Know Better Do Better ~ Food Secure Nation

Cumulus Media Detroit

Hosted by award-winning radio show talent and Know Better Do Better founders Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson, Food Secure Nation is the conversation shaping the future of food security in America. Discover insights from community voices and national leaders as we shed light on real solutions for meaningful progress toward food security. Each episode spans discussions, interviews, exercises, resources, and takeaways, resulting in collective and actionable knowledge. We’re building a clarity engine that helps thousands of people know better so they can do better. Catch new episodes on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on WJR Detroit, or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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20 episodes
weekly
Avg 41 min
English

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#161
Sunday · 42 min
Trading Camo for Cans: How One Army Vet Kept His Mission Alive
October 10, 2026 ~ Dr. Phil Knight and Jerry Brisson explore veteran service and food security on Food Secure Nation. They discuss Clarence’s community contributions and interview retired Army Colonel Nate Springer about transitioning military leadership to food banking, organizational decentralization, and feeding families in Southern Colorado.
#160
Sunday · 33 min
Military Service in the Food Industry
Jerry Brisson and Dr. Phil Knight introduce Clarence and Nate Springer to highlight how military service instills a lasting commitment to helping others. When individuals take off the uniform, their dedication to a mission often shifts into local community leadership, such as volunteering at food banks or mentoring young people. Research shared by Vira supports this by showing that veterans volunteer at high rates and contribute substantially more annual hours than non-veterans, bringing valuabl
#159
October 4 · 42 min
Colleen Heflin and Madonna Harrington-Meyer Dive Into Senior Food Insecurity
Dr. Phil Knight and Jerry Brisson introduce a broader view of hunger among older populations by challenging traditional assumptions about food access. When Colleen Heflin and Madonna Harrington-Meyer discuss their book, they reveal that food scarcity is frequently the result of difficult budget trade-offs caused by high housing and utility expenses. Because older adults prioritize keeping a roof over their heads, food often becomes the most expendable budget item. Furthermore, Madonna Harrington
#158
September 27 · 42 min
Lori Dijkstra Joins Gerry Brisson and Dr. Phil Knight
Dr. Phil Knight and Lori Dijkstra discuss the complex social dynamics of food insecurity within tight-knit rural environments. Living in a small community means individuals often know the volunteers distributing assistance personally, creating a barrier of vulnerability and reluctance to ask for help. Lori Dijkstra shares personal reflections from growing up receiving assistance, illustrating the lingering shame associated with visible poverty markers like colored cards. This background informs
#157
September 19 · 42 min
Dennis McDonough's Path to Choosing Service and Food Security
Phil Knight and Jerry Brisson welcome Feeding America CEO Dennis McDonough to “Food Secure Nation.” Dennis McDonough shares his journey from a large Minnesota family to leading national government agencies and now fighting food insecurity. Discover how his background in service shapes his dedication to the mission.
#156
September 6 · 42 min
Gerry Brisson and Dr. Phil Knight Speak with Rebecca Freeman-Adcock
Rebecca Freeman-Adcock highlights that the federal government historically views food security through the lenses of national and economic stability. Because individuals facing food insecurity often face a singular, consuming problem regarding their next meal, Rebecca Freeman-Adcock advocates for aligning these high-level security conversations with the immediate needs of vulnerable populations. The discussion reveals that while policymakers often desire to help, they are frequently constrained
#155
August 30 · 42 min
Speaking with Food Research and Action Center's New President
Aug. 30, 2026 ~ Hosts Phillip Knight and Gerry Brisson talk to Crystal Fitz-Simons, who recently became the president for the Food Research and Action Center, FRAC, an organization that has spent more than 50 years shaping America's response to hunger. She isn't starting a new story, but she is writing the next chapter.
#154
August 16 · 42 min
Building Food Security in Appalachia
Aug. 16, 2026 ~ Hosts Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson talk to Cynthia Kirkhart to discuss her leadership at Facing Hunger Food Bank and her commitment to supporting families in Appalachia.
