Food Slain digs deep into our dirty food supply chain, wrought with ingredients, chemicals and additives that are compromising our health, our environment and our economy. Listen in, and let's see if we can find clean, honest and healthy food somewhere along the way. Hosted by food lover, food slayer (chef), food grower (permaculture farmer) and food truther (author & investigator), Michele Thorne. Learn more on the website at FoodSlain.com
Saying there is a thing called “better meat” suggests that there is something that is of lesser quality or worse, right? Or even that there might be a “best” meat. Of course, this is all subjective. But what makes meat good or bad? We all have preferences and price expectations, monetary constraints and values that govern our decision making. We often try to choose what is in our best interest, but we also have to choose trade offs, which are based on some of these microeconomic factors. We could argue all day every day about what is better, but there will always be tradeoffs that produce different outcomes. Then the question becomes…what outcomes do we desire? In our personal lives and in society. What percentage of those outcomes can we really control? And no matter what we decide…we must always consider, cui bono? Who benefits? We can assume the answer to that, but we still have to eat. Many of us want to eat better food and what "better" means to each of us might be different, but maybe we can find common ground and quit lumping all meat into a good or bad category. Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with someone you love! Happy Belly Year!
In this episode, we're talking about antibiotic resistance (and a host of other fascinating and entertaining things) with a frequent, and one of my favorite guests, Dr. Tanei Ricks. If you are a science fan like me, or you're wondering why antibiotics are in our food, water and soil, or why our bodies are resisting them (and ultimately creating "super bugs" that set out to kill us) then you'll love listening to this episode. :) P.S. We are all grown folk, but I figure I should warn you. There's a cuss word or two in here and the episode is a little long, but it's fun and informative so I hope you enjoy it!
In this episode, I'm talking about demystifying good meat with Camas Davis, the founder of the Good Meat Project, published author of her memoir, Killing It and also the founder of the Portland Meat Collective. If you're someone who wants to know where their meat comes from, and you need a little clarity about buying meat in bulk (like buying herdshares) then this is the episode for you! Camas and I sit down in my farm truck and talk about the benefits of buying good meat in bulk, from local farmers and ranchers, what to do with it, how to cook and store what you get, and we talk about the real cost per pound and how buying direct from producers helps your local economy. Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with someone you love. Chow!
In this episode, we're talking about seeds. Yeah, the little things we (meaning farmers) use to grow the entirety of our food supply. Seeds are interesting because seed genetics contain information that helps the plants thrive, produce fruit and even more seeds. However, thanks to corporate consolidation, seeds have become a commodity, ripe for manipulation, control and economic gain...but for whom? We all know "whom"...but seeds are also intrinsically connected to family legacies, food sovereignty, food history and culture. So, what happens to all that when more than 70% of the global seed market is controlled by just 10 corporations? Listen and find out. Thanks for sharing this episode with someone you love!
We've all heard, "The canary in the coal mine", right? The canary in the coal mine idiom refers to an early warning sign that danger is afoot. In this sense, the canary may or may not be dead but it has definitely left the building. We've been warned and danger is ahead. If we stay in the coal mine (meaning, if we keep doing what we're doing), there's a higher likelihood we won't make it out or endure what the CEO of Chase JP Morgan warned us about last week, what he called an "economic hurricane". Whether that sounds ominous to you or not, the reality is, we should all be preparing for the worst. Not just preparing for continuing food shortages, but preparing for much, much more that is already on the horizon. That said…I hope you are motivated to take action, and thanks for listening to this episode and (definitely) sharing it with the people you love.
Call it a coincidence or call it intentional. The choice is yours, but the facts are the facts. In less than 18 months, 30 food production facilities (including manufacturers, distributors and food banks) have been impacted by fire. Why? That's the question. There's inflation, bird flu, global events, and more debt at our doorstep...what's to worry about? World leaders would like us to just turn the other way, "nothing to see here" and would rather keep us distracted by erroneous social events. It's all a conspiracy, they say. Maybe they're right? Maybe not. You decide. And thanks for listening and sharing this episode with someone you love. (To access the list of articles referenced in this episode, visit https://foodslain.com.)
So many stories about vegans behaving badly are emerging. There have been several very high profile vegans that have been caught stealing, manipulating their followers and flat out lying to investors and people all over the world while promoting a so-called "healthy lifestyle". People like Belle Gibson, The Vegan Teacher on TikTok and Sarma Melngailis have been caught up in scandals, have made a lot of bad decisions, and have turned their backs on the people who supported them, exposing deep hypocrisy, theft and deception. I used to be a "vegan", worked as an Executive Raw Food Chef back in the early 2000's and even wrote a book about raw food. I eventually realized veganism wasn't the nutritionally ideal diet for me. But this episode isn't about me. It's a kind of sad story of vegan influencers that makes me questions the moral high ground that many vegans stand on. Because, if not eating meat helps you live (supposedly) healthier and more "pure" life, why are vegans behaving so badly? T'is a pickle. Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with someone you love.
