This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan welcome Carlos Yescas. Carlos is a globally respected cheese expert, author, and food systems thinker, and Partnership Coordinator at Food Newcastle, where he works to build a more equitable, sustainable, and connected regional food system.

His journey spans Mexico City, Ireland, the US, China, and now the North East of England. From washing dishes in a Galway cheesemonger to judging the world’s most prestigious food awards, Carlos shares how cheese became the thread connecting his work in human rights, migration, and food policy.

In this wide-ranging conversation, the team explore how radio and podcasting can tell human stories during crisis, why food waste is one of the UK’s biggest hidden challenges, and how upcoming changes in Newcastle - from devolution to major sporting events - could reshape the region’s food landscape.

They also dive into British cheese culture, the importance of provenance and local pride, and Carlos’s new book One Cheese to Rule Them All, which celebrates award-winning cheeses while uncovering the politics, people, and places behind them.

Along the way, there’s talk of tepid food, guilty-pleasure cheese pairings, Greggs vegan sausage rolls, and why there really is no moment in life without cheese.

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