From The Soil Up Podcast

From the Soil Up is a podcast about performance in farming, food systems, business, and life. Hosted by Conan Moynihan, it explores what it really takes to build resilient, high-performing systems by getting the fundamentals right from soil health and farm profitability to leadership, mindset, and human health. No trends or dogma. Just honest conversations with farmers, scientists, advisors, and thinkers about what actually works. Because real performance isn’t built on shortcuts. It’s built from the soil up.

From The Soil Up Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Conan Moynihan, with 66 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Conan Moynihan hosts From The Soil Up Podcast, a business show with 66 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #66

  Sebastian Chapman | Who Will Own New Zealand’s Farms in 20 Years? - Ep 65

  Aug 18, 202651 min

  How will the next generation of New Zealand farmers get into farm ownership? In this episode of the From The Soil Up Podcast, Conan sits down with Seb Chapman from Seedling Investment to explore the changing landscape of farm ownership and the challenges facing young farmers wanting to build a future in agriculture. Seb shares his journey through dairy farming and explains why traditional pathways into farm ownership are becoming increasingly difficult. They explore alternative approaches including share farming, small land blocks, investment models and the potential role of KiwiSaver. The conversation also dives into farm succession, land values, family agreements and the structural challenges facing New Zealand agriculture, as well as how sustainability and soil health can contribute to long-term farm value. Seb shares the thinking behind Seedling Investment, its vision for the future and why creating more accessible pathways into farm ownership could be critical for the future of New Zealand farming. In this episode: The changing landscape of farm ownership in NZ Alternative pathways for young farmers Farm succession and family agreements Investing in agricultural land and building equity The potential role of KiwiSaver Sustainability, soil health and long-term farm value The Seedling Investment model and its vision for NZ agriculture Why taking action is often better than waiting for the perfect opportunity If you're a young farmer, part of a farming family thinking about succession, or interested in the future of New Zealand agriculture and land ownership, this is a conversation worth listening to. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-chapman-fruitminder/ https://seedling-investments.com/

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  Episode #65

  Karen Fisher: Building Resilient Farms Through Diversity - Ep 64

  Aug 11, 202657 min

  What if one of the greatest opportunities to build more resilient farms is simply to embrace more diversity? In this episode of the Force of Nature Podcast, Conan sits down with Karen Fisher to explore how diversity in nature, farming and people can create more resilient and adaptable farm systems. Karen shares her perspective on system-led resilience, regenerative agriculture and why we need to look beyond the symptoms of problems and understand their root causes. We explore what weeds can tell us about soil and ecological health, how economic and ecological diversity can strengthen farm businesses, and why observation is such an important skill for farmers. The conversation also takes a fascinating turn into neurodiversity in agriculture. Karen discusses how different ways of thinking, personality types and individual strengths can contribute to innovation and better decision-making on farms. We also unpack the influence of environmental policies and subsidies, the importance of farmer-to-farmer learning, how to approach regenerative farming progressively, and how farmers can balance ecological health with profitability. Towards the end of the conversation, Karen shares some simple ideas around slowing down, connecting with nature and regulating the nervous system that can support both farmer wellbeing and better observation of the landscape. If you're interested in regenerative agriculture, soil health, farm profitability, resilience, agroecology, neurodiversity or systems thinking, this episode offers plenty to think about. In this episode we discuss: Why diversity is nature's insurance policy What weeds can tell us about soil and ecosystem health Building system-led resilience into farm businesses Balancing ecological diversity with economic diversity Neurodiversity and the strengths it can bring to agriculture Personality types and team dynamics on farms The impact of policy and subsidies on farming decisions Why peer learning and farmer networks matter Practical ways to start adopting regenerative practices The importance of observation and slowing down Supporting farmer wellbeing and nervous system regulation Finding the root causes rather than treating symptoms Connect with Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-fisher-43a51718/ https://www.instagram.com/harvesting.potential/

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  Episode #64

  Ep 63 - Ben Bayly on Building New Zealand's Culinary Identity

  Jul 7, 20261h 6m

  Chef Ben Bayly on building a New Zealand food identity, storytelling, provenance, and why our farmers and producers deserve better recognition. What does it actually take to put New Zealand on the map as a world-class food destination? In this episode, we sit down with chef and food advocate Ben Bayly of Ahi Restaurant, recently awarded a Michelin Star, to unpack why storytelling, not just quality, is the missing ingredient in how we market our food. Ben shares his journey from young chef to Michelin-starred restaurateur, and why he believes New Zealand's culinary identity has been undersold internationally. We dig into the parallels with the wine industry's rise to global prestige, why lamb and dairy are often invisible on the world stage despite exceptional quality, and how direct relationships between chefs, farmers, and producers can change that story. We also get into some topics you might not expect from a food conversation: wild game and pest species as an underused, biodynamic food resource, the regulatory hurdles stopping farmers from diversifying their income, and what it really takes to build a resilient, values-driven hospitality team. In this episode: Why New Zealand lacks a deep culinary "legacy" The power of provenance: connecting diners back to the farm and the farmer Wild harvesting, pest management, and sustainable food sourcing Lessons from the NZ wine industry's global branding success Farm diversification, agritourism, and new income streams for producers Building a restaurant culture around confidence, competence, character, and care Mentoring the next generation of chefs and hospitality talent Whether you're a farmer, chef, food producer, or just someone who cares about where your dinner comes from, this conversation offers a compelling case for why New Zealand's food story deserves to be told, and told well. Connect with Ben: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/benbaylynz/?hl=en⁠ Ahi Restaurant: ⁠https://ahirestaurant.co.nz/⁠

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  Episode #63

  Ep 62 - Stacey Curcio: How Soil Health Shapes Human Wellness

  Jun 29, 20261 hour

  Your health and the health of the land beneath your feet are inseparable. In this episode, Conan sits down with Stacey Curcio of Cultivating Wellness to explore the deep connection between soil health, regenerative agriculture, and human wellness and why it's time to break down the silos between agriculture and nutrition. Stacey shares how farming practices directly shape nutrient density and biodiversity in our food, why the soil microbiome matters as much for human health as it does for crop health, and how food culture and intergenerational cooking knowledge have been quietly lost and can be reclaimed. You'll learn why context matters more than rigid nutrition rules, how to build foundational habits for wellbeing, and why nature itself is one of the most powerful (and underused) tools for health. In this episode: Why land health and human health can't be separated Breaking down silos between agriculture, nutrition, and public health How soil microbiome quality affects food quality Farming practices, nutrient density, and biodiversity Food culture, trust, and navigating nutrition information overload Intergenerational knowledge and the lost art of food preparation Building foundational habits and collective responsibility for our food system https://www.cultivatingwellness.com.au/about

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  Episode #60

  Ep 59 - Russ Heald & Brooke Lye: Adaptive Grazing for Resilient Dairy Farms

  Jun 2, 202651 minS0

  <p >How can adaptive grazing management improve farm profitability, soil health, and pasture performance?</p> <p >In this episode , I sit down with New Zealand dairy farmers Brooke Lye and Russ Heald to explore the principles and practical application of adaptive grazing management.</p> <p >We dive into how grazing decisions influence soil health, pasture performance, animal wellbeing, and ultimately farm profitability. Brooke and Russ share their journey of implementing adaptive and regenerative farming practices, including the role of pasture diversity, deferred grazing, regrassing strategies, and understanding plant recovery and rest periods.</p> <p >Throughout the conversation, we discuss how...

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