The Only Thing That Lasts

Sarah Mock / Ambrook

They say there’s only one thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, and worth dying for. It’s not love or money, not vengeance or virtue. It’s land. To understand how the existence, value, and costs and benefits of our agricultural lands affects us all, join journalist Sarah Mock for a journey into American’s mysterious farm landscape. An Ambrook Research podcast. read less

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Chapter 5: Raise Less Corn and More Hell

Chapter 5: Raise Less Corn and More Hell

Long before "populist" became a nebulous buzzword used to describe everyone from Bernie Sanders to Donald Trump, the farmer-founded Populist Party was a formidable force in American elections, fighting against monopolies and corruption in defense of the everyday citizen. In this episode, host Sarah Mock looks back to look forward, connecting the fiery history of agrarian politics with the elections of 2020 and 2024.

Episodes

Chapter 5: Raise Less Corn and More Hell

Chapter 5: Raise Less Corn and More Hell

Long before "populist" became a nebulous buzzword used to describe everyone from Bernie Sanders to Donald Trump, the farmer-founded Populist Party was a formidable force in American elections, fighting against monopolies and corruption in defense of the everyday citizen. In this episode, host Sarah Mock looks back to look forward, connecting the fiery history of agrarian politics with the elections of 2020 and 2024.

Chapter 4: It's Highway Robbery

Chapter 4: It's Highway Robbery

"As through this world I’ve wandered, I’ve seen lots of funny men. Some will rob you with a six gun, And some with a fountain pen." Woody Guthrie's lyrics are a fitting frame for this episode of The Only Thing That Lasts, looking at the government taking land from its rightful owners — and the outlaws who fought back.

Chapter 3: Get Rich Homesteading

Chapter 3: Get Rich Homesteading

The Homestead Act of 1862 changed the path of many thousands of Americans, who were given $1.1 trillion in free land to farm. Their descendents, who make up 25% of the U.S. population today, are still living off the legacy of those valuable gifts.

Chapter 2: Alchemy of Farmland

Chapter 2: Alchemy of Farmland

In the second episode of our 8-episode limited series, agriculture journalist Sarah Mock takes us on a journey to the origins of what we think of as farmland today — and with it, the very definition of private property. Your house, your land, and your concept of owning them, have everything to do with the agricultural origins of the United States.

Chapter 1: Is the U.S. Running Out of Farmland?

Chapter 1: Is the U.S. Running Out of Farmland?

In the first episode of our 8-episode limited series, agriculture journalist Sarah Mock unpacks the dire warnings advocates are making — namely, that we're losing thousands of acres of U.S. farmland every day. What does this loss actually mean, contrasted with issues like our lack of affordable housing? And, perhaps more importantly, should we be worried about our food supply?

Uncovering the mysteries of American farmland.