What would our world look like if Black imagination led the way? In this episode, Artistic Director Aisha Shillingford of Intelligent Mischief joins me to explore the power of speculative world-building as a tool for liberation, healing, and community transformation. We talk about what reparations and land justice could mean for our food systems, how Afro-futurism can reimagine our relationship to land and growing, and why cultural programming can be a catalyst for deep collective care. Together, we envision new, thriving worlds where Black people are sovereign, joyful, and free.

Chef Demi Unique approaches food as art, memory, and ancestral tribute. Trained at both the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and the Institute of Culinary Education, she blends her deep creative roots into immersive culinary storytelling. As a traveling artist, chef, and consultant, Demi uses food to honor lineage, build community, and create space—especially for Black folks. In this conversation, we explore her path into food, the influence of the women who shaped her journey, and how style, culture, and flavor come together in her work.

In this episode, Melissa sit down with Kela, a farmer and founder of Konterra Life Farms in Maryland. Kela is deeply rooted in regenerative, soil-first farming practices and is also a registered dietitian who understands the powerful connection between the land and our health. We talk about what it means to grow food that heals both people and the planet, the importance of soil health, and how education plays a big role in helping communities reconnect with where their food comes from.

In this episode of The Edible Activist, Melissa sits down with JR, founder and CEO of EightFold Farms DC, a network of hyperlocal urban farms transforming rooftops, lawns, and underused spaces in Washington, DC’s Wards 7 and 8. Frustrated by limited access to healthy food and inspired by global urban agriculture models, JR set out to reengineer the local food chain—starting with mushrooms.

Tune in as JR shares how EightFold Farms is tackling food apartheid, building climate-smart farming solutions, and proving that urban agriculture can be both socially impactful and economically viable. From custom-designed farm units for chefs to the art and science of growing mushrooms, this conversation dives deep into what a smarter, faster, and more just food system can look like.

In this episode, we sit down with Darrelynne Strother, founder of Châteaux Cocoa, where wellness takes root through gardening, beekeeping, and community care. From a childhood moment tossing cucumber seeds to leading hands-on beekeeping workshops, Darrelynne shares how personal healing blossomed into a mission grounded in joy, creativity, and connection. We talk about the magic of bees, lessons from the land, and what it means to grow wellness in an urban world.

In this episode, we sit down with Chi Walker—creative force, culinary curator, and one-half of the duo behind Fried Chicken and Caviar, the pop-up redefining what luxury looks and tastes like through a soulful, intentional lens. Chi invites us into her world of flavor, storytelling, and cultural reclamation, where ancestral roots meet culinary innovation.

We explore the inspiration behind the name Fried Chicken and Caviar, the duality it represents in Black culinary traditions, and what it means to create elevated dining experiences that honor soul, heritage, and community. From spring garden influences to family food memories, Chi shares how her dishes become vessels for joy, resistance, and reimagined narratives. This is more than a conversation about food—it’s about presence, power, and claiming space at the table.

In this episode, we’re joined once again by LaMonika Jones, Director of State Initiatives at the Food Research & Action Center, for a food policy update. LaMonika breaks down key threats to SNAP at the federal level, offers insight into where we are in D.C.’s local budget process, and unpacks the broader impacts these decisions have on families.

Together, we explore what’s at stake and how community members can take action.

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded prior to the most recent federal updates to SNAP.

Meet Kizzy Anderson James—a fierce spirit cultivating community, creativity, and flavor straight from the soil. In this episode of Edible Activist, host Melissa L. Jones welcomes the dynamic force behind Anderson James Farm. Kizzy is an urban farmer, disabled veteran, chicken mama, and storyteller whose journey from military service to farm life is as inspiring as it is impactful.

Together, they explore the roots of her entrepreneurial path, the power of raising chickens in the city, and how she fuses creativity into everything from her crops to her kitchen. Kizzy also shares memories of the family cooks who shaped her and the farm-fresh meals that keep her connected to her purpose.

In this episode, we sit down with Tamara, the founder of Great Mother Garden Solutions, to explore the deep roots of land stewardship and herbal wisdom. From ancestral influences to the decision to grow her own herbs, she shares her journey of reconnecting with the earth. We unpack the overlooked healing power of dandelions, discover her favorite herbs for everyday use, and hear her heartfelt advice for aspiring growers looking to cultivate their own herbal gardens. Whether you're a seasoned grower or a curious beginner, this conversation is full of grounded insights and inspiration straight from the soil.

In this episode, we explore the rich tapestry of Black foodways with Josmine Evans, founder of Indigo Culinary & Co. As a cultural preservationist, chef, and storyteller, Josmine is on a mission to honor the culinary traditions of the African diaspora—one spice blend, one dish, and one story at a time. She shares how her travels across the African Atlantic have deepened her understanding of ancestral foodways and how her work with The Joy Project is helping to reclaim and celebrate these legacies. From preserving Black culinary traditions to using food as a form of resistance, Josmine invites us into a powerful conversation about seasoning, storytelling, and the liberation found at the table.