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Monday at 05:00 pm - 05:45 pm

Cutting the Curd

Featuring interviews with notable cheesemakers, cheesemongers, and cheese-lovers, Cutting the Curd is an informative, occasionally irreverent, but always cheesy look at the curdy, the nerdy, and the downright funky world of artisan cheese.

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Engineered by HRN Staff

Produced by Cara Warren

Hosted by

Cara Warren

Born and bred in Brooklyn, Cara is a CCP (certified cheese professional) and CCSE (certified cheese sensory expert) aka super curd nerd. With over 15 years of experience from Murray’s Cheese to current Director of East Coast Sales for the French dairy cooperative, Isigny Ste. Mere, she knows her cheese! Cara particularly relishes the opportunity to pair cheeses with delicious craft brews. Cara is an alumni of Brooklyn College with a Bachelor in Television & Radio. After graduating she went on to complete a media fellowship with the International Radio and Television Society (IRTS), won by national competition, at IRTS she was placed at CBS Radio. Starting now at Heritage Radio Network Cara is working again with both her passions of cheese and radio and she can’t wait to learn the whey!

Diane Stemple

In 2001, after many years of loving cheese from afar, Diane Stemple went to work at Artisanal Bistro & Fromagerie, one lunch shift per week. After two years, she followed many colleagues to work behind the counter at Murray’s Cheese shop in Greenwich Village, where she first furthered her knowledge and then helped teach and train others. She then worked with Debra Dickerson at 3D Cheese, representing Neal’s Yard Dairy, Jasper Hill, Redwood Hill and Avonlea Cheese from 2007 to 2009. After that she has continued to represent the Cellars at Jasper Hill, and more recently began hosting Cutting the Curd for cheese pal Anne Saxelby, and now does monthly book episodes on the show. Diane is also a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Port Washington and Williamsburg where she lives.

Carlos Yescas

  Carlos Yescas is a cheese scholar and book author. He is the co-founder of Lactography in Mexico, the first artisanal cheese distributor in his country. He serves as the Program Director of the Oldways Cheese Coalition, a US-based non-profit promoting artisanal cheese and protecting traditional cheesemaking practices. He created the LACTEO Network a consulting firm supporting cheese producers and retailers in Latin America. Since 2009, Carlos has served as a supreme judge of the World Cheese Awards. He divides his time between England and the United States. 

Jessica Kesselman

Jessica Kesselman is a food activist and loves to connect people through food from farm to table, from producer to consumer. She has been in the food industry over a decade starting as cheesemonger and worked her way up to executive account manager for a specialty food brokerage firm. Her expertise includes developing partnerships with community organizations and municipal bodies; she has established a subsidized CSA shares program for Hudson River Health Care, and Farm to School initiatives. One of her proudest achievements was coordinating local and state agriculture policy campaigns with elected officials and regional non-profit organizations to promote and preserve small farms in suburban districts and increase access to local agriculture. Jessica's passion for podcasting has led her to become a guest host for the Cutting the Curd, where she is eager to share and learn about developing food policies and activism in relation to cheese.

Latest Episodes

Interview w/ Hannah Howard, Author of the NEW Book, Plenty: A Memoir of Food and Family

Episode 465, Aired: September 13, 2021

On today's episode, Diane sits down with Hannah Howard to discuss her new book and find out what makes this memoir so special. Hannah Howard is a writer and food expert who spent her formative years in New York eating, drinking, serving, bartending, cooking on hot lines, and flipping giant wheels of...

Who will be the next CMI winner?

Episode 464, Aired: August 13, 2021

Today we interview Adam Moskowitz, host and showrunner of the Cheesemonger Invitational, about the Fall 2021 edition. It's gone virtual, but now it's back for the first time!! What does this mean and who will participate?? We find out the facts for the next competition. Heritage Radio Network is a...

Adopt-an-Alp with Caroline Hostettler, the History and Meaning of this Alpine Cheese Program

Episode 463, Aired: August 9, 2021

Today our guest Caroline Hostettler, introduces to the CTC audience what it means to participate in the Adopt an Alp program. Plus, she explains the importance of the craftsmanship behind these cheeses. As part of her own importing company, Quality Cheese, Caroline has been a pioneer in the...

Debra Dickerson and the Cheese Industry today!

Episode 462, Aired: August 2, 2021

Our host Diane discusses with Debra Dickerson, Director of Education and Customer Outreach at Cowgirl Creamery about the current atmosphere in the cheese market and what may be next for the industry. SAVORY Institute DZTA Daphne Zepos Teaching Award Cheese Culture Coalition Image courtesy of Debra...

Grassroots help for small cheesemakers.

Episode 461, Aired: July 12, 2021

A group of cheese professionals joined forces to help small producers in the US and Canada weather the pandemic, today we talk to two of the key players in this effort. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Cutting the Curd by becoming a member! Cutting...

Preview of the 2021 American Cheese Society Conference

Episode 460, Aired: June 28, 2021

The annual American Cheese Society Conference is virtual this year! The virtual event's theme is Moving Forward Together with Purpose, taking place from July 28-30, 2021. Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Cutting the Curd by becoming a member! Cutting...

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