{"podcast":{"title":"Cultivating Leaders","slug":"cultivating-leaders-7174298","podcast_index_feed_id":7174298,"rss_url":"https://feeds.zencastr.com/f/pxr1Pq33.rss","website_url":"https://www.agfuture.org/","image_url":"https://media.zencastr.com/image-files/67292b969674da0c15d444ea/745b6711-fa36-4368-a7b3-7538e09a93b2.png","author":"savannah.peterson@agfuture.org","episode_count":39,"summary":"Where leadership grows. What does it actually take to lead well? The Cultivating Leaders Podcast is the go-to resource for high-achieving agriculture professionals ready to take their leadership to the next level. This bi-weekly series brings you inside real conversations with C-suite executives and industry leaders across food, agriculture and natural resources. Every conversation is designed to leave you with practical tools, fresh perspective and the mindset to lead in today’s environment. Why Listen * Actionable Advice: No fluff. Just real-world strategies you can use today * Exceptional Guests: Learn directly from executives who are leading at the highest level * For Leaders at Every Level: Whether you’re leading a team, an organization or simply yourself—this podcast meets you where you are This is where leaders grow—through honest insights, practical tools and the kind of perspective you can’t get from a textbook. Ready to Go Deeper? The podcast is just the beginning. If you’ve ever wondered how leaders actually got there—the pivotal moments, tough decisions and defining setbacks—The Cultivating Leaders Webinar Series takes you behind the scenes. Go beyond leadership skills…","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/cultivating-leaders-7174298"},"episode":{"title":"Empowering Tough Conversations with Ashley Collins","slug":"empowering-tough-conversations-with-ashley-collins","published_at":"2025-11-19T17:58:57+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/cultivating-leaders-7174298/empowering-tough-conversations-with-ashley-collins","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/cultivating-leaders-7174298","url":"https://zencastr.com/z/QOzfMBL4","audio_url":"https://redirect.zencastr.com/r/episode/691e0561dde040e70ada2137/size/169447838/video-files/67292b969674da0c15d444ea/d3c5ecb6-15bd-493d-a6e0-96508b1f3ddc.mp4","summary":"There is power in navigating high-stakes and emotionally charged conversations with clarity, confidence and humanity Ashley Collins, CEO of the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to break down why honest dialogue matters. She provides tools so leaders can prepare, respond and grow through high-stakes conversations. With experience leading growers, navigating board dynamics and shaping conversations across agriculture, Ashley brings a grounded and practical perspective to those conversations we often avoid. Ashley explores: * Preparing with purpose: how to think through your intent, plan your words and choose the right environment before a tough conversation begins. * Staying composed: when the stakes get high, she has the tools for pausing, asking better questions and prioritizing psychological. * Leading dialogue in agriculture: why family legacies, tradition and generational change make crucial conversations essential. This episode challenges you to rethink how you show up in tension, grow your communication skillset and lead people forward even when the conversation gets uncomfortable. Want to hear more from Ashley? Check out her blog here [https://www.agfuture.org/news/crucial-conversations]! Connect with Ashley * Connect on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleywcollins/] * Follow NC Peanut on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ncpeanuts/] * Follow NC Peanut on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/NCpeanuts/] * Visit NC Peanut's website [https://aboutpeanuts.com/] Connect with AFA * Follow us on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/agriculture-future-of-america/?viewAsMember=true] * Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/agfutureamerica/] * Like us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/agricultur…","meta_description":"There is power in navigating high-stakes and emotionally charged conversations with clarity, confidence and humanity Ashley Collins, CEO of the North Caro…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3393,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/cultivating-leaders-7174298/episodes/empowering-tough-conversations-with-ashley-collins/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/cultivating-leaders-7174298/empowering-tough-conversations-with-ashley-collins.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}