Old Fashioned On Purpose
by Jill Winger
We’ve gained a lot from modern life—but we’ve also lost something along the way. We’re more disconnected from our food, our hands, our communities, and the skills that once made everyday life feel grounded. On the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast, bestselling author Jill Winger explores what’s still worth keeping from the old ways—and how to make it work in real life now. Expect conversations about from-scratch food, old-fashioned skills, entrepreneurship, home, land, and what it means to build a meaningful life without turning it into another impossible ideal.
Episodes
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S20: E3: When Your Life Has Too Many Moving Parts (and what I do about it)
People often ask me how I manage to “do it all” between running businesses, raising kids, caring for animals, and juggling a million moving parts. I've always loved good systems and streamlining, but I've learned the hard way that even the best systems can't fix a life that's simply too full. In...
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S20: E2: How I'm Healing My Dust Bowl Yard (on a budget)
You know your soil is bad when even the weeds refuse to grow. That's the situation in my new yard, and I'm determined to turn this dusty, barren patch of Wyoming prairie into something beautiful and productive without spending a fortune or planting a traditional lawn. In this episode, I'm sharing...
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S20: E1: Why I Don’t Drink Alcohol (and Other Thoughts on Being a Countercultural Weirdo)
I don't drink alcohol, and over the years, I've noticed that choosing not to drink alcohol often makes me seem like a bit of a countercultural weirdo in social situations. In this episode, I'm sharing my personal history with alcohol, why I don't drink, and some of my observations about just how...
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S19: E19: The Real Story Behind My New Cookbook: Easter Eggs & the Elephant in the Room
A cookbook takes years to create—and a lot can change between the first recipe test and the day you finally hold the finished book in your hands. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes for my NEW cookbook, The Old-Fashioned on Purpose Cookbook, from the Easter eggs and meaningful…
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S19: E18: Why I’m Paying Attention to the 2027 Food Shortage Warnings
You may have seen the headlines warning about possible food shortages in 2027, but how much should we actually be worried? In this episode, I’m digging into what’s behind those warnings, some of the very real cracks in our modern food system, and why I think they’re worth paying attention to...
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S19: E17: Can I Save My Horrible Garden Soil? My Conversation with a Soil Scientist
After the worst garden season I’ve ever had, I had the pleasure of chatting with soil scientist Dr. Caitlin Youngquist on my podcast to help me figure out what was actually going on beneath the surface. We dig into my soil test results, tips for adding organic matter to the soil, and whether…
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S19: E16: Data Centers & Dead Soil: What Are We Willing to Sacrifice for Progress?
What does progress cost us and how do we decide when the price is too high? In this episode, I’m thinking about the great Wendell Berry, my recent garden and soil struggles, the rise of data centers, and the way we’ve learned to value land. I’m exploring the tension between exploitation and...
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S19: E15: What I'm Doing Differently on Homestead #2
When I started my first homestead in 2008, I had plenty of enthusiasm and absolutely no patience. Nearly two decades later, I’m beginning again on a new piece of ground, but this time I’m not starting from scratch; I’m starting from experience. In this episode, I’m sharing the biggest lessons...
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S19: E14: How My Books Actually Happened: Writing, Agents + Book Deals
If you’ve ever wondered how a book goes from a half-formed idea in your head to something sitting on a bookstore shelf, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly how it happened for me. In this episode, I’m walking through my experience with agents, book proposals, pitching publishers, advances and...
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S19: E13: How Running a Restaurant Taught Me to Spend Less on Groceries
Grocery prices keep climbing, but most of the advice I’ve heard for spending less still seems to boil down to “use coupons” and “don’t grocery shop while you’re hungry.” After years of running a restaurant, I’ve started thinking about my household food economy very differently. In this episode…
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S19: E12: Midlife Skincare: What ACTUALLY Works
In this episode, I’m talking with Emilie Toups of Toups & Co. about what actually happens to our skin as we age and why so many mainstream skincare products may not be helping. We dig into a simple, natural skincare routine that anyone can start doing at home plus how these options compare to...
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S19: E11: The Worst Garden of my Entire Life
I’ve had some epic garden failures over the years, but nothing quite like this one. And judging by what I’m hearing, I know I’m not the only person whose garden has struggled this year. In this episode, I’m sharing the three main problems that seem to have created the worst garden of my life and...
