Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg (by Food Tank)

Tom Philpott, a Senior Research Associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future and author of 'Perilous Bounty,' dives into the evolving landscape of food policy. He discusses the challenges and importance of food journalism in the current political climate, highlighting the impact of consolidation in agriculture as a threat to democracy. Philpott critiques industrial farming practices and their socio-economic consequences, while also emphasizing the need for mentoring future journalists to drive change in food systems.

Food Tank, in partnership with Nespresso, recently hosted the “All Things Food and Environment” Summit, held during Sundance 2025. This episode of Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg features two conversations from the event highlighting the inspiring stories of food systems transformation that can be told through film. First, Chef Pierre Thiam, an author and the Founder of Yolélé, and Anne Marie Hagerty, the Host and Founder of The Envoy Show, sit down with Dani to discuss the forthcoming episode of a new docuseries focused on the power of fonio. They talk about the importance of scaling production of traditional crops for farmers and the planet, why this grain is a Trojan horse, and culinary diplomacy. Then, Lynn Waymer, a social impact producer with Kontent Films, talks to Dani about the new documentary “Farming While Black.” They dive into the trust that is foundational to telling an effective story, the Black farmers including Leah Penniman and Karen Washington behind the  movement for more regenerative and equitable agriculture systems, and how the documentary is being used as an educational tool. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Jessica Padula, Vice President of Marketing and Head of Sustainability for Nespresso. They discuss the environmental and economic benefits of knowledge sharing between coffee farmers and agronomists, efforts to manage packaging waste and create a more circular economy, and initiatives that can help producers overcome challenges caused by natural disasters or political conflict to establish resilient coffee farms. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Joel Salatin, co-owner of Polyface Farm, shares his insights on sustainable agriculture and the challenges facing farmers today. He discusses the potential impact of the new administration's policies on local food systems and the importance of regional processing for resilience. Salatin critiques existing food safety regulations that favor harmful products over safer, natural alternatives. He emphasizes the need for reforms that empower direct transactions between producers and consumers, advocating for a more equitable agricultural landscape.

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Brita Lundberg, a fourth-generation farmer and the Chief Storyteller at Lundberg Family Farms. They talk about what it means to read the rice and care for the crops without chemically herbicides, how a holistic approach to farming can heal soils while supporting wildlife, and the work Lundberg Family Farms is carrying out to show that regenerative organic agriculture is possible to achieve at scale. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Dani kicks off a new year of Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg by sitting down with Kim Severson, an award-winning national food correspondent for the New York Times, to talk about what to expect for food and agriculture systems in 2025. They discuss what’s happening to portion sizes in restaurants as GLP-1s like Ozempic become more popular; how the changing political landscape in the U.S. may impact everything from agricultural research to the future of journalism; and the foods and flavors that Severson expects to see more of, including why 2025 is the year of sauce. Plus, a few of Food Talk’s guests from 2024 return to the podcast to share their hopes for food and agriculture systems in the new year. Hear from Saru Jayaraman of One Fair Wage, Edie Mukiibi of Slow Food International, author and journalist Roger Thurow, Dr. Michael Kotutwa Johnson of the University of Arizona, Anna Lappé of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, and Regina Harmon of Food Recovery Network. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

On Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg, Dani speaks with Dr. Bram Govaerts, the Director General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). They talk about the information and other resources farmers need to grow resilient crops and support soil health, what an additional climate shock will do to a fragile food and agricultural system like the one we have today, and the ambitious goals that must be set to protect the world’s most vulnerable communities. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

On “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg,” Dani speaks with Jose Mai, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise for Belize and Dr. Rattan Lal, a Distinguished Professor of Soil Science at The Ohio State University. They discuss the spirituality of soil, the responsibility placed on producers as stewards of the land, and the resources needed to ensure that no farmer is left behind in the transformation of food and agriculture systems. This conversation was part of a fireside chat organized by Food Tank and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture at the IICA Sustainable Agriculture of the Americas Pavilion during the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.

Dr. Andrew Bremer, Director of the Office of Nutrition Research at the NIH, discusses the pressing issues of nutrition security and public health. He reveals the challenges in linking specific foods to health outcomes and emphasizes the need for a transformative food system that nourishes, not just fills. The conversation highlights the complexities of nutrition research and the urgency for systemic changes, advocating for equitable access to healthy food and the integration of nutrition in healthcare strategies.

On “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg,” Dani speaks with Sophia Hosain, Zero Waste Manager for Baltimore City’s Department of Public Works. They talk about how Baltimore is creating the programs and tools they need to slash food waste in the city, why Hosain believes everyone’s immediate future is tied to one another, and what it means to be a steward of our collective environment. While you’re listening, subscribe, rate, and review the show; it would mean the world to us to have your feedback. You can listen to “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” wherever you consume your podcasts.