TN Magic Moments Podcast Connects Consumers With Agriculture Though Storytelling
In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Have you ever wondered just how much agriculture impacts your daily life? That’s a question the TN Magic Moments podcast aims to answer, one episode at a time.
Hosted by Lauren Vath, director of advancement communication for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, and Samantha Jean, director of communications for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the podcast began in 2016 with the goal of sharing the story of agriculture across the state.
“We always say there’s no magic without ag, and that’s how the name of the podcast came about,” Jean says. “Agriculture is part of all of our lives; no matter your profession, hobbies or where you live, agriculture impacts you directly. We want to highlight the magic of this industry and how it contributes to the moments that make up our lives.”
Initially, episodes followed a traditional question-and-answer format, but in 2020 Vath and Jean shifted their focus to storytelling. By creating an easy-to-follow narrative, they hope to ensure their audience – particularly those without much knowledge regarding production agriculture – can better understand the magnitude of agriculture and how their favorite food and products make it from the farm to their homes.
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“Right now, we’re looking for the fringes of what people consider agriculture,” Vath says. “For example, we interviewed a country music artist, Stephanie Nash, who is also a dairy farmer and uses her platform to advocate for agriculture. We saw that episode as the perfect opportunity to explore the link between country music and agriculture.”
TN Magic Moments’ most recent season also included stories from farmers continuing to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with episodes highlighting agricultural technology and Tennessee’s agricultural history. The 2020 season also featured an episode focusing on women in the state’s craft brewing industry and how the brewing process connects to both traditional and nontraditional agriculture.
Although Vath and Jean have a strong vision for the podcast, they welcome listener input when it comes to episode ideas – especially those lending themselves to engaging stories.
“It’s people who make the agriculture industry what it is, and by sharing their individual stories we can educate people as we also provide entertainment,” Vath says. “Not only will you get to know someone in the ag industry by the end of a TN Magic Moments episode, but you’ll also walk away with a greater understanding of the topic at hand.”
Listen to TN Magic Moments at tnmagicmoments.com and follow the podcast on Instagram @tnmagicmoments to get a peek into the lives of different farmers and producers each Tuesday during #takeovertuesday.