The Germinate Podcast

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Sampson sits down with recent graduates Jack O’Brien and Shae Doherty to explore what it feels like to step out of the structured world of college and into the uncertainty of the professional workforce. Their conversation highlights the mix of excitement, anxiety, opportunity, and curiosity that many young professionals experience during this transition.
Shae shares her journey from playing collegiate soccer to graduating early from the University of Iowa with a degree in marketing. Now beginning her career search, she talks about the challenge of narrowing down potential career paths and identifying the types of companies and roles that could provide both purpose and long term growth. Like many recent graduates, she finds herself navigating a world where possibilities feel both wide open and overwhelming.
Jack’s path looks slightly different but reflects many of the same questions about career development. After graduating from the University of Iowa with a communications degree, he began working in sales and management roles, gaining early professional experience through a structured training program. Eventually he made the decision to return to school and pursue an MBA in Dublin, Ireland, an experience that pushed him outside his comfort zone and helped reshape his understanding of business, leadership, and global opportunity.
Joe guides the conversation toward the broader realities facing today’s graduates. Together they discuss the pressure of making early career decisions, the value of continuing education, and how travel, work experience, and personal growth can influence professional direction.
The discussion also touches on generational stereotypes often associated with younger professionals. Topics such as social media influence, career expectations, and workplace anxiety are examined openly, with Jack and Shae offering honest reflections about how much of those perceptions reflect reality and how much are oversimplifications.
Throughout the episode, the conversation emphasizes the importance of exploration, adaptability, and building meaningful experiences early in one’s career. Jack and Shae describe the importance of learning through trial and error, surrounding yourself with mentors, and remaining open to opportunities that may not fit the original plan.
Ultimately, the episode offers a thoughtful look at the early stages of professional life. It highlights how curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to step into the unknown can help young professionals find their footing while building careers that evolve over time.

In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Sampson sits down with Zac Engler, Chief AI Officer at C4 Tech Services, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the modern workforce and what it means for businesses navigating rapid technological change. Zac works with organizations across industries to develop AI strategies, train teams, and build custom AI solutions that improve productivity and operational efficiency.
The conversation dives into the growing “AI acceleration gap,” a trend where workers and companies who adopt AI tools are quickly outperforming those who do not. Zac explains how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, and Perplexity are helping professionals increase productivity, automate repetitive tasks, and dramatically improve performance in areas like sales, marketing, HR, and operations.
Joe and Zac also explore how generative AI is transforming everyday business functions. From creating training programs and research reports to analyzing workflows and building internal systems like CRMs, AI is changing how work gets done. Zac shares real examples from his consulting work showing how companies can use AI to streamline processes, analyze data faster, and uncover opportunities for growth.
The discussion also highlights practical strategies for organizations just beginning their AI journey. Zac emphasizes the importance of strong prompting techniques, documenting workflows and standard operating procedures, and appointing internal AI champions who can guide adoption across teams. According to his experience, even simple AI implementations can deliver measurable productivity gains for knowledge workers across departments.
Beyond the business implications, Joe and Zac address the broader societal questions surrounding AI adoption. They discuss concerns around overreliance on technology, the importance of human expertise, and how education systems may need to evolve to prepare future generations for an AI powered world.
Whether you are an executive, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of work, this episode offers a grounded look at how AI is already transforming the workplace and how businesses can adapt before the gap between adopters and non adopters grows even wider.

Podcast: The Germinate Podcast
Host: Joe Sampson
Guest: Chelsea Bodin and David James
In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with labor and employment attorneys Chelsea Bodin and David James of Nyland Johnson Lewis to unpack one of the most complex and rapidly evolving areas of business today: the employee employer relationship.

What begins as a conversation about HR trends quickly expands into a broader discussion about how employment law has fundamentally shifted over the past decade. Chelsea and David explain how the regulatory landscape has moved from primarily federal oversight to a growing patchwork of state specific laws. With remote work expanding across state lines, employers are now navigating multi state compliance challenges even when they consider themselves local businesses.

The conversation dives into the rise of paid family and medical leave laws, the growing complexity of leave management, and how employers can balance compliance with compassion. They explore the importance of consistency in applying workplace policies and how well structured employee handbooks can help mitigate disputes before they escalate into litigation.

Joe raises the trend of fractional HR services and whether outsourcing human resources functions creates risk for small and mid sized manufacturers. Chelsea and David share insights on how organizations may unintentionally expose themselves to greater liability by underinvesting in proactive HR infrastructure, particularly in industries like manufacturing where operational disruption can have significant consequences.

