Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg (by Food Tank)

Food Tank and Duke University’s World Food Policy Center recently hosted the “Empowering Eaters” Summit in support of the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. This episode of “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” features two fireside chats from the event. First, hear from award-winning chef, author, educator, and advocate Sean Sherman, who sits down with Dani to discuss the harm colonization has caused to Indigenous food systems, the investment needed to undo this damage and support Native communities, and why it’s more important than ever before to build resilience. Then, Dani speaks with Baldemar Velasquez, the International President and Founder of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC). They explore the false division that exists between farmers and farm workers, the skill and effort required of farm workers, and the potential benefits of minimum commodity prices for growers. 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.

The podcast discusses the importance of nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, WIC, and school meals in nourishing individuals. It also explores the advocacy efforts to safeguard and expand these programs. Additionally, the conversation touches on the value of bipartisan support for addressing hunger, the role of government programs during the pandemic, and the significance of supporting farmers and climate resilience through citizen engagement.

On “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg,” Dani speaks with Regina (Anderson) Harmon, Executive Director of the Food Recovery Network (FRN), a nonprofit mobilizing young people to tackle food waste and hunger. They discuss the growing attention that food loss and waste is receiving and how that’s affecting the movement, the organization’s gleaning projects that focus on diverting fresh surplus food to those most in need, and why recovering food to feed people today is just one piece of the puzzle in today’s anti-hunger efforts. 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.

Anna Lappé discusses closing the funding gap in food systems, linking fossil fuel industry to agriculture, and her approach as a possibilist. Topics include empowering women in farming, agroecological practices, and the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in agriculture for sustainability.

On “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg,” Dani speaks with Holly Freishtat, Senior Director of Feeding Change at the Milken Institute. They discuss the growing interest around Food is Medicine programs and the challenges to scaling them, the benefits that can come by leveraging the reach of pharmacists, and why Food is Medicine isn’t a panacea but part of a broader treatment plan. 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.

This week’s episode of “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” features conversations from a recent herbal education summit, hosted by Food Tank and Traditional Medicinals, which focused on herbal medicines in the food system. Speakers discussed the notion of “herbalism as activism,” the many benefits that plants offer to physical and mental wellbeing, and ways for eaters to incorporate more herbal medicines into their own lives. Speakers include Taryn Forrelli, chief science officer at Traditional Medicinals; Guido Masé, principle scientist and chief formulator at Traditional Medicinals; Deborah Vorhies, CEO of FairWild; Jocelyn Boreta, executive director of The Botanical Bus: Bilingual Mobile Herb Clinic; Dr. Nadja Cech, professor of chemistry at the University of North Carolina Greensboro; Dr. Holly Johnson, chief science officer at the American Herbal Products Association; Dr. Kevin Spelman, Founder of Health, Education & Research; and moderator Chloe Sorvino, food journalist at Forbes. 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 Nancy Dalton, the Head of Community Experience and Customer Marketing for Amazon Access. They discuss the benefits of online grocery shopping, which extend far beyond convenience for some eaters; the community outreach work that has helped to guide Dalton and her team; and what the private sector is doing to advance food is medicine initiatives. 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.

At a recent Summit during the Sundance Film Festival, Food Tank and 360 Communications presented a day of programming focused on food, environment, and the arts. This episode of “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” features a panel from the event about the new documentary “Susan Feniger. FORKED.” The film follows award-winning Chef Susan Feniger’s passionate struggle and quest to bring global street food under one roof in the form of a new LA restaurant: STREET. During the panel, Chef Feniger, Liz Lachman, the film’s Writer, Director, and Producer; and Lisa Donmall-Reeve, Producer and Creative Director at LDR Creative LLC, discuss the male-dominated culinary industry that Chef Feniger navigated throughout her career; the friendship between Chef Feniger and Chef Mary Sue Milliken that is central to the documentary; and the story of how the film came to be. 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.

Renowned chefs discuss the importance of creating a culture of care in restaurants and the leadership role of chefs during challenging times. They share their personal journeys as chefs and the impact of cooking on their lives. The chapter explores how chefs can use their platform to advocate for sustainability, justice, and community engagement. It also discusses the toll that working in the restaurant industry can take on mental health and the importance of self-care. Chefs highlight the importance of using their skills to build community and provide meals during conflicts.

At a recent Summit during the Sundance Film Festival, Food Tank and 360 Communications presented a day of programming focused on food, environment, and the arts. This episode of “Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg” features two conversations from the event. First, hear from Chef Bleu Adams, Founder and Director of IndigeHub and a member of the American Culinary Corps. She discusses strategies to bring more equity to the restaurant industry, why it’s important for her to be a part of the American Culinary Corps; and how IndigeHub is working to address the challenges that the Navajo Nation face. Then hear from Kimbal Musk, a chef, entrepreneur, food advocate, and author of The Kitchen Cookbook and Christiana Musk, Chair of Unreasonable Group and the Founder of Flourish Trust. They discuss the challenges of navigating conflicting research on livestock, and the role technology will play in the future of the food system, and how they’re reaching eaters with their new projects. 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.