Join us on the final episode of this season, where Dr. Julia Olayanju shares a reflection on the future of food. This season has been a journey—one where we explored the powerful intersection of food, innovation, science, and community health. Together, we’ve heard from visionary leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and advocates working tirelessly to reimagine our food systems and create healthier futures.

But as we wrap up the season, Dr. Julia Olayanju leaves everyone with a deep insight to ponder, and more importantly, an invitation to act.

Sponsor:

The podcast is made possible by FoodNiche-ED, a gamified platform that enhances the knowledge of food and health. Learn more on foodniche-ed.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodniche_ed

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodniche_ed/

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LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodniche-education

About Dr. Olayanju:

Dr. Julia Olayanju is a scientist and educator who advocates for enhanced nutrition education in schools and communities. She is the founder of FoodNiche-ED and FoodNiche where she and her team are driving a healthier future through programming, resources and technology.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaolayanju/

In this special episode—recorded live at the FoodNiche Health Forum this summer—we’re diving into a powerful conversation on Fueling Innovation & Access: Funding the Future of Food for Health.

Transforming food systems to support public health requires more than innovative ideas—it demands strategic investment. From sustainable food startups to community-based nutrition programs, access to funding is critical to scale solutions that improve health outcomes and promote equity.

To unpack this, we’ve brought together a dynamic panel of leaders from venture capital, philanthropy, public health, and food innovation. Joining me in this conversation are:

• Bunmi Olayanju, Care Center of New Jersey
  

• Laura Abda, Branch Venture
  

• Valeria Cobos, Plug and Play Ventures
  

• Marcia Hopper, Branch Venture
  

  Together, we’ll explore how strategic funding can accelerate change at the intersection of food, health, and equity.

Sponsor:

The podcast is made possible by FoodNiche-ED, a gamified platform that enhances the knowledge of food and health. Learn more on foodniche-ed.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodniche_ed

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodniche_ed/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoodNicheEd/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodniche-education

About Dr. Olayanju:

Dr. Julia Olayanju is a scientist and educator who advocates for enhanced nutrition education in schools and communities. She is the founder of FoodNiche-ED and FoodNiche where she and her team are driving a healthier future through programming, resources and technology.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaolayanju/

This special episode—recorded live at the FoodNiche Health Forum this summer—we’re diving into a vital conversation on The ROI of Preventive Nutrition: How Nutrition Education and Food-Based Interventions Can Reduce Long-Term Healthcare Costs.

As chronic diseases continue to drive up healthcare spending, evidence is mounting that investing in preventive nutrition delivers measurable returns. From school-based programs to clinical initiatives, nutrition education and food-centered interventions can reduce the burden of diet-related diseases, improve population health, and significantly lower long-term costs.

Joining me for this important discussion are:

• Dr. Joan Salge Blake, Boston University
  

• Funke Ajenikoko, Rockefeller Foundation
  

• Beth Machnica, Buffalo Medical Center
  

Together, we’ll explore how preventive nutrition is not just a public health strategy—it’s a smart economic investment in our collective future.

Sponsor:

The podcast is made possible by FoodNiche-ED, a gamified platform that enhances the knowledge of food and health. Learn more on foodniche-ed.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodniche_ed

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodniche_ed/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoodNicheEd/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodniche-education

About Dr. Olayanju:

Dr. Julia Olayanju is a scientist and educator who advocates for enhanced nutrition education in schools and communities. She is the founder of FoodNiche-ED and FoodNiche where she and her team are driving a healthier future through programming, resources and technology.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaolayanju/

In this special episode recorded live at the FoodNiche Health Forum at Harvard Medical School, we dove into an urgent and often overlooked public health issue—food insecurity.

Our featured presentation is titled: “The Cost of Food Insecurity in Massachusetts”, led by Dr. Lauren Fietchner, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Fietchner is a nationally recognized physician and health equity advocate whose research focuses on the intersection of food access, poverty, and improving health outcomes for children. At Harvard Medical School, she mentors the next generation of healthcare leaders while conducting groundbreaking work on the societal and economic impacts of food insecurity in collaboration with.

In this presentation, Dr. Fietchner examines the ripple effects of food insecurity—from rising healthcare costs to long-term developmental and chronic health challenges—while offering data-driven insights and potential solutions for systemic change.

Sponsor:

The podcast is made possible by FoodNiche-ED, a gamified platform that enhances the knowledge of food and health. Learn more on foodniche-ed.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodniche_ed

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodniche_ed/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoodNicheEd/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodniche-education

About Dr. Olayanju:

Dr. Julia Olayanju is a scientist and educator who advocates for enhanced nutrition education in schools and communities. She is the founder of FoodNiche-ED and FoodNiche where she and her team are driving a healthier future through programming, resources and technology.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaolayanju/

Welcome to another special edition of the FoodNiche Changemaker Podcast.

