WiSPER LOUD

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May 2026

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With a vision to create an open dialogue through a network of strong women in agriculture, Women in Seed Production bring you WiSPer Loud. These episodes are candid chats about career progression, motivation, reservations, and tough decisions and moments faced by Women in Seed Production. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., "Find a voice in a whisper!"

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May 21, 202639 min

Activate your Allyship Featuring Flo Kesselheim and CJ Shank

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for a special episode of the WiSPER Loud podcast. In this episode our hosts lead a candid panel discussion with guests Flo Kesselheim and CJ Shank focused on navigating the journey of allyship. CJ defines allyship as intentionally leveraging one's privilege and access to support others, famously simplified by his daughter’s advice. The conversation explores common pitfalls, such as passive allyship and the "shame loop" caused by personal privilege, while emphasizing the importance of advocating for all marginalized groups. To show up consistently, the guests suggest practical tactics like intentionally directing the spotlight toward others' ideas, and Flo talks about practicing the concept of "take space, make space." The panel also provides guidance on handling feedback with grace when allyship falls short, encouraging listeners to move past guilt by asking colleagues what success looks like in the future. Finally, listeners are challenged to activate their allyship today by seeking out diverse perspectives through new media and directly asking their teams for feedback on how they are showing up. You don’t want to miss this extraordinary conversation!

April 30, 202615 min

Resiliency and Relationships in Seed Production Featuring Paige Thomsen-Russ

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we talk to Paige Thomsen-Russ, who shares insights from her 25-plus year career in the agriculture industry. Paige discusses her journey from being a collegiate athlete to helping build a biological soil health company and eventually returning to seed production, where she now manages the "adrenaline rush" of crop planning and grower contracting. She reflects on the resilience required to navigate early career skepticism as a female agronomist, detailing how she turned initial doubt into deep, trust-based relationships with her growers. The conversation explores how her competitive spirit drives her to master her role while acknowledging the importance of positive self-talk to manage the pressure of being her own toughest critic. As a mentor to young women in the industry, Paige emphasizes the value of being confident, setting daily goals, and leaning on available resources when facing challenges. She concludes the episode by encouraging listeners to challenge themselves daily with the empowering reminder that they are stronger than they know.

March 20, 202631 min

Enjoy the Journey Featuring Dr. Denise Bouvrette

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for another exciting episode with our guest, Dr. Denise Bouvrette. As we walk through Denise’s professional journey, she shares how she tackled big transitions including moving up in the hospitality industry, going back to school later in life, falling in love with genetics, and, subsequently, leaving academia. She describes how skills she learned early on in her career set her up for future opportunities. She also talks about how to confront imposter syndrome and remain honest about what you don’t know and what value you do bring. Denise reminds listeners that often the best way to be intentional in one’s career is to understand yourself and what energizes you. Full of valuable insights, including an important reminder to seek joy and gratitude, this episode promises to leave listeners curious for more.

February 20, 202626 min

You Can Do Anything You're Big Enough to Do Featuring Amy Sanders

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we sit down with Amy Sanders, the Head of Digital and Data Enablement, to explore her nearly 30-year journey from chemist to leadership roles. Amy shares her insights on navigating major career shifts, emphasizing that transferable skills like problem-solving and driving change are far more valuable than technical expertise alone when moving up the ladder. She also breaks down her four essential leadership rules, which involve hiring the best talent, providing clear direction and tools, and ultimately getting out of the way to let teams thrive. The conversation takes a personal turn as Amy recounts a powerful "gut punch" moment involving her young son that taught her the critical importance of advocating for herself and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Amy further explains the value of finding mentors who ask great questions and surrounding oneself with a "tribe" that offers both support and accountability. Amy leaves listeners with the inspiring message that you can achieve anything you believe you are big enough to do, making this a must-listen for anyone navigating a complex career path.

January 23, 202622 min

Embracing the New and Unexpected Featuring Tracy McKay

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for an exciting 50th episode to kick off 2026! Our guest in this episode is Tracy McKay, a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience across the agriculture, automotive, and food industries. The central theme of this episode is Tracy's mindset of embracing discomfort, as she emphasizes that leaning into "scary" or "awkward" changes is often where the most significant learning and personal growth occur. To navigate these transitions, she advises professionals to be inquisitive and ask frequent questions, which demonstrates engagement and a desire to learn rather than a lack of ability. She encourages listeners to accept unexpected roles even if they do not meet every qualification, noting that transferable skills and unique perspectives are often more valuable than "checking every box" on a job description. Furthermore, she highlights the importance of balanced teams that blend "pro in-position" experts with versatile individuals who can "shake things up" across different functions. Tracy leaves listeners with advice for owning your own career by acting as your own advocate and treating networking as a "second job" to remain visible and competitive. Tune in to hear Tracy’s energizing and practical advice — you won’t want to miss it.