#153
August 9 · 42 min
Redefining Food Insecurity: Beyond Individual Needs
Aug. 9, 2026 ~ Phillip Knight discusses the importance of viewing food insecurity through the lens of person-in-environment theory, which identifies systemic failures rather than just personal shortcomings. By shifting focus from individual choices to environmental factors like transportation, education, and economic policy, they argue that we can develop more effective and lasting solutions.
#152
August 2 · 42 min
Fighting Food Insecurity in Small Town America
Aug. 2, 2026 ~ Dr. Philip Knight and Gerry Brisson discuss the importance of addressing food insecurity with dignity, particularly in small communities where the stigma of needing help is amplified by social familiarity.
#151
July 26 · 42 min
Ending Hunger: Why Food Security Is A Relationship Challenge
July 26, 2026 ~ Rebecca Freeman Adcock, the new chief government relations officer for Feeding America, about the importance of bridging the gap between national food policy and the lived experiences of those facing hunger.
#150
July 19 · 42 min
Leading Change: How Teams Can Solve Food Insecurity Together
July 19, 2026 ~ Dr. Dawn Opal is honored for her six and a half years at the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The group reflects on how their shared commitment to influence, insight, innovation, and integrity allowed them to navigate crises and improve food security for many.
#149
July 12 · 42 min
Beyond Food Banks: The Path to a Truly Food Secure Nation
July 12, 2026 ~ The hosts discuss the need to evolve the conversation around food security from a focus on simple output metrics to a more comprehensive six-dimensional framework that prioritizes human outcomes. By refining how organizations measure their work, they argue that leaders can better align their strategies with the actual needs and agency of the people they serve.
#148
June 14 · 42 min
From Success to Significance: A CEO’s Nonprofit Journey
June 14, 2026 ~ Kurt Reiber, the retiring CEO of Freestore Foodbank, joins the show to discuss his transition from successful careers in banking and law, to nonprofit leadership. Dr. Phil Knight shares insights on leading a food bank, including innovative fundraising like the rubber duck regatta and shifting focus from solely feeding to “ending the line” work through workforce training and supportive services.
#147
May 31 · 42 min
Beyond Hunger: Policy, Leadership, and Food Security
May 31, 2026 ~ Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio Region President Mike Land discusses his company's commitment to community involvement and making people’s lives better. Triada Stampas, CEO of Fulfill Food Bank in New Jersey, also joins the show to talk about her journey into food banking and her focus on policy to achieve food security.
#146
May 17 · 37 min
Leadership & Humility: Key to Food Security Success
May 17, 2026 ~ Dr. Phil Knight and Jerry Brisson discuss the qualities of great leaders, emphasizing continuous learning, curiosity, humility, and the ability to listen. Trisha Cunningham, CEO of North Texas Food Bank, shares her journey from the corporate world to nonprofit leadership, highlighting the importance of investing in people and leveraging technology to address food insecurity. Mike Lan, regional president for Huntington Bank, discusses his organization’s commitment to community deve
#145
May 10 · 45 min
Food Security: A New Framework for Collective Action
May 10, 2026 ~ Dr. Philip Knight and Gerry Brisson about how Know Better Do Better and Huntington Bank work together to address food insecurity through six dimensions for scalable solutions and community progress.
#144
May 3 · 37 min
Ending Food Insecurity: Agencies Unite for Stronger Communities
April 4, 2026 ~ Brian McGrain to discuss the importance of inter-organizational collaboration in addressing food insecurity, explaining the 60-year history of Community Action Agencies, emphasizing their role in local community development, from addressing homelessness to providing early childhood programs.
#143
April 27 · 37 min
Building Trust, Delivering Competence: The Connecticut Foodshare Story
April 26, 2026 ~ Jason Jakubowski, president and CEO of Connecticut Foodshare, to discuss his leadership and the organization’s work. He shares his journey into food banking and the impactful merger of two food banks into one unified entity serving the entire state of Connecticut.
#142
April 19 · 37 min
Leadership That Lasts: Dan Flowers on Food Security
April 19, 2026 ~ Leadership isn’t about getting it right—it’s how you show up when it matters. Dan Flowers joins Food Secure Nation to unpack trust, relationships, and the courage to lead in a divided world.

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