Heartland Stories Radio

HHRA shares its science via Heartland Stories Radio, a weekly 29-minute podcast and radio show hosted by producer and good food pioneer Theresa Marquez. With rotating guests, each show shares important information about what we can all do to ensure a healthy, just food system for the 21st century.

“I have dedicated my 40-year career to protecting family farmers and facing our health crisis through a culture of healthy food,” says Marquez. “I am inspired and dedicated to learn from professionals, using science to understand our problems — but sometimes the best common sense and inspiration comes from people on the ground facing problems and finding solutions that are often fun and creative.”

Find Heartland Stories Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Podcasts.

Heartland Stories Radio Episodes

Episode 114: LeAnna Compagna

My Love for Organic Farming

LeAnna Compagna, a third generation organic farmer in Middlebury, Vermont, alks about being an organic dairy farmer, her herd of cows and being a steward of the land.

Episode 113: Piper Davis

The Story of Artisan Bread

Piper Davis, a celebrated baker and partner at Grand Central Bakery, talks about artisan bread and her love for baking.

Episode 112: Dr. Philip Landrigan (re-run)

How Pesticides are Threatening Our Children’s Health

Dr. Phil Landrigan shares his important research on environmental health and children's toxic exposures and explains why children are more vulnerable to toxins like pesticides.

George Siemon speaks while accepting the Honorary Recognition Award at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ Honorary Recognition banquet and ceremony at Union South on the campus of UW–Madison in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022.

Photo by Michael P. King/UW–Madison CALS

Episode 111: George Siemon (re-run)

Organic Can Feed the World

George Siemon, co-founder and former CEO of CROPP/Organic Valley, talks about how organic agriculture can feed the world and about alternative ownership models.

Episode 110: Marianne LeGreco (re-run)

Communication and the Paths to Food Justice

Dr. Marianne LeGreco, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, discusses communication and the paths to food justice and solutions for food access.

Episode 109: Rick Nahmias and Food Forward

Preventing Waste and Fighting Hunger With Fresh Produce

Rick Nahmias, CEO and founder of Food Forward, talks about how Food Forward recovers fresh produce and distributes food to people in need in California.

Episode 108: Reginaldo Haslett Marroquin

The Regenerative Poultry

Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, the CEO of Tree-Range Farms, discusses the regenerative poultry system, the transformation of agriculture, and why chickens belong in the jungle.

Bill Tracy has been researching sweet corn for 40 years, 30 of them at the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Episode 107: Bill Tracy

Breeding Sweet Corn

Theresa's talks to Bill Tracy, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about sweet corn breeding and the importance of diversity in a changing climate.

Episode 106: Erin Silva

Agroecology and Organic Grain Research

Dr. Erin Silva, Associate Professor and State Extension Specialist in Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems in the Department of Plant Pathology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, talks about agroecology, organic agriculture and organic grain research.

Episode 105: Cathy Erway

The Art of Eating In

Theresa speaks with Cathy Erway, a James Beard Award winning food writer and author. They talk about not eating out in New York City, cooking from scratch, and her cookbooks.

Episode 104: George Siemon

Organic Can Feed the World

George Siemon, co-founder and former CEO of CROPP/Organic Valley, talks about how organic agriculture can feed the world and about alternative ownership models.

FML 2019 - Photo Credit_ By Michael Piazza (1)

Episode 103: Frances Moore Lappé (re-run)

50 years of Diet for a Small Planet

Frances Moore Lappé, author and co-author of 20 books and co-founder of three organizations, talks about the 50th anniversary of her book “Diet for a Small Planet”, the food system and what democracy should be.

Episode 102: Lauren Perkins

Being a 4th Generation, Young Female Organic Dairy Farmer

Lauren Perkins, a 4th generation organic dairy farmer in West Virginia, talks about Lauren’s farm, her family and roots, and her love for the soil and animals.

Episode 101: Robert Gottlieb

Professor Robert Gottlieb, author of “Care-Center Politics” and Farm to School Pioneer

Professor Emeritus Robert Gottlieb talks about his newest book “Care-Center Politics,” the pioneering of the farm to school program, and environmental and food justice.

