scenes of our second annual Impact Journal and talk to our EPIC Brand Journalist Liz and our EPIC In-House Designer Andrea about its creation and upcoming release! The Impact Journal is a 100+ page publication we launched this time last year, filled with beautiful stories and images, highlighting the key partners that EPIC works with and the impact they're having on their communities, their animals, and our planet. We distributed over 10,000 copies last year for free to our EPIC fans and the response was overwhelming. Liz and Andrea join us this week to describe what it was like crafting this year's Impact Journal, and how they were able to build upon last year's success. [55:50] Finally, I share how you can make sure you secure your copy of the 2018 Impact Journal and also put out a request for email stalkers. [1:05:41] Relevant Links Donnie Vincent: The Other Side (Trailer) Joe Rogan Podcast: Donnie Vincent Mens Health: Donnie Vincent Sicmanta.com 2017 Impact Journal

This week's episode, we'll take you back to The CrossFit Games this summer and The Granite Games more recently!  I took the Meatcast on the road with me to talk to athletes, but more importantly, unique folks within the CrossFit community including... A CrossFitting priest who became the official CrossFit Games Chaplain [2:42] A college professor and her students who work with CrossFit Inc. to study the economic impact of the CrossFit Games on the local city [5:40] Two doctors who are using CrossFit, rather than traditional western medicine, to combat chronic disease [9:50] The founder of the MorningChalkUp newsletter and now widely considered, the Anderson Cooper of CrossFit [24:10] Jenn Dancer and Holden Rethwill, from Team Invictus X, who finished 2nd in the team competition at this year's CrossFit Games [30:19] Finally, I fill yall in on TWO new product launches, another word from my mom, and a request for your Thanksgiving dinners! Relevant Links Father Stephen Gadberry CrossFit MedicusOne Morning Chalkup Team Invictus X: Road to the Games Jenn Dancer Holden Rethwill Sam Dancer Kaitlyn Kassis

Meatcasters! This week's episode is a special full INSIDE EPIC Meatcast!  We chat with our Meat Sourcerer, Kirk Blanchard, about getting stranded in the Arctic Circle bowhunting the largest migration of Caribou in North America.  Kirk grew up hunting and is an avid outdoorsmen, but there were challenges in the Arctic he'd never encountered before, including one of which that almost caused him to literally urinate on himself and another that forced him to ration food.  Kirk also chronicles what it was like, stalking caribou 10+ miles for 15+ hours a day and details the moment that would make or break his entire trip, as he was forced to make a hurried decision with a bull in his sights. This was supposed to be your standard Inside EPIC segment, but Kirk's story was so incredible we felt like it deserved an episode of its own!  We actually spoke with Kirk before his trip too, so if you're curious about what his concerns were leading up to the trip after you've heard how it played out, see the show notes below!   Finally, I close out this episode with mega news from Savory & EPIC, a few Halloween tips and the Asian Batman origin story. Relevant Links EPIC EOV Launch Meatcast Episode 41: Sitka (Kirk previews this hunt) Meatcast Episode 4: An intro to Kirk Blanchard! Original EPIC Elk Hunt: Featuring Kirk and our co-founder Taylor

Meatcasters! Meat Erin Kiley, a regenerative land manager and grazer, a novice hunter,  a young woman pioneering spaces and communities historically dominated by men.  And as a special treat, she's introduced by Brad and Tyler, co-founders of Modern Huntsman, who join me to discuss volume two of their publication.  We discuss what they've learned since volume one, why they've decided to partner with brands like EPIC, Sitka, and Yeti, and how they inspired Erin to learn how to hunt and ultimately be a contributor for volume two. Brad & Tyler kickoff the episode [1:54] and help introduce Erin [15:38].  Whether its entrepreneurship, regenerative agriculture, female leadership, hunting, or just an unconventional personal journey -- I think there's plenty to be learn from these folks! Relevant Links Meatcast Episode 33: Modern Huntsman Modern Huntsman: Pre-Order Volume 2 Erin Kiley Instagram Mountain and Prairie Podcast

