The Shared Soil podcast, now preparing for its third season, was developed as a response to the experiences of women farmers participating in virtual learning circles hosted by UVM Extension. These sessions brought together farmers from across the United States to discuss shared challenges and successes related to farm management and leadership.
One key issue highlighted during these discussions was a sense of isolation among farmers, particularly those who spend long hours working alone or lack opportunities for off-farm socialization and professional development during busy seasons. The podcast aims to address this need by fostering community through conversations that are both friendly and educational.
According to the creators, “This podcast is dedicated to creating community, honoring challenges, and promoting personal and professional growth for ALL people in agriculture. Noted in our episode openings, this mantra represents our guiding principle for choosing episode topics.” The show features guests from diverse sectors within agriculture, including farmers, service providers, food industry professionals, law enforcement officials, natural resources specialists, volunteer managers, and Extension experts.
Previous episodes have included interviews with Charley Cummings, CEO of Walden Mutual Bank; Lauren Judd, Executive Director at Cornucopia Project; and John and Erin Maynard of AOR Farmstead. The hosts emphasize that the core of the podcast lies in sharing stories from people across the agricultural landscape.
Shared Soil plans to continue its monthly release schedule with season three launching in February 2026. Feedback and suggestions from listeners are encouraged via email.
The podcast is hosted by Kendall Kunelius and Rebecca Dube. Kunelius is an agricultural business management field specialist who supports New Hampshire’s farming community through her work with Extension programs and 4-H volunteering. Her background includes experience in business management on her family’s Connecticut farm as well as roles in the feed and grain industry. She describes herself as passionate about connecting with farmers through empathy for their work.
Dube brings expertise in technology, marketing, and communication aimed at helping Extension specialists share knowledge throughout New Hampshire. With a career spanning corporate, non-profit, and educational organizations, she has focused on making useful information accessible to the public. Dube is also active with local gardening groups and teaches Nature Journaling workshops.
Both hosts are alumni of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) who use their skills to connect agricultural professionals with resources that support their personal growth and professional success.