Inflation. It can be complicated for all of us. We have to navigate through rising prices and the declining value of the dollar, simultaneously. And the outcomes can be serious. The reality is, we are in an inflationary cycle right now. Global food prices are up 47%* and here in the U.S., food prices are up 7.4%** within the past 12 months, with some foods increasing in price by double digit percentages. It's crazy. But, why? Well, part of the reason is debt. The increase in Federal interest rates just went up and the other part of the reason is the dollar just doesn't buy as much as it used to. Oh, and let's not forget...food distribution and supply chains are impacted by high fuel costs, and fertilizers have doubled or tripled in price, making the production of food for farmers even more expensive. Inflationary cycles happen in debt based economies, but the last time we were facing this kind of "across the board" inflation was 40 years ago in 1982. There's still hope, and some time before things all fall apart, so make sure to listen in to find out how you can "beef up" your resilience and make a valiant effort at making it through the storm. Thanks for listening to the Season 8 Finale, and sharing with someone you love. WARNING : There may be parts of this episode that are upsetting to some of you... *UN Global Food Price Index **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Parasites. Most people never even think about them, but we all have them. I have them. You have them and there are many, many types of parasites that live inside of us. Think malaria, ticks, worms and one of the most common, toxoplasmosis. Some are active some are like sleeper parasites. Some we see and most we don't. But they are there, messing with our heads. Rest assured. It's not likely that we can get rid of them, so the best we can do is make the environment inhospitable. Covered in this episode are : Toxoplasmosis - Cats & NeurotransmittersHow Toxoplasmosis Alters Human BehaviorEating More Bitter FoodsWhy we need to breakdown the biofilmCooperative communities & the cycle of germ terrain theoryWe'll never get rid of them all…and they won't leave willinglyElectrical charging and breaking up the crystals inside usCreating an inhospitable environment Thanks for listening and sharing with someone you love. WARNING : There may be some parts of this discussion that teeter on the edge of uncomfortable.
In the past decade, some of us go walking around town with a green drink or smoothie in hand, hoping we're getting rid of the gunk. Well…that's only half the story. Truth is, we're probably getting the water soluble gunk out…but most of the toxins we think we are getting rid of, aren't water soluble. That's why in this episode, I'm talking to Spencer Feldman. He's the creator of Remedy Link, and he's created products and protocol for the effective detoxification of water AND fat soluble toxins. He will be back next week talking about parasites. :( Thanks for listening and sharing with someone you love...
Why is food waste even a problem? Most of us know that food waste IS a problem, but in this episode we're going to talk about why it's a problem, for whom and what we can do about it. Food waste is apparent up and down the food supply chain from the farmer all the way to your plate - and it's pretty staggering how much food waste contributes to greenhouse gasses, but interestingly, fruits and vegetables are THE most wasted foods. The sad part it, we're throwing perfectly good food away - to the tune of over $300 billion dollars worth every year - is dumb. And also very complex. This is perfectly edible food that feed millions of people who face food insecurity, everyday for one year. This is one of my all time pet peeves, and I will caution you...there are a lot of numbers swirling around in this one...but I pull it all together in the end. Thanks for listening and I'll see you on the other side of the plate! Chow.
In this week's episode, we're talking pork, and the Olympics. Well, to be honest, we're talking about a lot of different adulterated foods that we should all be leery of, not just those eating and competing at the Olympics. There are a lot of reasons to be concerned about this, the least of which is, we have no idea whether we can REALLY trust food being grown, produced and imported from China, into countries around the world. It's not to say that the food can't be better, because we know it can. The issue is, it's difficult to identify good, pure (uncontaminated) food - especially for the almost 3,000 athletes competing at the apex of their athletic career...because this isn't the first time adulterated food has been discovered there. So, that begs the question...how can we trust that what they are reporting is true? Listen in to find out, and thanks for sharing this episode with someone you love!
In this episode, we're talking about The "Science", with one of my favorite podcast guests who has earned a PhD in Bio Organic Chemistry. He's been to the show before, first talking about corn and also talking about fluoride (which if you haven't listened to either of those episodes, you should) and this time, we're talking about “the Science”...something that is ever present in our lives now for the past two years. Thanks for listening and share this episode with someone you love.