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S19: E10: A Different Way to Buy Groceries: Inside Azure Standard
As food prices continue to rise, buying the cheapest option isn’t always the same as spending wisely. In this episode, I'm chatting with Diana Strayer from Azure Standard. Together, we explore how Azure Standard helps folks access nutrient-dense food, how you can really save money through bulk...
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S19: E9: It Takes Guts to be Bad at Something
Being a beginner as an adult is humbling, awkward, and sometimes downright embarrassing—but it also takes a surprising amount of courage. In this episode, I’m sharing a few recent experiences that reminded me just how vulnerable it feels to learn something new, why other people can be so quick to...
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S19: E8: My House Is Hot. Here's What We're Eating (and What I'm Learning)
My house is hot this summer—and after more than a decade of central air, I’m realizing just how accustomed I’ve become to comfort. In this episode, I’m sharing how the heat has made me more aware of my surroundings, more appreciative of certain things, and more thoughtful about what…
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S19: E7: When Everything Feels Out of Control I Do This
As you all probably know by now, my life has been a tad bit crazy lately. So I did the ultimate unplug from reality recently by participating in a horsemanship clinic for 10 days. Of course, that means that when I got back to 'normal', things were a tad overwhelming. In this episode, I’m sharing...
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S19: E6: How I'm Building a New Life from Old Things
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about identity and how we lose pieces of ourselves over time, and what it looks like to slowly come back to who we’ve always been. In this episode, I’m sharing what I’ve been rediscovering about myself, why old things have been speaking to me so deeply, and how…
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S19: E5: My New Old House
In this episode, I’m giving you a virtual tour of my new old house: the big-picture pieces, the quirky challenges, the garden and yard details, and the interior spaces I’m slowly bringing back to life. I'm sharing the details on how my new old house isn’t polished or perfect, but there’s so much…
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S19: E4: The Lessons I Learned From My Most Difficult Horse
In this episode, I’m sharing the lessons I learned from one of my greatest teachers: my most difficult horse, Tag. We’ll talk about the specific lessons that I learned through lots of training and mentorships as well as why this tough training matters just as much for the human as it does for the...
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S19: E3: How I Unbecame a Homestead Influencer
I thought the homesteading part of me had gone quiet—maybe even fizzled out. For a while, I blamed burnout, but I’m beginning to see there was something deeper happening beneath the surface: a reckoning with identity, purpose, and what naturally happens when the things you love become the things...
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S19: E2: The Garden I Didn't Plan for: How I'm Starting Over in a New Space
No matter how much my life shifts, I suppose I will always be the woman who starts seeds in late winter. Even in the midst of deep uncertainty. In this episode, I’m sharing what starting over looks like in my new garden. I’ll walk you through the new space, the first steps I’m taking to build a...
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S19: E1: The Biggest & Hardest Transition of My Life
In this deeply personal podcast episode, I’m sharing about walking through the biggest life transition I’ve ever faced. I reflect on how I got here, the vulnerability of being cracked open, and the strange mix of grief, relief, fear, and hope that can all exist at once. I also explore what not to...
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S18: E16: When Good Identities Become Cages (and how to break free)
Today, I’m exploring the power of identity and how it shapes us, anchors us, and sometimes quietly begins to confine us. Even the identities that are good and meaningful can become cages when we cling to them too tightly or start to outgrow the version of ourselves they were built around. In this...
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S18: E15: Embarrassment is the Cost of Entry
Learning to rope at 40 has humbled me in all the best and worst ways, because nothing exposes your ego faster than being a beginner in front of people who’ve been doing something their whole lives. In this episode, I’m talking about a phrase I’ve been repeating to myself in the branding pen:...
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S18: E14: If I Were Starting a Business in 2026, This is How I'd Do It
In this podcast episode, I’m sharing what I’d do if I were starting an online business from scratch in 2026. I'll chat about my own business story, what’s changed in the online world, and the core principles I believe still matter most. If you’ve been dreaming about starting an online business of...
