Pierre Thiam is a renowned chef, restaurant owner, cookbook author, and co-founder of Yolélé – a company working to introduce the world to fonio, an ancient West African grain built for climate change.
But it hasn't been all sunshine and good harvests for Pierre. In fact, he was robbed just days after he first arrived in New York City from Senegal.
It was 1989, and he had just traveled to the U.S. to study chemistry and physics. This chance incident, however, set Pierre’s life on an entirely different course.
This week on How I Built This Lab, Pierre talks with Guy about his company’s work circulating fonio, a nutrient-dense and drought-resistant food source. Pierre also shares how he overcame cultural norms to embrace his cooking career, and his take on the connection between colonization and the vulnerability of our global food systems.
This episode was produced by Katherine Sypher and edited by John Isabella, with music by Ramtin Arablouei. Our audio engineer was Gilly Moon.
You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Reinvesting in our cities with renewable energy with Donnel Baird of BlocPower (2022)
Spikeball: Chris Ruder
Saving the f#$%ing rainforests with Shara Ticku of C16 Biosciences
Harry’s Razors: Andy Katz-Mayfield and Jeff Raider
Tapping the heat beneath your feet with Kathy Hannun of Dandelion Energy
Tory Burch: Tory Burch
Cultivating a creative community with Tina Roth-Eisenberg of CreativeMornings
Chef and Restaurateur: Thomas Keller
HIBT Lab! Google: Sundar Pichai (2022)
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: Tim and Karrie League
HIBT Lab! Cotopaxi: Davis Smith
Mielle Organics: Monique Rodriguez
HIBT Lab! Landed: Alex Lofton
Hinge: Justin McLeod (2021)
HIBT Lab! Babcock Ranch: Syd Kitson
Suitsupply: Fokke de Jong
HIBT Lab! Hevesh5: Lily Hevesh
Manduka: Peter Sterios
HIBT Lab! Ursa Major: Joe Laurienti
Halo Top Ice Cream: Justin Woolverton
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Planet Money
Freakonomics Radio
The Daily
Kids Of The Future
Best of Storytime RNZ