A Conversation with Kimbal Musk: How His Trauma Led to Helping Fix Our Food System Through Community

Mar 13, 2024

Kimbal Musk, an entrepreneur and food activist known for co-founding The Kitchen and Big Green, shares his transformative journey from tech to food advocacy. He reflects on how 9/11 changed his cooking perspective and emphasizes the importance of community healing through shared meals. Kimbal discusses combating childhood obesity and fostering connections with local farmers, illustrating how teaching kids about food can enhance family bonds and address loneliness. His story inspires a deeper appreciation for the power of real food in our lives.

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ANECDOTE

9/11 and the Power of Food

Kimbal Musk transitioned from tech to food after a transformative experience during 9/11.
Cooking for firefighters at Ground Zero highlighted the healing power of community.

ANECDOTE

Choosing Boulder

Musk's move to Boulder was influenced by the town's mountain setting and vibrant restaurant scene.
He emphasizes the town's suitability for his restaurant concept centered around fresh ingredients.

ANECDOTE

Tech-Enabling Farmers

In the early 2000s, Musk helped farmers adopt technology for better communication.
He facilitated their transition to email, enabling smoother transactions with restaurants.

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Food has the power to change everything, from our health to family dynamics, the environment, and so much more. And it all starts with one bite. Today I’m thrilled to sit down with a good friend and an inspiring food activist and entrepreneur, Kimbal Musk. Kimbal is co-founder of the seasonal and thoughtfully sourced restaurant The Kitchen, co-founder of the non-profit Big Green, and a crusader for real food.

How we choose to eat and prepare our food has implications for more than just our bodies. My conversation with Kimbal is sure to inspire you to leverage the power of real food in your own family, community, and beyond.

In this episode, we discuss (audio version):

Kimbal’s surprising journey from the tech industry to becoming a food activist (8:30)
How 9/11 forever changed Kimbal’s relationship with cooking (16:00)
The experiences that inspired Kimbal to open a restaurant (25:47)
Kimbal’s determination to provide healthy food with local sourcing (26:34)
Food as the secret weapon for fighting the loneliness epidemic (33:50)
How he started building a community of farmers from the ground up (37:35)
The skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity and his work with Big Green (42:33)
Kimbal’s life-changing accident and his revelation (44:00)
How kids are impacted when they’re taught about growing and preparing food (52:20)
Creating a family connection container through mealtimes and home cooking (58:00)

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