Military historian, museum founder, and autism advocate Aaron Bouma shares his experiences growing up autistic, the challenges he faced in school, how his special interests shaped his career, and why society still misunderstands autism. Aaron discusses Canada’s lack of adult supports, sensory overwhelm, ABA, nonverbal communication, mental health struggles, the “telepathy tapes,” military intelligence units, and the dangers of misinformation around autism—including the recent Tylenol and cure-claim controversies.We also talk about homeschooling autistic children, employment barriers, stigma, navigating daily life as an autistic adult, and how families can better support neurodivergent loved ones.This conversation is essential for parents of autistic kids, teachers, neurodivergent adults, mental-health advocates, and anyone interested in autism acceptance, military history, or unique neurodivergent abilities.Leave a Like and Subscribe if you enjoyed! Subscribe! - https://bit.ly/SubscribeToHomegrownWatch Homegrown Season 1 on Patreon now! https://patreon.com/homegrownshowJoin our group chat!https://t.me/+HmK47zvGCNsxODlh↓↓ See more ↓↓https://instagram.com/cummingsbenjhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cummingsbenjhttps://www.facebook.com/cummingsbenjSupport Us At: http://homegrownshow.ca/

In this in-depth conversation, Ben sits down with nutrition counselor and former firefighter/navy veteran Neil Burchill to uncover what’s really driving today’s health crisis. With over 20 years of experience and more than 10,000 clients, Neil breaks down why weight loss culture is broken, why muscle mass is the true predictor of long-term health, and why modern diets are leaving people malnourished despite eating more than ever.Together, they dive into macronutrients, inflammation, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, the collapse of food quality, the rise of chronic illness, gut health, natural medicine, stress physiology, and the disconnect between healthcare and nutrition. Neil also shares his personal experience with vaccine-induced myocarditis, and the metabolic strategy he used to recover.Whether you’re interested in nutrition, homesteading, health policy, natural remedies, or understanding the root causes of modern disease, this episode delivers hard truths, practical insights, and a perspective you won’t hear anywhere else.00:00 – Introduction01:00 – Neil’s Background in Nutrition02:00 – Why Weight Loss Culture Is Broken05:00 – Muscle vs. Fat: The Real Health Metric09:00 – Why People Don’t Know How to Feed Themselves12:00 – Macros That Matter16:00 – Understanding “Toxins”19:00 – Gut Health, Microbiome & Prebiotics24:00 – Common Complaints Neil Sees in Clients28:00 – Metabolism, Fuel, and Muscle Loss34:00 – Cultural Detachment From Food38:00 – Food Quality Collapse42:00 – Hunger as an Emotion45:00 – GLP-1, Ozempic & the Weight Loss Craze50:00 – What GLP-1 Actually Does to the Body54:00 – Muscle Atrophy & Long-Term Consequences59:00 – The Healthcare vs. Sick-Care Debate1:05:00 – Systemic Problems in Modern Medicine1:12:00 – Neil’s COVID Vaccine Injury1:20:00 – Using Nutrition to Reverse Damage1:27:00 – Rise in Chronic & Neurological Disease1:33:00 – Stress, Environment & Systemic Breakdown1:40:00 – Food Variety, Seasonality & Digestion1:47:00 – Why Cooking Skills Are Disappearing1:52:00 – The Cost of Healthy Food & DIY Solutions1:57:00 – Empowerment Through Community & Knowledge2:00:00 – Closing Thoughts

Ben sits down with medicinal horticulturalist Zack Drost, a grower with more than 20 years of hands-on experience in cannabis cultivation, genetics, and plant-based medicine.Zack breaks down stigma, science, cannabinoids, terpenes, cultivation methods, natural medicine, and why cannabis is far more complex than THC percentages.This interview is ideal for growers, medical patients, homesteaders, and anyone curious about cannabis as both a medicine and a plant.CHAPTERS00:00 – Introductions & Zack’s BackgroundZack explains his role as a medicinal horticulturalist and his two decades of cannabis experience.04:00 – Cannabis Stigma & Changing Generational AttitudesUnderstanding cultural