In Episode 20, I chat with Kid Haile, author and illustrator of Sometimes I Eat with My Hands. We explore the intersection of food, culture, and identity and how mealtime traditions shape our sense of belonging. Kid shares his journey from science to art, how his daughter inspired his book, the deep meaning behind the Ethiopian dish, injera, and the role of food in preserving cultural heritage.

Sometimes I Eat with My Hands gives us a glimpse into a mealtime at Feven’s house, the role of family members during mealtimes, and the importance of honouring eating traditions. It’s out on April 1 (link below) from Groundwood Books.

It was so interesting to see how our experiences intersected, and this episode caused me to re-evaluate what I might be teaching my kids about their own culture. Lots to think about! Anyway, I’d love to hear from you: What’s a food tradition from your culture that you love? Drop a comment below!

Show Highlights

00:00 – Introduction

2:24 – Kid Haile’s journey from a science background to becoming an illustrator

8:35 – The inspiration behind Sometimes I Eat with My Hands

12:15 – Balancing Ethiopian and Canadian cultures in illustrations & Overcoming childhood struggles with food and cultural shame

16:40 – The significance of family roles at mealtimes

20:00 – The communal nature of injera and the meaning behind it

23:44 – The process of writing and illustrating Sometimes I Eat with My Hands

26:12 – The publishing journey—how Kid brought his book to life

31:55 – Expectations for the book

33:46 – Appreciation and end

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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nGAiv79NYSg

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Guest’s links

Follow Kid on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidhailebooks/

🛒Buy Sometimes I Eat With My Hands: https://houseofanansi.com/products/sometimes-i-eat-with-my-hands?srsltid=AfmBOoqflga1YrnktqaagxLM_AMA1vDefr4vgxYBF5rwzQSC7hnrGA7V

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Host’s links

Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/

Follow Lola on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/

Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/