Pleasure isn’t the enemy of sustainability. It might be the path to it.

Today, Lisa Kay Solomon is joined by Dana Cowin, longtime Food & Wine editor-in-chief, storytelling innovator, and founder of Progressive Hedonist, to talk about how creativity, curiosity, and continual reinvention shape a meaningful life.

From leading one of the most influential food magazines in the world to uplifting underrepresented voices and sustainable culinary practices, Dana has spent her career expanding our understanding of what “good food” means.

You’ll learn:

• Why reinvention is less about starting over and more about listening to what excites you now
• How Progressive Hedonism helps us rethink pleasure, connection, and long-term well-being
• The role sustainable food practices play in shaping a healthier future for people and the planet
• What Dana discovered when she left her “dream job” after 21 years
• Why curiosity is the engine that keeps creativity alive

Together, Lisa and Dana dive into the idea of being a Progressive Hedonist: the belief that pleasure and responsibility can coexist. Dana shares how eating deliciously can also mean eating ethically, and how sustainability becomes far more compelling when it’s rooted in joy rather than guilt.

This episode is a reminder that pleasure isn’t frivolous, it’s fuel. And when paired with intention, it becomes a powerful force for shaping a better future.

Links from the show:

• Progressive Hedonist manifesto
• Are you a Progressive Hedonist? Take the quiz!
• Learn how to throw your own Progressive Hedonist dinner party!
• Check out Dana’s book: Mastering My Mistakes: Learning to Cook with 65 Chefs and Over 100 Recipes
• Dana’s TED Talk: How ugly, unloved food can change the world