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This is a podcast review of the One to Grow On podcast. I recently mentioned this podcast in my bi-weekly email newsletter. If you aren't subscribed to the newsletter, you can sign up here.
I've been pretty self-indulgent with my podcast listening lately. From true crime to "guilty pleasures", I have to admit that I haven't been listening to anything to broaden my mind.
So, when I came across a new podcast called One to Grow On, the short description got my attention:
One to Grown On digs into questions you have about agriculture and attempts to understand the complexities and impacts of food production on ourselves and our world.
Now, maybe you're like me, and your initial reaction to the above is: I don't have questions about agriculture, thank you.
But maybe you're also like me and you enjoy the play on words ("digs into questions about agriculture").
Perhaps you also realize that food is a hot topic these days, and even you wonder how food production impacts your life.
Those were my thoughts, so I started listening to One to Grow On, and I immediately knew that I wanted to write a review of it.
The premise of the One to Grow On podcast
One to Grow On is hosted by a father/daughter team. Daughter Hallie has a master’s degree in International Agricultural Development and works as a Horticulture Extension Manager (you do not have to know what that is).
Dad Chris is a software engineer, actor, and has prior podcasting experience.
The premise of the show is that Hallie, who is super enthusiastic about agriculture and food production, explains common questions and misconceptions to her dad and the rest of us.
Episode topics range from an in-depth discussion about soil, to the history behind the creation of modern-day fertilizer, and even how the 2019 U.S. government shutdown affected food production and farming in both the short- and long-term.
To date, episodes have been focused on large-scale, conventional food production (this is not a clean-eating podcast, folks).
New episodes are released every other Tuesday.
It's a niche topic, for sure...
After listening to a couple of episodes, I tried explaining the show to my husband. He's usually quick to get on board with my podcast recommendations, but to this one, he said, "That sounds unbelievably boring."
OUCH.
But he's right. Even I had my doubts going into episode 1. I think this is probably the same reaction that non-history buffs have when they meet people who are obsessed with history podcasts.
Those same naysayers often become fans of history shows because of the entertaining ways that podcasters come up with to present the content. I would certainly never pick up an agricultural publication and start reading, but the podcast format opens the door to invite us non-agro folks in.
Production quality & episode topics
Let me start by saying that Chris, Hallie, and their producer Catherine, seem to know what they're doing.
Not only is the production quality excellent (the hosts are well-spoken, easy to hear, and the editing is well-done), but each episode is focused on a specific theme, and the conversation remains on topic.
This isn't always the case with new podcasts, even when created by professional podcast studios. The first few episodes can be unfocused, and more of an exercise in finding a rhythm.
Episode 1 of One to Grow On got right into the topic of food waste versus food loss, something that affects each and every one of us (and that we contribute to). I was able to get a clear understanding of Hallie's expertise, how she would be presenting it throughout the podcast, and how she and Chris would run the show.
But this leads me to my first criticism of the show, which is that I didn't learn much about the hosts over the first four episodes.
(Hang in there with me, because the next couple of paragraphs might seem to contradict one another.)
I don't think that every new podcast needs to make episode 1 a "here's my life story" episode. Host intros are good, but if the first episode doesn't give me at least a taste of episodes to come, there's a real possibility that I won't click Subscribe.
That said, even though the first few episodes of One to Grow On got right into themes about food production, I found myself wanting to know more about the hosts. In particular, I wanted to know more about Hallie; where she lives, works, and what exactly she does in agriculture.
(I'm not a stalker. These are key elements to understanding her knowledge of the topic at hand.)
Every time Chris or Hallie made a vague reference to her job in the first four episodes, I felt like an outsider. I was really happy when episode 5 answered all of my questions; I felt like I had a much better understanding of both Chris and Hallie.
Enthusiastic hosts that keep things interesting
It's often said about blogging that you should only start a blog if you're so passionate about the topic that you could write about it every day for years on end. This is the same advice I would give to an aspiring podcaster.
There's no doubt that Hallie Casey is enthusiastic about agriculture, food production, and teaching people about the processes that help to grow food and get it into our grocery stores.
I actually felt like I had to come to Hallie's defense when my husband said the podcast sounded boring. Her personality is endearing, and her passion for all things food production (and composting) is contagious.
Her laugh is also contagious. There's actually a lot of laughter in this podcast, since the conversations are ripe for making puns and other jokes, which seem to be a big part of Hallie and Chris' father/daughter rapport.
Chris is also enthusiastic, although maybe for a different reason. I'm sure he's interested in learning more about the topic, but he's also devoted to his daughter and her love for what she does. He is clearly thrilled to be letting Hallie shine.
The shared enjoyment these two get out of making the podcast makes for a great listen.
(Note: There is one episode in which the show's producer, Catherine, co-hosts with Hallie. This wasn't my favorite episode, because I had already become accustomed to Hallie and Chris as a duo.)
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Borderline too casual
The dynamic between Hallie and Chris is fun and quirky. It's clear that they want to keep the tone of the conversation casual and lighthearted. That said, there are some serious themes discussed in episode 3 that they probably should have discussed with more sensitivity.
As I listened to that episode, I couldn't help but cringe a little. By this point, I had started to feel a connection to Hallie and Chris, and I liked them a lot. I felt stabs of concern for how their easy banter about sensitive topics could backfire on them.
I think this is a danger for co-hosts who know each other well and have their own "language". If my husband and I made a podcast, we'd be hard-pressed not to fall into silly jokes that might offend others.
I think it was unwise of Hallie and Chris to assume that all listeners would easily identify their sarcasm as a way to keep the episode from becoming too heavy. Something to think about next time they're faced with a similar theme.
Complex topics broken down & made easy
I started this podcast review by admitting that I hadn't been listening to many educational or thought-provoking podcasts lately. So let's tackle that.
I've actually learned a lot in just 8 episodes of One to Grow On (there will be 12 episodes out by the time this review is published).
Some of the things I've learned have actually just been nuances. Explaining subtle differences between common phrases and thoughts is an effective way of teaching people something new.
I've also learned bigger-picture things, too. Episode 5 (the one in which Hallie explains what exactly she does for a living) was part history lesson, part modern-day farming explanation. Hallie is very good at providing scientific or historical context and then providing real world examples and applications.
On the occasions when Hallie does drop a big, fancy agro term without explanation, Chris is quick to stop her and ask her to break it down for the rest of us.
[Related Post: Podcast Review: The Habitat]
In Summary: Educational and entertaining
One to Grow On is fun and amusing. It's also full of useful information that explains the world around us. Most importantly, it exposes me to concepts that I wouldn't necessarily seek or learn about on my own.
From what I've listened to, this podcast is suitable for teens and adults alike (with the caveat about episode 3).
Check your preconceived notions at the door, give it a listen, and let me know what you think.