Best Jim Foster Conversations On The Coast Podcasts (2025)

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They Made America by Harold Evans 4:29

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5d ago4:29

4:29

Harold Evans, the late author of "They Made America: From the Steam Engine to the Search Engine: Two Centuries of Innovators," talks about how A.P. Giannini helped change the banking industry by expanding services to the middle-class, and also speaks on what he did for the San Francisco Bay Area. The full interview from a 2004 episode of "Conversat…

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S7 - Ep#6 - Investigative journalist and author Michael Grunwald’s new book ostensibly argues for industrial agriculture, but does it really? 1:02:58

1d ago1:02:58

1:02:58

Feeding the world without killing it is easily said, but hard to do. Figuring it out is as important as producing energy without fossil fuel. Author Michael Grunwald has his views on how and I have mine. We seek to end the polarized views that dominate the cultural discussion on the challenge and find common ground among the so-called regenerative,…

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Havana Nocturne by TJ English 4:43

11d ago4:43

4:43

T.J. English, author of "Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution," talks about the entertainment scene in 1950s Cuba and the revolution that destroyed it toward the end of the decade. The full interview from a 2008 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podca…

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Blood's a Rover by James Ellroy 2:25

19d ago2:25

2:25

James Ellroy, author of "Blood's a Rover," talks about what makes the way he writes about American History so unique. The full interview from a 2009 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts. Photo: jamesellroy.net.By Jim Foster: Conversations On The Coast

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S7 - Ep#5 - The Summer GenZ Team working for Roots of Change talks with new Co-host Coco Sanabria about their perspective on how food systems relate to their values 48:09

23d ago48:09

48:09

GenZ, those in their 20s, are the future of the good food movement. They are clearly critical to the future of food. Flipping the Table’s new co-host Coco Sanabria engages 3 of the 4 ROC Summer GenZ Team to explore their values around food and agriculture, their reasons for wanting to work on food systems with Roots of Change and the college food e…

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American Creation by Joseph J Ellis 1:55

27d ago1:55

1:55

Joseph J. Ellis, author of "American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies in the Founding of the Republic," talks about why John Adams wanted more credit for writing the Declaration of Independence. The full interview from a 2007 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts. Photo: josephellish…

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Fault Line by Barry Eisler 4:00

1M ago4:00

4:00

Barry Eisler, author of "Fault Line," talks about how two brothers who don't get along find a way to come together and rely upon each other anyway. The full interview from a 2009 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts. Photo: Douglas Sonders/barryeisler.com.…

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Facing The Wave by Gretel Ehrlich 3:54

1M ago3:54

3:54

Gretel Ehrlich, author of "Facing The Wave," talks about how she went about learning the truth of what happened when a tsunami hit Japan in 2011, with the help of her interpreter guides, and the aftermath for the many people affected by the natural disaster. The full interview from a 2013 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can …

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The Keep by Jennifer Egan 5:09

2M ago5:09

5:09

Jennifer Egan, author of "The Keep," reads an excerpt from the novel and gives her answer to the question "Can the imagined become the reality?" The full interview from a 2006 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" can be heard now wherever you get your podcasts. Photo: jenniferegan.com/Pieter M. van Hattem…

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S7 - Ep#4 - The Spirit of Resilience: Farmer Stuart Woolf and His Vision for the Future 52:09

2M ago52:09

52:09

Stuart Woolf, among California’s largest farmers and Executive Chairman of Woolf Farming Company, has a vision for the heart of California’s Great Central Valley. And agave, the hearty cousin of the tasty asparagus plant, is central to that vision. We talk of Stuart’s interesting journey, his family’s regenerative practices and his fascination with…

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S7 - Ep#3 - Finding the Radical Center: How the California Roundtable on Agriculture & Environment fostered trust and unleashed creative solutions at the intersection of agriculture and ecosystems 1:12:08

3M ago1:12:08

1:12:08

Six participants from the 20-year dialogue between aggies and enviros, known as the California Roundtable on Ag & Environment describe what it did, how it did it and why is made their lives as leaders and the state better.By Michael Reid Dimock