This week, we find ourselves navigating a lie that has been told for 50 years, thanks to some of our designated government letter agencies and a guy named Ancel Keys. Our quality of life, economic prosperity, the health of our land and water and our wellbeing has all diminished as a result of this big fat lie and in this episode I'm going to share the science that supports this discovery and share some of the history and corruption behind how we got to this point and what we can do about it. We've heard for decades that the problem with obesity is our fault. And no matter what we do or change in our diets and habits, we're still getting diabetes, gaining weight and dying from these horrible diseases…slowly and painfully. So, after learning about how this lie has cost us in healthcare, cost people their lives and to this day, costs people thousands of dollars in prescription medications, yet we are still burdened with poor health outcomes, how can we believe anything we're told? That's the question. Thanks for listening.
In this episode, we're talking about the controversial issue of how prison labor is used by multinational corporations to bring some of your favorite products and foods to your table. What I'd like to share with you in this episode is what is behind the curtain. What the food products are that use convict labor to bring these foods to market, what are the benefits and costs are on both sides of the issues to determine whether this is a good thing for our food and our people. It's definitely a complicated issue that has been controversial…I mean, have you ever read the back of any product that said, "Made In the US by prisoners"? Probably not. And if you did, would you still buy that product? That's the question. Thanks for listening and I hope you share this episode with someone you love.
In this week's episode, we're talking to Ethan Brown, from The Sweaty Penguin podcast about chocolate...and some other not so sweet things. More specifically, we're diving into some of the major issues in the chocolate industry pertaining to the destruction of rain forests, the ongoing perpetuation of slave labor and price fixing. This is Part One of two episodes this season on chocolate, because there is so much to cover. We had a "spirited" conversation about climate change and solutions, only to realize that the issue is nuanced and very complicated.
You may or may not know who owns what is on your plate, but rest assured...it probably isn't who you think it is. There's a big chance that the brands you trust and have been buying food from for years, are now owned by a handful of corporations, giving us the illusion of choice. Welcome to the Season 8 Premiere. In this episode we're diving into a few food industries where three or four corporations control upwards of 80% of the marketshare. They rake in billions in profits every year, often subsidized by lobbyist, government aid and by us, taxpayers. Even though we're paying for these companies to control almost every part of our food supply chain, we're not getting better quality, nor safer food. We're not healthier and all of us, animals and wildlife and ecosystems included, are paying the price. Share this episode with someone you love, and thanks for listening.
Hey Food Slayers! It's the end of the year and I figured I'd make a Year In Review BONUS episode. We talked about a lot of food, and talked to some amazing people this season. So, what did we learn from it all? Well, you tell me what you learned, but in this episode I'll share what I learned. At the end of the day, there are good and bad actors in the food industry. Without one another, neither would exists. There's a Nietzsche quote that says, "Only great pain is the ultimate liberator of the spirit….I doubt that such pain makes us ‘better'; but I know that it makes us more profound." It is my hope that through the deep dives into the food supply chain on this podcast, among the bad, the ugly and the pain that is felt by what we learn, that we realize we have become more profound. Wishing you and yours happy, healthy holidays. I appreciate you listening and sharing with people you love! See you in Season 8 in January.
In this episode, we're talking about one of the world's most prolific biohazards that is found up and down the food supply chain, and it cannot be eradicated, only controlled. Meet the fungi you probably never heard of, Ochratoxin A. It's a mycotoxin that is found in 25% of our food globally, it can cause acute and chronic illnesses, it cannot be destroyed by most heat or pH fluctuations, and it is causing havoc inside our pets and our bodies. The thing is...by the time you figure out it's on your plate, it's probably already too late. Enjoy this Season Seven Finale, and I'll see you on the other side of the plate! Chow.
In today's episode, we're talking about where our food comes from and the laws that are designed to protect the interests of consumers - Country of Origin Labeling Laws. These laws are designed to help educate consumers about the healthfulness and nutritional benefit of food products, and they contribute to the building of trust between consumers and brands. Sadly, there are a few billion pounds of vulnerable products exempt from these laws and the impacts are changing markets, increasing economic divide and deceiving consumers at the table. Enjoy this episode and please share it with someone you love. Chow.
In this episode, we're talking about food recalls. This is a listener suggested topic, so I want to just thank Dante for suggesting this topic. It is so timely, because if you are connected to me on the socials, I shared an article this week about a recent, Class II, 525,000 pound canned roast beef recall. What's worse is, the public tax payers rely on inspectors to catch public health threats when it comes to our meat, poultry and processed egg products, yet there's manipulation, coercion and corruption going on behind the curtain. So, let's pull that baby back and take a look at what's going on (or not) with our food safety. It ain't pretty but, we should know. Enjoy!
