If you’ve ever wondered how a book goes from a half-formed idea in your head to something sitting on a bookstore shelf, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how it happened for me.

In this episode, I’m walking through my experience with agents, book proposals, pitching publishers, advances and royalties, writing, photography, and the surprisingly long road to publication. I’ll also explain the different publishing paths available and what authors actually need to know about marketing once the book is finished. This isn’t an exhaustive guide to publishing—it’s the real story of how my books came together and what I’ve learned along the way.

Podcast Episode Highlights:

• Why I'm talking about my experience on writing and selling books
• Most common types of ways to publish your book
• How you get paid from publishing companies
• The process of turning a book idea into a book
• Details on having an agent
• Details on writing a book proposal
• Pitching to publishers
• The long process to actually getting the book published
• How I do my writing process and photography for the book
• What you need to know about marketing your book
• Final Thoughts

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Toups and Co. here: https://toupsandco.com/pages/prairie25

First time buyers can use the code Prairie25 to get you 25% off your first Toups order.

Find my cookbook here: http://homesteadcookbook.com/

Find my Old-Fashioned on Purpose book here: http://oldfashionedbook.com/

If you're interested in joining my small group business coach/mentorship program, email me at: [email protected]

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback! 

Grocery prices keep climbing, but most of the advice I’ve heard for spending less still seems to boil down to “use coupons” and “don’t grocery shop while you’re hungry.” After years of running a restaurant, I’ve started thinking about my household food economy very differently.

In this episode, I’m sharing the practical strategies I’ve picked up from the restaurant world and how they’ve changed the way I shop, cook, stock my pantry and freezer, and even think about the garden. Because spending less on groceries isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about building a food system that actually works for your life.

Podcast Episode Highlights:

• High grocery prices, lame advice, food economy thoughts, etc.
• Strategy: focus on price per meal
• Strategy: don't forget the waste-adjusted price
• Strategy: buy ingredients, not intentions
• Strategy: build an anti-takeout pantry
• Frugality doesn't need to mean purity
• Strategy: buy in bulk BUT keep these things in mind
• Strategy: be careful about how much you shop
• Learn the 'clean out the fridge' formats
• Stop making everything from scratch
• Careful about using your freezer
• Thinking about the garden for your grocery bill
• Let's talk about protein
• Final thoughts

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Toups and Co. here: https://toupsandco.com/pages/prairie25

First time buyers can use the code Prairie25 to get you 25% off your first Toups order.

Find my cookbook here: http://homesteadcookbook.com/

Check out Azure Standard here: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=ANnu0O8ySU

Learn more about Meal Craft here: https://mealcraftmethod.com/

Previous Podcast Episodes & Blog Articles on Food:

• How I’m Cooking These Days (podcast episode): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/tph_podcasts/season-18-episode-13-how-im-cooking-these-days
• Why Meal Planning Doesn’t Work for You (and what to do instead!) (podcast episode): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/tph_podcasts/season-14-episode-21-why-meal-planning-doesnt-work-for-you-and-what-to-do-instead
• How to Find Nourishing Food WITHOUT a Farm (podcast episode): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/tph_podcasts/season-11-episode-11-how-to-find-nourishing-food-without-a-farm-with-liz-haselmayer
• How to Store a Year’s Worth of Food for Your Family (Without Waste and Overwhelm) (blog article): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2021/09/how-to-store-a-years-worth-of-food-for-your-family-without-waste-and-overwhelm.html
• How to Store and Use Bulk Pantry Goods (blog article): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2021/10/how-to-store-and-use-bulk-pantry-goods.html

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback! 

In this episode, I’m talking with Emilie Toups of Toups & Co. about what actually happens to our skin as we age and why so many mainstream skincare products may not be helping.

We dig into a simple, natural skincare routine that anyone can start doing at home plus how these options compare to mainstream ingredients like retinol. Emilie also shares how to make the switch to natural skincare without getting overwhelmed and what we can do beyond topical products to nourish our skin from the inside out. And of course, we get into the bigger question underneath it all: how do we care for aging skin without making aging itself the enemy?

Podcast Episode Highlights:

• How and why our skin changes over time
• Why aren't mainstream skincare products working?
• What actually works for our skin
• Step #1: Oil cleansing
• Step #2: Gentle serums
• Step #3: Tallow
• Oil cleansing issues to keep in mind
• Natural products vs. retinol
• Addressing the critics of tallow
• Facial toner details
• How to switch from mainstream skincare to natural products without overwhelm
• What to do (besides skincare) to nourish your skin
• Deep thoughts on aging

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Toups and Co. here: https://toupsandco.com/pages/prairie25

First time buyers can use the code Prairie25 to get you 25% off your first Toups order.