resistance, misconceptions, and why public perception is shifting.12:00 – Hemp vs. Cannabis: Laws, Licensing & HistoryTHC thresholds, historical agriculture, and why hemp licensing remains complicated in Canada.19:00 – Medicinal Uses: Topicals, RSO, Tinctures & Full-Spectrum ExtractsHow cannabis is used medically without psychoactive effects.28:00 – Cannabinoids, Terpenes & the Endocannabinoid SystemTHC, CBD, CBN, CBG, terpenes, and how they work together to create different effects.38:00 – CHS (Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome) & Overuse RisksWhat causes it, who it affects, and how moderation matters.47:00 – Diet, Farming & Cannabis as Part of Holistic HealthNutrition, meat quality, allergies, and natural wellness.56:00 – Livestock Feed Regulations & Hemp for AnimalsWhy hemp feeding is restricted and what regulators are concerned about.1:05:00 – Psychedelic Experience & Plant-Medicine PhilosophyZack shares a transformative personal experience that shaped his connection to plant medicine.1:13:00 – Ornamental Cannabis & Flower ShowcaseExploring cannabis as a visually stunning, diverse ornamental plant.1:23:00 – Aroma Profiles, Terpenes & Cultivar DifferencesSkunk, fruit, gas, sweetness—what smells reveal about the plant.1:34:00 – Growing Philosophy: Soil, Microbes, Compost & MolassesOrganic growing, soil biology, and how to “listen” to your plants.1:46:00 – Hydro vs. Soil & Reading Plant SignalsGrowing styles, feeding strategies, and advice for new growers.1:58:00 – Future of Cannabis & Closing ThoughtsZack’s final reflections on natural medicine and where cannabis is headed.ABOUT THE GUEST: ZACK DROSTZack is a medicinal horticulturalist specializing in cannabis cultivation, genetics, and full-spectrum plant medicine. His 20+ years of hands-on experience make him one of the most knowledgeable growers in the region.Leave a Like and Subscribe if you enjoyed! Subscribe! - https://bit.ly/SubscribeToHomegrownWatch Homegrown Season 1 on Patreon now! https://patreon.com/homegrownshowJoin our group chat!https://t.me/+HmK47zvGCNsxODlh↓↓ See more ↓↓https://instagram.com/cummingsbenjhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cummingsbenjhttps://www.facebook.com/cummingsbenjSupport Us At: http://homegrownshow.ca/

In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with a Colombian economist and Canadian immigrant who explains—candidly—what’s happening to Canada’s economy, political culture, immigration system, and national identity. Drawing from personal experience with socialism, geopolitical instability, and economic collapse, he outlines the warning signs he sees repeating here at home.A challenging discussion that connects economics, culture, history, and Canada’s future.Chapters 00:00 – Introduction00:00:00 – Canada’s immigration system: “It was working… then they broke it.”00:01:12 – Culture vs. race and what Canada is getting wrong00:02:56 – “No nation can stand divided”00:04:03 – Citizenship, Western philosophy & assimilation00:05:57 – Culture clashes in Canada today00:06:53 – Propaganda, censorship & the broken status quo00:09:03 – Colombian culture & New Brunswick similarities00:10:17 – Racism, ignorance & economic incentives00:10:49 – “First duty is to Canadians”00:11:17 – Crime, racism & economic decline00:12:05 – Erasing history and repeating it00:13:01 – “Immigrants don’t make the law”00:14:00 – Media bias, opposition, and political accountability00:15:14 – Dangerous political rhetoric and division00:16:10 – Socialism, Venezuela & Cuba: lessons from collapse00:20:01 – Elite privilege under communist regimes00:21:34 – “Rules for thee, not for me”00:22:29 – Geopolitics & Canada’s vulnerability00:23:11 – New economic era: AI, carbon, EVs00:24:12 – “We’re consuming more than we produce”00:25:00 – The budget warning: “Canada is in trouble”00:26:02 – “This has no mathematical model—except the French Revolution”00:26:49 – Private sector collapse & nationalization risks00:27:54 – Healthcare breakdown: nurses without doctors00:29:08 – Social programs, debt & economic strain00:30:43 – Is mass immigration being used to boost tax revenue?00:31:20 – Government-created jobs vs real economic growth00:32:01 – EV monopolies & China’s strategic advantage00:33:14 – Canada’s resources & the mining debate00:34:33 – Monopolies vs. capitalism00:36:01 – Food waste, supermarket power & local agriculture00:37:00 – “If the nation collapses, so do we"00:37:24 – Final thoughts on unity, dialogue & Canada’s futureLeave a Like and Subscribe if you enjoyed! Subscribe! - https://bit.ly/SubscribeToHomegrownWatch Homegrown Season 1 on Patreon now! https://patreon.com/homegrownshowJoin our group chat!https://t.me/+HmK47zvGCNsxODlh↓↓ See more ↓↓https://instagram.com/cummingsbenjhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cummingsbenjhttps://www.facebook.com/cummingsbenjSupport Us At: http://homegrownshow.ca/

In 1944, ordinary families grew 40% of America’s vegetables through backyard “Victory Gardens.”Today, that spirit of independence has been replaced by total reliance on grocery stores, corporate farms, and global supply chains — and it’s time to take it back.In this episode, Ben breaks down:How small gardens once fed nationsWhy modern “efficiency” is actually fragilityHow Bayer, Monsanto, Cargill, and grocery monopolies profit from dependenceThe staggering data showing 750% ROI and 5× more nutrients from homegrown produceWhy self-sufficiency is the greatest threat to controlAnd how a new, quiet revolution can start with one seed packetThis is not about prepping or panic — it’s about freedom, resilience, and community.Grow food, trade with neighbors, and rebuild real independence.Because a population that can feed itself is a population that can’t be controlled.00:00 – The Original Victory GardensHow ordinary Americans once grew 40% of the nation’s vegetables in backyard and community plots.00:30 – What Changed After the WarThe loss of self-reliance and rise of dependence on centralized food systems.01:10 – The Myth of EfficiencyWhy today’s industrial agriculture and grocery chains are fragile, not efficient.02:00 – The Profit MotiveHow corporate food systems and seed monopolies profit from your dependence.03:00 – Control and ComplianceWhy self-sufficient citizens threaten centralized control and corporate profits.03:40 – The Data That Proves Gardening PaysStudy results: 750% financial return and five-times-higher nutrients in homegrown food.04:20 – The Closed-Loop SystemHow processed food, poor health, and pharmaceuticals form a profit cycle.05:00 – A New Victory Garden MovementWhat happens if millions plant even a 10×10-foot plot.05:50 – Rebuilding Real CommunityTrading produce, sharing skills, and restoring local connection.06:30 – Freedom Over ConvenienceGrowing food as an act of independence, not survivalism.07:00 – The Modern Call to ActionHow to start: buy seeds, use any space, involve neighbors or community gardens.07:50 – Freedom, Food, and TyrannySelf-sufficiency as the ultimate rebellion against dependence and control.#VictoryGarden #GrowYourOwnFood #FoodIndependence #Homesteading #SelfSufficiency #FreedomThroughFarming #GardeningRevolution #FoodSecurity #HomesteadLife #FarmToTable #GardenEconomyLeave a Like and Subscribe if you enjoyed! Subscribe! - https://bit.ly/SubscribeToHomegrownWatch Homegrown Season 1 on Patreon now! https://patreon.com/homegrownshowJoin our group chat!https://t.me/+HmK47zvGCNsxODlh↓↓ See more ↓↓https://instagram.com/cummingsbenjhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cummingsbenjhttps://www.facebook.com/cummingsbenjSupport Us At: http://homegrownshow.ca/

In this in-depth conversation, Ben sits down with Suzanne Fournier, Executive Director of the National Farmers Union in New Brunswick, to unpack the state of farming in Canada today — from corporate control and export dependency to food sovereignty, small farm challenges, and climate resilience.Fournier shares candid insights on how government policy, market concentration, and bureaucracy impact small farmers, and why buying local and supporting primary producers is essential for the future of food security. This discussion covers everything from farmland loss and supply management to garlic imports and farm profitability — and why farmers in New Brunswick paid to farm last year.