Food is more than fuel—it’s culture, comfort, and connection. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Brietta Oaks, Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Rhode Island, to explore how what we eat shapes identity and community, and how it also reveals larger systems of public health, sustainability, and equity. From her work on prenatal nutrition to studying oysters as a source of maternal nourishment in West Africa, Dr. Oaks shares insights into how food can be both deeply personal and profoundly global.