Today we take on "Big Protein" and travel through the Andes Mountains, where generations of Inca wisdom takes seed in chocho, a magical bean which regenerates both people and the planet. Our guide is the magnetic Ricky Echanique. Ricky is a fifth-generation Ecuadorian farmer and entrepreneur. As a former professional athlete, Ricky faced health and digestion issues that set him on a quest to find better forms of plant-based protein. This journey ultimately led him back home to Ecuador where he discovered Chocho, a nearly forgotten food, traditionally grown in rural, high altitude regions as a rotation crop, which turns out to be incredibly high in bio-available protein, amino acids, minerals, and more. In the years since, Ricky has built a powerful network of indigenous farmers and vertically integrated systems to share Chocho with the world through his company MIKUNA. We discuss The regenerative roots of Mikuna Foods Ricky’s journey with inflammation & plant-based proteins How Ricky discovered Chocho while exploring Amazonian herbs Nutrient profiles for different protein sources What makes Chocho a superior plant protein The resilience of Ecuadorian farmers & devotion to their land Why Reciprocity is key Thank you Ricky for sharing your journey of Mikuna Foods with us!  enter SOUNDFOODFAMILY for 25% off everything Mikunafoods.com Catch Nitsa’s Jam Session with Ricky Echanique here   CONNECT Ricky Echanique: IG | Mikuna Foods Host @nitsacitrine @soundfoodspace Subscribe to Mercurial Mail (our monthly newsletter) MENTIONED Mikuna Foods Kelly Ryerson Steven Donziger Nathalie Kelley EP 86: PROTECTING OUR SOIL AND CELLS with Kelly Ryerson YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: EP 62: TRANSFORMATION THROUGH REGENERATION with John Roulac EP 32: A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS: Film, Farming, Fungi and the Future with Nathalie Kelley EP 36: THE FUTURE IS SYMBIOTIC: Radical Indigenism and Lo-TEK Design with Julia Watson NOURISH This podcast is supported by your donations and our symbiotic partnerships: Make a donation here LIVING LIBATIONS: enjoy 15% off all botanical beauty alchemy with this link https://livinglibations.com/soundfood(discount automatically applied) MIKUNA: enter SOUNDFOODFAMILY for 25% off regenerative plant protein from Mikunafoods.com LIVING TEA:  use SOUNDFOOD for 15% off all tea livingtea.net SUPERFEAST: enter CITRINE for 10% off our favorite tonic herbs + superfoods superfeast.com OSEA: enter CITRINE for 10% off oseamalibu.com sea-to-skin magic P.S. Kindly leave us a review on APPLE OR SPOTIFY if you are inspired — thank you!   P.S. We would be so grateful if you felt inspired to leave us a review on APPLE OR SPOTIFY!