Michael Klein invites Shelby Young to ride shotgun and talk a bit about the 125th RMA Convention and their wild return trip. Then, meet new USA Rice VP Jake Westlin as he shares insights from the Senate, wheat world, and his first impressions of rice country. Don't miss this lively behind-the-scenes episode!

With special guest:

Jake Westlin, VP Government Affairs, USA Rice

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Shelby Young

Michael is just back from eating his way across the 2025 National Restaurant Show in Chicago where he visited with members and investigated foodservice trends. Past show attendee Katie Maher stops by the studio to grill Michael about the show, and they listen to an interview from the show floor with Blaine Stewart of Heritage Rice Company.

With special guest:

Blaine Stewart, Heritage Rice Company

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Katie Maher

Retired rice breeder extraordinaire Steve Linscombe talks with Randy Ouzts from Nutrien, Tim Walker of HorizonAg, and Brian Ottis of RiceTec about the challenges of seed production, breeding methods, hybrid vs. pure line development, determining seeding rates, and how weather and technology shape the seed supply. Discover the cutting-edge practices and decisions that fuel the rice industry from the ground up.

https://www.horizonseed.com
https://nutrienagsolutions.com
https://ricetec.com

With special guests:

Brian Ottis, Director of U.S. Marketing and Product Management, RiceTec, Tim Walker, CEO, Horizon Ag, and Randy Ouzts, U.S. Rice Manager, Nutrien Ag Solutions

Hosted by:

Steve Linscombe and Michael Klein

Dr. Angelia Seyfferth, Professor of Biogeochemistry and Plant-Soil Interactions, shares her journey from humble beginnings to having a lab with her name on it at one of the most prestigious research universities in the country. She talks about her innovative study of arsenic uptake in rice, the trouble of salt water intrusion, and growing rice where it isn't typically found. Michael asks her about the challenges and rewards of academia, mentorship, gender representation in STEM, and more.

https://seyfferthlab.org
www.denin.udel.edu/salted-earth/

With special guest:

Dr. Angelia Seyfferth, Professor & Associate Dean of Research, University of Delaware

Hosted by:

Michael Klein

What, how, and why does the Federal Reserve do what it does? Hosts Michael Klein and Deborah Willenborg dive into a lively, humorous, and insightful conversation with Matuschka Lindo Briggs of the Little Rock branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis to get to the bottom of it all. From the Fed's ag advisory council to the Beige Book, and from consumer confidence to what's going on in Kansas City, this episode makes the decisions behind monetary policy relatable and even fun.

With special guest:

Matuschka Lindo Briggs, senior vice president and regional executive of the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Deborah Willenborg

The check off program is at times controversial, but do growers who pay into the program (and even those who don't) receive a good value for what they contribute? In this episode, Michael talks with Dr. Lanier Nalley, professor of ag economics at the University of Arkansas about his research into the ROI of the Arkansas check-off. Growers see orders of magnitude of return for every dollar - returns that are the stuff of legend.

With special guest:

Dr. Lawton Lanier Nalley, Professor & Director, Fryar Price Risk Management Center of Excellence, Graduate Program Coordinator

Hosted by:

Michael Klein

How has the digital revolution changed the way we shop? Hosts Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon explore shifts in consumer behavior, from online grocery orders to AI-powered shopping assistants. E-commerce marketing expert Eric Martindale joins to discuss the future of retail, how brands can thrive in this space, and why digital shelf space is the new battleground. Plus, listener mail proves people are tuning in! Don’t miss this deep dive into the evolving world of e-commerce.

www.elitecommercegroup.com
www.linkedin.com/in/eric-martindale-amazonagency/

With special guest:

Eric Martindale, CEO, Elite Commerce Group

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon

How is AI transforming the food industry? Hosts Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon talk with Andreas Duess, CEO of 6 Seeds Consulting, about AI-driven data, virtual consumer panels, and predicting food trends. From the impact of Ozempic on grocery shopping to the viral rise of air fryers, this conversation reveals how AI can be a powerful business tool—when used correctly. Tune in to explore the future of food, marketing, and consumer insights!

https://6seedsconsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreasduess

With special guest:

Andreas Duess, CEO and Founder, 6 Seeds Consulting

Hosted by:

Michael Klein and Lesley Dixon