Food Freedom Radio

Host Laura Hedlund interviews Will Crombie of Organic Compound about building a resilient, community-focused food system through agroforestry and regenerative farming practices. Crombie shares his family’s journey transforming 42 acres into hazelnut and tree-range chicken production, advocating for local economic models over the industrial system.

#RegenerativeAgriculture #Agroforestry #OrganicCompound #WillCrombie #FoodSovereignty #Rewilding #RobinGreenfield #LocalFoodSystems #TreeRangeChicken #MinnesotaFarming

Host Laura Hedlund speaks with Curt Arens, Senior Editor of Nebraska Farmer, to discuss the economic and cultural repercussions of Tyson Foods closing its beef processing plant in Lexington, Nebraska. They examine the factors driving the closure, including drought and low cattle inventory, while analyzing how this impacts a town where the cattle population vastly outnumbers the residents. They also take a look at resilience in agriculture, highlighting the rise of rancher-owned facilities like Sustainable Beef and the growing trend of direct-to-consumer marketing.

#Nebraska #BeefIndustry #FamilyFarms #TysonFoods #AgricultureNews #RuralEconomy #CattleRanching #FoodSystems #DirectToConsumer #SustainableBeef

Laura Hedlund speaks with Michael Wright, Executive Director of Biomimetics International, to explore the exciting concept of the “Biosverse” and its potential for creating sustainable solutions by modeling nature’s 4-billion-year history of research and development. They discuss how systems thinking, biosensing, and embracing complexity can help solve huge challenges like plastics and pollution, leading to breakthroughs like Biosverse-compatible alternatives and circular economies.

#Biosverse #BiomimeticsInternational #BiosphereCompatible #GreenChemistry #SystemsThinking #CircularEconomy #SustainableSolutions #NatureInspired #ZeroWaste #FoodFreedomRadio

Laura has a lively discussion with filmmaker Graham Meriwether about the essence of food freedom, its profound connection to human nature, and his journey from poet to documentarian focused on agricultural solutions. They delve into the unspoken debates within the food freedom movement, highlighting the power of local food systems as a path to economic and personal well-being, rather than simply fighting against the existing dominant systems. You’ll also get details on Graham’s new movie, Who Will Feed Us, and inspiring examples of community-led food initiatives across the country.

#FoodFreedomRadio #GrahamMerryweather #WhoWillFeedUs #LocalFood #FoodSovereignty #WellBeingEconomy #Comm...

Host Laura Hedlund welcomes Jorge Azevedo, CEO of Fermented Foods Holdings, to explore why humans are “more than 99% microbial” and how fermented foods support our gut health. Jorge discusses his company’s popular brands, including Bubbies, Wildbrine, and Flanagan Farm, and explains how true fermentation differs from pickling with vinegar. The conversation also digs into the vital connection between living soil and the final product, detailing an innovative practice of using leftover sauerkraut juice to regenerate the soil on their Wisconsin farms.

Host Laura Hedlund welcomes Brian Ronholm, Director of Food Policy for Consumer Reports, to discuss the battle for food safety and transparency. They expose a new, misleadingly named industry group (“Americans for Ingredient Transparency”) that is actively trying to block state-level laws that ban toxic chemicals in products like baby food. Brian also shares findings from Consumer Reports’ recent investigation into heavy metals, like lead, found in popular protein powders.

#FoodFreedomRadio #ConsumerReports #FoodSafety #IngredientTransparency #HeavyMetals #LeadInFood #BabyFood #ProteinPowder #FoodPolicy

Laura Hedlund welcomes Andrew Zimmern (four-time James Beard Award winner, TV personality, and chef) for a deeply engaging conversation on the complex intersection of food, sustainability, and non-violence. We explore Zimmern’s personal journey, the ethical dilemmas of the modern chef, and the surprising economic and moral implications of eliminating childhood hunger. Discover why food systems are crucial to global safety and learn more about Zimmern’s new book, The Blue Food Cookbook, and the vital importance of making conscious, compassionate food choices.

Laura Hedlund speaks with Allison Hohn, Executive Director at Naturally MN, about the impactful Food. Ag. Ideas conference that recently took place. Now in its eighth year, this must-attend gathering led by Naturally MN focused on the intersection of food and health, drawing attendees from Minnesota and beyond to explore how innovation is shaping the future of nutrition and wellness.

On this episode of *Food Freedom Radio*, host Laura Hedlund talks with Eric Sannerud about GrownBy (https://grownby.com), a farmer-owned platform that connects farmers directly with eaters. They discuss how this innovative tool supports local food systems, strengthens family farms, and makes it easier for consumers to access sustainable, fresh food. Tune in to learn how farmer-led solutions are reshaping the future of food.

This week Laura visits with Thom Petersen, Minnesota’s Commissioner of Agriculture. He shares experiencing Farm Aid 40held at the University of Minnesota on September 20, 2025.

This week Laura Hedlund was joined by chef Lachelle Cunningham.

On this episode of Food Freedom Radio, host Laura Hedlund talks with Sonja Trom Eayrs, author of Dodge County, Incorporated: Big Ag and the Undoing of Rural America, winner of the 2025 Midwest Book Award. They discuss how corporate agriculture has reshaped rural communities and what it means for the future of family farms and the environment.

On this episode of Food Freedom Radio, host Laura Hedlund is joined by MaryLynn Pulscher from Minneapolis Parks to talk about the annual Monarch Festival. They explore how the event celebrates monarch butterflies, their vital role in our ecosystem, and ways we can all help protect their habitat.

Is a 5th world possible? Host Laura Hedlund speaks with Rob Avis of 5thWorld.com to explore bold new ideas for reimagining our future. Together, they discuss the vision behind the “5th World,” what it means for our communities, and how we might create a more sustainable and connected way of living.

Former Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie talks about the recent Minnesota Cooperative Summit

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by:

Michelle Shaw with Minneapolis Edible Boulevards https://www.minneapolisedibleboulevards.org/

Joe Vital with East Phillips Neighborhood Institute https://www.epnifarm.org/

This week, Aneta Toporowska Lennartson joins the show to talk about food, music, and family at the upcoming Slavic Experience, happening Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3 at the ROC in St. Louis Park. From delicious food to fashion and culture, it’s a celebration you won’t want to miss. Learn more at slavicexperience.com.

Aneta also shares her journey as a multifaceted entrepreneur—running the delicious Pierogi2Gogi food truck (pierogi2gogi.com) and her legal practice at toporowskalaw.com.

The author of Feed Us with Trees: Nuts and the Future of Food; Minneapolis urban farmers Black Radish Minneapolis and the Land Stewardship Project join Laura to share stories of Noospheric economics (also known as Living Economics, Donut Economics, Human-driven economics, etc.) Links: https://www.theblackradishmpls.com https://landstewardshipproject.org https://elspethhay.com

President of the Minnesota Farmers Union Gary Wertish and Katie Marty with Co-Minnesota talk about the first ever Minnesota Cooperative Summit https://www.mncooperativesummit.org

This week’s episode is all about Nikkolette’s Macarons! Learn more at: https://www.nikkolettesmacarons.com/

In this episode, we explore the ideas of Otto Scharmer, author of Presencing and founder of the Presencing Institute. Scharmer grew up on a regenerative farm, where he first learned that soil is alive—a lesson that shaped his understanding of how humans interact with the world around them. He now applies that same insight to what he calls our “Social Soil”—the shared space we all influence through attention, intention, and agency.

Learn more at ottoscharmer.com and presencing.org.

This week Laura highlights Elderberry Cooperative with Organic Farmer with Dan Moe https://www.midwest-elderberry.coop/index.html  https://thefarmofmn.com/

This week Laura talks tarriff mayham with Ben Lilliston with https://www.iatp.org

This week with Laura it’s all about: Soil Health Education SHE – with Dr Suzie Haryanti Husain

World Water Day is March 22, Laura talks to water educator Mitchell LeGrand and executive director Doug Niemela with https://www.h2oforlifeschools.org

Deputy Commissioner at Minnesota Department of Agriculture Andrea Vaubel discusses the impact on Minnesota of the Federal government decision to cut $1 Billion dollars cuts in USDA aid

Joey Baird of Gardening with Joey and Holly is Laura’s guest this week. Check out Gardening with Joey and Holly every weekend on AM950

Emily Krekelberg Extension Educator & Michael Romanski, livestock farmer talk about the First-ever Ag for All Conference www.mda.state.mn.us/ag-all-conference-2025

Laura is joined by farmer and pastor Bryan Allen Demeritte today.

Laura highlights meat processing in Minnesota – how to help independents – https://bottleneckproject.weebly.com

Talking about the revitalization of oat farming in Minnesota and northern Iowa today.

Embodied Permaculture with Dan McTiernan of https://earthbound.fi/ Oxford 2024 Word of the Year was Brain Rot. Let’s envision a better word for 2025. Thrutopia – Not utopia or dystopia but Thrutopia. How do we get from where we are to where we want to be? First we need to be in our bodies. On today’s show we talk about Grounding, Attuning, Opening and Integration

Host Laura Hedlund talks about the winter solstice with Liz Johnson from Magus Books and Herbs and Steven who tells us about this winter solstice event: https://givebutter.com/qx1HCT

This week’s show features Eric Lee-Mäder author of The Milkweed Lands: An Epic Story of One Plant: Its Nature and Ecology and Christopher Stein with Twin Cities Eco-Rotary to talk about connections between Milkweed and Monarchs.