🎥 Full interview topics include:Agroecology and the NFU’s missionCorporate concentration and policy failuresSelf-sufficiency, export focus, and farmland protectionThe state of supply management in CanadaClimate resilience and government inactionBureaucracy, communication failures, and red tapeCultural loss of food knowledge and wasteFarm income crisis and the need for systemic reform📍 Chapters00:00 – Intro: Who is Suzanne Fournier and what is the NFU?02:00 – How the NFU stays independent from government and corporate control04:00 – What “corporate control” really means in agriculture06:00 – Why New Brunswick’s food self-sufficiency is only ~7%10:00 – Government export focus and farmland loss14:00 – Local procurement: what it means and why it matters17:00 – Lessons from Europe on food sovereignty and local systems21:00 – The decline in food quality and the monoculture problem25:00 – Consolidation, factory farming, and pricing control30:00 – Fixing monopolies: Competition Bureau and collective marketing35:00 – How supply management works (and its limits)40:00 – Climate change and small farm adaptability45:00 – Bureaucracy, regulation, and communication breakdowns55:00 – Why young farmers give up — red tape and fear of penalties01:00:00 – Political will, food insecurity, and public action01:05:00 – The NFU’s role and how to get involved01:10:00 – The farm income crisis: farmers paid to farm01:15:00 – Garlic imports, food waste, and lost food culture01:25:00 – Gleaning, preservation, and community solutions01:35:00 – How to move toward true food sovereignty in New Brunswick01:45:00 – Closing thoughts: why small farms are the future🔗 Learn more:National Farmers Union New Brunswick — https://www.nfunb.orgNFU Canada — https://www.nfu.ca#FarmingInCanada #FoodSovereignty #NationalFarmersUnion #BuyLocal #SmallFarms #FoodSecurity #NewBrunswick #Agroecology #FarmersVoiceLeave a Like and Subscribe if you enjoyed! Subscribe! - https://bit.ly/SubscribeToHomegrownWatch Homegrown Season 1 on Patreon now! https://patreon.com/homegrownshowJoin our group chat!https://t.me/+HmK47zvGCNsxODlh↓↓ See more ↓↓https://instagram.com/cummingsbenjhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cummingsbenjhttps://www.facebook.com/cummingsbenjSupport Us At: http://homegrownshow.ca/

When you grab that pack of steak or chicken at the grocery store, do you actually know where it came from? How it was raised? How many hands it passed through before it reached your cart?In this episode, Ben pulls back the curtain on the modern meat industry — from industrial feedlots to mega-slaughterhouses — revealing how centralized, opaque, and disconnected our food system has become.She walks through what really happens to your beef and chicken before it ever reaches the shelf, and why local meat from a small farmer or butcher isn’t just a luxury — it’s better in every possible way.This isn’t just a conversation about food. It’s about trust, transparency, and taking back control of what ends up on your plate.00:00 – Intro: Where Does Your Meat Come From?00:27 – The Hidden Story Behind Grocery Store Meat01:00 – What Really Happens to Beef01:28 – Where Sobeys and Loblaws Get Their Beef02:45 – The Long Journey from Farm to Store03:49 – “Freshness” Tricks and Packaging Gimmicks04:45 – Why Ground Beef Isn’t What You Think05:04 – Buying Direct from Farmers: The Difference05:54 – The Chicken Industry Exposed06:50 – The Truth About “Canadian” Chicken07:35 – Humane Labels and Marketing Spin08:17 – Post-Processing Secrets08:45 – The Illusion of Choice in Big Box Meat09:30 – How Small Farms Keep It Honest10:06 – Local Food vs. Corporate Control10:29 – Health & Nutrition: Grass-Fed vs. Feedlot10:57 – The Taste Test: Real Food vs. Store Meat11:27 – The Bottom Line: Take Back Control12:07 – Ask Your Farmer — Not the LabelLeave a Like and Subscribe if you enjoyed! Support Us At: http://homegrownshow.ca/patreon.com/homegrownshow

