As 2025 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the stories, ideas, and insights that shaped our thinking this year. From the wisdom of Indigenous traditions and the science of plants to the economics of food and the hidden systems behind what we eat, these books, podcasts, and films invited us to look deeper at the connections between people, planet, and purpose. They challenged us to rethink abundance, explore sustainability, and consider how everyday choices ripple across cultures and ecosystems. Here’s a look at the titles that inspired us — and why they matter for the future of food, community, and leadership.

What We're Reading

José Andrés, Richard Wolffe
Change the Recipe: Because You Can't Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs

Akhtar Badshah
Purpose Mindset: How Microsoft Inspires Employees and Alumni to Change the World

Brene Brown
Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership the Tenacity of Paradox the Wisdom of the Human Spirit

Hoo-Joon Chang
Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World

David George Gordon, Samatha Larson
Heaven on the Half Shell: The Story of the Oyster in the Pacific Northwest

Rowan Jacobsen
Wild Chocolate: Across the Americas in Search of Cacao's Soul

Robin Wall Kimmerer
Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World or Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants

Benjamin Lorr
The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket

Joe Sacco
Paying the Land

Nicola Twilley
Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves

Alice Waters
We Are What We Eat: A Slow Food Manifesto

Andrew Zimmern and Barton Seaver
The Bluefood Cookbook: Delicious Seafood Recipes for a Sustainable Future

What We're Watching

Hope in the Water – PBS: From Emmy Award winning producer Andrew Zimmern, in collaboration with multi-award-winner and storytelling visionary David E. Kelley, Hope in the Water explores the groundbreaking work of dedicated fishers, aqua farmers, and scientists who are attempting what was once thought impossible: harvesting aquatic species to feed our growing planet while saving our oceans. 

Kiss the Ground – Amazon: Kiss the Ground is a groundbreaking film that reveals a viable solution to the climate crisis. By regenerating the world’s soils, we can stabilize Earth’s climate, restore ecosystems, and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and NASA/NOAA footage, the film shows how soil can draw down atmospheric carbon, completing the climate puzzle. 

Food and Country: Worried about the survival of small farmers, ranchers, and chefs hobbled by America’s policy of producing cheap food, trailblazing food writer Ruth Reichl reaches across political and social divides to report on the country's broken food system and the innovators risking everything to transform it. 

Sustainable: A vital investigation of the economic and environmental instability of America’s food system, from the agricultural issues we face — soil loss, water depletion, climate change, pesticide use — to the community of leaders who are determined to fix it. Sustainable is a film about the land, the people who work it and what must be done to sustain it for future generations. 

Ocean – David Attenborough: OCEAN takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean. The celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing. 

What We’re Listening To

Regenerative Agriculture Podcast – John Kempf: A show for professional growers and agronomists who want to learn about the science and principles of regenerative agriculture systems. 

ReGen Brands Podcast – Kyle Krull & Anthony Corsaro: The ReGen Brands Podcast is a place for brands, retailers, investors, and other food system stakeholders to learn about consumer brands supporting regenerative agriculture and how they’re changing the world.

RadioLab – Forever Fresh – WNYC: We eat apples in the summer and enjoy bananas in the winter. When we do this, we go against the natural order of life which is towards death and decay. What gives? This week, Latif Nasser spoke with Nicola Twilley, the author of Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves. Twilley spent over a decade reporting about how we keep food alive as it makes its way from the farm to our table. This conversation explores the science of cold, how fruits hold a secret to eternal youth, and how the salad bag, of all things, is our local grocery store’s unsung hero. 

Living with Purpose – Dr. Akhtar Badshah: Living with Purpose is a podcast dedicated to exploring the journey of finding meaning and fulfillment in life. Hosted by Dr. Akhtar Badshah, a visionary leader and author, the podcast features insightful conversations with thought leaders, changemakers, and everyday heroes. Each episode delves into the stories, experiences, and philosophies that inspire individuals to live with intention and purpose. Whether you’re seeking personal growth, community impact, or just a deeper understanding of what it means to lead a purposeful life, “Living with Purpose” offers valuable perspectives and actionable advice to guide you on your own path. 

WHAT IF WE GET IT RIGHT? – Ayana Elizabeth Johnson: A show about climate solutions, about what we need to do to address the climate crisis, and how to make those things happen — from changing laws, to electrifying buildings, to improving fashion and media. Each week an expert guest joins host Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson to break it down, delightfully, and help us all envision what getting right on climate looks like, so we can reel that vision into reality. 

Catalyst with Shayle Kann – Latitude Media: Investor Shayle Kann is asking big questions about how to decarbonize the planet: How cheap can clean energy get? Will artificial intelligence speed up climate solutions? Where is the smart money going into climate technologies? Every week on Catalyst, Shayle explains the world of climate tech with prominent experts, investors, researchers, and executives. Produced by Latitude Media. 

Inevitable – an MCJ Podcast: Join Cody Simms each week as he engages with experts across disciplines to explore innovations driving the transition of energy and industry. Inevitable is an MCJ podcast. This show was formerly known as 'My Climate Journey.' 

Food Talk – Food Tank: Food Tank's Dani Nierenberg chats with the most important folks in the food industry about the most important food news, released every Thursday.