Food Web Podcast

Food Web
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The Food Web Podcast explores how we unlock shared infrastructure, strengthen local food economies, and make it easier for food entrepreneurs to thrive. Hosted by chefs, builders, and community connectors, each episode features honest conversations with kitchen owners, farmers, policymakers, and innovators tackling food access, sustainability, and food security. From shared kitchens to community investment, this is a practical, hopeful look at how we build resilient food systems—together.

Episodes

  1. Apr 9

    Fire-Cooked Flavours: Jesse Kaufman on Local Culinary Connections

    Episode Overview: Join Justin and Keegan as they dive into the world of hyper-local, fire-cooked meals with Jesse Kaufman from Shepherd's Hearth. Jesse shares his inspiring journey from Brazil to Vermont, where he has cultivated a unique culinary approach that emphasizes community connections and authenticity. By sourcing ingredients directly from local farmers and cooking over an open fire, Jesse challenges conventional food systems and highlights the importance of relationships in creating meaningful food experiences. In this episode: - Jesse's transition from Brazil to Vermont and its impact on his culinary philosophy - The importance of building strong relationships with local farmers - How fire-cooking enhances the authenticity of food experiences - The challenges and rewards of maintaining culinary authenticity - Jesse's insights on slowing down and prioritizing quality over scale About Food Web: Food Web is a platform connecting food entrepreneurs with shared commercial kitchens across Canada, while mapping local food systems. Learn more at foodweb.network. Follow us: Website: foodweb.network Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:21 Shepherds Hearth Ethos 03:50 Fire and Creativity 05:16 Brazilian Churrasco Roots 09:30 Ceremony and Firekeeping 13:17 Beyond Buzzwords 16:31 Farming for Flavor 20:00 Family Business Ecosystem 22:33 What Their Market Feels Like 23:42 Experiences and Offerings 27:14 Farm Popups and Picnics 28:57 Farmers Market Fire Kitchen 32:23 Community Feedback Loop 33:47 Pricing and Chicken Hearts 35:16 Pricing Real Food Right 36:38 Tea Lesson on Consumption 38:49 Beauty as Food Education 42:45 Menus Built With Farmers 45:25 Gather Prepare Share 50:55 Slow Down to Source Well 55:15 Refine Not Scale Up 57:03 Professionalism and Feedback 01:02:03 Hard Way to Humility 01:05:37 Where to Find Them 01:06:25 Final Blessings and Wrap

  2. Mar 12

    Transforming Campus Food: Student Movements & Strategic Change

    Episode Overview:Join Justin and Keegan as they dive into the intricate world of campus food systems, where multinational corporations often dominate the landscape. This episode sheds light on the student movements that are pushing back against these giants, advocating for healthier and more diverse food options. The discussion emphasizes the power of strategic negotiation and the importance of understanding economic incentives to effect meaningful change.In this episode:- The challenges of multinational food service contracts on campuses- Student frustration with limited food options- The role of strategic negotiation in driving change- Economic incentives and their impact on food policy- How student organizations can influence long-term changeAbout Food Web:Food Web is a platform connecting food entrepreneurs with shared commercial kitchens across Canada, while mapping local food systems. Learn more at foodweb.network. Food Web Links 🔗: Website 🍲: Kitchen Rentals 📖: Food Web Blog 💼: Food Web Careers Socials 📷: Instagram 👔: LinkedIn 📘: Facebook 💻: GitHub ✖️: X.com Founder/Hosts Links: 🔗: Justin Andrews (CEO) 🔗: Keegan Francis (CTO) Chapters 00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup01:33 Why Students Push Back02:52 Meal Plans and Choice06:12 Big Three Contractors06:50 Contract Politics and Betrayals10:02 Dalhousie Contract Ending10:41 Change Needs Leverage11:56 Mandating Local Sourcing13:21 Who Enforces Local13:42 Student Turnover Problem15:02 Building Food Coalitions16:09 What Is a University17:16 Registering Student Societies19:33 Concordia Model and Mapping22:36 Dalhousie Coalition and COVID24:07 Defining Lobbying25:27 Lobbying Good and Bad29:15 Corruption and Grey Areas31:43 Money Influence Loopholes32:51 Campus Contract Power34:22 Schmoozing Beats Reports36:10 Economics Psychology Lens39:02 Incentives For Signers42:06 Fight Fire With Fire44:27 Divestment Strategy Lessons49:25 Noise Versus Depth52:22 Call To Action56:52 Understanding Over Certainty59:16 Optimism And Sendoff