Across North America, small farmers and homesteaders are being regulated out of existence — one bylaw at a time.In this episode, Nicole breaks down the shocking new Grand Manan bylaw proposal in New Brunswick that could limit how many chickens, goats, or livestock you can own — and even force you to register your animals with the local government.What’s being sold as “sustainability” and “planning” looks a lot more like control. And it’s not just happening on Grand Manan — it’s happening across Canada and the United States.Nicole dives deep into the bigger picture:Why small farms are disappearing faster than everHow new “green” policies and zoning rules hurt rural independenceWhat these changes mean for food security and community resilienceAnd why the fight for local food freedom starts right nowThis isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about survival.📢 If you believe people should have the right to grow food, raise animals, and live freely on their land — this episode is for you.⏱️ Timecode Chapters00:00 – Introduction01:00 – The Illusion of “Order” and “Sustainability”01:25 – The Hidden Agenda: Control of Rural Life02:10 – The Disappearing Small Farm Crisis03:40 – The Canadian Farming Collapse04:54 – Grand Manan: A Case Study in Overreach06:00 – Chicken Regulations and Registration Madness08:26 – Livestock Laws: Five Acres or Nothing09:45 – Hobby Farms Under Attack11:00 – The True Cost of Compliance12:33 – Bureaucracy by Design: How the Little Guy Loses13:27 – Greenwashing and “Climate Smart” Agriculture14:33 – The Corporate Capture of Farming15:40 – What We Lose: Food Security, Freedom, and Tradition16:34 – The Battle for Grand Manan17:17 – “You Will Own Nothing…”: The Bigger Picture18:03 – A Call to Resist and Reclaim Rural Rights18:49 – Final Words: Survival, Not NostalgiaLeave a Like and Subscribe if you enjoyed! Support Us At: https://patreon.com/homegrownshow#GrandManan #FarmingInCanada #Homesteading #FarmFreedom #BylawBattle #LocalFood #FoodFreedom #SmallFarms #CanadianFarming #RuralLife #HomesteadRights #NicoleAndBen #Homegrown

After three decades in Canadian law enforcement — from the RCMP to Chief of Police in Woodstock — Mitch MacMillan has seen the highs and lows of policing firsthand. In this candid interview, Mitch opens up about what’s really going on inside modern policing, public distrust, leadership failures, moral challenges, and life after the badge. He also shares touching stories of compassion, community, and redemption — and how farming blueberries with his son became his next chapter.Whether you’re curious about policing in Canada, the human side of law enforcement, or the moral toll of serving in uniform, this conversation offers raw insight from a man who’s lived it.00:00 – IntroductionBen introduces retired Staff Sergeant Mitch MacMillan, outlining his 30-year career with the RCMP and as Chief of Police in Woodstock.06:00 – Why Policing Isn’t What You ThinkMitch explains how most officers join to help others, not to control — and how public perception and social media have distorted that truth.12:00 – Wearing Many Hats: What Officers Really DoFrom priest to counselor to law enforcer — Mitch breaks down how modern officers juggle impossible expectations.35:00 – Do Police Have Ticket Quotas?He sets the record straight on quotas, prevention policing, and community engagement — including giving gift cards instead of tickets.44:00 – The Decline of Public TrustMitch recalls how growing up meant “find a policeman if you’re lost,” versus today’s “don’t trust them” mentality — and what needs to change.46:00 – Stories That Stay With YouEmotional stories of kindness, including a phone call from a troubled teen decades later, and how simple compassion can restore faith in the badge.50:00 – A Christmas Story from the ForceMitch shares a moving story about officers secretly buying gifts for children after responding to a broken home call on Christmas Eve.52:00 – Corruption and the ConstitutionA candid discussion on whether corruption exists in Canadian policing — and the importance of understanding the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.59:00 – Faith, Morality, and the Burden of the JobMitch reflects on the moral and spiritual weight of carrying a gun, and reconciling faith with the possibility of taking a life.1:00:00 – Retirement and ReflectionHow stress and family sacrifice led to Mitch’s decision to retire — and what life after the RCMP looks like.1:10:00 – The Blueberry Farm and Family LegacyMitch talks about running a blueberry farm with his son, and how their grandkids now help run the business.1:16:00 – Writing the “Rusty” Children’s StoriesThe heartwarming story behind Mitch’s children’s books inspired by a mischievous pony named Rusty, now illustrated by his daughter and grandchildren.1:23:00 – Finding Peace After the BadgeClosing thoughts on legacy, service, and rediscovering purpose through family, storytelling, and community.🕒 Chapters

