“Do you believe hunger can be solved? We do, and we’re not alone. Join us as we change the conversation about hunger and food security in Michigan.”
– Dr. Phil Knight & Gerry Brisson
Featuring innovative leaders from government, industry and nonprofit organizations, Food First is a platform to share ideas and, more importantly, solutions to end food insecurity. Dr. Knight is a tireless advocate, believing that Michigan, the nation’s second most diverse agricultural state, can prove that hunger is not better, not stronger, and not smarter than us.
A Public Health Challenge
COVID-19 has consumed our minds and hearts the last [...]
Farming for Better Health
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking [...]
Dedicated to Service
"I believe that you see something that you want [...]
Recession is opportunity in wolf’s clothing
This is the first episode of a three-part series. [...]
The Long Tail of the Pandemic
This is the third episode of a three-part series. [...]
Small Business: the Backbone of our Economy
This is the second episode of a three-part series. [...]
Waste not, want not
Do you know that Americans waste 133 billion lbs? [...]
Change. Adapt. Learn.
We've said it before and we'll say it again [...]
Spread the Woosah
Tonight we are choosing to spread the woosah. Woosah [...]
Life from a unique perspective
While COVID-19 has taken so much from us in [...]
Navigating Michigan’s Budget Maze
Change is painful. Unknowns are scary. They are part [...]
Unprecedented times. Unprecedented measures.
Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. Tune in to [...]
Children and Hunger
'The best way to find yourself is to lose [...]
Care-giving for senior citizens
All of us, at some time or other, need [...]
Listening with Our Hearts
In times of stress, the best thing we can [...]
Solving the riddle of COVID-19
Phil and Gerry will attempt to solve the riddle, [...]
Waves of the Pandemic
COVID-19 seeks the most vulnerable and uses the healthy [...]
21st Century Food Banking
The progress will not come by doing what we [...]
Adaptability, not conformity is the key
"You cannot BE the same, THINK the same and [...]
USDA Threshold of Poverty & Self-Sufficiency Standard update
'The best social program is a job.' - Ronald [...]
Waste not, want not
Cutting food waste is a delicious way of saving [...]
Building up non-profits
Many are called, few are chosen. Peter Vogel, CEO [...]
Update on 2019’s Farming Hardships
'Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful and most [...]
Only as strong as our weakest link
This episode features Lou Glazer, President of Michigan Future [...]
An Infinite Game
'Be quick, but not in a hurry.' - John [...]
Everyone counts, so let’s count everyone!
The 2020 Census is right around the corner and [...]
Community Impact
"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is [...]
Problem-solvers, not problem-spotters
'History will judge us by the difference we make [...]
The War on Poverty
"Our aim is not only to relieve the symptom [...]
Celebrating Our Champions
"No person was ever honored for what he received. [...]
100 Days of Leadership: Michelle Lantz Hits the Ground Running
Everything rises and falls on leadership - not some [...]
When opportunity meets planning
"Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets with [...]
Having an Impact
If you're going to have impact - you must [...]
Tax credits for charitable donations
"Remember that the happiest people are not those getting [...]
Time and Talent are the Treasure
"From what we get, we can make a living; [...]
When faced with a problem, amazing things can happen
People who end up being 'first', don't actually set [...]
Without change, you’re going to get the same results
It's often said that the definition of insanity is [...]
I Love Money
I love money because it gives people options that [...]
Defining the reality of living in poverty
Have you ever heard the phrase, “ignorance is bliss?” [...]
In God we trust – all others bring data!
Join Dr. Phil Knight, Gerry Brisson, and Dr. Dawn [...]
A vision of a better tomorrow fuels us today
Food insecurity is immoral, unacceptable, and beatable. A vision [...]
Crafting a food secure Michigan
A tool is only as good as the craftsman [...]
“Wonky” Policy Conversation
In this episode Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson, [...]
Proving Value During an Emergency
Nobody likes a crisis, but a leader proves their [...]
Driving Hunger Out of Michigan
Everyone wants to drive hunger out of Michigan, so [...]
The impact of infrastructure on agriculture and food banking
As we frequently say on Food First, solving hunger [...]
Three principles of great partnerships
We are overwhelmed with opportunities and the only thing [...]
Being GREAT at food sourcing
Sourcing food is a key paramount practice that we [...]
Solving hunger starts in the field
Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson sit down with [...]
Starve distraction and feed your focus
Every one of us at every level should starve [...]
Food FIRST, not second and certainly not third!
The first of our newly re-branded show, Food First [...]
Change is certain, but growth is optional
Hear the LAST Food for Thought episode! Don't worry [...]
