The Media Machine Why Our Food System Is Eating the Earth: Michael Grunwald on Climate, Land, and the Future of Food
In this episode of The Media Machine, Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading sit down with award-winning journalist and bestselling author Michael Grunwald to explore the hidden climate story behind our global food system.
Drawing on decades of environmental reporting and his new book We Are Eating the Earth, Michael explains why agriculture has become one of the largest drivers of climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and water pollution.
The conversation examines the overlooked role of land use in climate conversations, the political and cultural sensitivities around food choices, and the difficult trade-offs required to feed a growing global population without destroying the planet.
From food waste and fertilizer pollution to alternative proteins, artificial intelligence, and emerging agricultural technologies, this episode explores the complex intersection of food, climate policy, innovation, and storytelling.
For media creators, policymakers, and food system leaders alike, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that the stories we tell about food shape the future of the planet.
About the Guest
Michael Grunwald is an award-winning journalist, author, and longtime environmental reporter whose work has shaped public understanding of climate policy, energy systems, and environmental change.
He has written for The New York Times, Politico, Time Magazine, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe, where he built a reputation for translating complex environmental and political systems into compelling narratives.
Michael is the author of three books including The Swamp, The New New Deal, and his latest book We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate. His work focuses on the intersection of policy, agriculture, technology, and climate solutions.
Through his reporting and writing, Michael examines how political incentives, economic systems, and cultural narratives shape the decisions that determine our environmental future.
What We Cover in This Episode
- Michael's journey from climate and energy reporting into food systems
- The moment he realized agriculture was the missing climate story
- Why land use is one of the most overlooked drivers of climate change
- How agriculture now occupies roughly 40 percent of the planet's land
- The role of beef and livestock in global emissions and land use
- Why cutting beef consumption can significantly reduce climate impact
- The hidden environmental costs of fertilizer waste and nutrient pollution
- Why food waste remains one of the largest inefficiencies in the global food system
- The difficult trade-offs involved in feeding nearly 10 billion people by 2050
- The promise and challenges of alternative proteins and cultivated meat
- How artificial intelligence may accelerate agricultural innovation
- Why storytelling is essential to making complex climate and food issues understandable
- Agriculture is responsible for a large share of climate emissions and environmental degradation, yet it receives far less attention than energy and transportation.
- Land use is the hidden driver behind many environmental crises including deforestation, biodiversity loss, water shortages, and carbon emissions.
- Feeding a growing global population will require producing more food while using less land and fewer resources.
- Reducing beef consumption and cutting food waste could dramatically lower the environmental footprint of the food system.
- Technological innovation, including alternative proteins, gene editing, and AI-assisted agriculture, may play a critical role in solving the food and climate challenge.
- Storytelling is essential for translating complex environmental systems into narratives that people can understand and act on.
"If we only ate two burgers a week instead of three, we would save a Massachusetts worth of land every year."
"Agriculture now covers about 40 percent of the planet's land."
"Trying to decarbonize the planet while tearing down forests for agriculture is like trying to clean while smashing your vacuum cleaner to bits."
"Globally, we waste between a quarter and a third of the food we grow."
"Perfect isn't on the menu for most people. Better is better than worse."
"Human beings are not great at making sacrifices for the future, but we are really good at inventing things."
"Food is personal. We vote on these issues three times a day."
ABOUT THE HOSTSJohanna Salazar is a media systems builder with more than two decades of experience operating across television, streaming, sports, and digital platforms. She brings an operator's lens to the industry, breaking down how media systems function and how decisions and incentives shape outcomes.
Julie Kellman Reading is a creative executive, executive producer, and founder with experience spanning linear television, digital content, and independent ventures. She brings a people-first perspective and deep creative insight into how media is built, scaled, and sustained.
Together, they guide conversations designed to help operators see what is coming next and act with calm confidence.
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CREDITS
- Created by: Johanna Salazar
- Hosts: Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading
- Executive Producers: Johanna Salazar and Julie Kellman Reading
- Edited by: Love + Daydreams, Canvas Films Colombia
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Johanna Salazar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_johannasalazar/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannasalazar/ Website: the-mediamachine.com
Julie Kellman Reading Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveanddaydreams/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekellmanreading/ Website: https://www.loveanddaydreams.com
ABOUT THE PODCAST
THE MEDIA MACHINE is a strategy podcast that breaks down how media really works. Created by Johanna Salazar, the show explores the systems, deals, and decisions shaping the future of media, tech, and content.
Each episode examines the industry through four core pillars:
Process: the strategies, tools, and systems shaping media production and distribution. Profits: the business models, investments, and revenue engines driving the industry. People: the creators, executives, and operators redefining the landscape. Planet: the broader cultural and societal impact of media.
The goal is not to react faster, but to see more clearly, understand long-term shifts, and make smarter short-term decisions.
This show is for operators, builders, and decision-makers who want signal over noise, clarity over hype, and confidence over urgency.