ShelfSense: Stories Behind Our Stuff

What does it really take to keep our orange juice organic? A lot and it goes on behind the scenes and in the groves - it might even mean inviting wasps in for a visit. In this episode, Cynthia sits down with Matt McLean—founder of Uncle Matt’s Organic, pioneer and former leader in the Organic Trade Association—alongside Gen Z voice and upcoming podcast host, Kylie Kittredge to uncover the effort, values, and tough decisions behind ...

In Jungle to Shelf: The Medicine Hunter Story, I sit down with Chris Kilham—and  Gen Z voice Samira Krol—to trace the remarkable journey of botanicals from remote forests and indigenous communities to the products we find on our shelves. Chris shares how decades of global exploration uncover plants with real health potential, and why ethical sourcing and respect for local knowledge matter just as much as the benefits themselves. To...

It’s the hottest new functional beverage that is truly refreshing. In this episode of ShelfSense: Stories Behind Our Stuff, Cynthia Barstow sits down with Erik Ramstad, farmer and founder of Farmwell Drinks, along with Gen Z voice Jacob Wilson, to explore a powerful (and little-known) berry: aronia. Grown on his family’s regenerative organic farm, aronia berries are gaining attention for their remarkable nutritional profile—deliver...

Milk is one of the most familiar foods on our shelves—but today, it’s also one of the most questioned. In this episode, Cynthia sits down with Stephanie Alexandre, Farmer Owner and passionate advocate for nutrient-dense foods, alongside Gen Z voice Nick Katsoulis, to explore what’s really behind the milk we drink—from taste and digestibility to how cows are raised and what A2/A2 actually means. Together, they connect the dots betwe...

Every spring, magic happens in the forests of the Northeast. As the days warm and the nights stay cold, maple trees begin to flow — and the centuries-old ritual of maple sugaring begins. In this episode, Cynthia sits down with Arnold Coombs of Coombs Family Farms/Bascom Maple Farms, the most respected names in organic maple syrup. Arnold grew up sugaring as a child and has spent decades helping bring organic maple syrup to kitchens...

As the industry-only Natural Products Expo West begins today, the future of our grocery stores takes shape. Cynthia goes behind the scenes of the natural products industry’s most influential gathering with hosts Jessica Rubino and Adrienne Smith of New Hope Network to explore how conversations around regenerative organic agriculture, safer packaging, transparency, and trust move from shared visions to the products on our shelves — ...

Why can we trust organic cows? Cynthia sits down with Gary Hirshberg, Co-Founder and Chief Organic Optimist of Stonyfield Farm, alongside Gen Z voice Mari Averill, for a conversation that goes far beyond the dairy case. Gary shares the backstory behind Stonyfield—how a small, values-driven idea became a national brand by letting cows, farmers, and transparency shape relationships with consumers. Together, they explore why organic i...

Tinned fish is everywhere—but is it actually a smart, sustainable protein? In this episode of ShelfSense, Cynthia Barstow sits down with Henry Lovejoy (EcoFish, Henry & Lisa’s, Freshé) to unpack what sustainability really looks like from the sea, and with Caitlyn Bangert, a Gen Z protein seeker, to ask the questions shoppers are quietly wondering. From sourcing and labels to taste, trust, and convenience, this conversation help...

Since protein is hot right now, we wanted to go straight to the source of one of our go-to choices. In this episode, we sit down with mother (Annie) and daughter (Tessa) Diemand—second- and third-generation poultry farmers—for a conversation that helps close the distance between raising chickens and producing eggs with care, and the grocery store cooler. We unpack what labels like local, cage-free, and pasture-raised really mean, h...

Data—not brands—shape our shelves.

If you’ve noticed protein suddenly everywhere, beauty promises moving into drinks, or unfamiliar ingredients showing up in foods, this episode explains why—and what that means for us as shoppers.

Scott Dicker of SPINS and I decode what’s hot heading into 2026—and how the trends that often appear first in supplements move next into the foods and beverages we buy for our health and wellness. This isn’...

Looking for something bubbly to toast your Christmas or New Year’s celebration? Give a listen before you decide what to drink. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or simply taking a pause, Wild Mocktail’s Rebecca Hamilton shows how intentional NA mocktails bring ritual, flavor, and festivity without the regret. Joined by Gen Z guest Ruby Adamowicz, who captures the cultural shift unfolding in her generation, this episode explores ...

If food sensitivities make you feel like you’re always missing out, this episode is your warm invitation back in. Cynthia sits down with young founder Ali Lazowski, whose delicious dairy-free, gluten-free, refined-sugar-free and organic hot cocoa was born from her own long road to diagnosis, and Gen Z voice Grace Kaiser, who’s navigated similar struggles. Together, they share how comforting traditions can be enjoyed—without worry, ...

Your spice jar has a story… and it reveals what’s really behind the flavors in your food. Join Cynthia, Frontier Co-op/Simply Organic CEO Tony Bedard, and Gen Z voice Sara Yelle as they trace spices back to the people and places that grow them. This warm, eye-opening episode shows how everyday flavors carry purpose — and why the spices you choose matter more than you realize. As the holiday season begins, enjoy a dose of thankfulne...

Rice feeds half the world — and may be a key to saving the planet. In this episode, host Cynthia Barstow and Gen Z voice Marigold Averill sit down with Caryl Levine, co-founder of Lotus Foods, to explore how a staple grain can become a force for good. From preserving biodiversity to empowering women farmers and reducing methane emissions, discover how changing what goes into our rice bowls can nourish both the body and the Earth. L...

Chocolate is one of the world’s sweetest pleasures—and one of its most bitter industries. In this episode, Cynthia Barstow and Gen Z voice, Vivian Mottl, talk with Joe Whinney, the pioneering founder of Theo Chocolate and now co-founder of Magic Chocolate, to explore how a once-broken system is being reborn through regenerative organic farming. With Dr. Bronner’s passing the torch to Magic Chocolate, a new era begins—one rooted in ...

Everyone seems to know someone who’s heard the words “You have cancer.” Many of us want to do something about it. What if we can—through simple, everyday choices that lower risk and strengthen wellbeing? In this episode, Cynthia talks with Meg Cadoux, founder of the Anticancer Lifestyle Program, who has dedicated years to providing free, science-based resources for survivors and their loved ones. Joined by Maggie Hurley, a next-gen...

Mushrooms are moving off our plates and into our coffee, protein powders, and daily wellness routines. In this episode of ShelfSense, Cynthia Barstow digs into the booming mushroom dietary supplement trend with Sandra Carter, founder of OM Mushroom, and Gen Z fitness enthusiast Neo Paradis. Together, they explore why functional fungi are suddenly everywhere, what benefits they promise, and how this hot trend is reshaping the w...

As it turns out, that Ben & Jerry’s chocolate fudge brownie ice-cream holds more than you’d ever expect. In this episode, we go beyond the pint to uncover the story behind those rich, fudgy chunks—from the ovens of Greyston Bakery to a philosophy rooted in Zen Buddhism.

Cynthia Barstow talks with Roshi Eve Marko, a Zen teacher who helped grow Greyston alongside Bernie Glassman, and Christine Conroy, who’s carrying the bakery’s m...