Against the Grain is the Farm Aid podcast, designed to bring the magic of Farm Aid’s annual festival to listeners year-round. This season, in our series Artists and Activism, we’ll talk to more than two dozen artists who are using their art and their voices as vehicles for political engagement and expression on issues that matter to them – and to all of us.

If you missed our first season, check it out to visit everywhere from Farm Aid’s backstage and HOMEGROWN Village, to rural and urban farms and farmers’ markets to meet the extraordinary members of the Farm Aid universe, fighting the industrial agriculture giants, holding the government accountable, and shifting the culture towards a food and farm model that is better for farmers, our soil, water and climate and for all of us.

About the Hosts


Michael Stewart Foley in front of a black background

Michael Stewart Foley

Michael Stewart Foley is Farm Aid’s Cultural Impact Director, responsible for advancing Farm Aid’s mission by analyzing, communicating and deepening the cultural impact of the organization’s – and the greater farm movement’s – work. A native New Englander, Michael grew up obsessed with politics and popular music. Later, as an historian, writer, and organizer, he produced eight books on a range of social movements and on the intersection of politics and popular music; he also served as an advisor on a number of exhibition, film and television projects, including Mad Men. In addition to advising and co-writing The Boys Who Said No! Draft Resistance and the Vietnam War, he served as the film’s narrator. His writing has appeared in The New York TimesThe GuardianThe Washington PostThe Boston Sunday GlobeThe Daily Beast and other news and public affairs outlets. (Photo © Suzanne Porter)

Jessica Kurn

Jessica Ilyse Kurn

Jessica Ilyse Kurn is Farm Aid’s Online Communications and Marketing Manager. She’s been on staff since 2013 working on the newsletter, web and social media platforms to amplify Farm Aid’s work and expand its online engagement. She studied agriculture, food and environmental policy at Tufts University, and was a Reporter & Producer for PRI’s Living on Earth and a Producer at NPR’s On Point before coming to Farm Aid. Jessica has experience creating other podcasts such as the Tufts Nutrition Internet Radio Program and was a creator and contributor to the hyper-local podcast Hey, Shaker! Her written work has appeared on NPR, Architectural Digest, Time Out NYC and more. Jessica lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her family and loves to drink coffee, garden, cook and host themed dinner parties.

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The Farm Aid Festival

Farm Aid’s annual festival is a celebration of music and family farmers featuring a unique lineup of artists, along with family farm-identified, local and organic foods as part of our HOMEGROWN Concessions®.

Artists and Activism Series


Learn more about each episode, read transcripts, and view bonus material by clicking on the posts below.

Season One


Catch up on episodes from our first season to go behind-the-scenes of the festival, learn Farm Aid history, hear from artists, farmers, our Hotline Team and more.

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Give $100 or more to get the official Farm Aid 40 logo shirt grown, made and printed in the USA!

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