Welcome to Let’s Talk About Food.
I’m the founder, Louisa Kasdon. In 2010, I started an organization with a clunky sounding name and a simple goal: to engage people of all ages in the conversation about food.
I didn’t care if the hot topic for any one individual was sustainability or urban farming; obesity, school food, food labeling; home cooking, or even just the joy of eating. I figured that if you could connect each person with a food passion, that passion could eventually be turned into action. Let’s Talk About Food has morphed from my little do-good idea to a city-wide umbrella organization that presents educational events in partnership with universities, museums, libraries, hospitals, cities and towns, cooking schools, trade organizations, science festivals and a host of other non-profits. Most recently, we launched the podcast: Let’s Talk About Food feautred on Heritage Radio Network, listen to the trailer here>>
Where It Started
It all began with a press screening of the documentary, Food, Inc. When the film came out, I yippie-d at the preview. As the food editor of the Boston Phoenix and former restaurant owner, I was convinced that Food, Inc. would be the trigger for an energetic conversation. I wrote a glowing review. But at the time no one wanted to see the movie. With help from food friends, we put together a screening at the Boston’s Museum of Science for the food community–chefs, nutritionists, academics, people from the public sector and basically anyone else in our contact lists. The response was overwhelming. An auditorium filled at 2 PM on a Tuesday afternoon, with 200 more on the waiting list, shocked me and the staff at the museum. I knew I was on to something.
Let’s Talk About Food was born. Since that first event, we’ve partnered with the Museum of Science, Harvard Law School, Chefs Collaborative, the New England Aquarium, the City of Boston and the City of Cambridge and many more to bring experts and the public together, most notably at a public festival which brought 10,000 people out in a summer rainstorm. I am proud of what I’ve accomplished. But here’s the point: I didn’t do it alone. I reached out to everyone I knew and asked them to help. By asking organizations, experts, volunteers to do what they do best and most easily, I was able to put together the blueprint for a community conversation around food. With passion, a playbook and plenty of good partners, you can spark a food revolution in your own town (even with a non-existent pocketbook). Through the simple act of public conversation, we can change the future of food in our country–one city at a time.
Our Team
LOUISA KASDON
Louisa Kasdon is the CEO and Founder of Let’s Talk About Food. In this capacity, Louisa has created over 50 food and health based public events in Boston that bring the public and experts together to deepen their understanding of the role of food in our world. Her producing partner is the Boston Globe, and institutional partners include the Museum of Science, Harvard University, the New England Aquarium, Project Bread, Northeastern University, the Boston Public Library, and the Harvard/MIT Broad Center and the Cambridge Science Festival among others. Louisa is also a Boston based-journalist with over 500 published articles and several books on food, business and health for national, regional, and international publications. Kasdon was the food editor of the Boston Phoenix for 15 years, and a senior editor at Natural Health and Boston Magazine.
ANNIE B. COPPS
Annie B. Copps is a Boston-based chef, cooking instructor, international culinary tour guide, journalist, and food activist with more than 30 years of experience in the local and international food, travel, and public health arenas.
Annie has built her life and career around her passion for food, wine, and travel. For nearly three decades, she has worked in the international public health field and as a chef, magazine editor, television and radio show host and guest, food stylist, television producer, speaker, and consultant. Annie recently returned to Boston after four years traveling around the world teaching cooking classes and leading culinary tours in exotic locales. She currently works as a culinary instructor; program manager; freelance food, wine, and travel writer; restaurant consultant; and radio program host (WBZ AM1030 “Connoisseur’s Corner”).
Rachel Gotbaum, Senior Editor
Rachel is a national award-winning public broadcast and multi-platform journalist, adept at producing all genres of audio journalism, including documentary, investigative, news features, live show segments, web content and breaking news. A multi-platform journalist for over 25 years, Rachel has done extensive work both nationally for NPR, and regionally for WBUR, Boston's NPR station. As a special correspondent, she reported and produced a special series and documentaries syndicated to NPR affiliates including features on Alzheimer's, End of life Care, and healthcare access issues. She also has a deep and abiding love for all things food. Rachel lives in New Hampshire but is at home anywhere in the world.
Sherry McAdams, Let’s Talk About Food Deputy Director and Webmaster
Sherry McAdams is the owner of Go2Eleven coaching and McAdams Creative Management. With over two decades of experience in the music business providing strategic development and support for creative people and projects, she now offers that same support and insight to organizations and individuals seeking to define and realize their highest potential. In addition to her coaching and creative consulting, Sherry is a certified yoga instructor, meditator and reiki practitioner. An avid traveler (in the before times) and a lover of delicious foods, she is delighted to be a part of the Let’s Talk About Food family.
Michael Moss, Technical Director and Composer
Michael has had many gigs in the music industry, from criss-crossing the country with cover rock bands to playing with the Cab Calloway Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, as part of the tours he did with the legendary artist during his last 7 years of touring. He has also played with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Big Apple Circus, The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, and jazz artist Gil Evans. Michael holds an Masters in Music from New England Conservatory and is a professor at the Berklee College of Music and the owner of Soundscape Productions. He has written music and been technical director for over 120 audiobooks, including three Grammy nominees. In this capacity he has worked with Robin Williams, Liam Neeson, James Earl Jones, John Krasinski, David Sedaris and many others. He lives in Boston with his wife and son.
Our Partners
The Let’s Talk About Food podcast is supported by The Hunger to Health Collaboratory, a cross-sector leadership initiative dedicated to reducing the health consequences of hunger. With generous support from Stop & Shop,Hunger to Health Collaboratory convenes partners across sectors to advocate for health equity and food security. For more information, visit www.hungertohealthcollaboratory.org
We are proud to be a member of the Heritage Radio family! Heritage Radio Network is a nonprofit organization, driving conversations to make the world a better, fairer, more delicious place. And we couldn't do it without support from listeners like you. Want to be a part of the food world's most innovative community? Subscribe to the shows you like, tell your friends, and please, join the HRN family by becoming a member. Just click on the beating heart at the top right of our homepage. Thanks for listening! www.heritagereadionetwork.org
Today we introduce our Let’s Talk About Food Podcast. It’s a first-person storytelling podcast where food plays a pivotal if not a starring role! Click here to have a listen!
Going into our 5th year, The Readable Feast is a regionwide celebration of New England’s culinary books and their authors.
For more than a decade, Let’s Talk About Food has been working to educate and engage our community around all aspects of food with festivals and events––big and small!
Let’s stay in touch!