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S7 - Ep#2 - Helena Bottemiller Evich from Food Fix shares her views on Trump nominees RFK Jr. & Brooke Rollins and the striking possibility of realignment around food policy in Washington DC 51:59

4M ago51:59

51:59

After 15 years on the federal food and agriculture policy beat, perhaps no other American of her generation has a better perspective on what might or might not happen under the new Administration. RFK Jr and the MAHA movement are having an impact. What could it all mean?By Michael Reid Dimock

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S7 - Ep#1 -Food Fight author, Dan Imhoff, flips the table on our host Michael Reid Dimock 1:06:28

5M ago1:06:28

1:06:28

The author, musician, homestead farmer, and host of the Full Expression podcast Dan Imhoff flips the table on Michael Dimock to explore the origins of Michael’s interest in and career path within the good food movement.By Michael Reid Dimock

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S6 - Ep#11 - Diana Donlon of SoilCentric on why regeneration and history indicate a brighter future 43:07

6M ago43:07

43:07

Diana Donlon has cultivated, mentored and inspired a growing community of regenerative agriculture activists through her leadership of SoilCentric. She reveals how she remains optimistic despite the challenges ahead.By Michael Reid Dimock

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S6 - Ep#10 - Are Tariffs Good For American Agriculture? 49:22

8M ago49:22

49:22

Are tariffs good for American Agriculture? It is a very important question given the new administration's pledge to add tariffs to imported goods. Hear a large-scale, no-till, commodity soy bean farmer, describe his experience and knowledge about the impact of tariffs on the nation’s farmers. A special broadcast provided by Rodger Wasson from his s…

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S6 - Ep#9 - What do Ducati motorcycles and organic dairy farming have in common? Shelina Moreda, a fearless campaigner to save family farms 51:26

8M ago51:26

51:26

Animal right activists placed the terribly written anti CAFO Measure J on the November 2024 Sonoma County ballot. It threatens the future of this small and mid-scale farming community and others like it across the nation. Professional Ducati motorcycle racer, organic dairy woman and Covergirl model Shelina Moreda is co leading a campaign to stop th…

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S6 - Ep#8 - Cole Mannix, Old Salt Co-op, on improving the land and the lives of those who raise good meat for Montanans 46:17

9M ago46:17

46:17

Cole Mannix’s family has ranched in the Black Foot Valley of Montana since 1882. Even with thousands of acres and hundreds of cattle, the return on investment is bleak. Learn how his family and four other ranches have come together to create the Old Salt Co-op and beef brand with two restaurants, online sales and an annual ranch event all in order …

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S6 - Ep#7 - Lisa Hamilton, Author of The Hungry Season & Deeply Rooted, on the Strength and Power of Uncommon Agrarians 54:35

11M ago54:35

54:35

Today Michael talks with Lisa Hamilton, a great chronicler of uncommon agrarians, and the author of the new book, The Hungry Season. Agrarians are those who live from working in agriculture. With only 2.2 million agrarians are less than 1% of the US population. These few feed our nation and much of the world. An even smaller percentage of those few…

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S6 - Ep#6 - Dairy in California: Opportunities and Challenges Today and Tomorrow 50:51

12M ago50:51

50:51

Nutritionist and leader of the Dairy Council of California, Amy DeLisio, and 6th generation organic dairy farmer from Humboldt County, Cody Nicholson Stratton, dialogue with Michael around the opportunities and challenges related to nutrition and the environment faced by California’s gargantuan dairy industry.…

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S6 - Ep#5 - Three Gen Zers speak their minds about food, farming and the future 52:27

1y ago52:27

52:27

If you are hearing the news lately you know the campuses, now educating Gen Z, are rocked by angry students on both sides of the war in Israel. This is an energized group and may indicate a sea change in the level and type of activism in the country in the years ahead. In this episode we’ll learn from three members of “Gen Z” if they believe the pa…

