Harvesting Wisdom Podcast with Mike McMahon

Hosted by Mike McMahon

Business Education Science

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Episodes

136

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Discover insights that grow a greener world with Harvesting Wisdom Podcast hosted by Mike McMahon. 🌱🎙️ Leading experts share wisdom on agriculture, sustainability, and education in Arizona and beyond. Policy makers, industry experts, and international outreach champions – we cover it all! Tune in for a harvest of knowledge. 🌍🌾

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 22, 202622 min

From Farm Roots to Future Generations | Junelle Cavero

Send us Fan Mail What do an apricot orchard, a school garden, and the future of technology have in common? More than you might think. Junelle Cavero joins Dr. Joe Roselle on Harvesting Wisdom to share how growing up on a family orchard shaped her understanding of hard work, patience, and resilience—and why those lessons matter for the next generation. Together, they explore how school and community gardens create opportunities for hands-on learning, connection, and discovery. The conversation also moves into composting, Arizona’s water and energy needs, and the connections between agriculture, data centers, and emerging technology, including Cavero’s perspective on proposed legislation. IN THIS EPISODE 🌱 Life on an apricot orchard and lessons passed down through generations 🌱 Helping children build confidence and curiosity through gardening 🌱 Composting and the resources that support growing food 🌱 How agriculture and technology share water and energy resources 🌱 Learning through experimentation, setbacks, and trying again Whether you’re an educator, gardener, parent, or lifelong learner, this conversation invites you to consider how the things we grow shape the way we learn and connect. 💬 What’s one lesson you learned in the garden? Share it in the comments. Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations about food, farming, education, and the people connecting us to the land. ABOUT HARVESTING WISDOM Produced by Urban Farming Education, Harvesting Wisdom brings together growers, educators, researchers, and community voices to explore our relationships with food, the environment, and one another. EXPLORE & GET INVOLVED Urban Farming Education & Project Grow: https://www.weareufe.org Harvesting Wisdom: https://www.harvestingwisdompodcast.org

October 9, 202614 min

How a Campus Garden Becomes a Place to Belong

Send us Fan Mail What can a campus garden teach students beyond growing food? At Grand Canyon University, students are building practical skills, finding community, and helping shape a space of their own. In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, guest hosts Gracie and Lily visit the GCU Garden to speak with Kate, a graduate assistant who oversees the garden’s operations and student staff through Outdoor Recreation. Kate shares how students help build and maintain the space—from an outdoor kitchen to garden paths—and learn to solve problems along the way. They also discuss composting, reusing materials, irrigation challenges, and how garden events bring people together. The conversation explores what happens when students have a place to slow down, get their hands in the soil, and turn what they know into something they can use. In this episode: Hands-on learning beyond the classroom Student-led projects and practical building skills Composting food scraps and giving materials a second life Working through irrigation challenges with limited resources Creating a welcoming space for connection and belonging Helping students discover gardening through events and classes Whether you’re an educator, college student, garden leader, or curious beginner, this episode offers a look at how a garden can grow alongside the people who care for it. What’s one skill you’ve learned in a garden that you use somewhere else? Tell us in the comments! Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations about food, sustainability, education, and community. Explore Harvesting Wisdom: https://harvestingwisdompodcast.org Learn about Urban Farming Education and Project Grow: https://weareufe.org Guest: Kate, GCU Garden graduate assistant Guest hosts: Gracie and Lily Recorded at the GCU Garden in Phoenix, Arizona

October 8, 202614 min

Nature-Based Education & School Gardens | Paradise Earth Academy

Send us Fan Mail What started as one mother teaching her daughter outdoors grew into a school serving about 80 students. Discover how Paradise Earth Academy combines strong academics, school gardening, and time in nature. In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Dr. Joe Roselle visits Paradise Earth Academy in Gilbert, Arizona, to speak with founder Melissa Alexander about the journey from a small homeschooling group to a growing school community. Melissa shares how focused academic blocks, outdoor breaks, and hands-on experiences shape the school day. We explore the garden as a place to learn, slow down, and connect—and how families are learning alongside their children. IN THIS EPISODE: • The story behind Paradise Earth Academy • Balancing academics with outdoor exploration • A cell phone-free campus and flexible schedules • Using the garden for science, math, art, and stewardship • The vision for orchards, outdoor classrooms, and food production • How community partners can help the garden grow GET INVOLVED Interested in supporting the garden with trees, materials, gardening expertise, or agricultural partnerships? Connect with Paradise Earth Academy or Urban Farming Education below. Paradise Earth Academy: https://paradiseearthacademy.com/ Urban Farming Education / Project Grow: https://weareufe.org/ Harvesting Wisdom: https://harvestingwisdompodcast.org/ 💬 What would you add to a school garden to help students learn? Tell us in the comments! Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for conversations about school gardens, growing food, and connecting communities with nature.

