When describing a kitchen in a western society, one of the first things you’d think of is the fridge. But can we live without refrigerators? Why should we even consider it? What are other ways to preserve food and drinks? Today we talk about something a bit special regarding a Slow lifestyle: have you ever thought you can live without a refrigerator? Sandro and Emma, in Italy, gave it a try for a period of time. Also Bashir in Karamoja, Uganda has grown up and lives in a community where having a...
Jun 21, 2025•33 min•Season 6Ep. 7
In this episode of the Slow Food podcast, we talk about modern slavery in the food chain. From exploited seasonal workers in Italy’s tomato fields to the global cacao market, we dig into how injustice hides in plain sight. We hear from Manlio Larotonda, an Italian gastronome and alumnus of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, who moved to Colombia to start a more just and transparent cacao project. And from Giulia Gianguzza, who works directly with migrant workers in Sicily. This ...
May 30, 2025•42 min•Season 6Ep. 6
How can we eat in a sustainable way at home? Do we need to come to compromises when we have small children? Does eating well always mean spending more money? And how can we introduce more plants into our daily meals? I am very excited to introduce you to the guests of the podcast of today: Chiara and Nicholas, young parents who will share with us how they live in a Slow lifestyle with a daughter of 4 and one about to come and Maria Camila, from @Maca_bites who will give us some practical tips on...
May 10, 2025•39 min•Season 6Ep. 5
How does fermentation prevent food from getting spoiled? Is fermentation always safe? What are some practical tips to start fermenting for the first time? Since April 26th is World Disco Soup Day, our biggest campaign to reduce food waste all over the world, In today’s episode we want to deepen one of the methods that can help us save our food. I am talking about fermentation and today we have the pleasure to chat about it with some fermentation experts from the Slow Food movement. This podcast ...
Apr 22, 2025•29 min•Season 6Ep. 4
In this new episode of Slow Food, the Podcast, we’re talking about how to cook from scratch. Valentina Gritti and Addison Austin-Lou sit down with Bob Dickinson (@fromscratchwithbob), a digital creator focussing on conscious consumption and whole food and journalist Michael Moss to share real, practical tips on how to stay away from processed foods. If you’re trying to eat better and slow down your life, this one’s for you! JOIN PLANTING THE FUTURE: https://ig.me/j/AbZhBdCs9GKVkN_i/?igsh=MTFwYnV...
Apr 04, 2025•28 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Do you really need to spend a lot to eat well? Or is it possible to eat good, clean, and fair food without going over budget? In this new episode of Slow Food, the Podcast, we’re talking about how to eat Slow without spending a fortune. Valentina Gritti and Addison Austin-Lou sit down with Guusje Weeber communication manager of SFYN Netherlands and journalist Michael Moss to share real, practical tips on how to shop smarter, waste less, and make the most of what’s in season. If you’re trying to ...
Mar 28, 2025•25 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Eating sustainably in a big city sounds impossible, right? What if we told you it’s not — and that ancient floating farms might be the answer? In our latest episode, we grab coffee with food activist Raúl Mondragón to chat about: Chinampas: 1,000-year-old floating farms still feeding Mexico City; why local vendors sometimes skip local food for cheaper options across town; easy ways YOU can support sustainable food without leaving your neighborhood. If you’ve ever wondered how to eat Slow in a fa...
Mar 11, 2025•34 min•Season 6Ep. 1
In the EU there are a whole host of pesticides that are banned for being too hazardous, either to human health or the environment or both. This means that they cannot be used here. But did you know that these are still produced on EU soil and then exported to other countries, and did you know that the food produced from those pesticides is than imported back into the EU and ends up on our plates? Let’s dive into this, join our final episode of the year with our guests: Mathilde Dupré, co-directo...
Dec 31, 2024•41 min•Season 5Ep. 17
How can we make our celebrations more sustainable without losing the festive vibe? What about decorations, presents, fireworks and food? And finally, shall we think about a slow lifestyle as a new year’s resolution? We are getting closer to the end of the year and big celebrations are about to begin. In today’s episode I will hold a conversation with my colleagues from the Slow Food Youth Network office, Jorrit Kiewik and Elena Lucchiari, on how we can make our celebrations and holidays more Slo...
