Communicating the climate crisis is a difficult and emotional task. Texas Tech University's Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is a scientist that communicates a tricky subject, yet she remains positive and continues with her work.  She's active on LinkedIn and Twitter. Subscribe to her newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/fae4224ba66d/subscribe-to-katharine-newsletter

Severe weather comes in lots of forms: drought, blizzard, thunderstorm, tornado, flooding, dangerous heat, extreme cold, and possibly more. However, weather can be hard to forecast consistently, and sometimes the public is jaded to the weather warnings. Yet weather is one of the most important factors to a successful agricultural operation, and that's why I asked KAMC-TV (ABC, Lubbock) Chief Meteorologist Ron Roberts to join me for this episode of the podcast. My husband started working with...

Cindy Cunningham is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable communicators I know, especially when it comes to preparing for and responding to a crisis. She  worked in the pork industry for several years and is now at Woodruff. She is such a pro, and is always helpful to communicators from across the ag industry.  Find Cindy's company, Woodruff here: https://wearewoodruff.com/ Link to the Crisis Communications Guide: https://connect.xanedu.com/.../xan.../store/catalogue/25901/

Emily Leonard is the evening anchor for WTVA in Tupelo, Mississippi, and was previously in Lubbock at KLBK/KAMC. She is a Texas Tech graduate and an excellent reporter.  In this episode, she tells us how to be helpful to the media in the event of a natural disaster, and for some reason, her area of Mississippi has experienced more than its share of severe weather in the past few years.  Emily shares the newscast with her husband, Matt. She talks about him a lot during our conversation.  Fun...

David Doerfert is a co-worker, friend, and mentor AND he developed the agriculture crisis management framework. Dr. Doerfert is one of the best researchers I know, and it was a joy to talk about his research and thoughts on the topic of crisis communications.  Link to book: https://connect.xanedu.com/serve/xe/xaneducustom/store/catalogue/25901/?fbclid=IwAR3olcrpbEdymSa8ii9cZrQ8owUxULr0o8p5qqH5zA48Z9_ZT2ubepSQtg0

Faith Peppers is now the director of communications for USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. However, in her career, she has managed communications for a major newspaper and the University of Georgia's agricultural extension service.  She has a wealth of knowledge and ideas on managing issues and crises and she shares her ideas with us in this episode.  The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources is available here:...

For all former students requesting Lindsay Kennedy and I do a show together: we hear you and we grant your request. Dr. Lindsay Kennedy is my coworker, but more importantly, my friend and kindred spirit. Also she is an outstanding communicator. Before she came back to Texas Tech to join our faculty, she worked in the grains industry and had to manage two crises. She shares her experience in this episode. Insta: @Lindsay_onthefly My book:...

Season 3 of the So You Talk to Cows podcast focuses on risk and crisis communications. I just finished by book, The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources, and I'm teaching a graduate class on the same subject this semester. The topic of crisis comm is on my brain, so let's talk more about it in the podcast! Season 3 starts on September 4. Direct link to purchase the...

I wrote a book! Not only did I write it, the book is being published. XanEdu is publishing my book and it is available. I have had conversations with several ag communicators who would like to write a book, and I encourage anyone that wants to write, to do so. It's not easy, and it's not quick, but I have loved this experience and would love the opportunity to do more of this. Maybe not this year, but soon. In this episode, we flip the format and my friends at XanEdu, Mandy Gagel and Ben...

If you have attended Ag Media Summit, you have probably experienced an event planned by Diane Johnson. She is the Ft. Worth based owner of Details by Design. Although she has slowed down her business in recent years, she still plans and assists with other events.  She is highly organized  and always professional.  In this episode, she shares her suggestions for putting your best foot forward and planning a smooth event. A side note - Diane is being inducted to the Livestock Publications...

Tara VanderDussen is one of the most influential leaders in social media advocacy for the agricultural industry. She is a courageous myth buster and does a fabulous job of promoting dairy and ag in general. In this episode she shares some of her strategies and plans for creating a good platform. I met Tara for the first time when I interviewed her after a devastating blizzard took a toll on New Mexico and Texas dairies several years ago. She was a great speaker then and has gotten even better...