Tech entrepreneur Ryan Groom shares his journey from early tech experiments in the 1980s to building cybersecurity companies, ethical hacking adventures, and launching new ventures like Kognitiv Spark (AI-enhanced remote support) and Rivur (live streaming and privacy chat app). He reflects on his grandfather's WWII legacy, the dark side of the internet from his work on child exploitation tools, the evolution of AI and its societal impacts, outdoor adventures in New Brunswick, and the balance between technology, humanity, and business. Ryan also discusses cybersecurity risks, social media's divisive effects, and the importance of real-world connections over digital ones. This conversation blends personal stories, tech insights, and philosophical musings on modern life.[01:00:00:00 - 01:05:36:00] Introduction and Catching Up: Ryan discusses his current projects, including AI integration at Cognitive Spark, the Legacy of Courage documentary about his grandfather's WWII experiences, and starting River with his family to teach his kids about business.[01:05:36:00 - 01:10:02:04] Early Tech Career: Ryan recounts his start with computers in grade school with a Timex Sinclair, hacking school networks in the 1980s, and early jobs setting up systems for his dad's business and working as a school board tech.[01:10:02:04 - 01:18:35:16] Cybersecurity Beginnings: Stories from Cyber Secure, becoming Microsoft's first gold partner in security in Canada, speaking at conferences, and collaborating on child exploitation tracking tools with law enforcement, including Bill Gates' involvement.[01:18:35:16 - 01:25:43:16] Ethical Hacking Adventures: Ryan shares penetration testing tales, including hacking industrial systems, physical infiltrations like sneaking into a chief security officer’s office, and discovering vulnerabilities in companies and governments.[01:25:43:16 - 01:37:47:14] AI and Technology's Future: Discussions on AI's potential dangers vs. benefits, its impact on humanity, creativity, and society, drawing parallels to splitting the atom and concerns about losing human essence.[01:37:47:14 - 02:33:33:01] Social Media and Human Connection: Reflections on losing humanity through tech addiction, the importance of face-to-face interactions, social media's divisiveness, and comparisons to 1970s issues seen in All in the Family.[02:33:33:01 - 02:36:47:04] Outdoor Adventures and New Brunswick: Tales from ATV trips, exploring Grand Manan Island, and advocating for balanced resource management to preserve New Brunswick’s natural beauty for tourism.[02:36:47:04 - 02:45:31:22] River Ventures: Details on River's live streaming for university sports, rebuilding the platform with his son, and the upcoming River Chat app for disposable phone numbers and encrypted messaging.[02:45:31:22 - 03:00:09:17] Privacy, Security, and Modern Life: Concerns about encryption, government access, digital diets, and how technology affects brain chemistry, including the benefits of green spaces and risks of "zoochosis" in urban routines.[03:00:09:17 - 03:16:07:21] Wrapping Up: Final thoughts on politics, media echo chambers, timeless human conflicts, and a call for more real-world adventures with plans to continue ATVing and content creation.Leave a Like and Subscribe if you enjoyed! Subscribe! - https://bit.ly/SubscribeToHomegrownWatch Homegrown Season 1 Now! https://www.homegrownshow.ca/comingsoonJoin Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/homegrownshow↓↓ See more ↓↓https://instagram.com/homegrownshowhttps://www.tiktok.com/@homegrownshowhttps://www.facebook.com/cummingsbenjhttps://www.patreon.com/homegrownshowSupport Us At: http://homegrownshow.ca/