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The Power of One Plate at a Time: Ken Botts on PYP 176
Episode 17630th September 2016 • The Plant Yourself Podcast • Dr Howie Jacobson
00:00:00 00:51:38

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Ken Botts has been in food service for over 35 years, since he discovered the financial rewards of frying chicken and slinging pizza as a teenager trying to pay for his own car insurance. At age 18, he discovered Diet for a Small Planet, by Francis Moore Lappé, and made the connection between the food we eat and the world we inhabit.

Both inspired and burdened by that understanding, Ken worked his way through many positions in food service until he discovered that he could put his talents to use creating a better world.

Currently food policy manager at the Humane Society of the United States, Ken's work touches millions of lives and is having a huge impact on animal welfare, human health, and environmental regeneration.

From his bio: "His mission in life is to help make the world a better place, one plate at a time." Love it!

Ken and I just got off the phone, and due to the fact that we discussed an exciting breaking story, I'm going to pretend I'm a real journalist and ride the news cycle for all its worth :)

[powerpress]

We discussed:

  • his work with hospitals, school districts, the military, and universities
  • his struggle working for a Chinese fast food group
  • the inspiring lessons of Jamba Juice
  • creating an all-vegan dining call at the University of North Texas in 2010
  • how university dining halls have changed since the old days (the 1980s, in Ken's and my case)
  • promoting the plant-based options as great-tasting food, not vegan food
  • food as a recruitment and retention tool for universities
  • how millennials are dictating the direction of our food policy and culture
  • me: "but people still love bacon" / Ken: "people love the taste of bacon"
  • the Sea World story
  • the importance of Blackfish
  • why vegan and animal rights and animal welfare organizations need to work together
  • sage advice on activism from Gene Bauer of Farm Sanctuary
  • next step: the broiler chicken industry
  • and much more...

Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box below, and please share - that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.

Links

The Humane Society of the United States

Ken Botts on Facebook

Blackfish documentary

Sea World

The Humane Society press release

Sea World's press release

Diet for a Small Planet (ignore the stuff on protein combining, if it's in the edition you find ;)

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