Best David Bronner Podcasts (2025)

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Peter Segger: Farming Small, Thinking Big 1:10:09

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1d ago1:10:09

1:10:09

#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-thin…

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Julie Guthman: Big Tech's Takeover Of Organic 1:35:38

9d ago1:35:38

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#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 …

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Austin Frerick: Grocery Store Monpolies 1:22:54

16d ago1:22:54

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#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 conversati…

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JM Fortier: Farms For Food Sovereignty 1:20:12

23d ago1:20:12

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#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 generatio…

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Ladd Harris: Feeding NFL Athletes Real Organic Food 1:12:55

1M ago1:12:55

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#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…

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Anthony Suau: Filming the Chemical Takeover 1:06:55

1M ago1:06:55

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#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 conversa…

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Sharon Lerner: Eating PFAs - Forever Chemicals In Our Food 54:01

1M ago54:01

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#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: …

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Hugh Kent: Hydroponics Is Not Organic 1:02:57

2M ago1:02:57

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#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 i…

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Matthew Ingram: Counterculture's Role In Organic Food 1:01:21

2M ago1:01:21

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#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 ongoin…

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Scott Myers: Organic Grain Against the Odds 59:35

2M ago59:35

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#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 e…

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Tina Owens: Nutritional Dark Matter 55:53

2M ago55:53

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#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 d…

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Liz Graznak: Surprise! 25% Of Your Market Is Gone 1:07:11

3M ago1:07:11

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#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…

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David Weinstein: Past, Present, And Future Of Organic 46:06

3M ago46:06

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#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…

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Jennifer Pett-Ridge: Carbon Cycling on Organic Farms 56:43

3M ago56:43

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#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 Nati…

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Dr. Elena R. Álvarez-Buylla: The Science of GM Corn Risks 28:40

3M ago28:40

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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…

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Ronald Valentin: The Natural Power of Biological Control 1:06:13

3M ago1:06:13

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#212: Entomologist and grower Ronald Valentin joins Dave to talk about the advantages of using biological controls to manage pests in a greenhouse setting, where synthetic biocides are still the norm. Biological control have grown in popularity, as today, even in non-organic settings, techniques like "banker plants" have been adopted, where non-cro…

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Bernward Geier: Doing Right In The Wrong System 1:02:57

4M ago1:02:57

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#211: On a recent trip to Biofach 2025 in Germany, Linley Dixon visits with former IFOAM (International Federation of Agriculture Movements) president Bernward Geier to discuss ways to maintain organic integrity around the globe amid growing industrial pressures. Market forces, political influences, and variances in integrity among certifiers are a…

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Chuck Benbrook: What Monsanto Knew About Glyphosate 1:19:17

4M ago1:19:17

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#210: Chuck Benbrook may be the most-informed person on the planet when it comes to Monsanto's manufacturing of glyphosate and the unnecessary and sometimes fatal harm it's caused people across the United States. Chuck discusses the cases he was involved in as a pesticide litigation consultant, after a great conversation with Dave about the fate of…

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Nora Taleb: A Farmer-Led (R)Evolution 32:33

4M ago32:33

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#209: Nora Taleb witnessed the birth and naming of the Real Organic Project during her time at our joint venture partner Naturland, the EU's oldest add-on food label based in Germany. She shared her thoughts about our next steps on the stage at Churchtown Dairy during our 2024 event, Real Organic: A World Movement. Nora Taleb is a food systems cons…

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Warren Weber: Youthful Optimism And Embracing The Unknown 55:47

4M ago55:47

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#208: Legendary California organic farmer Warren Weber peppers Dave with questions about Real Organic Project's structure, standards, and funding while also touching upon their shared philosophies and the early days of the organic movement. Warren Weber co-founded Star Route Farms in California's Marin County in 1974, the oldest continuously operat…

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Will Allen: Chemicals, Cotton and CAFOs in California 53:28

