Eating Matters artwork

Eating Matters

181 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 16 ratings

Food has emerged as a critical policy area – and it raises big questions about health, labor, sustainability and our collective future. Join host Jenna Liut for conversations with food policy experts and leaders about the issues that shape our everyday experiences of buying, cooking and eating food.

Food Arts eating matters jenna liut heritage radio network food industry food policy health food labor sustainability food policy experts talk radio
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

The Facts: Food & GHG Emissions

May 23, 2021 19:30 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MB

We hear about greenhouse gas emissions and their consequences all the time, but who’s measuring those emissions? How can countries use that data to develop more sustainable methods for producing and distributing food? Francesco Tubiello, a senior statistician and climate change specialist with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, joins host Jenna Liut to speak about his most recent report and the role of his findings in pinpointing the most energy-intensive nodes of our glob...

Food & Fertility

April 04, 2021 22:56 - 52 minutes - 48.3 MB

How does nutrition impact your ability to conceive? What are key nutrients and vitamins and their recommended food sources for boosting both women AND men’s fertility? Are there multigenerational health effects of our dietary and lifestyle choices? Dr. Nicole Avena, research neuroscientist, nutrition expert and author of the newly released book, “What to Eat When You Want to Get Pregnant” joins host Jenna Liut to discuss these questions and more! Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.

Mercy for Animals

March 29, 2021 16:52 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MB

Host Jenna Liut is joined by Leah Garcés, President of Mercy for Animals (MFA), an organization working to construct a compassionate food system and end commercial animal agriculture.  They discuss MFA’s undercover investigation into the horrific conditions of Costco’s chicken farm as profiled in New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof’s recent exposé, the concept of sentience, and what differentiates their work from other animal welfare organizations.  Image courtesy of Mercy for Animals...

The Monsanto Papers

March 14, 2021 22:56 - 58 minutes - 53.1 MB

Host Jenna Liut welcomes the award-winning investigative journalist, Carey Gillam, back to show to discuss her new book, The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man’s Search for Justice. A follow up to Gillam’s first book, Whitewash – an explosive expose on Monsanto and the health risks of its best-selling herbicide, Roundup – her new book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the landmark lawsuit against Monsanto and its implications for tens of thousands of plaintif...

Perilous Bounty

February 08, 2021 00:51 - 1 hour - 79.5 MB

We know that U.S. industrial agriculture has had monumental effects on our climate, but how has climate change reciprocally impacted our agricultural system? And, an even more pressing question, how close is our agricultural system to total collapse? In his new book, “Perilous Bounty: The Looming Collapse of American Farming and How We Can Prevent It,” Tom Philpott looks for answers in the nation’s primary farming hubs: California’s Central Valley and the Corn Belt of the Midwest, both of wh...

Matriark Foods

February 07, 2021 18:59 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MB

The US is a global leader of food waste, generating about 40 MILLION tons annually, which represents between 30 - 40% of the food supply. Within this waste stream are 10 million tons of perfectly usable vegetables that don’t make it to market. Recognizing the critical role this produce could play in tackling the dual challenges of food waste and limited availability of nutritious food for millions of Americans, Anna Hammond founded Matriark Foods, a startup that upcycles vegetable byproducts...

Ending Domestic Hunger

February 07, 2021 18:22 - 1 hour - 60.2 MB

The fight to eliminate hunger entails measures that go well beyond food banks, soup kitchens, and SNAP benefits. Prior to Biden’s inauguration and the release of the Administration's COVID & economic relief proposal, host Jenna Liut interviewed Joel Berg to discuss how higher wages, affordable housing, universal health care, school meals and nutritional education are each vital to ensuring widespread food security. Joel is the CEO of Hunger Free America, a national advocacy and direct servic...

Farmers for Trump

December 23, 2020 01:20 - 1 hour - 65.1 MB

Longtime food and agriculture policy reporter, Chuck Abbott, helps us to understand our nation’s “farmer voting bloc” and its loyalty to Trump throughout the last two election cycles. What policies and belief systems have generated our rural-urban political divide? Chuck takes us through the trade war with China, agricultural subsidies, climate change debates, COVID-19 relief, and their collective impacts on the political allegiance of rural America. Finally, we consider what transformations...

Native Foods with Chef Nephi Craig

December 16, 2020 04:45 - 1 hour - 58.5 MB

Following up on our previous episode featuring Sanjay Rawal, director of the newly-released film, Gather, host Jenna Liut interviews a central character of the documentary: Native food practitioner, Nephi Craig. Chef Craig is the founder of both the Native American Culinary Association as well as Café Gozhóó where he also serves as the Executive Chef. They discuss Indigenous food systems and the modern colonial violence that continues to threaten them, as well as cultural appropriation in th...

