The Vance Crowe Podcast

In this week’s Ag Tribes Report, host Vance Crowe is joined by dairy farmer and Bitcoiner JR Burdick for a fast-paced tour through the biggest stories shaping agriculture. They unpack President Trump’s viral post urging ranchers to lower beef prices and the backlash from cattle producers who point to low herd size, packer settlements, and market volatility driven by political posts. Then they dig into the looming SNAP crunch amid the government shutdown, how an AWS outage jammed up harvest logistics and farmgate payments, and the partial reopening of FSA offices to process $3B in producer payments—plus the real-world cash flow pinch for beginning farmers. JR also delivers the Bitcoin Land Price Report, shares why he’s bullish on both land and Bitcoin, and explains practical resiliency lessons from a payments outage. We close with his Peter Thiel paradox—Gen Z’s push to rebuild rural “place” over “career”—and a candid look at rebuilding community, selling raw milk and pastured pork, and accepting Bitcoin on the farm.

 JR’s farm: nourishingfamilyfarm.com and @jrcowfarmer on X.

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In this episode, Vance Crowe sits down with author Devon Erickson to explore why he calls himself a compulsive explainer and how he sees the role of an intellectual: not to end debates, but to start them with powerful metaphors and fresh lenses. They dive deep into empathy as a writer’s core skill—simultaneously inhabiting a character’s inner world and anticipating the reader’s experience—and how that practice shapes Devon’s science-fiction novel, Theft of Fire. From first-person perspective and memory palaces to the mechanics of metaphor in thought, they wander into bigger terrain: how online discourse reveals public preoccupations, why villains must believe they’re right, and what it takes to write convincingly across gender and worldview.

Their conversation also ranges into contested civic ground: the difference between empathy and sympathy, the dynamics of thug mentality and civilized restraint, the risks of escalating political tribalism, and the notion of “soft off-ramps” in American politics. They talk about immigration enforcement as theater versus necessity, institutional capture, and the appeal of centralized control to academics. Then they zoom back to the personal: metabolic health and processed food, the economic pressures on families, inflation as time theft, Bitcoin as an intergenerational lifeboat, and why some boomers feel out of touch with younger realities. They close with Devon’s passion project—the cinematic, full-cast audiobook of Theft of Fire—and the promise of classic sci-fi spirit with modern tech rigor.

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(00:00:04) Opening: Sharing insights vs. repeating talking points

(00:03:11) Host intro: Meeting Devon Erickson and The Theft of Fire

(00:06:12) Metaphor as the engine of thought and memory

(00:14:44) Empathy as a writer’s core skill—villains, readers, and realism

(00:19:59) Modeling minds: conversational load, perspective taking, and audiences

