Picture two spaces.
In one, a field kitchen bubbles over with life. Under a makeshift tent, pots clatter, onions hiss on a portable hot plate, and someone’s calling out, “We need more rice!” A neighbor who's just lost everything ladles soup for another who’s just walked miles through mud.
In the second space, a yoga studio, breath slows, shoulders drop, the air smells faintly of lavender, bodies move in a quiet synchronicity, finding flow after a day that was herky jerky at best.
Some people can build both kinds of spaces.
I’ve always been fascinated by what it takes to steady yourself when the world around you is in chaos. My guest today, Fiona Donovan, Vice President of Response Administration for World Central Kitchen, has built her career as a student of that very question.
WCK, a nonprofit founded by chef José Andrés, is famous for being first to the frontlines in times of crisis–hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, war zones–anywhere people are hungry and hurting. Their teams set up field kitchens that serve fresh, hot meals with dignity and heart.
Fiona leads those teams. She oversees global relief operations, coordinating thousands of volunteers, local chefs, and community partners to deliver nourishing food to people quickly.
Before joining WCK, she worked in international development and taught in the Peace Corps. She knows what it means to be in the field, boots muddy, adrenaline high, trying to make things better fast.
In our conversation, Fiona and I trace the thread between field kitchens and yoga studios, between cooking for hundreds and centering yourself for one slow breath. We talk about how to lead with listening, how to design trust before structure, and how to tell when your body’s in reactive mode versus responsive mode. And maybe most beautifully, how to come down from long seasons of urgency without losing your purpose.
Fiona’s story is what it looks like when compassion gets operationalized. So take a breath, soften your shoulders, and maybe imagine the smell of something delicious cooking.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
The practices and hobbies that Fiona has cultivated to ground herself as she transitions out of the field
How the work of creating welcoming, safe spaces at WCK has translated into how Fiona approaches teaching yoga
Why it’s so important for WCK to partner closely with communities when they’re responding to a disaster
How Fiona approaches being responsive instead of reactive, for herself and her teams, even under immense pressure
How WCK empowers its field leaders to make decisions during a crisis without getting hung up by perfectionism
A simple, shared practice of what we’re currently grateful for
Learn more about Fiona Donovan:
Learn more about Valerie Black:
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