Food & Conversations

"Nobody was around to help me. You know, I had to struggle through it on my own. And after dealing with that, I realized how different my situation would have been if I could have had some support....That was what got me into [being a farmer advocate], and that they can't tell me anything [about] what they're feeling that I haven't felt, you know, when we're talking to that farmer."

Our fifth episode features a conversation with Benny Bunting, Lead Farmer Advocate for RAFI who shares his experience supporting farmers and their families through the challenges of today's agricultural economy. We discuss Benny's career, his vision for a more sustainable food system, and his connection with Farm Aid and Willie Nelson. Give this latest episode a listen, and be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Maggie Funkhouser joins the podcast! Maggie is the Director for the NC Farmers Market Network. Maggie brings a range of experience in farmers markets, most recently as the Market Manager of the Carrboro Farmers' Market in Carrboro, NC. She was raised in NC’s Triangle and has worked in local food systems there for many years, including as an educator, gardener, baker, and foodservice industry worker. She is especially interested in the intersection of food access and farmers markets, as well as elevating NC farmers markets as vibrant community spaces centered around local food and farm products. 

• Justine Okra recipe
  • 1lb ground sausage
  • 1-2 cups sliced okra
  • 1 cp. diced peppers
  • 1 cp. diced or canned tomatoes
  • Garlic, salt, and Kitchen Pepper
  • Sautee the sausage in the cast iron skillet. Add the okra and peppers and cook 5 min. Add the tomatoes, garlic and spices. Cook until it’s nice and uniform, about 10-15 min. Serve over rice
• Check out Omar Ruiz-Lopez’s music at omarruizlopez.com
• Follow the work of North Carolina Farmers Market Network at ncfmn.org or follow them on Instagram at @ncfarmersmarketnetwork. 
• Find your local farmers market here.
• The Wild Birds by Wendell Berry

In this episode, we discuss the current state of food assistance policies, the narratives that are shaping public discourse for better or worse, and the future of food system leadership. Come for the highbrow policy talk and stay for the travel hot takes and birding updates.

Show Notes:

• Taylor Johnson is a Domestic Policy Advisor with Bread’s Policy and Research Institute. He conducts analysis on current data and research and advises the organization on federal and state policy reforms that address hunger and poverty in the U.S.
• Sakeenah Shabazz is the Deputy Director of Policy and Research Institute (PRI). Prior to this role, she served as an appointed Senior Policy Advisor at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Before joining USDA, Sakeenah served as Policy Director at Berkeley Food Institute, Senior Program Associate at the Congressional Hunger Center, and Program Associate at D.C. Hunger Solutions.
• Follow their work at Bread for the World here.
• Please rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

Show Notes: 

• Derrick Weston is the Director of Theological Education at Creation Justice Ministries. Learn more about their work here.
• Derrick co-authored The Just Kitchen with Anna Woofenden.
• Derrick’s book Building a Moral Economy: Food For All is slated to come out in 2027. Learn more here.
• Resisting Structural Evil by Cynthia Moe-Lobeda
• “What if We Get it Right? Visions of Climate Futures” By Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
• “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers

Welcome to Food & Conversations, a podcast of RAFI's Come to the Table Program. In this episode, we welcome Chelsea Marshall, who serves as the Director of Special Projects for the National Right to Food Community of Practice.

Show Notes:

• Become a member and join the National Right to Food Community of Practice listserv
• What do we mean by the right to food? Four Principles of the Right to Food Resource
• “The work I do is about helping us get closer to a world where everyone can reliably access food that meets their needs with dignity and choice both now and in the future”
• Maine’s Right to Food Constitutional Amendment
• Right to Food Narrative Framework (Goals - Obstacles - Solutions)
• Mother Mary Comes to Me, Arundhati Roy

Many thanks to Omar Ruiz-Lopez for the lovely intro and outro music.