Unplucked

In this special episode, Unplucked takes you inside the 2025 Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting, held in Raleigh, North Carolina. Host Andy Vance sets up the podcast booth right at the heart of the event to bring you exclusive interviews with researchers, educators, and graduate students shaping the future of poultry science.

Join nearly 1,200 members and guests from 39 countries as they share groundbreaking research and ...

What are the biggest challenges facing poultry producers and scientists across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa? In this episode, Dr. Behnam Saremi of CJ Bio shares his insights on navigating a diverse and dynamic market. We explore how a global company like CJ tailors its approach to different types of producers, and the region’s most pressing concerns, from feed costs to regulatory hurdles, and how innovation is helping move ...

In this week's episode, we chat with Hinda Mitchell, President of Inspire PR. We dig into how industry messaging shapes public trust, why science-backed information often struggles to break through, and what professionals can do to connect more meaningfully with consumers. Whether you're in academia, research, or production, this episode offers valuable insights into building stronger bridges between science and society.

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In this episode of Unplucked, PSA Executive Director Andy Vance talks with Brian Earnest, Lead Animal Protein Economist at CoBank, to unpack the volatile state of the egg market. From the lasting impacts of high path avian influenza to the ripple effects of corporate cage-free egg commitments, Brian brings clarity to why egg prices spiked and what’s driving continued market pressure. The discussion dives into consumer behavior, pro...

Today’s guest is Dr. Tony Pescatore, a longtime leader in poultry extension and education. As a freshly retired extension professor and associate chair at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Pescatore has spent decades advancing the mission of land-grant universities by connecting research to real-world impact.

From his first PSA presentation as a student in 1977 to serving as PSA President, his career reflects deep dedication to ser...

In this episode of Unplucked, we sit down with Dr. Marc de Beer, President of Aviagen North America and a poultry scientist at heart. From his early days in South Africa to leading one of the world’s top poultry genetics companies, Dr. de Beer shares how a career rooted in animal nutrition has shaped his approach to leadership, innovation, and global food security. We talk about the evolving role of poultry in feeding the world, th...

We dive into the future of poultry nutrition with Dr. Martin Zuidhof of the University of Alberta. Known for his groundbreaking work in poultry systems modeling and precision feeding, How has Zuidhof’s patented precision feeding system is reshaping broiler breeder management? We explore how feeding the right bird, the right amount, at the right time is improving uniformity, welfare, and data collection, and what it all means for th...

On this week’s episode of Unplucked, host Andy Vance sits down with Dr. Inga Tiemann, professor of precision livestock farming at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences in Germany, for a fascinating look at poultry production around the world. From why so many free-range birds don’t actually go outside to how technology is helping us better understand what chickens really need, Dr. Tiemann brings a fresh, bird’s-eye perspective t...

How did chickens go from barnyard birds to the backbone of a global food system? In this episode of Unplucked, host Andy Vance sits down with historian Dr. Margaret Derry from the University of Guelph to uncover the fascinating story behind the science and systems that shaped modern poultry. From the early days of scientific breeding to the rise of hybridization and the transformative role of land-grant universities, Dr. Derry off...

We're diving into the vital topic of ethics in scientific publishing with our special guest from Elsevier's ethics team, Oliva Nippe. From navigating authorship disputes to addressing plagiarism and data transparency, Olivia sheds light on how ethical standards protect the integrity of research, not just in poultry science but for the large scientific community. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or just getting started, you won'...

What happens when one of poultry science’s most accomplished minds reflects on decades of discovery from sequencing the chicken genome to mentoring future scientific leaders? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tom Porter, renowned endocrinologist, educator, and former PSA President and editor in chief, to explore breakthroughs in heat stress research, the molecular mechanics behind broiler growth, and the power of mentorship. Dr...

In this insightful episode, Dr. Jeff King dives into the critical role emotional intelligence (EI) plays in both personal and professional success. Drawing from his expertise in leadership development, Dr. King explains how understanding and managing emotions can improve communication, collaboration, and resilience, essential traits for teams and individuals alike. Whether in academia, industry, or beyond, this conversation offers ...

In this week’s episode, we go deep into poultry genetics' past, present, and future with one of the field’s true pioneers—Dr. Susan Lamont. With more than 40 years of experience, Dr. Lamont shares how the science has evolved from early QTL mapping to today’s powerful genomic technologies.

Tune in as she reflects on the major breakthroughs in understanding disease resistance and stress response, her global research collaborations, i...

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Katy Tarrant, a faculty member in Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education at California State University, Fresno. With a background in cell and molecular biology and a passion for poultry science, Dr. Tarrant shares insights into her current research and teaching.

She explains her three-pillar approach to animal welfare and sustainability—planet, people, and poultry—and how these interconnecte...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Carrie Cremers to explore her journey from dairy practice to leading technical services in one of the nation’s largest turkey companies. With deep experience in broilers and turkeys and a passion for poultry health, Dr. Cremers offers a candid look at the biggest challenges facing the turkey industry today.

We discuss the impact of HPAI, biosecurity lessons learned across sectors, and the eme...

In this episode of Unplucked, members of the AAAP H5N1 Task Force join us to discuss the critical gaps in policy and preparedness surrounding the ongoing H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak.

Dr. Carol Cardona, Dr. Michelle Kromm, and Dr. Kay Russo bring frontline perspectives from veterinary medicine, public health, and industry. Together, they unpack the limitations of current pre-movement testing protocols, the need f...

In this episode of Unplucked, we sit down with Dr. Paul Siegel—former Editor-in-Chief of Poultry Science (2002–2004) and a legend in the field of poultry genetics—for a deep dive into the evolution of PSA’s flagship journal.

From his early days at Virginia Tech in the 1950s to the digital transformation of publishing, Dr. Siegel shares insights on how the journal has shaped poultry research and why it remains central to the indus...

Host Andy Vance sits down with Dr. Yuval Cinnamon, Principal Investigator at The Volcani Center in Israel and founder of NextHen, to discuss the groundbreaking advancements in in-ovo sexing technology—a solution that could eliminate the need for male chick culling in the poultry industry. Dr. Cinnamon, an expert in embryology and genetic transformation in chickens, shares insights into:

• The latest in-ovo sexing methods and ho...

In this episode, we explore how robotics and automation are transforming poultry farming with guest Colin Usher, Senior Research Scientist and Robotics Systems and Technology Branch Head at Georgia Tech. With over two decades of experience in machine vision, robotics, and system integration, Colin shares insights into cutting-edge technologies designed to enhance efficiency, animal welfare, and sustainability in the poultry industr...