Podcast

The Peanut Podcast, created by the National Peanut Board, delves into issues that are important to peanut growers and the industry. Join NPB staff hosts Lauren Highfill Williams and Lindsay Stevens once a month as they explore hot topics and future trends impacting the industry, including agriculture, sustainability, nutrition, allergies, culture, consumers and more.

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28 March 2023

"Healthy: Who Defines it Anyway?

It’s a hot time for health. For the first time in almost 30 years, the FDA is planning to update its definition of healthy. In the nutrition community, there’s a movement to consider more factors, like age, lifestyle and culture, when recommending food choices. Consumers are considering health more holistically—not just as the food we eat but also our physical and mental wellbeing. We’ll explore how our thinking about “healthy” has evolved and what it means for peanuts and peanut butter through conversations with NPB dietitians Markita Lewis, Sherry Coleman Collins and foodservice dietitian Ann Dunaway Teh. 
28 February 2023

Opportunities for Peanut Oil

Peanut oil may be best known as the oil of choice for frying that delicious Thanksgiving turkey or the classic Chick-fil-A sandwich. But changes in the marketplace, climate and economy are leading industry stakeholders to explore the possibility and opportunity of producing more peanut oil in the U.S. In this episode, we talk with National Peanut Board President & CEO Bob Parker, Texas A&M researcher Dr. John Cason and Executive Director of the Georgia Peanut Commission Don Koehler.
31 January 2023

George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver is known as the father of the peanut industry. He brought a new understanding of sustainable agriculture to the Southern U.S. to help farmers support their families and have a better life. In this episode, we go beyond the basics and explore Carver as a dynamic person who was a scientist, educator, artist, humanitarian and inspiration. This episode includes perspectives from Curtis Gregory from the George Washington Carver National Monument; Dr. John Beasley from Auburn University; and Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller from Tuskegee University.
29 November 2022

Mental Health and Farm Families

Many say that farming is a calling and there’s a lot to love about a career in agriculture. But the all-consuming and isolated nature of life on the farm and so many factors out of the grower’s control can cause an incredible amount of stress and mental hardship. Not only for farmers themselves but also for their loved ones. In this episode, we talk with Florida Peanut Producers Executive Director Ken Barton; grower Lamont Bridgeforth; and Knesha Rose-Davison, the public health and equity director at Agrisafe. 
25 October 2022

Peanuts During the Holidays

The holiday season is here, filled with family, friends and, of course, food! From Halloween through the New Year, peanuts are a popular part of the holidays. In this episode, we highlight comforting classic ways peanuts are used during the most wonderful time of the year, as well as uses that may surprise you. We speak with Marianne Catalano from Virginia-Carolinas Peanut Promotions; Robert Marks IV and Megan Marks Harrell from Belmont Peanuts; Chef Tessa Nguyen from Taste Nutrition Consulting; and Jamie Cromley from GPC’s peanut recipe contest.  
27 September 2022

Peanuts in Humanitarian Relief

Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear shells! When disaster strikes here at home, peanut butter is an important food source that’s sustaining, stable and easy to eat. Across the world, a peanut butter-based pouch brings severely malnourished children back from the brink for a happy and healthy future. In our one-year anniversary episode, we’ll delve into the stories of people and organizations that provide a helping hand to those in need through peanuts. You’ll hear from Gregg Grimsley of Birdsong Peanuts who heads Peanut Proud, Christina Taylor from American Peanut Council who leads Peanut Butter for the Hungry, Dr. Mark Manary of Project Peanut Butter, Maria Kasparian of Edesia and Jamie Rhoads of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Peanut at University of Georgia. 
30 August 2022

Peanut Production Across Different Regions

Most of us know the basics of how peanuts grow—and that there’s no such thing as a peanut tree! But unless you’ve been able to spend a good amount of time with peanut growers across the U.S., you may not know much about the different challenges and practices growers face throughout the Peanut Belt. Diverse soil types, equipment, diseases, weather and more can impact peanut production. In this episode, you’ll hear from Lonnie Gilbert from Florida, Neal Baxley from South Carolina, Mason Becker from Texas, Austin White from Oklahoma and Bennie Branch, who is the president of Kelly Manufacturing Co. 
26 July 2022

Innovators in Peanuts

Innovation lights the fire for change and growth, and the peanut industry is ablaze! Today we highlight a few movers and shakers in the industry including a young farmer who’s growing organic peanuts and trying his hand at hemp; a Southwestern grower whose diversified operation won her family a peanut efficiency award; a third-generation family peanut business that’s exploring avenues like single-origin peanuts; a researcher who puts the peanut genome to work to make rapid improvements for growers; and a family who started a baby snack company to help prevent food allergies.   
  
