753: On Eating and Not Eating with Amber Husain

In this deeply reflective episode of *This Is TASTE*, host Eliza Barbanel speaks with author Amber Hussain about her new book, *Tell Me How You Eat*, a profound exploration of food as a political, historical, and deeply personal act. Hussain shares how her journey through anorexia and recovery led her to reframe eating not as a moral or individualistic struggle, but as a collective, imaginative, and liberating practice rooted in history, culture, and social connection. The conversation delves into how food shapes identity, power, and resistance—from ancient Roman emperors to modern veganism, from Audre Lorde’s pleasure activism to the politics of raw milk and psychedelic therapy. Hussain emphasizes that the act of eating becomes politically meaningful not through individual consumer choices, but through collective action, such as boycotts, hunger strikes, and food justice movements. The episode also features a lively 'Three Things' segment spotlighting standout restaurants in New York and L.A., including Bistro Ha, Cornerstone, Holy Basil, Bungalow, and Chateau Marmont, highlighting the sensory and cultural richness of dining. Throughout, the discussion balances vulnerability with intellectual rigor, offering a transformative lens on food as a force for connection, healing, and change.