28 Days of Soul Food: Day 17
Ariel Smith's dissertation for her Ph.D program chronicles food truck culture with her popular podcast that focuses mainly on Black owners.
I joined the audio chat-based Clubhouse in late December and, of course, I immediately jumped into the rooms focusing on food and beverage culture.
Of note was a food truck-focused chat hosted by The Food Truck Scholar. I was intrigued because moderator Ariel D. Smith discussed how she had interviewed more than 100 food truck owners on her podcast. The majority of her interviewees have been Black women who own food trucks from coast to coast.
Since then, I’ve interviewed Smith twice, once for my recent Time Out Everywhere feature where I spotlighted 15 Black trailblazers across the country who are changing the way we eat and drink in 2021, and again last week for the LIVE! Culinary Series.
But what’s even more intriguing about what Smith is doing with her podcast is that it’s part of her dissertation for her doctorate degree, which she will earn in 2022.
“Let me find out I can eat my way to a Ph.D,” Smith exclaimed during our recent chat. Her interviews range from discussing the challenges the owners have had selling their goods during the pandemic to unique offerings found on the food trucks to bringing on experts who can help owners learn more about grants, financing, and more.
Check out the interview in its entirety right here.