How Bonnaroo Gives Back: Live from Planet Roo 2026

We're back from The Farm! First, Barry and Russ give a quick recap of an unforgettable Bonnaroo 2026 (our full deep-dive recap is coming soon!). Then we bring you our live panel from the Planet Roo stage, where we sat down with the nonprofits behind Bonnaroo's charitable mission: Kelsey Dewald (Planet Roo / Bonnaroo Works Fund), David Conover (Grundy County Food Bank), Emily Torgrimson (Eat for Equity), Anna Sampson (We Are Neutral), and Nancy Tarr & Deborah Dunn (Well Dunn Foundation). From a $100,000 grant for local school mental health to rescuing 25,000 pounds of food a year — here's how Bonnaroo gives back, and how your ticket does so much more than get you through the gate.

Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

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(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:54) Quick Bonnaroo 2026 Recap

(00:17:18) Live from Planet Roo at Bonnaroo 2026

(00:24:43) Kelsey Dewald (Bonnaroo Works Fund)

(00:33:42) David Conover (Bonnaroo Food Sustainability)

(00:40:18) Emily Torgrimson (Eat for Equity)

(00:45:48) Anna Sampson (We Are Neutral)

(00:58:26) Nancy Tarr and Deborah Dunn (Well Dunn Foundation)

(01:08:40) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy Has a Story You Haven't Heard

Bonnaroo 2026: Meet the podcasters who talk ‘Roo year-round

Bonnaroo's New Festival Director Told Us What's Really Changing in 2026

Instagram: @ethorpephoto

Bonnaroo 2026 Recap: Roodemption!

Reel: I Am Bonnaroo

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