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Popular Pig

Popular Pig

Hosted by Matthew Rooda

BusinessEducationNewsInterviews guestsExplicit
WebsiteRSS feedLinkedInYouTube

Episodes

273

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to the Popular Pig Podcast. A convenient place where you can stay up to date on what’s popular in the swine industry. By listening to Popular Pig, you will receive invaluable information on the latest trends, news, and research from various experts that guide the global pork industry.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
June 11, 20261 hr 9 min

The Founding Story of Iowa Craft Meats | Dwight Mogler

About the Guest Dwight Mogler is the managing partner of Iowa Craft Meats and a partner in Mogler Farms/Dayspring Farm in Lyon County, Iowa. A graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in agricultural business, Dwight returned to the family operation after working in the feed and grain industry and helped grow the farm’s farrow-to-finish operation to 200,000 head of annual marketing’s. Today, the family enterprise includes pork production, beef feedlot operations, crop farming, a country grain elevator and Iowa Craft Meats, a business focused on creating value-added pork products and connecting consumers more closely to the people who raise their food. Dwight is passionate about the future of pork demand, product innovation, and helping producers build stronger connections with consumers. Dwight previously served on the National Pork Producers Council board and is currently a producer board member of the National Pork Board.  He has been recognized by the Iowa Pork Producers Association for his contributions to the pork industry. He and his wife, Donna, live in Lester, Iowa, and enjoy spending time with family when not working. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? How a multi-generation farm family laid the foundation for Iowa Craft Meats. Why Dwight believes producers can build brands and connect directly with consumers. How Iowa Craft Meats is creating value beyond traditional pork production. What different pork cuts offer and how cultures around the world use pork. Why Dwight sees convenience and fully cooked products as an important opportunity for pork.  

May 28, 202640 min

Taste What Pork Can Do®: Connecting Campaign Results to Producer Value | Lee Schulz, Kiersten Hafer, Jesse Heimer

About the Guests Lee Schulz joined Ever.Ag as their chief economist in 2024. In this role, he speaks on various industry topics, develops and delivers economic data and analyses, and provides clients with critical economic perspectives for informed decision-making. He also serves as the consulting economist for the National Pork Board. Lee grew up on a crop and livestock farm in central Wisconsin. From 2012 to 2024 he was on the economics faculty at Iowa State University where he served as a professor and as the statewide extension specialist on livestock economics and markets. Lee has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, a master’s in agricultural economics from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Kansas State University. Kiersten Hafer, vice president of business intelligence and innovation for the National Pork Board, provides strategy, insights and guidance to the pork industry and supply chain on where to play and how to win with pork. She has leveraged her 30 years of experience with Fortune 500 companies and high-growth organizations to uncover and unlock potential, facilitate change and measure expansion. As a lifelong connector and change agent, she has strategized business growth with retailers, marketing agencies, food brokers, foodservice operators, market research firms and consumer goods manufacturers. Before her role with the National Pork Board, she served as vice president of marketing for Clemens Food Group, where she was responsible for marketing, innovation and business insights across its retail and foodservice businesses. Hafer is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University with a Master of Science degree in Food Marketing from the Haub School of Business. She resides in the Greater Philadelphia region with her husband, two children and two golden retrievers. Jesse Heimer owns Heimer Hampshires, a 500-sow show pig enterprise, where he leads a team of eight raising competitive pigs for junior livestock enthusiasts nationwide and sells progressive genetics via semen and breeding stock to other breeders. Heimer is a founding member and past board member of the Missouri Youth Show Pig Circuit (2009-2023) and a current Missouri Pork Association board member. At the national level, he is a Pork Leadership Institute graduate (2021); hosted dialogue with industry leaders to foster harmony between show pigs and commercial sectors; sits on the NPPC Traceability task force; participates in the AgView working group and represents exhibition swine on the General Conference Committee of the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? Why growing pork demand starts with understanding the consumer not just the product How data is being used to target the right people with the right message at the right time Why demand growth is a long game and what realistic expectations should look like How marketing efforts actually connect back to producer profitability and value

May 14, 202633 min

Ground Pork’s Untapped Potential and How to Win with Consumers | Sarah Showalter & Will Brunt

