Real Organic Podcast

#236 - Small-scale, diversified farmer Emily Oakley returns to share her evolving philosophy on farming, business, and life as she continues to align her daily work with her personal value system. From growing fertility on the farm instead of relying on purchased inputs, to adapting to climate challenges, to finding a sustainable rhythm between work and personal life, Emily offers candid reflectio...

#235 - Steve Ela, longtime organic fruit grower and former NOSB member, reflects on the shift from chemical farming to a biological mindset. He shares lessons from decades of growing tree fruit in Colorado, and why soil health, systems thinking, and real food matter more than ever in the fight for organic integrity. https://realorganicproject.org/steve-ela-organic-isnt-linear-episode-235 The Real...

#234 - In our second episode swap with the Market Gardener Podcast, JM Fortier and co-host Chris Moran sit down with Dave Chapman and trade insights on decentralization, food politics, and how organic values can thrive in today's shifting agricultural landscape. From health and climate to corporate consolidation, their reflections connect farming and activism in powerful ways. https://realorganicp...

#233 - Nicole Dehne, director of Vermont Organic Farmers, shares what it means to uphold real integrity in a shifting organic landscape. From hydroponics and organic standards to the struggles of small farms, she explains how certifiers like VOF are fighting to preserve the original values of organic - transparency, soil health, and farmer-driven accountability - in a system increasingly influence...

#232 - Stone Barns head baker Eli Pipkin reveals what it takes to bake whole grain bread that is alive with flavor, nutrition, and story. Rooted in the mission of chef Dan Barber's Blue Hill, Eli shares how his team mills fresh flour, bakes with intention, and builds a bread program that honors farmers and soil. This conversation digs deep into how bread - when made right - can restore health to p...

#231 - In this special conversation, Michael Pollan and Dan Barber and other food system leaders explore the deep relationship between whole grain bread, human health, and agricultural resilience. From the nutrient losses caused by industrial milling to the taste and vitality of freshly milled, soil-grown grains, this episode calls attention to the most overlooked staple on our plates - and how it...

#230 - Paul Hawken returns to share his hopeful and hard-won perspective on how organic farming and climate solutions go hand-in-hand, and to reflect on the themes in his latest book Carbon. Drawing from his decades of work in food systems and regeneration, he explains why soil is one of our greatest allies and how organic farmers are leading the charge toward a livable, equitable future. https://...

#229 Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics, joins us to discuss how corporate money shapes what ends up on our plates - and why nutrition science so often serves industry over public health. From USDA dietary guidelines to food marketing in schools, Nestle explains how power, politics, and policy collide in the American food system. With decades of research and advocacy behind her, she makes a co...

#228: Dan Barber returns to explore how farming for flavor - not just yield or shelf life - can transform our food system from the ground up. As a chef and co-founder of Row 7 Seeds, Dan argues that seed breeding should begin in the kitchen, with taste driving innovation in the field. From soil-grown crops to flavor-forward farming, this episode digs deep into what we’ve lost - and what we can gro...

#227: Kate Mendenhall, Executive Director of the Organic Farmers Association, breaks down the strategic grassroots campaign to keep organic standards rooted in soil, transparency, and trust. As corporate influence grows, Kate outlines how OFA is working to ensure the organic label still reflects its original values and that farmer voices are always at the forefront. https://realorganicproject.org/...

#226: Peter Segger shares his journey from music and metal testing to pioneering organic farming in Wales. He reflects on the legacy of the Soil Association, his encounters with E.F. Schumacher, and the decades-long effort to protect the soul of organic food against industrial takeover. https://realorganicproject.org/peter-segger-farming-small-thinking-big-226 Peter Segger is a well-known early ad...

#225: Julie Guthman explains how Silicon Valley’s growing role in agriculture is reshaping organic from the top down. From hydroponics to venture capital, she explores what’s lost when food is engineered like software and soil is written out of the future. https://realorganicproject.org/julie-guthman-big-tech-takeover-organic-225 (From the Harvard Radcliffe Institute site): "Julie Guthman is a pro...

#224: Author and economist Austin Frerick returns to break down how grocery store monopolies are shaping what ends up in our carts, who profits from it, and who gets left out. From Walmart’s grip on food access to the collapse of fair pricing for farmers, Austin exposes how consolidation is driving inequality across the food system. This conversation offers a clear-eyed view of the corporate force...