Gather

December 13, 2020 20:02 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MB

Ever wonder why we don’t eat Bison meat in this country? This is a little known - but extremely important - part of American history that perfectly demonstrates one way the US government worked to systematically steal land from and decimate Native American people. It was a tactic that effectively communicated that ‘one dead buffalo is two dead Indians.’  Director Sanjay Rawal (Food Chains) joins host Jenna Liut to discuss his critically-acclaimed, newly-released documentary, Gather. The fil...

The Secret Life of Groceries

November 29, 2020 18:11 - 56 minutes - 51.2 MB

Host Jenna Liut interviews author Benjamin Lorr to talk about his new book, “The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket,” which delves into what it takes to get food onto grocery store shelves and who suffers the consequences of our increasing demand for cheap food and efficiency. Lorr pulls back the curtain on a notoriously secretive industry, interviewing people at every level – from the founder of Trader Joes to truck drivers transporting products to traffi...

4 Years of Trump

November 18, 2020 17:25 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MB

As the country prepares for President-elect Biden to take office in January, host Jenna Liut is joined by journalist Lisa Held to reflect on the major food and agricultural policy changes we have experienced since Trump took office and the long-term effects they will have on our food system.  Lisa is a senior policy reporter for Civil Eats and a fellow Heritage Radio Network host of the show, The Farm Report.    Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Suppo...

Upcycled Food

November 09, 2020 20:48 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MB

Host Jenna Liut interviews Turner Wyatt, Co-founder & CEO of the Upcycled Food Association, a nonprofit working to reduce food waste by growing the upcycled food economy. They discuss consumer demand upcycled products, UFA’s progress in creating an Upcycled Food Certification Standard, and of course, Brené Brown. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Eating Matters by becoming a member! Eating Matters is Powered by Simplecast.    

A Conversation with Danielle Nierenberg

November 01, 2020 23:35 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MB

Food systems expert and this year’s winner of the Julia Childs Award, Danielle Nierenberg, joins host Jenna Liut to talk about her work as the President of Food Tank, how COVID has lifted the veil on systematic issues plaguing our food system, and the importance of having uncomfortable conversions. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.

Let's Ask Marion

October 18, 2020 23:20 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MB

Host Jenna Liut kicks off the fall season with the one and only Marion Nestle to talk about her new book, "Let's Ask Marion: What You Need to Know about the Politics of Food, Nutrition, and Health" published by the University of California Press. The book features a series of short essays that explore how food intersects with politics, culture, identity, social class, inequity, and power. It's 4" x 4" and jam packed with everything you need to know about food politics today. Photo Courtesy ...

Farming While Black

August 09, 2020 18:40 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MB

Host Jenna Liut speaks with farmer, educator, author, and food sovereignty activist, Leah Penniman. She is the Co-Founder, Co-Director and Program Manager of Soul Fire Farm in Petersburg, New York, and she is the author of the book, "Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land." For the past 20 years, Leah has worked to end racism and injustice in our food system by increasing farmland stewardship by people of color, promoting equity in food access, and tr...

Environmental Racism & Justice

July 26, 2020 22:50 - 1 hour - 68 MB

Host Jenna Liut speaks with environmental justice expert, Dr. Fatemah Shafiei about how communities of color are disproportionately affected by environmental hazard, the toll it takes on their collective health and overall wellbeing, and what is being done (and not done) to address these issues.   Dr. Shafiei is associate professor and chair of the Department of Political Science and director of environmental studies at Spelman College. She is also a member of the U.S. Environmental Protect...

Food Initiatives at the Rockefeller Foundation

July 26, 2020 22:31 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MB

Host Jenna Liut speaks with Devon Klatell, Managing Director of the Food Initiative at the Rockefeller Foundation, on the longstanding work the Foundation has done to advance a healthier and more equitable food system as well as its recent focus on supporting school nutrition programs in the U.S. during the ongoing COVID crisis.  In March, HRN began producing all of our 35 weekly shows from our homes all around the country. It was hard work stepping away from our little recording studio, bu...

Supply Chain Woes

May 10, 2020 21:51 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MB

Host Jenna Liut speaks with Washington Post journalist, Laura Reiley, about her ongoing coverage of the effects that COVID-19 is having on the food supply chain, including why we have seen a paradoxical rise in both food waste and food insecurity; why the meat industry is being hit particularly hard; and the likelihood of impending food shortages in the U.S. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.  

How to Eat

May 10, 2020 21:16 - 1 hour - 59.6 MB

Dr. David L. Katz, MD, MPH, co-author of the newly published book, "How to Eat: All Your Food & Diet Questions Answered," joins host Jenna Liut to discuss the incredibly important (and often unappreciated) role diet plays in your overall health, how it relates to the current COVID-19 epidemic, and simply, what you really need to know about how to eat. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.

A Keynote Species

May 10, 2020 21:10 - 1 hour - 64.9 MB

Host Jenna Liut welcomes New York Times bestselling and James A. Beard Award-winning author, Mark Kurlansky, back on the show to discuss his new book, “Salmon: A Fish, the Earth, and the History of Their Common Fate".   Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.

Kvarøy Arctic

March 29, 2020 20:56 - 1 hour - 65.9 MB

Aquaculture – or farmed seafood – is one of the most resource-efficient ways to produce protein, and it has helped improve nutrition and food security around the world. And yet, it is an industry that is still widely misunderstood. Alf-Goran Knutsen, the CEO of Kvarøy Arctic, a third-generation salmon farm in Norway, and Jen Bushman, a sustainable aquaculture advocate, join host Jenna Liut to introduce the company and how it’s revolutionizing the practice of open water salmon farming. Photo...

Trash Talk

March 22, 2020 18:24 - 1 hour - 60.6 MB

What exactly happens after you throw something out? (Spoiler alert: given the current state of the recycling industry these days, it probably goes straight to landfill.) So how is waste processed, where and by whom? Waste Dive journalist Ev Crunden joins host Jenna Liut to give a comprehensive overview of how the waste management industry works and explains what some of the biggest challenges it's facing right now. Photo Courtesy of Ev Crunden. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.    

Julie Guthman

March 15, 2020 22:15 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MB

Host Jenna Liut speaks with author Julie Guthman about her new book, Wilted: Pathogens, Chemicals, and the Fragile Future of the Strawberry Industry, which tells the story of how California's strawberry industry came to rely on soil fumigants, and how that reliance reverberated throughout the rest of the fruit’s production system. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.  

Closing the Loop on Food Waste

February 17, 2020 23:39 - 1 hour - 55.6 MB

Host Jenna Liut is joined by Amanda Weeks, CEO & Co-Founder of Ambrosia, a closed-loop manufacturing company that uses food waste as a catalyst to re-imagine common resource intensive and water-based products. They discuss how Ambrosia is the next frontier of the circular economy, why their very first product to market, Veles, is an all-purpose household cleaner derived from food waste (of all things), and why it doesn't matter how you pronounce it. Photo By Zack DeZon Eating Matters is po...

Chatting with Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams

February 10, 2020 00:19 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MB

Brooklyn Borough President – and 2021 Mayoral Candidate – Eric Adams joins host Jenna Liut to discuss how he’s put food issues and public health at the forefront of his political agenda and what he is doing to create a better food system for all New Yorkers. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.  

Kid Food

January 12, 2020 23:00 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MB

Author Bettina Elias Siegel joins host Jenna Liut to talk about her first book, "Kid Food: The Challenge of Feeding Children," which was recently published this past November. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.  

Episode 153: Kid Food

January 12, 2020 23:00 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MB

Author Bettina Elias Siegel joins host Jenna Liut to talk about her first book, "Kid Food: The Challenge of Feeding Children," which was recently published this past November. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.  

Episode 152: LIVE at Industry City with John Ratliff of Ends Meat

December 26, 2019 14:48 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MB

There's so much to consider when shopping for meat. Not only do you need some basic knowledge about what cuts you want to purchase, but you also have to navigate decisions around ethics, sustainability, animal welfare, cost, and more. On today's special live recording of Eating Matters, Jenna has an all-encompassing conversation about meat with guest John Ratliff of Ends Meat.  The holiday season is all about food and community. There’s no better time to show your support for food radio by ...

Episode 151: Plastic Pollution Problems

December 15, 2019 23:03 - 56 minutes - 51.2 MB

Packaging trash - including what is used for food and beverages - now accounts for nearly half of all plastic waste generated globally. And most of it never gets recycled or incinerated. National Geographic writer, Laura Parker, joins host Jenna Liut to discuss how we got to this point with plastic pollution, its recycling challenges, the connection to climate change, the status of regulating its use and disposal worldwide, and the hard truth about bioplastics. The holiday season is all abo...

