In this episode, Venus Kalami shares her journey as a pediatric dietitian, the importance of cultural humility, and why dietitians of color are vital in pediatric nutrition. We explore career growth, respect, money, and how to avoid burnout while building inclusive practices. Tune in for insights on equity, advocacy, and finding joy in your work. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Venus’s journey from middle school inspiration to pediatric dietitian (00:00) → How a story from her mother and earl...
Jun 18, 2025•55 min•Season 4Ep. 10
What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Journey from Mentorship to Partnership (00:00) How Alissa and Jasmine went from mentor/mentee to long-term collaborators. Why Dietitians Should Embrace Collaboration (06:30) The impact of working together instead of competing in a saturated field. Justice-Informed Approaches in Nutrition (12:15) How Alissa and Jasmine integrate equity pricing and scholarship models into their work. Breaking the Scarcity Mindset in Dietetics (18:45) Why collaboration creates...
Jun 05, 2025•44 min•Season 4Ep. 9
In this episode of Feed Me The Facts , Deanna sits down with Greg LaFortune, a Registered Dietitian and private practice owner, to talk about his leap into entrepreneurship, the challenges of building a business, and his mission to make nutrition accessible—especially for men. Greg shares his inspiring journey from a type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 11 to owning his own insurance-based private practice, Optimal Plan Nutrition, LLC. Whether you’re considering private practice or just love a good ...
Mar 10, 2025•38 min•Season 4Ep. 8
In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, Deanna sits down with Tamara Melton and Deja Ivy to discuss the decision to sunset the Diversify Dietetics Internship Program. They explore the program's origin, challenges in maintaining funding, and the impact of changing DEI priorities. While it’s bittersweet to end the internship, the conversation highlights new initiatives aimed at supporting a more diverse and supportive field of dietetics. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Origins of the DD Internshi...
Feb 19, 2025•37 min•Season 4Ep. 7
In this episode of Feed Me the Facts , we sit down with Dr. Navika Gangrade, a visiting assistant professor at NYU and registered dietitian, to unpack the journey of pursuing a PhD in nutrition. We discuss her experiences navigating academia as a woman of color, the financial realities of graduate school, and the power of research to drive real-world change. If you’ve ever considered academia, research, or even wondered about the impact of a PhD in dietetics, this conversation is for you! What Y...
Jan 30, 2025•45 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In this episode of Feed Me the Facts , we sit down with Jenny Westerkamp, founder of All Access Dietetics and All Access Dietitians. Jenny shares her incredible journey from launching her first business as a college senior to working as a dietitian for professional sports teams like the Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, and Cubs. She opens up about creating innovative solutions for future RDs, improving access to nutrition care, and why private practice is the future of dietetics. What You’ll Learn in ...
Jan 13, 2025•42 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Luis Gonzalez, an RDN and account manager at Eat Well Global. Luis shares his journey through food service management, his discovery of media-based opportunities, and how he combines creativity with science to make a broader impact. We also explore the importance of increasing diversity in this space and how dietitians of color can amplify their voices. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: - Luis’s career journey from food service director to ...
Dec 16, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Episode Summary: In this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we sit down with Luis Gonzalez, an RDN and account manager at Eat Well Global. Luis shares his journey through food service management, his discovery of media-based opportunities, and how he combines creativity with science to make a broader impact. We also explore the importance of increasing diversity in this space and how dietitians of color can amplify their voices. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: - Luis’s career journey from food ser...
Nov 14, 2024•39 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this episode, DD Co-founders Deanna Lewis and Tamara Melton sit down with trailblazing dietitians Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones, founders of Diabetes Digital. They discuss their inspiring pivot from Food Heaven, a beloved 12 year brand, to their new company focusing on insurance covered, culturally inclusive diabetes care. Learn how they’ve navigated change, tackled burnout, and continued to trailblaze in the world of dietetics. Tune in for insights on scaling a business, advocating for diver...
