“Her presentation empowers agriculture to tell its story with credibility, respect, and impact. Michele helped me navigate tough conversations with compassion for the urbanites who have little connection to where their food comes from.”
- Jeannette Andrashewski, Canadian Canola Farmer
What drives Michele to write? ▶ Bridging the gap from farm to food with story and science.
"You are a gift to agriculture – you do an amazing job connecting non-ag folks to agriculture in a relatable and logical way that's welcoming and opens the door to a deeper understanding.”
- Lana Frantzen, PhD, RDN, DairyMAX
Prunes have an awareness problem. They have been for so long paralleled with digestion, and yet they may be best super fruits on the market – good source of fiber and an excellent source of Vitamin K, an essential bone nutrient. “People have fear and anxiety around buying shelf-stable fruits and vegetables,
Natalie Mariani Kling is a fourth generation...
Food prices increased a painful 13% in 2022. Yet Americans waste about $218 billion of food the U.S. and food is the single largest component taking up space inside of our landfills. RDN Rosanne Rust offers practical ways to reduce food waste in the home to save money and help the environment.
How is soy a part of your diet? Maryland farmer Belinda Burrier talks about high oleic soybean oil, GMOs, international demand, the health benefits of soy, and so much more in the latest Food Bullying podcast.
Do you know the latest research on peanuts & allergens? Or that these protein essential grow in the ground? Or that the peanut plant is a legume that is rotated with other crops to help with soil health? Whether you like crunch or smooth peanut butter in your diet, the peanut plant is pretty amazing.
Take the gene as a sentence in a book. Copy that sentence (gene) into another book. Now scientists can put the gene into a specific paragraph. Farmer Paul Hodgen uses this example to explain genetic modification in food. He has worked with GMOs – genetically modified organism – in both the laboratory as an agronomist, as well as farming GMO corn and soybeans.
Want to save money in the grocery store? Need a quick way to add nutrients? Canned foods may be your answer – and they are NOT filled with salt, sugar, and BPA. Listen in to learn more about the power of the can in this Food Bullying podcast .
Heather Barnes thinks the sweetpotato should...
Heather Barnes thinks the sweetpotato should wear a cape because it’s such a nutrition powerhouse. And did you know the proper way to spell sweetpotatoes is without a space between the two words?
Is grass-fed beef really 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.”
Leslie Bonci has filled four decades as a...
Growing greens and delivering them safely to...
Did you know that a three ounce serving of lamb...
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.
RDN Lauren Twigge believes dietitians need to become more educated on agriculture so that they can guide consumers and not add to further confusion. Growing up on a dairy and being raised around farming her whole life has given Lauren a unique perspective on where our food comes from and her passion is to work at the crux of agriculture and human nutrition to fight misinformation and give consumers back their food confidence.
Growing greens and delivering them safely to...
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 people behind your greens.
Dan Sutton, greens grower
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.
Heat index crisis. 10,000 cattle dead. A lot of...
DVM explains why overheated beef cattle died
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.
Everything we eat has a direct impact on the environment. Debbie Lyons-Blythe is a cattle rancher from Kansas and the misinformation about methane, hormones, antibiotics and more is disheartening to her. Listen in to learn how she grows beef.
Debbie Lyons-Blythe on meat & methane
Bacon isn’t fat, but pork is? Pigs as big time bullies. Ways to cook your pork so it’s tender. Pig Farmer Leon Sheets shares insight on all of these and why he cares as a pork producer.
Amber 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.
Author Michele Payn and RDN Nicole have teamed up help dietitians and consumers get firsthand perspective from farmers about how food is grown. Listen in to learn more about the newly relaunched podcast.
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 new 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.
Dr. Liza Dunn is an emergency physician and medical toxicologist who went to Haiti twice on humanitarian missions and came home thinking about golden rice. She explains why pesticides protect public health, why glyphosate is safe, and why the history of insecticides is actually a story of preventing mass death.
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 – especially during a pandemic.
Steve Tucker didn’t set out to become a regenerative farmer. He set out to stay in business. Hear how a Nebraska producer moved from wheat and summer fallow to 14 crops, tripled his soil organic matter, and discovered that the elevator was never his real customer.
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 & Dr. Stuart Smyth on food bullying
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.
Jason Meadows is a pharmacist and rancher in rural Missouri who started a mental health podcast after a burning baler and a long drive home from Dallas changed his perspective. He explains why rural pharmacists may be the most underutilized mental health resource in agriculture – and what it costs farmers to never ask for help.
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.
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.
Farmers Feeding Utah
“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.
“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.
Our November hunger series kicks off with one of our favorite guests, anti-hunger advocate Diane Sullivan. She shares how COVID-19 has impacted people who are experiencing food insecurity. For example, did you know people who use SNAP benefits aren’t able to use grocery delivery services that have been essential to many who are at high risk?
Cranberries! One of the stars of autumn tables evokes beautiful images, wonderful scents, and a distinct taste. We discover how cranberries are grown and harvested sustainably in this episode, plus why we shouldn’t be afraid of the “sugar” in these nutritious berries. We also learn how a cranberry bog in Massachusetts looks different than a cranberry bog in Wisconsin.
We’ve all seen the ads for pet food featuring happy dogs with happy owners who buy the very best food for their furry family members. But is that food better? How do you know what is best for your pet? Does grain-free dog food make sense or are you being food bullied into buying a boutique brand that offers less nutrition? Our guest, veterinarian Tammy Lons, gives us the scoop on the facts about pet food.
Did you know popcorn is an entirely different crop that the sweet corn you enjoy on the cob? Eliz didn’t! Michele and Eliz welcome Brian Scott to talk about popcorn, sweet corn, field corn, GMOs, and why seeds are intellectual property.
“Feed your body 80% of the time and your soul 20% of the time” Too often, people receive lots of unsolicited, non-science-based advice about what they should and shouldn’t eat to get rid of cancer. Patients will run with advice, even if it is not supported by science, just to have some action to take. Unfortunately, that advice can make them miserable and can interfere with their treatment. Julie Lanford sheds light on the truth about cancer treatment and food.
What role does disgust play in our fear of disease? Why should we be careful about the language used to describe disease, such as COVID-10? Dr. Tyler Davis is back to discuss how exotic foods are associated with “otherness.” Neophobia (fear of new things) creates stigmas. These stigmas can lead to food bullying, whether related to COVID-19 or technology used in farming.
Neuroscientist Tyler Davis on fear
Misinformation such as the “Dirty Dozen” list scares people away from buying produce. Produce is nutrient rich and essential. Food security is national security in and human security. We need to focus on nutrition not just calories. The nutrition panel for produce is the same regardless of how it is grown. It is all healthy.
The Produce Moms on choosing the right produce
Ever wonder if that tasty sound bite on the news about what you eat is true? Our guest, Emmy award winning journalist Kate Delaney, shares how to vet what you hear and why a sensational headline is more likely to get media attention.