The Extensionists

The Extensionists Conversations with great thinkers in agriculture. Find The Extensionists on all major podcasting platforms with episodes released every other week on Tuesdays.

10/06/2026

"We took the education to the community."
-Darren Hebert

Breaking down barriers to education starts with meeting learners where they are.

In our Season 3 premiere, Darren Hebert, president and founder of the Natural Resources Training Group (NRTG), explores how tailoring instruction to each participant's background, career stage, and skill level delivers effective training directly to local communities. Instead of relying solely on traditional classroom theory, NRTG emphasizes hands-on knowledge translation and practical skill development right where people live and work.

By working side-by-side with participants, instructors put theory into immediate practice, teaching essential field skills such as identifying fish species within their local streams, wetlands, and watersheds.

Ready to see how experiential learning and real world application are transforming education?

Tap the link below to watch the full Season 3 premiere on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IwU8WB_L2cM

10/05/2026

We have some big updates coming your way! Season 3 of The Extensionists kicks off tomorrow, and we’re switching things up.

Knowing how hard change can be, we’re taking a staged approach to our studio transition. We’re starting with a temporary redesign absent Jay’s and Toban’s socks-forward seating arrangement. Sitting around a table already feels so much more natural for our hosts, like chatting at a local coffee shop, and we'll be unveiling a spectacular custom table transformation later this season!

Here is how you can catch all the action:

Listen: Stream our episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch: Follow us on YouTube to see our updated studio set.

Get Insights: Receive key episode insights delivered straight to your inbox after every episode. Sign up for our newsletter at www.extensionists.com.

See you on Tuesday!

Have you ever wondered how to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world impact in the field?We are thrilled...
10/01/2026

Have you ever wondered how to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world impact in the field?

We are thrilled to welcome Darren Hebert, president and founder, and Sean Mitchell, program manager, from the Natural Resources Training Group (NRTG) as our guests for the Season 3 premiere of The Extensionists!

While NRTG works in natural sciences and alongside Indigenous communities across Canada, their teaching philosophy hits directly at the heart of extension. They believe that effective training isn't about lecturing, but about meeting learners where they’re at, listening to their perspectives, and standing beside them through each step of a practical, hands-on learning process.

From closing the practical skill gap to building confidence and teaching through hope, this episode is a deep dive into how knowledge truly moves from instruction to actionable results in the field.

The episode drops on Oct. 6!

Don't miss our season premiere as we launch another year of exploring how knowledge moves from research to real-world impact.

Listen to The Extensionists wherever you get your podcasts, and help us grow our audience by sharing, rating, and reviewing!

https://theextensionists.com

07/02/2026

Are you ready to elevate your communication skills to the next level?

On our final episode of season 2 of The Extensionists, Toban Dyck and Jay Whetter take a dive deep into the art of assertive communication with Rachelle Brockman, principal of Eureka Experience. Rachelle shares how to master the optimum communication style—being a respectful, assertive communicator who can handle any conversation with confidence.

Discover the secret to speaking your mind effectively in any situation, from the boardroom to the family farm.

To wrap up the episode, Rachelle shared her goal with Toban and Jay, “Say what's on my mind to anyone at any time, in the moment, respectfully."

https://youtu.be/5YdOhglv_Lw

06/30/2026

Are you dismissing your own role in the communication equation?

In the season finale of The Extensionists, Rachelle Brockman, principal at Eureka Experience, shares a powerful realization about personal accountability in leadership communication.

Rather than placing the entire burden of a poor interaction on the other person, she breaks down the "A + B = C" communication equation where "A" is yourself and "B" is the other person. While you can’t control how others respond, you can influence the outcome by focusing on the only variable you truly control: yourself.

By improving your own communication skills, you can "risk manage" difficult conversations and actively work toward better results.

"The real area that could be influenced or the variable that could be influenced was me,” admitted Rachelle in the episode. “And when I worked on that, I realized, holy smokes, I just impacted the outcome."

Tune in to learn how to master the "A + B = C" equation to stop blaming others and start influencing every conversation you have.

https://youtu.be/5YdOhglv_Lw

Have you ever walked away from a tough conversation, wishing you’d handled it differently?We are thrilled to welcome Rac...
06/23/2026

Have you ever walked away from a tough conversation, wishing you’d handled it differently?

