In the latest episode of The Peanut Podcast, hosts Ashton Pellom and Lauren Highfill Williams explore how colleges across the country are embracing peanuts—not just as a flavorful staple, but as a key part of thoughtful, modern allergen-management programs. This episode brings together the voices of chefs, nutrition directors, industry experts and a student ambassador to show how peanuts can stay on the menu safely, confidently and creatively.

At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Executive Sous Chef Caleb Pham oversees dining halls that serve tens of thousands of meals every day. For her, peanuts are inseparable from cultural authenticity and student expectation.

“Peanut has always been an essential part of our menu design. Students come from India, Southeast Asia, China, and peanut has always been part of their cuisine.”

Behind the scenes, Pham’s team focuses heavily on training and daily communication to ensure accuracy and safety. “We tackle cross-contact and mislabeling through intensive allergy trainings. We constantly supervise and remind our staff of safe and sanitary practice in the kitchen.”

From pad Thai to chicken satay, Pham says removing peanuts isn’t an option; students simply wouldn’t stand for it.

UMass’s best-in-class allergen strategy comes to life in the approach led by Sabrina Hafner, associate director of nutrition. Her team engages students with food allergies long before they arrive on campus—through orientation questionnaires, proactive communication and personalized consultations.

And when it comes to peanuts, Hafner is clear: “We don’t ban peanuts. Providing an environment where students feel empowered helps set them up for adult life, because peanuts are really not going anywhere.”

Across the country, campuses are rethinking old assumptions about allergen safety. Valeri Lea, founder of Sherman Moritz LLC and consultant to the National Peanut Board, sees a major evolution. “The trend used to be avoidance, but we’re seeing a real shift. Full exclusion doesn’t create a safer or more inclusive environment.”

Lea shares how universities are implementing proven systems and how strong processes build campus-wide confidence. “You can serve peanuts safely with strong operational systems in place. It really starts with confidence built on the back of a good process.”

Rounding out the episode is Macy Moates, a student at Clemson University and an NPB Health Nut Club Ambassador. From food trucks to unexpected peanut-powered snacks, Moates says peanuts surprise students with both flavor and functionality. “There are so many things with peanuts in them. They’re so nutritious. I can eat them midday, and I’m good for a while.”

This episode highlights how peanuts support cultural authenticity, nutrition, inclusion and real-world readiness. Listen to the full episode of The Peanut Podcast to hear these stories firsthand—and discover why when peanuts are missing, something’s missing.

In the latest episode of The Peanut Podcast, we traveled to Newsoms, Virginia, where peanut farming isn’t just work—it’s a way of life. Our guest, Westley Drake, is a 14th-generation peanut farmer whose story blends heritage, faith, and resilience.

Westley shared how his earliest memories of farming came from following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. While he once considered firefighting and EMT work, it was his time at NC State that confirmed his calling in agriculture.

Listeners got a real look at the sacrifices farming requires—long days, unpredictable weather, and constant challenges. But Westley reminded us that farming is more than a career. It’s a year-long commitment to the land and to future generations.

We also heard from Westley’s wife, Maci, who described her own role in supporting farm life—from chasing cows out of the yard to delivering food to the fields. Together, they’ve built a family grounded in faith, adaptability, and teamwork.

Looking ahead, Westley sees peanut farming staying rooted in tradition while evolving with new tools and technology. His ultimate goal? To keep the farm thriving so his children—and future generations—can choose whether to continue the legacy.

As he put it best, farmers like him are “the bridge between the old and the wise and the new and the inexperienced.” Westley is carrying wisdom forward, while preparing space for those who will one day follow in his tracks.

🎧 Tune in to hear the full story of Westley Drake—a farmer, husband, father, and a living link in the long chain of peanut farming legacy.

The Peanut Podcast’s latest episode, “10 Years of LEAP: Bold Progress in Peanut Allergy Prevention,” hosted by Ashton Pellom and Lauren Highfill Williams, marks a milestone in food allergy history. Listeners are taken back to the origins of the groundbreaking LEAP study with lead researcher Dr. Gideon Lack, whose work proved that introducing peanut foods early and often in infancy could reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy by up to 80%. “The cause of the disease and the trigger of symptoms aren’t the same,” Dr. Lack explains, underscoring the shift from avoidance to proactive prevention. His insights remind us that science—and the courage to challenge old norms—can change lives.

Pediatric allergist Dr. Michael Pistiner brings both professional expertise and personal experience as a dad to a child with food allergies. His work on the FAMP-IT toolkit ensures parents and primary care providers have the resources to introduce peanut foods confidently. “Early introduction is no longer new or rogue. It’s the standard,” Dr. Pistiner says, emphasizing that every month counts in allergy prevention. Through partnerships with WIC and frontline clinicians, he champions consistent, accessible messaging for all families, regardless of resources.

Registered dietitian and maternal health advocate ChaCha Miller shares what it takes to make prevention advice practical and culturally relevant for families. Working through WIC and her online platform, she focuses on building trust and offering realistic solutions: “If it’s not easy, they won’t do it. It has to be simple and sustainable.” Her approach breaks down fear, combats misinformation and ensures that the life-changing benefits of early introduction reach all communities in ways that resonate.

Former National Peanut Board chair Dee Dee Darden blazed the trail for NPB’s commitment to the allergy issue and reflects on the Board’s decision to face peanut allergies head-on, even when the topic was uncomfortable. “If we’re going to be part of the problem, we need to be part of the solution,” she says.

NPB dietitian Markita Lewis shares why reaching WIC families is essential: “If we don’t reach them with early introduction info, we miss a chance to help prevent a lifelong health and financial burden.”

From farmers to clinicians to public health leaders, this episode celebrates a decade of progress—and calls on all of us to keep the momentum going. Listen to the full episode or watch the video to hear these powerful stories and join the movement at PreventPeanutAllergies.org.