Why Healing Our Soil Is the Real Healthcare Revolution

Our health and the health of our soil are deeply intertwined.
Modern agriculture has become heavily dependent on synthetic inputs
and industrial practices that strip the land of vitality, and the
farmers of agency. Many farmers no longer eat what they grow,
suffer from poor health, and experience alarming rates of
depression and suicide. But there’s a path forward: regenerative
farming not only restores soil health and increases nutrient
density in food, it also revitalizes rural communities and offers
economic resilience. By reconnecting with natural systems and
rebuilding diversity in our soil, food, and microbiomes, we reclaim
both ecological balance and human well-being. In this episode, I
discuss, along with Allen Williams, Dr. Daphne Miller, and Ian
Somerhalder the many facets of modern-day farming, including what
we need to pay attention to and why we need to reclaim our soil.
Allen Williams is a founding partner of Understanding Ag, LLC and
the Soil Health Academy, and is a partner in Joyce Farms, Inc. He
has consulted with more than 4,000 farmers and ranchers in the US
and other countries, on operations ranging from a few acres to over
1 million acres. Allen and his partners pioneered many of the early
regenerative agriculture principles and practices and now teach
those to farmers globally. He is a “recovering academic,” having
served 15 years on the faculty at Louisiana Tech University and
Mississippi State University teaching genetics and physiology.
Allen has been featured in the Carbon Nation film series, Soil
Carbon Cowboys, on the Dr. Oz show, ABC Food Forecast News, and in
Kiss The Ground, A Regenerative Secret, The Farmer’s Footprint film
series, and the Sacred Cow film series.  Dr. Daphne Miller is
a practicing family physician, Clinical Professor at the University
of California San Francisco, and Founder of the Health from the
Soil Up Initiative. She is the author of two books: The Jungle
Effect: Healthiest Diets from Around the World and Farmacology:
Total Health from the Soil Up. A pioneer in the “Healthy Parks,
Healthy People” initiative, Miller helped build linkages between
our medical system and our park system and writes her patients
“park prescriptions” to get outdoors. She also developed a soil
learning lab for health professionals at Paicines Ranch in
Hollister California. Ian Somerhalder is an American actor,
philanthropist, and entrepreneur. Best known for his iconic roles
on "Lost" and "The Vampire Diaries," he is co-founder of The
Absorption Company (a revolutionary supplement company formulated
for increased absorption) and co-owner of Brother's Bond Bourbon.
His recent work includes executive producing the documentary
"Common Ground" (2023), which highlights regenerative agriculture's
innovative solutions to combat climate change. This episode is
brought to you by BIOptimizers. Head to bioptimizers.com/hyman and
use code HYMAN10 to save 10%. Full-length episodes can be found
here: Can Regenerative Agriculture Reverse Climate Change And
Chronic Disease? Why Your Health Depends on the Soil Why Our Farms
Hold the Key to a Healthier Future