Dec 18, 2024•59 min•Season 5Ep. 16
Biodiversity is the foundation of life on Earth, yet it's disappearing at an alarming rate—with habitats fragmented and up to a million species at risk. Agriculture is a key driver of this crisis, but is it a central focus in global biodiversity solutions? In this episode, we delve into the recent United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, with insights from experts who were on the ground. Was there an agri-food flavor to the discussions? What were the key takeaways, and did this ...
Dec 11, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 15
What choices lie behind the food we eat in our public canteens, in our schools, hospitals, retirement homes and workplaces? And how can we ensure that the healthiest, most sustainable options end up on our public plates? In this episode, agrifood journalist Natasha Foote talks you through the world of public procurement, with the help of: Peter Defrancheschi – Head of the ICLEI Brussels office Renata Lukasova – Slow Food member, hospitality expert and director of food catering helping to run sch...
Nov 14, 2024•36 min•Season 5Ep. 14
“Slow Food Goes Brussels” is back, and there’s a new voice behind the mic! Meet Natasha Foote, an agrifood journalist, ready to guide you through the hottest debates in the EU food world. In this month’s episode, we dive into: What’s been brewing over the summer The big challenges EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will face in her second term How the new shape of the European Parliament will affect future policies The buzz around the strategic dialogue on agriculture that everyone is ...
Sep 23, 2024•41 min•Season 5Ep. 13
Can a farm be Slow? And could it also be a tool for activism and political change? In this episode, we explore the amazing potential of Slow Food Farms—a new program that’s helping transition our food systems toward sustainability through agroecology. Join us as we chat with changemakers from Mexico, Uganda, and Sweden who are working to make the world of food good, clean, and fair for everyone. Whether you’re a farmer or just passionate about sustainable food, this episode is for YOU! Host &...
Sep 13, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 12
Which books can inspire us to cook and to think? What are great reading suggestions for this summer? This episode is the second part of the episode we published last Wednesday with a lot of reading suggestions for your summer holidays. Also today we are going to listen to reading tips from activists and leaders in the Slow food movement and again, I am going to add time-stamps below so that if you want, you can directly jump to the suggestion you are interested in. So enjoy this episode and enjo...
Aug 07, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 11
Which books can inspire us to cook and to think? What are great reading suggestions for this summer? Today's episode is all about reading suggestions for your summer holidays which we got from activists and leaders in the Slow food movement. This episode is split in two, because we received a lot of super interesting suggestions and I personally didn’t want to cut out any of them. Enjoy this episode and enjoy reading! Host & production: Valentina Gritti; Guests: Elena Lucchiari (Slow Food Yo...
Jul 31, 2024•38 min•Season 5Ep. 10
How can we re-establish and reinforce the relationship between humans and nature? What is the role of food in this? Can a better relationship with nature help us tackle the climate crises? Why shall we tell the stories of communities preserving nature? In today's episode we’ll look at why and how we should reconnect with nature. We’ll have a special eye on agroecology and biodiversity preservation and we’ll get to know some examples from communities who live in harmony with their natural surroun...
Jul 09, 2024•19 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Which pedagogical tools can help reconnect children to nature? How can schools, teachers and parents take action to change the current educational systems? What are the effects of food education on our kids? In today's episode we’ll look at different educational instruments, which can help children reconnect with food and nature, in particular in schools. Host & production: Valentina Gritti Guests: Barbara Nappini (SF Italy president), Ai Onodera (co-Director of SOKKA, Ocean & Forest Sch...
Jun 19, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 8
What is going on with the Common Agricultural Policy in Europe? What is the simplification package and what were the hidden reasons behind it? Can we afford to put environmental protection measures aside in this moment of history? This episode is part of the series Slow Food Goes Brussels, where we dissect the political debates linked to the greatest challenges food and agriculture are facing. In the previous episode of this series we explained why farmers were protesting in the beginning of the...
May 15, 2024•39 min•Season 5Ep. 7
How can we transition our local food system? Can grassroots projects influence policy on a higher level? What are key elements for a successful community initiative? In today's episode I am going to tell you some stories of change. Stories of impactful grassroots initiatives that are boosting food system transition in different aspects. A couple of weeks ago I was in Italy, in Cella Monte, for the project Shared Green Deal. A European project which aims to study from a social perspective the imp...
Apr 10, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In the past months, farmers have been protesting all over Europe. They're marching and driving tractors through city streets. But sadly, what's happening follows a pattern we see often. A serious protest, born out of real struggles, is being made to seem less important. It's being turned into a fight between farmers and environmentalists, or farmers and the European Union. And some people are using it for their own gain, like trying to win votes or protect their own interests. Today, we'll talk ...