  3. Mar 2

    Mushrooms: Nature's Network and Business Blueprint

    Episode Overview:Join Justin and Keegan as they embark on a journey through the fascinating world of mushrooms, exploring their role beyond the kitchen. This episode delves into how these incredible organisms serve as a blueprint for decentralized networks, influencing both nature and business strategies. By examining the parallels between mycelial networks and modern food systems, they reveal how biomimicry can lead to more resilient and efficient operations.In this episode:- The role of mushrooms in nature and their complex network systems- How mycelial networks inspire decentralized business models- The philosophy behind Food Web's operational ethos- Insights into biomimicry and its application in food systems- Building sustainable and interconnected food networksAbout Food Web:Food Web is a platform connecting food entrepreneurs with shared commercial kitchens across Canada, while mapping local food systems. Learn more at foodweb.network.Follow us:YouTube: https://youtube.com/foodwebkitchensWebsite: foodweb.network Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Food Web00:56 Why Mushrooms Matter01:44 Mushrooms Run the Show02:58 What Is Mycelium04:18 Fungal Kingdom Basics07:07 Underground Network Intelligence10:40 Earth Consciousness and Scale17:16 Biomimicry and System Design19:38 Mushrooms and Capitalism27:42 Money Power and Mushroom Economy29:54 Nature’s Ruthless Efficiency32:21 Humans vs Mushrooms Incentives34:43 Mycelium Mega Networks37:03 Distributed Networks Explained41:08 Food Web in the Real World43:36 Information Then Value44:55 Books and Morphic Resonance49:11 Wood Wide Web Wonder52:21 Bringing It Back to Food Web53:23 Biomimicry as Company Ethos55:08 Roadmap Map and Rentals57:28 Building the Full Food System

  4. Feb 20

    The 6 Categories of Food Tech Explained

    Food 4.0, and What It Means for Farmers, Restaurants, and Supply Chains Keegan (CTO) and Justin Andrews (CEO) host a live episode of the Food Web podcast focused on “food tech” and how Food Web fits within it. They use the Digital Food Lab’s six-category breakdown of food tech—ag tech, food science, food service, consumer tech, delivery, and supply chain—to explore definitions, examples, and tradeoffs, especially around access, scale, and wealth concentration. In ag tech, they discuss drone field scanning that maps “shades of green” to guide variable-rate pesticide/fertilizer application on blueberry farms in Nova Scotia, reducing chemical use and costs, while questioning affordability for small and medium farms. This leads to Food Web’s ethos of sharing underutilized resources (starting with rented commercial kitchens) and a future vision of renting equipment like tractors or specialized tech to broaden access. In food science, they cover alternative proteins, cellular agriculture, precision fermentation, functional ingredients, and lab-grown meat, with skepticism about “Franken foods” and central points of failure from concentrating production in large facilities. In delivery, they distinguish consumer delivery (meal kits, restaurant delivery, robots) from broader supply chain movement and criticize platform dynamics like Uber Eats requiring daily spend for visibility and high fees, calling for a lower-fee competitor and noting Food Web’s API and data layer could help builders create alternatives. In consumer tech, they discuss tools like AI recipes and appliances, then debate the near-term rise of dexterous humanoid robots cooking meals—potential time savings versus erosion of basic cooking skills, with examples from food banks where some items go unused due to lack of tools or knowledge. They conclude that knowledge of these trends helps build alternatives aligned with Food Web’s mission to support more thriving small and medium food businesses and a “slow food” direction, and Keegan predicts consumer preference may shift toward “served by humans” as people “vote with their dollar.” 00:00 Welcome to the Food Web Podcast (Live on LinkedIn & Instagram) 02:56 Why Food Tech Now: Food 4.0, Climate Pressure & Funding Concerns 05:23 Food 1.0 vs Food 4.0: The ‘Archaic Revival’ and What We Lost 08:08 Big Tech vs Small Farms: Scale, Access, and Wealth Concentration 10:10 The 6 Food Tech Categories—Starting with AgTech 11:50 AgTech in Action: Drone Scans, Precision Spraying, and the Real Tradeoffs16:54 Making Expensive Tech Accessible: Renting Equipment & the Food Web Ethos 18:32 Food Science Gets Weird: Lab Meat, Precision Fermentation, and ‘Frankenfoods’ 22:38 Nutrition, Consciousness, and Humane Food: What Science Misses 26:49 Don’t Abandon Dirt: Food Waste, Food Rescue Marketplaces, and Supply Chain Fixes 31:38 Supply Chain Visibility: Mapping the Food System (and Food Web’s Map Tool) 34:48 Mapping the Local Food Supply Chain (and Why Transparency Matters) 36:19 Food Web’s API Pitch: Build on the Shared Data Layer 37:00 Supply Chain vs Delivery: Defining the Consumer Side 38:08 The Dark Side of Delivery Apps: Fees, Algorithms & Pay-to-Play 40:20 Economics of Uber Eats + How a Competitor Could Actually Work 43:26 Consumer Food Tech: AI Recipes, Meal Prep Gadgets & What’s Next 44:47 Robot Cooks: Convenience vs Losing the Skill of Cooking 47:39 Food Banks & Cooking Literacy: When Ingredients Aren’t Enough 51:44 Food Service Automation Rant: Tim Hortons’ Fully Automated Coffee Line 55:23 Bipedal Robots Are Coming: The Bigger Wave of Job Displacement 58:19 Why Food Web Talks About This: Building Toward Slow Food & Resilience 01:00:56 Closing Prediction: ‘Served by Humans’ Becomes a Consumer Preference 01:02:31 Final Wrap-Up: Where to Follow, Subscribe, and Keep the Conversation Going