Oct 24, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Join co-host and dietitians Deanna Belleny Lewis and Danielle Sanders as they talk about what's new for the Diversify Dietetics podcast. This podcast is dedicated to representation and inspiration for students and professionals of color pursuing careers in nutrition and dietetics. Every episode, we’ll bring you expert insights, the latest trends and personal stories that inspire. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro, this is your space to learn, grow, and connect.
Oct 03, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Jul 19, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 2
On this first episode of Season 3, we talk with two members of our DD Community: Drs. Kate Burt and Shelly Debiasse. They, along with their colleague Dr. Zubaida Qamar have launched a new project called #InclusiveDietetics, a group on Facebook aimed to increase the awareness about the lack of diversity in the dietetics profession. In this group, they will share important information about diversity and inclusion in general and on topics relevant to facilitating a more diverse and inclusive profe...
Jan 24, 2020•37 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Can you tell we’re excited about the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo aka FNCE? As the final hours tick away the Diversify Dietetics co-founders talk about where DD will be during the 4 day conference, what their most looking forward to and notable events that you don’t want to miss.
Oct 24, 2019•20 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Are you a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics? As the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals we are rightfully invested in what Diversity and leadership looks like in this professional organization. In 2015 the Academy released its first Diversity Strategic Plan along with a handful of other Diversity Initiatives. One key objective of this strategic plan is “to establish strong diversity efforts at all levels of Academy leadership”. So how do we make sure t...
Oct 22, 2019•36 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Did you first fall in love with nutrition because you were an athlete in high school or college? Or maybe while you were training for a marathon? Lots of folks make their way to dietetics because of their own experience with learning more about nutrition to support their fitness goals. Some RDstoBE and even RDs in other areas of practice are curious about specializing in this area of practice. At the same time, many college and professional sports teams now have an RDN on staff to provide sports...
Oct 10, 2019•59 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Starla Garcia aka @starla_shines graciously shares her story about how being a eating disorder(ED) survivor has helped her become a better ED Dietitian to Latina patients and why more Latinx dietitians are needed in pediatrics, women’s health, and diabetes education. Today goes into detail on her pathway, her career, her story and how she continues to shine.
Oct 03, 2019•37 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Let’s face it, when you’re on the nutrition educational pathway it can sometimes feel like your options are RDN or bust, but we don’t just need diverse dietitians we need diverse nutrition professionals across the board. Today’s Feed Me the Facts guest is here to tell you there’s more than one way to excel in the field of nutrition even without the RD credential. Sabrina Bauggue talks about her new role as the Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition at Emory University Hospital and the process ...
Sep 19, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 6
If we had a penny for every time an RDN complained that we don’t get paid as much as other allied health disciplines… The idea that low pay is a given if you want to work in dietetics is also sometimes the reason why students of color decide to pursue other pathways besides dietetics, so it was a topic we definitely wanted to discuss! Some people blame the lowers salaries on the fact that we are female-dominated profession, while others attribute the lower pay to less than energetic lobbying on ...
Sep 12, 2019•43 min•Season 2Ep. 5
On this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we talk with a dynamic mentor/preceptor/leader in the field of nutrition, Jerlyn Jones. She talks with us about what it takes to be a mentor both formally and informally and how her duty to give back to the future of dietetics has positioned her to be an impactful mentor in the field.
Sep 05, 2019•56 min•Season 2Ep. 4
As a military wife in a new city, a mother,a first generation college student and #rd2be, Darah Matos jumped into the Diversify Dietetics pilot mentor program feet first and made a splash! On this episode of Feed Me the Facts, Darah shares how she made the mentor program experience her own and talks about the process and perks of having a mentor.
Aug 29, 2019•30 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Matt Frakes was not exactly what you would call an ideal dietetics student. He was a first-generation college student, had a low ACT score and struggled in his intro to nutrition course. But Matt didn't let those obstacles slow him down. In this episode Matt describes what strategies he used to overcome every obstacle and how he got to where he is today- a Ph.D. candidate and sports dietitian.