5M ago53:28

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#207: Taken from an interview done in 2021, Dave gets the whole adventurous story from California-turned-Vermont farmer Will Allen about his life filled with activism, teaching, and learning, which included founding the Sustainable Cotton Project in 1990 to help farmers grow organic cotton and to convince big brands like Patagonia, Esprit, Levis, a…

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Do Hydroponics Belong In Organic? Anthony Suau Interviews Dave Chapman 15:42

5M ago15:42

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#206: As a special 10 minute bonus episode to the film Organic Rising, director Anthony Suau focuses on the issue of whether or not hydroponics have a place in the market under the USDA organic label. Real Organic Project co-founder Dave Chapman explains the history of this issue and why it has never been properly settled, as well as the current st…

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Scott Park: A Normal CA Farm Farmed Abnormally 28:22

5M ago28:22

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#205: Organic California field and row crop farmer Scott Park details the success he's found with his low-input, targeted tillage operation for a room full of real organic certified farmers. Primarily a tomato grower for canneries, Scott's does not shy away from sharing his experiences with slippery price negotiations and the headaches around the r…

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Anna Jones-Crabtree at Chuchtown: Farming With Nature 37:23

5M ago37:23

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#204: Organic grain farmer Anna Jones-Crabtree shares an emotional glimpse into the real and challenging issues she and her husband Doug face as they try to align their nature-first stewardship practices with the reality of operating in an economic system that favors extractive agriculture. Anna spoke this past September at our Churchtown Dairy eve…

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Renee Lertzman: Successful Activism With Project Inside Out 53:24

5M ago53:24

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#203: In her work helping activist organizations and environmental change-makers succeed in their journeys towards truly positive impact, Renee Lertzman of Project InsideOut studies why change is so difficult. She examines the different parts inside each of us, and how they often battle to choose which path we will follow as they react to the daily…

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Tim Wise at Churchtown: The Battle For The Future Of Food 32:01

6M ago32:01

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#202: Author and Green Revolution expert Tim Wise speaks to the crowd this past September at our Churchtown Dairy event, Real Organic: A World Movement. As Tim points out, industrial agribusiness, as well as biotech companies and philanthropic (or philanthrocapitalist) foundations, are dictating how we feed the world, treat the land, and write poli…

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Frances Moore-Lappé: Power, Democracy, and Food 1:04:30

6M ago1:04:30

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#201: Dave visits author Frances Moore-Lappé at her Small Planet Institute in Cambridge, Mass to discuss the role democracy plays in our food system and why she has chosen to home in on democracy since publishing her breakout book "Diet For A Small Planet." Frances Moore-Lappé is the author of 20 books, including her breakthrough best seller "Diet …

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Martin Frick: Fixing Food First 1:00:12

6M ago1:00:12

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#200: Martin Frick, Director of the World Food Programme's Berlin office, sits down with Dave to discuss issues of food security and their interconnectedness with the Climate Crisis. The challenges of food waste, industrial agriculture, misguided philanthropy, and the need for global cooperation to extend true support to smallholder farmers all com…

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Paul Holmbeck at Churchtown: Getting Organics On The Offensive 36:27

6M ago36:27

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#199: Paul Holmbeck's talk from our event, Real Organic: A World Movement, which took place at Churchtown Dairy this September, is a straight shot of strategy aimed at increasing organic crop plantings and food sales. Paul's experience as the (former) Director of Organic Denmark has him considering many effective paths that the US organic movement …

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Eliot Coleman at Churchtown: We Must Do It Again 24:30

7M ago24:30

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#198: Real Organic Project champion Eliot Coleman returns to the stage at Churchtown Dairy to speak about the need to focus our conversations and energy around organic practices, instead of popularizing the reliance on outside inputs. He contends that even commercial-scale growers have all they need on-farm to feed their soil and crops, utilizing g…

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Larry Jacobs + Sandra Belin: Building Organic Supply Chains With Integrity 1:16:56

7M ago1:16:56

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#197: Dave is joined by the founders of the del Cabo Collective, farmers Larry Jacobs and Sandra Belin. You'll hear about challenges small farmers around the world face today, due to unpredictable weather, changing consumer demands, and rapid consolidation in the marketplace. The strengths of biological controls, often overshadowed by chemical prod…