Episode 100: Wade Miller

Small Family Farms, Small Carbon Footprint

Wade Miller, Vice President of Farm Resources and Sustainability at CROPP/Organic Valley, talks about small family farms, their carbon footprint and climate change.

Episode 99: Nicole Rakobitsch

Nicole Rakobitsch: Sustainability on Small Organic Family Farms

Theresa’s guest is Nicole Rakobitsch, Director of Sustainability at CROPP/Organic Valley. They discuss sustainability on small organic farms.

Episode 98: Dr. Niesha Douglas

Niesha Douglas: The Story of Food Insecurity in Greensboro, North Carolina

Dr. Niesha Douglas is an Adjunct Assistant Professor and co-author of “Everybody Eats: Communication and the Paths to Food Justice.” She talks to Theresa about food insecurity in her Greensboro, North Carolina community.

Episode 97: Dr. Marion Nestle

Nutrition, Food and Politics with Marion Nestle

Dr. Marion Nestle is a well-known author, activist and professor. She talks to Theresa about food and nutrition in America.

Episode 96: Dr. André Leu

Dr. André Leu: Regeneration International

Dr. André Leu is the international director of Regeneration International, author of several books, and a globally-recognized speaker and organic farmer from Daintree, Australia.

Episode 95: Marianne LeGreco

Marianne LeGreco: Communication and the Paths to Food Justice

Theresa’s guest is Dr. Marianne LeGreco, an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. They discuss communication and the paths to food justice and solutions for food access.

Episode 94: Naima Dhore

Naima Dhore: The Story of a First-Generation Somali Farmer in Minnesota

Naima Dhore is a first-generation Somali-American farmer, activist, and educator. She talks to Theresa about her work supporting land access for other immigrant farmers.

Episode 93: Don Stuart

Don Stuart: “No Farms No Food: Uniting Farmers and Environmentalists to Transform American Agriculture”

Don Stuart's newest book is “No Farms No Food: Uniting Farmers and Environmentalists to Transform American Agriculture.” He and Theresa chat about the American Farmland Trust and the relationship between farmers and environmentalists.

Episode 92: Annie Shattuck

Annie Shattuck: Agroecology and Pesticides in Rural Communities in Southeast Asia

Theresa’s guest is Dr. Annie Shattuck, an Assistant Professor of Geography at Indiana University, author, food activist and researcher. They discuss sustainable food systems, what she has learned from her trips and work in Laos, the problem with pesticides in rural communities, and much more.

Episode 91: Javier Zamora

Know Your Farmer: Javier Zamora, Organic Farmer & Owner of JSM Organics

Javier Zamora immigrated to the United States in 1986, and became an organic farmer in 2012. He is the owner of JSM Organics, where he farms over 100 acres on California’s Central Coast, growing cane berries, strawberries, vegetables and flowers.

Episode 90: Dr. Julie Guthman

Julie Guthman: “Wilted: Pathogens, Chemicals, and the Fragile Future of the Strawberry Industry”

Dr. Julie Guthman is a professor of social sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She and Theresa discuss her newest book, the history of the strawberry industry in California, and the newest solutions from Silicon Valley for the food system.

Episode 89: Teresa Mares

Food systems, Food Justice and Migrant Farm Workers

Dr. Teresa Mares, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Vermont and Associate Director for the Graduate Program in Food Systems, talks about food systems and food justice, her book, and migrant farm workers.

Episode 88: Dr. Leonardo Trasande (re-run)

“Sicker, Fatter, Poorer”: Understanding Endocrine Disruptors

Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an internationally renowned leader in environmental health, talks about endocrine disruptors, obesogens, toxic chemicals and what we all can do to avoid our exposure to them.

Episode 86: Raj Patel (re-run)

“Inflamed”, His Newest Book Co-authored With Rupa Marya

Raj Patel, award-winning author, film-maker and academic, talks about the systemic inflammation of our world, society and bodies in his newest book co-authored with Rupa Marya “Inflamed: Deep Medicine and The Anatomy of Injustice.”

Episode 85: John Ikerd (re-run)

Our Broken Industrial Food System

Dr. John Ikerd talks about lessons learnt growing up on a small dairy farm and how he came to realize the industrial food system negatively impacts our environment, health and economy.