Aug 22, 2019•38 sec•Season 2Ep. 2
We’ve seen the letters DTR/NDTR but what exactly do they mean? What is the job outlook for a Dietetic Technician and how is the process similar or different from becoming an RDN? Dietetic Technicians (DTR/NDTR), as our guest Candice Jones describes, are the Watson to the RD’s Sherlock Holmes, the Robin to Batman, the C3PO to R2D2 (I think you get the point). They bring a complementary set of skills that are key to the profession, as well as to patients and clients. As the Dietetic Technology Pro...
Aug 15, 2019•45 min•Season 2Ep. 1
There are so many interesting career paths you can take in the world of nutrition and dietetics. This journey typically begins with finding an interest and that interest can turn into a passion. But, what happens when you have multiple passions? Is it possible to pursue all of them and maintain sanity as well as joy in your every day work? On this episode, we talk with Alice Figueroa, a registered dietitian who is pursuing her passions in malnutrition research, global health advocacy, diabetes p...
Feb 22, 2019•41 min•Season 1Ep. 8
What does it take to transition from another career, become an RDN and then take the leap to building your own private practice? On this SNACKS episode we chat with Basheerah Enahora, owner of BE Nutrition, a private practice based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Basheerah describes how she transitioned from a successful decade long career in the food marketing industry, juggled a full-time job and attended graduate school to achieve her dream of becoming an RDN. She describes how she managed her ...
Feb 15, 2019•37 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Second career and Non-Traditional Students enter the field with a unique set of skills and experiences that set them apart from their colleagues. On the other hand, it can be challenging to deal with the rigor of the educational pathway on top of being the first in your family to go to college or having a family of your own, or being a decade older than all the students around you. As a second career or non-traditional student you have a different perspective. To hear more about that perspective...
Feb 07, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 6
DICAS… the sound of that acronym can cause so much anxiety for dietetics students! We feel you, and know where you’re coming from. But the whole reason the DD Community exists is to help you get through, over or around anxiety in the whole RDN experience. We believe the more knowledge, prep and inside info that you have about the DICAS application, the less anxiety-ridden the whole process has to be. So on this episode of FMTF, we went straight to the source to get details on how DICAS applicant...
Jan 28, 2019•40 min•Season 1Ep. 5
On this episode, we talk with Trinique Stallings RDN. Trinique is a registered dietitian living and working in Philedelphia. She attended La Salle University and graduated two years ago from their Coordinated Program. Following the program she encountered obstacles in getting her first job, causing her to question her place in the field. Trinique talks to us about life after the dietetic internship, how she overcame questions around belonging and what she learned about shifting careers in the fi...
Jan 17, 2019•17 min•Season 1Ep. 4
We are excited to announce a new feature of Feed Me the Facts podcast- our SNACKS episodes! SNACKS episodes will feature guests and topics that are of special interest to you, the RDN Professional of Color. Have you been thinking of starting your own nutrition business on the side in 2019? In our first SNACKS FMTF episode we are talking about "Starting a Side Hustle" with Kim Rose, RDN. Kim talks about how starting a side hustle wasn't even on her radar at all, but how she has embraced this new ...
Dec 17, 2018•32 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Have you ever been told, “you speak so well!” or asked, “but, where are you really from?” In this episode Deanna Belleny Lewis and Tamara Melton, the co-founders of Diversify Dietetics talk about microaggressions. What are they, how do we deal with them, and how do they impact the future of dietetics? Tamara and Deanna reflect on personal experiences both in the classroom and in their careers, then discuss the resources and research available for the Diversify Dietetics community.
Dec 07, 2018•22 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In our FIRST podcast episode we talk about what students should do before, during and after a dietetic internship (or any academic) open house to figure out if the program is a good fit and to make a good impression on the program director and other faculty. Our guest, Hannah Thornton, is a clinical assistant professor and dietetic internship director at Texas State University. Hannah and Tamara discuss things that students do (or don't do) that can affect their chances of getting accepted to a ...
Nov 25, 2018•42 min•Season 1Ep. 1
