Shows
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: From Runway Model to Regenerative Guru: Following the Call of the LandIn a world where most people follow predictable career paths, Mark Keller, Director of Operations & Product at Cream Co. Meats, chose to leap from the glamorous runways of international fashion into the muddy boots of regenerative agriculture. His story, shared in the latest episode of the Enlightened Omnivore Podcast, reveals not just an unconventional career change, but a deeply spiritual journey that has shaped decades of pioneering work in sustainable food systems.Enlightened Omnivore is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber....2025-06-0749 min
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: Beyond Grass-FedJust an hour north of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, nestled in the coastal hills of Marin County, fourth-generation rancher Loren Poncia has been making a name for California grass-finished beef. In this week's episode, I reconnect with Loren for the first time since closing Electric City Butcher to explore how Stemple Creek Ranch has evolved in an ever-changing food landscape.Our conversation may have covered as much ground as the ranch's lush rolling pastures. We explore the economic challenges that first inspired Loren and his wife Lisa to reimagine the ranch, the three secrets to exceptional...2025-05-0357 min
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: Breaking Bread, Building Hope: Kitchen Wisdom for Challenging TimesThis week, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with my friend Heather Marold Thomason, food system extraordinaire, and author of the popular HUNGRY HEART on Substack. We got to catch up on the next chapter in her fascinating journey since closing the Philadelphia neighborhood butcher shop, Primal Supply. So much has changed in her life, and her insights couldn't be more timely for the the current climate.Our conversation covered crucial ground regarding the challenges facing sustainable agriculture right now. We explored the impacts of the recent federal funding freeze on small farmer support, and how some...2025-04-0555 min
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: The Mushroom WhispererIn this week's Enlightened Omnivore podcast, I take you deep into the undergrowth of Southern California's mushroom scene—and discover a perspective on nature that might just transform how you interact with the world around you.On the surface, my conversation with self-proclaimed “mushroom whisperer,” Brando Farr, covers the essential do's and don'ts of mushroom hunting for beginners eager to venture into the newly dampened hills of Los Angeles. With recent rains transforming our parched landscape, there's no better time to learn about the fascinating fungi emerging all around us.But like the mycelium hidden beneat...2025-03-011h 04
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: Trying to Be an Enlightened OmnivoreThis month's episode of The Enlightened Omnivore Podcast puts me in an unfamiliar position - the guest chair. My friend and previous guest, chicken guru Tyler Dawley of Big Bluff Ranch, takes over hosting duties, turning the microphone around on me to explore my own journey with food, farming, and family. It felt a little vulnerable sharing my story, but once I got the hang of it, Tyler couldn’t shut me up.Although I still consider myself on the path to enlightenment, it hasn't been exactly straightforward. I started as a "big-boned kid" who struggled with we...2025-02-011h 14
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: Behind Closed Doors; Getting into the Middle of Meat ProcessingWe call it processing, we call it harvesting, we call it slaughter, some just call it kill. Between the pastoral scenes of cattle grazing in green fields, and those perfectly wrapped packages in your grocery store lies a mysterious world behind windowless walls - the slaughterhouse.I think this week’s podcast is my most investigative and fascinating yet, as I try to unlock some of the sterile and misunderstood closed doors of the meat packing plant. In a revealing conversation with friend and industry veteran, David Zarling, we pull back the curtain on a part of th...2025-01-041h 32
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: Mother Hens and Mountain ViewsMother Hens and Mountain ViewsA few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to visit Tyler at his Big Bluff Ranch outside of Red Bluff, CA. The drive took two hours from Sacramento, past miles and miles of Imperial valley agricultural industrial complex, before winding up into the foothills of the Yolla Bolly Mountains. The terrain was dotted with majestic valley oaks that sprouted up and stretched massive arms across an amber carpet of bone-dry rolling pastures. The road turned to dirt a dozen miles before the ranch, its washboard surface challenging the suspension of my rented...2024-12-071h 10
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: From Forest Floor to Yoga Mat; A Forager's Path to Inner PeaceIn this month's episode, I sit down with Michelle Dowd, author of "Forager: Field Notes for Surviving a Family Cult," for a fascinating discussion about foraging, food culture, and finding connection with nature. Michelle shares how her childhood experiences in a religious cult, where she learned to identify and gather wild foods for survival, shaped her unique relationship with food and the natural world.Michelle sees foraging as both a way to reconnect with the earth, and an act of resistance to modern food systems. She shares her practical advice for aspiring foragers, and challenges common misconceptions...2024-11-0257 min
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: Harnessing the Force of Nature; Better Understanding Regenerative BeefIn my latest Enlightened Omnivore podcast, I jump into the world of regenerative meats with James Lum, Regional Sales Manager at Force of Nature Meats. With a background that spans butcher shop floors, ranch lands, kitchen counters, and now a fast-growing consumer packaged goods company, James has seen the regenerative meat industry evolve firsthand. He brings a rare perspective into how mindful practices in sourcing, production, and distribution are reshaping the beef industry. For those of us who care about what we eat—and how it impacts the world around us—this conversation offers fresh insights into how our meat...2024-10-0558 min
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: Decoding Carbon Credits; Can the Market Save the Planet?Carbon Credits have always felt a bit like a riddle to me. If you’ve felt the same way, you’re not alone. But what do Carbon Credits have to do with being an enlightened omnivore? Hang in there! This could actually be the missing piece of the ecosystem-wide puzzle to solve the climate change problem. If you’ve ever wondered how something as “corporate” as carbon credits could impact your food choices, or the health of our planet, this episode is for you. Spoiler: It’s not as complicated as it seems, and it’s a lot more excit...2024-09-071h 07
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: Meat and Meaning, Life After ButcherySometimes, the universe brings people into your life at just the right moment. This happened to me in May 2023 when I received an email from Primal Supply Meats, informing me of their closure. With Electric City Butcher already closed and my second shop, Graze and Gather Meats, on the brink of shutting down, I couldn't help but take notice. Over the next several months, I was impressed by the company's genuine communications and heartfelt concern for its customers as it slowly wound down operations.Though I had never met the owner, Heather Marold Thomason , we had orbited...2024-08-091h 11
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: How Big Ag Controls Our FoodYou may have heard this month’s guest talking about pig manure with Kai Ryssdal on NPR, or read about his new book “Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry,” in Forbes or Civil Eats. Recently, I got to sit down with author Austin Frerick to discuss the broken American food system, and delve into the complexities, collusion, and crazy power dynamics that got us here in the first place.We get into the nitty-gritty of how a handful of companies like Walmart and Cargill have taken over our food supply, and how the priv...2024-07-0753 min
Enlightened Omnivore PodcastPODCAST: The Magic of MushroomsEnlightened Omnivore, is a monthly Podcast dedicated to a delicious mix of food, sustainability, and travel. Host, Steve Sabicer, explores the wonders of mindful eating. Each month he digs into one of his weekly written stories about our food system, new ways to eat sustainably, or culinary adventures around the globe or right in his very own kitchen.Get ready to expand your palate and your mind. One bite at a time.This is Enlightened Omnivore. Everything in moderation.EnlightenedOmnivore.substack.comToday is our very first podcast; Episode One! Hopefully...2024-06-0838 min