In this week’s episode of Pod of Inquiry, I sit down with Dr. Jeffrey Burke, a 46-year veteran of the natural products industry and current Director of Education for Kokora. After decades in radio (20,000+ episodes!), Burke made a dramatic career shift to focus on something he believes could save our food system which is the soil degradation crisis in agriculture.
While most people argue about organic vs. conventional farming, there’s a third option that’s quietly revolutionizing agriculture—and it might be our last hope for sustainable food production.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why organic farming still falls short compared to regenerative agriculture
- How modern farming practices have destroyed 50% of birds and 40% of insects
- The secret to why grocery store produce tastes like cardboard
- How a farm in Costa Rica boosted yields by 500% in one year
- The “Emmy Emmy” process that turns forest waste into soil gold 🌍
- Why soil health is the key to stronger, more effective herbal medicine
This isn’t just about farming—it’s about your nutrition, your supplements, and your health. The quality of our soil directly impacts the nutrient density of food and the healing power of plants.
Dr. Burke also shares how children today think food comes from “the back room of grocery stores”—and why this dangerous disconnect could shape the future of our health and food system.
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Guest Biography
Dr. Jeffrey Burke
Dr. Jeffrey Burke is a respected leader in the Natural Products industry with over 40 years of experience spanning management, product formulation, research, and development. A renowned lecturer, educator, and author, he currently serves as the Director of Education for Kokora Life, a company dedicated to creating Certified Organic and Certified Regenerative herbal products. In his role, Dr. Burke ensures the public has access to the latest health insights and remedies. Previously, he hosted a 42-year-running National Radio Talk Show, where he interviewed industry experts and shared groundbreaking health information. Now, through his podcast Honest Health with Jeffrey Burke, he continues to educate and inspire, interviewing top figures in health, wellness, and beyond. Outside of work, Dr. Burke enjoys life in Las Vegas with his seven dogs and twelve horses, volunteering at rodeo benefit events, and connecting with audiences live.
Show Notes from this episode
00:00-02:07 – Introduction and Background
- Welcome and introduction to Dr. Jeffrey Burke
- Overview of regenerative farming discussion
- Burke’s radio background: 40+ years, 20,000+ episodes
- Transition from radio to natural products industry focus
02:07-05:16 – Career Journey and Industry Evolution
- Burke’s 46-year career in natural products industry
- Started with Dr. Earl Mendel (author of first Vitamin Bible)
- Worked in health food stores during University of Michigan
- Got into radio through Dr. Mendel
- Rick Scalzo’s call to join Kokora (former Gaia Herbs founder)
- Costa Rica farm: 100+ acres, certified organic and regenerative
05:16-07:48 – Organic vs. Regenerative Farming
- Organic focuses on what’s NOT in crops (no chemicals/pesticides)
- Regenerative focuses on soil health and microbiome
- Organic crops can lose up to 50% due to lack of pest protection
- Regenerative can yield 3-5 times more crop due to soil building
- Discussion of nitrogen and nitric oxide in organic produce
07:48-10:41 – Challenges and Economics
- Cost barriers to organic farming and products
- Comparison of organic vs. regenerative growing methods
- Regenerative uses “green cover” crops (e.g., turmeric with Mucuna)
- Carbon sequestration benefits of green cover
- Soil improvement: from 4-5 worms per cubic foot to 300-400 worms
10:41-12:22 – Environmental Crisis and Solutions
- Statistics: 60 years of topsoil left globally
- 50% of bird populations gone, 40% of insects extinct
- Bee population decline and drone bee technology development
- Chemical runoff effects on ecosystems
12:22-14:02 – Agricultural Economics and Taste
- Short-term profit vs. long-term sustainability
- Glyphosate’s impact on bee populations
- Taste comparison: organic vs. conventional produce
- Nutrient density declines in modern crops
14:02-16:00 – Soil Health and Degradation
- Difference between soil (living) and dirt (inert)
- Soil depletion timeline: 5-15 years without proper management
- Importance of crop rotation
- Microbiome and bacterial content in healthy soil
18:15-20:54 – Emmy Emmy Process and Soil Building
- Costa Rica farm’s custom soil amendment process
- Forest materials: fungus, leaves, twigs, bark
- Added ingredients: semolina flour, molasses, cinnamon, coffee grounds, eggshells
- 50-pound bags soaked in 200-gallon containers for weeks
- Bacterial fermentation creates soil microbiome enhancer
- Gold Soil Standard Award achievement (first in Costa Rica)
20:54-22:33 – Farm Location and Transition Results
- Costa Rica farm location: between middle and coast
- Soil analysis and organic certification prior to purchase
- First-year organic turmeric vs. second-year regenerative results
- Five times larger crop yield with regenerative methods
22:33-25:16 – No-Till Farming Methods
- Yeoman’s plow technology: vibrating shanks, no soil turnover
- 20-25 inch deep soil opening without tilling
- Emmy Emmy application during soil treatment
- Root development comparison: straight vs. sideways growth
- Worm tunnels creating natural root pathways
25:16-27:56 – Entourage Effect and Whole Plant Medicine
- Full spectrum vs. isolate approach
- CBD example: terpenes’ importance in effectiveness
- Lavender analogy: smell (terpenes) as active component
- Mother Nature’s wisdom in plant composition
- Synergistic effects of whole plant usage
27:56-29:23 – Pharmaceutical vs. Natural Approaches
- Big Pharma’s isolation approach for patentability
- Cannot patent whole plants, only components
- Synergism vs. single-compound approaches
- Orchestra/symphony analogy for plant compounds
29:23-32:32 – Product Manufacturing and Quality
- Whole plant extraction and testing processes
- Multiple testing phases: raw materials, post-extraction, final product
- Freeze-drying procedures
- Clean capsule formulation: no fillers or binders
- Tapioca (vegan) capsules with minimal ingredients
32:32-35:11 – Extraction Methods and Quality Control
- Water extraction as safest method
- Multi-stage testing protocol example
- Six-month storage and retesting procedures
- Final product testing for compound interactions
- Transparency and open-book policy
35:11-38:10 – Product Lines and Market Trends
- Criticism of complex ingredient lists in commercial products
- Peanut butter example: finding pure products
- Mushroom products with regenerative herb additions
- Five mushroom varieties: Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi
- 25 years of mushroom advocacy finally gaining traction
38:10-40:17 – Product Development and Applications
- Mushroom coffee alternatives and combinations
- “Cocoa roasted cocoa lift” product description
- Upcoming product lines: women’s, gut, immune
- ROC (Regenerative Organic Certified) labeling
- Traditional herb focus: Bacopa, passion flower, ashwagandha, holy basil, turmeric
40:17-43:37 – Traditional Medicine and Modern Healthcare
- Chinese medicine study and experience
- Criticism of dismissing centuries-old medicine for 40-60 year old practices
- Traditional Chinese diagnosis and treatment methods
- Children’s disconnect from food sources
- Integration of traditional and modern approaches
43:37-48:25 – Healthcare System Shift and Consumer Awareness
- Movement away from “sick care” toward preventive health
- Root cause vs. symptom treatment
- Holistic health approach: sleep, diet, supplements, exercise, belief systems
- Generational differences in health consciousness
- Individual protocols despite identical genetics (twin study example)
48:25-51:08 – Contact Information and Closing
- Kokora.com for company products
- DrJeffreyBurke.com for podcast and resources
- YouTube channel with 100+ interviews
- Call to action for likes and subscriptions
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