Meatcasters! Meat SITKA co-founder, Jonathan Hart.  SITKA was the first hunting apparel brand, to bring the technology and performance of climbing apparel to hunting. As a hunter, you're moving several miles a day, carrying heavy equipment or precious animal meat, and you want to be wearing clothing designed for outdoorsmen and adventurers, clothing that considers and prioritizes performance. During our conversation, Jonathan and I discuss how he began to bridge the gap between climbing and hunting apparel SITKA's growing pains as a smaller, more-expensive brand in the hunting space the role of SITKA in regeneration and stewardship of the environment that hunters depend on Whether its hunting, entrepreneurship, environmentalism, or even apparel, there's no shortage of inspiration and energy from Jonathan in this interview! For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we'll keep the hunting theme and bring back our Meat Sourcerer, Kirk Blanchard.  When we recorded this interview, Kirk was preparing for a trip north of the Arctic Circle to bow-hunt a migration of Caribou!  We chat about how the heck a Texan decides to fly to the north pole to hunt Caribou, and the kind of dangers that exist up there that you don't see anywhere else. Finally, I talk about our latest new item launch and share how you can get some free gifts with any purchase on epicbar.com for a limited time!  Oh and my mom is back to weigh in our lack of Apple podcast ratings and reviews. Relevant Links SITKA EPIC Elk Hunt (not mentioned in the episode, but a team including our co-founder Taylor Collins, CFO/COO Robby Sansom, and one of our suppliers, Northstar Bison, descended on New Mexico for an EPIC Elk Hunt)

Meatcasters! For those of you who put beef number one when you #RankYourMeats, this episode is for you!  We talk to a leading supplier of grass-fed beef in America, and we chat with EPIC's very own meat sourcerer! First up is Dana Ehrlich.  Dana is the founder of Verde, one of the leading suppliers of grass fed beef in America.  During our conversation, Dana and I dive into... How a vacation inspired his career change from computers in the shadow of Silicon Valley to cows among the grasslands of South America.   The sensitive topic of supporting domestic American grass-fed beef vs. imported grass-fed beef, the environmental impact of importing beef, and why Dana believes we should support grass-fed globally. Should we be buying grass-fed beef? Organic grass-fed beef? What should you and I be looking for when we shop? Whether you're passionate about the environment and the sustainability of grass-fed beef, or your fascinated by entrepreneurship, and what causes someone to take such a leap and ultimately see success, I think you'll enjoy our conversation!  For this week's INSIDE EPIC, I'm excited to sit back down with our meat sourcerer, Kirk Blanchard.  Kirk has the coolest job at EPIC and I've always got a list of ten or more question for him that I think our audience would find fascinating. For this episode, I ask Kirk about… How much progress we've made on growing our supply of 100% grass-fed bison and why it takes so damn long. Why pastured pork is so much more challenging to find than pastured beef Why he's always bugging our sales and marketing teams to create and sell more beef products!    If you haven't subscribed the the EPIC newsletter now is the time because the next several weeks at EPIC are going to be filled with exciting news.  We're launching new products and giving you opportunities to try them for free, we're announcing exciting changes to existing products that will be game-changers for our industry, and we'll be sharing new research that is literally changing the American landscape.  How can you be first to find out about all these things? Sign up for the EPIC newsletter and follow us on social media! Finally, I have a request for our biggest and most loyal meatcast fans. If you think you're among our biggest fans, please reach out to us as we're putting together something special for the meatcast community in the next couple weeks.  You can direct message us on Instagram or Facebook or email us at eatepic@epicbar.com with the subject line MEATCAST. Relevant Links Verde Verde NYTimes Feature

Did you know the fruits and vegetables we eat today have far less nutrients than the fruits and vegetables our grandparents ate? Did you know the same challenges apply to our meat as well?  If you're interested in learning why and what you can do about it, I'd encourage you to listen to this week's guest, Gabe Brown. When you talk about farmers and ranchers who are leading the charge for better farming and ranching, there are three names you hear again and again: Joel Salatin, Will Harris, and Gabe Brown.  Gabe and I frame our conversation around his 5 pillars for soil health. Why should you care about soil health? It's arguably the most important step in restoring the lost nutrients in our food and its also our biggest weapon to reverse climate change.  Like nobody else can, Gabe breaks down soil health in a simple way that empowers you to make a difference, whether its in food you choose to buy and eat or the way you tend to your garden.  For this week's INSIDE EPIC, I take yall to one of the coolest events I've been to, a show called Outdoor Retailer.  Imagine all the brands you've ever seen related to outdoor adventure, tent companies, clothing companies, gear companies. Companies like  Patagonia, North Face, Black, Filson, Yeti, Danner. This is the event where they show the industry their newest products and initiatives for the upcoming year.  EPIC was there, along with our friends from the Savory Institute. I caught up with Chris and Victoria from Savory, about what they were doing at Outdoor Retailer, and how Savory is hoping to partner with an outdoor brand the same way they've partnered with EPIC in the food industry. Relevant Links Gabe Brown Pre-Order “Dirt to Soil” EPIC Blog: Urban Beekeeping

Meet author and ketogenic diet authority, Leanne Vogel of Healthful Pursuit!  Leanne's book, The Keto Diet, was a national and international bestseller, popular enough that it was the first ever keto diet book to be sold at Costco! Her podcast The Keto Diet podcast, is consistently ranked among the top health podcasts in Itunes and for anyone, but specifically women approaching the Keto diet, she's largely recognized as a trusted resource! Leanne and I discuss, The common misconceptions about the keto diet How its changed her life and the life of so many Why a keto diet for women looks different than a keto diet for man And we talk about her transition to living completely out of an RV and some sketchy places she's parked it! Whether you're someone who's living a keto lifestyle, or someone who's never heard of the keto diet, I think you'll learn a ton from our conversation.  For this week's INSIDE EPIC I face my most intimidating interview yet, nine-year old Daphne.  Daphne's mother Molly reached out to our consumer hotline to share an adorable story about Daphne's love for EPIC bars, and they were kind enough to join on us the Meatcast and share that story with us! Finally, I'm excited to announce that we have keto kits now available on EPICBar.com.  They're hand-picked assortments of EPIC products for folks who are on ketogenic diets. We see these products tagged all the time on social media by the keto community, and are excited to create this assortment specifically to suit yalls needs! Relevant Links Healthful Pursuit EPIC's new Keto Carnivore Kit EPIC's new Keto Crunch Kit

Meatcasters! This week, we talk to pro obstacle course racer, Hunter McIntyre! Hunter is widely recognized as the world's best obstacle course racer, having won multiple Tough Mudder championships, Spartan Race championships, and the infamous Broken Skull Ranch challenge. Fresh off a win at the Tough Mudder X Championships, Hunter joins us and shares... his journey from rehab to elite obstacle course racer how an arm wrestling match derailed his chances for a championship win how he trains and prioritizes all the different elements of athleticism needed to succeed in his sport (speed, strength, agility, endurance) the most underrated exercise people should be doing to be more athletic, no matter what their sport For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we chat with another member of the EPIC product development team, Charlie Lucas.  Charlie describes why he's both a food scientist AND a chef and discusses the interesting line between them.  He shares what's really unique about helping develop products at EPIC and also gives us his personal “go-to” dishes when he's cooking for friends! Finally, if you're at the CrossFit Games this week in Madison, I share a special code word you can use to get FREE Performance Bars while supplies last at the EPIC booth!  And my mom joins us to share in my excitement about our podcast finally being available on Spotify!   Relevant LinksInstagram: Hunter McIntyre

This week, we talk to two-time CrossFit Games champion, Michael Cazayoux, co-founder of Brute Strength.  Besides being an accomplished athlete, Michael has helped create a thriving coaching business with Brute Strength that coaches both elite Games competitors and common folks like you and I.  They also put out a wealth of free training and wellness content, and their Brute Strength podcast, just hit 3 million downloads! Michael's journey to such success was far from conventional and during our interview we touch on... His journey from addiction to CrossFit Games champion to entrepreneur Why all Brute athletes, elite or not, prioritize training their minds above all else The biggest mistake he's made as a coach How his battle with drug addiction became his biggest source of strength We've spent a lot of time on this podcast covering physical human health, animal health, soil health, but I definitely think this episode is the deepest look we've taken at mental health and mindset. For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we chat with one of our product developers, Casey Robertson.  Casey explains how he went from MMA fighter to culinary chef to army infantry to research & development with EPIC.  He pulls back the vail on what exactly “R&D” folks do at a food company, explains what sets culinary chefs apart from you and I, and tells us the challenge of cooking for one vs. cooking for twenty vs cooking for millions. And finally, I share the hottest deal we've ever run on epicbar.com and how you can get free boxes of our new EPIC Performance Bars!

This week, we talk to nutrition coach Adee Cazayoux, founder of Working Against Gravity (WAG).  Adee's clients include 3 of the Top 5 female finishers in last year's CrossFit Games, including winner Tia Clair Toomey, along with Kara Saunders and 2-time champion, Katrin Davidsdottir.  She's also coached Olympians and world-class weightlifters, so it may surprise you to discover that the majority of WAG's clients are normal folks like you and I! Adee and I discuss... How similar it is coaching elite athletes and normal people What are 2 of the most  common obstacles clients have with nutrition Why WAG's approach is diet agnostic and tailored to the individual How people (myself included) get weird eating around her If you're interested in understanding how elite athletes approach nutrition, and how you could easily do the same, give this episode a listen! For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we take a final trip back to PaleoFX and listen to an interview I conducted live with our friend, Bobby Gill from the Savory Institute.  Bobby actually attended the first ever PaleoFX and is a true paleo community OG. He shares his thoughts on how the paleo community has evolved, why the exciting partnership between EPIC and Savory is going to change the world, and we discuss his legacy as an internet pirate and underwear endurance athlete. Finally, we tell you where to find secret deals and lightning promotions on EPIC products and swag and I offer up a safety tip for the July 4th holiday. Relevant Links Working Against Gravity Adee Cazayoux Savory Institute: Become a Regenerating Member Savory Institute: Land To Market

Meatcasters!   Do you own a pet? Have you ever wondered about where their food comes from and how its made?  We dive into the world of pet food this week and chat with David Rizzo from Zuke's Dog Treats!  I work on human food for a living, yet have always had so many questions the pet food industry! Where does the meat come from? What does product research and testing look like?  What kind of nutritional needs do dogs have vs. humans? Thankfully, I found the perfect person to answer all those questions in David. He's been with Zuke's since its inception and as their director of operations and sustainability, we also dive into the impact of pet food on our environment and talk about our shared partnership with the Savory Institute!  It's a fascinating conversation for any and all pet lovers, and also features our first ever canine Rank Your Meats!   For this week's INSIDE EPIC we head back to PaleoFX and share an interview we recorded live with Angela from Tribali Foods!  Tribali makes frozen meat patties and they share our values in terms of sourcing grass-fed ruminants and free-range poultry. Interestingly enough, their Angela was also a vegan, like our founders Katie and Taylor, all while her dad owned a chain of hamburger restaurants. Quite a bit to unpack there!   Finally, we talk about two awesome new blog articles written by our Brand Journalist Liz (link to them below!) and in honor of Father's Day, we want to know….Uncle Phil or Carl Winslow?  Let us know in the Instagram comments!   Relevant Links Zuke's Savory Institute: Land To Market Tribali Foods Why Unspecified Natural Flavors Aren't So Simple Cracking The Code on Eggs

Big episode this week! We've got Brad Neathery and Tyler Sharpe from Modern Huntsman, and for INSIDE EPIC, we'll share EPIC's newest product launch with you and tell you how you can be among the first to try some! First up, with their publication Modern Hunstman, Brad and Tyler are working to change the image of hunters we're accustomed to and raise awareness about the role the hunting community plays in conservation, land stewardship, and animal welfare.  As someone who didn't grow up hunting, and can count all my hunting experiences on a single hand, I truly believe this episode will be just as interesting for the non-hunter as it is for the seasoned hunter. Brad and Tyler share how they're challenging many of the common misconceptions about hunting, we discuss how the hunting community's response to the work they're doing, and they shed light on the role hunters play in conservation and land management and what we can do to support them, whether or not we ever want to hunt ourselves.   As promised, for this week's INSIDE EPIC, we dive deep on our newest product, the EPIC Performance Bar!  There's a link below to read more about it in our show notes, but tune in here and hear from our co-founder Taylor, our guard dogs Carnage & Savage, and the chickens of Roam Ranch.  They'll explain why EPIC is so excited about this product launch, why you should be too, and answer some common questions we think yall may have! Finally I'll tell you how you can win some free Performance Bars for yourself and a friend! LINKS: Modern Huntsman Introducing the EPIC Performance Bar  

Meatcasters! We're headed to Alaska this week to chat with our very own salmon fisherman, Steve Sturman, from Fred's Alaska Seafood.  We've been lucky enough to feature Steve in our EPIC Impact Journal and he came with us to Expo West as part of our “Meet your Rancher/Fisherman” booth!  Every time he and I have spoken, I always say that I wish I was recording, because he always has an incredible story or really interesting knowledge about salmon and the fishing industry.  Well this time I finally hit that record button! Steven and I chat about... The fishing industry's reputation for being among the most dangerous occupations How a fella from Oklahoma ended up being an Alaskan Salmon fisherman What happens to fish heads and fish guts and how the whole fish gets utilized Wild vs. Farmed Salmon For this week's INSIDE EPIC we take you into the world of responsibly sourced leather!  This was another interview recorded live at PaleoFX, where I talked to Janet Hamilton from Farrier Leather.   I literally knew nothing about this topic and it was fascinating to learn why farmers typically don't get a single penny from leather sales and why it's so hard to find responsibly sourced leather in America. Thank you so much Janet for taking the time to do that! And not only did she take the time to chat with us at PaleoFX, she also sent us two incredibly beautiful Farrier leather notebooks! They're featured in the blog and Instagram post for this episode check them out and follow Farrier if you're interested in learning more about responsibly sourced leather! Finally, I give yall some advice on how to be the first to hear about EPIC's two huge upcoming launches (hint: subscribe to our newsletter!) and I read a review and you all can witness how I handle criticism (hint: tears?) Relevant Links Family, Fish, and Freedom Farrier Leather

Meatcasters! This week we head out west to talk to turkey farmer, Jason Diestel from Diestel Turkey.   Jason and his family are 4th generation turkey producers and were featured in our first EPIC's Impact Journal!  We've covered lots of other animals on this show, but this was our first opportunity to dive deep on turkey, and Jason didn't dissappoint!  He and I discussed… Why Diestel Turkey adopted their humane practices far before it was popular to do so How consumers have forced Diestel to ‘elevate their game' The difference between raising turkeys vs. chickens What does the Thanksgiving holiday do to turkey farmers? I try to explain my past disdain for turkey meat to a turkey farmer For this week's INSIDE EPIC we take yall to the world's biggest Paleo conference, PaleoFX.  What is a Paleo conference? Who goes? Why? I'll explain all that and also introduce you to three folks who flew more than 9 hours solely to attend! Finally, I'll read a review from a “Disappointed User” and tell you how you can win an EPIC Turkey Prize Pack! Relevant Links Diestel Turkey EPIC Impact Journal PaleoFX

Meatcasters! This week, we talk to Gunnar Lovelace, founder of Thrive Market. Thrive Market is an online store focused on natural/organic food and home care products, where shoppers pay an annual membership fee which gets them access to lower pricing on brands and products you trust.  You can even shop by lifestyle or value (Paleo, Vegan, Fragrance Free, etc.) Thrive launched in 2014 and its been incredible to witness their growth first hand. I remember my first months at EPIC just being shocked at how many consumers would share with me that they bought their EPIC products off Thrive or were introduced to the brand via Thrive.  Gunnar and I discuss this incredible growth and also chat about… How do you balance being an online grocer and also a trusted sustainability and wellness content platform? The innovative method Thrive used to raise money after being turned down by all the major venture capitalists Why today's political discourse represents an opportunity for consumers to influence change What happens when you're a mission-driven company, and your growth goals potentially force you to compromise on your mission? Tune in and hear a special offer for Meatcast listeners interested in a Thrive membership! Alright if you follow us on social you'll likely recognize this week's INSIDE EPIC guest, in fact, you may have seen every inch of him. This week's guest is EPIC Bison Bowl referee and warehouse werewolf, Steven Duever! Steven and I talk a little bit about his path to EPIC, but we spend the majority of the interview discussing his decision to sell most of his belongings and live in his van.  Where does he use the bathroom and shower? We answer those and other hard hitting questions and he actually gives us a tour of his humble abode. The Meatcast Cribs crossover we've all been waiting for! Finally we read another Apple Podcast review (leave us one!) and tell you how you can win some Baked Rinds and EPIC swag this week! Relevant LinksThrive Market: Here's How EPIC Celebrates Earth DayThrive MarketBison BowlEPIC Warewolves #GetBaked

MTV Celebrity Women's Health “Next Fitness Star” CrossFit Competitor/Coach Nutritional Therapist Thriving Entrepreneur The titles all describe, but cannot even begin to define this week's guest, Emily Schromm.  Imagine not being comfortable in your own skin and then having all those vulnerabilities aired on national TV for millions to see.  Many would, and have, crumbled after such an experience, but Emily used it to not just change her life, but change the lives of thousands of others.  She is now the owner of a booming coaching business, founded a tea company, getting ready to open a gym in Denver, and her recent Kickstarter was funded within hours of launching.   During today's conversation, Emily and I discuss... How a chance meeting at Starbucks led to MTV's The Real World and propelled her into her current journey The most common issues she sees as as nutritional therapy coach -- fat digestion, skin/gut issues, etc. Her go-to supplements to support her challenging lifestyle as an entrepreneur Launching the next evolution of her wildly successful Empack sandbag/backpack For this week's INSIDE EPIC, I preview EPIC's First Annual Impact Summit being held at Roam Ranch.  Lastly, I read a review from one of our listeners and explain how 5 of yall can win a meatcast shirt this week!

In our own version of March Madness, we're bringing you FIVE guests for this week's Meatcast, recorded live at Expo West.  We talk to fitness superstar Emily Schromm and journalists, Neil Zevnik from the Huffington Post and Ashley Van Houten from Paleo Magazine.  We peek into the world of the dreaded “influencer” thanks to Michelle Smith of The Whole Smiths, and we talk to professional athlete, Steve Hauschka, an NFL kicker for the Buffalo Bills.  What kind of event brings all these types of people together? Only Expo West, the largest trade show for natural and organic food brands. With so many guests and topics, we've included more details [and timestamps!] below. Emily Schromm [3:00] - Star from MTV's The Challenge and Women's Health's “Next Fitness Star”.  Her and I discuss the top trends she's seeing at the show and why being surrounded by health products reminds us there's no ‘easy fix'. Michelle Smith [8:10] - Recipe guru, mom ninja, author.  Michelle gives us a peek into the world of “influencers”, explaining how they get paid, why she hates the word ‘influencer', and how she decides to share pictures of her family when she has over a hundred thousand followers. Ashley Van Houten [25:05] - Paleo Mag contributor and podcast host. Ashley shares what she's seen at Expo that will resonate with the Paleo community (hint: not vegan burgers) and we discuss the evolution of the Paleo community she's seen over 7 years writing for Paleo Magazine. Neil Zevnik [33:00] - Writer, Huffington Post and Better Nutrition. Neil touches on why he's inspired by and writes about “conscious capitalism” today.  We also discuss his BS filter and how he identifies truly mission-based brands. Steve Hauschka [42:38] - NFL Kicker, Buffalo Bills. Why is an NFL kicker at Expo West, and why kickers make an ideal entrepreneur.

This week we talk to Jason Wachob, CEO and founder of MindBodyGreen, a wellness company with 10 million monthly visitors to its website.  We hear the term “wellness” often today, frequently in the context of physical health, but MindBodyGreen was an early pioneer in shaping wellness through the lens of physical, mental, and environmental health.  More importantly, they've had incredible success taking these ideas into the mainstream and “building a bigger church” vs. “preaching to the choir”. Walking that fine line is where EPIC sits now, so I was excited to talk to Jason and see what we could learn from MindBodyGreen's journey.  During our conversation, Jason and I touch on... How a college basketball player goes from selling organic cookies to launching one of the most popular websites on the internet The challenge of hosting diverse content for a variety of audiences (vegans, paleo, keto, intermittent fasting, etc) Why Jason decided to launch an invite-only conference where entertainers, educators, athletes, and authors have an opportunity to interact What are the wellness practices for the founder of a wellness company? For this week's INSIDE EPIC we talk to Steve Rosenzweig, a soil scientist recently hired by General Mills.  Wait, what? Why is a soil scientist working at General Mills? I had the same question! Steve and I recorded this interview when he came out to Roam Ranch in February as one of its first visitors.  We spent the day sharing the perch seat on a mule together, ducking tree branches and holding on for our lives. Tune in and hear what the heck a soil scientist is doing at General Mills. As always, we finish by sharing how you can win some meatcast swag and give you a fresh update on the battle between the Meatcast and my neighborhood pool.

Meatcasters! This week we head to the islands of Hawaii to chat with professional hunter Jake Muse.  While Jake does make his living hunting animals, its not for sport.  Jake and his teams are hired to help manage wild animal populations throughout Hawaii and during our conversation we discuss… How parts of Hawaii have become overrun by wild animal populations  Hunting for sport vs. hunting to survive The innovative techniques he and his team use to humanely hunt and harvest animals in the wild The Kahukinui Project, and how hunting thousands of animals  will save a community and restore their watersheds and forests.    If you're a fan of hunting, I think this episode will give you an incredible appreciation for what Jake and his team do and even if you're not a fan of hunting, I think our conversation will give you a fascinating glimpse into communities that are still doing it today out of necessity and survival. For this week's INSIDE EPIC we talk to Roam Ranch Manager, Zach Peoples. For those not familiar, Roam Ranch is a 450 acre property in Fredericksburg, TX that the EPIC founders purchased in 2017, with the dream of making it a regenerative farm where the mission and values of EPIC can come to life. Zach is responsible for shepherding that dream and has his own interesting story, of how a 26 year old who had never seen a Bison in his life, is now managing a regenerative farm with 70 bison! Finally, we want to get to know more about your Meatcasting habits, and we'll reward you for telling us!    

Excited to chat with the founder of Picnik, Naomi Seifter. Picnik began as an incredibly popular food truck in Austin, famous for their butter coffee and bone broth. They've since expanded into a thriving full-service restaurant, and most recently, launched a bottled butter coffee product at Whole Foods! Many entrepreneurs dream of finding success with just one idea, Naomi's somehow juggling the success of three! In our conversation, her and I touch on…. How Naomi's managed to create a wildly successful food truck, open a full-service restaurant, and a launch a beverage product nationally at Whole Foods Overcoming every entrepreneur's absolute nightmare: being forced to pull out of a national launch Creating a culture for your customers vs. creating a culture for your employees For this week's INSIDE EPIC we GET BAKED and go behind the scenes of our newest product launch EPIC Baked Pork Rinds! Since it's the first ever Baked Pork Rind, we talk to our founder Katie about how we came up with this concept and she responds to some of the initial comments we've gotten about its fat content. We then talk to EPIC's Eric Rasmussen, who led the development of Baked Rinds. He gives us a behind the scenes look on how making Baked Rinds was different than traditional, we discuss some of the chemicals and products found in other rinds we refuse to use, and finally we chat about a major challenge he ran into during product development. Finally, we tell yall how you can win a Meatcast Tshirt this week PLUS bags of our new Baked Rinds! We also finally address a serious topic plaguing the Meatcast.  

This week's guests really tested my nerves. We had an award winning author who's been featured on NPR and interviewed by Terry Gross, the site director for the actual Cascadian Farm, and General Mills' President of North American Retail. Also, we're continuing to giveaway Meatcast tee's! Maryn Mckenna is an award winning author and journalist. Her book Big Chicken was named a Best Science Book of 2017 by Amazon, an Essential Science Read by Wired, and a Best Food Book by Civil Eats. Her and I dig into… Why are antibiotics being used in animals if they're not sick? The connection between human antibiotic resistance and chicken farms How American hospitals, schools, and consumers drove the world's largest chicken producers to make sweeping changes in their practices Its only our 2nd epsiode of 2018, but I'm confdient this'll be among our top episodes of the year and it's among my favorite interviews so far! For this week's INSIDE EPIC -- we've got a double feature! First up is Ashley Minnerath, who is the on-site director the Cascadian Farm home farm. The fact that there's an actual organic Cascadian Farm, being run by farmers, is a surprise even to General Mills employees. I was excited to have Ashley come on and explain what it's like to run an organic farm that's owned by a big food company. For the second part of this week's INSIDE EPIC, we've got Jon Nudi, the president of General Mills' North American Retail. That's a group that includes all of General Mills' brands, everything from Cheerios and Larabar, to Annie's and EPIC. During his recent trip to EPIC HQ, I sat down with him and fulfilled his lifelong dream of ranking his meats. Listen all the way to the end and uncover this week's special code to win a Meatcast tee!

Meatcasters! Kicking off our first episode of 2018 with not one, but TWO guests.  First we've got David Bronner, grandson of the Dr. Bronner, and current head of the Dr. Bronner's brand. David is an avid activist on behalf of regenerative agriculture, the legalization of cannabis, and also the legalization of psychedelics -- did I mention he's also a practicing vegan?   David and I discuss The difference between Dr. Bronner's products and modern soaps How a misunderstanding led to some ‘beef' between the EPIC and Dr. Bronner's Brands His passion for the legalization of cannabis and psychedelics (and how it got him arrested) We have our SECOND ever vegan on the Meatcast who is willing to Rank Their Meats! For this week's INSIDE EPIC, we have a quick chat with the founder of Whole30, Melissa Hartwig!  Despite her January being absolutely swamped with TV appearances and countless media interviews, Melissa was kind enough to make time to hop on the Meatcast and share her advice for those among the EPIC community taking on Whole30 this year.  Consider this an appetizer, for the full-entree episode we'll have with Melissa later this year! Finally, listen in and hear how you can help The Meatcast beat Joe Rogan!

This week, The Meatcast introduces you to the world of butchery, curing, and animal husbandry with a professional meatsmith, Brandon Sheard. Not too long ago, Brandon was studying English and seemed destined for a life in academia — until he dropped everything and chased his agrarian dreams, despite having zero experience in the field (pun intended). Now Brandon and his family of seven are raising, harvesting, butchering, and curing all their own meats. In fact, they subsist on this meat alone and never purchase store-bought meat!  Brandon is our first ever Meatcast guest to have never tried an EPIC product, but it'll all make sense after you listen to the interview!  He and I discuss: The different methods of harvesting and butchering animals and the impact that can have on the taste and quality of meat The difference between today's curing methods and traditional practices How Brandon's able to cure meats at room temperature with only a single ingredient The most unique “Rank Your Meats” segment to date I can't stress enough how awesome this interview is, y'all. I really struggled to keep it under an hour because it's one of the most interesting conversations I've had! Can't wait to get y'all's take on it. For this week's INSIDE EPIC segment, we speak with Beth Robertson-Martin. Beth leads the Natural/Organic sourcing team at General Mills and is an all-around badass.  The topics we cover include how she helped us literally change the landscape of the grass-fed bison supply in America and why she got a bison tattoo to commemorate it. You read right: she got a BISON TATTOO after securing a huge win on EPIC. Talk about doing EPIC shit! Finally, we give you a sneak peek at some big things we have planned for January. 2017's been a great first year for us, but we're just getting started!

This week, we flip the script and take you the launch of EPIC's Impact Journal!  To kickoff the episode you'll hear exclusive behind the scenes audio I secretly recorded and then we'll chat with Katie and Taylor about their dream of an Impact Journal came to be.  We'll then get to hear from the heart and soul of the Impact Journal, our author and designer, David and Andrea.  They'll explain how they took our founders' vision, and turned it into a 100+ page publication filled with inspiring stories and images.     We'll end the podcast with our normal interview, but this week's guest is not just a Meatcast hero, he's also one of the heroes featured in our Impact Journal!  We'll chat with Jason Rowntree, professor of Animal Science at Michigan State University, and the man responsible for bringing Regenerative Ag to academia.  He and I cover How he converted 70%+ of the meat served on campus, to local producers  and how teaching campus chefs to cook chuck roasts played a pivotal role Why he refuses to villainize factory-farm beef producers and rather, how he gets them to buy-in to a more holistic model What is it about a Tri-Tip steak that'll save a marriage Finally, throughout the episode, I explain how YOU as a loyal Meatcaster, can get your free copy of the Impact Journal, just for listening!