Episode 84: Jacob Hundt

Holistic Higher Education in Microcolleges

Jacob Hundt talks about his story and background that led him into the educational field and about microcolleges and what they offer to students.

Episode 83: Dr. Michelle Perro

Sick Kids and What Parents Can Do About It

Dr. Michelle Perro, a veteran pediatrician with over 40 years of experience in acute and integrative medicine, talks about integrative medicine, gut health, and how families can take action when it comes to their kids’ health.

Episode 82: Molly Jahn

The Real Risks in the Food System

Dr. Molly Jahn, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Program Manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), talks about the stability and risk of failure of the US food system.

Episode 81: Andy Fisher

Big Hunger

Andy Fisher, Executive Director of the Ecological Farming Association and author of the book “ Big Hunger”, talks about food insecurity, hunger, and the connection between Corporate America and anti hunger groups.

Episode 80: Tony Bedard (Re-run)

Frontier Co-op’s Story of Giving Back

Tony Bedard, CEO of Frontier Co-op, talks about his story, the history of Frontier Co-op , the giving back projects, and the corporate social responsibility of the co-op.

Episode 79: Dave Goulson (Re-run)

Silent Earth

Dave Goulson, a Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex (England), who specializes in bee ecology, talks about his latest book “Silent Earth,” about honeybees, bumblebees and why insects matter.

Episode 78: Rachael Jones

The Locavore Farm

Rachael Jones, farmer and co-founder of Locavore and Sumac Creek Farm, talks about her story of becoming a homestead farmer outside of Chicago practicing agritourism.

Episode 77: Dr. Christopher Carter

The Spirit of Soul Food: Race, Faith, and Food Justice

Dr. Christopher Carter speaks with Theresa about his new book “The Spirit of Soul Food: Race, Faith, and Food Justice”. They discuss soul food, structural racism and his grandfather’s stories.

Episode 76: Liz Carlisle

“Healing Grounds – Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming”

Liz Carlisle, Assistant Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at UC Santa Barbara, speaks about her new book “Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming."

Tammi-Jonas-and-her-Jamon-at-Jonai-Farms-and-Meatsmith.-Copyrigth-Richard-Cornish.-2019.-ALl-rights-reserved.-Single-use-only.-Credit-RIchard-Cornish._-1-scaled-e1650384109645

Episode 75: Tammi Jonas

The Story of a Farmer, Agroecologist, and Mindful Meatsmith

Tammi Jonas discusses her story of becoming a farmer and agroecologist, Australia's food system, feminism in farming, and her work with the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance.

Episode 74: Michel Nischan

Bringing Healthy & Wholesome Food to Those in Need

Chef Michel Nischan talks about his non-profit organizations, Wholesome Wave and Wholesome Crave, about the lack of affordability for healthy food, and the solutions that exist to feed those in need with good and healthy food.

Episode 73: Elena Terry

Elena Terry of Wild Bearies: The Healing Power of Ancestral Indigenous Food

Elena Terry is the Executive Chef and Founder of Wild Bearies, as well as a member of the Ho-Chunk Nations in Wisconsin. Elena discusses ancestral food, healing through food, and how communities can come together when sharing real food.

Episode 72: Larry Jacobs

The Story of an Organic Farming Pioneer

Larry Jacobs, co-founder of Jacobs Farm and Del Cabo, describes what sparked his and his wife’s interest in starting an organic farm back in the 1980s as well as the Del Cabo collective for social change and sustainability.

Episode 71: Sarah Nelson

18 Reasons: Why Cooking Still Matters

Sarah Nelson, Executive Director for the non-profit cooking school in the San Francisco Bay area,18 Reasons, talks about the power of cooking and the amazing benefits it brings to the whole family and community.

Episode 70: Dr. Ricardo Salvador

The Union of Concerned Scientists

Dr. Ricardo Salvador, a senior scientist and director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, discusses the current food system, how the pandemic lifted the veil on the real issues of this industry, and the power of science.