This week host Laura Hedlund highlights Cause Cart (https://cause-cart.com/)

To start the show Laura Hedlund is joined by Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi, Soil & Environmental Chemistry proefessor at Kansas State. She is one of the world’s leading scientists in the fields of trace metal and nutrient chemistry in soils. Then Laura is joined by herbalist Liz Johnson from Magus Books and Herbs as they talk about herbs that can help you in these stressful times.

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by Natalia Mendez, Director of Marketing and Communications at Seward Community Coop. They talk about how Seward Coop can help you prepare for Thanksgiving!

Music, Democracy and Freedom – a spiritual conversation as host Laura Hedlund talks about Bad Bunny and his impact on the election with three guests:

Stephen Adubato is contributor to The Bad Bunny Enigma: Culture, Resistance, and Uncertainty and a journalism fellow at COMPACT Magazine and a professor of philosophy in NYC.

Lee Hawkins is author of I Am Nobody’s Slave How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free and also the singer/songwriter of HEAL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZC7NulTJPk

Musician and political activist Shea Hanson who wrote and pe...

Featured on this week’s show hosted by Laura Hedlund: The Metro Food Justice Network believes, “TOGETHER WE CAN MOVE AT THE SPEED OF TRUST” featuring the voices of DeVon Nolen, Allyson Green, Melvin Giles, Timothy Page, Sairoong Brunner and Lataijah Powell More info at: https://mfjn.org/

Laura Hedlund is joined by John Peterson of Ferndale Market, a 3rd generation family turkey farm that raises free range turkeys. Order your Thanksgiving turkey today at https://ferndalemarket.com/

Part 3 of 3 of our Democracy special hosted by Laura Hedlund features:

Annastacia Belladonna-Carrera  Executive Director for Common Cause Minnesota; Lilly Sasse Director of  We Choose Us Minnesota Action and Shea Hanson ACLU Let People vote and People Power talk about election integrity and lifting up free and fair elections.

In part 2 of 3 of our Democracy special series hosted by Laura Hedlund she speaks with Shea Hansen and Bruce Klopfleisch. Bruce hosts Politics Matters with Bruce Klopfleisch Sundays at 5 PM on AM950.

This is the first episode in our three part series on protecting Democracy and highlighting the history of elections in America. Each episode will feature a variety of guests to help guide you through our electoral process.

Laura Hedlund is joined by Calvin Manduna, Senior Trade Policy Analyst IATP Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. He talks about Climate Change and the Global food system  and a new report  https://www.iatp.org/climate-change-risks-food-trade.

Laura is joined by Jeannine Davison with https://amai.earth and Sue Marshall with https://netzro.us to tackle the problems of food waste, plastics and the climate crisis one cup at a time.

Katie Puffer talks about the Monarch Festival happening this weekend. Dr Abby Gold and Laura talk about the recent report saying the majority of American Baby and Toddlers fail international nutrition and labeling standards – www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/16/16/2782

This week host Laura Hedlund speaks with Scott Gosnell, who translated On Magic by 16th century philosopher Giordano Bruno.

Description: Host Laura Hedlund plays back clips of the 2018 Governor’s forum hosted by the Farmers Union. It features then Congressman Tim Walz, a few months before he was elected Governor. Just before those clips, Laura also speaks with Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union.

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by Princess Titus, co-founder of Appetite for Change and co-author of the book Appetite for Change Soulful Recipes from a North Minneapolis Kitchen.

This week host Laura Hedlund talks about PFAS/forever chemicals with Jaydee Hanson, policy director for the Center for Food Safety

This week host Laura Hedlund is joined by Scott Elkins, executive director of the Land Stewardship project. They talk about their potluck taking place July 25 at their Minneapolis office and other topics! Learn more at landstewardshipproject.org.

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by AM950 listener Judith Sims as they speak with Leila Philip who wrote the book Beaverland.

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by Paul Lightfoot., General Manager of Patagonia Provisions. In the 2nd half of the show we welcome Jon Kreidler of Tattersall, a craft spirits distillery.

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by Jim Embry who talks about Joy and Justice.

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by Michelle Bruhn, author at Forks in the Dirt (forksinthedirt.com)

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by President of the MN Farmers Union, Gary Wertish. Learn more at: https://mfu.org

Host Laura Hedlund highlights Project Sweetie Pie (https://www.projectsweetiepie.org/) with Catherine Fleming, Laura Orland and Parker Rechsteiner. Then Laura is joined by Liz Johnson of Magus Healing Center to talk about working with plants (https://www.magusbooks.com/healing_center.asp).