  5. Feb 7

    Building Communities with Kitchens, Solar, and Sauces

    Guest Podcast with Verónica Gutiérrez In this episode of the Food Web Podcast, hosts Justin and Keegan welcome Verónica Gutiérrez from Hope Blooms in Halifax. They discuss the inception and growth of Hope Blooms, an organization aiming to empower the local community through social entrepreneurship, food security, and education. Verónica shares her personal background, the journey of Hope Blooms from a small community garden to a significant pillar in Halifax, and the various programs they operate, including the innovative use of cryptocurrency for their farmers' market. The conversation also touches on broader themes of community resilience, the importance of dreaming big, and building supportive networks for solo entrepreneurs. The episode is a testament to the power of collective effort and community spirit.00:00 Welcome to the Food Web Podcast01:37 Introducing Veronica and Hope Blooms02:47 Veronica's Journey to Hope Blooms05:07 Hope Blooms: Mission and Impact07:38 Community Empowerment and Social Enterprises11:13 Challenges and Future Plans14:05 Replicating Hope Blooms' Success19:24 The Role of Community and Support Networks22:45 Expanding Local Food Production23:26 Innovative Ideas and Youth Involvement24:05 Solar Tracker Success Story26:38 Challenges of Renting Out a Community Kitchen31:00 Food Security in Venezuela37:48 Community Resilience in Nova Scotia41:27 Hope Blooms: Empowering Through Hope43:45 Final Thoughts and Call to ActionMentions & Linkshttps://hopeblooms.ca

  6. Jan 30

    Canada's $11 Billion Grocery Subsidy

    Can you Subsidize your way to Food Security? Summary In this conversation, Keegan Francis and Justin Andrews discuss recent changes in the Canadian funding ecosystem, focusing on the announcement from the Carney Administration and the $11 Billion Grocery Subsidy. They explore the government's initiatives to provide financial support to low and middle-income Canadians, as well as significant investments in food infrastructure. The discussion delves into the importance of balancing downstream solutions (direct payments) with upstream investments (infrastructure), the need for more local food systems, and the potential for Universal Basic Income for farmers. They emphasize the role of financial literacy in understanding these economic changes and the impact of inflation on food prices. The conversation concludes with a call to action for individuals to engage with their local economies and support sustainable food practices. Chapters 00:00 Funding Changes in the Canadian Food Ecosystem 03:07 Government Initiatives for Grocery Affordability 06:08 Infrastructure Investments for Food Security 08:58 Upstream vs Downstream Solutions in Food Funding 12:03 The Ratio of Downstream to Upstream Funding 15:07 Maximizing Impact of Food Infrastructure Investments 18:12 The Importance of Local Food Systems 20:47 Universal Basic Income for Farmers 24:05 The Role of Financial Literacy in Food Economics 27:13 Decentralization in Food Production 29:59 The Future of Farming and Economic Stability 32:49 Voting with Your Dollar in the Food Economy 36:04 The Need for More Local Food Options 38:45 The Impact of Inflation on Food Prices 42:02 The Complexity of Universal Basic Income 45:12 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in Food Security 47:47 The Importance of Local Resilience 51:09 Engaging with Local Government and Community