Episode 69: Michelle Horovitz

Appetite For Change

Michelle Horovitz, co-founder and Executive Director of Minneapolis-based Appetite For Change, discusses urban farming, racial social justice and why food is a tool to build health, wealth and social change.

Episode 68: Jeanette Burlingame

Community Hunger Solutions

Jeanette Burlingame, a Program Manager at the Community Hunger Solutions, discusses how hunger relief works in a rural area and shares how volunteers are finding solutions to connect healthy, locally produced food with community members who face barriers to access.

Episode 67: Alicia Kennedy

The Entangled Story of Food, Capitalism and Sustainability

Alicia Kennedy, an accomplished food writer from New York, based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, discusses sustainable food choices, her weekly newsletter, being vegan and vegetarian, and the true cost of food.

Episode 66: Dr. Robert Kremer

Glyphosate and Its Devastating Impact on Soil Biology

Dr. Robert Kremer, a microbiologist and adjunct professor of soil science at the University of Missouri, discusses soil and its microorganisms, the devastating impact of glyphosate on its health and the science behind it.

Episode 65: Dr. David Haas

The Science Behind Healthy Moms and Babies

Dr. David Haas is former US Navy Medical Corps Commander and currently the Robert A. Munsick Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Vice Chair for Research in the OBGYN Department at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Haas discusses several studies that focus on prevention and progression of gestational diabetes and on the adverse impacts of herbicides on mother and infant health.

Episode 64: Dr. Asa Bradman

The CHAMACOS Study and the Impact of Pesticides on Farmworker Kids

Dr. Asa Bradman, an expert in exposure assessment and epidemiology, discusses the results of the CHAMACOS study and why pesticides are harmful to farmworker kids.

Episode 63: Autumn Ness

The Movement To Ban Pesticides on Maui

Autumn Ness, Director of Beyond Pesticides Hawai'i, shares her experience as an activist, the story of the citizen-led fight against Monsanto’s testing and research facilities in Maui, and her work with the Maui (food) Hub to create a local, organic food infrastructure.

Episode 62: Chris Bradshaw

Dreaming Out Loud, A Food Justice Social Enterprise

Christopher Bradshaw is the Executive Director and Founder of Dreaming Out Loud Inc., a food justice social enterprise that aims to create economic opportunities for the D.C. metro region's marginalized communities through building a healthy, equitable food system.

Episode 61: Aimée Code

The Xerces Society and the Protection of Invertebrates

Aimée Code, the Pesticide Program Director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, talks about pollinators, butterflies, the impact of pesticides and how to protect them.

Episode 60: Dave Goulson

Silent Earth

Dave Goulson, a Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex (England), specializes in bee ecology. He talks about his latest book “Silent Earth,” about honeybees, bumblebees and why insects matter.

Episode 59: Dr. Joan Dye Gussow (re-run)

Grow Your Own Food, Eat Healthy and Be Active

This week we are bringing back this amazing episode with Dr. Joan Dye Gussow, Professor Emeritus of Nutrition and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, nutritionist, writer, and gardener.

Episode 58: Dr. Kara Young (re-run)

Unequal Access: Racial Inequality in Today’s Food Systems

This week we are bringing back this amazing episode with Dr. Kara Young, who is an expert in food systems, food disparities and racial inequality.

Episode 58: Dr. Kara Young (re-run)

Unequal Access: Racial Inequality in Today’s Food Systems

This week we are bringing back this amazing episode with Dr. Kara Young, who is an expert in food systems, food disparities and racial inequality.

Episode 58: Dr. Kara Young (re-run)

Unequal Access: Racial Inequality in Today’s Food Systems

This week we are bringing back this amazing episode with Dr. Kara Young, who is an expert in food systems, food disparities and racial inequality.

Episode 57: Jose Oliva

Why We Fight for Food Workers

Jose Oliva, the Campaigns Director at HEAL Food Alliance and Director of the Chicago Area Food System Fund, discusses his upbringing in Guatemala, his experience as a restaurant worker during college, food worker's wages and why we need to keep talking about labor in the food industry.

Episode 56: Atina Diffley

Conversation with Atina Diffley, Organic Farmer and Steward of the Land

Atina Diffley, organic farmer, public speaker and author, talks about her experience of being an organic farmer, about ecosystems, the knowledge of growing plants without using pesticides and the relationship to nature and the soil.