Today, we're talking to an agricultural economist about the food supply chain, growing challenges with land succession and how to hedge the rise in animal feed prices. I am really excited to talk to someone who understands economics because it is such a critical lens to look through when talking about food and agriculture. I am thrilled to welcome Michelle Klieger who is the founder of Stratagerm Consulting, an agricultural and business consulting firm. She also has a podcast and is a professor of economics.
In this episode, we're talking about vegetable oils, which in truth, we're talking about industrialized, mechanized seed oil production and how it has completely infiltrated our food supply chain. It's everywhere and in almost everything. For decades, these seed oils have been promoted as being a "healthier" option because animal fats (what people have eaten for millennia) got a bad rap! The research shows that polyunsaturated fats in vegetable oils may be lowering our cholesterol, but it's killing us sooner, by way of oxidative stress on our mitochondria which has been linked to diseases like diabetes, Alzheimers, cancer, heart disease and obesity. So, why aren't we talking more about this? There are 98.5 billion reasons why we are not...so, I figured what better time to start the conversation! Thanks for listening and remember to share this episode with someone you love.
In this week's episode, we're talking about SPI's...or as you might recognize them, soy protein isolate. There are many alternatives to animal proteins, but it seems (after diving deep into a rabbit hole of research, videos, studies, science and many other tangents) that these alternatives, including by not limited to soy, have a "dark" side that impacts our health, environment and wallet...yaddah, yaddah...you know how it goes. This shouldn't be a surprise, but what is eye opening is the way soy protein isolate is made and how we came to use it as food in the first place. We'll get into that as well as some interesting history...and if you're thinking..."well, I use organic protein powder, so no big deal..." let me just say....think again! Thanks for listening in and sharing this episode with someone you love. See you on the other side of the plate. Chow.
Today, we're going back to food, farming and history and we're talking about Letitia Carson, America's first black woman to be granted a land claim under the Homestead Act of 1862. She came to Oregon on the Oregon Trail with her common law husband, David Carson, and they had two children. Martha, the first child, whom you see on the cover art and who was born while on the way to Oregon, and the other, Adam. She was a one of Oregon's first black pioneers who came out West with her family, cultivated her skills, lost it all and triumphed over her adversaries. Amazing. I hope you enjoy her story and share this with someone you love and keep her legacy alive! Chow.
In this episode we're talking about one of the most addictive beverages consumed by billions of people every morning (sometimes twice or three times a day), coffee! If you're not a coffee drinker, I get it. This episode may not be for you. But if you do drink coffee, you'll learn a few things about the history of coffee, how we got here, a few factoids about the economic value of coffee, the exploitation of coffee farmers, and the environmental impact of our coffee addiction. It's a pretty interesting little bean that has a lasting impact on our lives and it isn't going anywhere. So, if you're listening to this episode in the morning, grab your cup of Joe and let's get buzzed together! Thanks for listening and for sharing this episode with someone you love! Chow.
In this episode, we're talking about beef...again. Why? Because there is a lot more to the story. Like how 86% the beef processing industry is owned and controlled by four major global corporations, one who has been caught bribing government officials, is paying off health inspectors so tainted and contaminated meat makes it to market and is disguising foreign grown beef as US beef - thanks to Congress repealing Country of Origin labeling laws in 2015. It is a "hot mess" and the blame should fall on the bad actors, not the ones who treat animals humanely, produce healthier beef products, integrate waste back into the system to improve soil and sequester carbon and help keep local communities resilient. Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with someone you love.
Beef. It's what's for dinner, they say. But what else is it? In this episode we're talking about beef, as an industry, as environmental, health and economic challenges, as well as the industry as a whole and how it contributes to our lives and basic products we use everyday. No matter what side of the debate you're on, beef pervades our lives in many, many ways, so it's worth digging into to learn exactly where we need to focus the blame - and it isn't on ALL beef producers. It's a tricky issue, especially when we consider choice….at the end of the day, if the billionaires and global corporations have their way, we won't have choice...or beef. We'll have alternatives, probably more plastic, and forget about lipgloss and ceramic plates. Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with people you love.
Today, we are swirling around in a plastic eddy trying to find our way out of microplastics. The reality is, there is no way out. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but all I can say is...our bodies are full of microplastic bits and fibers, literally. And so is our fruit, beer and salt. We are dependent on convenience in our food supply chain and plastic is necessary for food safety, so where does that leave us? It leaves us swirling around in this seemingly never ending eddy of plastic in our everyday lives...and now it's showing up in our stool. Yes, our poop. This is the Season Six Finale, so thanks for listening in, sticking around and subscribing to this podcast. See you on the other side of the plate! Chow.