(00:26:06) Writing across gender and identity—finding Miranda’s voice

(00:29:08) Speculative craft: writing what does not exist

(00:30:04) Online discourse: empathy without sympathy and confronting hostility

(00:36:55) Self‑defense mindset: lines, intent, and preparedness

(00:41:49) Civility, uncivil actors, and the ‘soft off‑ramp’ in politics

(00:49:31) Purpose of a military and cultural standards debate

(00:51:58) Media narratives, ICE, and dealing with the uncivilized

(01:02:00) Marxism, envy, and institutions—power vs. merit

(01:11:55) Inflation’s danger and policy priorities ahead

(01:14:16) Immigration, budget crises, and administration choices

(01:14:32) Foreign influence and defining America’s interests

(01:18:14) Money tech: inflation, Bitcoin, and future‑proofing exchange

(01:21:15) Order vs. chaos: El Salvador, gangs, and state response

(01:37:07) Feminism, industrialized food, and metabolic syndrome

(01:46:33) What causes the obesity wave? Processed food vs. lifestyle

(01:51:22) Inflation, two‑income households, and policy timelines

(01:57:25) Cats, granaries, and guarding civilization’s value

(01:57:35) Generations: anti‑boomer sentiment and being out of touch

(02:02:18) Time as money: assets, risk, and financial education

(02:12:06) Economics in sci‑fi: Marcus, Miranda, and post‑government markets

(02:18:00) Building a cinematic audiobook: casting, direction, perfectionism

(02:25:01) Closing: Why Theft of Fire and where to find it

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In this solo-hosted Ag Tribes Report by Vance Crowe, Vance covers four major headlines shaping agriculture and adjacent markets after the scheduled guest drops out during harvest. The report dives into the unusual coalition of farmers and food companies backing state-level animal welfare laws like California’s Prop 12, unpacks the DOJ’s massive seizure tied to a Southeast Asian “pig butchering” crypto scam and what it could signal for government Bitcoin accumulations, assesses Nestlé’s 16,000-job global restructuring and what it may mean for supply chains and food inflation, and reacts to prosecutors seeking a prison term and restitution in the $4 million crop insurance fraud case involving Steve McBee—plus why crackdowns on fraud matter for producers who rely on transfer programs.


In the Bitcoin land price segment, Vance explains recent volatility, why 24/7 liquidity makes Bitcoin the shock absorber for weekend macro news, and why dips remain opportunities compared with gold’s run-up. Vance also shares a reflection from an impromptu conversation with a Vietnamese Uber driver on managing “energy ripples” in relationships, and explores what genuine respect looks like in the Worthy Adversary segment—including how naming respect can transform high-stakes conversations. As always, listeners are invited to send in stories for future shows and feel free to disagree.

This week's episode comes from an impromptu airport ride recording, Vance Crowe captures a conversation with Thomas Nguyen, an Uber driver whose warm greeting sparks a profound dialogue about faith, culture, parenting, and restraint. The discussion traces Thomas’s childhood in Vietnam, exploring religious crackdowns and shifts through the decades, and the intricate dynamics among Catholics, Buddhists, and the state. Thomas shares how Buddhist principles of calm, silence, and nonreactivity guide his parenting and conflict resolution, using vivid metaphors—like the stone and the water, or the gift refused—to illustrate how stillness restores balance amid chaos. As a father of young children, Vance finds himself transformed by the encounter. In the days following, he applies Thomas’s wisdom, choosing calm over reaction, which reshapes a hectic weekend at home. This episode invites listeners to bridge accents and backgrounds, revealing how values shape daily choices and offering a path to a steadier strength in family life and beyond.

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In this week’s Ag Tribes Report, fourth-generation Missouri cattleman and board member Glenn Cope joins the discussion to analyze a turbulent moment for agriculture. The conversation explores President Trump’s plan to redirect tariff revenues to soybean growers, the unintended consequences of a U.S. bailout enabling Argentina’s cheap soybean exports to China, and how these actions increase price and input pressures on farmers. It also addresses the looming threat of New World Screwworm nearing the U.S. border, its potential impact on animal health and markets, mitigation tools like ivermectin and Zoetis’ Decomax CA, and the importance of border policy and fly control. With a government shutdown stalling USDA services during harvest, the discussion highlights how delayed loans, payments, and data disrupt cash flow and accelerate consolidation. Glenn offers insights on the Bitcoin Land Price Report from the Ozarks, the Peter Thiel paradox on land values, and his “worthy adversary” perspective on RFK Jr.’s stance on agricultural tools like Roundup, emphasizing the necessity of no-till and modern inputs for efficiency and environmental outcomes.


The report includes the honoring of the memory of Ryan Whitehouse of the Illinois Farm Bureau and encouraging the recording of family stories—through Legacy Interviews or simple, intentional conversations—to preserve memories that shape understanding of the past and strengthen connections.

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In this episode, Vance Crowe shares a keynote delivered at the inaugural Flinchbaugh Forum for Agricultural Policy in Manhattan, Kansas, honoring Dr. Barry Flinchbaugh’s legacy of courageous, civil discourse. Vance unpacks the concept of “worthy adversaries,” explaining how respect and even resentment can guide individuals toward those who sharpen their ideas, and offers practical tools for productive disagreement: steelmanning, providing “click” moments of fascination, asking “how” instead of “why,” saying “tell me more,” and diagramming arguments to debate ideas shoulder-to-shoulder rather than person-to-person. Vance also explores how the Overton window shifts what’s thinkable and why humility and openness to change are essential for changing minds.