Previous Podcast Episodes & Blog Articles on Natural Skincare:

• How to Opt-Out of Toxic Mainstream Skincare with Emilie Toups (podcast episode): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/tph_podcasts/season-7-episode-10-how-to-opt-out-of-toxic-mainstream-skincare
• When the Old Ways Make More Sense (blog article on using tallow on your skin): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2023/03/when-the-old-ways-make-more-sense.html
• How to Make Tallow Body Butter (blog recipe for making your own tallow skincare): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2022/04/how-to-make-tallow-body-butter.html

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback! 

I’ve had some epic garden failures over the years, but nothing quite like this one. And judging by what I’m hearing, I know I’m not the only person whose garden has struggled this year.

In this episode, I’m sharing the three main problems that seem to have created the worst garden of my life and also what I’m learning as I try to unravel them. No polished success story here, just real-time troubleshooting in hopes it helps someone else who is currently wallowing in their own gardening woes.

Podcast Episode Highlights:

• A quick glance at my gardening history
• What I noticed about my new place before I started planting
• What happened in my garden so far this year
• Problem #1: Herbicide contamination
• Problem #2: Soil Fertility issues
• Problem #3: Critters
• Final thoughts

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Toups and Co. here: https://toupsandco.com/pages/prairie25

First time buyers can use the code Prairie25 to get you 25% off your first Toups order.

Find Redmond's Soil Test Kit here: http://theprairiehomestead.com/soiltest

Previous Podcast Episodes & Blog Articles on Soil:

• The Worst Garden of My Entire Life (recent blog article with garden/house pictures about my current garden problems): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2026/08/the-worst-garden-of-my-entire-life.html
• I Think I Poisoned My Garden (blog article about my previous hay mulch problem): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2016/08/curled-tomato-leaves.html
• The Mystery of the Poisonous Potting Soil (podcast episode about my previous potting soil problem): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/tph_podcasts/season-10-episode-12-the-mystery-of-the-poisonous-potting-soil
• How Fall in Love with Your Soil (podcast episode about soil problems): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/tph_podcasts/season-12-episode-10-how-fall-in-love-with-your-soil
• How to Feed Your Soil a Whole Food Diet (podcast episode for healing bad soil): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/tph_podcasts/season-12-episode-12-how-to-feed-your-soil-a-whole-food-diet
• Weeds, Pests, & Herbicides: Overcoming Your Worst Organic Gardening Woes (podcast episode with tips for bad garden years): https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/tph_podcasts/season-13-episode-4-weeds-pests-herbicides-overcoming-your-worst-organic-gardening-woes

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback! 

As food prices continue to rise, buying the cheapest option isn’t always the same as spending wisely.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Diana Strayer from Azure Standard. Together, we explore how Azure Standard helps folks access nutrient-dense food, how you can really save money through bulk buying, and also how to shop their sales pages strategically. Our conversation offers a great practical look at purchasing food more economically without sacrificing quality.

Podcast Episode Highlights:

• Prices are rising and what we can do about it
• What Azure Standard is all about
• How Azure can be helpful for both rural and urban areas
• The importance of nutrient-dense food
• The difference between buying cheap and buying economically
• Saving money with bulk food
• Examples of food you can buy at Azure
• Saving with Azure's various sales pages
• How Azure Cash works
• How to make money with Azure
• Final thoughts

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Azure Standard and their non-GMO, wholesome food options (especially bulk food) here: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=ANnu0O8ySU

--> Join Azure Standard for FREE and enjoy 15% off your first order of $100 or more. Simply use promo code OLDFASHIONED15 at checkout.

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback! 

Being a beginner as an adult is humbling, awkward, and sometimes downright embarrassing—but it also takes a surprising amount of courage.

In this episode, I’m sharing a few recent experiences that reminded me just how vulnerable it feels to learn something new, why other people can be so quick to criticize, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with not being good at something yet. I'll share some tips and encouragement and also explain why your beginner status may actually be one of your greatest advantages. 

Podcast Episode Highlights:

• Why I'm passionate about adults trying new things
• My real life examples
• Why some people are critical when others are newbies
• Why we are afraid to try new things
• Don't forget to stay humble
• The rollercoaster of emotions when learning something new
• How to change your perspective 
• How being a beginner can actual be a bonus when learning a new skill
• Final thoughts

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Azure Standard and their non-GMO, wholesome food options (especially bulk food) here: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=ANnu0O8ySU

--> Join Azure Standard for FREE and enjoy 15% off your first order of $100 or more. Simply use promo code OLDFASHIONED15 at checkout.

