Season One

In the inaugural season of Against the Grain: The Farm Aid Podcast, hosts Jessica Ilyse Kurn and Michael Stewart Foley cover a range of topics as a sampling of more in-depth series to come. They cover the origins of Farm Aid, corporate concentration in agriculture, Black land theft, regenerative agriculture and soil health, as well as bonus episodes with Neil Young and Chef Rick Bayless. The focus throughout is on working towards building a more just and equitable farm and food system.

Listen to episodes and see bonus material from season one below or click here to learn more about Against the Grain.

Season One | 11.26.25

Live from Farm Aid 40: Policymakers talk about the current farm crisis

Season One | 03.10.25

How Chefs and Farmers are Building the Good Food Movement

Season One | 01.16.25

Against the Grain Bonus Episode: Justin Jones

Season One | 12.20.24

Against the Grain Holiday Bonus Episode: Willie Nelson and Family

Season One | 11.25.24

Against the Grain Episode 7: Live Farm Aid 2024 Live Panel

Season One | 10.31.24

Against the Grain Bonus EP 4: Farm Aid’s Disaster Response

Season One | 09.18.24

Against the Grain EP 6: Connecting Farmers and Eaters

Season One | 09.04.24

Against the Grain Bonus EP 3, Zach Ducheneaux: Administrator with An Ear to the Ground

Season One | 06.28.24

Against the Grain EP 5: For Tribes, Food is Economy

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 Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Boston Sunday Globe, The Daily Beast and other news and public affairs outlets. (Photo © Suzanne Porter)

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®.

Learn about this year's festival