SEN Podcast: Robert Lee shares insights about food insecurity in 2026.
Did you know we use half of U.S. land, 80% of our freshwater, and 10% of our energy budget to produce food… and then we waste 40% of it?
Gates Millennium Scholar Robert Lee (2009) started addressing food waste as an NYU student rescuing leftover dining hall food. Now, 13 years later, his organization Rescuing Leftover Cuisine operates in 9 cities nationwide, turning food waste into meals for people experiencing hunger. He also runs Dippin’ Chicken, a restaurant in Connecticut.
Robert’s story reminds us that paying it forward doesn’t have to wait until retirement, it can start now, even in small ways, and grow into something transformative.
Hear Robert’s full journey from finance at JP Morgan to food rescue, and why he believes “every little bit counts” in this SEN Podcast episode.