What happens when a chef goes beyond the kitchen and into the policy rooms, fishing boats, and oyster beds? In this episode of One Bite is Everything, Dana DiPrima sits down with Chef Kerry Heffernan of Grand Banks to explore the deep connections between what we eat and the health of our oceans.

Chef Heffernan shares his personal journey from growing up near the Connecticut shoreline to leading one of New York's most unique seafood restaurants, all while championing sustainable fishing practices and responsible aquaculture. From the overlooked porgy to the surprising truth about fish freshness, this conversation offers both practical takeaways and big-picture insights for anyone who cares about the food on their plate.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Kerry's upbringing near the water shaped his culinary philosophy.
• Why lesser-known fish like porgy deserve a place on more menus.
• The real story behind striped bass populations—and why appearances can be deceiving.
• How chefs can drive awareness and policy changes around sustainable seafood.
• Why aquaculture may be the key to feeding future generations.

Resources & Links:

• Grand Banks: https://www.grandbanks.nyc/
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch: https://www.seafoodwatch.org/
• For Farmers Movement www.forfarmersmovement.com
• Connect with host Dana DiPrima on IG @xoxofarmgirl

Credits:

Produced by Dana DiPrima and Sonia Dhillon.

Sound editing and original music by Russell Chapa.

Subscribe, share, rate, and review One Bite is Everything — connecting the food on your plate to the rest of the world.

This month, the Local Food Challenge takes us to the vibrant, delicious, occasionally chaotic world of the farmer’s market. If you're not in the know, you might end up missing out on strawberries (by hours) like the host did. The episode connects you with smart shopping tips from the brand-new Farmer’s Market Field Guide, and explains why a simple market trip is actually a radical act of community care.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a lifelong shopper, you’ll walk away with fresh ideas, seasonal inspiration, and a renewed sense of connection to the people who grow your food.

✨ Highlights include:

• Why your dollars go further (and do more) at the market
• How to talk to a farmer without feeling awkward
• What to do when you can’t find what you came for
• Kid-friendly tips to make the market more fun
• How to shop smart—even on a budget

📥 Download the free Farmer’s Market Field Guide here.

Farm-to-table might sound good on a menu—but what does it actually mean in practice? And who’s paying the real cost of “good food”?

In this episode of One Bite is Everything, host Dana DiPrima talks with Chef Molly Levine of Westerly Canteen about the complex, often invisible challenges of sourcing locally, paying workers fairly, and keeping a restaurant alive. From the legacy of Chez Panisse to her Airstream kitchen in the Hudson Valley, Molly shares why walking the talk on food values is far harder—and more important—than most diners realize.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why "farm-to-table" has become more marketing than movement—and how to tell the difference
• The impossible balancing act between paying farmers, supporting workers, and staying in business
• How chefs can (and do) quietly compromise their sourcing—and what it takes not to
• What it really looks like to write a menu based on what farms can produce, not what’s convenient
• Why small changes by consumers can ripple across the food system

Resources & Mentions:

• Westerly Canteen – Molly’s project focused on seasonal, farm-connected dining.
• Molly Levine on socials and Westerly Canteen too
• For Farmers Movement – national initiative supporting small American farms
• Dana DiPrima on socials

Loved the episode?

Please rate us five stars and leave a review on Apple podcasts. It helps new listeners find the show and join the conversation.

One Bite is Everything is co-produced by Sonia Dhillon, with original music and sound design by Russel Chapa.

In this episode of One Bite is Everything, host Dana DiPrima sits down with James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd, whose groundbreaking Houston restaurant Underbelly wasn’t just about food – it was a movement. From his roots as a reluctant student turned kitchen prodigy, to becoming a champion of local farmers and global flavors, Chris has redefined what it means to eat – and live – like a local.

You’ll hear how a Mickey Mouse cookbook sparked his culinary journey, why he once bought out an entire farmer’s market table, and how he used his platform to uplift cultures, communities, and unsung culinary heroes throughout Houston.

What you'll learn:

• Why embracing local ingredients means more than just freshness – it’s about trust, impact, and resilience.
• The value of building relationships with farmers – and the power of showing up for your community.
• How Chris's new show Eat Like a Local is taking his ethos from restaurant to screen – and changing lives along the way.