In this episode, we're talking about pork, beef and chicken as a national security threat. If you haven't heard the news, the largest pork, beef and chicken meat processor in the world, JBS was attacked a little over a month ago and caused shortages and price increases for you and me. The problem isn't just the threat of compromised security of sensitive data and operating systems, it's the threat of food insecurity. JBS processes 85% of meat products in the U.S. and has been "playing dirty" for 100 years. If the ransomeware attacks, coupled with meat shortages and higher prices and dirty business tactics continues, there's a good chance that in the not too distant future, some of you will be fighting at the big box grocery stores for the last package of bacon....just sayin'. Thanks for listening and sharing this episode with someone you love.
Today, we're back to talking about food, farming and history, and we're talking about Henry Blair. If you've never heard his name before, chances are, especially if you are a farmer, you've used one of his inventions or some iteration of one of his inventions. Anyway, I chose this man to do an episode on, not because he is a black inventor, not because he is hardly known by many, but because his patented inventions (plural) have changed the lives of farmers in the United States since 1834. There isn't a lot of recorded history about Henry Blair. I have no idea whether he was married or had children. He was barely literate, but he was the 2nd man of color to be issued a patent in the United States. He was 27 years old. His patents changed farming, food and fashion...forever. Truth is, most people have never heard of him and probably don't really care. That's why he is the topic of today's episode...because at the end of the day, all we are is dust in the wind.
In this episode, we're talking about stevia - not really the stevia derived from the plant. We're talking about a "stevia" product developed by Cargill and Royal DSM which is the synthetic biology and scientific fermentation of genes and yeast, and it is showing up in our food supply chain as a trademarked product called EverSweet™. This zero-calorie, "non-artificial" sweetener is designed to “urgently advance sugar reduction around the world" and ”to support good health and well being in our societies”. There is no scientific evidence to back up the claim that it supports good health and well being. They claim this product is "sustainable", but it seems more like greenwashing, and there is a lot of money invested into this venture. It begs the question....cui bono? I think you know the answer...but I hope you listen in to find out. Share this episode with someone you love and I'll see you on the other side of the plate. Chow.
In this episode we're talking about strawberries. Conventionally grown strawberries for the most part. We consume 8 lbs per person of this popular summer fruit in the United States. It's a multi billion dollar industry and unfortunately, the way strawberries are grown, 20-30% of samples test positive for toxic chemicals that are not only killing bees, they are impacting our brains and reproductive health, especially in men. Most importantly, huge conventional strawberry farmers use massive amounts of fumigants in the soil, every season before the season begins, so these chemicals are also killing EVERYTHING in the soil they are grown in too! (Not to mention the other environmental externalities at play here...) Listen in and share this episode with someone you love - especially with someone who loves the other sweet treat byproducts of this fruit. Thank you for your support.
In this episode we're talking about rice, and we're talking to agronomist, researcher, farmer and my colleague, Che Axum. You might remember him from Season Three, but if not, he's back again this time to talk to us about rice and arsenic, specifically inorganic arsenic and other heavy metals found in rice and other food products. Rice is THE most important human food crop in the world, feeding half the world's total population. Many cultures rely on rice for food multiple meals a day and we eat billions of pounds of it every year. But why the heck is inorganic arsenic, a toxic heavy metal, in this culturally important staple food? Che helps us understand how rice is grown and why it's in there. Then we talk about what we can do to minimize our exposure to it. Listen in and share this episode with someone you love.
In this episode we're talking about fake, adulterated olive oil. So, what the heck is going on with olive oil, you ask? Well, let me put it this way...it's expensive as all get out (as 2Chains would say, it's the "most expensivist"), it's cut with other seed oils that can cause health problems, it's an industry run (basically) by the "agro-mafia", it's labeling regulations don't exist, so producers can put whatever they want on the label, AND a few of the major sources of olive trees in Europe have a bug infestation so serious that it might bring an end to the olive oil import industry within a few years. Not to mention, we want the health benefits - namely, polyphenols. Polyphenols are naturally occurring plant compounds that help manage blood pressure, reduce inflammation and regulate blood sugar, but when we're consuming adulterated olive oils cut with seed oils like safflower, sunflower, canola, soy or peanut oils, then we're dealing with a whole different barrel of monkeys. Many of those seed oils are not only pressed from GMO crops (commonly sprayed with glyphosate, aka weed killer), but they are polyunsaturated fats that do not contain polyphenols at all. In fact, they have the exact opposite effect of olive oil (a monounsaturated fat). Not only that, polyunsaturated fats are the fats that can increase your risk of heart disease and cause inflammation. I'm not going to belabor the point here, but it's a pretty "greasy" issue and neither producers nor retailers have any incentive to do anything to stop this madness. Luckily, you're going to listen to this episode, get some ideas about what we can do, and share it with someone you love so that we can all stay informed and healthy. Time Stamp 04:45 - The business of olive oil 07:33 - The most "expensivist" olive oil 09:48 - Industry standards are not being met 12:03 - Why it matters - polyphenols 14:49 - There's an "agro mafia" massive olive oil scandal 17:04 - America is the dumping ground for adulterated olive oil 21:26 - Xylella fastidiosa across Europe is destroying olive trees 23:36 - Things we can do to verify what we're buying 29:19 - Is the olive oil in your kitchen real?