Creating a sustainable difference
'A good plan violently executed today is better than [...]
Hunger and Poverty Cause and Effect
"We cannot solve the problems with the same thinking [...]
Strengthening Relationships with Partnerships
Hear a fresh new perspective from Food Bank of [...]
Food insecurity across college campuses
Some problems are too important to ignore or pretend [...]
A leader must possess the ability to ask the right questions!
Leading an enterprise, organization, movement, team or group doesn't [...]
A framework for the Blueprint to Solve Hunger
Vision is simply an idea of a better tomorrow. [...]
People Are Worth Investing In
People are a community's most valuable asset - this [...]
Leading through Crisis
Tested leaders LEAD and don't shrink in the midst [...]
Unpacking the 3 areas of focus on the future of food security
"Anyone can count the number of seeds in an [...]
The Blueprint to Solve Hunger
When looking back doesn't interest you anymore, you're doing [...]
The impact of food waste and the transformation Forgotten Harvest is making
'We cannot solve the problems with the same thinking [...]
Willful waste makes woeful want
Food waste is an often overlooked issue that has [...]
Choosing to use one handful of life
'A small group of people can change the world [...]
Nothing worth doing is easy
Have you noticed that doing nothing worth doing is [...]
Government Shutdown Effects
When something works well, it's the easiest thing to [...]
The Opportunity Index
"We can't solve problems by using the same kind [...]
Senselessness of hunger fueled by waste
"I do not waste any time. If you're not [...]
Government shutdown escalates, the need for teamwork elevates
As the famous saying goes - teamwork makes the [...]
Government shutdowns and their effects
Let us not seek the Republican answer or the [...]
Solving food insecurity is possible
"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is [...]
Opportunity knocks once, but temptation bangs on your door for years
Opportunity knocks once, but temptation bangs on your door [...]
Who are we giving the power to influence us?
In 2050, there are going to be 9-10 billion [...]
Living conditions health risks and outcomes
The condition in which people live, learn, work and [...]
Listening matters and you should do just that – listen
Listening matters and you should do just that - [...]
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link
A chain is only as strong as its weakest [...]
It takes courage to define reality
It takes courage to define reality and Dr. Fritz [...]
Harambee (pull together)
Harambee (pull together) Harambee is a KiSwahili word that [...]
One of the most rapidly aging states
One of the most rapidly aging states Michigan is [...]
Lunch Shaming
Hunger is ugly and it manifests itself in difficult [...]
Hunger deprives our children of more than just food – it’s a simple fact
Hunger deprives our children of more than just food [...]
Life can happen to anyone
Life can happen to anyone Life can happen to [...]
No one can solve hunger alone
No one can solve hunger alone. No one can [...]
We are all Philosophers
We are all Philosophers Phil’s motto and basis of [...]
How close are we to solving food insecurity?
How close are we to solving food insecurity? Tune [...]
The Blueprint
The Blueprint to SOLVE hunger in Michigan "Of what [...]
Heroes are made not born
August 23, 2018 Heroes are made not born. Dr. [...]
The importance of measuring waste in the field
August 19, 2018 Waste not. Want not. Dr. Lisa [...]
Think better and bigger
August 12, 2018Let's think better and bigger - simple, right? [...]
Every agricultural channel is much more complicated than at face value
August 5, 2018 Ken Nobis - not only is [...]
How the Farm Bill effects everything regarding food
July 29, 2018 Tune in to get an accurate [...]
Your size and your speed are controlled by your systems and structures
July 22, 2018 Tune in to hear from a [...]
Repeat Episode – Data-driven decisions
July 15, 2018 "Hunger is a riddle, wrapped in [...]
The Role Of Advocacy In Our Work
July 8, 2018 To those who do not understand [...]
Iron Sharpens Iron
July 1, 2018 Did you know that Food for [...]
Opportunities and Impact
June 24, 2018 Trend-buster: Kara Ross, the new CEO [...]
One size does NOT fit all
June 10, 2018 Tune in to hear from the [...]
Leaders LEAD and are not absent in a time of crisis
June 3, 2018 Phil and Gerry had the pleasure [...]
Waste not, want not.
May 13, 2018 Waste not, want not. Did you [...]
Pure Reinvention: creating sustainable change
May 6, 2018 Tune in to hear from the [...]
Repeat Episode – Data-driven decisions
April 24, 2018 "Hunger is a riddle, wrapped in [...]
People are an organization’s greatest asset
April 22, 2018 The sum is greater than the [...]