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S18: E13: How I'm Cooking These Days
In this podcast episode, I’m sharing details on how I’m cooking these days. I'll explain why rigid recipes and traditional meal plans just don’t work well for our full, ever-changing family life. We’ll talk about the strategies and principles I lean on instead, including how to make peace with a...
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S18: E12: These are the Books I Can't Stop Thinking About
In this podcast episode, I'm going to share the books that have been most impactful on my life. I’ve read a lot of books over the years, but these are the ones that truly changed me. They influenced how I see the world, how I make decisions, and even how I understand myself. Podcast Episode...
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S18: E11: What I've Learned from Running a Business in a Town of 175
After reviving the oldest operating soda fountain in the state of Wyoming, I can tell you firsthand that there is something deeply meaningful about bringing an old place back to life. Yet, like most things we romanticize from a distance, it’s usually a whole lot less romantic up close. Since…
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S18: E10: Competence, Not Cosplay: How to Keep What Works, Drop the Rest
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what old-fashioned living might look like for me in the coming year and beyond. I’ve been considering which skills and rhythms I want to embrace, and which ones I need to release. In this podcast episode, I’m sharing that thought process with you. My hope is...
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S18: E9: I'm Not Planting a Garden This Year. Here's Why.
For the first time in almost 20 years, I'm not planting a garden. In this podcast episode, I'm sharing what happened in my garden last year and why I'm taking a break. I'll also share some deep thoughts about obligation and what I'm going to do with my garden space for the upcoming season.…
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S18: E8: What the Hell Happened to Homesteading?
I’ve been wanting to talk about this for a while…but the risk of sounding like a crotchety old gatekeeper, I haven’t… In this podcast episode, I'm sharing my thoughts on what happened to the modern homesteading movement and why I've been feeling so turned off by it lately. Podcast Episode...
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S18: E7: My Horse Journey (aka Finally Coming Home to Myself)
If you’ve been listening or following me for a while, then you already know that horses have been a love of mine since childhood. In this podcast episode, listen in as I talk about my horse journey, from childhood to present times. Along the way, I'll sprinkle in lots of deep thoughts on life...
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S18: E6: The Magic of Not Belonging
I’ve never really belonged. Not in the dramatic, “nobody understands me” way. More in the quiet, lifelong way—like I’ve always been standing half a step outside of whatever circle I’m supposed to slide into. But I’ve finally realized something that would have shocked my younger self: Not…
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S18: E5: I Quit Homeschooling. And It Was Hard.
As some of you know by now, I am no longer homeschooling my kids. In this podcast episode, I'm talking all about our homeschool experiences, our journey from homeschool to public school, how I'm handling the change, and some of my deep thoughts and concerns that I have about school and about...
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S18: E4: Unfiltered Confessions of a Small-Town Restaurant Owner
I'm now going on five years of owning a restaurant in one of the smallest towns in Wyoming. It’s one of the most gratifying things I’ve ever done. It’s also one of the most exhausting. I’m proud of what we’re building in our little corner of Wyoming. I’m proud of the food. I’m proud of the place....
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S18: E3: A Reintroduction, of Sorts
In the past, I've shared about mainly the homestead part of myself on this podcast. Not because I was hiding the rest of me—but because the rest didn’t really fit the homestead narrative. But lately… it’s been shifting. The homestead part of me is still woven into my days, but it’s not the…
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S18: E2: How I Don't Balance My Life (And What I Do Instead)
Folks always ask me how I "do it all" but the truth is, that I don't. Listen in as I talk about I do NOT have a balanced life and what I do instead. Podcast Episode Highlights My thoughts on 'balance' in life My summer as an example Dealing with guilt and the aftermath Learning how to say 'No'...
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S18 E1: I’m Back! (Sorta) Why I’ve Been Quiet Lately...
Hey friends, I’m Back! (Sorta). I thought I'd share some of my deep thoughts on why I've been quiet lately and what you can expect from me in the future. Listen in as I share updates on my life as well as my shifting perspectives on homesteading, purpose, and more. Podcast Episode Highlights The...
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S17: E13: When Homesteading Takes a Backseat
Homesteading has seasons—sometimes it's front and center, and other times it takes a backseat. In this episode, I’m sharing how our life looks different right now, why that’s okay, and how I’ve made peace with the inevitable FOMO. We’ll chat about the honeymoon stage of homesteading, shifting...