  7. Jan 22

    The Many Ways to Use a Food Web Kitchen

    In this episode of the Food Web Podcast, hosts Justin Andrews and Keegan Francis discuss innovative ways to utilize your kitchen and help others use it effectively. They share insights from their recent experiences and upcoming projects, including a pop-up dinner event and meal prep classes. Justin talks about the cultural differences in food preparation between India and Nova Scotia and dives into Food Web's goals to simplify the kitchen rental process. This episode also covers their long-term vision for a national food asset map that integrates various food-related services and addresses the inefficiencies in current food mapping. Additionally, they shout out partners like My Kitchen Ops, who are helping streamline inventory management for restaurants. Also, a quick mention of Curbside Harvest who create their own food map to engage with their local food system. Tune in to learn about how Food Web is paving the way for a more connected and resourceful food community.00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview01:21 Food Culture in India vs. Nova Scotia02:57 Food Web's Progress and New Initiatives04:52 Upcoming Pop-Up Dinner Event07:38 Challenges and Opportunities in the Food Industry20:07 Meal Prep and Cooking Classes27:12 Diverse Meal Prep Strategies27:39 Scaling Your Food Business29:12 The Role of Admin in Food Web30:18 Expanding Food Web Internationally35:07 Collaborative Food Asset Mapping39:53 Building a Comprehensive Food Ecosystem51:57 Integrating with My Kitchen Ops53:52 Conclusion and Contact Information Food Web Links 🔗: Website 🍲: Kitchen Rentals 📖: Food Web Blog 💼: Food Web Careers Socials 📷: Instagram 👔: LinkedIn 📘: Facebook 💻: GitHub Founder/Hosts Links: 🔗: Justin Andrews (CEO) 🔗: Keegan Francis (CTO)

  8. Jan 15

    Food Saved my Life

    Summary In this episode of the Food Web Podcast, Keegan Francis and Justin Andrews share their personal journeys with food, discussing how it has saved their lives. They explore the healing power of food, the cultural significance of community meals, and the barriers to food access and education. The conversation emphasizes the importance of listening to one's body, the need for food education, and the call to action for listeners to engage in their food stories and support food security initiatives. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Food and Healing Journeys 01:00 Personal Food Stories: Justin's Journey 04:40 Keegan's Food Transformation 10:13 The Impact of Food on Health 18:04 Navigating Dietary Restrictions and Social Life 22:17 The Broader Implications of Dietary Changes 25:24 Listening to Your Body and Nutrition Education 31:16 Understanding Cravings and Emotional Eating 34:04 Navigating Food Choices and Education 39:09 Community Cooking and Collective Efforts 44:42 Cultural Perspectives on Food and Sharing 50:00 Food Safety Regulations and Community Fridges 54:45 The Role of Food in Healing and Community Engagement Links 🔗: https://foodweb.network 📷: https://instagram.com/foodweb.network Contact 📮 justin@foodweb.network 📮 keegan@foodweb.network

  9. Jan 9

    The Future of Food: Collaboration and Community

    Summary In this episode of the Food Web Podcast, hosts Justin Andrews and Keegan Francis reflect on the past year and discuss the future of food systems. They emphasize the importance of collaboration, community engagement, and advocacy in transforming food ecosystems. The conversation covers the challenges faced by food entrepreneurs, the need for visibility in the food industry, and the necessity of a dedicated Department of Food to support local businesses. The hosts also explore innovative solutions and the importance of breaking bread with those we disagree with to foster understanding and collaboration. Chapters 00:00 New Beginnings: The Launch of Food Web Podcast 02:11 Reflecting on 2025: Growth and Partnerships 06:00 The Collaborative Nature of Food Systems 10:05 Current Solutions and Challenges in Food Collaboration 13:00 Building Visibility: The Future of Food Web 16:00 Innovative Tools and Applications for Food Entrepreneurs 20:00 Community Resilience: Responding to Challenges in Food Systems 29:08 Navigating Farmer's Market Challenges 31:27 Advocacy and Lobbying for Food Businesses 36:08 Identifying Broken Systems in Food Funding 46:34 Proposing Solutions for Food Business Support 55:22 The Importance of Collaboration and Understanding 01:01:07 Outro - landscape.mp4

