Feed Me the Facts

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the intersection of food, culture, community, and advocacy—and exploring what it really means to create equitable food systems that nourish people beyond the plate. This conversation is a powerful reminder that food access isn’t just about availability; it’s about dignity, education, connection, and giving communities the tools to thrive. If you’ve ever though...

Building a Niche in Vaginal Health with Dekeira Horne Diversify Dietetics     In today’s episode, we’re diving into a niche within dietetics that some may consider non-traditional—but that’s exactly the point. This conversation is all about what’s possible when you lean into your interests, trust your instincts, and create something that’s truly your own. If you’ve ever felt boxed into t...

In this episode of Feed Me the Facts , Danielle sits down with Daniela Hurtado, MS, RD, CSSD, and Rayanne Nguyen, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN—two sports dietitians and leaders redefining what athlete care can look like. Daniela, founder of DK Performance RD and CEO of The Athlete Meal Plan, discovered her passion for sports nutrition through her own experience as an athlete and has gone on to work with orga...

After a short winter break, we’re back with a rich conversation alongside food ethnographer and children’s book author June Jo Lee. June Jo studies how we eat, cook, and crave—using food as a lens to understand culture, identity, and belonging. Her work spans Korean kimchi factories to Google canteens, and she is the co-author of Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix and Sandor Katz and the Tiny...

Dr. Andie Lee Gonzalez—also known as Andie Lee—is a first-generation Latina dietitian whose journey spans community nutrition, retail, private practice, academia, and industry. In this episode, she walks us through her path from growing up in South Texas to becoming a Pediatric Medical Science Liaison at Abbott Nutrition, all while co-owning a bilingual private practice and teaching the next gener...

In this Season 5 episode of Feed Me the Facts , we sit down with Cassidy Sharp, PhD, RDN and Yan Jing Phay, MPH, RDN —two recent graduates of the Diversify Dietetics Internship—to unpack what the reality of transitioning from dietetic intern to practicing RD truly looks like. Cassidy, a maternal and child health dietitian and researcher, and Yan, a clinical dietitian serving diverse patients in De...

In this Season 5 kickoff of Feed Me the Facts , we sit down with Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN , founder of Maya Feller Nutrition, author of Eating from Our Roots , and frequent national media contributor. Maya shares her unique journey from avant-garde theater to nutrition science, her passion for culturally humble care, and her mission to make nutrition education accessible and approachable. We dive...

In this rewind episode of Feed Me the Facts , we revisit Basheerah’s inspiring journey from food marketing to launching her own private practice. She shares the challenges of starting out, the realities of working with insurance, and what it takes to succeed as a dietitian entrepreneur of color. She describes how she managed her schedule as she built her private practice on the side while working...

In this rewind episode of Feed Me the Facts , we revisit an inspiring conversation with Alice Figueroa—registered dietitian nutritionist, public health advocate, culinary expert, and founder of Alice in Foodie Land . Alice shares how her roots in Guatemala shaped her passion for health advocacy, her journey into nutrition and policy, and her experience as a James Beard Foundation National Scholar....

In this special episode from the DD archives, host Deanna sits down with Trinique Waters, RD, to reflect on navigating career doubt, finding belonging, and building confidence as a woman of color in dietetics. From struggling to find her first job post-internship to discovering her passion for maternal health and lactation consulting, Trinique shares a heartfelt journey that will resonate with any...

In this episode , Morgan McGee shares her journey as a school nutrition leader and dietitian, offering a powerful perspective on intrapreneurship —growing within your organization to build skills, lead change, and create impact. She highlights the role of self-reflection, community, and equity in professional development, while also exploring how to leverage internal opportunities for financial gr...

In this episode, Venus Kalami shares her journey as a pediatric dietitian, the importance of cultural humility, and why dietitians of color are vital in pediatric nutrition. We explore career growth, respect, money, and how to avoid burnout while building inclusive practices. Tune in for insights on equity, advocacy, and finding joy in your work. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Venus’s journey...

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Journey from Mentorship to Partnership (00:00) How Alissa and Jasmine went from mentor/mentee to long-term collaborators. Why Dietitians Should Embrace Collaboration (06:30) The impact of working together instead of competing in a saturated field. Justice-Informed Approaches in Nutrition (12:15) How Alissa and Jasmine integrate equity pricing and scholarship...

In this episode of Feed Me The Facts , Deanna sits down with Greg LaFortune, a Registered Dietitian and private practice owner, to talk about his leap into entrepreneurship, the challenges of building a business, and his mission to make nutrition accessible—especially for men. Greg shares his inspiring journey from a type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 11 to owning his own insurance-based private pra...

In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, Deanna sits down with Tamara Melton and Deja Ivy to discuss the decision to sunset the Diversify Dietetics Internship Program. They explore the program's origin, challenges in maintaining funding, and the impact of changing DEI priorities. While it’s bittersweet to end the internship, the conversation highlights new initiatives aimed at supporting a more diver...

In this episode of Feed Me the Facts , we sit down with Dr. Navika Gangrade, a visiting assistant professor at NYU and registered dietitian, to unpack the journey of pursuing a PhD in nutrition. We discuss her experiences navigating academia as a woman of color, the financial realities of graduate school, and the power of research to drive real-world change. If you’ve ever considered academia, res...

In this episode of Feed Me the Facts , we sit down with Jenny Westerkamp, founder of All Access Dietetics and All Access Dietitians. Jenny shares her incredible journey from launching her first business as a college senior to working as a dietitian for professional sports teams like the Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, and Cubs. She opens up about creating innovative solutions for future RDs, improving...

In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Luis Gonzalez, an RDN and account manager at Eat Well Global.  Luis shares his journey through food service management, his discovery of media-based opportunities, and how he combines creativity with science to make a broader impact. We also explore the importance of increasing diversity in this space and how dietitians of color can ampli...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Luis Gonzalez, an RDN and account manager at Eat Well Global. Luis shares his journey through food service management, his discovery of media-based opportunities, and how he combines creativity with science to make a broader impact. We also explore the importance of increasing diversity in this space and how dietitians of colo...

In this episode, DD Co-founders Deanna Lewis and Tamara Melton sit down with trailblazing dietitians Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones, founders of Diabetes Digital. They discuss their inspiring pivot from Food Heaven, a beloved 12 year brand, to their new company focusing on insurance covered, culturally inclusive diabetes care. Learn how they’ve navigated change, tackled burnout, and continued to tr...

Join co-host and dietitians Deanna Belleny Lewis and Danielle Sanders as they talk about what's new for the Diversify Dietetics podcast. This podcast is dedicated to representation and inspiration for students and professionals of color pursuing careers in nutrition and dietetics. Every episode, we’ll bring you expert insights, the latest trends and personal stories that inspire. Whether you’re ne...

On this first episode of Season 3, we talk with two members of our DD Community: Drs. Kate Burt and Shelly Debiasse. They, along with their colleague Dr. Zubaida Qamar have launched a new project called  #InclusiveDietetics, a group on Facebook aimed to increase the awareness about the lack of diversity in the dietetics profession. In this group, they will share important information about diversi...

Can you tell we’re excited about the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo aka FNCE? As the final hours tick away the Diversify Dietetics co-founders talk about where DD will be during the 4 day conference, what their most looking forward to and notable events that you don’t want to miss.

Are you a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics? As the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals we are rightfully invested in what Diversity and leadership looks like in this professional organization. In 2015 the Academy released its first Diversity Strategic Plan along with a handful of other Diversity Initiatives. One key objective of this strategic plan is “...