The discussion also touches on the impact of artificial intelligence in the workplace. From clients requesting law firms to use AI tools for efficiency, to employees using AI platforms to initiate pro se litigation without attorneys, Chelsea and David explain how technology is reshaping both sides of the employment landscape.
They preview their upcoming session at the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association Supply Summit and Showcase in San Antonio, where they will address evolving drug testing laws, cannabis legalization, discipline and termination best practices, and create an open forum for manufacturers to ask real time questions about workforce challenges.
At its core, this episode highlights how rapidly the employment environment is changing and why proactive education, consistent processes, and strong industry relationships matter more than ever.
Contact Information:
Nyland Johnson Lewis
Website: https://www.njlattorneys.com

Host: Joe Sampson
Guest: Roger Murdoch
In this episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with longtime industry leader Roger Murdoch for a wide ranging conversation about agriculture, innovation, relationships, and what it really takes to stay relevant in a changing world.
Roger’s journey into agriculture was anything but conventional. Originally pursuing telecommunications and working as a news cameraman in Wisconsin, he ultimately followed his passion for farming and earned a dual degree in Business Administration and Animal Science. From there, he built a decades long career in sales, marketing, global manufacturing, and supply chain across major agricultural equipment companies before joining Montag Manufacturing.
Throughout the conversation, Roger reflects on what he has learned from working across large global corporations, supply chain organizations, and mid market shortline manufacturers. He shares how those varied experiences shaped his perspective on customer relationships, innovation speed, and how different company structures impact the ability to bring products to market.
A key theme of the discussion is return on investment. In today’s tighter ag economy, Roger emphasizes that growers cannot simply chase yield. Instead, they must evaluate how every purchase, input, and operational decision impacts profitability per acre. From fertilizer banding versus broadcasting to smarter nutrient placement, he explains how improving efficiency can drive stronger financial outcomes even in challenging commodity cycles.
The conversation also dives into global agriculture. Roger shares insights from international markets including Australia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and Europe, discussing how production practices differ and how emerging regions are rapidly improving their output. As global crop production expands, he highlights the importance of developing new domestic demand channels such as ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel to balance supply.
Joe and Roger also discuss farm shows and their evolving role in the industry. From World Ag Expo in California to Commodity Classic and Agritechnica in Germany, Roger explains why face to face relationships still matter in a digital world. He shares why shortline manufacturers have unique advantages at international exhibitions and how organizations like the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association provide critical resources for smaller companies looking to grow.
At its core, this episode is about relationships, adaptability, and continuous learning. Roger reflects on the importance of collaboration in a small industry, the value of not burning bridges, and why innovation often moves fastest through nimble shortline companies willing to solve niche problems quickly.
Whether you are a manufacturer, dealer, grower, or industry professional, this episode offers perspective on where agriculture has been, where it is now, and where opportunity may lie in the years ahead.

Host: Joe Sampson
Guest: Jason Walsmith
In this unique and deeply reflective episode of The Germinate Podcast, Joe Sampson sits down with longtime Iowa musician and creative entrepreneur Jason Walsmith, best known as one half of the band The Nadas. What begins as a nostalgic look back at the 1990s Iowa music scene quickly becomes a powerful conversation about grit, reinvention, creativity, and the courage to keep evolving.
Jason shares the origin story of The Nadas, formed in 1993 during the height of the alternative and AAA music movement. From basement fraternity parties and packed nights at the OP in Cedar Falls to recording early albums above a plumbing supply shop in Fort Dodge, Jason reflects on the scrappy, do it yourself beginnings that shaped the band’s identity.
The conversation highlights the role of producer Paul Wright in helping the band elevate their sound and discover their potential. Jason pays tribute to Wright’s mentorship and influence, explaining how his guidance transformed their early recordings and helped lay the foundation for a 30 year career.
Joe and Jason explore the realities of navigating the music industry through decades of change. From independent CD production in the mid 1990s, to Napster and file sharing, to streaming platforms today, Jason explains how the business of music has evolved multiple times over the course of their career. The discussion offers a candid look at what it means to sustain a creative life when the financial model continually shifts.
Beyond music, Jason opens up about his parallel career in photography and the internal struggle of holding two creative identities at once. For years, he wrestled with being a musician with a day job in one world and a photographer who plays music in another. Eventually, he embraced a broader truth that he is simply an artist.
The episode also dives into vulnerability, creative blocks, and the discipline required to keep writing and performing after three decades. Jason discusses how creativity is not reserved for artists. It is available to anyone willing to remain curious and step outside their comfort zone. His recent move to rural Iowa, new business ventures, and even starting a herd of cattle represent a continued willingness to grow and evolve.
Throughout the conversation, Joe and Jason reflect on the magic of live performance and the moments when energy exchanges between artist and audience transcend explanation. They discuss how those experiences, even in small libraries or intimate rooms, can feel just as powerful as large arenas when authenticity and connection are present.
At its core, this episode is about staying in the game. It is about resilience, curiosity, reinvention, and choosing to live creatively no matter your profession.