Deep Dive with Dr D

More Than Pumpkins: The Real Business of Agritourism with Hilary Jensen

A pumpkin patch looks like pure fun until you see the spreadsheets, the permits, and the sleepless nights behind it. We’re joined by Hilary Jensen of Jensen Farms to pull back the curtain on agritourism, the fast-growing corner of farming that blends agriculture, hospitality, and public safety into one high-stakes seasonal business. We talk about the biggest misconceptions people have about agritourism and why “just buying a pumpkin” can’t cover the real costs of seed, fertilizer, labor, insurance, and major attractions. Hillary explains what it’s like to run a farm that has to look good, flow well, and stay safe for families, while still surviving on local visitor volume. She also shares how unexpected demand turned a concession stand favorite into a legit product line, plus what it takes to keep evolving with a brick-and-mortar shop in Cle Elum and events beyond the farm. Then we get into leadership and advocacy: the fight to keep agritourism alive during COVID policy decisions, the reality of county zoning and special event permits, and what happens when you’re told to shut down after you’ve already put your money in the dirt. Throughout it all, Hilary comes back to what keeps her steady: faith, humor, a small strong circle, and one simple rule that makes work and life easier, assume good intent. If you care about small business, rural tourism, farming, or community traditions that create core memories, this conversation will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves fall traditions, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Social Media Links [https://linktr.ee/davidandkatrina] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2440019/support]

Small-Town Growth Done Right - w/guest Amy McGuffin

Growth in a rural county can feel like a slow sunrise or a sudden flood, depending on where you stand. Today we sit down with Amy McGuffin, CEO of the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce, to talk about what’s changing across Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Roslyn, and the rest of the county and what we can do to keep the best parts intact while still building a future people can afford to live in. We get practical about local economic development and small business support, including why the Chamber has shifted toward resources and connections instead of trying to run everything. Amy explains why operating in silos weakens a community, how real progress comes from collaboration, and why showing up to meetings matters if you want a voice in growth decisions. We also dig into workforce development, career and technical education, and the talent pipeline, because Amy names the hard truth many towns avoid: “our biggest export is our youth.” From Winco and infrastructure to water, utilities, and affordability, we talk through the tradeoffs leaders face and why “preserving rural character” has to be more than a slogan. Amy also shares the human side of leadership: staying grounded, avoiding burnout, and keeping kindness in the room when politics gets personal and emotions run hot. If you care about Ellensburg, Kittitas County, and smart, balanced growth, hit subscribe, share this with a neighbor, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation. Social Media Links [https://linktr.ee/davidandkatrina] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2440019/support]

Energy Healing Without The Hype - w/guest Laura White

Spiritual work gets labeled “woo” fast, especially if you’ve been burned by religion or you’re the kind of person who wants evidence before you buy in. That’s why this conversation with Laura White hits different. Laura is the owner of Spiritual Awakenings in Ellensburg, WA, and she’s built a real brick-and-mortar practice around Reiki, tarot, mediumship, and natural healing without talking down to skeptics or trying to “convert” anyone. We get into what led her here, from a painful childhood shaped by a strict Southern Baptist environment to years of questioning, research across belief systems, and learning how to live with unusual spiritual sensitivity. We also talk openly about how recovery and healing overlap: the triggers that come up when you help others, the way peace arrives in small sections, and why labels can sometimes do more harm than good. Laura breaks down Reiki and energy work in plain terms, including the idea that stress lives in the body, that intuition can feel like a sudden “download,” and that empathy is often a real sensitivity to the people around us. We explore grounding through nature, why crystals and herbs show up in spiritual practice, and the biggest misconception about tarot: a reading isn’t a fixed future, it’s a snapshot of current energies and you still have free will. If you’ve been curious but unsure where to start, this one is for you. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next conversation, share this with a friend who needs a softer path to healing, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Social Media Links [https://linktr.ee/davidandkatrina] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2440019/support]

Young And Building w/guest Hannah Singer

You can feel it when someone is building a life on purpose, not just collecting milestones. Hannah Singer is 21, about to graduate college, married young, a homeowner, and already growing Homestead Design Company, and she’s honest about the parts that look exciting and the parts that feel heavy. We talk about what it’s like to be ahead of your peer group in some ways, behind in others, and still unsure where you “fit” when everyone’s timeline looks different. We also dig into interior design in a way that’s practical for real homes and real budgets. Hannah explains why good home design is never just about pretty rooms, and why function matters as much as style if you want to feel comfortable and safe in your own space. She pushes back on the idea that design is only for millionaires or big city clients, and shares how she thinks about budget friendly design, problem solving, and helping clients love what they already have. The conversation keeps coming back to identity, gratitude, and ambition. We unpack “keeping up with the Joneses,” the pressure of comparing your progress to your parents or your friends, and the daily choice to stay grounded while you keep working. Hannah also shares advice for young adults who are trying to figure life out right now: ask for opportunities, follow up, build experience, and do not let arrogance replace effort. If you’re navigating marriage in your early 20s, starting a small business, choosing between college and trades, or trying to build a stable life in Central Washington, you’ll find a lot to take from this one. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with someone who’s in their “figuring it out” season, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re applying this week. Social Media Links [https://linktr.ee/davidandkatrina] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2440019/support]

Roots And Reinvention - w/guest Rolf Williams

A lot of people think a “successful” business is one that expands nonstop, chases scale, and looks impressive on paper. We see something different when we talk with Rolf Williams, an Ellensburg native and the owner of Jerrol's, a long-running local business with deep roots that stretch back to 1947. Rolf shares how a store can survive for generations by staying flexible about what it sells while staying stubbornly consistent about who it serves. We dig into the real history of Jerrol's, from soda fountain beginnings and a drive-through diner era to the textbook years and the modern shift into retail, online ordering, and business-to-business office supply delivery. Along the way, Rolf explains the mindset that makes adaptation possible: continuous improvement, clear values, and a refusal to treat customers like transactions. If you care about small-town entrepreneurship, independent bookstore survival, and competing with Amazon through service, this conversation is packed with practical insight. The most meaningful part gets personal. As a father of an adult child with profound autism, Rolf talks about autism acceptance, disability, and how isolation can quietly shrink a family’s world when support is hard to find. We also talk about leadership, hiring, and what it takes to give people real opportunity without assumptions, plus advice for parents who have just received a diagnosis and don’t know where to start. If you want more grounded conversations on community, business leadership, and building a life that lasts, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Social Media Links [https://linktr.ee/davidandkatrina] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2440019/support]