Based in Chicago, the Third Coast International Audio Festival (TCIAF) curates sound-rich audio stories from around the world and shares them with as many ears as possible – on the radio, on the Internet, and at public listening events all over the place. Operating year-round, Third Coast offers producers and listeners a multitude of ways to celebrate audio storytelling. Tune in to this special recording as Erin Fairbanks chats with Julie Shapiro about this years short documentary challenge, which is being organized in conjunction with the James Beard Foundation. Thanks to our sponsor, Whole Foods.

"We're always listening for things to share with other people." [1:30]

--Julie Shapiro of Third Coast Festival on HeritageRadioNetwork.org

In this James Beard Media Awards preview, Mariana Cotlear is joined in the studio by photography nominee Nathan Rawlinson. Tune into this segment to hear about Nathan's past at culinary school and at famed New York restaurant, Eleven Madison Park. Learn what photojournalistic endeavor shot Nathan into the spotlight. Hear about Nathan's experiences shooting celebrity chefs like Wiley Dufresne and Alex Stupak. Find out how Nathan's most recent trip to Spain brought back memories over discovering serious food, and listen in to hear what kinds of projects Nathan shot overseas? What's next for Nathan Rawlinson? Tune into this HRN Community Session to find out! This program has been sponsored by Whole Foods. Thanks to PEELS for today's music.

"Each chef had a different inspiration for how they would plate a dish. It was very interesting." [5:15]

"I think for me, I think it's helpful because I can talk a lot of the language of a restaurant. I can think in a chef's terms, or a restaurant owner's terms." [8:20]

-- Photographer Nathan Rawlinson

Books are back! Mitchell Davis talks about the rise in popularity of food books, book clubs and reading in general with Cara Cannella, editor of Biographile.com and Moderator of the Brooklyn Kitchen Book Club. Tune in to hear about some of the books exciting Cara these days, and how she's helping build a community of Brooklyn foodies who also love to read. Learn more about the historical intersections between food and writing as Mitchell and Cara remember authors such as Nora Ephron and James Beard and discuss the new outlets in which people are expressing themselves through writing such as blogs and twitter. This program was sponsored by Whole Foods Market.

"In this age where we're all attached to these digital devices and much of our lives are lived in our heads, people are craving grounding and you can get that through cooking. Cooking brings us back to the earth and puts us in the present moment."

"Reading is not something we should do. It's something that can come out of desire and joy."

--Cara Cannella, editor of Biographile.com on Taste Matters