Mar 13, 2024•33 min•Season 5Ep. 5
How can cooks be of influence? What are practical tips for students to get their friends to take action? How can we generate change from a rural community? And finally, how can YOU get involved with your local food policy? In today's episode we will learn how take action towards a sustainable food future in many ways. We’ll listen to different perspectives and get super practical tips. This podcast is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future challenge, in which we take a deep ...
Feb 21, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 4
In today's episode we will learn what agroecology is, how it applies to agriculture, to fishing and regenerative animal farming and we will also get some practical tips on how we can find agroecological products and be part of the change... This podcast is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future challenge ( https://plantingthefuture.slowfood.com/ ) Host and production: Valentina Gritti Guests: Moreen Ankunda (Slow Food Uganda), Matheus Sborgia (Regenerative Cattle Farmer at T...
Feb 14, 2024•52 min•Season 5Ep. 3
What’s the difference between beans and pulses? Is it bad to eat canned beans? How is Polish independence linked to the beans from the town of Lamim in Brazil? This episode is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future Challenge, in which we take a deep dive into our food system and its challenges, get inspired to cook up plant-rich meals, learn about agroecology as a solution and get into action! For more information on the challenge and to sign up, visit www.plantingthefuture....
Feb 07, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Is there such a thing as an ideal diet? Is there a place for animal proteins in a climate friendly diet? How can we effectively change the way we eat and make sure this becomes a new habit that persists in time? This podcast is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future Challenge, in which we take a deep dive into our food system and its challenges, get inspired to cook up plant-rich meals, learn about agroecology as a solution and get into action! For more information on the ch...
Jan 31, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Last podcast of the year: a great way to catch up with European advocacy highlights of 2023 and what to expect in 2024! Between 6–9 June 2024, millions of Europeans will participate in shaping the future of European democracy on the occasion of the European elections. It is a unique moment when people of 28 European countries collectively decide on the future of the European Union. Why does it matter from the food movement point of view? Host: Valentina Gritti Guests: Madeleine Coste, Slow Food ...
Dec 20, 2023•37 min•Season 4Ep. 15
COP 28 has just begun. The attention of all those who care about the climate crisis and work to influence governments and institutions to adopt effective mitigation and adaptation measures have their eyes on Dubai. It is the first COP held since the full release of the latest update in March 2023 of the 6th Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC). This report summarises and synthesises the most up-to-date climate science and provides the best scientific basi...
Nov 30, 2023•41 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Why is it important to be activists? Why shall we raise our voices before COP28? How can we live in a more climate friendly way? Does it make sense to talk about the climate crises now, while so many horrors are happening around the world? In this episode I will have a conversation with Elena Lucchiari, the Flash COP campaign manager at Slow Food Youth Network. Elena is a young Italian activist with a background in international development studies. The second guest of today is Shane Holland, Ex...
Nov 22, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 13
We are going to focus our conversation on Greenwashing: what is it exactly? Who is behind it? How does it work and what can we do to face it? I am delighted to carry out today's discussion with two experts on the topic of Greenwashing. Hazel Healy is DeSmog's UK Editor. She is also a freelance writer and broadcaster specializing in stories about food justice, climate and migration. Hazel recently published together with Rachel Sherrington the article “ A Guide to Six Greenwashing Terms Big Ag Is...
Nov 01, 2023•34 min•Season 4Ep. 12
What are indigenous peoples' traditional foods? And why are they so important? What does it mean that they are still being colonized and is it possible to decolonize these foods? what can we do in our daily lives to support indigenous peoples and if we belong to an indigenous people how can we support our community? Today I will have a conversation with Luis Francisco Prieto, Indigenous Peoples and Afrodescendant Focal Point at Slow Food International, with a special focus on the topic of food d...
Oct 18, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 11
What is a fair coffee? How do we know if our coffee tastes good? What is the best way to preserve coffee and to prepare it? But first of all, which tips can we follow to buy our coffee? Today I will have a conversation with Silvia Rota, one of the coordinators of the Slow Food Coffee Coalition and this episode is dedicated to all of us who not only want to make more conscious choices, but also want to participate in building a sustainable and ethical coffee industry by taking small steps towards...
Oct 01, 2023•38 min•Season 4Ep. 10