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S6 - Ep#4 - From the rice fields of California one sees the future of agriculture 53:46

1y ago53:46

53:46

Tim Johnson CEO of California Rice Commission shares how rice growers are modeling the future of agriculture by delivering a fabulous array of ecosystem services, wealth creation and delicious, healthy food for California and the world.By Michael Reid Dimock

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S6 - Ep#3 - Alegria De La Cruz, a Weaver and a Warrior for Equity and Justice 1:23:21

1y ago1:23:21

1:23:21

Alegria De La Cruz has a history of creating spaces and moments for farmworkers and other historically marginalized brown and black people to fairly and wisely engage the powers that be: employers, judges and policy makers.By Michael Reid Dimock

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S6 - Ep#2 - Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott, an inspiring indigenous millennial working to heal our land through stewardship 44:14

1+ y ago44:14

44:14

As 30-year-old Native American rancher, mother and nonprofit leader, Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott reflects the power of the millennial generation born between 1981 and 1996. Indigenous knowledge, the future of food and her role in the film Common Ground are deeply explored in this episode.

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S6 - Ep#1 - Rick Clark, a large-scale Midwestern regenerative organic farmer from Indiana, shares his story of transition away from conventional commodity agriculture to the center of the film Common Ground ... 52:46

1+ y ago52:46

52:46

A 5th generation commodity crop farmer from Indiana, the Heartland of America, Rick Clark had an awakening during a one-inch rain event in 2007 that washed topsoil from his fields. That moment spawned a ten-year journey during which Rick created rich healthy soil that captures carbon and holds water, diversified his crops and increased his profits.…

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S5 - Ep#12 - Jim Kleinschmit of Other Half Processing and the Growing GRASS Climate Smart Commodities Partnership Project 52:56

1+ y ago52:56

52:56

Farm boy and entrepreneur Jim Kleinschmit started a company called Other Half Processing to ensure that the hides and other byproducts from cattle and bison production are fully utilized. When USDA began its funding campaign to promote regenerative agriculture, he hatched an idea that has bloomed into a $35 million project to build lucrative market…

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S5 - Ep#11 - Will Harris Regenerates An Entire Community Through White Oak Pastures 45:14

1+ y ago45:14

45:14

After decades of economic decline around the Harris family’s farm, Will experienced an epiphany that led to a journey to what we now call regenerative agriculture. His story is about a pioneer’s perseverance, love for animals, the land and a community. His example could transform rural America.By Michael Reid Dimock

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S5 - Ep#10 - Filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell share their story of the making of 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 and why regenerative agriculture must become the norm 46:11

1+ y ago46:11

46:11

Josh and Rebecca Tickell produced and directed the newly released film, Common Ground. It is a compelling look at the expanding acceptance of regenerative agriculture as an antidote to many of the challenges faced by farmers, ranchers, consumers and policy makers. Josh and Rebecca share about why they included a powerful diversity of voices and per…

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S5 - Ep#9 - The long strange trip of Loren Poncia of Stemple Creek Ranch 49:08

1+ y ago49:08

49:08

Hear how Loren Poncia, a former Monsanto sales rep, became a model regenerative rancher. He and his wife faced the omnivore’s dilemma to transform the family dairy into a multimillion dollar iconic grassfed organic meat brand.By Michael Reid Dimock

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Foster: Last Episode on 960 AM in San Francisco 28:06

2y ago28:06

28:06

On this special episode, host and producer Jim Foster speaks with technical producer Robert Costa about how "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" became a long-running program airing on various radio stations in the San Francisco Bay Area for several decades, and also speaks about how the book publishing world has changed over the years, whe…

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Glass: The Whole World Over 2007 18:26

2y ago18:26

18:26

In "The Whole World Over," author Julia Glass writes a novel about all the little accidents in life that come together to determine our choices in love and connections to others in the world. This second discussion about the book took place on a 2007 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. P…

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S5 - Ep#8 - The Good Food Movement Is Advancing More Quickly Each Year 18:50