Janet Adkison is the embodiment of an agricultural communicator. Her degree is in farm broadcasting. She has worked for radio stations, ag radio networks, ag television, and now she is working in public affairs and advocacy for the Missouri Farm Bureau. She is an excellent reporter and has a fabulous voice.  And she's super nice!  She was relatively new in her job at MoFB and still learning the job, but she still has great insight and advice. Learn more about Missouri Farm Bureau here:...

Do cool things with cool people is great advice. Dr. Courtney Gibson is a cool person that I like to do cool things with. She's my co-worker and friend, and she is also the retiring Texas Tech University Faculty Senate President. She shares her experience with us, and also gives us some graphic design tips. Dr. Gibson is a phenomenal graphic designer, and she's highly creative, so much so that creativity is her research area. 

Jennifer Warren is the Vice President of Communications for National Sorghum Producers. She is an excellent and visionary communicator, and she is also a wonderful internship supervisor. Students in our program that intern in Jennifer's office are always highly prepared, grow in their professionalism, and they get really great experiences, like going to trade shows, photo shoots, story interviews, and more.  To learn more about NSP, their website is https://sorghumgrowers.com/  

To lead off Season 2, we are going to focus on getting and keeping a job. Cara Ferrell is one of the most knowledgeable people I know on this topic. She worked in career services at Oklahoma State for years and is highly trained in inner-office protocol and etiquette.  I asked her to share some of her favorite job getting tips, as well as her advice for being a great coworker. She recommended a book in the podcast: Work 101: Learning the Ropes of the Workplace without Hanging Yourself by...

New things are in store for the second season of the podcast. I like for my podcast to accompany what I'm currently teaching, and for the summer semester, we're focusing much of our content on job and internship readiness. It doesn't matter if you're 20 and seeking an internship or 42 and a seasoned veteran, there are always new things we can do to improve our communications skills and application materials.  Be sure to hit subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. 

So many of our agricultural communications students are interested in starting their own businesses. For my final podcast of this season, I'm wrapping it up with a former student that has a phenomenal small business: Megan Foote. She and her husband, Garrett, own Foote Family Meats in Clovis, New Mexico. Megan and Garrett manage every aspect of the business, and their marketing efforts are an excellent example.  Megan offers great advice for those with an entrepreneurial spirit. The book she...

Sales is a major area of agricultural communications, and working in the sales profession is rewarding and fun. Clay Erwin is a good friend of mine from church and Lubbock County 4-H activities. He is a senior sales account executive for KCBD-TV in Lubbock. Although he does not exclusively sell to agricultural clients, ag is a big part of his client list. He even roped me into appearing in some of the stations promotions. 

Austin Moore is an expert in agricultural video production. His career started for Oklahoma Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M, back to Oklahoma State, Oklahoma Career Tech, and now he's crushing it as an instructor at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. If I ever have a question about equipment, need to know how to do something, or need anything video related, Austin is my first call. He's at his best on TikTok: auzemoto Same username for Instagram. 

Vikram Baliga is a true role model for science communicators. He is a lecturer in horticulture and manages the greenhouse at Texas Tech, but he's also an excellent communicator.  He tells us a few of his social media strategies in this episode. Vikram also has a podcast that I love: Planthropology: https://www.planthropologypod.com/  https://www.facebook.com/Planthropology/ Insta: @planthropologypod Twitter: @Planthropology_ Also check out the TTU Greenhouse & Horitcultural Gardens'...

Kara Bishop is the director of communications and public affairs for Plains Cotton Growers. In her role, she regularly communicates with cotton growers and ginners (internal audience), as well as consumers, lawmakers, media, and others (external audience). In this episode, we learn some of her strategies for reaching her various audiences and managing multiple...

Tom Brand is the executive director of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and a former broadcaster. In this episode he teaches us about the organization, the importance of ag radio, and why it will continue to be important for years to come. 

Farm Journal is the oldest agricultural publication in the United States. It was first published in the 1870s and is still in print today. In this episode, the guest is Clinton Griffiths, the editor of Farm Journal. Clinton is also the host of AgDay Television. We talk about working in such a reputable publication, tips to make our writing better, and possible future directions of agricultural publications.  Farm Journal is available online: https://www.farmjournal.com/ Find Clinton on...

Emily McCartney is a western lifestyle photographer, and she's amazing. In this episode, I visit with this Texas Tech ag communications graduate about her career, her motivation, tips for taking great photograph, and that thing she wishes she were better at. Find her online: Website Facebook Insta: @roadrunnergallery and @e_mccart