The Farm Bill
April 15, 2018 Simplicity has a clarifying quality to [...]
Data-driven decisions
April 1, 2018 "Hunger is a riddle, wrapped in [...]
WE can make an impact
March 25, 2018 YOU can make the different in [...]
The work of creating food security cannot be done by one person
March 18, 2018 'Together we are not simply adding, [...]
Ordinary doing the extraordinary
March 11, 2018 'Ordinary doing the extraordinary' - this [...]
Health is related to the quality of life
March 4, 2018 Health is related to the quality [...]
Choice is a precious commodity; a powerful influencer, and too often, a scarcity
February 25, 2018 Alisa Craig, Administrator for the Wellness [...]
You can’t solve a problem if you don’t think it can be solved
February 18, 2018 "We live life moving forward, but [...]
Food waste: from the field to the restaurant
February 11, 2018 Tune in this week to hear [...]
Unemployment is low, but people are still struggling
February 4, 2018 "Values are the stable long-lasting beliefs [...]
There’s no prerequisites to care
January 28, 2018 Tune in to hear from the [...]
Does food insecurity cause poverty or vice versa?
January 21, 2018 Hunger is not bigger than we [...]
The 5 reasons why food insecurity can be solved
January 14, 2017 Today marks the one year anniversary [...]
Food insecurity is SOLVABLE!
January 7, 2018 Vision is often described as a [...]
The impact of MSU Extension’s work
December 17, 2017 Did you know that MSU Extension [...]
The impact that Food@MSU is creating across Michigan
December 10, 2017 Tune in to hear from the [...]
The cyclical problems that manufacturer workers face
December 3, 2017 This week's show is one of [...]
The impact of the Farm and Tax Bills
November 26, 2017 Tune in this week to hear [...]
The work the food bank network does matters
November 19, 2017 Food for thought: Life is very dynamic [...]
The impact of farming and agriculture
November 12, 2017 Did you know that 10 out [...]
How do we structure the benefits to reward work?
October 29, 2017 Hear from the oh-so-talented Markell Miller, Director [...]
Food First
October 22, 2017 FOOD FIRST, not second, and certainly not [...]
2017 Michigan Harvest Gathering
October 15, 2017 "We make a living by what we [...]
When you’re hungry, you only have one problem
October 8, 2017 "I found myself at a point [...]
There is no face for food insecurity
October 1, 2017 Do yourself a favor and tune [...]
Not just talking the talk, but walking the walk
September 24, 2017 As always, the lineup for Food for [...]
How does work in the charitable world impact manufacturing?
September 17, 2017 How does work in the charitable world [...]
The Self-Sufficiency Standard Report for Michigan
September 10, 2017 It's here, it's here! The Self-Sufficiency Standard [...]
Feel Good Sunday
September 3, 2017 Tune in to hear about several [...]
Who wins when we win?
August 27, 2017 Who wins when we win? Tune [...]
Childhood experiences’ tremendous impact
August 20, 2017 Rick Murdock, ACE Initiative Grant Coordinator [...]
The Self-Sufficiency Standard
August 13, 2017 The Self-Sufficiency Standard You can't solve [...]
No one likes a crisis
August 6, 2017 Liana Bennett and Joe Wald’s [...]
Food is medicine
July 23, 2017 Dr. Robert Bouvier “Let food be [...]
Have you ever been lost?
July 9, 2017 Dr. Stephen Borders and MI Mapped [...]
Food First
July 2, 2017 When you're hungry you only have [...]
Food insecurity
June 11, 2017 This week's conversation is with Dr. [...]
The Mackinac Policy Conference
June 9, 2017 This week's line up is jam [...]
Progress is impossible without change
May 28, 2017 This week you get to hear [...]
Leaders see better, before and beyond
May 14, 2017 This week features Vic Verchereau, VP [...]
Leadership is defined by influence
May 7, 2017 'Leadership is defined by influence - [...]
Flint Water Crisis
April 30, 2017 This week's line up is remarkable! [...]
Change is inevitable
Apr 23, 2017 Gordon Wenk, Chief Deputy Director of [...]
Why not us, why not now?
March 26, 2017 Ken Nobis, president of Michigan Milk [...]
Work together to complete, not compete
March 19, 2017 This week's "Food for Thought" guest [...]
4 Big Tools in the Anti Hunger Toolbox
February 26, 2017 This week's 'Food for Thought' guest [...]
Food Insecurity is everywhere and anywhere
February 19, 2017 Be sure to catch this week's [...]
Michigan Mapped
January 15, 2017 On this week's show, Dr. Stephen [...]