Coffee is the richest source of dietary antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in the American diet. But behind every cup of coffee is a global story that spans centuries of cultural transformation, health science, and a tangled web of trade ethics. Corinna Bellizzi delves into this topic with Chris Kilhan, medicine hunter and author of The Way of Coffee. Together, they unpack the role of coffee in social transformation, particularly with critical tensions in the coffee trade and the nonstop price increase due to the “coffee shop culture.” Chris also presents potential solutions to solve the biggest problems of the global botanical trade to radically improve consumer prices and provide better opportunities to small farmers, the heroes behind our most delicious cups of coffee. About Guest: Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter, author, educator and yogi. The founder of Medicine Hunter Inc., Chris has conducted medicinal plant research and sustainable botanical sourcing in over 50 countries. Chris works with companies to develop and popularize traditional plant-based food and medicinal products into market successes. These include ashwagandha, kava, maca, rhodiola, schisandra, tamanu oil, cat’s claw, dragon’s blood, ayahuasca, and hundreds of other plants. Chris also works to bridge worlds, regularly sharing information about other cultures through presentations and media. He has appeared on major media globally for decades. The New York Times calls Chris “part David Attenborough, part Indiana Jones.” Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriskilham/  Guest Website: http://medicinehunter.com/ Guest Social:  https://www.instagram.com/medicinehunter/ https://www.facebook.com/medicinehunter/ https://www.youtube.com/user/chriskilham Additional Resources Mentioned: BOOK: The Way of Coffee by Chris Kilham, Medicine Hunter CHRIS' EARLIER EPISODE: On Building Sustainable Communities By Learning From Indigenous People with Medicine Hunter, Chris Kilham PRIOR EPISODE MENTIONED: Healing The Soil Through Regenerative Farming With Ric Scalzo, CEO of Kokora Life Show Notes: 02:39 - Deep Dive Into Coffee Production And Consumption 15:06 - How Coffee Transformed Our Societies 21:03 - How We Can Walk Away From Unnecessary Coffee Hype 34:43 - How Firms Can Commit To Running An Ethical Business 49:10 - Giving More Opportunities To Small Farmers 53:40 - What It Is Like To Bridge Different Worlds 01:01:39 - Green Flags To Look For When Buying Coffee And Botanicals 01:07:00 - Diving Into A Big Product Project On Coca Leaf BUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER Together, we planted 36,044 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. We screamed past our goal of planting 20,000 trees thanks to subscribers like you! NEW CAUSE PARTNER FOR 2026! If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/ Follow us on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.