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Paul Muller At Churchtown: Cultivating Affection 29:24

7M ago29:24

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#196: Real Organic farmer Paul Muller takes the stage at Churchtown Dairy to remind folks about the importance of a food system that celebrates farmers who sink their hands into the soil as they grow food and tend land. Paul Muller is a lifelong farmer and co-founder of Full Belly Farm in northern California's Capay Valley, along with his wife Dru.…

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Anthony Suau: The Making Of Organic Rising 48:47

7M ago48:47

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#195: Award-winning filmmaker Anthony Suau sits down with Dave to talk about his documentary Organic Rising. Although he set out to make a short, ten minute piece about organic food and farming practices, he quickly realized the deep need American's have for clarity around the role of chemicals in our food system and the outcomes they cause. Anthon…

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Bonus - Linley Dixon at Churchtown: Farmer Uprising 29:40

8M ago29:40

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Bonus: Co-director Linley Dixon was the final speaker at "Real Organic: A World Movement" held in the Round Barn at Abby Rockefeller's Churchtown Dairy outside of Hudson, NY on Sept 28, 2024, where she focused on the people who make this movement so meaningful: https://realorganicproject.org/events/churchtown/ Dr. Linley Dixon is the co-director of…

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Coalition of Immokalee Workers: Building Successful Movements + Boycotts 42:18

8M ago42:18

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#194: Greg Asbed and Gerardo Reyes Chavez of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers tell the story of their movement's origins, including the injustices faced by farmworkers in Florida's tomato fields that led to slavery lawsuits. As they continue to apply pressure through corporate boycotts and public campaigns, they reflect on what has worked, what h…

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Bonus - Dave Chapman at Churchtown Dairy: Real Organic Project 50:41

8M ago50:41

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Bonus: Dave Chapman takes the stage at "Real Organic: A World Movement" held in the Round Barn at Abby Rockefeller's Churchtown Dairy outside of Hudson, NY on Sept 28, 2024: https://realorganicproject.org/events/churchtown/ To watch a video version of this podcast please visit: https://www.realorganicproject.org/dave-chapman-churchtown-dairy-2024-b…

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Hugh Kent At Churchtown: Losing Our Agriculture 38:20

8M ago38:20

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#193: Real Organic blueberry grower Hugh Kent takes the main stage in the historic Round Barn at Churchtown Dairy on Saturday, September 28, 2024 to address the crowd at Real Organic: A World Movement. Hugh speaks about the drastic changes that organic - previously known as just agriculture - has undergone at the hands of industrial forces in recen…

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John Bobbe: Aiding And Abetting Organic Grain Fraud 1:10:03

8M ago1:10:03

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#192: John Bobbe revisits the investigation and exposure of organic grain fraud that he led, which inspired a series of articles in the Washington Post, and later, the US congress to take action. He also updates us on where things stand today and how bad actors in the organic grain distribution and regulation space still need our deep attention. Jo…

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Marcelo Gleiser: Escaping Extinction - There's No Place Like Earth 1:17:32

8M ago1:17:32

1:17:32

#191: Professor of Physics and Astronomy Marcelo Gleiser explains why Earth, like all planets in our solar system and most likely beyond, is so unique in its climate and environmental make up. The ability for agriculture, humanity, and all other parts of nature to exist and thrive is tied directly to Earth's irreplaceable uniqueness, making our wil…

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Eliza Martin Daley: Teaching Food, Flavor, and Agriculture To Kids 1:02:17

9M ago1:02:17

1:02:17

#190: Chef and 2020 champion of the Food Network show "Chopped" Eliza Daly shares her story and her passion for educating kids about food and cooking and making sure that everyone is comfortable in the kitchen. Eliza Daly is a culinary instructor living in San Diego, CA. She has worked in restaurants in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, focusing…

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Daniel O'Connell: Industrial Ag's Rapid Degradation of California 1:02:53

