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.

Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts More
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.
26 April 2022

The Behind-the-Scenes of Power of Dietitians

Nutritionalist. Food police. Dietician. Registered dietitian nutritionists endure a lot of misunderstandings about their job title and what they do. In this episode, we make it easy to understand the roles RDNs play in our daily lives, including working with patients in hospitals, engaging shoppers at the grocery store level, building the school lunch menu, influencing menus at chain restaurants and more. We discuss how the National Peanut Board promotes peanuts to this important group through exciting programs like Certified Peanut Pro, ambassadors, harvest tours, retail outreach, and what the future of the profession looks like. Our episode features RDNs Sherry Coleman Collins of NPB, Lyndi Wieand of Weis Markets and Rhea Napeek Bartlett from agency Fleishman Hillard, and chef Patrick McDonnell and Virginia peanut farmers Jeffrey and Stephanie Pope.
 
29 March 2022

Peanuts, here! Peanuts, Baseball and Beyond

Spring is in the air and opening day of baseball is just around the corner. Peanuts and baseball became a pair as early as the 1890s and is still a classic ballpark snack. We’ll highlight the history of peanuts and baseball, how in-shells are rebounding from the pandemic and how other sports are making new connections with peanuts and peanut butter. Our episode features Jeanne Cashman from Hampton Farms, Virginia peanut farmer Westley Drake, Joy Crosby from the Georgia Peanut Commission, and Matt Jenkins of The18.
22 February 2022

Gen Z: Who They Are and Why They Matter

Just when we were getting settled in with the target of millennials, a new generation has entered the scene—Gen Z! Young people born between 1997-2012 are included in this latest demographic. They are entering the workforce, increasing their buying power and have behaviors and values that both complement and conflict with their millennial elders. We'll explore the key attributes of Gen Z, why they’re important to marketers and how a common love of peanut butter will bring the two youngest generations together. Our conversation features Ginny Lewis from Golin, Brendan Brannock a Gen Zer, Jeanne Cashman from Hampton Farms, and Arkansas peanut farmer Greg Baltz. 
04 January 2022

Marketing Trends for Peanuts in 2022

Since its inception, NPB has continued to stay on top of up-to-date trends in marketing to put farmer’s money to work. This week, we explore marketing trends for 2022 by talking to NPB senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Ryan Lepicier; Nichole Bigley from Golin; Les Crall, 2022 chairman of the National Peanut Board; and Kimmi Wernli, president and owner of Crazy Richard’s Peanut Butter Company. 
30 November 2021

Drivers of Consumption

New data shows per capita peanut consumption continued to reach new heights in 2021. What’s behind this growth and what’s on the horizon? We explore how changes in marketing, product innovation and on the farm have driven peanut consumption to record levels by talking with National Peanut Board’s Bob Parker, Peanut Butter & Company’s Lee Zalben and Texas peanut farmer Peter Froese, Jr.

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

 

For Inquiries...


email us at
Podcast@nationalpeanutboard.org

‹         ›

You must be logged in to view this item.

This area is reserved for members of the news media. If you qualify, please update your user profile and check the box marked "Check here to register as an accredited member of the news media". Please include any notes in the "Supporting information for media credentials" box. We will notify you of your status via e-mail in one business day.