Personal Observations on U.S. Food Culture

Guest: Athena Kugblenu — comedian, author, commentator, and former Papercuts podcast regular

Athena Kugblenu is a UK-based comedian and writer known for her sharp cultural commentary and her ability to use humor to explore power, media narratives, and social change. In this episode, Athena joins me for a serious AND funny conversation about how veganism is being covered in the news — and what gets lost when complex ideas are flattened into headlines.

We talk about:

Why declaring “veganism is over” is a lazy media story, 

Why the real barriers to eating more plants are poverty, time, kitchens, and access, 

Why the alternative to meat isn’t fake meat — it’s a completely different way of thinking about food.

Along the way, Athena explains why comedy can work when arguments fail, how laughter creates shared reference points, and why humor can help people listen to ideas they might otherwise reject.

In this episode, we cover:

• How veganism became a media narrative instead of a lived practice

• Why the press loves false binaries (“the future” vs. “over”)

• Veganism, capitalism, and the problem with fake meat

• “Ingredients households” and why cooking from scratch matters

• Poverty and access as the biggest barriers to eating well

• Comedy as a tool for social change

• Why making people laugh helps them hear uncomfortable truths

Why this conversation matters right now

At a time when the news cycle thrives on outrage and oversimplification, this episode offers a steadier lens — one that rejects either/or thinking and makes space for nuance, compassion, and clarity.

Notice where headlines try to “bait” you into a binary — about food, politics, identity or anything else.

Listener challengeAsk yourself: What’s missing from this story? Or Who?Learn more about Athena Kugblenu at https://athenakugblenu.co.uk/

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