What's actually in your food, and who's protecting the companies that put it there?
I sit down with Johanna Hellrigl, chef, restaurateur, board member of the Environmental Working Group, and founder of Ama, the mission-driven Northern Italian restaurant four blocks from the US Capitol, to talk about what's really happening in our food system, why your cookware matters as much as your ingredients, and how a woman who grew up in a Michelin-quality kitchen ended up fighting pesticide immunity bills and plastic migration in the same breath.
This conversation goes deeper than clean eating. Johanna walks through the specific decisions she makes every day, from the containers in her kitchen to the farms that grow her tomatoes, and explains why the real model for healthy eating has been sitting in Italian kitchens for centuries. She is building a case study that nourishing food, done with integrity, can also be a viable business. If you have ever felt overwhelmed by the food system or paralyzed by conflicting information, this episode gives you a clear-headed, practical place to start.
What we explore:
- How heat, fat, acid, and time create the conditions for plastic and chemicals to migrate directly into your food.
- Why 99% of food chemicals enter the US supply through a regulatory loophole that bypasses proper safety review.
- What rebuilding your gut microbiome actually requires, and why what happens in your gut controls far more than most people realize.
- How Johanna runs a restaurant rooted in love without sacrificing standards, consistency, or accountability.
- Why voting with your dollars and contacting your representatives are two of the most direct actions you can take right now.
About Johanna Hellrigl:
Johanna Hellrigl is a chef, restaurateur, and culinary advocate redefining what restaurants can stand for. She is the chef-owner of Ama, an award-winning Northern Italian restaurant in Washington, DC, named a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic in 2026 and recognized by Gambero Rosso for authenticity. Before opening Ama, she spent years in international democracy-building work across 61 countries, an experience that deepened her belief that food is one of the most powerful tools for connection and change. She sits on the board of the Environmental Working Group and works with the Plastic Pollution Coalition, bringing the same rigor she applies in her kitchen to the fight for a safer, more transparent food system.
Connect with Johanna Hellrigl:
Instagram (Chef Johanna): https://www.instagram.com/chefjohannahellrigl/
Instagram (Ama Restaurant): https://www.instagram.com/amarestaurant.bar/
Website: https://amarestaurant.bar
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:00 Growing Up in a Michelin Kitchen
05:08 How 61 Countries Brought Her Back to Food
08:00 Reclaiming the Family Meal
13:17 Pesticide Loopholes and Who Pays the Price
20:12 Finding Common Ground on Food Policy
29:00 Plastic, Cookware, and Cutting Board Basics
37:40 Meal Prep That Actually Works
43:40 Why She Opened Ama
56:23 Love, Standards, and Consistency in the Kitchen
01:01:06 What's Really Inside a Plate of Pasta
01:08:33 Healing the Gut After Antibiotic Overload
01:15:39 EWG, Plastic Pollution Coalition, and How to Get Loud
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The Gabby Reece Show
This is where I have real conversations with the people I find most worth listening to: scientists, athletes, coaches, parents, and thinkers who are doing the hard work of building a life that holds up over time. No hacks. No quick fixes. Just honest, practical conversations about performance, longevity, relationships, and what it actually takes to show up well at every age.
If you are here, you probably already know that health is not a destination. It is how you live. I am glad you are along for it.
Connect with Gabby Reece:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbyreece/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabbyreeceofficial
Website: https://gabriellereece.com
Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.
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