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 FridaysThe mission of Bite the Power and why storytelling mattersNavigating pushback in the culinary spaceMental health and social media in the spotlightThe 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 cultureThis 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 #BlackOwnedRestaurantsChapters00:00 Introduction to the Black Smoke Barbecue Podcast04:58 The Birth of Black Food Fridays10:00 Navigating Pushback and Critique15:01 The Importance of Mental Health and Social Media20:13 The Journey to the James Beard Award28:19 The Weight of Recognition30:41 Navigating Expectations and Reality32:41 Responsibility and Legacy36:39 Bite the Power: A Culinary Movement44:43 Red Rice Day: Celebrating Cultural Heritage49:32 Exploring Culinary Favorites and Traditions50:15 Top Black-Owned Restaurants to Visit56:22 The Journey to Collect 500 Menus01:01:25 Documenting Black Culinary Heritage01:04:36 The Importance of Community in Food Culture