Money and profitability are real components of running ANY business. And let me tell you first hand, being a small farmer isn't going to make you a millionaire - but it can be profitable. There are many small farmers making money on small plots of land, thanks in part to this guy. Meet Booker T. Whatley. In this episode of Food, Farm & History, we're talking about a farmer who believed that "smaller was smarter". He was a black farmer from Alabama who studied with Dr. George Washington Carver, and he wrote a book called How to make $100,000 dollars Farming 25 acres With Special Plans for Prospering on 10 to 200 Acres - published in 1987 by the Regenerative Agricultural Association of Rodale Institute. Booker T. Whatley's ideas about how to be a profitable farming operation by focusing on what customers want, cutting out the middlemen/middlewomen, marketing directly to customers, and reducing labor costs by letting customers do the work for you, have been proven time and time again. Pure genius. If you care about building community, reducing food insecurity, creating a thriving local economy and eating clean, healthy food - you'll enjoy learning about this guy! I thank you for listening and sharing this episode with someone you love.
In this episode, we’re talking to Zach Menchini - a soil enthusiast and technical soil expert who digs down into the details. He talks about how soil sequesters carbon, what we can do to help our soil be healthier and more productive. For his "day job" he's a soil consultant at Concentrates (one of my favorite places to be), and at his "other job" he’s a farmer and the founder of Campfire Farms . If you've ever wondered about how soil sequesters carbon, or what happens "down under" your soil, or how we can help change the behavior of the "big Ag players", then this is the episode to tune into. Thanks for listening in and please share this episode with someone you love. Time Stamp 03:32 - Why does soil matter? 05:15 - How can big ag create better soil? 10:07 - What are the most important plant nutrients and micronutrients? 11:34 - How does the soil sequester carbon - what is the actual process? 14:24 - Wood chips? The Carbon:Nitrogen ratio misunderstood 18:30 - The economic impact of improving soil 21:42 - Changing behavior : stop the subsidizing of NOT growing food 30:48 - The Calcium connection : The basic building block 36:22 - Soil testing : Potting Soil vs Land Soil 40:32 - How to get a good soil sample 46:52 - It takes time on the land to figure out what works 47:19 - Zach’s top recommendation for building better soil
Welcome to Season Six. In this premiere episode, we’re talking about food activism, food sovereignty and food history and I’m excited to share the life and legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer with you. Fannie Lou Hamer was a pioneer, a courageous and determined woman, farmer, chef, freedom fighter, singer, mother, wife, friend and survivor and I am honored to dedicate this episode to her. In this episode, we’re also going to talk about how Fannie Lou Hamer’s legacy impacts us today, how her ideas and commitment to community, poor people and food are relevant today. Especially regarding the corporate takeover of our food systems, rising food prices, new proposed legislation and our food freedom. Thanks for listening in and please share this episode with someone you love. And remember, "Nobody's free, until everybody's free."
Welcome to the Season 5 Finale with my guest, Stacy Malkan, one of the founders of the US Right to Know. In this episode, we're talking about cosmetics and body products, the massive influence of beauty industry on us (and especially our youth) and what we can do to help change the industry and more importantly, relay this important information to future generations. Stacy is an author and investigative journalist who created the Safe Cosmetics campaign and has been at the forefront of this very important issue for decades. This is an important conversation to have. Why? So that we can all understand the impact that corporations, manufacturers and politicians have over the many products that we use in our hair and on our skin everyday. Let's listen in so we can begin to stand up together. Please share this episode with someone you love...because with steadily declining fertility rates, our grandchildren depend on it! TIMESTAMP 02:47 - Intro 04:03 - Bioaccumulation of lead - we’re getting it from many things 07:26 - How can companies do better 10:22 - Big business - what can we do about the compounding problems? 17:09 - Beauty influencers aren’t our parents anymore - how can we educate the current beauty industry 27:20 - Does better cost more, and why? Healthy should be available to everyone 30:34 - Most expensive doesn’t mean better/cleaner 33:07 - Why it’s so hard for industry to change 34:30 - Health and fertility outcomes - connecting the dots 39:48 - What are health outcomes going to look like in 20 years 50:09 - Passing the baton, will a change in political systems work? 53:45 - Bringing the darkness into the light!