We are thrilled to welcome Rachelle Brockman, principal of Eureka Experience, as our final guest for Season 2 of The Extensionists!

After hearing Rachelle’s talk at SaskOilseeds' Learn to Lead event, hosts Jay Whetter and Toban Dyck knew they had to get her on the show. Rachelle calls herself a "practitioner" of leadership communication rather than an expert because she is constantly learning—a philosophy that resonated immediately with Jay and Toban as they continue their own work as practitioners of extension communication.

From the "30-second conversation" that transformed her own family dynamic to practical advice for farmers navigating complex family and business operations, this episode is a masterclass in how to stay assertive, clear, and empathetic.

The episode drops on June 30th.

Don't miss our season finale as we wrap up another year of exploring how knowledge moves from research to real-world impact.

Listen to The Extensionists wherever you get your podcasts, and help us grow our audience by sharing, rating, and reviewing!

https://theextensionists.com

06/18/2026

Are you looking for ways to give your learners more autonomy and ensure your content hits the mark every time?

This week on The Extensionists podcast, we are joined by Jane Mangold, a professor and extension specialist at Montana State University, and Nicole Fleming, director of the TBR Community. They joined the show to discuss Training from the Back of the Room and how to create more learner-centric environments.

One approach that Jane has incorporated into her teaching is "dot voting." By having participants vote on the specific topics they want to hear about most, she ensures the most relevant material is covered within their limited time together.

During the episode, Jane explains the value of giving learners a voice in what gets covered in the session: "I put those species pairs on a flip chart and then everybody gets to come up and vote for the two pairs that they want to hear about most."

Tune in to the full episode to learn how to step out of the spotlight, shift your training style, and create more engaging, learner-centred experiences for your audience.

https://youtu.be/8IOGlKRWllg

06/16/2026

Do you ever find that the pressure of being the "expert" at the front of the room holds you back from leading training sessions?

In this episode of The Extensionists, Toban Dyck and Jay Whetter explore the "Training from the Back of the Room" (TBR) model with guests Nicole Fleming, director of TBR Community and Jane Mangold, a professor and extension specialist at Montana State University.

By moving away from a lecture-based style and acting as a "guide from the side," learners are empowered to recognize the valuable knowledge they already bring to the experience. Creating a space where participants can share their expertise with one another not only makes training more effective but also makes it far more approachable for those who prefer to step out of the spotlight.

"Our goal is to make sure that our learners know that they are the experts," explains Nicole in the episode.

Tune in to learn how to step out of the spotlight and improve your training impact!

https://youtu.be/8IOGlKRWllg

Have you ever wondered why traditional slide decks often leave your audience tuning out, and how we might finally break ...
06/09/2026

Have you ever wondered why traditional slide decks often leave your audience tuning out, and how we might finally break the passive, expert-led model of extension?

Coming to The Extensionists on June 16th, hosts Jay Whetter and Toban Dyck are tackling this challenge head-on with a special double interview featuring:

- Jane Mangold, professor and extension specialist at Montana State University
- Nicole Fleming, director of the TBR Community

Jane and Nicole dive into "Training from the Back of the Room" (TBR)—a learner-centred methodology that flips the classroom. Instead of passive listening, TBR encourages active participation, allowing learners to connect new scientific concepts with their own lived experiences.

Listen to The Extensionists wherever you get your podcasts, and help us grow our audience by sharing, rating, and reviewing!
https://theextensionists.com

06/04/2026

Are you waiting for inspiration to strike before you start your next big project?

This week on The Extensionists, Dean Jenkinson joins us to discuss how to overcome the hurdle of being too "precious" about your ideas. He shares how his shift from waiting for the perfect moment changed to simply sitting down and putting words on the page.

By letting go of the need for perfection, he found he could consistently produce new material and pivot quickly when ideas didn't land.

Dean shares a quote from Roger Ebert on the episode that has stayed with him: "Inspiration strikes while you're doing the work."

Listen to learn more!

https://youtu.be/bPobygVMWxw

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