How Food Consultants are Creating Stronger Farmers with Candace Spencer

LISTEN TO LEARN


Why law school fails at teaching you to be a lawyer

The importance of mentorship when choosing a law school

Food deserts and how to advance racial equity in food justice

What is a food consultant?



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WHAT WE DISCUSS


How to create a dairy-free holiday meal

Why a lawyer would create a YouTube channel

Podcasts about food and agriculture, like the podcast Black
in the Garden

Why law schools should eliminate the grading curve 






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. 


“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. 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.”


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EPISODE TIMESTAMPS


00:00 - INTRO


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, www.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
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