In this episode I'm talking with Gus from Naked Acres. She and her wife Margo, own and operate Naked Acres Farm in Beavercreek, OR. With their combined veterinary and science backgrounds, it's no wonder they are finding a successful groove in the local community. What's great about this conversation is, the quality of the food we buy is reflective of the health of the soil it's grown in...even the grasses and hay that Gus' animals eat! You'll hear some "farm noises" because this was an "on farm" interview in Gus' high tunnel greenhouse! And if you're into building soil, make sure to listen in because Gus shares some real "gems" and insight into the science of soil and soil nutrients! Wanna support this podcast? It's easy... Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and share this episode with a farmer or gardener that you love! Chow.
In this episode, I'm talking with James McWalter, the host of the Carbtonic podcast, about decarbonizing the economy at scale. Both James and I know that the economy AND the food industry are complex, and the carbon footprint of the food supply chain is responsible for at least 25% of total U.S. emissions. So, we dive into some possible solutions to some of the complexities that could help the big players in the industry reduce carbon emissions. We also talk about his background as a farmer and butcher, growing up in Ireland. We have a lot in common and we know that, although we may not agree on exactly how to solve these problems, we agree that somehow, we can solve them! Listen in, subscribe and share with someone you love!
In this episode of the Farmer Spotlight Series, I'm talking with Zachary Paige. He is the founder of North Circle Seeds in Minnesota, and he and his wife are building a company that is committed to creating an ecologically diverse, equitable, and inclusive food system. They do this through an intentional relationship with seeds and their circle of Midwestern growers, who produce regionally adapted seed using chemical-free, sustainable and organic practices. We all know who the behemoth player is in this seed game and we’re going to talk about them a little, but we going to talk more about what we can do as gardeners/farmers to save seeds, and enhance cultures and our local communities. Make sure to listen all the way to the end for a discount code to get 20% off an order from North Circle Seeds.
In this episode we're talking about heavy metals, but specifically focusing on baby food. I must warn you, and not to be dramatic, but this one made me queasy. We believe that baby food is pure, like our babies. We trust companies to put the purest ingredients in baby food, right? Or at the very least take some responsibility for the safety of the product. Unfortunately, the U.S. House of Representatives report that was released in February 2021 pulls back the curtain on seven major baby food brands - both organic and conventional baby food brands - to reveal the undeniable presence of cadmium, arsenic, lead and mercury in baby food products. Listen in to hear the results and learn what you can do to help spread the word and "move the needle."
In today's episode, I am interviewing Maverick Willett, an online health coach who helps women transform their bodies, authentically, realistically and with mindfulness. We talk about everything from "copy & paste" meal plans, to harmful supplements, and the three things he tells his clients about breaking unhealthy eating habits. At the end of our conversation, we agree....You Are Enough! Listen in, share this episode with someone you love, and check out his online coaching program here. Thanks for choosing this podcast! It's been one year, and I'm really grateful for your listening support! Chow! EPISODE TIME STAMP Intro 07:49 - How to navigate through the supplement landscape 12:01 - Bone Broth, Supplements & Country of Origin due diligence 16:36 - 3 Tips to Cope with real life Challenges & Mental Health 27:14 - Mindful Eating and Navigating an Uncertain Food Supply 35:55 - Fads overlook thyroid function 37:40 - Grass Fed over Grain Fed 42:38 - Getting to Micro Commitments 43:30 - The Influencer Meal Plan Hoodwink 45:45 - Maverick’s Plan for Breaking Unhealthy Eating Patterns 47:11 - David Goggins and Doing The Mind Work 50:01 - Comparison is the Thief of All Joy
In this episode, I’m interviewing Claudia Cometa, a fellow podcast host of Minding Wellness, and also a clinical pharmacist who changed career courses when she found herself advocating for her father when he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma. She is a private patient advocate and today, we’re talking about reducing the noise so we can tune in and listen to our inner wisdom. Should we find ourselves in front of a medical professional, it’s important to be organized and she gives us some great tools that she has developed, for how we can advocate effectively for ourselves with the right tools. Click here to check out her FREE course. Click here to get access to her FULL course. Use the PROMO CODE : FOOD for $100 off. Listen in and share this podcast with someone you love. TIMESTAMP: Intro 05:50 - The defining moment on the heels of Oprah 08:50 - Figuring out how nutrition plays a role in medical schools 16:30 - Food as medicine is complicated, but we have internal wisdom 24 :10 - Quiet the external noise by tuning in and listening 27:16 - Advocating with the right tools (GPS) at the Dr’s office 31:16 - Get organized with Claudia’s free online course (link above) 34:49 - Blind perception and being jaded 40:32 - Recommendations on complementing pharmaceuticals with food 45:48 - Success leaves clues 51:18 - Alternatives to pharmaceutical imports