Episode 150: In Pursuit of "Net Zero"

December 08, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 64.5 MB

Host Jenna Liut discusses the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's recently released position paper, “Agriculture and Climate Change: Policy Imperatives and Opportunities to Help Producers Meet the Challenges,” with Ferd Hoefner, a Senior Strategic Advisor at NSAC, and Mark Schonbeck, a principal author of the report. Together, they review how climate change and agriculture impact each other, explore how the agricultural sector can mitigate its collective effect, and highlight their ...

Episode 149: Meet Niman Ranch's Paul Willis

November 17, 2019 23:17 - 1 hour - 56 MB

Paul Willis, farmer and founder of Niman Ranch Pork Company, joins host Jenna Liut in the studio to talk about how he got his start, the impact of the Purdue acquisition, and two of the most urgent agricultural policy fixes he would like to see happen now. Eating Matters  is powered by Simplecast.    

Episode 148: Foodshed.io

November 17, 2019 11:26 - 57 minutes - 52.1 MB

Host Jenna Liut sits down with Foodshed.io's Co-founder and Managing Director, Daniel Beckman, to learn more about how this startup is leveraging blockchain to create an efficient, reliable and transparent marketplace that connects urban markets to local farmers and strengthens regional food systems. Eating Matters  is powered by Simplecast.    

Episode 147: Ben Wurgaft

October 20, 2019 22:00 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MB

Lab-grown, or "cultured," meat is a new kind of protein produced by growing animal cells into muscle fibers. Ben Wurgaft joins host Jenna Liut to talk about his new book, "Meat Planet: Artificial Flesh and the Future of Food," where he considers the cultural and philosphical questions about what we as humans eat and how innovations like lab-grown meat will effect the future of food. Join Heritage Radio Network on Monday, November 11th, for a raucous feast to toast a decade of food radio. Ou...

Episode 146: A School Food Hero

October 13, 2019 22:00 - 1 hour - 67.2 MB

Veteran nutrition director Betti Wiggins has been working for almost 30 years to improve school food for urban children. She has been credited with making enormous changes to the quality of school meals served at Detroit Public Schools and is now leading the Houston Independent School District’s nutrition services department, responsible for feeding over 200,000 students every day with ~ $1.00 to spend on food per meal. Through her conversation with host Jenna Liut, you will quickly learn wh...

Episode 145: Food Town, USA

October 06, 2019 22:00 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MB

Acclaimed author and food systems expert, Mark Winne joins host Jenna Liut to discuss his new book, “Food Town, USA: Seven Unlikely Cities That Are Changing the Way We Eat”, where he features the inspiring work people across the country are doing to leverage the power of healthy and sustainable food to revitalize communities ravaged by disappearing industries and histories of inequity. Through their discussion, Winne describes the elements of an impactful food movement and how all of us can ...

Episode 144: The Problem with Crop Insurance

September 29, 2019 22:00 - 50 minutes - 46 MB

In a July report, the USDA found that crop insurance payouts are likely to increase due to the expected increase in climate volatility. But is the program that is designed to protect farmers against the hardships caused by these climate events just making the problem worse? Journalist Jessica McKenzie joins host Jenna Liut to talk about the current structure of the Federal Crop Insurance Program and why conservatives and environmental advocates alike think it needs to change if we want to en...

Episode 143: The Labor of (School) Lunch

September 22, 2019 22:00 - 1 hour - 65.3 MB

Host Jenna Liut interviews author Jennifer E. Gaddis about her forthcoming book "The Labor of Lunch: Why We Need Real Food and Real Jobs in American Public Schools." Gaddis’ book exposes the labor crisis in school cafeterias and why we can’t keep ignoring these workers if we want healthier school lunches. Listen to this episode to learn more about the feminist history of the National School Lunch Program and how organizing together and empowering those responsible for serving 5 BILLION lunch...

Episode 142: Shop With Your Heart

August 04, 2019 22:00 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MB

Although 76% of consumers are reported to be concerned about farm animal welfare, food labels and marketing claims have become alarmingly misleading, making it incredibly difficult for consumers to have the impact they seek to make through their purchasing power. Daisy Freund, Director of Farm Animal Welfare at the ASPCA, joins host Jenna Liut to discuss the exciting work the organization is doing to help consumers navigate food labels, elevate meaningful farm animal welfare certifications,...

Episode 141: Catching Up with Kim Kessler

July 31, 2019 23:32 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MB

Kim Kessler, the Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - and Eating Matters creator! - joins host Jenna Liut to discuss the agency's innovative and impactful work in promoting and protecting the health of all New Yorkers. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.