Learn more about Meal Craft here: https://mealcraftmethod.com/

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback! 

 My house is hot this summer—and after more than a decade of central air, I’m realizing just how accustomed I’ve become to comfort.

In this episode, I’m sharing how the heat has made me more aware of my surroundings, more appreciative of certain things, and more thoughtful about what “old-fashioned on purpose” really means in everyday life. I’m also talking about what we’re eating during these sweltering days, including the simple meals and low-heat cooking strategies that are keeping us fed without turning the kitchen into an oven.

Podcast Episode Highlights:

• My house is hot this year and I'm not used to it
• Becoming more aware
• Becoming more appreciative
• What Old-Fashioned on Purpose really means
• What (and how) we're eating during the summer

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Azure Standard and their non-GMO, wholesome food options (especially bulk food) here: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=ANnu0O8ySU

--> Join Azure Standard for FREE and enjoy 15% off your first order of $100 or more. Simply use promo code OLDFASHIONED15 at checkout.

Learn more about Meal Craft here: https://mealcraftmethod.com/ 

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback! 

As you all probably know by now, my life has been a tad bit crazy lately. So I did the ultimate unplug from reality recently by participating in a horsemanship clinic for 10 days. Of course, that means that when I got back to 'normal', things were a tad overwhelming.

In this episode, I’m sharing what happens when worries turn into a negativity spiral, why our brains aren’t built to juggle everything at once, and the simple action steps that I take to conquer fear and overwhelm.

Podcast Episode Highlights:

• How I unplug when life is crazy
• What happened after I returned to normal life
• The negativity spiral problem
• We aren't supposed to multi-task
• Get rid of the vague with mapping
• My real life examples
• Action cures fear
• Final thoughts

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

Learn more about Azure Standard and their non-GMO, wholesome food options (especially bulk food) here: https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=ANnu0O8ySU

--> Join Azure Standard for FREE and enjoy 15% off your first order of $100 or more. Simply use promo code OLDFASHIONED15 at checkout.

 Find my Old-Fashioned on Purpose planner here: https://www.prairieplanner.com/

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback! 

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about identity and how we lose pieces of ourselves over time, and what it looks like to slowly come back to who we’ve always been. In this episode, I’m sharing what I’ve been rediscovering about myself, why old things have been speaking to me so deeply, and how I'm creating a home with secondhand pieces.

I’ll also share practical tips for finding the best vintage pieces, defining your own style, working with limitations, using what you already have, and why paint might just be the most underrated tool in your home. This is part reflection, part practical guide, and a little love letter to old things, imperfect homes, and becoming more yourself.

Podcast Episode Highlights:

• Thinking about our identities and coming back to ourselves
• What I've rediscovered about myself recently
• What I've been finding lately
• My thoughts on old things
• Tip #1: where I'm buying the best pieces
• Tip #2: figuring out a style
• Tip #3: Limitations as a guide and not a roadblock
• Tip #4: Look around your home
• Tip #5: Paint is the best
• Tip #6: Ask around
• Final thoughts

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

• Stay tuned for my new cookbook: The Old-Fashioned on Purpose Cookbook: Timeless Recipes That Fit Your Modern Life, coming SOON in October 2026!!
• Find photos of some of my recent old finds in this post: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2026/06/the-girl-who-saw-treasure-in-junk.html

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback! 

In this episode, I’m giving you a virtual tour of my new old house: the big-picture pieces, the quirky challenges, the garden and yard details, and the interior spaces I’m slowly bringing back to life.

I'm sharing the details on how my new old house isn’t polished or perfect, but there’s so much I already love about it, and how I’m learning a ton about how to focus on layers instead of going 'all in' on projects. Whether you're moving to a new place or simply feeling overwhelmed with your current one, I think this episode has some great tips to help you learn to love what you have.

Podcast Episode Highlights:

• Giving you a virtual tour of my new old house
• Recent criticisms and my response
• Big picture stuff on my new place
• The challenges of a new home
• What I love about my new place
• My garden and yard details
• The interior of my new old house
• Focusing on layers
• Why growth isn't always good
• Final thoughts

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:

• The Substack article on My New Old House: https://jillwinger.substack.com/p/the-new-old-house
• The blog article on My New Old House: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2026/05/the-new-old-house.html

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD:

• Sign up for weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
• Get my free homesteading tutorials & recipes here: www.theprairiehomestead.com
• Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
• Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/theprairiehomestead
• Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/podcast-guest-application

Did you enjoy listening to this episode? Please drop a comment below or leave a review to let us know. This can help other folks learn about this podcast and we also really appreciate the feedback!