#223: JM Fortier shares his vision for farming as a pathway to food sovereignty. From his home in Quebec, JM has helped lead a growing movement of small-scale, soil-based farmers working to reconnect communities with their food. Through his work with the Market Gardener Institute, he’s offering tools, structure, and encouragement to a new generation hungry for change. This is a grounded and inspir...

#222: What happens when an NFL team decides to fuel its players with real organic food? Houston Texans wellness coach Ladd Harris shares how he’s building a performance-driven nutrition program based on soil-grown, nutrient-dense ingredients - including Hugh and Lisa Kent's blueberries. Ladd explains how organic food for athletes goes beyond macros — it's about integrity, flavor,  knowing your far...

#221: Pulitzer Prize-winning filmmaker Anthony Suau returns to share the impact of his documentary Organic Rising and the growing urgency behind its message. After more than a decade documenting the chemical takeover of food, Suau reflects on how toxic agriculture has reshaped our soil, our health, and our trust in the food system. In this conversation, he and Dave Chapman explore what’s at stake—...

#220: Investigative journalist Sharon Lerner shares how “forever chemicals” like PFAS entered our food, soil, bodies, and blood - revealing corporate cover-ups, regulatory failures, and the human toll of toxic exposure:   To watch a video version of this podcast with access to the full transcript and links relevant to our conversation, please visit: https://realorganicproject.org/sharon-lerner-pfa...

#219: Organic blueberry farmer Hugh Kent pulls no punches in this deep dive into the truth about hydroponics and organic farming. From his soil-first philosophy to the dangers of plastic pot "organics," Hugh explains why hydroponics is not organic — and how corporate interests are replacing real, soil-grown food withn these lifeless, watered-down imitations. If you care about soil health, flavor,...

#218: Author Matthew Ingram dives into the roots of the counterculture organic food movement, tracing how music, radical ideas, and back-to-the-land farming shaped a generation. Based on his new book The Garden: Visionary Growers and Farmers of the Counterculture, this conversation explores the deep connections between soil, society, and the ongoing fight for a more honest food system. To watch a...

#217: Scott Myers, a second-generation farmer from Ohio, opens up about the hard truths of organic grain farming. From navigating weak federal support to managing high-stakes rotations and market volatility, Scott shares what it really takes to farm with integrity. This episode is a rare glimpse into the grit, risk, and soil-deep knowledge behind every organic grain harvest. Scott Myers is a 4th g...

#216:  Tina Owens, senior advisor to the Nutrient Density Alliance, joins Dave to discuss how the future of nutrient density testing could be the key to transforming our food system. With years of experience representing major food companies like Kellogg's and Danone, and a family background in farming, Tina unpacks the science behind “nutritional dark matter,” the power of soil health, and why re...

#215:  Missouri farmer Liz Graznak tells Linley about facing the season after the very recent funding cuts have left her operation, Happy Hollow Farm, without a quarter of its regular sales channels. Many organic farmers have found themselves in the same ill-timed situation this spring, having bought their seed and started many crops weeks ago, only to learn they will not be supplying local school...

#214:  David Weinstein returns to discuss the urgent need for a food system that nourishes both people and the planet. In another compelling conversation about the heart of the organic food movement, Dave and David  explore how the original vision of organic farming—rooted in cooperation, soil health, and sustainability—has been compromised by market forces. Can we reclaim organic’s true purpose a...

#213:  Soil scientist Jennifer Pett-Ridge joins Linley to talk about the opportunities organic agricultural presents to the planet's need to drawdown and sequester carbon, with the caveat that instead of just storing carbon, we are actively using it to grow healthy foods. Jennifer Pett-Ridge is a senior staff scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and an adjunct professor at UC Me...

Bonus Episode: Author, Researcher, and investigative reporter Timothy A. Wise interviews Dr. Elena R. Álvarez-Buylla about her concerning findings on GM Corn risks during her time heading up Mexico's National Science Agency. With the US challenging Mexico's documented results and claiming unfair trade practices, the world awaits s decision from a 3-member panel of arbitrators.  You can register fo...