Episode 140: Food Policy Primer

July 14, 2019 18:13 - 1 hour - 59.7 MB

Host Jenna Liut welcomes Dr. Marlene Schwartz, Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut, back on the show to discuss the article she co-authored with Dr. Kelly Brownell and Dr. Lee Miller that was recently published in the American Journal of Public Health. The article, “Primer on US Food and Nutrition Policy and Public Health,” explores the critical and inextricable link between agriculture and public health and demonstrates the need for policie...

Episode 139: What's Good

June 30, 2019 22:00 - 1 hour - 64.9 MB

Alexander Gillett, CEO and Co-Founder of HowGood – which specializes in rating companies and products based on their environmental, social and labor practices – joins host Jenna Liut to discuss how they have amassed the largest database on food and personal care product sustainability in the world. With over 1,000,000 rated products, HowGood is creating a more transparent supply chain that helps consumers and businesses alike make informed, sustainability-minded decisions. It's HRN's annua...

Episode 138: Snailblazer, Trailblazer

June 09, 2019 22:03 - 1 hour - 59.7 MB

Naama Tamir, co-owner of Lighthouse and Lighthouse Outpost, was recently named as Slow Food NYC's 2019 "Snailblazer," a designation granted to changemakers committed to creating a better food system. Her work exemplifies the big impact that one small business can have on a broader goal of good, clean, fair food for all. Naama joins host Jenna Liut in the studio to discuss the various sustainability and labor initiatives underway at both of her Brookly and NYC-based restaurants. Eating Mat...

Episode 137: Food Routes

June 02, 2019 22:00 - 56 minutes - 51.4 MB

Host Jenna Liut is joined by Robyn Metcalfe, author of the newly published book, “Food Routes: Growing Bananas in Iceland and Other Tales from the Logistics of Eating,” to unpack the unbelievable complexities of the current food supply chain and discuss how technology will impact the future of how our food gets from the field to our fork. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.

Episode 136: Not Safe Enough to Drink

May 19, 2019 22:00 - 1 hour - 63.4 MB

Roundup, a common glyphosate-based herbicide made by Monsanto, is back in the news as a California jury recently ordered the company to pay $2 billion in damages to a married couple who both developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which they say was caused by many years of using this product. Carey Gillam, investigative journalist and author of Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science, joins host Jenna Liut to discuss the science behind glyphosate, how it became t...

Episode 135: Dead Species Walking

May 12, 2019 23:16 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MB

This week, a landmark new report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) was released stating that nature is declining globally at unprecedented rates and the rate of species extinction is accelerating. One million (out of eight million) plant and animal species are now on the verge of extinction. Joining the show to help explain why and the extent to which the decline in biodiversity is happening, the consequences of the decline an...

Episode 134: Eating Tomorrow

April 14, 2019 22:00 - 54 minutes - 49.4 MB

This season of Eating Matters has focused a lot on how to feed a growing world’s population without completely destroying the planet and policies and programs – past, present and future – aimed at helping us get there. In the final episode of Eating Matters for the season, host Jenna Liut interviews author Tim Wise about his new book, Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Family Farmers and the Battle for the Future of Food, which brings together many of the previously discussed policies and lays o...

Episode 133: Organic Valley

April 07, 2019 23:06 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MB

Host Jenna Liut sits down with Organic Valley’s Mission Executive, Leslie Kruempel, to discuss their unique co-op model and brand strategy. Kruempel explains the history of Organic Valley, the participation of its 2,000 family farmers, and their new ad campaign “Call Us Crazy But It’s Working.” They also discuss more nuanced topics like Grassmilk, labeling and Greenwashing trends, and balancing reliance on ruminants with an increased push for sustainability. Eating Matters is powered by Si...

Episode 132: Representative Earl Blumenauer

March 31, 2019 22:00 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MB

Host Jenna Liut talks with Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) about why he gives the 2018 Farm Bill a "D+," his work on the New Green Deal, and how every politician - regardless of their committee assignments - must prioritize food and agriculture systems reform. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.

Episode 131: Part 2: The ABCs of GMOs

March 24, 2019 22:01 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MB

Host Jenna Liut continues her conversation with Greg Jaffe, Director of the Project on Biotechnology at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, on everything you need to know about genetic engineering. Eating Matters is powered by Simplecast.

Guests

Sam Kass
1 Episode

Books

Twitter Mentions

@chefnephicraig 1 Episode
@jessimckenzi 1 Episode
@nicksonbroadway 1 Episode
@jenniferegaddis 1 Episode
@realfoodmw 1 Episode