Episode 188: In Support of Meat with Michele Thorne of Good Meat Project

For the latest episode of The Appropriate Omnivore podcast, host Aaron interviews Michele Thorne of Good Meat Project. Michele describes her journey into food systems transformation, beginning with concerns about food company transparency, ingredient adulteration, and corporate control, and shares her wide-ranging background from nonprofit management to raising animals herself. She explains Good Meat’s mission to advance an ethical meat system and details their programs, including FARMIN (farmer marketing support), BACON (butcher-chef partnerships), Good Meat Breakdown (consumer education), and various annual promotions. Michele emphasizes the organization’s focus on small and mid-sized local producers nationwide, busting myths about affordability and highlighting the benefits of direct-to-consumer bulk buying. She also discusses efforts to connect stakeholders and build community through initiatives like the Good Meat Switchboard and quarterly journals, while outlining challenges faced by the movement. Finally, Michele shares her vision for future resources and collaborations from Good Meat and invites listeners to join the community and explore their free educational offerings.