Have you ever had just one of those days where everything felt like it was on fire, maybe literally in the world or metaphorically in your own career… and you just wanted a quick way to chill? If you stumbled across a pastel beverage in a convenience store that could offer you chill in a bottle… would you go for it?
This week, we’re exploring the rise of the calming beverage industry with the incredible food and beverage writer, Alicia Kennedy. Her writing focuses on climate, culture, and cocktails, with a heavy emphasis on veganism (it’s history, politics, and ever-evolving definition). Currently based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, she’s been covering the island’s culinary scene and foodways since 2015. Additionally, she’s a contributing editor to Edible Brooklyn and Edible Manhattan, a food columnist for How We Get to Next and EATER magazine, and she has a podcast called Meatless, which featured conversations with chefs and writers on issues around culture and meat consumption. So basically, she finds genius ways to explore politics and culture through food and beverage.
I first came across her work in an article she did for EATER which explores how new CBD-based and herbal beverages are expanding what the wellness industry covers, and its impact in the anxiety economy. It was one of those essays where the connections she pulled between beverage and gender and wellness truly just blew my mind. So I invited her on the show to talk about this a bit more – which we do today!
If you loved this conversation, do yourself a solid and check out her writing, I can’t speak to how much I love her perspective enough! I included some of my favourite essays of hers below as well.
Learn more about Alicia: