 MIND, BODY, & SOIL
Why Are Animals Essential to Our Food System? The Tangible + Intangible Benefits
with Nicolette Hahn Niman
Nicolette Hahn Niman is an environmental lawyer, a former vegetarian, an advocate for meat, and also a mother and a cattle rancher. Often times on this podcast with guests that have done many interviews, I will take a more unexplored path – but you can always find other interviews in the links. In this interview, Nicolette and I explore Defending Beef and where meat was in 2014 at the time of its first publication and where it is now 8 years later with the new edition. We briefly touch on Livestock’s Long Shadow and how a figure that was later retracted, launched a thousand vegan campaigns, when really the author of the paper’s aim was to further concentrate animal feeding operations and eliminate grazing. Nicolette elegantly explains carbon, methane, and water cycles in relationship to meat. While meat has its fair share of vilification, this interview really focuses on what it means to BUILD a new system. We dive into not just the obvious benefits of raising meat regeneratively, but also the intangible benefits. Things like raising kids on ranches, building good citizens, strengthening microbiomes, preserving ecosystems from development, and coming home to rural communities. We also talk about husbandry and the contract that we entered into with animals as humans at the dawn of domestication and what it means to uphold those contracts. Nicolette dives into advocacy and policy as a vehicle for changing the landscape of our food system.Â
We also talk about:Â
- Witnessing joy and finding mentors in our cattle
- How yields and centralization changed the industry
- & so much more
Find Nicolette:
Twitter: @defendingbeef
Facebook: Defending Beef
Further Reading Mentioned:Â
It’s worth noting that Defending Beef leaves a breadcrumb trail of other fantastic authors – so dive into the book for more!
Resources Mentioned:
Related Ground Work Episodes:
Dr. Stephan van Vliet on the science behind regenerative ag
Will Harris on building rural communitiesÂ
David Montgomery and Anne Bikle on building soil health
Other Podcasts Featuring Nicolette’s Work:
Nicolette on Peak HumanÂ
Nicolette on Mark Hyman
Current Discounts for GW listeners:
15% off Farm True ghee and body care products using code: KATEKAV15
Join the Ground Work Collective:
Instagram: @groundworkcollective
Find a Farm: nearhome.groundworkcollective.com
More: groundworkcollective.com
Podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting: groundworkcollective.com/disclaimer
Find a Farm: nearhome.groundworkcollective.com
More: groundworkcollective.com
Podcast disclaimer can be found by visiting: groundworkcollective.com/disclaimer
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Mind, Body, and Soil
Welcome to Mind, Body, and Soil. Join me, Kate Kavanaugh, a farmer, entrepreneur, and holistic nutritionist, as I get curious about human nature, health, and consciousness as viewed through the lens of nature. At its heart, this podcast is about finding the threads of what it means to be humans woven into this earth. I’m digging into deep and raw conversations with truly impactful guests that are laying the ground work for themselves and many generations to come. We dive into topics around farming, grief, biohacking, regenerative agriculture, spirituality, nutrition, and beyond. Get curious and get ready with new episodes every Tuesday!
Why Are Animals Essential to Our Food System? The Tangible and Intangible Benefits with Nicolette Hahn Niman
Nicolette Hahn Niman is an environmental lawyer, a former vegetarian, an advocate for meat, and also a mother and a cattle rancher. Often times on this podcast with guests that have done many interviews, I will take a more unexplored path – but you can always find other interviews in the links. In this interview, Nicolette and I explore Defending Beef and where meat was in 2014 at the time of its first publication and where it is now 8 years later with the new edition. We briefly touch on Livestock’s Long Shadow and how a figure that was later retracted, launched a thousand vegan campaigns, when really the author of the paper’s aim was to further concentrate animal feeding operations and eliminate grazing. Nicolette elegantly explains carbon, methane, and water cycles in relationship to meat. While meat has its fair share of vilification, this interview really focuses on what it means to BUILD a new system. We dive into not just the obvious benefits of raising meat regeneratively, but also the intangible benefits. Things like raising kids on ranches, building good citizens, strengthening microbiomes, preserving ecosystems from development, and coming home to rural communities. We also talk about husbandry and the contract that we entered into with animals as humans at the dawn of domestication and what it means to uphold those contracts. Nicolette dives into advocacy and policy as a vehicle for changing the landscape of our food system.
We also talk about:
- Witnessing joy and finding mentors in our cattle
- How yields and centralization changed the industry
- & so much more
Find Nicolette:
Twitter: @defendingbeef
Facebook: Defending Beef
Further Reading Mentioned:
It’s worth noting that Defending Beef leaves a breadcrumb trail of other fantastic authors – so dive into the book for more!
Resources Mentioned:
Related Ground Work Episodes:
Dr. Stephan van Vliet on the science behind regenerative ag
Will Harris on building rural communities
David Montgomery and Anne Bikle on building soil health
Other Podcasts Featuring Nicolette’s Work:
Current Discounts for GW listeners:
- 15% off Farm True ghee and body care products using code: KATEKAV15
Join the Ground Work Collective:
Find a Farm: nearhome.groundworkcollective.com
Find Kate: @kate_kavanaugh
More: groundworkcollective.com