2y ago18:50

18:50

For the 100th Episode of Flipping the Table, Michael shares his perception of the advances being made by those seeking a healthier, resilient and just food system. He makes the case for remaining optimistic about our future.By Michael Reid Dimock

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Ellroy: Perfidia 22:50

2y ago22:50

22:50

In "Perfidia," author James Ellroy writes a historical novel and the first volume of his second L.A. Quartet series, set in Los Angeles in 1941 that follows the story of several very different people who come together to investigate the murder of a Japanese family as America is at the brink of World War II. This discussion with the author took plac…

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Prejean: The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions 18:31

2y ago18:31

18:31

In "The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions," author Sister Helen Prejean talks about her first-hand experiences witnessing the execution of Dobie Gillis Williams in 1999 and Joseph Roger O'Dell in 1997, how poor people are primarily affected by wrongful executions, and why the execution of Michael Morales was postponed…

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Perry: Dorchester Terrace: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel 22:04

2y ago22:04

22:04

In "Dorchester Terrace: A Charlotte and Thomas Pitt Novel," the late author Anne Perry writes the next novel in a series in which Thomas Pitt is now the head of Britain's Special Branch, and follows the story of him and his wife trying to get information from two women in order to prevent an international catastrophe. This conversation took place o…

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Goldmark: Her Wild Oats 22:37

2y ago22:37

22:37

In "Her Wild Oats," the late author Kathi Kamen Goldmark writes a novel about two people at very different points in their lives who develop an unlikely friendship, a thirteen-year-old boy who plays the harmonica, and a young woman who recently discovered her husband was having an affair. In this discussion, the late author's husband Sam Barry talk…

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Glass: And the Dark Sacred Night 22:08

2y ago22:08

22:08

In "And the Dark Sacred Night," author Julia Glass writes a novel about a man's quest to find his biological father and what he discovered along the journey about himself and the world. This discussion took place on a 2014 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California. Photo: Robert Costa.…

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S5 - Ep#7 - What does grassfed meat really mean with Carrie Balkcom of the American Grassfed Association. 37:05

2y ago37:05

37:05

Grassfed, grass finished, pasture raised are all terms you see on meat and dairy packages these days. But what do they actually mean? Can they be trusted? Michael dives into this question with Carrie Balkcom the executive director of the American Grassfed Association. AGA is the nation’s singular independent certification program that confirms live…

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Frey & King: A Million Little Pieces & Parched 5:31

2y ago5:31

5:31

In this episode, Jim Foster shares his thoughts on the publishing scandal surrounding James Frey's memoir "A Million Little Pieces" and why a memoir by Heather King entitled "Parched" is more meaningful surrounding the subject of alcoholism and addiction, especially considering the fact that many things written as personal experiences in Frey's mem…

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S5 - Ep#6 - Deep Connections: Healthy Soil Leads to Healthy Plants, Animals and Humans 47:27

2y ago47:27

47:27

Spencer Smith is a self-described soil nerd who has raised livestock his whole life. He believes California is a great place to produce grass-fed beef. His goal as a consultant is to help livestock producers optimize the health of their land in order to ecologically, humanely and profitably manage businesses that deliver healthy food for humans.…

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S5 - Ep#5 - Will California’s Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) live on? 37:42

2y ago37:42

37:42

Since 2016, California has provided $30 million in matching funds to attract nearly the same amount from the USDA in order to provide SNAP families with matching dollars to support their purchase of healthy fresh and organic produce. Minni Forman, Valeria Velazques Duenas and Shawn Harrison, who manage nutrition incentive programs in their communit…

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S5 - Ep#4 - How Cliff Pollard and Cream Co, Inc. provide the missing middle link in creation of West Coast regional regenerative meat supply chains 49:47

2y ago49:47

49:47

In the national effort to reanimate local and regional meat supply chains serving primarily organic and regenerative ranchers, the key is a what is known as a “cut and wrap facility.” These are where animal carcasses are skillfully cut into steaks, chops and roasts and ground into burger and hot dogs sought by shoppers, restaurants and cafeteria fo…

