Rhyzone Podcast

About Rhyzone Podcast

Where conversation is cultivated and ideas grow. In "ask me anything" style, the Rhyzone Podcast brings together horticulture leaders to discuss the current issues, trends, and solutions within our industry. Brought to you by the team from Aster Software. https://www.astersoftwaregroup.com/s/podcast

Publisher

Rhyzone Podcast

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Sept 2022

Latest episode

23 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

31 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Oct 2025

   From Data to Decisions: How AI is Taking Root in Greenhouse Operations | Episode 31

   In this episode, host William Klaassen sits down with Brian Sparks, Editor of Greenhouse Grower, to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the greenhouse industry — and how growers can take their first steps. From data collection to practical efficiency gains, Brian shares insights from industry surveys showing a growing curiosity about AI, even among those who haven’t yet adopted it. Together, they explore what AI really means in horticulture, how it’s already at work in automation and data analysis, and what opportunities — and cautions — lie ahead. This conversation offers a clear, practical roadmap for growers who want to understand AI without the hype, and start exploring how it can enhance decisions, streamline operations, and capture hard-won knowledge before it walks out the door. Key Takeaways AI adoption is growing — slowly but steadily. While few growers report using AI today, more than 80% say they’re open to exploring it. Define AI broadly. From algorithms and automation to data-driven insights, AI in horticulture spans far more than just ChatGPT. Data is the foundation. Even simple data collection today sets the stage for future automation and analysis. Start small and safe. Try using AI tools like GPTs for writing, organization, or training before applying them to operations. Education and community matter. Growers are forming “AI clubs” to learn and experiment together — and that collaboration could accelerate the whole industry’s growth. Mind the risks. Data privacy and ownership remain critical topics; AI should enhance, not replace, human expertise. Brian Sparks is the Editor of Greenhouse Grower, where he oversees both print and digital editorial planning focused on greenhouse technology, production, varieties, and business management. He has been with Meister Media Worldwide since 2000 and previously served as Managing Editor for several of the company’s brands. Brian holds a communications degree from John Carroll University. Follow Brian on LinkedIn

2. 

   6 Oct 2025

   Making EDI “Boring” (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

   William sits down with Grace Sharkey (from Orderful) to demystify EDI—what it is, why it still powers retail in 2025, and how growers can start simple and scale. They dig into real-world pitfalls (chargebacks, labels/UPCs, “dialects” by retailer), the API vs. EDI conversation, and why the goal is to make your data pipes so reliable they’re… boring. That’s where clarity (and cash flow) live. "“We take care of the boring so you can focus on modern workflows powered by clean data.” — Grace What you’ll learn EDI, in plain English: standardized, machine-to-machine document exchange between trading partners (orders, invoices, ASNs, acknowledgements), not just “emailing PDFs.” Why big retailers insist on it: reliability, security, and volume—so you can “play with the big box stores.” Five business wins: access to enterprise customers, effortless scale, hardened security, automation you can trust, and real-time financial visibility. Standards vs. dialects: an “invoice” from Retailer A ≠ Retailer B—guidelines vary; getting them right prevents costly chargebacks. APIs + EDI together: modern stacks use APIs to make EDI setup faster and more transparent (no black box), with clear error handling. Start where you are: portal-based workflows can bridge the gap before full end-to-end automation with your ERP. Memorable quotes “Make it boring. Once it’s live, EDI should feel like autopilot.” — William “We take care of the boring so you can focus on modern workflows powered by clean data.” — Grace “Standardize, then automate. Automation doesn’t fix broken processes.” — Grace Practical takeaways for growers New to EDI? Start with a portal workflow to receive orders and send invoices; graduate to API/ERP integration when volume justifies it. Hate chargebacks? Treat each retailer’s guidelines like a unique dialect; validate mappings and labels up front. Mind the labels: Centralize UPCs/retailer specs—stop hand-typing. Penalties can dwarf the order margin. Watch your cash: Track acknowledgements and remittance signals to forecast receipts in real time. Plan for breaks: Align with partners who surface errors clearly and fix fast—like having a reliable “plumber” on call. Connect Guest: Grace Sharkey — Orderful Host: William Klaassen — Aster Software

3. 

   8 May 2025

   From Grit to Growth: Building Autonomy from the Ground Up with Charlie Anderson–Episode 29

   In this episode, host William Klaassen digs into the world of autonomous equipment with Charlie Anderson, CEO of Burro. From humble beginnings in an unheated barn to deploying over 500 autonomous systems globally, Charlie shares how his childhood on a working farm—and a serious distaste for hopping off tractors to weed—sparked a mission to automate labor-intensive tasks in agriculture. Charlie unpacks the hard truths about innovation in agriculture: the challenges of scaling autonomy in heterogeneous environments, why big manufacturers are slow to adapt, and how Burro is building a platform for safe, smart mobility near people—indoors and out. Whether you're in tech, horticulture, or just love seeing robots make life easier, this episode offers both grounded insight and forward-looking vision on the future of work in agriculture. “A great robot is really boring—it just does the thing.” – Charlie Anderson Charlie Anderson shares his remarkable journey—from growing up on a Pennsylvania fruit and vegetable farm to working at Case New Holland and ultimately founding Burro. He explains why specialty crops are the most promising entry point for automation—not because they’re the largest markets, but because they carry the heaviest labor demands. Charlie describes how Burro quite literally started building autonomy from the ground up, testing small vehicles in tough real-world environments, and learning how to handle obstacles, regulations, and even standoffs with curious border collies. They explore how Burro has evolved from simple towing carts to a robust product lineup that includes spraying, mowing, and patrolling, all while staying true to a “platform, not vertical” vision—allowing growers and partners to layer their own innovations on top. The conversation highlights creative ways growers are adapting Burro for everything from security to logistics, showing the flexibility of a system designed to scale across diverse operations. Looking ahead, Charlie offers insights into how generative AI is reshaping the autonomy landscape, why the best robots are the most “boring” (in a good way), and what’s next for Burro as they prepare for massive growth. Charlie’s book recommendation: The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail by Clayton Christensen 🚜 Learn more about Burro: www.burro.ai

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

4,145

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

17

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

60

Contact Rhyzone Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.