Ken Botts has been in food service for over 35 years, since he discovered the financial rewards of frying chicken and slinging pizza as a teenager trying to pay for his own car insurance. At age 18, he discovered Diet for a Small Planet, by Francis Moore Lappé, and made the connection between the food we eat and the world we inhabit.
Both inspired and burdened by that understanding, Ken worked his way through many positions in food service until he discovered that he could put his talents to use creating a better world.
Currently food policy manager at the Humane Society of the United States, Ken's work touches millions of lives and is having a huge impact on animal welfare, human health, and environmental regeneration.
From his bio: “His mission in life is to help make the world a better place, one plate at a time.” Love it!
Ken and I just got off the phone, and due to the fact that we discussed an exciting breaking story, I'm going to pretend I'm a real journalist and ride the news cycle for all its worth 🙂
[powerpress]
We discussed:
- his work with hospitals, school districts, the military, and universities
- his struggle working for a Chinese fast food group
- the inspiring lessons of Jamba Juice
- creating an all-vegan dining call at the University of North Texas in 2010
- how university dining halls have changed since the old days (the 1980s, in Ken's and my case)
- promoting the plant-based options as great-tasting food, not vegan food
- food as a recruitment and retention tool for universities
- how millennials are dictating the direction of our food policy and culture
- me: “but people still love bacon” / Ken: “people love the taste of bacon”
- the Sea World story
- the importance of Blackfish
- why vegan and animal rights and animal welfare organizations need to work together
- sage advice on activism from Gene Bauer of Farm Sanctuary
- next step: the broiler chicken industry
- and much more…
Enjoy, add your voice to the conversation via the comment box below, and please share – that's how we spread our message and spread our roots.
Links
The Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society press release
Diet for a Small Planet (ignore the stuff on protein combining, if it's in the edition you find 😉
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The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
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Music
The Plant Yourself Podcast theme music, “Dance of Peace (Sabali Don),” is generously provided by Will Ridenour, a kora player from North Carolina who has trained with top Senegalese musicians.
It can be found on his first CD, titled Will Ridenour.
You can learn about Will, listen to more tracks, and buy music on his website, WillRidenour.com.
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This was so informative and intially, I felt the same way, as you, like helping or supporting Sea World was going against the grain. Listening to another point of view was very interesting and made me re-evaluate some of my own beliefs. Great podcast!
Another great podcast! So encouraging to know this guy is at the helm. His cooperative spirit was a joy to listen to. We ARE stronger together. I, for one, am quite hopeful about the Seaworld movement. some people wake up more slowly than others, but they do wake up! Let’s be kind and patient.
My niece graduated from North Texas last year. She’s not 100% vegan, but the vegan dining hall was the only place she ate on campus because the food was so good. It was nice to learn about how Ken started this dining hall and how it’s spread over so many campuses over a such a short time. I’m glad he’s now working on amusement parks. With a young son, we frequent many of them and the choices are very limited or nonexistent.
Fantastic interview! Thank you for bringing attention to this incredibly important work being done by Ken Botts, Kristie Middleton and HSUS. I am thrilled to have an opportunity to meet Ken today at one of their trainings!!!