What If Everything You Believed About Sustainability Was Wrong?

Inside this conversation

Mollie Engelhart is a former vegan chef turned regenerative rancher, and we spoke about resilience, food sovereignty, entrepreneurship under fire, and why the future of sustainability might not be what you think.

In this raw and powerful conversation, Mollie opens up about her journey from operating $7M vegan restaurants to raising cattle on a regenerative ranch. Her story is anything but ordinary—and challenges common narratives about climate, food, and business.

She questions our dependency on outsourced food systems, warning:

“We are a net importer of food, and if the supply chain gets messed up, then we starve.”

From almost closing a $31M restaurant deal to losing it all during the pandemic, to confronting online activism that led to being "permanently closed" on Yelp, Mollie shows what it means to keep going when the world pulls the rug out.

“There’s nothing worse than cashing out $200,000 of your retirement to pay final paychecks on a business that’s never going to monetize.”

And yet, she rebuilt—again. This time on Sovereignty Ranch, where she’s creating something entirely new: a full-circle experience of regenerative living.

We discussed:

• Why she abandoned the vegan movement despite being celebrated in it
  
  
• The connection between microbiology in soil and human mental health
  
  
• What entrepreneurs must understand about self-worth:
  
  “I have opened my bank account app and seen millions. And I have opened it and seen negative $7,000. But who I am doesn’t change.”

You’ll also learn why radical faith, relentless action, and surrounding yourself with true believers are the pillars that helped her survive multiple industry collapses—from music to marijuana to restaurants.

Key Takeaways:

• Regenerative agriculture isn’t just about food—it’s about national security, self-reliance, and soul.
  
  
• Entrepreneurship is spiritual: "You cannot put your worth on your bank account."
  
  
• Action beats planning: “So many great ideas die in the details.”
  
  
• Resilience is not the absence of fear—it’s doing the next thing despite it.

This episode isn’t just a story. It’s a wake-up call.

💡 "You lose everything, and then you try again. But that doesn’t mean you are less of a mother, wife, or child of God."

Whether you're a burned-out founder, a conscious consumer, or someone questioning your impact—Mollie’s story will challenge and inspire you.

Episode description from the official 21CE podcast feed. This text is the show notes, not a full transcript.