The Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast · May 7, 2025 · 1 hr 7 min
Ep. 69: The Impact of Black Food Fridays w/ KJ Kearney
👉🏽 Before you do anything else — check out the site below!🎙️ The Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/BlackSmokeBarbecue 🔥 In this powerful episode of the Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast, Brandon and the crew sit down with the trailblazing KJ Kearney — founder of Black Food Fridays and recipient of the prestigious James Beard Award. Together, they dig into KJ’s inspiring journey through food, culture, and community activism. 🍽️ From the birth of Black Food Fridays to the heart of Gullah Geechee traditions and Red Rice Day, KJ shares how food can be a force for change. He opens up about the highs and challenges of winning a James Beard Award, the mental toll of public visibility, and how legacy and storytelling shape the future of Black culinary excellence. 🎧 Tune in for: The origin story behind Black Food Fridays The mission of Bite the Power and why storytelling matters Navigating pushback in the culinary space Mental health and social media in the spotlight The importance of preserving Black food heritage (including KJ’s 500-menu collection!) The dream of a Black food museum and what’s next for the culture This episode is a flavorful mix of truth, tradition, and transformation — don’t miss it! 👇 Like, subscribe, and drop a comment with your favorite Black-owned restaurant or dish! #BlackSmokeBBQPodcast #BlackFoodFridays #KJKearney #JamesBeardAward #BlackFoodCulture #BiteThePower #GullahGeechee #RedRiceDay #CulinaryLegacy #FoodForChange #BlackOwnedRestaurants Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast 04:58 The Birth of Black Food Fridays 10:00 Navigating Pushback and Critique 15:01 The Importance of Mental Health and Social Media 20:13 The Journey to the James Beard Award 28:19 The Weight of Recognition 30:41 Navigating Expectations and Reality 32:41 Responsibility and Legacy 36:39 Bite the Power: A Culinary Movement 44:43 Red Rice Day: Celebrating Cultural Heritage 49:32 Exploring Culinary Favorites and Traditions 50:15 Top Black-Owned Restaurants to Visit 56:22 The Journey to Collect 500 Menus 01:01:25 Documenting Black Culinary Heritage 01:04:36 The Importance of Community in Food Culture