Episode 56: Atina Diffley

Conversation with Atina Diffley, Organic Farmer and Steward of the Land

Episode 56: Atina Diffley

Conversation with Atina Diffley, Organic Farmer and Steward of the Land

Episode 55: Beth Hoffman

“Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America”

Beth Hoffman, a former journalist before becoming a farmer in Iowa, talks about her new book "Bet the Farm." She explains the every day challenges that farmers face and the economic side of being a farmer.

Episode 54: Carey Gillam (re-run)

The Monsanto Papers

Carey Gillam, investigative journalist and author of the new book: "The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man's Search for Justice."

Episode 54: Carey Gillam (re-run)

The Monsanto Papers

Carey Gillam, investigative journalist and author of the new book: "The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man's Search for Justice."

Episode 54: Carey Gillam (re-run)

The Monsanto Papers

Carey Gillam, investigative journalist and author of the new book: "The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man's Search for Justice."

Episode 53: Loren Cardeli

Why I Stand With Small Farmers

Loren Cardeli, Executive Director and co-founder of A Growing Culture, an organization that promotes ecological agriculture across the globe, talks about how small farmers starve while they feed us, what is really wrong with the current food system, and how farmer-to-farmer knowledge sharing is part of the solution towards fixing the current problems.

Episode 52: Sophie Ackoff

Young Farmers and Their Future

Sophie Ackoff, the Co-Executive Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition, speaks about the hopes, struggles and environmental and policy issues that young farmers are facing and how her organization is helping them.

Episode 51: Karen Mischel

Becoming Mayor of Viroqua, Wisconsin

Karen Mischel, Mayor of Viroqua, Wisconsin, shares her story of being a Merchant Marine, her work as an organic inspector, and ultimately becoming the mayor of a rural community.

Episode 51: Karen Mischel

Becoming Mayor of Viroqua, Wisconsin

Karen Mischel, Mayor of Viroqua, Wisconsin, shares her story of being a Merchant Marine, her work as an organic inspector, and ultimately becoming the mayor of a rural community.

Episode 51: Karen Mischel

Becoming Mayor of Viroqua, Wisconsin

Karen Mischel, Mayor of Viroqua, Wisconsin, shares her story of being a Merchant Marine, her work as an organic inspector, and ultimately becoming the mayor of a rural community.

Episode 50: Tony Bedard

Frontier Co-op’s Story of Giving Back

Tony Bedard, CEO of Frontier Co-op, talks about his story, the history of Frontier Co-op , giving back projects, and the corporate social responsibility of the co-op.

Episode 49: Cynthia Barstow (re-run)

Protect Our Breasts: Young Women Fighting Against Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we are bringing back this amazing episode about Cynthia Barstow and her organization Protect Our Breasts.

Episode 49: Cynthia Barstow (re-run)

Protect Our Breasts: Young Women Fighting Against Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we are bringing back this amazing episode about Cynthia Barstow and her organization Protect Our Breasts.

Episode 49: Cynthia Barstow (re-run)

Protect Our Breasts: Young Women Fighting Against Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we are bringing back this amazing episode about Cynthia Barstow and her organization Protect Our Breasts.

Episode 48: Ashley Koff

The Compassionate Dietician

Ashley Koff is a registered dietician, nutritionist and an award winning nutrition expert. She discusses personalized nutrition, the connection between the microbiome, soil and climate, and why the way our food is grown is important.

Episode 48: Ashley Koff

The Compassionate Dietician

Episode 48: Ashley Koff

The Compassionate Dietician

Episode 47: Frances Moore Lappé

50 Years of Diet For a Small Planet

Episode 47: Frances Moore Lappé

50 Years of Diet For a Small Planet

Episode 47: Frances Moore Lappé

50 Years of Diet For a Small Planet

Episode 46: Melody Meyer

A Passionate Organic Pioneer

Melody Meyer is an organic pioneer with over 40 years of extensive knowledge in the organic food industry. She shares stories and lessons learned about her own life and upbringing, and her international work.

