Theokrapodcast

04/12/2021

31/03/2021

In Episode 6 of , Sidney Nicholson recounts some beautiful, and often amusing, stories about his okra loving mother! Check it out: https://theokrapodcast.buzzsprout.com/1218326/8180033-2021-okra-dreams-with-ira-wallace-mark-tancig-and-sidney-nicholson

Sidney retired from a long career in law enforcement in NYC and became an after-school coordinator at Cornerstone Learning Community in Tallahassee, FL, where he mentored children, young people, and adults alike. He is a father and grandfather, and husband and partner to his childhood sweetheart, Gloria. He enjoys life outdoors and spending time with family and friends.

23/03/2021

This photo was taken pre-Covid at one of the last agriculture conferences before close down. But we still have the internet, and Chris was able to spend some time talking with Ira Wallace of talking all about okra and varieties and food and history. Anybody who knows Ira, knows that she is a wealth of knowledge with a big sharing heart.

Check out our latest episode with Ira (and others) and join the 2021 Okra Dreams: https://theokrapodcast.buzzsprout.com/1218326/8180033-2021-okra-dreams-with-ira-wallace-mark-tancig-and-sidney-nicholson

21/03/2021

Episode 6 is LIVE https://theokrapodcast.buzzsprout.com/1218326/8180033-2021-okra-dreams-with-ira-wallace-mark-tancig-and-sidney-nicholson.

2021 Okra Dreams: After a short winter break, The Okra Pod Cast is launching straight into spring. This episode is focused on growing okra and the upcoming season, but there’s plenty of food talk to get us dreaming about those hot harvest days. Marc Tancig, a University of Florida Extension Agent, shares expert advice on growing okra and talks nematodes with Rebekka. We’ll discuss okra varieties with Ira Wallace (.wallace) of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange () as well as food, memories and culture. And then this episode closes with some beautiful stories from Sidney Nicholson, who recounts his, often amusing, childhood responses to his okra-loving mother!

13/02/2021

As the okra growing season approaches, one of the top questions we get asked is, What are our favorite varieties? We may well answer that question in Episode 6, but since it’s such a subjective question, we wanted to turn it back on you! So, fellow okra growers, What are YOUR favorite okra varieties and why?

We’d love you to record a voice memo on your phone answering this question and then email the audio file to [email protected], or if you prefer then you can just email us a written answer! We’ll be playing, or reading, some of your responses in Episode Six of .

08/02/2021

Some of you may be wondering why there wasn't a January episode of The Okra Pod Cast (some of you may not have noticed, and that's ok too!).

2020 was The Okra Pod Cast's inaugural year, which started with Michael Twitty's () cultural and historical introduction to okra in Episode One and finished with a culinary okra adventure across India in Episode Five.

For 2021, we are planning an exciting set of episodes so we can continue our journey of exploring okra's stories and the people it connects. Look to March 15 for the launch of Episode Six!

In the meantime please take a moment to subscribe to and review The Okra Pod Cast on your favorite listening platform! We love hearing your feedback 💚

24/12/2020

Our first guest in Episode Five: India's Bhindi is Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal. She takes us on a culinary tour of okra (bhindi) across India and it's amazing how much diversity exists. Rushina's blog is a wealth of knowledge, and we highly recommend getting lost in its pages!

From Rushina: "Culinary Expert, Writer & Consultant I write about food history and stories most often around ingredients, cuisines, and the people who cook them."

A blog by food writer and consultant Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal,

23/12/2020

Episode 5. India's Bhindi: A Romp Through Okraland. We speak with long time food writer, Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal who gives us a mouthwatering overview of okra across India. Rushina’s interview is a fantastic glimpse into the diversity on offer. After Rushina we speak with two chefs in India who both bring a creative, experimental eye to a traditional food. Executive chef, Vidit Aren, shares his personal journey with okra and some okra research and development at the Mumbai restaurant, Slink and Bardot. And then Rachel Goenka, award winning restauranteur, chef and author, shares her solution to having too much okra!

Special thanks to Vikram Baker Mital for connecting us to our guests!

Photo Credit: Peter Taylor

India's Bhindi: A Romp Through Okraland: We speak with long time food writer, Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, who gives us a mouthwatering overview of okra across India. Rushina’s interview is a fantastic glimpse into the diversity on offer. After Rush...

18/11/2020

It was a joy to interview Roy Blount Jr, but now we want to interview Stephen King to hear his side of things....

Listen to Episode 4 to hear Roy Blount Jr. reading his Song to Okra and some other great interviews with botanists, scientists and okra lovers.

LISTEN: https://theokrapodcast.buzzsprout.com/1218326/6314920-okra-s-family

17/11/2020

In Episode 4 we interview the 'Botanists in the Kitchen' as we delve deeper into okra's mucilaginous and marvelous self! Listen to the interview here: https://theokrapodcast.buzzsprout.com/1218326/6314920-okra-s-family, and check out their blog on okra here: https://botanistinthekitchen.blog/2013/09/21/okra-whats-not-to-like/

What is hairy, green, full of slime, and delicious covered in chocolate? It has to be okra, bhindi, gumbo, Abelmoschus esculentus, the edible parent of musk. Katherine explores okra structure, its …

11/11/2020

NOW LIVE https://theokrapodcast.buzzsprout.com/1218326/6314920-okra-s-family

Okra's Family: This episode is centered around okra. That may sound a little crazy given this is a podcast all about okra, but we really wanted an opportunity to get to know okra on okra’s own terms. We hear from Jordan Collins (), who shares some botanical origins and agronomic potential of okra. We're honored that Roy Blount Jr. shares his Song to Okra and some slippery stories. And two talented 'Botanists in the Kitchen' share botanical and culinary insights which may leave you hungering for a plate of fried okra and mole! We hope this episode leaves you knowing okra just a little bit better!

21/10/2020

We've got a sticker! Support us on Patreon via www.patreon.com/theokrapodcast. $1 to show you love the podcast, $3 to get a sticker! We're splitting all our Patreon support with our amazing guests ❤️