Foodie Pharmacology Podcast

The Gut Microbiome and Immune Health with Dr. Heather Zwickey

You are what you eat… or rather what your gut microbes eat! New science is emerging on the role of how our food affects the composition of our gut microbiome, and how in turn, those gut microbes influence our health! Our guest this week is Dr. Heather Zwickey, an internationally recognized expert and educator in the fields of integrative medicine, natural therapies, and the immune system. We cover topics like: How does food affect microbiome health and subsequent immune health? What do we know about how to 'fix' our microbiome? How does the way you are born (vaginal or Cesarian delivery) affect your gut microbiome? We also cover topics like prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics! There’s lots of wisdom to be gleaned from this episode! You can learn more about Heather’s work at https://www.heatherzwickey.com/ or you can follow her on Instagram at @hzwickey.

#microbiome #food #GutHealth #Podcast #microbiology #prebiotics #probiotics #postbiotics

Ant Fungal Gardens with Dr. Marcy Balunas and Dr. Jonathan Klassen

In this week's episode of Foodie Pharmacology, we talk about ants that grow fungal gardens and how their farming methods are surprisingly similar to human agriculture! Our guests are Dr. Marcy Balunas from the University of Michigan and Dr. Jonathan Klassen from the University of Connecticut. They discuss a new study that shows ants and microbes communicate using chemicals. We also talk about a new tool called MPACT that makes it easier to analyze complex chemical data. Looking ahead, the team plans to study how these ant-microbe partnerships handle challenges like forest fires due to climate change and to identify other chemicals involved in these relationships. If you're interested in how the natural world works, this episode is for you! You can follow their work on Twitter at BalunasLab and klassenlab.

 

#science #sciencefacts #Podcast #Scicomm #ants #Fungi #Fungal #gardening #foodiepharmacology

Conservation of Useful Plants in Colombia with Laura Kor

Human perceptions of plants matter in conservation! This week on the Foodie Pharmacology podcast, I spoke with an expert on the concept of “sustainability-through-use,” which is important to designing conservation programs that consider the needs and priorities of local communities. Laura Kor is a PhD candidate at King’s College London and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Her research focuses on the conservation of useful plants in Colombia—species with reported human uses ranging from food and medicine to spiritual and cultural values. You can access Laura’s research articles on her Google Scholar page (https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=OTV1DjcAAAAJ)  or follow her on Twitter at @laurabkor

#Colombia #SouthAmerica #Conservation #Botany #Plants #Podcast #ethnobotany #science #Scicomm

The Microbiology of Coffee and Cocoa with Dr. Eric Peterson

What gives coffee and chocolate those special notes of fruit or nutty aromas? It all comes down to how the plants are processed, and especially to the role of microbial fermentation! I speak with Dr. Eric Peterson, an Assistant Professor at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique in Quebec, Canada. Dr. Peterson is an interdisciplinary researcher who is worried about food. A perfect storm is on the horizon, where climate change, political instability, and globalization all threaten access to food for everyone. Dr. Peterson shares his fascinating insights on the world of coffee and cocoa production, from the farm to fermentation and drying processes, to global distribution. Follow his work on Twitter at @trashprof or his university website: https://inrs.ca/en/research/professors/eric-peterson/

 

#yeast #coffee #cocoa #fermentation #flavor #aroma #taste #tropics #bacteria #blackivorycoffee #Kopiluwak

Community-led Biodiversity Conservation with Dr. Teri Allendorf

Conservation starts with community! This week I speak with biodiversity conservation expert, Dr. Teri Allendorff, about community-led models for fostering conservation of natural resources in different sites across the globe. Dr. Teri Allendorf is the Executive Director of Community Conservation, located in Viroqua, WI, but with projects around the world, including Peru, Myanmar, Nepal, Madagascar, Thailand, and Cameroon. She is also an Honorary Fellow in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Allendorf has worked on issues of local communities and conservation since 1994. Follow her work at the Community Conservation website (https://communityconservation.org/ ) and social media channels: Twitter: @ComConsInc, Facebook: @communityconservationinc, Insta: @communityconservationinc

#conservation #biodiversity #podcast #ecosystem #foodiepharmacology

How to Taste with Mandy Naglich

This week we explore the exciting sensory elements of taste with Mandy Naglich! Mandy is an Advanced Cicerone, National Homebrew Competition Gold Medalist, drinks educator, and writer. She’s the author of “How to Taste: A Guide to Discovering Flavor and Savoring Life”. She shares with us some great tips on how and why we can improve our senses of taste and smell and explores how our senses are connected to our health. Mandy lives, writes, and brews in New York City, but she documents her drinks adventures around the world at @drinkswithmandy

#taste #flavor #senses #food #beer #howtotaste #MandyNaglich #FoodiePharmacology #Quave

Regenerative Farming and Climate Action with Dr. John De La Parra

This week on the podcast, we learn more about the exciting initiatives underway on climate action, regenerative agriculture, and food science supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. I speak with Dr. John de la Parra, an ethnobotanist and chemist with expertise in food crops and medicinal plants. John drives programming, grantmaking, performance, and partnership within the Rockefeller Foundation Food Portfolio, including the development of the Periodic Table of Food.

#food #health #agriculture #crops #nutrition

Key Drivers of Food Crop Composition with Kat Morgan

Have you ever wondered how climate change and different agricultural management practices can affect the composition of the foods we eat? If yes, then this episode is for you! I speak with Kat Morgan, a food systems professional with expertise in anthropology, environmental health, and communications. Currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at Columbia University, Kat is dedicated to addressing the intersection of food systems, environmental issues, and health disparities. In addition to her work with the Rockefeller Foundation, Kat also hosts the “Oh, Crop” podcast!

#food #ClimateChange #Agriculture #crops #podcast

Bosnian Home Gardens and Foodways with Ashley Glenn and Dr. Andrew Flachs

In this episode of Foodie Pharmacology, we discuss the vital role of home gardens in diverse economies and social reproduction. Our guests are scholars Andrew Flachs and Ashley Glenn. Andrew, an anthropologist and agrarian studies expert, talks about how gardens support resilient economies in areas with limited formal economic activity, and the critical role of women in these systems. Ashley, an Ethnobotanist, examines the diversity of these gardens and their role in preserving social institutions in difficult economic scenarios. The episode focuses on the role of gardens in fueling social reproduction: keeping social institutions going even as other aspects of the economy would fragment them. We explore sustainable agriculture, botany, and anthropology, understanding the value and potential of home gardens in our economies and ecosystems. 

#Bosnia #homegarden #Missouri #gardening #foodways

Caribbean Plants for Women’s Health with Ella Vardeman

This week, we take a closer look at Caribbean medicinal plants used in women’s health in New York City! Our guest this week is Ella Vardeman. Ella is a Ph.D. candidate at the City University of New York and New York Botanical Garden Plant Sciences program under the mentorship of Dr. Ina Vandebroek and Dr. Edward Kennelly. Her research focuses on the ethnopharmacology of plants used by Haitian immigrants in New York City for women’s health. Learn more about Ella’s work by following her on Twitter @ellavardeman.

#NYC #Haiti #medicinalplants #womenshealth #FoodiePharmacology #mysterycontrol