Episode: 201
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Mollie Engelhart joins Alec for a conversation about food sovereignty, regenerative farming, and the digital systems quietly reshaping freedom.
Once a celebrated vegan chef in Los Angeles, Mollie left city life to run Sovereignty Ranch in Texas—only to discover that freedom in agriculture is harder to find than she imagined. In this episode, she breaks down how 170,000 U.S. farms have disappeared in just eight years, why most regenerative farmers quit within six, and how digital convenience systems are accelerating both agricultural collapse and personal dependency. Mollie connects the dots between our food supply, currency systems, and community resilience; arguing that what we eat is directly tied to our freedom. She also proposes practical, systemic reforms: from restructuring SNAP benefits to prioritizing local food and whole ingredients, to offering new farmers access to banking and mentorship instead of bureaucracy.
Mollie explains how the U.S. became a net food importer and what that means for national security and local resilience.
She unpacks how digital payment systems and biometric IDs are eroding personal autonomy through manufactured convenience.
They discuss how SNAP and other government programs could be redirected to support whole foods, small farms, and public health.
Mollie shares lessons from raising four children on a working ranch—why discomfort builds resilience and how real wealth comes from community and purpose.
She reflects on her journey away from plant-based ideology toward ecosystem-based nourishment and animal stewardship.
About Mollie Engelhart
Mollie Engelhart is a chef, author, and regenerative farmer based in Bandera, Texas. Formerly the owner of Sage Vegan Bistro and Sage Regenerative Kitchen in Los Angeles, she now operates Sovereignty Ranch and The Barn restaurant alongside her family. Her new book, Debunked by Nature, chronicles her journey from vegan chef to regenerative rancher and explores how restoring soil health and food systems is key to restoring human freedom.
Resources & Links
Website: sovereigntyranch.com
Book: Debunked by Nature
Debunked by Nature — Official Site
Acres USA YouTube Channel
Related Links
Joel Hollingsworth — “The American Restoration” Letter
Black Box Thinking – Book Reference
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Show Minutes
00:00:00 – Debunked By Nature
00:40 – Welcome, Purposeful Work & Ranch Reflections
08:14 – Government Creep and the Agrarian Collapse
24:10 – Farming Headwinds, Bureaucracy Realities and Cultural Shifts
35:40 – Is Capitalism to Blame for our Woes?
53:40 – The Impact of Perpetual Lies
1:04:00 – Deep Dive Into Food and Farming
1:24:34 – Discussion of Mollie’s Book: Debunked by Nature
1:40:00 – Being a Steward of Nature vs. Controlling It
1:56:34 – DEI in Nature
2:17:30 – What Nature Tells us About Masculinity & Femininity
2:46:22 – How Choosing Discomfort is Often the Best Path
3:16:20 – Lessons on Death in Nature
03:25:15 – What Nature Teaches us About the Purpose of Life