Welcome to The Dairy Hour Podcast, where rural charm meets personal growth! Join us as we milk every moment for wisdom, self-improvement, and mental wellness. Farming is often more than just hard work—it’s a journey of resilience, personal growth, and constant challenges. In this episode of the Dairy Hour podcast, host Val Lavigne chats withKatie Brown about empowering health through food.
I’m your host, Val Lavigne, a rural dairy farming mom with a passion for filling hearts while never forgetting to fill my own cup. Get ready for insightful conversations, empowering tips, and a splash of fun and laughs, of course!
Posted on 07 May 2025 · 41 minutes
Watch Dairy Gal Val talk to Amanda Freund about Cow Pots and Courage, Farming, Innovation, and Shark Tank
Empowering Health Through Food: A Chat with Katie Brown
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In this inspiring episode of the Dairy Hour Podcast, host Val Lavigne (@DairyGalVal) sits down with Dr. Katie Brown, a registered dietitian and President of the National Dairy Council. Together, they explore the deep-rooted connection between food, health, and the future of dairy in supporting overall wellness.
Katie’s story begins in small-town Iowa, where her upbringing in a family business fostered an entrepreneurial spirit that would later guide her dynamic career path. From working as a clinical dietitian to becoming an educator and eventually a national leader in nutrition advocacy, Katie has always believed in the power of food to heal, connect, and transform lives.
A passionate advocate for a “food first” approach to health, Katie shares how her work has evolved over the years, including co-founding a nutrition consulting company and working with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Today, as a key voice at the National Dairy Council, she champions dairy’s role in gut health, body composition, and lifelong wellness.
Throughout the episode, Katie and Val dive into the exciting evolution of dairy science and its relevance in today’s nutrition landscape. From the prenatal and parenting space to the growing “food as medicine” movement, Katie explains why now is dairy’s moment to shine. She emphasizes the importance of staying focused on specific wellness lanes and the need to engage healthcare professionals in dairy advocacy.
This conversation is both practical and inspiring, filled with personal stories, reflections on mentorship, and deep connections to the dairy community. Katie reminds us that understanding people beyond their job titles allows for more meaningful conversations — especially when it comes to food, health, and the human experience.
With sound bites like “Dairy is having its moment in the spotlight” and “There’s a dairy renaissance right now,” this episode will leave you feeling energized about the future of nutrition and the vital role dairy plays in it.
Tune in and learn how dairy is empowering health through food — one conversation at a time.
Learn more about Val: dairygalval.com
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Be sure to subscribe, share, and leave a review if this conversation inspired you to take your next step forward—because every step truly matters.
