“Kelsey’s reporting is not designed to steer you away from purchasing these items but to help you appreciate the human lives behind them.” — Christian Science Monitor

Kelsey Timmerman is the New York Times bestselling author of the “Where Am I?” series: Where Am I Wearing?, Where Am I Eating?, and Where Am I Giving?. Through these books, Kelsey puts faces to the global garment, food, and philanthropy industries. With a blend of humor and storytelling, he educates audiences and readers, encouraging them to think globally and act locally.

Having reported from more than 60 countries on the significant social and environmental challenges we face, Kelsey uniquely helps us embrace the joy and abundance of our world while imagining and working towards a better future. He is also a co-founder of The Facing Project, a national community storytelling nonprofit that has collected more than 1,500 stories.

In his upcoming book, published by Patagonia, Kelsey focuses on regenerative agriculture. He travels across the United States and around the world to meet farmers and activists who practice and advocate for sustainable and regenerative farming methods. His journey takes readers onto melting glaciers in Patagonia, into the Amazon, and down forgotten rivers. He protects a herd of cattle from lions alongside Maasai warriors in Kenya, witnesses how chocolate can save the rainforest in Brazil, and meets American farmers who have rejected the agrochemical industry in favor of approaches inspired by ancient and Indigenous practices.

By weaving the local with the global, Kelsey shows us how the way we live, eat, and shop connects us to issues of environmental and social justice. His work not only addresses the ills of our world but also inspires hope and joy, demonstrating that fighting against these challenges can add meaning and purpose to our lives.

Kelsey's Featured Titles

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Deeply Rooted: Our Regenerative Future

Kelsey shares inspiring stories from his travels across the U.S. and around the world, meeting farmers and activists dedicated to sustainable practices.

This talk highlights the profound joys and abundance found in reconnecting with nature, demonstrating that humans can be a positive force for regeneration. From protecting cattle alongside Maasai warriors in Kenya to discovering how chocolate can save the rainforest in Brazil, Kelsey brings to life the vibrant communities and resilient ecosystems benefiting from regenerative practices.

With a focus on hope and practical action, Kelsey shows how we can all contribute to a sustainable future, starting from our own backyards. Discover the interconnectedness of local actions and global impacts, and be inspired to embrace a more hopeful and joyful vision for our world. This talk is a celebration of the resilience of nature and the human spirit, offering a rich and hopeful perspective on the future.

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Where Am I Wearing? A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes

When journalist and traveler Kelsey Timmerman wanted to know where his clothes came from and who made them, he began a journey that would take him from Honduras to Bangladesh to Cambodia to China and back again. WHERE AM I WEARING? intimately describes the connection between impoverished garment workers’ standards of living and the all-American material lifestyle. By introducing audiences to the human element of globalization—the factory workers, their names, their families, and their way of life—Kelsey bridges the gap between global producers and consumers.

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Going Glocal: Searching for Community in a Globalized World

We are all connected, from what we wear to what we eat. Kelsey explores the global connection we have with global farmers and factory workers, and argues that while we need to be responsible consumers, we are more than just consumers. Our skills, passions, experiences, trials, and tribulations, uniquely positions each of us to produce a positive impact on people and planet. Believing that with great opportunity comes great responsibility, Kelsey encourages audiences to become active local and global citizens.

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Where Am I Eating? An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy

America now imports twice as much food as it did a decade ago. What does this increased reliance on imported food mean for the people around the globe who produce our food? On his four-continent farming adventure, Kelsey worked alongside the farmers who grow coffee for Starbucks in Colombia but haven’t heard of Starbucks, met and freed a slave in Ivory Coast, and hung out with the farmers responsible for 2/3rds of the apple juice on American shelves. Kelsey shows how our eating habits impact the lives of the people who produce our food, touching on topics such as workers’ rights, global food insecurity, fair trade, slavery, and immigration. Kelsey does not argue for or against the globalization of food, but personalizes it by observing the hope and opportunity, and sometimes the lack thereof, which the global food economy gives to the world’s poorest producers.

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Reflections and Discussion Guides Link

Honors, Awards & Recognition

New York Times bestselling author
Indiana Journalism Award, Ball State University, 2019
Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Author Award, winner, 2014
Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Author Award, finalist, 2013

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

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