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S17: E12: The Underground Reason Your Garden isn't Thriving (and What You Can Do About It)
When we start gardening, it’s easy to focus on the plants—but what if we’re missing the bigger picture? Today, I’m chatting with Gregg Forster of Wisconsin Mineral Solutions about why soil health is the key to nutrient-dense food and thriving farms. We dive into how industrial agriculture has...
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S17: E11: Raised Beds: Worth It or Overrated? A Deep Dive with Gardener Scott
Ever wondered if raised beds are really worth the hype? In this episode, I sit down with Scott Wilson from Gardening with Scott to dig into the good, the bad, and the surprising when it comes to raised bed gardening. We chat about how to build beds from free/cheap materials, how to fill beds...
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S17: E10: Freshly Milled Flour: Myths vs. Facts
In this episode, I welcome back Mike Vaona, the engineer-turned-baker behind Rosehill Sourdough, to chat about his recent deep dive into fresh-milled flours. We cover a range of topics, from tweaking hydration levels and the surprising effects of oxidation to the differences between ancient,...
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S17: E9: Too Many Eggs and Not Enough Ideas? We’ve Got You Covered
In this episode, I chat with Mimi Smith-Dvorak, author of Too Many Eggs, a cookbook packed with over 800 ways to use eggs. We dive into the history of eggs, the current egg drama, creative ways to use up a surplus (including flavoring them in the shell!), storage tricks, and even some unexpected...
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S17: E8: Yes, You Can Grow Fruit & Nuts in Cold Climates! Here's How.
If you live in a cold northern area, you may have assumed growing fruit and nuts was out of the question, but I'm happy to tell you that it's not! In this episode, I chat with St. Lawrence Nurseries about the best cold hardy fruit and nut tree varieties, common planting mistakes, and essential…
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S17: E7: How to Sync Your Body with Nature: Using Light & Temperature for an Old-Fashioned Health Boost
What if the light around you is messing with your health more than you realize? In this episode, the amazing Johnna Sutton of Sutton Nutrition is back to talk about how artificial light, blue light exposure, and circadian rhythms impact our energy, sleep, and overall well-being. We dive into how…
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S17: E6: How to Create a Water Smart Garden
In this episode, I sit down with Noelle Johnson, aka the AZ Plant Lady and author of Water Smart Gardens, to uncover practical tips for making your garden more water-efficient without sacrificing beauty or productivity. We dive into time-saving watering strategies, the best veggies to grow in dry...
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S17: E5: Mushroom Foraging for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know
Curious about foraging but not sure where to begin? In this episode, I chat with Whitney of Appalachian Forager about the essentials of starting your foraging journey, including how to get started foraging, how to safely identify wild mushrooms, best practices for preparing them, and tips for...
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S17: E4: From Chaos to Calm: Decluttering Secrets for Homesteaders
In this episode, I chat with Dana K. White, author and creator of A Slob Comes Clean, about the surprising connections between decluttering and homesteading. We dive into Dana’s practical strategies, including the Container Concept and her no-mess decluttering method, to help you create a more...
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S17: E3: Yes, Home Cooking Matters. Here's Why.
Why bother? It's a question I've certainly asked myself, and perhaps you have too. In an age where cheap, convenient food is everywhere, why take the time to cook from-scratch? Is it worth it? Are we wasting our time and fooling ourselves? In this episode, we're exploring this question as I share...
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S17: E2: The Missing Piece: Mastering Nutrition for the Homesteader
As homesteaders, we often focus on sourcing high-quality, real food—but what about understanding how to truly fuel our bodies? In this episode, I sit down with Johnna Sutton, a functional nutritionist and seasoned homesteader, to discuss the finer points of macronutrients and how they fit into a...
About this show
We’ve gained a lot from modern life—but we’ve also lost something along the way. We’re more disconnected from our food, our hands, our communities, and the skills that once made everyday life feel grounded. On the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast, bestselling author Jill Winger explores what’s still worth keeping from the old ways—and how to make it work in real life now. Expect conversations about from-scratch food, old-fashioned skills, entrepreneurship, home, land, and what it means to build a meaningful life without turning it into another impossible ideal.
Hosted by
Jill Winger