UMD student’s podcast creates ties between people and their food
Mark Idstrom and podcast guest Adam Kemp. Photo by Izabel Johnson
What are you actually eating? Do you know where that food came from and who made it? The podcast, “The Simple Plate,” helps to answer these questions for people in the Duluth community.
The podcast is written, edited, produced, and hosted by UMD senior Mark Idstrom and broadcast through the KUMD radio station. An episode is aired every other week.
According to Idstrom, the KUMD station was approached by Whole Foods Co-op of Duluth with an idea: a program that would connect people to food and tell the stories of local farmers. Idstrom immediately saw the potential in the idea and said that he knew this was a job for him.
Mark Idstrom recording an episode of "The Simple Plate." Photo by Izabel Johnson
“‘The Simple Plate’ is the tales of local food made and produced by local people,” Idstrom said, “so, understanding from farm to plate...learning about who these people are, so you have a personal connection to them as well, and then you have a closer connection to your food.”
The podcast has been a hit since its beginning. According to Idstrom, it became one of the highest ranking posts for the year within a week of being released.
“It’s awesome to see just a really authentic show pick up so much traffic because it just shows that people really do care about these stories,” Idstrom stated.
“I love the show. I love the production values of the show...I’m just really really impressed,"Northland Morning” host and KUMD news director Lisa Johnson said, “I have seen consistency, which I love...the second one was just as good as the first one.”
When asked about his favorite part of the podcasting process, Idstrom said, “Making friends with the local business owners and people involved in the local food culture.”
Idstrom also gets to sample the food that he is discussing on the show, which he says is a major perk.
One of the biggest challenges faced in the production of “The Simple Plate,” according to Idstrom, was the process of editing the interviews he recorded or, “making the podcast digestible (for people).”
“It’s a constant learning experience...ups and downs… it’s a rollercoaster of emotions,”
said Idstrom regarding his overall experience with podcast production.
When asked his advice for aspiring podcasters, Idstrom said, “Be enthusiastic about it; be passionate about it, because that’s where it all comes from. If you care about it, then it’ll sort of inspire other people to take interest in it as well… just go for it.”
Idstrom graduates from UMD this December. The KUMD station is currently in the process of finding a new host to take over “The Simple Plate” after his departure.
“I am beyond thankful for this opportunity,” Idstrom said.
Idstrom wishes to thank Whole Foods Co-op of Duluth, Lisa Johnson, Kevin Stanke, Chris Harwod, Christine Dean, and his parents.