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Is your food really as healthy as you think it is? Could the secret to gut health, sustainable farming, and healing the planet be hiding right beneath your feet, in the soil?
In this powerful episode, Dr. Taz sits down with Ryland Engelhart, regenerative agriculture expert, former plant-based restaurateur and co-founder of Kiss the Ground, to explore the shocking reason why he transitioned from being a leader in the vegan movement to running a 200-acre regenerative ranch in Texas.
Once hailed as a pioneer of clean eating and conscious living, Ryland shares why the ideals of veganism weren’t enough--and how his discovery of soil health, regenerative agriculture, and the gut-soil connection changed everything. This is more than a food conversation; it's a story about healing the planet, restoring balance, and rethinking what sustainable really means.
From producing the viral Kiss the Ground documentary to living on a 200-acre regenerative ranch in Texas, Ryland shares his journey from plant-based restaurant entrepreneur to a full-time advocate for soil regeneration, ecosystem restoration, and food sustainability. Together, he and Dr. Taz unpack why regenerative farming isn’t just a climate solution. It’s a human health revolution.
If you're concerned about gut issues, nutrient-depleted food, or the long-term effects of industrial agriculture, this episode offers a hopeful and holistic path forward. Dr. Taz and Ryland dive deep into the microbiome-soil connection, the role of animals in regenerative ecosystems, and how returning to nature’s rhythms could be the missing piece in our chronic disease crisis.
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Common Questions This Episode Answers:
- What is regenerative agriculture and how does it improve soil health?
- Why would a vegan become a regenerative rancher?
- Why is gut health connected to the soil microbiome?
- How does regenerative farming compare to organic or clean eating?
- Is plant-based eating enough to heal the planet?
- Can animals be part of a sustainable farming model?
- Why is industrial farming harming both people and the planet?
- What are practical steps for eating more regeneratively?
- Can food really be used as medicine?
- What’s the real impact of climate-conscious eating?
About Ryland Englehart:
Ryland Engelhart co-founded the non-profit organization, Kiss the Ground and the catalyst producer of the Kiss the Ground film released on Netflix seen by over 10 million people and is the executive producer of the award winning sequel Common Ground. Ryland is a leader in the health & wellness space for almost 20 years. He helped pioneer and manage the nationally recognized plant-based restaurant chains Cafe Gratitude and Gracias Madre. He was the co-creator of the transformational documentary film, May I Be Frank. He is a passionate speaker and advocates for Regenerative Agriculture, tools for building community, food is medicine, and the practice of “being love” as the key to relationship. Ryland is a dedicated husband and father of two young boys. He lives on a 200-acre regenerative hospitality Ranch in Hill Country Texas, called Sovereignty Ranch where he and his sister's family are building a field of dreams.
Stay Connected
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Connect with Ryland Englehart:
https://www.instagram.com/lovebeingryland/
https://www.sovereigntyranch.com/
https://www.bigfoolishproject.com/
Host & Production Team
Host: Dr. Taz; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Lead Producer: Lauren Feighan; Editors: Jeremiah Schultz and Patrick Edwards)
00:00 – Why the Future Feels Grim (But Doesn’t Have to Be)
01:07 – Who Is Ryland Engelhart? From Cafe Gratitude to Regenerative Ranching
03:24 – The Soil–Gut Health Connection
15:16 – Why Veganism Isn’t the Full Answer
22:18 – What Regenerative Farming Actually Looks Like
30:00 – Soil, Photosynthesis, and Climate Healing
44:14 – Impact of Kiss the Ground: 34 Million Acres and Counting
56:57 – Sovereignty Ranch: Building a Regenerative Lifestyle
1:09:16 – Health & Political landscape