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S5 - Ep#3 - Jacob Katz, senior scientist for the nonprofit California Trout, describes how flexible farmers are a solution to major endangered species problems 49:46

2+ y ago49:46

49:46

California has declared that species diversity is a major environmental goal. After 150 years of intensive agriculture, achieving that goal is a challenge. But there is a great example underway on the Sacramento River where endangered salmon are being saved by proactive rice farmers. The Nigiri Project reveals an approach that has implications for …

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S5 - Ep#2 - Leonard Diggs and the Regenerator Project on cultivating the next generation of women and BIPOC farmers and ranchers 49:11

2+ y ago49:11

49:11

We need more farmers and many of them must be women, Black, Indigenous and other people of color in order to sustain the nation’s food abundance and heal the wounds of the nation’s persistent racism. After a 35-year farming career, Leonard Diggs, a Black farmer from California’s Great Central Valley, is fully engaged in supporting the emergence of …

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S5 - Ep#1 - Food recovery at scale: Rick Nahmias on the birth and growth of Food Forward 48:49

2+ y ago48:49

48:49

Food justice and climate change demand an end to good waste. Food Forward in Los Angeles is the most impressive food recovery program we’ve ever seen. Founder Rick Nahmias shares the story of how he and his team have delivered over 1 billion servings of food to 150,000 people per day.By Michael Reid Dimock

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S4 - Ep#12 - A Look Back at the Roots of Change story in its 20th year of existence 55:14

2+ y ago55:14

55:14

Flipping the Table is a production of Roots of Change, a program of the Public Health Institute. Roots of Change has been a major catalyst in the growth and power-building of the good food movement. It was launched in 2002 and this episode features a conversation with 4 individuals who have been deeply involved in its founding and evolution and off…

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S4 - Ep#11 - Update on the Achieving of Resilient Communities project and more with Maureen McGuire, CEO of Ventura County Farm Bureau 50:13

2+ y ago50:13

50:13

After talking about the day’s farm tour on the Oxnard plain of Ventura County to educate CalPolySLO engineering students working to keep drinking water cool for farmer workers in hot fields, Maureen and Michael explore how to solve the many complex challenges faced by farmers in a time of intense political polarization, climate change and escalatin…

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S4 - Ep#10 - How Siskiyou County might save good ranches and healthy meat in the age of industrial concentration and climate change. A conversation with Grace Woodmansee and Tom Tomich 56:46

2+ y ago56:46

56:46

You have probably heard how challenging it is to keep a farm or ranch alive in today’s industrial food system. Low prices, high barriers to market entry and climate impacts are killing off the family ranches that are the primary sources of meat. Big corporations are capturing the vast majority of the wealth and impoverishing rural communities. Hear…

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S4 - Ep#9 - Woody Tasch, Slow Money and a Call to Farms 43:33

3y ago43:33

43:33

Perhaps no one has spoken so clearly about the problem of capitalism and its impact on our food system as Woody Tasch. He is the founder of the Slow Money Institute and the movement it supports. Hear about his latest written statement, A Call to Farms and the Beet Coin initiative launching on September 11, 2022.…

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S4 - Ep#8 - Carmen Snyder on the nation’s first Farm Trails map and promotor of local small family farms 47:29

3y ago47:29

47:29

Resilience requires access to local food. One model of how to sustain and promote local farms is Sonoma County Farm Trails. Launched in 1973, it is the nation’s first community-based organization with such a mission. Carmen Snyder, executive director, shares its story and about its upcoming event: the Gravenstein Apple Fair.…

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S4 - Ep#7 - Regenerative farmer Craig McNamara, son of Robert S McNamara, architect of the Vietnam War 58:15

3y ago58:15

58:15

Craig shares his dramatic life journey from the JFK White House to a farm near UC Davis, the challenge of loving a complex father and how his farm brought healing inside and with the Vietnamese people.By Michael Reid Dimock