Featured Topics:

• The origin and evolution of Underbelly
• Building culinary trust with a community
• The quiet power of local food systems
• Fish sauce, wine pairings, and making vegetables irresistible
• How a chef becomes a storyteller

Don’t forget to rate and review the show on Apple or Spotify. It helps others find these stories and supports the mission of local food everywhere.

In this episode, your host, Dana DiPrima, dives into the surprising connection between your breakfast omelet and the U.S. Postal Service.

Learn about the century-old tradition of shipping live chicks by mail, the challenges facing this practice today, and the potential consequences for small farmers, backyard chicken keepers, and our broader food system.

From historical quirks to modern logistical nightmares, this episode explores how a few changes to the mail system could ripple across rural economies and hit our dinner plates.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The origins of shipping live chicks by mail in the U.S.
• How major hatcheries like Ideal Poultry, Murray McMurray, and Hoover's Hatchery keep this tradition alive
• The impact of recent USPS policy changes on small farms and hatcheries
• The challenges facing large-scale poultry producers like Tyson and Pilgrim’s Pride
• What the future might hold for this critical, but often overlooked, part of our food supply chain

Additional Resources:

• Find out how to support your chicken farmers and local egg producers at For Farmers Movement

If you have any stories that you would like to share about shipping challenges, please reach out here.

In this episode of One Bite is Everything, host Dana DiPrima sits down with Dr. Marion Nestle, a legendary figure in the world of food policy and nutrition. They dive deep into the power dynamics of the food industry, what's going on in MAHA, the evolving role of supermarkets, the future of regenerative agriculture, and the challenges of making healthy food choices in an increasingly corporatized system. Nestle, author of the upcoming What to Eat Now and the provocative cereal-focused Boxed In, shares sharp insights on the erosion of public trust in food oversight, the fight against ultra-processed foods, and why small, local actions can still make a massive impact in an uncertain political landscape.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How supermarkets subtly influence our food choices and why that matters for public health.
• Why the definition of 'regenerative agriculture' is so contentious and why it needs tighter regulation.
• What’s behind the rise of ultra-processed foods and why they’re a growing health risk.
• Why we need a radical overhaul of U.S. food policy to prioritize public health over corporate profits.
• The power of local action in changing the food system and why your local school or community garden might be the best place to start.

Resources Mentioned:

• Marion Nestle’s blog: Food Politics
• What to Eat Now (November 2025 release)
• Boxed In (coming in 2026)

Please share your thoughts on the podcast. If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend or leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It’s a small step that helps us reach more curious minds like yours.

Tariffs aren’t just political strategy—they’re shaping what you eat, how much it costs, and whether the farms that feed you can survive. In this episode, we walk through the on-again, off-again tariff rollercoaster of March and April 2025—from Liberation Day declarations to global retaliation to quiet backpedaling—and explore how it’s impacting food prices, trade relationships, farm viability, and campaign promises.

You’ll hear directly from New Hampshire farmer Jeremiah Vernon on how grain tariffs from Canada are putting pressure on livestock farms, and why small farmers are bracing for higher input costs and tighter margins. Plus, a breakdown of the biggest U.S. agricultural imports and exports, how tariffs work, and what to watch for next.

Key Topics:

• What the U.S. exports and imports in food and agriculture
• Why China’s retaliatory tariffs hit U.S. soy, pork, and dairy
• How uncertainty is paralyzing farm planning and investment
• Why grocery prices are expected to rise—again
• The contradiction between tariff policy and campaign promises to lower food costs
• What you can do right now to support a resilient food system

Sources:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov)
• USDA Economic Research Service (ers.usda.gov)
• Reuters, AP News, New York Times, Financial Times
• The New York Times: [Tariff Chart Snapshot]
• OBIE original interview with Jeremiah Vernon, Vernon Family Farm

This month’s Local Food Challenge is simple, satisfying, and sneakily powerful: choose just one ingredient and commit to sourcing it locally for the next 30 days. Eggs, flour, yogurt, honey—just pick one thing, learn where it comes from, and use it often.

In this solo episode, host Dana DiPrima shares why this challenge matters, how it connects us more deeply to our regional food system, and what happened when she swapped out her go-to yogurt for a farm-fresh version from Tonjes Farm Dairy. (Spoiler: store-bought didn’t stand a chance.)

You’ll walk away inspired to:

• Take a doable step toward eating more locally
• Learn the story behind the ingredient you pick
• Use your food dollars to support the farmers who feed your region

💡 Ready to start? Join the challenge at www.thelocalfoodchallenge.com