In this week's episode, we're talking with Dr. Dixie Short, a Doctor of Natural Medicine, about hormonal health. Specifically, we're talking about estrogen and cortisol and how we can use food as medicine. This timely topic was not just great for me (having endured the stress of 12 days of no power, heat or internet) but is also really timely for anyone feeling stress or experiencing hormonal imbalances. Dr. Dee, as she is affectionately known by her patients, gives great tips we can use to achieve balance. She also wants to give YOU some free stress management resources from her website. Interview Timestamp 03:57 - The organs that control our hormones 05:54 - Dopamine and serotonin - feeding our happiness hormones 09:02 - Magnesium plays a major role in our mental and overall health 14:18 - Balance is the key - what is your body trying to tell you? 16:21 - Identifying symptoms before things fall apart 22:19 - The estrogen paradox - how it works for men and women (autoimmunity and disease) 24:50 - Testosterone and immunity 28:24 - The cortisol domino effect and adrenal fatigue 32:45 - Using food as medicine - navigating the unknowns 37:16 - The role of fiber 41:07 - Feeding hormonal health and the food landscape 43:17 - Excess estrogen 44:50 - Recommendations - local and seasonal foods 51:16 - Stress and cortisol
Farmer Spotlight Series : In this week's episode, I'm interviewing Nathan, who runs Moomaw Family Farm, a pastured meat CSA with his wife Amanda located in Oregon City, OR. They started the farm in 2013 to provide Portland area folks with humane, grass-fed, local meat delivered directly to their homes. And now, they have strategically partnered with 4 farms to provide 400 customers with the best pastured meat in the area. Listen in as we discuss how they are staying ahead of the "big players" who could impact their business, and how they balance farm life with family life - all the while trying to tackle some of the world's most pressing problems.
There’s a saying, “Everyone wants to eat off a clean plate, so somebody’s got to do the dishes.” Right now, our plates are filthy and few are willing to do dishes. It's the job no one really wants. The good news is, we can work together to clean things up and innovate. Billionaires and millionaires are pooling their wealth together to change the game and invest in beefless meat, breastless milk, chickenless chicken, pigless pork and eggless eggs which will supposedly end the meat industry in 15 years. So, the questions we dive into in this Season Five Premiere episode are, who are the gatekeepers and who owns what? Who is strategically controlling our food, our farmland and the sun? And what does this mean for farmers across America? Oh, and one more question that we tackle is...why are billionaires investing in fake, lab grown boobie milk? Buckle up. It's gonna be a bumpy ride. Listen in and share with someone you love. See you on the other side of the plate. Chow!
SEASON FINALE : In this episode, I've invited Biochemist, Tanei Ricks, PhD., back to the show to talk about fluoride - something most of us take for granted. What is it, exactly? Why is it even in our water? Is it helping or hurting us? And most importantly, what can we do about it if it's problematic? We eat (AND drink) more times in a month than we brush our teeth - with or without fluoridated toothpaste so it's important to understand what the cumulative impacts of fluoride on our bodies, plants and animals (because they need water too and we eat them). Thank you for your listening support and I encourage you to share this episode with someone you love! Chow.
Food companies spend a lot of money trying to get us to buy their products. These days, many companies are using research, data, biometrics and NLP to influence how we think about what we buy. There are three things at work here, and in this short format video, I'll tell you what those three things are (as defined by a marketing executive) and how they impact and influence our decision making. With so many companies fighting for our dollars, it's no wonder they are getting smarter (than we are) about how they influence our decisions when it comes to food. It's true...you are making decisions...but are YOU making the decisions? Or are you being influenced subliminally or by artificial intelligence? Well, regardless of what you answer, the reality is, you are in control when it comes to the "illusion" of choice but the mental manipulation starts way before you whip out your wallet. That's why this week we're talking to a health coach who's done a lot of work in NLP (formerly known as neurolinguistic programming.
This week, we're talking with Jana Short, a renowned global influencer & mindset coach in the health and wellness industry. She is an NLP, RTT Practitioner, best selling author, public speaker, host of Oh, My Health… There is HOPE! podcast, and Best Holistic Life magazine editor. Messages are getting into our eyes and brains (and even our noses) by the thousands each day in an effort to get us “triggered”, for lack of a better word, both mentally and emotionally to influence us to whip out our wallets to purchase their products. We are inevitably influenced in one way or another thanks to the exponential growth of online marketing. So it begs the question that is the topic of this week’s episode, are we really the ones making the decisions when it comes to healthy food options? We have the illusion of choice, but are we really in control of our minds? Let's listen to Jana and find out how we can take control of our food choices by adjusting what we say....to ourselves! Check out this video snippet with Jana.
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