The Learning Hub: Talking about plant-based meat with Questlove

GatesNotes

Bill Gates and Questlove standing together.

By Bill Gates | August 28, 2023

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is the ultimate multi-hyphenate. He’s a Grammy-winning musician—the drummer and joint frontman of the Roots, who entertained people for decades before becoming the in-house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He’s an Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker. He’s the author (or co-author) of seven books, with another one on the way next year. He’s a publisher, too, with a new imprint that is set to release Sly Stone’s memoir. He’s a serial (and cereal) entrepreneur. He’s even a professor at New York University.

And today, Questlove is also a guest on my new podcast, Unconfuse Me with Bill Gates. You can check the episode out here.

I wanted to talk with Questlove for a few reasons. The first is obvious: Who wouldn’t? The second is more personal: Questlove is an investor in and champion of some revolutionary plant-based foods, including a vegetarian Philly cheesesteak I was really curious about. As someone who loves hamburgers—but worries about the environmental impact of beef production—I was interested in Questlove’s journey from a Philadelphia native who breathed “real” cheesesteaks to an evangelist for plant-based proteins.

Because Questlove’s interests and areas of expertise are so vast and varied, our conversation was too. In addition to all things food (including our favorite guilty pleasure snacks), we discussed our childhood nicknames, his massive record collection, how the pandemic forced both of us to slow down, our Wordle strategies, and more. He—and that meatless Philly cheesesteak—blew me away, and I’m sure he’ll blow you away too.