Explore every episode of the podcast The Happy Disruptors Podcast

FundingThis week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Hannah sits down with Roeslein & Associates' Sam Sugerman, Director of Environmental Markets, and Nancy Labbe, Director of Landowner Partnerships, to explore how conservation strategies can remain resilient as government funding and priorities evolve. Using Horizon II as a case study, they discuss the role of public investment as a catalyst for new conservation models and what it takes to transition those models toward long-term, market-driven sustainability. Along the way, they dig into diversified revenue streams, reducing risk for landowners, and the cross-sector partnerships needed to build conservation solutions that can adapt and operate at scale. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Joe Whitworth, President & CEO of The Freshwater Trust, joins Hannah to explore how finance and technology can transform the way conservation gets done. The pair unpacks the concept of “Quantified Conservation,” the role of data in directing resources toward the greatest environmental return, and why measuring outcomes — rather than simply activities — can lead to more effective investments. They also discuss how technology can reduce inefficiencies in conservation finance and what becomes possible when data, capital, and on-the-ground implementation work together at a watershed or landscape scale. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Billy Gascoigne, Senior Director of Agriculture & Strategic Partnerships at Ducks Unlimited, joins Kaitie to discuss what it takes to scale conservation delivery. The two explore the power of public-private partnerships, how to align diverse interests around shared outcomes, and why successful conservation requires more than funding alone. They also unpack how conservation programs can better reflect the economic realities of farmers and ranchers, where private capital can accelerate progress, and what needs to change to move proven solutions from concept to meaningful implementation at scale. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, Jacobsen & Company, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Drew DiAllesandro, Illinois & Iowa Private Lands Coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, joins Kaitie to rethink how we approach conservation interventions in the Midwest. The pair explores how moving beyond practice-by-practice implementation toward more strategic, landscape-scale solutions can generate greater ecological impact — from restoring wetlands, prairies, and oxbows to using science and data to target investments where they matter most. They also unpack what motivates landowners to participate, where today’s conservation delivery system creates friction, and how stronger partnerships can help translate proven practices into meaningful outcomes at scale. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Keegan Kult, Executive Director of the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition, joins Kaitie to discuss water quality through the lens of water quantity. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, Vision Bank, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Tami Madsen, Executive Director of Central Iowa Water Works, joins Hannah to discuss water resiliency, cross-sector collaboration, and future planning. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, Vision Bank, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Kaylee Williams with Iowa Startup Week, joins Kaitie to discuss innovation, creativity, and building an ecosystem of happy disruptors. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, Vision Bank, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Rex Raimond, Director of Transformational Investing in Food Systems (TIFS), joins Hannah to discuss missing middle infrastructure in food systems — or "the missing middle." The pair unpacks TIFS' strategy of creating new financial architecture for food systems, ultimately contributing to more resilient farms and communities. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Brian Bienkowski, Managing Editor of The New Lede, joins Kaitie to explore new media as a voice for conservation. The two cover the importance of access to information, the skill of staying curious, and the need for media literacy in the digital age. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, Community State Bank, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Tej Dhawan, Cofounder of Plains Angels and Iowa's latest innovation fund, 2946 Ventures, joins Hannah to discuss all things innovation, including how to cultivate it, what it's not, and why it's valuable regardless of sector. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, SCHEELS, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Bobby Martens, Executive Director of the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives, joins Hannah to discuss the co-op system, its history in Iowa, and how co-ops can be a delivery system for conservation. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, SCHEELS, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, hear from experts at Athene Watershed26 in this live session on recreation as a catalyst for conservation. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, hear from experts at Athene Watershed26 in this live session on developing alternative markets for regenerative agriculture. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, hear from experts at Athene Watershed26 in this live session on funding spectrum roles. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, hear from experts at Athene Watershed26 in this live session on financing market diversification for conservation agriculture. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, hear from experts at Athene Watershed26 in this live session on the Mississippi River/Gulf Hypoxia Taskforce. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Hannah and Katie reflect on one year of THDP, including top episodes, lessons learned, and favorite takeaways.Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Dr. Larry Weber, Director of the IIHR and Iowa Flood Center, joins Kaitie to discuss trends in Iowa's floodplains and watersheds as well as long-term resource management. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, SCHEELS, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Matt and Eric Wahl join Hannah and Kaitie to discuss their family farm, implementing conservation, and the farming identity. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Ben Gleason, Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council Executive Director, joins Hannah and Kaitie to discuss trends, challenges, and opportunities related to the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, SCHEELS, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Jen Cross, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at the Great Outdoors Foundation, joins Kaitie to preview the Stacked Benefits content track at Athene Watershed26. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Melissa Campbell, Senior Project Manager, and Sara Carmichael, Project Manager, at the Great Outdoors Foundation, join Kaitie to preview the Science & Data content track at Athene Watershed26. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Hannah and Kaitie preview the Finance Solutions content track at Athene Watershed26. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Hannah Dake, Marketing & Communications Specialist at the Great Outdoors Foundation, joins Kaitie to preview the Emerging Voices content track at Athene Watershed26. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Addison McKown, Development Manager for the Conservation Foundation of Polk County, joins Kaitie to discuss the launch of the organization and its impact on conservation in the region. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Tee Thomas, CEO of Quantified Ventures, joins Hannah to discuss all things conservation finance. The two cover funding barriers, finance solutions, and the funder role landscape within the world of conservation. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Joey Taylor-Moon, Vice President of Marketing for Hubbell Realty Company, joins Kaitie for the latest installment of our series "Meet the Board." Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, Williams & Jensen, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Grant Kvalheim, CEO of Athene USA & Athene Holding, and Karen Novak Swalwell, President & CEO of Francis & Associates, join Hannah and Kaitie for the next installment of our series "Meet the Board." Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Kurt Mumm, President & Owner of Cushman & Wakefield Iowa Commercial Advisors, and Georgia VanGundy, Deputy Director of Iowa Workforce Development, join Kaitiefor the next installment of our series "Meet the Board." Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Lauren Burt, Head of Global Corporate Affairs at Kemin Industries, joins Kaitie for the next installment of our series "Meet the Board." Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, Snyder & Associates, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Nicolas Lirio and Kent Boucher of the Prairie Farm Podcast and Hoksey Native Seeds join Kaitie to discuss conservation in Iowa, new markets, and the next generation of regenerative ag. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Tanner Faaborg, owner of 1100 Farm, joins Kaitie to discuss his family's journey of transforming their property from CAFOs to speciality mushrooms, all while implementing conservation practices to revitalize the surrounding resources. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Tommy Jones, Kyle Carstens, and Rebekah Jones join Kaitie to discuss how their unique owner-operator agreement allows them to jointly invest in conservation on their Fontanelle farm.

Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Chris Lee, host of Parks & Restoration, joins Kaitie to discuss leadership principles through the lens of ecology. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Thank you to our partners, Snyder & Associates, for sponsoring this episode!

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Hannah and Kaitie discuss Athene Watershed26, the Great Outdoors Foundation's new cross-sector summit tackling water quality at the intersection of conservation and agriculture. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Amner Martinez, CEO & Founder of Infinite Resources, and Laura Rodriguez, Creative Director of Amplified, join Kaitie to discuss creativity, community, and connection in the workplace. Hear more about value-driven leadership and serial entrepreneurship — and what it takes to be a Happy Disruptor. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Cory Sharp and Bethany Wilcoxon, board members of the Conservation Foundation of Polk County, join Kaitie for a deep dive on the new fundraising organization and how it will continue to support the longstanding work of Polk County Conservation. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Ben Arato, Associate Attorney at Wandro & Associates, joins Kaitie for the next installment of our series "Meet the Board." Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Chris Costa, President & CEO of Knapp Properties, and Gene Meyer, former Mayor of West Des Moines, join Kaitie for the first installment of our series "Meet the Board." Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, joins Hannah and Jen to cover some of the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship's most frequently asked questions. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Afton Holt, President of CornerPost Marketing, joins Kaitie for a discussion on upstream-downstream partnerships, creating solutions for change, and bridging the gap between rural and urban stakeholders. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Hannah and Kaitie dive into strategic planning, leading with values, and engaging stakeholders in your mission. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on the final installment of our Best of 2025 series, Hannah and Kaitie revisitsome of their favorite conversations about what it means to be a happy disruptor.Featured guests include Chris Costa, President & CEO of Knapp Properties,LLC and Chair of the Great Outdoors Foundation Board of Directors; Jen Cross,Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at the Great Outdoors Foundation;Melissa Campbell, Senior Project Manager of the Conservation Acceleration Fund;John Swanson, Polk County Water Resources Supervisor; Dr. Claire Hruby, AssistantProfessor of Environmental Science and Sustainability at Drake University; RuthMcCabe, Senior Conservation Manager at Heartland Co-Op; and Joy Van Wyngarden, contentcreator. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great OutdoorsFoundation on Facebook, X, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

