We head out to Iowa and Indiana in search of some of the best food and agricultural tourism destinations in the Midwest. Iowa’s Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area gives visitors a chance to get up close and personal with ag, while Indiana’s Foodway Alliance offers over 20 culinary trails to explore the tastes of the Hoosier State. Our guests are Candy Welch-Streed Director of Partnerships for Iowa’s Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area and Lindsey Skeen, Executive Director of t...
Sep 26, 2022•52 min•Ep. 39
In this episode, we travel to Kansas City and St. Louis to learn about the impact of urban farming in the Midwest. We speak with Semra Fetahovic, a Program Manager at Cultivate KC , who helps train newly settled refugees to grow their own food…refugees like Ca Saw, a native of Burma, who we also meet in this episode. Then, we travel to St. Louis where we chat with Katie Houck, Urban Harvest STL 's Executive Director, who shares how her organization fights for food justice. Eat Your Heartland Out...
Aug 04, 2022•58 min•Ep. 38
We meet Ji Hye Kim, a chef who has a passion for making Korean food with a Michigan twist. As the owner of Miss Kim restaurant in Ann Arbor, Ji Hye calls upon Korean Buddhist food tradition which emphasizes using local and seasonal ingredients. Ji Hye works with local farmers to source her menu. One of those farmers is Tammie Gilfoyle of TamChop Farm . Tammie shares her journey from a desk job in California to working in the dirt in Michigan supplying restaurants like Miss Kim with produce. Tune...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 37
On this week's show, we are welcomed into the tight-knit community of hobos by a woman named Connecticut Shorty. She shares some history of the hobo lifestyle and invites us all to Britt Hobo Days , a National Hobo Convention that's been meeting annually since 1900. Plus, you guessed it: hobo stew! Eat Your Heartland Out is Powered by Simplecast .
May 26, 2022•33 min•Ep. 36
In this episode, we highlight an academic institution that integrates hands-on learning as a way to teach different facets of the food industry. Kiley Hutcheson is the Director of Retail Operations at the College of the Ozarks in Missouri, where students sell what they make in the kitchen. Join us to get a virtual tour of this unique educational experience. Eat Your Heartland Out is Powered by Simplecast ....
May 14, 2022•21 min•Ep. 35
In this episode, we are drinking in the effervescent world of Midwestern craft soda. We meet makers and purveyors of unique pop products. Mark Lazarchic, better known as Soda Pop Mark, brings us to Blue Sun Soda in Minnesota where he claims they have the largest collection of sodas in the world. Bob Hansen, owner of Spring Grove Soda , gives us a history lesson on his brand that has been around for over a century. And, Lesley Kline, founder of Kast Iron Soda , tells us how her soda fountain is h...
Apr 08, 2022•59 min•Ep. 34
Coming up on this episode, we are celebrating the ethnic and cultural diversity that makes the food of the American Midwest unique. In Champlain, Illinois, we meet Alex Sentowski and Jennifer Gunji-Ballsrud, the founders of Suzu , a Japanese bakery brings a traditional Japanese menu to a Midwest college town. Then, in Holland, Michigan, we visit with members of the local Latino community who have brought their culinary heritage to the region. Johnny Rodgriguez is the Executive Director of Latin ...
Mar 17, 2022•52 min•Ep. 33
This week on Eat Your Heartland Out, we are spotlighting the Amana Colonies in Iowa. This unique community with German roots has a surprising history and exciting future. Learn about how a communal way of living gave way to special culinary traditions and year-round festivals. Our first guest is Jon Childers, the Executive Director of the Amana Heritage Center , followed by Dana Jensen, the Event and Social Media Manager for Amana Festivals Inc . Plus, we hear a brief musical interlude from an A...
Feb 24, 2022•53 min•Ep. 32
On this episode of Eat Your Heartland Out, we meet author Peggy Wolff . Peggy is an Illinois native and editor of Fried Walleye and Cherry Pie: Midwestern Writers On Food. She shares her compelling journey into food writing and her secrets to capturing cultural stories through food. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Eat Your Heartland Out by becoming a member ! Eat Your Heartland Out is Powered by Simplecast ....
Jan 28, 2022•52 min•Ep. 31
On this week's episode, we are bringing together guests united in one mission: to empower. First we welcome Paula Haines, the CEO of Freedom a la Cart in Columbus, Ohio. She's joined by her colleague Mandie Knight, resource manager for the organization, which helps survivors of human trafficking by providing them with work experience through catering. Next, Ruth Le Friec is the lead employability tutor at Luminary Bakery in London, England. She brings us across the pond into Luminary's innovativ...
