As I started to write this intro, I looked back to review what I wrote four weeks ago: “What a year we have experienced! From the questioning of long held scientific principles to the chatter of what a ‘healthy America’ really is, I found myself mired in the daily, and often hourly, headlines. Headlines that often created angst and left me questioning how to cut through the clutter.”
So, here we are in 2026 — same song, new verse! From the release of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines and praise of saturated fat, to the real reality of unrest and loss of dignity for each other, I, too, must remind myself of what I previously wrote about the power of conversation. “Let us start to rise above the chatter … changing it to conversations that seek understanding, address challenging issues from farm to plate and ultimately find solutions for all, not just a few.”
So where do we start? While another podcast will not change the world, we can have conversations about the issues at hand. The debut of “Rooted & Restless with Marianne Smith Edge” is designed to do just that. What has been a “seven-year contemplation” is finally a reality thanks to those who have provided advice, listened, and are now “sitting across the table.”
So come join me! Let’s look for opportunities to converse, rise above the chatter and remember — whether we grow, prepare or serve food — it’s about providing food that is economically viable, is accessible and promotes good health for all. Subscribe and listen to “Rooted & Restless with Marianne Smith Edge” on your favorite podcast platform — Spotify, Amazon, Apple, and iHeart — or watch on YouTube.
Read the January 2026 issue of The AgriNutrition Edge Report.