This week on the third installment of our Best of 2025 series, Hannah and Kaitie reflecton recurring misconceptions and key takeaways regarding water quality,conservation, and agriculture from the perspective of experts in the field. Featuredguests include John Swanson, Polk County Water Resources Supervisor; SteveWittbecker, Chief Sustainability Officer at CoBank; Nick Helland and LeeTesdell; Iowa farmers and landowners; Joy Van Wyngarden, content creator; PatBoddy, Urbandale City Councilmember; and Amanda Brown, Water Ecologist for PolkCounty Conservation. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the GreatOutdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

This week on the second installment of our Best of 2025 series, Hannah and Kaitie recapa few of the most insightful and compelling conversations around conservationand agriculture. Featured guests include Ruth McCabe, Senior ConservationManager at Heartland Co-Op; Nick Helland and Lee Tesdell; Iowa farmers andlandowners; Steve Wittbecker, Chief Sustainability Officer at CoBank; and JohnSwanson, Polk County Water Resources Supervisor. Listen in now! Remember tolike and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, andLinkedIn.

This week on the first installment of our Best of 2025 series, Hannah and Kaitie recapsome of the most significant, interesting, and innovative takes from experts onwater quality. Featured guests include Dr. Claire Hruby, Assistant Professor ofEnvironmental Science and Sustainability at Drake University; Amanda Brown, WaterEcologist for Polk County Conservation; Pat Boddy, Urbandale City Councilmember;Jen Cross, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at the Great OutdoorsFoundation; Melissa Campbell, Senior Project Manager of the ConservationAcceleration Fund; John Swanson, Polk County Water Resources Supervisor; andChris Costa, President & CEO of Knapp Properties, LLC and Chair of theGreat Outdoors Foundation Board of Directors. Listen in now! Remember to likeand follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, andLinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Melissa Campbell, Senior Project Manager at the Great Outdoors Foundation joins Hannah and Kaitie for an update on the Conservation Acceleration Fund (CAF). The group discusses the origin of the CAF, impact metrics, and what's planned for 2026.

Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance and Agriculture's Clean Water Alliance Executive Director, Jeff Lucas, and Director of Communications, Rebekah Jones, join Hannah and Kaitie for a discussion on collaborative partnerships. They discuss the critical work that IAWA and ACWA are doing to maximize conservation efforts in the agriculture sector. Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Stephanie Oppel, Executive Director of ICON Water Trails, joins Hannah and Kaitie for a discussion on the initiative's history and strategy, utilizing recreation as a catalyst for conservation. Listen in now!

Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

This week on The Happy Disruptors Podcast, Joy Van Wyngarden (_joyofalltrades_), content creator, joins Hannah Inman and — new to the pod — Hannah Dake, Marketing & Communications Specialist for the Great Outdoors Foundation, to discuss the next generation of conservation and ag. The group digs into Joy's unique perspective at the intersection of environmental conservation, regenerative ag, local food systems, and personal health.

Listen in now! Remember to like and follow the Great Outdoors Foundation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.