Food Freedom Radio - AM950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota

Laura is joined by Ayub (Yubi) Hassan of Blue Horn Tea and Bilal Madani of Crème Foods as they share their experiences as entrepreneurs navigating the social and economic landscape of Minneapolis. They discuss the deep connection between cultural heritage and community resilience, highlighting how Somali tea and Basque cheesecake serve as bridges for unity…

Laura speaks with Teresa McCormick, the Executive Director of The Good Acre, to talk about how Minnesota's largest non-profit food hub is shaking things up. Teresa explains their “farm to community” mission, which connects local farmers with schools and hospitals to ensure everyone gets a seat at the table with fresh, healthy food. We also…

Laura Hedlund takes us inside Zion Community Church to meet the “brigade” of neighbors fighting a local humanitarian crisis with radical community love. You'll hear how volunteers like Ryan and Kaylee are sourcing fresh produce from local farmers to pack hundreds of shelter-in-place kits for families terrified to leave their homes. It's a moving reminder…

Join Laura Hedlund as she explores the intricate connection between our microbiome, fermented foods, and overall well-being. Guest experts Andreas Gomez and Jonah Uyldert share their insights on how a healthy gut can bolster our physical and mental health. #FoodFreedomRadio #Microbiome #GutHealth #Fermentation #HealthyEating #WellnessJourney #Probiotics #NatureLedGardening #HealthAndWellbeing #PodcastLife

Laura Hedlund explores the healing path of planetary health alongside Teddy Potter and Angelica Walton, moving from a culture of stress toward one of collective care. Together, they discuss how a planetary health diet and a shift in our core mindset can help us rebuild a more resilient and interconnected community. #FoodFreedom #PlanetaryHealth #SustainableLiving #EnvironmentalJustice…

In this final 2025 episode of Food Freedom Radio, Laura Hedlund interviews activist Robin Greenfield about his journey toward personal agency and radical sustainability. Greenfield discusses his lifestyle pledges, including living below the poverty line and foraging 100% of his food, while offering practical tips on wild fermentation, DIY green powders, and the importance of…

Host Laura Hedlund interviews Will Crombie of Organic Compound about building a resilient, community-focused food system through agroforestry and regenerative farming practices. Crombie shares his family’s journey transforming 42 acres into hazelnut and tree-range chicken production, advocating for local economic models over the industrial system. #RegenerativeAgriculture #Agroforestry #OrganicCompound #WillCrombie #FoodSovereignty #Rewilding #RobinGreenfield #LocalFoodSystems #TreeRangeChicken #MinnesotaFarming

Host Laura Hedlund speaks with Curt Arens, Senior Editor of Nebraska Farmer, to discuss the economic and cultural repercussions of Tyson Foods closing its beef processing plant in Lexington, Nebraska. They examine the factors driving the closure, including drought and low cattle inventory, while analyzing how this impacts a town where the cattle population vastly…

Laura Hedlund speaks with Michael Wright, Executive Director of Biomimetics International, to explore the exciting concept of the “Biosverse” and its potential for creating sustainable solutions by modeling nature’s 4-billion-year history of research and development. They discuss how systems thinking, biosensing, and embracing complexity can help solve huge challenges like plastics and pollution, leading to…

Laura has a lively discussion with filmmaker Graham Meriwether about the essence of food freedom, its profound connection to human nature, and his journey from poet to documentarian focused on agricultural solutions. They delve into the unspoken debates within the food freedom movement, highlighting the power of local food systems as a path to economic…

Host Laura Hedlund welcomes Jorge Assevado, CEO of Fermented Foods Holdings, to explore why humans are “more than 99% microbial” and how fermented foods support our gut health. Jorge discusses his company’s popular brands, including Bubbies, Wildbrine, and Flanagan Farm, and explains how true fermentation differs from pickling with vinegar. The conversation also digs into…

Host Laura Hedlund welcomes Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy for Consumer Reports, to discuss the battle for food safety and transparency. They expose a new, misleadingly named industry group (“Americans for Ingredient Transparency”) that is actively trying to block state-level laws that ban toxic chemicals in products like baby food. Brian also shares findings…

Laura Hedlund welcomes Andrew Zimmern (four-time James Beard Award winner, TV personality, and chef) for a deeply engaging conversation on the complex intersection of food, sustainability, and non-violence. We explore Zimmern’s personal journey, the ethical dilemmas of the modern chef, and the surprising economic and moral implications of eliminating childhood hunger. Discover why food systems are…

Laura Hedlund speaks with Allison Hohn, Executive Director at Naturally MN, about the impactful Food. Ag. Ideas conference that recently took place. Now in its eighth year, this must-attend gathering led by Naturally MN focused on the intersection of food and health, drawing attendees from Minnesota and beyond to explore how innovation is shaping the…

On this episode of *Food Freedom Radio*, host Laura Hedlund talks with Eric Sannerud about GrownBy (https://grownby.com), a farmer-owned platform that connects farmers directly with eaters. They discuss how this innovative tool supports local food systems, strengthens family farms, and makes it easier for consumers to access sustainable, fresh food. Tune in to learn how…

This week Laura visits with Thom Petersen, Minnesota's Commissioner of Agriculture. He shares experiencing Farm Aid 40held at the University of Minnesota on September 20, 2025.

This week Laura Hedlund was joined by chef Lachelle Cunningham.

Is a 5th world possible? Host Laura Hedlund speaks with Rob Avis of 5thWorld.com to explore bold new ideas for reimagining our future. Together, they discuss the vision behind the “5th World,” what it means for our communities, and how we might create a more sustainable and connected way of living.

Former Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie talks about the recent Minnesota Cooperative Summit

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by: Michelle Shaw with Minneapolis Edible Boulevards https://www.minneapolisedibleboulevards.org/ Joe Vital with East Phillips Neighborhood Institute https://www.epnifarm.org/

This week, Aneta Toporowska Lennartson joins the show to talk about food, music, and family at the upcoming Slavic Experience, happening Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3 at the ROC in St. Louis Park. From delicious food to fashion and culture, it's a celebration you won't want to miss. Learn more at slavicexperience.com. Aneta…

The author of Feed Us with Trees: Nuts and the Future of Food; Minneapolis urban farmers Black Radish Minneapolis and the Land Stewardship Project join Laura to share stories of Noospheric economics (also known as Living Economics, Donut Economics, Human-driven economics, etc.) Links: https://www.theblackradishmpls.com https://landstewardshipproject.org https://elspethhay.com

This week's episode is all about Nikkolette’s Macarons! Learn more at: https://www.nikkolettesmacarons.com/

Food Freedom Radio – April 12, 2025

World Water Day is March 22, Laura talks to water educator Mitchell LeGrand and executive director Doug Niemela with https://www.h2oforlifeschools.org

Joey Baird of Gardening with Joey and Holly is Laura’s guest this week. Check out Gardening with Joey and Holly every weekend on AM950

Emily Krekelberg Extension Educator & Michael Romanski, livestock farmer talk about the First-ever Ag for All Conference www.mda.state.mn.us/ag-all-conference-2025

Laura is joined by farmer and pastor Bryan Allen Demeritte today.

Talking about the revitalization of oat farming in Minnesota and northern Iowa today.

Embodied Permaculture with Dan McTiernan of https://earthbound.fi/ Oxford 2024 Word of the Year was Brain Rot. Let's envision a better word for 2025. Thrutopia – Not utopia or dystopia but Thrutopia. How do we get from where we are to where we want to be? First we need to be in our bodies. On today's…