Kirsten interviews her friend and Crossfit coach Sarah Curl.  Sarah tells a bit of her health story, how she came to Crossfit, and her passion for coaching women.  Sarah details the ways in which Crossfit can work for anyone.  Kirsten and Sarah also talk about the health benefits of movement, following your passions, and about the upcoming Women's Health Symposium where Sarah will be one of the speakers.  For more info on the Women's Health Symposium and tickets, go here. 

Kirsten interviews Paul and Joanne Mosher, owners of Holy Cow Farm. Find out how the Moshers turned one cow into a thriving and diversified farm that sells top-quality meat to area customers. Paul and Joanne detail the reasons why local, responsibly raised meat is a completely different product than anything you will find in the grocery store. Good meat is not only extremely nutritious but is also improving farmland and drawing down excess carbon. The Moshers also share their specials and give tips on saving money on good meat.  

Improving your nutrition means getting in the kitchen and shaking things up. Kirsten and Amie give you their pics for can't-lose cookbooks. Whether you are brand new in the kitchen or a seasoned cook looking to shake things up (or just want a good laugh), there is something here for everyone.

Here are the books we discuss:

The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook by Elana Amsterdam

Beyond Bacon by Stacy Toth and Matt McCarry

How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

Fifty Shades of Kale by Dr. Drew Ramsey and Jennifer Iserloh

Forgotten Skills of Cooking by Darina Allen

The Hoosier Cookbook by Elaine Lumbra and Jacqueline Lacy

Kirsten talks about the 6 food literacy book titles she recommends for those wanting to really understand how food is produced in this country, how it needs to be, and how we can take control of our health and our grocery dollar.

In January, the monthly Food Literacy Book Club kicks off. If you can't make the local meeting, you can follow along with the podcast version right here on Food Smarts.

Locals--make sure and buy your books at Main Street Books.

Here are the books, in order, that we will feature over the next 6 months.

• Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
• The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
• The American Way of Eating by Tracie McMillan
• Folks, This Ain't Normal by Joel Salatin
• The Third Plate by Dan Barber
• Death By Food Pyramid by Denise Minger

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In the second part of Kirsten's Interview with Mary Lehmkuhl Lutz (see episode 11 for part one), Mary talks about starting her urban farm, the realities of the business side of farming, farm to table restaurants, and what the future holds for her.

In episode 12 of Food Smarts, Amie and I talk about the common roadblocks women put up while putting off feeling better.  Amie opens up about what was holding her back from making changes and what she had to do to get started. 

In the episode, we also have a discussion of what real self-care looks like.  What kinds of self-care do you practice that invest in health?  In what ways are you investing in the most important resource you have---your health?  If health is defined as resilience (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual), how are you growing yours?  That is real self-care.  

Kirsten interviews Mary Lehmkuhl Lutz, owner of Sun and Moon Farm. In this episode, Mary tells the story of how she became a farmer (when she thought that was not possible for her) and talks about how the Purdue organic student farm came into existence.

Kirsten and Amie give you the scoop on the gifts to give/get to outfit a nutritious kitchen. Take advantage of Black Friday sales and get your kitchen ready for a healthier new year.

Head to the blog post for all the links.

Listen in as Kirsten interviews Barb Middleton of Longhouse Farm. Barb tells her story of becoming a farmer and how she and her wife have diversified the income streams of their farm. Barb shares her love of growing under plastic and how she grows amazing lettuces. Kirsten and Barb also touch on food cost and how farmers can make ends meet (or not.)

Kirsten & Amie talk about the concept of Total Load. Total Load is the sum total of all stressors on our bodies and they deplete the resilience that defines health.  When total load overwhelms our bodies, we shift into disease.

What is adding to our total load?

Do we need to "detox?"

What the heck is a vitamin cult?

We also talk about reducing toxins during our periods.  

Read more on the blog here.