About the Guests Sarah Showalter is the director of consumer and business insights for the National Pork Board. She implements consumer-focused, producer-led strategy by leading qualitative and quantitative research to answer business questions and identify opportunities. Prior to her role at NPB, Showalter attended Iowa State University and has experience in developing strategic insights through research at Circana (formerly IRI), Conagra Brands and Hallmark Cards, Inc. Will Brunt is the chief innovation and marketing officer for Villari Food Group, based out of Wilmington, North Carolina. In this role, he develops and implements strategic initiatives that align with business objectives in innovation, sales and marketing. He notably established a robust three-year pipeline of innovative products, delivering 5% annual growth and maintaining a competitive product portfolio. Will has spent more than half of his 32-year marketing and advertising career with animal protein, emphasizing pork, specifically Boar’s Head, Smithfield Foods and Villari Food Group, while also building cross-functional teams and creating a growth-oriented culture of accountability and partnership. Other brands throughout his career include Sara Lee, Tabasco, Rolling Rock, Ventura Foods and International Delight. Lastly, Will was active in the National Pork Board’s two-year marketing advisory group, which served as a crucial feedback loop for the development of the Taste What Pork Can Do® consumer brand campaign, launched in May 2025. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? Why ground pork is a major growth opportunity and how it fits today’s need for quick, easy meals How ground pork’s versatility lets it work across global flavors, everyday meals, and different cooking styles Why consumers are stuck in habits and how simple swaps like using pork instead of beef can unlock new meals How education across the entire supply chain is key to driving demand and making ground pork a household staple Sarah & Will’s “Golden Nugget”

May 7, 20261 hr 8 min

AI, PigFlow, and Critical Thinking

About the Guests SwineTech is an agtech company transforming pork production through its PigFlow platform, an AI-powered operating system designed to coordinate people, protocols, and priorities at the point of care. Rather than focusing solely on data collection and reporting, PigFlow drives real-time execution by embedding standard operating procedures directly into daily workflows, ensuring consistency, compliance, and performance across every stage of production. At the center of the platform is Charlotte, SwineTech’s AI-powered digital assistant, which enables users to interact with operational data and institutional knowledge through natural language. By making information more accessible and actionable, Charlotte helps teams make faster, better decisions while reducing administrative burden. Together, PigFlow and Charlotte represent a shift toward execution-driven technology in agriculture, connecting data, people, and processes to improve outcomes across modern production systems. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? How SwineTech first used sound patterns to identify piglet distress Why AI still needs human review, context, and critical thinking What to consider before letting AI into daily farm or business work How producers can ask better questions when vendors mention AI Abe, Adam, and John “Golden Nugget”

April 23, 20261 hr 8 min

The Real Science Behind Farm Disinfectants | Jose Ramirez

About the Guest Dr. Ramirez is a scientific advisor for Clipper Distributing Company, LLC. Dr. Ramirez developed the first accelerated peroxide (AHP®) formulations which asides from Intervention disinfectant, also include hospital and dental disinfectants, a reuse medical sterilant, an antimicrobial hand wash, and a dairy teat dip. He holds more than 20 issued or pending patents ranging from cleaning & disinfection, to water treatment and chemical process sensors & controls. His first patent was filed in 1999 – the first AHP® formulation. Dr. Ramirez has more than 25 years of experience in disinfectant formulation development as applied to infection prevention and biosecurity in a variety of markets. He has started two companies based on his inventions and has won several business pitch competitions, including technologies for wastewater processing and wastewater control. He has been featured and interviewed several times in the press. Dr. Ramirez holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and MS and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? How dilution mistakes can reduce disinfectant performance without being obvious Why application and training matter just as much as the product itself What lower-cost disinfectants may miss in bacteria and virus coverage How disinfectants can impact lagoon systems and biogas production Why foam application improves visibility, coverage, and contact time  

April 16, 202638 min

Becoming a Better Leader for Your Team | Jose Santiago

About the Guest José Santiago is a sow production supervisor leading teams with Tosh Pork, LLC based in Henry, Tennessee.  José has had extensive experience throughout many segments of the pork industry which has positioned him to excel in production management and José’s teams routinely lead the industry in sow productivity, pig quality, and pig care. Although José’s strengths in pig production are evident, his true passions are rooted in the people who care for those pigs.  José believes in the value that all members of a team can contribute and encourage and develop his people to be as successful as possible. On his free time José is the Youth director for Holy Cross Catholic Church as well as the baseball coach for the Henry County Middle School team.  José currently resides in Paris, Tennessee with his lovely wife, Jaryssel and their two outstanding children, José (20 years old) and Angelica (18 years old). What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? Why swine production is really a people business first—and pigs come second when it comes to success. How great leaders build trust by showing up, listening, and giving their teams the tools and “why” behind the work. Why fear of failure “holds teams back and how creating a culture where it’s okay to try (and miss) helps people get better. How to better coach your team by understanding strengths, avoiding knee-jerk reactions, and putting people in roles where they can win. Jose’s “Golden Nugget”