December 18, 202519 min

Shouts From the Rooftops: A Year in Review

In this year-end episode we reflect on a season of candid conversations about career progression, tough choices, and motivation faced by women in seed production. We celebrate the WISP Network’s 10year anniversary and underscore the episode’s central message: the power of community and a strong professional network. Key themes included taking ownership of your career (insights from Cheryl Werner, Melissa Phillips, and Angie Black), redefining trust and leadership (including the idea that “trust is a choice”), and resilience and energy management (practical tips from Debbie Holderman and Dr. Sheilah Oltmans-Deardorff). Guests also highlighted mentorship, allyship, and concrete strategies like career mapping, building transferable skills, and scheduling recovery time. This episode wraps with the signature “shout from the rooftops” answers from this year’s guests — from “I am enough” to “keep swimming” — and a reminder to follow the podcast so you don’t miss next year’s conversation.

November 21, 202528 min

Lead with Action: A Veteran’s Shift from Prove It to Demonstrate It Featuring Angie Black

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for a candid conversation with Angie Black, a US Navy veteran and mother with 24 years of experience in agriculture, who shared profound insights on career progression and challenges faced by women in seed production. Angie detailed her career journey through two segments: the intense "prove it" phase, rooted in proving value by working long hours and constantly seeking visibility, and the current "demonstrate" phase, which focuses on the quality and how she delivers work. The transition from overextending herself and prioritizing work, even on vacation, was catalyzed by a health crisis that required her to implement "guard rails" and shift toward working smarter. A key lesson learned throughout her career is the necessity of securing partnerships over seeking universal approval and recognizing that time lost cannot be recovered. Angie strongly advocates for influential leadership, emphasizing that success in service organizations often comes from increasing one's scope of influence across the business rather than solely relying on managing direct reports. Ultimately, she encourages listeners to embrace the confidence that she now holds: the belief that "I am definitely enough".

October 23, 202525 min

Self -Reliance and Navigating Life's Curveballs Featuring Melissa Phillips

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for an insightful conversation with Melissa Phillips, the North America Laboratory Research Lead. In this episode, Melissa shares her inspiring journey from working a seasonal part-time position while reevaluating her career trajectory, to earning her Registered Seed Technologist accreditation and pursuing advanced degrees in agriculture. She highlights how her drive for self-reliance spurred her on to continuous learning and helped her develop what she calls "back pocket information," or transferable skills that come in handy. Melissa also opens up about overcoming significant life challenges, including a cancer diagnosis, and how careful pre-planning along with a robust support system made navigating critical workplace decisions more manageable. As a "silent motivator," she provides valuable insights on guiding the next generation, addressing gender bias with her daughter in the traditionally male field of engineering, and raising her son to be a supportive ally. Finally, Melissa imparts essential advice for women in agriculture, stressing the importance of self-awareness, particularly regarding body language and approachability, and emphasizing the need to build a foundation for self-reliance. Don't miss this empowering episode!

August 27, 202547 min

Celebrating Progress: An Updated Discussion with Kate McQueen

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for another special podcast episode celebrating our 10-year anniversary featuring additional insights from Kate McQueen, VP of North America Row Crop Production, three years after her first appearance. This episode includes a re-listening to her originally aired podcast, now enriched with new content and reflections. Kate emphasized her fundamental message of avoiding the pursuit of perfection, encouraging listeners to recognize their strengths and values while collaborating with those who complement them instead of trying to be everything to everyone. Considering the current uncertainties in the agricultural industry, she urged women to embrace change, manage their mindset, and be proactive and engaged, prioritizing self-care through small daily practices. Kate also reflected on her journey of work-life integration, stressing the importance of establishing boundaries and evaluating balance over extended periods, such as monthly, to alleviate daily guilt. She openly shared her struggles with imposter syndrome, advocating for trust in one’s network, reframing negative thoughts, and approaching situations with humility. Her updated "shout from the rooftops" message inspires everyone to "be the person you want to be now" and embodies the change they wish to see in the world. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Kate share even more incredible advice and guidance.

August 20, 202555 min

The Power of Connection: Insights from the WiSPER Loud Panel Featuring Cassidy North, Bella Jacobson, Christine Raczka, Jess Patterson and Chelsea Hagan

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we commemorate the 10th anniversary of Women in Seed Production (WISP) by bringing together a vibrant panel of women. They will reflect on past episodes and delve into valuable advice and examples that have shaped their own journeys in career advancement and life within seed production. This celebration will not only honor our milestones but also explore how revisiting these discussions has enriched their experiences and provided actionable insights for navigating challenges in the industry. This episode emphasized the power of community and mentorship, showcasing how these relationships foster a supportive environment for personal and professional growth. A standout moment was Anna Jansen's inspiring quote: "do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better do better," which resonated deeply with the panelists. Jason Wildman contributed a valuable perspective, encouraging listeners to view failures not as setbacks but asopportunities to adopt a creative mindset. His insights reinforced the idea that embracing failure can lead to innovation and growth. While Jim Dowling’s analogy illustrated how "failure bricks" can be transformed into "stepping stones" for personal and team elevation, fostering a "fail forward" approach. The conversation also highlighted Hannah Neuenschwander’s advice that there are no "wrong" decisions in one’s career path, encouraging listeners to embrace non-traditional routes. Drew Yingling emphasized the significance of building trust through respect and open communication, creating a safe space for honest feedback. The episode concluded with heartfelt reflections on whatthey would advise their younger selves, focusing on trusting the process and leveraging community. The Women in Seed Production Network is celebrating our 10th anniversary throughout the entire month, so be sure to subscribe to catch all the amazing content!