Food Bullying Podcast

One of the misconceptions around beef is grass-fed beef is better for human health and the environment. "Many times this is promoted by those who are far removed from agriculture. Or they base it on one nutrient such as short chain omega-3 fatty acids. My scientific take: there are system trade-offs, no system absolutes." Sarah Klopatek is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California...

Leslie Bonci has filled four decades as a dietitians with certifications, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetic offices, and building an amazing practice of serving athletes & real people. Leslie is all about helping  clients discover their best through knowledge, application, and motivation.  Leslie notes "No one knows what RDs do. We have not done a great job of marketing ourselves and our voice is lo...

Did you know that a three ounce serving of lamb delivers 23 grams of protein – almost 50% of your daily protein needs? Lamb is a great meat, but largely misunderstood. Michigan farmer Elaine Palm wants to change that. She is a partner on her family's farm in Michigan, where she and her two parents raise sheep for meat and for breeding stock, plus the crops and pasture that support the sheep flock....

Paula Peterson is a farmer from eastern Nebraska and she loves to share the story of their Tom Peterson Farm. As a mom and grandma, she knows how painful 11% inflation in food has been in 2022. Paula understands peoples concerns and wants to create conversations to address them. "I feel we are working to grow food that is safe and affordable and we take great pride in what we are doing. We all get...

"There is a lot of misinformation about where our food comes from, how it is grown, and how that food impacts our health. We can see this in topics regarding organic farming, GMO's, and whether or not dairy products can fit into a healthy diet. With dietitians being the go to resource for nutrition, they also need to become more educated on agriculture so that they can guide consumers and not add...

Growing greens and delivering them safely to your plate is more complex than you might believe. Did you know that there are over 400 family farms behind the big brands of lettuce you see in your grocery store? Dan Sutton is general manager of the Pismo-Oceano Vegetable Exchange (POVE), a farmer-owned cooperative near San Luis Obispo, CA, and  joins Nicole & Michele to help you get to know the peop...

Chicken bull speak (B.S.): chickens are pumped full of hormones and steroids, broiler chickens are raised in cages, mass confusion between layers and broilers, chickens are genetically modified and "big" is bad. This Food Bullying podcast episode features Tom Super to address all of these myths and more.  Tom  is senior vice president of communications at the National Chicken Council, where he ove...

Heat index crisis. 10,000 cattle dead. A lot of questions. Claims of conspiracy. Disgust. Physical exhaustion. Emotionally drained. All of these describe what happened in early June in southwest Kansas. DVM Tera Barnhardt explains how cattle overheated in a rare event in Kansas. This veterinarian offers the "boots on the ground" perspective on what happened in June 2022 that resulted in the deaths...

Dustin Moore is a dietitian active in research, education, and public health communication who thinks it's time for RDNs to circle the wagons around agriculture. His favorite topics of discussion include food production, agriculture, public policy, and culture. He and his family are active in their community and church, always cooking or trying new foods.  He also wants to be Batman...LOL. "I wish...

Everything we eat has a direct impact on the environment. Debbie Lyons-Blythe is a cattle rancher from Kansas and has been working on sustainability for years. She is the chairman elect of the US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Debbie highlights how beef is good for the environment. Cattle sequester carbon from land that cannot be used for anything besides grazing. She calls on dietitians to over...

Leon Sheets is a pig farmer in northeast Iowa and his family grows corn, soybeans, and hay using several conservation practices to protect the soil and water. They have 12,000 pigs, from just weaned to harvest, which are cared for using Modern Inside Production Housing. Leon says "Pork Producers We Care Principals is at the foundation of how we raise and care for our pigs." While sharing animal ca...

Amber, AKA @CranberryChats on Insta and Facebook, is a fifth generation Wisconsin cranberry grower and mom raising the first of the sixth generation. She's a farmer working alongside her entire family and now trying to navigate the work life balance with a new baby. She wants people to know all of the work that goes into growing cranberries. They only float at harvest (really!) and sustainability...

Michele Payn welcomes Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Nicole Rodriguez to the Food Bullying podcast as the new co-host. A second career dietitian, Nicole found a huge disconnect between her education in New York City and agriculture. Michele and Nicole have teamed up help dietitians and consumers get firsthand perspective from farmers about how food is grown. Nicole Rodriguez, registered dietiti...

Anyone else feeling overwhelmed?   Michele and Eliz talk ranging conversation about stress, overwhelm, uncertainty, and choice in 2021. Much of their conversation is based on Eliz's soon-to-be-released book, Stress-Proof Your Life in this final episode of the food bullying podcast. Listen in as they say farewell and help you deal with the stress of a pandemic and beyond. Eliz shares tips to: Tell...

Did you know soldiers used to carry flowers into battle to keep them healthy? Dr. Liza Dunn joins Michele and Eliz for a fascinating conversation about pesticides, nutrition, herbicides, and why doctors need to stay in their lane. Liza Dunn is a mom of 3 boys and a hockey fan who loves her pets - a pug, a horse and a snake. She's also an emergency physician and a medical toxicologist who has done...

Can we trust the information we hear about nutrition? Why does nutritional advice change? Does it have to be this confusing? Does the source of science funding matter? Michele and Eliz are joined by Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Elieke Kearns for a lively discussion about the science of nutrition and why you shouldn't believe everything you read on Facebook, but you should trust science - espe...

Sustainable farming is a hot topic - but was does sustainable even mean? In this episode Michele and Eliz welcome regenerative farmer Steve Tucker to discuss why he changed the way he farms and why great soil is like chocolate cake. Steve Tucker is an ag production specialist. He farms in southwest Nebraska with his wife and three kids on their diversified regenerative farm. Steve's innovation has...

Has an increase of leisure time during the pandemic made us more distrustful of science? Can we pick and choose what science we believe like we do flavors of ice cream? Michele and Eliz are joined by two scientists, Dr. Meghan Wulster- Radcliffe and Dr. Stuart Smyth to discuss science, misinformation and odd flavored ice cream. Dr. Meghan Wulster-Radcliffe is the CEO of the American Society of Ani...

This episode features a wide-ranging conversation with a veterinarian about how farmers care for their animals, the challenges of being a vet, and the story of Fairlife Milk.  Dr. Marissa Hake is a veterinarian who specializes in communicating about how our food is raised. Marissa's background has been in calf health and welfare but recently has transitioned into a new position as the Director of...

Do you know your pharmacist?   Does he or she know you?   If not, you may be missing out on a key player in your health care.   In this episode, Michele and Eliz chat with pharmacist Jason Medows about the role he plays in his rural community and why mental health resources should be treated as first aid. Jason Medows is a pharmacist and rancher from Cuba, Missouri. He lives on a family farm with...

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Leslie Bonci is back  with the truth about immunity-boosting foods, why your gut   health is essential, and, of course - lots of laughs with Michele and Eliz! There's a reason she returns as a three-peat guest - and this episode will help you overcome food bullying during the pandemic. Leslie Bonci is a registered dietitian and a board-certified specialist in spor...

What happens when the market for farm products disappears and there are hungry people in the community?   In Utah it led to farmers delivering food to Navajo families, including lamb - a sacred food.   Ron Gibson shares the heartwarming story the remarkable effort to inspire all Utah families to connect, succeed, and grow through the Miracle of Agriculture Foundation during COVID-19. Ron Gibson is...

What happens when the market for farm products disappears and there are hungry people in the community?   In Utah it led to farmers delivering food to Navajo families, including lamb - a sacred food.   Ron Gibson shares the heart-warming story the remarkable effort to inspire all Utah families to connect, succeed, and grow through the Miracle of Agriculture Foundation during COVID-19. Ron Gibson i...

"Many people are one emergency away from food insecurity," says First Lady of Wyoming Jennie Gordon.   She has made fighting hunger in Wyoming her mission. In this installment of our November hunger Series, we discuss how Wyoming is banning the "sandwich of shame" from school lunches and responding to food needs that tripled during COVID-19. Jennie father was a Senior Master Sergeant who served in...

" Food elitist ideas are a problem, not a solution for hunger." We continue our focus on hunger and food insecurity with a poignant conversation about compassion with Clancy Harrison of The Food Dignity Project. Clancy is a self-professed "recovering food snob" and shares stories of how her group is fighting the stigma and shame of food insecurity by serving PEOPLE first.  Clancy Harrison challeng...