Brandon Klein and  Gia Vitali  talk about  https://unitedwetransform.com   an event Tuesday May 21 at  St Paul River Center

For this week’s show we talk about Seward Coop’s CSA Fair with three guests:

Natalia Mendez with https://seward.coop

Jacob Daniel Farms with https://jacobdanielfarms.square.site

Amber Kersting with https://www.farmertofarmer.org

This week host Laura Hedlund speaks with Jose Oliva, the campaign director of HEAL (Health, Environment, Agriculture and Labor Food Alliance). https://healfoodalliance.org/

Host Laura Hedlund speaks with Maria Rodale, author of Love Nature Magic

Ed Hahn with www.nationaleaglecenter.org talks Eagle Spring Hatch happening on March 23 & March 24

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by two guests this week: Jenny Hotz of Green Earth Growers and Lois Braun, a Research Scientist in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota.

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by Mykela Jackson, owner of Keiko’s Kitchen.

This week host Laura Hedlund is joined by Liz Johnson, owner of Magus Books & Herbs!

Author of BARONS, Money, Power and the Corruption of America’s Food System https://www.austinfrerick.com on first half of the show and on the second half farmer Troy Benjegerdes and Laura talk about recent court case and EPA actions regarding Dicamba

A Cultural Corridor focused on Food in North Minneapolis!  Michael Chaney and Catherine  Fleming of https://www.projectsweetiepie.org/  talk about the  Niagara Farm/Umbuntu Gardens, NorthStar Urban Farm & Food Corridor, Big Green, People’s Garden Initiative, Foster Green, 2031 Green Global Expo

Host Laura Hedlund was joined by Carrie Elizabeth Thompson and Jade Townsend from the urban farm, The Black Radish.

Dr. Wenqing Zhang, Angie Moen with Someday Isle, Minnesota and Debbie Dekleva with Monarch flyway discuss harvesting milkweed to both make money and enhance Monarch habitat.

Host Laura Hedlund speaks with author Jenny Breen about the new “Food is Medicine report.”

Host Laura Hedlund is joined in the first half of the show by Sina Pleggenkuhle, engagement & inclusion director of the Minneapolis Farmers Market. In the second half of the show we welcome author Austin Frerick, who wrote the book, “Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry.”

Laura talks about perennial farming with Aubrey Streit Krug, Director of Perennial Cultures at the Land Institute.

Host Laura Hedlund is joined by Dan Kittredge of the Bionutrient Food Association.

Host Laura Hedlund was joined by Michael Happ of the Institute of Ag and Trade Policy (IATP) as they talk about climate change and how agriculture contributes to it.

Laura talks about carbon sequestering.

Laura is joined once again by Sue Nelson as they discuss the effects of food waste and how to reduce its impact.

“Iroquois Valley has built a portfolio of more than 110 farmland investments, impacting over 30,000 acres across 20 states. More than extractive investment, this Farmland REIT seeks to the broken food system and begin the healing process for the next generation of farmers and responsible investors. Farmer Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin shares how vital Iroquois
Valley has been in creating Tree Range Farms.”

iroquoisvalley.com treerangefarms.com/

The Hinnenkamps were not planning to start a food business. Then their child was diagnosed with Eosinophilic esophagitis – a serious food allergy. Clo Clo now offers frozen pizza good for all – Vegan, gluten-free, non-gmo and allergy-friendl. More at: https://clocloveganfoods.com/

Michelle Bruhn, co-author of Small-Scale Homesteading: A Sustainable Guide to Gardening, Keeping Chickens, Maple Sugaring, Preserving the Harvest, and More joins Laura today.

Monte returned to the show for his second appearance on October 30, 2021 with more great stories for Paul and the listeners.

This week Laura is joined by Scott Elkins of the Land Stewardship Project.

Host Laura Hedlund speaks with Minnesota state representative Brad Tabke about Minnesota’s recent legislative session.

Lucinda Winter executive director sustainable farming association  https://sfa-mn.org  and

Marjorie Hegstrom  with www.greenlandsbluewaters.org  Talk about River Days of Action

Friends of the Mississippi River, “clean water crops” food resource list:  https://fmr.org/updates/water-legislative/where-buy-food-drinks-made-clean-water-crops

River Days of Action “Universal Action” on the farm bill:  https://1mississippi.org/riverdays/#action

JOY & JUSTICE tour coming again this June. Jim Embry earned a leadership award from the James Beard Foundation in 2023 and is the owner Sustainable Communities Network.