Podcast Title: My Digital Farmer Podcast
Host: Corinna Bench
Episode: 298 – Living in the Land of Fun (Corinna's Podcast Appearance on Root to Bloom)
Release Date: February 5, 2025

Introduction

In episode 298 of My Digital Farmer Podcast, host Corinna Bench takes a heartfelt and introspective turn, sharing deeply personal experiences from the past year. Moving away from the usual marketing strategies and farm business insights, Corinna dives into her personal health challenges, the profound lessons learned, and how these have reshaped her approach to life and business. This episode features her appearance on the Root to Bloom podcast, where she candidly discusses her journey of healing, resilience, and personal transformation.

Personal Journey and Lessons Learned

Corinna begins the episode by expressing her intention to be vulnerable, revealing the significant health struggles she faced over the last twelve months. These challenges included severe digestive issues that impacted her ability to speak, teach, and manage her various roles as a farmer, marketer, mother, and church singer.

Corinna Bench [00:00]: "I'm going to be very vulnerable with you and share what's been going on in my personal life over the last 12 months and some of the beautiful lessons that have come from it."

Her appearance on the Root to Bloom podcast serves as a vessel for these revelations, where she discusses the metaphor of pruning a tree—cutting off certain paths to allow new growth—and the importance of shedding her old self to embrace transformation.

Corinna Bench [09:12]: "I've had to think different thoughts than these. These thoughts that aren't serving me and having to practice new ways of looking at life."

Key Discussions

Surrender and Trust

A significant theme in Corinna's narrative is the concept of surrendering control and trusting the universe. She likens her journey to a trust fall, where letting go of her preconceived notions of her future allowed new opportunities and healing to emerge.

Corinna Bench [12:24]: "Trust the future to unfold. ... it's about letting go and surrendering."

Perseverance and Resilience

Corinna emphasizes the importance of perseverance—continuing to push forward even when progress seems slow. She compares her healing journey to running a marathon, requiring endurance and faith in the process.

Corinna Bench [24:07]: "Healing can take a long time, and you have to stay faithful to the process."

Managing Business During Hardship

Facing health challenges forced Corinna to reevaluate her business commitments. She discusses how she adjusted her roles within My Digital Farmer and Shared Legacy Farms, delegating tasks and simplifying operations to accommodate her limited capacity.

Corinna Bench [46:31]: "I made a decision to hire additional people so that I could focus on healing."

Shifting Priorities and Living in the Moment

Corinna introduces the concept of "Living in the Land of Fun," advocating for prioritizing activities that bring joy and align with one's natural talents. This shift encourages a more fulfilling and sustainable approach to both personal life and business.

Corinna Bench [59:37]: "We should be living in the land of fun as much as we possibly can... it is a way to get there."

Insights and Conclusions

Through her journey, Corinna has gleaned several key insights:

1. The Power of Vulnerability: Sharing personal struggles can inspire and empower others facing similar challenges.
2. Embracing Change: Letting go of old identities and processes paves the way for new growth and opportunities.
3. Balance Between Control and Trust: Finding harmony between actionable steps and faith in the unfolding path leads to greater resilience.
4. Prioritizing Joy: Focusing on what naturally brings joy enhances productivity and personal satisfaction.

Corinna concludes the episode by expressing her excitement for the future, having integrated these lessons into her life and business. She encourages listeners to adopt a similar mindset, emphasizing that embracing vulnerability and trust can lead to profound personal and professional growth.

Corinna Bench [80:46]: "The journey to the becoming of Corinna, the remaking of Corinna. That is where the magic is."

Notable Quotes

• Corinna Bench [00:00]: "I'm going to be very vulnerable with you and share what's been going on in my personal life over the last 12 months and some of the beautiful lessons that have come from it."

• Kate [09:10]: "It was a bit on the long side. I don't usually go an hour and 20 minutes with my podcast..."

• Corinna Bench [12:24]: "Healing can take a long time, and you have to stay faithful to the process."

• Corinna Bench [46:31]: "Hiring additional people so that you no longer pack store orders... that's one of the reasons I moved primarily to a farm marketing school model."

• Corinna Bench [59:37]: "We should be living in the land of fun as much as we possibly can... it is a way to get there."

• Kate [75:51]: "It requires obedience, too. Like, yes, I'm going to release, unclench the hands, and I'm going to do this."

• Corinna Bench [80:06]: "Farm Marketing School is a great resource for any farm business or any entrepreneur that wants to set up their marketing system."

Final Thoughts

Episode 298 of My Digital Farmer Podcast offers a rare glimpse into Corinna Bench's personal struggles and triumphs, illustrating how personal resilience can translate into professional growth. By sharing her story, Corinna not only provides valuable insights into managing adversity but also reinforces the importance of aligning one's work with innate passions and joys. This episode serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for farmers and entrepreneurs alike, demonstrating that even in the face of significant challenges, growth and transformation are possible.

For those seeking further inspiration, Corinna recommends resources such as Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattie and Jesus Calling by Sarah Young—tools that have been instrumental in her journey of healing and personal development.

Resources Mentioned:

• Books:

  • Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattie
  • Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

• Programs:

  • Farm Marketing School: An online membership program offering over 15 classes designed to build essential marketing assets for farm businesses. Accessible at mydigitalfarmer.com/fms.

• Podcast:

  • Root to Bloom Podcast: Featuring Corinna Bench’s in-depth conversation on personal growth and healing.

Stay Connected:

• Website: MyDigitalFarmer.com
• Email Subscription: Subscribe at mydigitalfarmer.com/subscribe for regular marketing wisdom and updates.
• Social Media: Follow Corinna on Instagram at My Digital Farmer.

Corinna Bench’s transparent sharing in this episode underscores the profound interconnectedness of personal well-being and business success, inspiring listeners to embrace vulnerability, trust the process, and prioritize what truly brings joy and fulfillment.