Food and Faith: A Podcast Round Up

Whether you’re mowing the lawn, lounging by the pool, or carpooling kids to camps and activities, we all seem to have more time for listening in the summer. If you’re looking for something that will feed your soul next time you pop your earbuds in, I have just the thing for you! 

There are so many incredible conversations happening at the intersection of food and faith these days, and I wanted to share a few of my favorites. These podcasts all have many episodes for your ears to feast on, but I wanted to highlight one from each — just so you have somewhere to start. 

1. Food and Faith Podcast: Cooking Across Time

The Food and Faith Podcast helps listeners see the food-faith connections in the world around them. In their own words: “Our guests invite us to dig deeply into the complexity of ecology and food systems, as well as how faith communities are connected to them. In our podcast, we ask, “What does Joe’s work with migrant workers in Seattle have to do with Farm Church in Durham?” or “How does Jillian’s legal aid to aging farmers connect with the work of the nearby seminary?” In other words, we curate conversations from diverse people who are working at the intersections of food, ecology, faith, and spirituality.” 

This particular episode is a standout to me because of the multigenerational beauty. These three women share stories about how they pass recipes and faith to the next generation in their family. Their work in the world and their connection to one another is something to marvel at. I loved learning from them! 

2. SpadeSpoonSoul: Growing Common Ground Farm

SpadeSpoonSoul is led by three Episcopal co-hosts, and they lead conversations about the faith and agriculture in the world around them. Today, we can often be entirely disconnected from the food we purchase and its origins, but agriculture has a lot to teach us — and it can serve as a beautiful tool in faith and ministry.  

This episode features a conversation with  Sandy and Chuck Dailey from the Growing Common Ground Farm at St Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lebanon in the Diocese of Indianapolis. They have an amazing story of growth and transformation of around 8 acres of churchland, including 3 acres of active farmland. Tune in to learn about their tilled plots, sustainable farming practices, apiary and pollinator gardens, community partnerships, and so much more! 

3. Kitchen Meditations: On Grocery Shopping

You’ll find me at the helm of this podcast, offering reflections on food that help you taste God’s goodness in every bite. We eat every day — and the act of cooking and consuming doesn’t have to be mindless. In fact, there’s so much we can learn from this daily ritual, and God can be found right in the middle of it all. 

In this episode, I dove into what it means for food to be good and how this can help us approach our grocery shopping as a way to celebrate the gifts of God. For many of us, grocery shopping may serve a stressful or draining role in our lives, but my hope is that you’ll find a new lens while listening, and you may even truly enjoy your next trip to the grocery store. 

4. The Biggest Table: Recognizing God in the Pots and Pans

Like the others mentioned here, The Biggest Table dialogues about the food experience in its totality. In its episodes, you’ll find content about all things food: growing and harvesting, preparing and eating, hospitality, and even  the Lord’s Table, “with an eye toward how this act that we all have to engage in helps us experience the transformative power of God’s love and what it means to be human.” 

In this episode, host Andrew Camp talks with Alex Early about his ministry journey, his burnout, and how the kitchen helped him heal and rest. I think this is one of my favorite conversations about the practice of cooking and all it can bring — not just to our daily lives, but to our very souls. Andrew and Alex also discuss the importance of community, hospitality, and connection. It’s a can’t miss episode! 

I hope this little round up of podcasts has piqued your interest and given you some food for thought, pun absolutely intended. Happy listening!