Food traditions are core to who we are and how we build community. In this episode, cohosts Jessica Becker and Jen Rubin talk with Qwantese Winters, the founder of A Bowl of Soul. Winter’s has been dubbed the Food Doula and was the host of Wisconsin PBS’s show, “Let’s Grow Stuff.”  Her Love Wisconsin story about learning to farm and cook by connecting with her family heritage was wildly popular, so we wanted to catch up and learn more about how she is showing up in the world today. Winter’s passions have taken root in a program that is both brand new and based on age-old traditions for caring for new mothers. In this episode, we hear how Winters’ blends her particular skills in the kitchen to draw women together, particularly low income and single mothers from the Black community. Through Soul Circles, women learn from their own food stories and cultures to feel empowered as caregivers. If you want some inspiration in the kitchen and in life, this is worth a listen. 

Additional Links to check out:

→  Love Wisconsin: The Food Doula was one of the most popular stories that Wisconsin Humanities ever shared. It was featured as part of Wisconsin Humanities’ 50 year anniversary celebration and can be read here.

→  Let’s Grow Stuff on Wisconsin PBS, a show to help beginning gardeners learn tools and techniques for success, was hosted by Qwantese Winters. Watch some of the segments here. 

→  A Bowl of Soul, in Winter’s own words, is featured in Edible Magazine August 2025. Read the essay here.

This episode of Human Powered was produced and audio edited by Chrissy Widmayer. All rights reserved.