9M ago1:02:53

1:02:53

#189: Daniel O'Connell, author of "In the Struggle: Scholars and the Fight Against Industrial Agribusiness in California," sits down with Dave to discuss the breakdown of ecosystems and communities at the hands of extractive agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley. Daniel O'Connell is the Executive Director at the Central Valley Partnership, "a regio…

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Mark Squire: An Early Food Co-op Stays True To Course 1:00:34

9M ago1:00:34

1:00:34

#188: Good Earth Natural Foods founder Mark Squire sits down with Dave to relate how his California food co-op has been able to remain steadfast in their commitment to organic, regardless of the immense pressure and rampant greenwashing throughout the food system. Mark Squire is the founder, manager and co-owner of Good Earth Natural Foods, an inst…

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Judith Redmond: Becoming An Activist Farmer 56:15

9M ago56:15

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#187: Judith Redmond sits down with Dave at Full Belly Farm in California's Capay Valley to discuss the values and motivations that drew her and others to organic farming decades ago. As times have changed and the issues have multiplied and deepened, what draws the next generation to this work and how can we help them succeed? Judith Redmond is one…

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John Ikerd: Why Animal Confinement Is The Norm 1:08:18

10M ago1:08:18

1:08:18

#186: Agricultural economist John Ikerd returns to discuss why the vast majority of meat, milk, and eggs moving through the American food system is sourced from large-scale, industrial feed lots and factory farms. The drive for economic efficiencies that appears sensible when investors are backing the production of widgets has a disastrous effect w…

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Mark Schatzker: Blocked Cravings + The Failures Of Food Enrichment 1:20:55

10M ago1:20:55

1:20:55

#185: Mark Schatzker, author of the international best -sellers The Dorito Effect and the End of Craving, visits Dave's Vermont tomato farm and talks about the intersection of food, flavor, nutrition and the law, and the effects that junction has had on citizen eaters across the globe. Mark Schatzker is a journalist and author who writes deeply-res…

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Jesse Cool: Inspiring The Next Generation Of Ingredient-Driven Food 1:01:16

10M ago1:01:16

1:01:16

#184: Organic restaurateur Jesse Cool sits down with Dave to talk about the positive path forward she sees in healing our broken food system: embracing and empowering young people who want to farm, cook, serve, and fill every other aspect of sharing healthy meals within communities. Jesse Ziff Cool has been committed to serving local, fresh, and su…

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Vincent Stanley: Making A Living During The Anthropocene 1:07:40

10M ago1:07:40

1:07:40

#183: Vincent Stanley joins Dave to talk about the 2023 release of his updated book, The Future of the Responsible Company: What We've Learned from Patagonia's First 50 Years, and to answer the big question about the newly-launched Patagonia Provisions: why is a clothing company selling food? Vincent describes Patagonia's foray into edible products…

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David Bronner: Origins of Regenerative Organic Certification 57:29

10M ago57:29

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#182: From a sit-down interview at Dr. Bronner's Original All-One Magic Soap company in 2022, David Bronner shares his memories of the earliest days and conversations that sparked the formation of the Regenerative Organic Alliance and the certification program that followed. David Bronner is an organic food and farming activist and the leader (Cosm…

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Lisa Held: Walmart, Walanthropy, And The Food System 1:10:06

11M ago1:10:06

1:10:06

#181: Investigative food systems journalist Lisa Held sits down with Dave to share her thinking and expand upon her findings in creating the deep dive series published in Civil Eats, "Walanthropy: Walmart and the Waltons Wield Unprecedented Influence Over Food, Policy, and the Planet." Lisa Held is a senior staff reporter and editor for Civil Eats,…

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JM Fortier Interviews Dave Chapman 1:56:31

11M ago1:56:31

1:56:31

#180: In our first-ever podcast swap, we are sharing the interview that kicked off JM Fortier's pilot season of The Market Gardener Podcast. JM invited our co-director Dave Chapman to visit him in-person in Quebec, for a lengthy deep dive into the origins of Real Organic Project and why this work is needed more now than ever. Is this work about foo…