Stick A Fork In It

Healing Through Helping ft. Mike & Kathy Fooshee

It takes an incredible emotional strength (and sometimes an incredible partnership) to turn personal tragedy into hope for others -- but that is exactly what Mike & Kathy Fooshee have been doing for years. After meeting online over 20 years ago, their blended family has weathered unbelievable challenges, and made a mission of sharing their story with others to spare them from suffering through the same experiences. They do all of this with a hug and a smile for everyone they meet, and we're so grateful that they spend two days every week volunteering with us at Trinity Cafe.

Listen to their story on your favorite podcast app, or watch the episode on YouTube! Our channel there, and on all social media, is @FeedingTampaBay.

 

Growing the Community Garden ft. Chris Kenrick

For nearly 30 years Sweetwater Organic Community Farm has educated Tampa residents about easy farming techniques, by inviting them to plant and harvest crops alongside their neighbors. Everyone from kindergarteners to senior citizens are welcome to come and learn how to care for plants and animals from the community that has kept the farm thriving all this time. On today's episode we talk with Chris Kenrick, the farm's Director, and learn why it's so important that more people become farmers, even if that just means growing a few plants in their own backyards. Knowing where your food comes from, and feeling pride in having grown it yourself is important, but even more important is the connection it fosters between yourself, nature, and the community around you.

Our episodes are also fully video recorded now! Watch Chris, Shannon, and Ev share laughs and learning on YouTube by visiting youtube.com/feedingtampabay -- and look out for more inspiring content on social media by searching @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite platform.

The Unexpected Can Change Everything ft. David Brown

What happens when a father of 7 breaks his back on the job, and is unable to continue working, while the cost of rent and groceries rises all over the country? He leans on the support of community, family, and maybe even a furry new friend who can pull him out of the depths of despair. Meet David Brown, one of the brave, big-hearted guests who has visited the partner pantries of Feeding Tampa Bay. On today's episode he shares the story of how he unexpectedly found himself out of work, the journey that put him on through places he never thought he'd be in, and the inspiring people he met along the way.

This is also our first FULLY VISUAL episode! Watch David, Shannon, and Ev share laughs and learning on YouTube by visiting youtube.com/feedingtampabay -- and look out for more inspiring content on social media by searching @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite platform.

Building the Food Bank of the Future with Todd Wickner

How do you plan for the most ambitious social project ever undertaken in Tampa Bay? With the help of experienced, dedicated people like Todd Wickner, who's managed successful restaurants and arenas across the United States. As a member of the Board of Directors of Feeding Tampa Bay, Todd has helped guide us through all of our trials, successes, and growth over the past 10 years, and he joins us on the show today to talk about the most exciting step forward that we're currently taking -- the construction of a brand new headquarters off of Causeway Boulevard.

Tune in to learn how Todd grew from helping out in his father's luncheonette, to easily feeding thousands of people in packed sports stadiums. And to learn more about our mission of ending hunger in Tampa Bay by 2025, visit our website, FeedingTampaBay.org, and follow us on social media @FeedingTampaBay!

The Senior Struggle - Food Insecurity

As a widow and mother, Barb is back to work at 71 and still struggling to make ends meet. She has been a lifetime caregiver and loyal volunteer, making asking for help extremely difficult and emotional. In a time where choices were being made between transportation, food and medicine, having food available was an unexpected relief.

 

To learn more visit FeedingTampaBay.org or to find a food bank near you, feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank

Fixing Fake News with Michael Paluska & Reed Moeller of ABC Action News

With so many sources of news available on TV and online, it's difficult to know what to trust. We invite the Emmy-award-winning duo Michael Paluska and Reed Moeller from ABC Action News to pull back the curtain a bit on journalism, and share with you what it's like to brainstorm, write, and record the stories that inform you about your world. Tune in to learn about twin-tuition, the art of videography, and why it's important to invite your wife to dinner with Harrison Ford.

You can also see Michael and Reed's story about the heroes fighting child hunger, and find past episode of our show at feedingtampabay.org/stickaforkinit!

For more fun, insightful stories about our work -- follow us on your favorite social media @FeedingTampaBay!

Learning to Lead from the Front, with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor

We're fortunate to have had the support of Tampa's Mayor, Jane Castor, through thick and thin in recent years. She stood by us during the pandemic, providing Feeding Tampa Bay the attention and resources we needed to ensure nobody went hungry while businesses were closing. And now she's helping guide us through the process of expanding our capability, as we begin construction on a new facility offering more programs and more food out the door. Tune in to hear about her journey from athlete to police officer and finally to mayor of an entire city. And learn how the importance of family and community aided her along the way.

And as ever, follow us on your preferred social media platforms @FeedingTampaBay, to see what other guests we've had on the show, and what exciting developments are on their way in the future.

Proving Hunger-Free is Possible with Katie Fitzgerald, President of Feeding America

There was so much more to discuss with our recent guest, Katie Fitzgerald, that we just had to have her back on the show. Last time we talked about the ways that food banks are evolving to address root causes of hunger -- but on today's episode we discuss how that evolution is made possible, and how it's already making regions around Feeding America food banks truly hunger-free. To learn what it really means to be hunger-free, check out another recent episode where our Chief Programs Officer, Matt Spence, breaks it down in simple terms!

You can save our episodes for later listening on any of your favorite podcast platforms, and you can see teasers for each one by following our social media accounts @FeedingTampaBay.

Lifting Up Young Learners with Addison Davis, Superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools

After spending years teaching students directly, Addison Davis finds himself in charge of all the school's in one of the nation's largest counties. How does someone in that position ensure that children are getting what they need to be well-adjusted, successful adults? By working tirelessly to get teachers and parents what they need, and remembering that every child has a story. Tune in to learn how Addison has pushed to improve schools in Hillsborough county in recent years, and what he hopes we can come together to accomplish for the future caretakers of our society.

Follow @FeedingTampaBay on your favorite social media platform to learn about the other partners we work with to make Tampa a healthier, happier place!

Creating the Hunger-Free Strategy with Joanna Burleson of the Monitor Institute

Hunger-free means everybody who needs food knows where they can go to get some, as our Chief Programs Officer, Matt Spence, recently explained on our show. And on today's episode we introduce you to the folks who have helped us develop a plan to make Tampa Bay hunger-free. Over the course of the past year the Monitor Institute, and their Managing Director, Joanna Burleson, has helped Feeding Tampa Bay figure out how we can do what we do even better. Together we brainstormed outside the box, talked with members of the community, and pored over research to give ourselves the best edge we can get in the fight against food insecurity. Tune in to learn what it takes to create a plan like this, and what we think we can do now that it's nearly complete.

And stay up-to-date on all the other work we're doing in the community, as well as ways you can get involved, by following us on social media @FeedingTampaBay!