Dec 09, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 30
On this week's episode of Eat Your Heartland Out, we discuss similarities in the food histories of regions separated by oceans and borders. First we welcome journalist Samira Mohyeddin, the host of CBC's Unforked , to compare the impacts of migration on Canadian and Midwestern foodways. Then we speak with food historian Emma Kay about many centuries of evolving food culture in the British isles, and how it's similar or different from the evolution of midwestern foodways. Heritage Radio Network i...
Dec 03, 2021•52 min•Ep. 29
On today’s show, we are embracing the Bread Basket of America. Agriculture is the industry responsible for putting food on our tables. And, it’s also an economic engine for many parts of the Midwest. Ag organizations across the country support the efforts of generations of farmers to develop leadership skills, learn new industry practices and provide a sense of community. We are lucky to be joined by some great guests representing 3 of these groups. Brett Evans, a Supervised Agriculture Experien...
Oct 21, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 28
In this episode, we will meet two more leaders in the indigenous food sovereignty movement who are using food to both empower and inspire. From seed cataloguing to sustainable fishing, Indigenous persons are decolonizing their diets, preserving their traditions, and educating their non-Native neighbors about the important role food plays in all of our lives Daniel Grooms, business manager of the Red Cliff Fish Company in Wisconsin, shares how the Red Cliff band of Lake Superior Chippewa stepped ...
Aug 27, 2021•37 min•Ep. 27
We explore the business of food tours and what they have to offer to both locals and visitors alike. And, It’s not just the big cities that offer unique culinary tours. We visit with hosts from Oskaloosa Food Tours (Iowa), Madison Eats Food Tours (Wisconsin) and Sioux Falls Food Tours (South Dakota) who take pride in showcasing the flavors of their regions. Hear what inspired these women to start their food tour companies, and how they design each experience to highlight the best cuisine of thei...
Aug 19, 2021•51 min•Ep. 26
Today we are celebrating the spirit of summer through the time-honored tradition of county and state fairs. There is nothing quite as American, or Midwestern for that matter, than the county fair. On today’s show we're pleased to welcome Marla Calico, President & CEO of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions , who discusses the history behind the agricultural fair and how fairs have both changed and stayed the same over the years. Then you'll meet Carol Kratz & Drake Hoka...
Aug 05, 2021•54 min•Ep. 25
In this episode, we meet refugee chefs who now call the United States their home. In Milwaukee, Tables Across Borders brings the community together through food with a variety of events that spotlight the talents of refugee chefs. In Missoula, Montana, we meet the founder of Soft Landing Missoula , an organization that supports refugees through their United We Eat program. And, we learn about the work of Home Dish , an organization in Omaha, Nebraska that is empowering refugee women through culi...
Jul 09, 2021•53 min•Ep. 24
In this episode, we explore how community fridges, pantries and even ovens are helping address food insecurity across the Midwest. These concepts have popped up in larger cities on the coasts, but are also present in cities and towns big and small in the Midwest. Unsurprisingly, Chicago is leading the way on community fridges. In the Windy City, the Love Fridge brings communities together through mutual aid, placing refrigerators in areas struggling with food apartheid. In Minnesota, we explore ...
Jun 18, 2021•53 min•Ep. 23
In this episode, we meet some pioneers of the “pay what you can” café movement throughout the Midwest. In South Dakota, we visit Fork Real Community Café, where local lawyers dine along side the homeless. In Ohio, we head to Fennel and Thyme Café, a meal prep business committed to paying it forward to those in need. And, out in Grand Rapids, Iowa we visit Groundswell Cafe, an initiative of a local non profit organization helping feed people with dignity. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supp...
Apr 30, 2021•47 min•Ep. 22
If you have ever wanted to learn more about the food and culture of the Ozarks, today’s show is for you. We are joined by Rob Connoley, founder of Bulrush in Missouri. Rob will tell us about his journey from non-profit professional to restaurant owner and how his search for authenticity inspired his unique approach to designing menus and educating diners in the process. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Eat Your Heartland Out by becoming a member !...
Apr 03, 2021•51 min•Ep. 21
Fat Tuesday and Friday fish fries are well-known food traditions of the Lenten season. In this episode, we go beyond the usual Lenten staples to explore some tasty and maybe surprising Lenten dishes. In Missouri, beaver is served instead of fish on Fridays. Brenton Brown of Bootleggin' BBQ tells us why. Lana Yeager of the Russia House of Kansas City introduces us to the Russian Orthodox celebration of Maslenitsa, where pancakes take center stage. Finally, we head to Polish Home Omaha where Tom J...