Featured in this episode are Sedrick Rowe, Georgia peanut grower; Lexi Floyd, Texas peanut grower; Marshall Rabil, director of sales and marketing at Hubs Peanuts; Peggy Ozias Akins of UGA Tifton; and JJ Jaxon, founder of Mission Mighty Me.   
31 May 2022

What’s Next in Retail and Dining

Everyone has their favorite food they like to pick up at the grocery store or order at a restaurant. There’s a lot to be said for the benefits of “the usual.” But for the food industry to stay primed for growth, it pays to keep a pulse on trends in dining out and eating at home. We’re talking about innovation in Mexican comfort foods like quesadillas, more hands-on experimentation in college dining, healthy eating in grocery stores and the demand for brands to share their “why.” Inspired by our 2022 Next Gen Food Summit, in this episode, we explore what’s happening and what’s next in food service and food at retail—and how peanuts can take advantage— through conversations with Cathy Nash Holley, publisher and editor-in-chief of Flavor and the Menu magazine; Lisa Zehr, director of organizational excellence at Cornell University Dining; Carol Podolak, co-founder of BNutty peanut butter company; Don Ladhoff, president of FreshSmartSolutions; and peanut farmer Lonnie Fortner.

The Peanut Podcast, created by the National Peanut Board, delves into issues that are important to peanut growers and the industry. Join NPB staff hosts Lauren Highfill Williams and Lindsay Stevens once a month as they explore hot topics and future trends impacting the industry, including agriculture, sustainability, nutrition, allergies, culture, consumers and more.

Find The Peanut Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever else you listen to podcasts. Follow the National Peanut Board on Twitter, Instagram (@NationalPeanutBoard) and Facebook to keep up to date with our latest episodes.

 

Lauren Highfill Williams, Co-Host and Senior Producer 

Lauren is director of communications at the National Peanut Board. In 13 years at NPB, she has become a leader in domestic promotions strategy and execution, including business development projects and digital and social assets. She currently leads reputation management work to remove barriers to peanut consumption and directs stakeholder communications. Lauren prefers creamy peanut butter on a spoon but crunchy in a PB&J, and has fellow peanut butter lovers at home in Atlanta with her husband, 6 year old, 1 year old and senior (but still feisty!) dog.

 

Lindsay Stevens, Co-Host and Producer 

Lindsay is a communications specialist at the National Peanut Board. Since she's still relatively new to the peanut industry, Lindsay's enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the peanut industry alongside podcast listeners. She has a background in journalism and is the editor of NPB's magazine, PQ. She also manages NPB's newsletter, website and social media among other grower and industry-related topics. Lindsay loves inshell peanuts, but she especially likes to share them with her oversized dog, Goose. 

 

DeMarquiné Houston, Engineer and Sound Designer

DeMarquiné (Dee) has worn many hats over her 20-year career with NPB, but her favorites are those that come with the opportunity to apply her artistic side to technical endeavors like database building or podcast sound design. Dee is currently the Director of IT and Compliance and, in addition to managing all things electronic, works closely with state organizations to manage NPB’s annual production research budget. Dee’s favorite way to consume peanuts are in trail mix while hiking or in Southeast Asian cuisine.

 

Darby Johnson, Reporter 

Darby is the newest team member at the National Peanut Board. She joins us a communications specialist with a previous background in journalism and health communications. She works on the nutrition and early introduction programs, assists the Peanut Podcast, and creates digital content for social media and the website. Darby likes creamy peanut butter for her PB&Js and thinks peanut butter crackers are the best snack.   

National Peanut Board


3350 Riverwood Parkway, Suite 1150
Atlanta, GA 30339
Toll free: (866) 825-7946
Tel: (678) 424-5750
Fax: (678) 424-5751

 

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