October 2, 202646 min

From Awareness to Action: How Stories Create Change | Kate Gardiner

Send us Fan Mail Why do some stories inspire action while others get lost in the noise? Communications strategist Kate Gardiner joins Mike McMahon to explore how storytelling can build trust, reach the right audience, and move environmental conversations beyond awareness. Kate is the founder and CEO of Last Word Communications, formerly Grey Horse. Drawing on her journalism and communications experience, she shares lessons from environmental campaigns, documentary projects, and crisis communications—and discusses the role of human judgment as AI reshapes how we create and consume content. In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, we explore: • Turning environmental awareness into community action • Connecting soil health, conservation, and education through storytelling • Choosing the right platform for your message and audience • Why planning your communications before a crisis matters • AI, authenticity, and the future of human creativity • Finding hope through education and collective action Whether you’re an educator, nonprofit leader, communicator, or someone who wants to make a difference, this conversation explores how the stories we share influence what happens next. CONNECT WITH KATE Website: https://kategardiner.com/ Last Word Communications: https://lastwordcommunications.com/ EXPLORE OUR WORK Harvesting Wisdom: https://harvestingwisdompodcast.org/ Urban Farming Education: https://weareufe.org/ Educators and school garden leaders: visit Urban Farming Education to learn more about Project Grow and garden-based learning. Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for conversations about soil, sustainability, education, and the people helping communities grow. What is one story that changed how you think about the environment or your community? Share it in the comments.

September 30, 202642 min

Soil Microbes & High Desert Homesteading with Landen Schaelling

Send us Fan Mail Your garden is growing big, green plants—but where’s the harvest? The answer might be hiding beneath your feet. In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon welcomes homesteader and soil consultant Landen Schaelling for a conversation about soil microbes, composting, and growing food in Northern Arizona’s high desert. After a disappointing growing season, Landen began looking beyond soil texture and into the microscopic life supporting his plants. He shares how that experience shaped his approach to gardening, led him into soil consulting, and inspired his work with microbial fermentations. From feeding a family of seven to saving locally adapted seeds, this conversation explores the experiments, setbacks, and discoveries behind more than a decade of homesteading. In this episode, we discuss: • Growing food through extreme temperature swings and unpredictable frost dates • Extending the growing season with row covers • Saving seeds and experimenting with crop varieties • How Landen’s unsuccessful market garden changed his direction • Microbe Master Mix and his approach to microbial fermentation • Fungi, protozoa, and examining compost under a microscope • Windrow composting and Johnson-Su composting • Balancing family life, homesteading, and a consulting business About our guest: Landen Schaelling is a Northern Arizona homesteader, soil consultant, and founder of Sacred Soil Solutions. His work combines permaculture, soil microscopy, microbial inputs, and education for gardeners, homesteaders, and farmers. Connect with Landen: Instagram: @sacredsoilsolutions Learning community: Sacred Soil Solutions Explore Harvesting Wisdom: Visit harvestingwisdompodcast.org for more conversations and resources. Join the conversation: What’s your biggest gardening challenge—soil, weather, or getting your plants to produce? Tell us in the comments. Follow or subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom, share this episode with a fellow grower, and leave a rating or review on your listening app.

September 24, 202615 min

A Student-Led Plan to Grow Food in Zimbabwe | Sarah Adams

Send us Fan Mail How can students turn ideas for growing food into a project that communities in Zimbabwe can use? Dr. Joe Roselle talks with Sarah Adams of Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University about an ESG fellowship with Urban Farming Education. Students from Zimbabwe are exploring community farming and animal husbandry projects, while seeking the partners and practical expertise needed to move their ideas forward. Sarah and Joe discuss what the students hope to build, the challenges they have encountered, and how people with experience in agriculture, irrigation, solar energy, logistics, and international business could contribute. Have relevant expertise, or know a potential partner in Zimbabwe? Contact Urban Farming Education at [info@weareufe.org](mailto:info@weareufe.org) and mention the Zimbabwe ESG Fellowship. Learn more about Harvesting Wisdom: https://www.harvestingwisdompodcast.org/ Learn more about Urban Farming Education: https://www.weareufe.org/ Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for conversations about growing food, education, sustainability, and the people putting ideas into practice.

September 22, 202626 min

Zimbabwe Safari With a Purpose: Conservation & Community | Arnold Payne

Send us Fan Mail Can a Zimbabwe safari help protect wildlife while strengthening the communities that live alongside it? Filmed at Zingweni Vlei Luxury Safari Camp near Hwange National Park, guest host Gracie Mika speaks with Arnold Payne, owner of Run Wild African Safaris and co-founder of Zingweni Vlei, about conservation, sustainable agriculture, food security, and educational travel in Zimbabwe. Arnold explains the realities of human–wildlife conflict, including what happens when elephants destroy a village’s crops or predators threaten livestock. He also discusses why access to water, agricultural knowledge, and sustainable income opportunities are essential for both community well-being and the future of wildlife conservation. The conversation explores how Urban Farming Education and Run Wild African Safaris hope to connect students with meaningful, hands-on experiences supporting local communities. Students from many different fields—including agriculture, engineering, environmental science, business, finance, and education—can bring valuable knowledge while gaining a deeper understanding of Zimbabwean culture, conservation, and community life. In this episode: • The relationship between rural communities and wildlife • How human–wildlife conflict affects families and conservation • Why water and sustainable agriculture are vital in Zimbabwe • How community gardens can provide food and income • Opportunities for students from different majors to contribute • What travelers can expect from a Zimbabwe safari experience • Life at Zingweni Vlei Luxury Safari Camp • How responsible travel can create a lasting impact Learn more: Urban Farming Education https://weareufe.org Harvesting Wisdom Podcast https://harvestingwisdompodcast.org Run Wild African Safaris https://runwildafricansafaris.com Follow Zingweni Vlei on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zingwenivlei/ https://www.zingwenivlei.com/ Subscribe to the Harvesting Wisdom Podcast for conversations about sustainability, education, agriculture, conservation, and the people creating positive change in their communities.

September 18, 202613 min

How U.S. Immigration Affects Education and the Workforce | David E. Gluckman

Send us Fan Mail How does the U.S. immigration system affect international education, agriculture, STEM fields, and workforce development? In this educational conversation, Dr. Joe Roselle speaks with immigration attorney David E. Gluckman about the relationship between immigration procedures and the needs of students, workers, universities, and employers. The discussion examines employment-based immigration, international student experiences, agricultural labor, skilled-worker pathways, visa processing, and the economic role of international talent. Why Listen: • Understand how immigration intersects with education and employment • Learn about challenges faced by international students • Explore workforce needs in agriculture and STEM fields • Gain general insight into employment-based immigration pathways • Hear a professional perspective on a complex national system This episode is intended to encourage informed, respectful discussion. It does not endorse or oppose a political candidate, political party, or ballot measure. Disclaimer: This program is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws, policies, fees, and procedures may change after recording. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for guidance regarding an individual situation. The opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers.

September 16, 202627 min

Sacred Ground: Cultivating Healing and Community

Send us Fan Mail What does it look like when faith, gardening, wellness, and community service come together in one place? Dr. Joe Roselle visits Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery in Phoenix for a conversation with Sister Linda Campbell, the monastery’s prioress. Sister Linda shares the monastery’s history and explains how it has grown into a welcoming community centered on prayer, healing, service, and connection. Learn how its healing garden, healthy meals, sound baths, yoga, tai chi, retreats, and outreach programs support people of all backgrounds. The monastery also prepares more than 300 backpacks for people experiencing homelessness each month and is working to expand its gardens through Urban Farming Education’s Project Grow. Why Listen: • Discover how gardening can support spiritual and emotional wellness • Learn about the monastery’s mental-health and healing programs • Hear how volunteers and community partners can make a difference • Explore the connection between healthy food, nature, and healing • Learn how Project Grow will help expand the monastery’s garden Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds. To learn more, volunteer, or explore its programs, visit OLGMonastery.com. Subscribe to the Harvesting Wisdom Podcast for more conversations about community, sustainability, wellness, and meaningful change.

September 9, 202644 min

Can AI Make Us Better Storytellers? | Emmy-Winning Filmmaker Devin Scott

Send us Fan Mail How is artificial intelligence changing filmmaking—and can it strengthen human creativity instead of replacing it? Emmy-winning filmmaker Devin Scott joins the Harvesting Wisdom Podcast to share his journey from making childhood movies with a Super 8 camera to producing documentaries, commercials, animated films, and AI-assisted stories. Devin discusses the importance of authentic storytelling, the opportunities created by generative AI, and his latest project, Whiskers in the Galaxy—a YouTube series featuring calming bedtime adventures that teach children meaningful life lessons. The conversation also explores environmental filmmaking, family stories, craftsmanship, emerging technology, and why a powerful story will always matter more than the tools used to create it. Why Listen? In this episode, you’ll discover: -How Devin built a successful career in filmmaking and earned multiple Emmy Awards -Why AI can enhance creativity without replacing the storyteller -How filmmakers can use emerging technology ethically -The inspiration behind Whiskers in the Galaxy -Why personal and authentic stories connect deeply with audiences -How films can educate, inspire change, and preserve history Subscribe to the Harvesting Wisdom Podcast for more conversations exploring creativity, innovation, sustainability, and the lessons that shape our lives. Disclosure: This episode was edited using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. This applies only to this video; all other Harvesting Wisdom Podcast episodes were edited without AI. The original conversation, ideas, and perspectives remain authentic.

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