In this episode, Dr. Sarah Bowen and Dr. Annie Hardison-Moody join us to explore the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the stories, science, and policies behind it. We talk about who uses SNAP, what it actually provides, and how it became one of the most effective tools for fighting food insecurity in the U.S. We also unpack common myths and look at new policy proposals that could reshape how the program works. Dr. Bowen and Dr. Hardison-Moody remind us that food assistance isn't about who deserves help; it's about recognizing food as a right, not a reward.

Learn more about Dr. Hardison-Moody and Dr. Bowen’s work below:

Annie Hardison-Moody’s NC State Bio Page: https://cals.ncsu.edu/agricultural-and-human-sciences/people/annie-hardison-moody/

Sarah Bowen’s NC State Bio Page: https://chass.ncsu.edu/people/skbowen/

Check out the following resources to learn more about today’s topic:

USDA SNAP Retailer Data: https://www.fns.usda.gov/data-research/data-visualization/snap-retailer-management-dashboard-fy23

USDA ERS Report on SNAP and the Economy: https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/93529/ERR265_Summary.pdf?v=75369

USDA ERS Report on SNAP impact during a recession: https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/102287/ERR-296_Summary.pdf?v=80553

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Data on SNAP impacts by state: https://www.cbpp.org/snap-helps-low-wage-workers-in-every-state#North_Carolina

Article: Safeguarding SNAP as an Effective Antihunger Program: Myths and Potential Harms of Adding Diet Quality as a Core Objective: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307863

The Science That Feeds Us podcast brings together extension agents, faculty specialists, and scientists for interdisciplinary conversations on emerging trends in agriculture and the food system. Designed to inform and engage both professionals and curious consumers, we highlight the stories behind the science to build deeper connections to food and agriculture research. The Science That Feeds Us is supported by NC State Extension and NC State University.

Edited and Produced by: Bhavisha Gulabrai

Music: Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here.

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Ash joins us to break down the buzz, and the backlash, around seed oils. We dive into the science of inflammation, how omega-6s interact in the body, and why understanding a little organic chemistry goes a long way to help make sense of nutrition claims. We also explore how fear-based messaging spreads online, how food influencers keep their audiences hooked, and why nutrition advice often falls apart when it promises a silver bullet. Dr. Ash reminds us that “when you try to oversimplify that one thing, it often just falls apart.”

Learn more about Dr. Ash’s work below:

NC State Bio Page: https://cals.ncsu.edu/food-bioprocessing-and-nutrition-sciences/people/sla/

Check out the following resources to learn more about today’s topic:

Article: Seeding doubt: The truth about cooking oils: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/seeding-doubt-the-truth-about-cooking-oils

Article: The Facts About Plant Oils: https://www.nutritionletter.tufts.edu/healthy-eating/the-facts-about-plant-oils/

Book: Pressure Cooker: Why Home Cooking Won’t Solve Our Problems and What We Can Do About It: https://www.amazon.com/Pressure-Cooker-Cooking-Solve-Problems/dp/0190663294

The Science That Feeds Us podcast brings together extension agents, faculty specialists, and scientists for interdisciplinary conversations on emerging trends in agriculture and the food system. Designed to inform and engage both professionals and curious consumers, we highlight the stories behind the science to build deeper connections to food and agriculture research. The Science That Feeds Us is supported by NC State Extension and NC State University.

Edited and Produced by: Bhavisha Gulabrai

Music: Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here.

In this episode, Katie and Bhavisha take a step away from the data and into the harder, often unspoken questions that shape science communication in practice. We reflect on what it means to do this work in spaces where expertise, public values, and lived experience do not always align, and where simply presenting the facts falls short. Drawing on our own experiences, we talk through moments where advocating for evidence can feel at odds with maintaining trust, and where stakeholder perspectives surface real tensions around trade-offs, not just misunderstandings. We also unpack the role of social media in shaping how science is shared, interpreted, and challenged, and how these platforms can both amplify and complicate communication efforts. Throughout the conversation, we come back to the idea that these tensions are not problems to solve, but conditions to work within, and that learning to sit with them is part of becoming a more thoughtful and effective communicator.

Learn more about our work below:

Katie Sanders’ NC State Bio Page: https://cals.ncsu.edu/agricultural-and-human-sciences/people/catherine-sanders/

Bhavisha Gulabrai’s NC State Bio Page: https://cals.ncsu.edu/agricultural-and-human-sciences/people/bhavisha-gulabrai/

Hub for Food Systems Communication and Engagement: https://units.cals.ncsu.edu/food-systems-comm-hub/

UC Berkeley- The real process of science: https://undsci.berkeley.edu/understanding-science-101/how-science-works/the-real-process-of-science/

The Science That Feeds Us podcast brings together extension agents, faculty specialists, and scientists for interdisciplinary conversations on emerging trends in agriculture and the food system. Designed to inform and engage both professionals and curious consumers, we highlight the stories behind the science to build deeper connections to food and agriculture research. The Science That Feeds Us is supported by NC State Extension and NC State University.

Edited and Produced by: Bhavisha Gulabrai

Music: Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here.