April 9, 202645 min

Different Path for Beef and Pork Processing | Kit Laramore & Joe Galasso

About the Guests Joseph Galasso Jr. is a seasoned C-suite executive with over 40 years in food protein sales, operations, business development, and biosecurity technologies tailored for livestock and swine operations. As Chief Operating Officer at WT Associates and WT BIO-TECH, he leads commercialization of mortality management systems—including EPA-compliant incinerators, anaerobic digestion like KLEENPAS BioGestor, and aqueous ozone/nanobubble solutions—for large-scale beef and pork processing facilities in Iowa. His expertise spans pioneering green chemistry biosecurity for clients like Walt Disney and Wynn Resorts, full P&L management of 12M+ lb protein lines, and regulatory navigation (USDA FSIS, EPA, DNR), making him a key contributor to the protein industry. Kit Thomas Laramore was born in 1953 in Gillette, Wyoming, and grew up attending school first at a family ranch and later in Gillette. He pursued higher education initially in vocal performance and then in Agricultural Business, graduating from the University of Wyoming in 1978. After college, he worked in trades and construction before focusing on ranching and cattle operations, eventually moving into the beef meat business. Laramore attended a one-room schoolhouse taught by his mother, completed his primary and secondary education in Gillette, and studied vocal performance and agricultural business at universities in Utah and Wyoming. During college, he worked as an electrician earning substantial wages and post-graduation chose to build houses during a coal mining boom, becoming a general contractor for over 130 structures in six years. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? You will learn how a vertically integrated system can connect livestock production directly to processing and distribution. You will understand why smaller regional plants can improve access to processing and support local producers. You will learn how genetics and production choices impact meat quality, animal welfare, and efficiency. You will hear how workforce housing, training, and community investment can support long term rural development. You will learn the key risks in launching a facility like this and how planning addresses capital, labor, and food safety.

April 2, 202629 min

What Drives Mortality in Grow-Finish Pigs | Dr. Daniel Linhares and Dr. Edison Magalhaes

About the Guests Daniel Linhares, DVM, MBA, PhD –  Professor & Director of Graduate Education at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Worked for 8 years as a practicing veterinarian, technical services, and health assurance; now he is dedicated to training MSc and PhD students as part of the ISU fieldepi team, working with swine producers and health professionals in the US and abroad. Edison Magalhães, DVM, MBA, MSc, PhD  – Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University. Dr. Edison Magalhaes previously worked for four years in the Brazilian swine industry as a swine veterinarian practitioner. He then pursued his Master’s and PhD in Swine Epidemiology at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Currently, Dr. Magalhaes leads the SwinalytIQ Lab, a multidisciplinary team composed of undergraduate and graduate students from veterinary medicine, animal science, data science, and computer engineering. His program focuses on research and extension that supports the U.S. and global swine industries by developing data-driven approaches to improve health, productivity, and decision-making, helping producers better utilize their production data. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? You will learn how most grow-finish mortality ties back to conditions and performance in the sow farm. You will learn how integrating siloed data reveals connections between health, environment, and production outcomes. You will learn why weaning age, variation within groups, and early health challenges influence downstream performance. You will learn how barn setup, environment, and basic husbandry practices impact pig survivability early on. You will learn how gilt development and sow farm management set the ceiling for overall system productivity.

March 26, 20261 hr 7 min

Building Teams, Solving PRRS, and Leading Through Change | Dr. Bill Christianson

About the Guest Dr. Bill Christianson is the former Chief Operating Officer of PIC. He has a background in agriculture and biotechnology, with broad industry knowledge and extensive commercial and global experience. He earned his DVM and PhD in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Christianson joined PIC in 1993 and held a range of operational roles across Europe, South America, and the United States before becoming General Manager of PIC North America in 2007. He later led the combined ABS and PIC businesses across the Americas starting in 2010 and became COO of Genus PIC in 2012. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? How growing up around a family farm and machinery business led into the swine industry. What it was like working on PRRS during its early discovery and research phase. How large systems approached eliminating PRRS and the time and cost involved. Why taking opportunities before feeling ready can help you grow in your career. Bill “Golden Nugget”

March 19, 202633 min

Innovation, Sustainability, and Resilience in Australian Pork | Edwina Beveridge

About the Guest Edwina and her husband run Blantyre Farms, a 2,200 sow pig farm and a mixed farm of sheep, cattle and crops, near Young, NSW, Australia. In operation for more than a decade, a methane digestion system captures methane gas from pig manure and converts it into electricity. Blantyre also utilizes food waste products for pig feed and saves 13,500 of tonnes of landfill each year. The NSW EPA has awarded Blantyre with a Green Globe Award for Resource Efficiency. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? How a family pig farm in Australia grew from a small farrow-to-finish operation into a much larger sow farm over time. How using liquid feeding and food waste products can help reduce feed costs and create new opportunities on a pig farm. How capturing methane from pig manure can generate electricity and lower energy costs on the farm. How pig producers in Australia are dealing with activist pressure and protecting their farms and teams. Edwina’s “Golden Nugget”

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