To test these principles, Vance presents a Peter Thiel–style paradox: Washington is correct that America needs more farmers, but mistaken in believing that printing money and transfer payments will secure that future. The argument is made that relentless monetary expansion inflates land and input costs faster than farm returns, and a provocative case is presented that Bitcoin—due to its digital scarcity—may siphon the monetary premium out of farmland over time. Vance challenges listeners to find their own worthy adversaries, articulate their own Peter Thiel paradox, and engage in courageous, curiosity-driven dialogue to keep politics rooted in conversation rather than coercion.

In this week’s Ag Tribes Report, Vance is joined by Missouri farmer and former Missouri Farm Bureau president Blake Hurst. They cover John Deere’s latest layoffs amid a tough farm economy and what this downcycle means for equipment buyers, the Trump team’s floated idea to fund farm aid with tariff revenues (and Blake’s sharp critique of running money “in a circle”), and USDA’s push to expand U.S. ethanol exports to the UK, including a frank debate about mandates, price impacts at the pump, and ethanol as a strategic grain reserve. We also examine concerns from Alberta about immigrant wage subsidies crowding out youth jobs and how labor realities are playing out on U.S. farms, including Blake’s experience with the H-2A program. 

In the Bitcoin Land Price Report, they discuss volatility versus real assets, stablecoins for cross-border payments, and why instant, low-cost settlement could threaten credit card rails. We close with Blake’s Peter Thiel paradox—why losing some acres to other uses might actually help farmers by tightening supplies—and his broadside against protectionist trade instincts within agriculture. Plus, where to follow Blake’s writing and what’s coming up next on the road in Manhattan, Kansas for the Flinchbaugh Forum.

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In this special edition of the Ag Tribes report, Vance reflects on the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk and its impact on our society. This episode deviates from our usual focus on agriculture to address broader cultural issues that affect us all. Vance shares his personal experience of learning about this tragic event and the profound respect I had for Charlie Kirk, a man who consistently chose dialogue over violence. His ability to engage respectfully with those who disagreed with him was admirable, and his loss is a stark reminder of the chaotic times we live in. Vance discusses the dangers of quick judgments and the importance of resisting the urge to synchronize with mob mentalities during such turbulent periods.

As we navigate this chaos, Vance emphasizes the need for patience, understanding, and thoughtful dialogue. I explore the role of faith and the principles that have historically guided us through difficult times, advocating for a return to values like forgiveness and justice. While acknowledging the necessity of government intervention, Vance cautions against the potential for increased surveillance and loss of freedoms. This episode is a call to action for builders and thinkers to construct a better world, urging listeners to remain calm, wise, and resilient in the face of uncertainty. Vance concludes with a message of hope, encouraging patience and wisdom as we grapple with the unknown.

In this episode of the Ag Tribes Report, host Vance Crow welcomes Jared McDaniel for a deep dive into the world of Bitcoin and its implications for agriculture and personal sovereignty. Vance and Jared engage in a spirited discussion about the potential of Bitcoin to combat government inflation and preserve individual wealth. They explore the philosophical and practical aspects of Bitcoin, debating its role as a tool for freedom and its comparison to traditional assets like land. Jared shares his skepticism about digital currencies, emphasizing the importance of tangible assets and the risks of hyper-digitalization.

The conversation also touches on the broader economic landscape, including the potential for hyperinflation and the role of stablecoins in prolonging the US dollar's dominance. Vance argues for Bitcoin as a means of escaping the fiat system's pitfalls, while Jared remains cautious about the digital realm's impact on human interaction and society. The episode concludes with a call for listeners to explore Bitcoin themselves, highlighting its potential as a store of value and a tool for financial independence.

Legacy Interviews - A service that records individuals and couples telling their life stories so that future generations can know their family history. https://www.legacyinterviews.com/experience

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