Mar 27, 2021•36 min•Ep. 20
Mead is an often overlooked and misunderstood drink. But, in recent years, it has grown in popularity, especially in the Midwest. Mead makers come to the craft from a variety of backgrounds. On today’s show we will meet Kent Waldeck , a former manufacturing project manager who took his Ohio mead making business full time. In Wisconsin, we are introduced to Colleen Bos, who has two master’s degrees in Medieval History and plays in a bluegrass band. She’s also the founder of Bos Meadery that blend...
Mar 20, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 19
On this episode, we are celebrating the maple harvest. In early March, communities across the Midwest come together to share the natural bounty of the maple syrup harvest. Driving tours and festivals connect curious consumers with maple makers who open their sugar houses for all who want to visit. We are taking our own virtual maple tour, making stops at Butternut Maple Farm in Ohio and Maplewood Farms in Indiana to Michigan's Currey Maple Farms . Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported n...
Mar 12, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 18
We travel to Kansas where the wine industry is growing. We will meet Jeff Sollo, owner of Grace Hill Winery near Wichita who will tell us about a hobby grew into producing some of the most popular wines in the Midwest. Linda Skellenger tells us how wine is just not for drinking as she introduces us to her line of Uncorked Wine Jelly . Patty Held, the President of the Hermann Wine Trail in Missouri explores how tourism boosts the wine industry in the Heartland. Heritage Radio Network is a listene...
Mar 05, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 17
On today’s show, we will meet a trio of craft spirit makers that are as unique as the drinks they produce. Nick Nagle brings us to Whiskey Acres , an Illinois-based farm that harvests grain and, as the name suggests, makes it into whiskey. We will travel from Illinois to Michigan to visit with Michael Garyet who is bringing craft spirits to the beer town of Lansing at American Fifth Spirits . Finally, we will chat with Rick Schneider, founder of Isanti Spirits in Minnesota, who’s “punk rock etho...
Feb 19, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 16
In this hour, we are drinking our way through the Midwest starting with hard cider. Our guests introduce us to the multifaceted world of cider making. We will visit with John Behrens, President of the Michigan Cider Association who will provide us with a primer on the Midwestern cider scene, Deirdre Birmingham, the woman behind The Cider Farm in Wisconsin. She will tell us about her orchard-to-glass approach to cider making. And, we will meet Walker Fanning, a young cider maker also from Wiscons...
Feb 12, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 15
Eat Your Heartland is back for Season 2. In our first episode of the new season, Capri is joined by author Jeanette Hurt . Jeanette has written 12 books about food and drink including Wisconsin Cocktails and The Joy of Cider: All You Ever Wanted To Know About Making and Drinking Hard Cider . Jeanette introduces us to unique Midwestern drinks such as the Wisconsin Old Fashioned and the ice cream cocktail. She also shares her knowledge of cider making and cider pairing. Heritage Radio Network is a...
Feb 04, 2021•53 min•Ep. 14
The show will be back with Season 2 in January, but in the meantime, enjoy this bonus episode about how baking can bring communities together. Meet Rose McGee, the founder of the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie project that uses pie to start meaningful conversations about social justice. And, hear from Val Lucks, the founder of the Great Midwestern Pie Contest , a competition that lifts spirits while encouraging creativity. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Suppo...
Dec 19, 2020•49 min•Ep. 13
Restauranteurs Alberto Denegri and Farxaan Jeyte joined forces to bring Peruvian and Somali food to the residents of Columbus, Ohio. Listen to them tell the story of how traditional dishes of Peruvian roasted chicken and Somali camel became popular in this Midwestern college town. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Eat Your Heartland Out by becoming a member ! Eat Your Heartland Out is Powered by Simplecast ....
Sep 14, 2020•27 min•Ep. 12
Shauna Sever , author of Midwest Made, shares her insights into the philosophy of Midwestern baking. Journalist Salena Zito tells the story of the Midwestern Cookie Table tradition and her own personal experience making hundreds of cookies for her own daughter's wedding. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Eat Your Heartland Out by becoming a member ! Eat Your Heartland Out is Powered by Simplecast....
Aug 27, 2020•40 min•Ep. 11
The journey through the Midwest's rich ethnic flavors continues as host Capri S. Cafaro is joined by two guests who share their own personal experiences of bringing different Middle Eastern food traditions to America's Heartland. Folklorist Chrissy Widmayer brings her family's Chaldean-American story to life through food while Nick Srour tells our listeners about the Lebanese-American food experience in Kansas. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Eat...
Aug 20, 2020•39 min•Ep. 10
