Food Rebels

Food Fight

This week we’re rerunning one of our most talked-about conversations. What are ultra-processed foods really doing to our health, our kids and our food culture?
In this powerful episode, AJ Sharp sits down with Dr Dolly van Tulleken to unpack the rise of UPFs and the complex mix of politics, marketing and industry influence that keeps them on our plates.
Dolly shares her journey into food policy, reveals how decisions are shaped behind closed doors and challenges the cultural norms that disconnect us from real food. From school meals to supermarket shelves, this conversation explores how the system really works, why change is so difficult and what needs to happen next.

The Jolly Hog on Building Better Sausages

What happens when three brothers ditch the safe path to chase a sausage dream?
In this episode, AJ Sharp sits down with Olly and Max Kohn, two of the three brothers behind The Jolly Hog, the British meat brand that’s gone from a Kenwood sausage machine in a one-bed flat to shelves in every major UK supermarket.
They share the real story behind the growth, from unpaid early days and street food graft to cracking retail, building a brand without investment, and partnering with the likes of Marmite and Colman’s.
It’s a conversation about flavour, farming and the future of meat, digging into welfare standards, B Corp, and the pressure on brands to clean up ingredients in the age of ultra-processed food.
Honest, funny and full of insight, this is about doing meat properly, and proving you don’t have to cut corners to scale.

Chocolate Reimagined

Join us in this week, as we revisit our interview with Charlotte Miller, founder of Caroboo, shares her inspiring journey of revolutionising chocolate!
She delves into the challenges of balancing parenting and entrepreneurship while creating healthier treats for families. Discover the story behind Caroboo's unique products and learn about their innovative approach to marketing. Tune in to hear about the mission to transform children's snacking options and revolutionize the confectionery industry. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion on improving nutrition in our food choices!

Metabolism, Mindset and Modern Eating

What’s really driving the way we eat and why does it feel so hard to get it right?
In this episode of Food Rebels, AJ Sharp sits down with nutritional therapist Nicola Moore to unpack metabolism, mindset and modern eating. From ultra-processed foods and gut health to cravings, cortisol and GLP-1s, this is a straight-talking look at what’s actually going on inside our bodies.
They explore why we’re constantly hungry but undernourished, how our brains and gut are shaping our food choices, and why willpower has very little to do with it. Plus, a grounded take on weight loss drugs and what they can and can’t fix.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle with food, this one will change how you see it.

Fighting the Food System and Running for Change

What happens when food justice stops being a conversation and becomes a political mission?
In this episode of Food Rebels, AJ Sharp sits down with Sarah Bentley, founder of Made in Hackney, to go way beyond the usual chat on ultra-processed food and “better choices”. 
Sarah announces on the show that she is now standing as a Green Party candidate, taking everything she’s learned from the front line of food justice into politics, because if the system is broken, someone has to change it.
From food swamps and broken food culture to the reality of feeding communities on the ground, Sarah connects the dots between what’s on our plates and the structures shaping our lives. And then she does something most people don’t. She steps in.
This is about power, inequality and why the system is stacked against real food and community.

Denmark’s Food Revolution: Plant-Rich Thinking and the magic of Green Umami

Why does Denmark seem so far ahead when it comes to cutting ultra-processed food, serving better plant-rich meals and making sustainable food choices feel normal rather than niche?
In this episode of Food Rebels, AJ Sharp sits down with Anders Nicolajsen from the Danish Agriculture & Food Council to dig into how Denmark has built a food system where organic, seasonal and plant-rich food is not just an aspiration, but something that actually works in public kitchens, restaurants and canteens.
They get into the long-term policy thinking that helped make change stick, why chef autonomy matters, how Denmark’s tiered organic certification system works, and why consumers are far more likely to choose greener dishes when they are led by taste, pleasure and great storytelling rather than guilt. Anders also shares insights from Danish consumer research, explains why the term plant-rich lands better than plant-based, and explores the role of chefs, waiters and menu language in helping diners make different choices.
The conversation also looks at green umami, upcycling, food waste, the future impact of GLP-1 drugs on restaurant culture, and why the next stage of change depends on better communication and more fruit and veg being grown closer to home.
It is a fascinating look at what happens when a country stops just talking about food system change and starts building it.

IWD E4: Ayesha Kalaji on Flavour, Fire and Fearlessness

In this final Women Changing the World episode, AJ Sharp sits down with chef and restaurateur Ayesha Kalaji to talk about building a career on her own terms, from studying Middle Eastern politics to earning four consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmands at Queen of Cups in Glastonbury.
They get into the realities of being a woman in professional kitchens, the outdated stereotypes that still linger, and why real change in hospitality has to come from within. Ayesha also shares how she went from working in other people’s kitchens to opening her own restaurant, staying fiercely true to herself, and turning joy, warmth and bold flavour into her signature style. It’s a brilliant conversation about resilience, identity, leadership and what happens when you stop trying to fit the mould and build your own table instead.
This series is sponsored by Fox and Bloom, a female-founded, women-led UK skincare brand creating 100% natural, waterless and plastic-free products designed to support healthy skin and the planet.
Listeners can also enjoy 15% off Fox and Bloom skincare throughout March using the code REBELS15.

IWD E3: Donna Edwards on Natural Skincare and Radical Simplicity

In this special International Women’s Day series episode of Food Rebels, Women Changing the World, AJ Sharp sits down with Donna Edwards, founder of Kent-based skincare brand Fox and Bloom. Donna shares the story behind her journey from part-time teacher to natural skincare entrepreneur, sparked by a life-changing mindfulness course that helped her rethink how she wanted to live and work. 
 
Drawing on her upbringing in a farming family and a background in applied biology, Donna created a range of 100% natural, waterless skincare products designed to support the skin’s natural barrier rather than overwhelm it with unnecessary ingredients. Her philosophy is rooted in simplicity: fewer ingredients, less waste, and a return to natural foundations. 
 
In the conversation, AJ and Donna explore surprising parallels between food and skincare, from the dangers of ultra-processed ingredients to the growing consumer shift toward transparency and healthier choices in everything we consume or apply to our bodies.
 
They also discuss the realities of building a business later in life, challenging the myth that entrepreneurship is only for the young. Donna explains why starting a business in your 40s can bring clarity, experience and confidence, and shares practical advice for anyone considering taking the leap.
 
From mindfulness and lifestyle businesses to integrity in product creation, this episode is a thoughtful conversation about slowing down, trusting your instincts and building something meaningful on your own terms.
 
Listeners can also enjoy 15% off Fox and Bloom skincare throughout March using the code REBELS15.