I was recently asked to provide a list of some of my favorite podcasts for members of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG).  In making the list, I thought it would be good to share this flowers and farming podcast playlist with anyone who is feeling a bit confined these days and in need of some diversion.  So here are four of my personal favorite podcasts that have content that would be extremely helpful for many farmers and florists.  Please leave your favorites in the comments list some everyone can check them out!  

Botanical Brouhaha
Host Amy McGee is incredibly thoughtful with her questions; you can feel the warmth and care for the industry radiating from her voice.  She interviews a wide range of floral professionals at various stages in their careers. Her podcast is coupled with an inspiring and educational blog site too where you can find a wonderful collection of floral images to brighten any gray day. In listening to Botanical Brouhaha, you will get a glimpse inside the greater floral design world (where you may learn a few tricks and tips for selling more flowers to florists even if you are not a designer) as well as hear various points of view on how to run an efficient and sustainable business.

Not to toot my own horn, but I was a guest on this podcast and that episode can be found here.  I also greatly enjoyed the episodes featuring Semia Dunne, owner of The Flower Reserve, a “boutique wholesale house”, and Fiona Pickles, a UK-based designer who I admire.

The Flower Podcast
I personally think host Scott Shepard is one of the best interviewers I’ve heard on any podcast. He’s witty, immensely knowledgeable, and quick to quiz guests “off the cuff” instead of sticking to a script, which means he sometimes asks some hard questions that his guests might struggle to answer. But in those moments is where the golden nuggets are found.  I’ve learned a lot from listening to Scott’s show. He interviews all types in the floral industry, including growers, designers, wholesalers, and even photographers.

Some of my favorite episodes have featured ASCFG members, Mandy and Steve, of 3 Porch Farms, along with renown wedding photographer Jose Villa, and, a personal floral design hero of mine, Paula Pryke.

No-Till Growers
Since transitioning my own farm to no-till growing practices in 2018, I’ve found Jesse Frost’s podcast to be a helpful overview of no-till farming practices. Most of his shows focus on veggie operations, but there’s a lot to be learned there still if you’re only growing flowers. Initially this podcast was focused much more on no-till but has really shifted over the past season to be broader in its approach. Episodes often morph into discussions about how to best market farm products and how to get a farm started if you’re a young grower with limited resources. By times it’s not the most relevant podcast to me anymore, but I still enjoy tuning in and it would be great for many farmers just getting started!

Some favorite episodes are his interview with ASCFG Members, Tony and Denise at Bare Mountain and his interview with editor of Growing for Market, Andrew Mefferd.

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast
I’ve learned a great deal from John Kempf’s podcast, geared towards regenerative farming practices. It’s not flower focused at all, but it is very interesting to listen to his guests, many of which are older and seasoned agrarians and plantsman who know a great deal of information that needs to be handed down to newer farmers. John’s show is acting as a repository for that would-be-lost knowledge, and I’m so grateful for it!   There’s also a fair amount of nerdy science content on this show, unlike any other farming podcast I’ve found, and I gobble it up!! John’s own background is very fascinating. He is an Amish man who has entered the digital world through podcasting and has what appears to be a thriving ag consultancy business that takes him all over the place.

Some of my favorite episodes have been with Vernon Peterson about managing employees and with rancher-author Gabe Brown.

Listening to podcasts can be a great way to ingest new information while still having your hands free to work.  Listening can also make you feel less isolated in your work and life.

What are some of your favorite podcasts, flower-related or otherwise?