In this special fireside chat—recorded live at the FoodNiche Health Forum at Harvard Medical School—we’re tackling one of the most urgent public health challenges of our time: childhood obesity.

Over 14 million children in the U.S. are affe cted by obesity, putting them at greater risk for lifelong chronic diseases. Yet, despite growing concern, nutrition education remains one of the most underleveraged tools in prevention.

In this thought-provoking conversation, I sat down with Dr. Anabelle Broadbent, to discuss how we can turn innovative ideas into meaningful impact for the next generation.

Together, we’ll explore how food education, policy shifts, and cross-sector collaboration can help reverse these alarming trends and build a healthier future for our children.

Sponsor:

The podcast is made possible by FoodNiche-ED, a gamified platform that enhances the knowledge of food and health. Learn more on foodniche-ed.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodniche_ed

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodniche_ed/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoodNicheEd/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodniche-education

About Dr. Olayanju:

Dr. Julia Olayanju is a scientist and educator who advocates for enhanced nutrition education in schools and communities. She is the founder of FoodNiche-ED and FoodNiche where she and her team are driving a healthier future through programming, resources and technology.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaolayanju/

This is a special edition of the Changemaker Podcast which features a series of conversations from the FoodNiche Health Forum held at Harvard Medical School. This session is titled: “Aligning Innovation with Impact: Cross-Sector Collaboration for Sustainable and Healthier Food Systems.”

In an era of rising chronic disease and increasing environmental strain, it’s clear we need to rethink how our food system works—and who it serves. This panel explores how collaboration across sectors can spark solutions that are not only scalable but truly transformative for both people and the planet.

You’ll hear from an incredible group of innovators:

• Marc Oshima, CEO of Babylon Microfarms, shares how decentralized indoor farming is expanding access to fresh, nutrient-rich foods in institutions like schools and hospitals.

• Alina Zolotareva, Co-founder of VO Health, discusses digital tools designed to personalize and scale preventive nutrition, empowering individuals to take charge of their health through data-driven insights.

• Dr. Phillip Strandwitz, CEO of Holobiome, unpacks the science of the gut-brain axis and how microbial health could be key to unlocking the next frontier in both mental and metabolic wellness.

• And Dr. Anabelle Broadbent, a pathogenic microbiologist and Founder at Verde Ops and researcher, brings a systems-level perspective on how to co-create models that promote equity, sustainability, and measurable health outcomes across communities.

This conversation is packed with insight, innovation, and inspiration—and is especially timely as we navigate the challenges and opportunities of building a food system that truly supports human and environmental health.

Thank you for a great season!

What an incredible season it’s been! We’ve had amazing conversations with leaders who are transforming the future of food and driving real change in our communities.

From groundbreaking innovations to powerful grassroots initiatives, this season has truly been inspiring — and it’s all thanks to YOU, our amazing listeners.

As we wrap up this season, we’re already gearing up for the next — and we want to hear from YOU. Who do you want to hear from? What conversations do you want us to dive into?" Send us a message at marlet at foodniche-ed dot com

Let’s keep the conversation going and shape a healthier future together."

Thank you for being part of this journey — stay tuned, stay inspired, and I’ll see you in the next season of FoodNiche Changemaker.

Join Dr. Julia Olayanju and Devon Klatell as they discuss strategies to build healthier communities through the food as medicine initiatives and food access program.

ABOUT GUEST

Devon Klatell is Vice President, Food, at The Rockefeller Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s work to advance a more nourishing, equitable and sustainable food system in the United States. Currently, Ms. Klatell is leading the Foundations $100M Food is Medicine initiative. In that role, she works with healthcare insurers, hospitals, food service businesses, policy makers and other funders to increase consumption of healthy foods by underserved communities. Previously, she led the Foundation’s initiatives on food waste prevention, sustainable protein, school nutrition, and the True Cost of Food. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University in cognitive psychology and an M.A. in food systems from New York University. 

Sponsor:

The podcast is made possible by FoodNiche-ED, a gamified platform that enhances the knowledge of food and health. Learn more on foodniche-ed.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/foodniche_ed

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodniche_ed/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoodNicheEd/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodniche-education

About Dr. Olayanju:

Dr. Julia Olayanju is a scientist and educator who advocates for enhanced nutrition education in schools and communities. She is the founder of FoodNiche-ED and FoodNiche where she and her team are driving a healthier future through programming, resources and technology.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaolayanju/