Candace Spencer explains why she became a food consultant and how food inequity hurts farmers.
Candace Spencer explains why she became a food consultant and how food inequity hurts farmers.
Candace Spencer was destined to become a food consultant. At eight years old, her mother discovered that Candace had a food allergy and Candace started the journey of living (and eating) dairy-free.
When her father encouraged Candace to attend law school, this was a seed that would grow into Candace founding a food and legal consultancy, where she teaches others how to live empowered lives.
Getting into law school was frustrating for Candace because she didn’t know what she was doing. At one point, she was checking schools off a list, reviewing different websites and trying to guess which school would be a good fit. Thankfully a professor at the University of Florida suggested that Candace attend the University of Florida law school (and she did).
“I tell everyone that law school sucks,” explains Candace Spencer. Candace shares how law school is a system not designed for everyone to win. The systematic racism and competition ingrained in law school makes higher education a difficult experience for Black people.
But Candace Spencer endured law school and had no idea what she wanted to do after graduation. However, Candace quickly looked toward food advocacy, an issue that has always been a large part of her life.
Honestly, food restrictions are very serious… but often overlooked by people who don’t experience them. This is why Candace insists on teaching others how to openly discuss their dietary restrictions and how to insist that friends keep their restrictions in mind when choosing restaurants and other events to attend.
“I helped my friend create a dairy-free Thanksgiving menu,” shared Candace Spencer during the interview. I also teach others how to discuss their allergies without shame and how to use different phrases to mention their dietary restrictions.
“I once saw a restaurant that put butter in their burger. I know that fat and butter is flavor, but it’s frustrating to know that it is included in EVERYTHING!,” said Candace. Candace Spencer enjoys advocating for people with dietary restrictions and allowing others to learn from her experiences.
Let’s not even talk about how eggs are included in the dairy sections of grocery stores. A lot of the misunderstandings that people have about dietary restrictions come from how systematic issues and bigger than us.
This is why Candace Spencer believes in food advocacy. After working for a non-profit agency, Candace then moved into a mediator role. Candace is passionate about teaching Black people how to run stronger farms and how to fight food inequities.
Candace Spencer has a side hustle, where she works as a food and legal consultant. In her food consultancy, Candace empowers others to discuss their dietary restrictions and embrace dairy-free living. Candace created the YouTube channel, Spilled Milk, where she touts “There’s no crying over spilled milk… We weren’t going to drink it anyway.”
In her legal consultancy, Candace advocates for Black farmers and food entrepreneurs about how to change the food and agricultural space. In this episode, Candace Spencer explains that, outside of grassroots organizations, there is a lack of diversity in the food and agricultural space. Candace is proud to work in this space and see more Black people join this space.
Even though Candace did not love her law school experience, Candace acknowledged the privileges that come with being a law school graduate.
“I am not intimidated by everything related to running a business. I can learn it myself or I have friends that I can reach out to when I have questions,” explains Candace. Friends she met in law school or her career since graduating from the University of Florida law school.
Watch Candace’s YouTube channel, Spilled Milk: https://youtu.be/douC0XeQeDg
Talk to Candace about the value of using a food consultant: https://candaceaspencer.com/work-with-me/
LISTEN TO LEARN
WHAT WE DISCUSS
EPISODE TIMESTAMPS
00:01 - INTRO: Welcome to You Are A Lawyer podcast with Kyla Denanyoh
00:29 - Welcome to the podcast!
00:33 - Would you tell the audience about yourself, Candace Spencer?
00:58 - Have you always enjoyed baking? Do you like to bake everything? Where did this love of baking come from? I’ve watched your YouTube videos on the Spilled Milk channel.
01:39 - You can be a baker and a lawyer. This platform is all about doing everything. Did you grow up enjoying sweets and did your mom use a lot of cookbooks when you were a kid?
02:42 - I read cookbooks because I find them relaxing. I have at least 18 cookbooks. Do you still enjoy cookbooks and have you found dairy-free cookbooks?
03:47 - Not following the recipe is very ‘anti-lawyer;’ you’re making things fit into what you want.
04:23 You went to undergrad and law school at the University of Florida. Did you enjoy law school?
06:33 - You have to find the practical courses in law school or you will only learn theory. I was lucky to find Southern University Law Center because I didn’t attend an HBCU in law school.
07:30 - Discussion about how to find the right law school and being determined to leave your home state; Kyla ran from Ohio and Candace wanted to run away from Florida.
08:41 - You were eight years old when you discovered your food allergy. Now you work as a food consultant. What do you do as a dairy-free consultant?
09:47 - So you are empowering people in being dairy-free. It is more than just getting a Whopper with no cheese because there are restaurants that butter their bread.
10:45 - Let’s discuss your YouTube channel, Spilled Milk, where you mention “No need cry over spilled milk because we are not going to drink it anyway.” Why did you start the Spilled Milk YouTube channel and why is it so important to you?
12:37 - It is an important distinction that eggs are not included in being dairy-free. Dairy sections of grocery stores often include eggs and cheese in the area
13:10 - Jeni’s Ice Cream makes a lot of dairy-free ice cream options and it is so good and the calories are a lot less than the dairy-based ice cream flavors. Are you a fan of dairy-free desserts?
13:53 - I love your platform because if you, Candace, can say that you don't eat dairy or I don't feel good when you eat dairy. But when you empower another person and that motivates someone else to speak up, then we can have a movement.
14:29 - You are currently in Washington, D.C. When brought you to DC?
15:14 - Is your current job food and agriculture policy?
15:34 - What does a typical day look like as a mediator for a nonprofit consulting firm?
16:15 - I am picturing you in an office, wearing a white lab coat with beakers and creating the reports that tell the public where there is a romaine lettuce shortage. Is this the case?
17:02 - This is very interesting because you don't work for the USDA and a mediation firm that works with the USDA. I am excited to be informing the public about food justice and the fact that food and agriculture mediation exists.
17:53 - I’m listening to all the jargon that you have from being in this space!
18:22 - I saw on your website, candaceaspencer.com, that you also do legal consulting. How is that going and is it also in the food space?
19:51 I love the look of your website. You mention that you want to “Bring justice to the food system for Black people.” Why this specific group of people and how do you bring justice to the food system?
21:38 You even have the privilege of being in food and agriculture, because I don't know many Black and brown people in this space.
22:10 - I know you wouldn't have your legal consultancy without going to law school, but how do you think law school has helped with running other businesses and starting your YouTube channel?
23:09 - So you hated law school, even though you love being a lawyer. You said that you always wanted to be a lawyer. Did you always feel that way, or did you consider doing something else than looking at law school?
24:36 - I hope the audience is capturing that you can write your own ticket and do whatever you need to do to advocate in law school. Even though the law is a tool, you can be rebellious and put applesauce in a recipe if you want and who is gonna stop me?
25:12 - Is there anything that you would like to share about being a lawyer, what it takes to become a lawyer
26:20 - There is room to be creative in the law.
26:30 - OUTRO - Thank you for listening to You Are A Lawyer. Rate the podcast and join the email list to get new episodes in your email inbox.
Candace Spencer is licensed to practice law in Florida. Learn more about Candace Spencer:
Website: https://candaceaspencer.com/work-with-me/
YouTube: How to Enjoy the Holidays Dairy Free!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candaceaspencer/
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You Are A Lawyer is hosted by Kyla Denanyoh. Follow the podcast:
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Website: https://www.youarealawyer.com
Listen to a podcast mentioned in this episode: Black in the Garden
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