Episode 45: Ken Cook

The Story of The Environmental Working Group

Ken Cook, co-founder and president of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), talks about the work of the EWG, pesticides, farm bill and the dirty dozen list.

Episode 44: Dr. Fred Provenza

The Wisdom of Nourishment

Dr. Fred Provenza, Professor Emeritus of Behavioral Ecology in the Department of Wildland Resources at Utah State University, author, and one of the founders of BEHAVE, discusses the wisdom of nourishment.

Episode 43: Ken Lee

Lotus Foods: The Story of Sustainable Rice

Ken Lee is the co-founder of Lotus Foods, a company that focuses on importing handcrafted rice from small family farms. He talks about growing sustainable rice, about small family rice farms and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI).

Episode 42: Brianna Fiene

Building Resilient and Equitable Food Systems in Wisconsin

Brianna Fiene, a farm to institution outreach specialist at the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, talks about resilient food systems, small family farms in Wisconsin and climate change.

Episode 41: Marlaina Freisthler

The Heartland Study: The Impact of Herbicides on Mother and Infant Health

Marlaina Freisthler, researcher and PhD student fellow with the Heartland Health Research Alliance, speaks about The Heartland Study.

Episode 40: Rupa Marya

Co-author of: “Inflamed: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice”

Dr. Rupa Marya discusses the new book "Inflamed," which explores the social structures that create disease and highlights the role of the microbiome.

Episode 39: Raj Patel

“Inflamed”, His Newest Book Co-authored With Rupa Marya

Award-winning author, film-maker and academic, Raj Patel, talks about the systemic inflammation of our world, society and bodies in his newest book co-authored with Rupa Marya entitled: “Inflamed: Deep Medicine and The Anatomy of Injustice."

Episode 38: Kendra Klein

Kendra Klein from Friends of The Earth on Pollinators, Pesticides and Organic Food

Dr. Kendra Klein, a senior staff scientist at Friends of the Earth (FOE), a writer, researcher and activist, discusses pesticides and pollinators, healthy soil, and new studies on pesticides.

Episode 37: Karen Washington

The Healing Power of Community Gardens in NYC

Karen Washington is a leader and community activist in New York City, co-founder of Black Urban Growers and co-owner of Rise and Root Farm.

Episode 36: Mary Cleaver

A Local and Sustainable Food Story

Mary Cleaver, a crusader in sustainable food and local sourcing, discusses fresh and organic food, her organic farm and how the pandemic changed her catering business.

Episode 35: Robyn O’Brien

Healthy Soil, Capital and Farming

Robyn O'Brien, one of the most recognized voices in the food industry, discusses the connection between healthy soil, capital and organic and regenerative farming.

Episode 34: Dr. Kara Young

Unequal Access: Racial Inequality in Today’s Food Systems

Dr. Kara Young is an expert in food systems, food disparities and racial inequality.

Episode 33: Ken Meter

“Building Community Food Webs”

Ken Meter, one of the most experienced food system analysts in the U.S., talks about his new book "Building Community Food Webs" published in April 2021 by Island Press, which is full of solutions to our challenging food system.

Episode 32: Dr. Shakara Tyler

Reclaiming the Ancestral Roots of Black Farming

Educator and activist-scholar Dr. Shakara Tyler is a "returning generation farmer" who engages in Black agrarianism, agroecology, food sovereignty and climate justice.

Episode 31: Fred Kirschenmann

The Three “R’s” in Food and Agriculture – Regenerative, Resilience and Relationship

A champion of agricultural resilience and articulate advocate for soil health, Fred Kirschenmann is a pioneer of organic farming. He and Theresa discuss the three "R's" in food and agriculture: regenerative, resilience and relationship.

Episode 30: Carolyn Raffensperger

The Precautionary Principle’s Tale

Carolyn Raffensperger is an environmental lawyer and Executive Director of the Science Environmental Health Network. Tune in to learn more about the precautionary principle and ecological medicine.

Episode 29: Cori Skolaski

The Organic Certification Process

On this episode Theresa talks about organic certification with Cori Skolaski, Executive Director of the Midwest Organic Service Association (MOSA).

