Cultural Ambassador. Educator. Storyteller.

"Our stories are born to be told. They make us who we are. Embrace them, share them and allow them to empower you and those around you".

- Lori McCarthy

About Lori

Lori McCarthy is a cultural ambassador, TED speaker, artist, and educator devoted to a back-to-the-land philosophy that reconnects people with their sense of place. Through compelling keynotes, she explores how a deep connection to land, culture, and community builds resilience and a profound sense of belonging.

As founder of Food Culture Place, Lori revitalizes traditional Newfoundland and Labrador practices for modern life. Her work emphasizes heritage skills, sustainability, and community well-being — all grounded in cultural values and respect for the natural world.

Select Past Speaking Engagements

Keynote Talks & Presentations

  • TED 2023 – How to Find a Sense of Belonging – Wherever You Are

  • Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) Conference 2024 – Opening Keynote: Re-imaging Sustainability

  • Taste of Place Summit 2023, held at George Brown College — ‘Rooted in Place: A Journey Through Story, Soil, and Sustenance.’

Sustainable Fiber Arts Conference

  • Unraveling the Threads of Heritage 2024: A Tribute to the Art & Craft of Fiber as it Connects Us as a Culture

Cultural & Environmental Engagements

  • Nature Conservancy of Canada 2019 – Connecting to the Land Through Storytelling

Tourism & Heritage Conferences

  • Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism 2023 – The Power of Finding Your Story

  • Fogo Island Inn 2020 – Connecting Food and Culture

  • Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador Conference 2019 – Finding Your Story in Your Culture

How To Find A Sense Of Belonging — Wherever You Are

Speaking Engagements

Lori is an inspiring keynote speaker and TED presenter, sharing stories of Newfoundland and Labrador’s rich culture through food, land, and tradition. Her talks awaken curiosity, cultivate belonging, and offer practical insights for communities, educators, and experience designers.

  • Reciprocity in Practice: Bridging Cultural Gaps and Building Stronger Communities

    This talk explores how mutual respect, ancestral knowledge, and a deep connection to the land can guide us toward more just, inclusive, and resilient communities. Drawing on stories rooted in tradition, Lori McCarthy shares how the practice of reciprocity — honouring the environment, our histories, and each other — helps bridge cultural gaps and cultivate a shared sense of belonging. By weaving the old ways into the fabric of modern life, Lori invites audiences to reflect on what it truly means to contribute to our communities, live with intention, and move forward together with respect and purpose.

    Ideal Audiences

    Cultural and Heritage Organizations

    Environmental Conferences

    Community Leaders and Planners

    Educational Institutions

    Nonprofits & Public Sector Events

  • "Lori’s presentation stirred something in all of us — a beautiful reminder of who we are and what connects us."

    – Event Organizer, Cultural Resilience Summit

    "She speaks with wisdom, humour, and clarity. Our team left inspired to create change from a place of groundless."

    – Director, Coastal Community Forum

  • Starting rates at $1,500 depending on presentation type and location.

Cultural Consulting

Through one-on-one consulting, Lori works with individuals, organizations, and communities who are building businesses rooted in place — especially those connected to tourism, experience design, foraging, storytelling, cooking, and cultural heritage. Whether you're just beginning or looking to deepen your impact, Lori offers grounded, practical guidance shaped by years of hands-on experience creating meaningful, land-based programs and sustainable cultural initiatives.

Lori can support you in shaping your story, developing immersive experiences, or identifying opportunities that reflect your values and community. Her approach is collaborative and intuitive, always aiming to help you bring your vision to life in a way that is regenerative, respectful, and rooted in belonging.

  • Lori recently consulted with the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism (GMIST) to develop “What’s In Your Backpack?” — a one-day workshop designed to help tourism operators develop simple, high-impact experiences rooted in culture, nature, and place. Set in the woods at Food Culture Place, the workshop invited participants to deconstruct immersive experiences, forage and cook over fire, and reimagine how their own stories and environments could shape meaningful offerings. It’s this kind of grounded, creative consulting that helps clients bring powerful, place-based visions to life.

  • If you are in the early stages of starting a business or developing new offerings or experiences related to tourism or cultural experience design, you may be eligible for funding support through the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC). Lori can help you navigate this process and determine what resources might be available to you.

  • Starting rates, $1,500.00 depending on scope and duration.

As Seen In

  • Lori is a Newfoundland cultural food storyteller. Her experiences are personal, relatable and meant to awaken curiosity, learn, and try out new things… Her passion for sharing culture through food storytelling is matched with her desire to demonstrate and share her entrepreneurial excellence.”

    Celes Davar - Earth Rhythms

  • “McCarthy is skilled at reconnecting visitors to the past. Food isn't just something you eat in Newfoundland; it tells a story. The story is of hard work and perseverance. It’s not just making do with what you have, but making a delicious life out of it..”

    Jody Robbins - Eat North

Get in touch.

To inquire about booking Lori for a speaking engagement or consulting opportunity, fill out the short form and we will reach out.