AgriCurious Podcast

Beyond the Meat Plate

In this episode, Dennis sits down with Dr. KatieRose McCullough, President and Chief Scientist of the Meat Foundation and Director of Science and Public Health at the Meat Institute, for a conversation on meat science, food safety, public health, and the future of the meat industry. Dr. McCullough shares insights into the biggest challenges facing the industry today, how trust is built through science communication, and the innovations that could transform meat production in the coming years. The episode also offers valuable advice for students and early-career researchers interested in agriculture, food systems, and public health. After listening, please take 10 seconds to share your feedback at bit.ly/agricurious [http://bit.ly/agricurious].

The Hidden Economics of Food Access

In this episode, Dennis sits down with Dr. Craig Gundersen, the Snee Family Endowed Chair and Professor of Economics at Baylor University. They discuss the role of agricultural economics in shaping the food system, the economic forces behind food insecurity, and the broader impacts of food access on health and society. The conversation also explores Dr. Gundersen’s work on Map the Meal Gap with Feeding America and what it reveals about food insecurity across the United States. After listening, please take 10 seconds to share your feedback at bit.ly/agricurious [http://bit.ly/agricurious].

Is Precision Agriculture All We Think It Is?

In this episode of AgriCurious, Dennis speaks with Dr. Chin-Ling Lee, Assistant Professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication at the University of Georgia, about precision agriculture and what truly drives its adoption. They discuss how precision tools influence farmer decision-making, the social and psychological factors shaping adoption, and what makes an approach integrative rather than simply technology-driven. After listening, please take 10 seconds to share your feedback at bit.ly/agricurious [http://bit.ly/agricurious].

Grad School Real Talk at SAAS 2026

On this episode of AgriCurious, Dennis sat with fellow graduate students during the 2026 Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) Conferences in Louisville, Kentucky, to reflect on their conference experiences and journeys through graduate school. Featuring Mikayla Hargis (Kansas State University), Ruwini Bandara (North Carolina State University), and Oluwadamilare Oloyede (Mississippi State University), the conversation shares honest insights into research, networking, and life as emerging agricultural scholars. After listening, please take 10 seconds to share your feedback at bit.ly/agricurious [http://bit.ly/agricurious].

What Systems Thinking Reveals About Cause and Effect

What usually goes wrong when we try to solve complex problems using simple cause-and-effect thinking? How do we feel when that approach doesn’t lead to one clear “right” answer? In this episode, Dennis sits down with Dr. Kevan Lamm, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication at the University of Georgia and an Extension leadership specialist, to explore what systems thinking reveals about cause and effect. They also discuss how the STEPS project uses hypothetical case scenarios as reusable learning objects to strengthen students’ thinking about food systems and everyday life. After listening, please take 10 seconds to share your feedback at bit.ly/agricurious [http://bit.ly/agricurious].