Episode 28: Maria Rodale

Growing Up Organic

Board member of the Rodale Institute and author of "The Organic Manifesto" Maria Rodale talks to Theresa about her views on the organic industry, regenerative agriculture, and why how we grow food matters more than what we eat.

Episode 27: Tom Frantzen

Why Diversity in Farming Leads to Stability

An organic farmer from New Hampton, Iowa, Tom Frantzen talks to Theresa about about organic farming, about crop diversity, and how to raise livestock.

Episode 26: Audrey Tran Lam

Reducing Urban Pesticides in Iowa

A public health specialist in Iowa, Audrey Tran Lam talks to Theresa about public health, farming and pesticides in Iowa, and how to be a good neighbor.

Episode 25: Dr. Kamyar Enshayan

Why Iowa Cannot Feed Itself With Corn and Soybeans

Learn about food systems, soil erosion, and pesticide use in Iowa through our conversation with Dr. Kamyar Enshayan, Professor at the University of Northern Iowa.

Episode 24: Cynthia Barstow

Protect Our Breasts: Young Women Fighting Against Breast Cancer

A Senior Lecturer of Marketing at Amherst Isenberg School at the University of Massachusetts and Founder and Executive Director of Protect Our Breasts, Cynthia Barstow shares her own story of surviving breast cancer and educating young people about breast cancer prevention.

Episode 23: Dr. Samina Raja

Food Systems Change Agent

Civil Engineer and Professor of Urban Planning, Dr. Samina Raja is leading “long research” about food policy, environmental justice, and the particulars of feeding a family and farming in urban communities at the University of Buffalo, with a focus on empowering youth as agents of change.

Episode 22: Tom Philpott

The American Way of Farming

Food and agricultural correspondent for Mother Jones Tom Philpott discusses the American way of farming and his book "Perilous Bounty: The Looming Collapse of American Farming and How We Can Prevent It."

Episode 21: George Siemon

On the Spirit of Organic

Co-founder and former CEO of CROPP/Organic Valley, George Siemon talks to us about the origin, history and spirit of organic agriculture.

Episode 20: Leonardo Trasande

“Sicker, Fatter, Poorer” — Understanding Endocrine Disruptors

"Sicker, Fatter, Poorer" author, pediatrician and researcher Dr. Leonardo Trasande explains endocrine disruptors, obesogens, and the toxic impacts of our rising chemical load, with tips for “proactive prevention.”

Episode 18: Carey Gillam

The Monsanto Papers

Investigative journalist and acclaimed "Whitewash" author, Carey Gillam discusses her new legal thriller "The Monsanto Papers," the impetus behind the book, and her personal experience in exposing corporate secrets.

Episode 17: Dr. Bruce Lanphear

The Negative Impact of Toxic Chemicals on our Health

Public health physician and Simon Fraser University professor of health sciences, Dr. Bruce Lanphear shares his wisdom on the negative health impacts of pollutants and toxic chemicals, and offers easy solutions to reduce one's exposure.

Episode 16: Odessa Piper

Chef Odessa Piper on the Hidden Magic in Food

James Beard award-winning chef and farm-to-table pioneer, Odessa Piper shares her food journeys, lessons from the ground, and Food Artisan Immersion Program work-study residency at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesen.

Episode 15: Sarah Minnick

Local Food, Local Flavor, Killer Pizza: Meet Chef Sarah Minnick

Co-owner of "Lovely's Fifty Fifty," Chef Sarah Minnick chats about navigating her Portland, OR-based pizzeria and ice cream shop during a pandemic, and offers insights into the importance of sourcing local and organic.

Episode 14: Leah Penniman

Farming While Black: A Conversation With Leah Penniman

Black Kreyol farmer and Soul Fire Farm co-founder, Leah Penniman talks about the fight to build equity in access to land and sustenance, healing farm communities in the time of Covid, and the power of regenerative systems.

Episode 13: Nse Witherspoon, MPH

One Mom’s Passion and Career: Protecting Children’s Health

Executive Director for the Children’s Environmental Health Network and proud mother of four, Nsedu Obot Witherspoon discusses the current state of children's health amidst rising pesticide exposure, asking “What is the going rate right now for a healthy child?”