  10. Jan 6

    Preparing to Rent your Kitchen

    Empowering Local Kitchens: Navigating Insurance, Liability, and Food Safety with Food WebIn this episode, we explore the intricacies of kitchen rentals, insurance requirements, and food safety regulations with the founders of Food Web. Discover how Food Web acts as a neutral third party to facilitate professional and documented kitchen rental arrangements, similar to Airbnb for kitchens. Learn about the importance of insurance, financial liability, and how to handle disputes and damages in shared kitchens. We also dive into the importance of proper storage, health inspector requirements, and the role shared kitchens play in strengthening local food systems. Whether you are a kitchen owner or a food entrepreneur, this episode offers valuable insights and solutions for maximizing the use of commercial kitchen spaces.00:00 Introduction to Kitchen Insurance Requirements21:27 Handling Liability and Insurance Claims23:43 The Role of Food Web in Kitchen Rentals25:50 Deposits and Equipment Use Policies27:28 Orientation Sessions and Kitchen Control29:10 Health Inspectors and Storage Guidelines33:26 Challenges and Benefits of Renting Kitchens36:40 Strengthening Local Food Systems42:21 Navigating Food Regulations Across Provinces50:16 Conclusion and Contact Information

  11. Jan 6

    The Question of Bread

    Mapping the Revolution: Food Systems and Student ActivismIn this episode of the Food Web podcast, hosts Justin and Keegan explore the origins of their food system mapping endeavors, tracing its roots back to Justin's time at Dalhousie University. Justin recounts his experiences attending a food systems conference in Montreal, which inspired his project to map Dalhousie's food-related initiatives. They discuss the need for centralized, accessible data within food systems, the importance of local food networks, and the vital role of community collaboration. Touching upon historical context, the conversation ties in themes from the book 'Anarchist Communism' by Peter Kropotkin, emphasizing the necessity of local food production for societal resilience. As they look forward, they highlight the ongoing development of digital tools by Food Web to support food asset mapping and foster stronger community food networks.00:00 Introduction to the Food Web Podcast00:26 Dalhousie University and the Food Systems Conference01:48 Mapping Food Initiatives at Dalhousie04:22 The Loaded Ladle and Student Activism05:52 Challenges and the Impact of COVID-1906:17 Reviving the Food Coalition07:06 Historical Context of Food Mapping09:03 The Question of Bread and Revolution14:33 Modern Food Mapping and Digital Solutions17:21 Collaborative Food Asset Mapping17:58 Challenges of Data Stewardship18:18 Building a Centralized Food Database19:31 Connecting Farmers and Food Vendors20:31 Fragmented Data Landscape23:35 The Age Crisis in Farming25:28 Rising Food Costs and Local Production29:47 Community-Based Food Solutions31:37 Conclusion and Call to Action

  12. 12/24/2025

    Food Web Kitchens

    In our very first episode, Justin Andrews and Keegan Francis introduce Food Web Kitchens—the idea, the problem it solves, and why shared kitchen infrastructure matters more than ever. We talk about unused kitchens hiding in plain sight, the barriers food entrepreneurs face, and how kitchen sharing can unlock local food economies, support immigrant and small businesses, and strengthen food security. This episode sets the foundation for Food Web and the bigger vision behind it: building resilient, community-powered food systems from the ground up.

  • 12 Episodes

About

The Food Web Podcast explores how we unlock shared infrastructure, strengthen local food economies, and make it easier for food entrepreneurs to thrive. Hosted by chefs, builders, and community connectors, each episode features honest conversations with kitchen owners, farmers, policymakers, and innovators tackling food access, sustainability, and food security. From shared kitchens to community investment, this is a practical, hopeful look at how we build resilient food systems—together.

Information

  • Creator
    Food Web
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Food Web
  • Show Website
    Food Web Podcast