The Food Programme

My Food Hero: Ella McSweeney Meets Wendell Berry


Listen Later

Wendell Berry has been described as 'An American Hero' but his work and teaching have inspired and influenced leaders, writers and campaigners around the world. Ella McSweeney had no hesitation in choosing him as her 'Food Hero' and travels to meet him at his farm in Kentucky. She explains why his work affected her so profoundly, even thousands of miles away in Ireland.

As a leading and respected farmer, writer, campaigner, philosopher and poet, he wrote that "Eating is an agricultural act" yet argues we have become disconnected from the land by the industrialisation of the food chain, that the growth of agribusiness has driven many small farms out of business with a loss of their 'moral fibre and wisdom' and is destroying rural communities. He argues we must acknowledge the impact of agriculture to society.

Yet despite his widespread influence he lives at a different pace to the majority - using horses to work the land and refusing to get a computer.

For those unfamiliar with his work Ella will explain just how significant he's been on politicians and game-changers and, for those who know him already, a chance to hear his thoughts on how to feed ourselves without destroying the land and plant we have.

Ella also visits the city of Louisville to see how people are putting his thoughts into action in projects that provide access to fresh food and but also unite communities otherwise divided.

Presented by Ella McSweeney

Produced by Anne-Marie Bullock.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Food ProgrammeBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

241 ratings


More shows like The Food Programme

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,770 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

373 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

530 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

870 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,062 Listeners

Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

388 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

296 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,530 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,105 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,021 Listeners

Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

280 Listeners

The Food Chain by BBC World Service

The Food Chain

350 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

163 Listeners

Inside Health by BBC Radio 4

Inside Health

96 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

235 Listeners

All in the Mind by BBC Radio 4

All in the Mind

59 Listeners

Evil Genius with Russell Kane by BBC Sounds

Evil Genius with Russell Kane

350 Listeners

Have You Heard George's Podcast? by BBC Sounds

Have You Heard George's Podcast?

235 Listeners

Sliced Bread by BBC Radio 4

Sliced Bread

160 Listeners

Elis James and John Robins by BBC Radio 5 Live

Elis James and John Robins

329 Listeners

Good Food by Good Food

Good Food

42 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,216 Listeners

Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley by BBC Radio 4

Just One Thing - with Michael Mosley

203 Listeners

Sport's Strangest Crimes by BBC Radio 5 Live

Sport's Strangest Crimes

76 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

124 Listeners

Uncanny by BBC Radio 4

Uncanny

675 Listeners

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley by BBC Radio 4

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley

580 Listeners

Believe in Magic by BBC Sounds

Believe in Magic

625 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

379 Listeners

Miss Me? by BBC Sounds

Miss Me?

246 Listeners

The History Podcast by BBC Radio 4

The History Podcast

53 Listeners

Rory Stewart: The Long History of... by BBC Radio 4

Rory Stewart: The Long History of...

79 Listeners

What's Up Docs? by BBC Radio 4

What's Up Docs?

103 Listeners

The History Bureau by BBC

The History Bureau

94 Listeners