If you live in the U.S., chances are, your first hint of fall isn’t a russet-colored leaf landing on the sidewalk—it’s the orange-wrappered candies taking over the aisles of your local grocery and convenience stores. Forget decorative gourds: it’s officially Halloween candy season! But how did a 2,000-year-old Celtic festival marking the sun's death and the ... Show More
Feb 24
When is a Pancake Not a Pancake?
We aren't afraid to ask the big questions here at Gastropod, such as: what exactly is a pancake? If you think you know the answer, prepare to have your mind blown. It turns out the sweet, syrup-covered stack of American breakfast fame are far from the only members of the pancake ... Show More
45m 15s
Feb 10
OXO, Cuisinart, and Julia Child: The Secret (Accessible) History Behind Your Kitchen
For many people with disabilities, the kitchen can seem a deeply unfriendly place. From counters that require users to stand and cabinets that are often out of reach, to ovens that can’t be opened in mobility chairs and tools that are hard to grip or difficult to read—cooking can ... Show More
51m 12s
Jan 27
Ripe for Global Domination: The Story of the Avocado
We’re coming up to AvocadoFest 2026, otherwise known as the Super Bowl, when Americans get fully a fifth of their annual avocado allocation. But how did this humble fruit, originally named after testicles, get from its Mexican forest home to a tattoo on Miley Cyrus's upper arm? T ... Show More
46m 47s
Oct 2020
SYMHC Classics: The History of Halloween Candy
Happy Halloween! To celebrate, we're revisiting a 2014 episode. Candy and Halloween go hand-in-hand, but when did candy become the standard for trick-or-treating, and who invented the holiday's most famous sweet treats like candy corn? Learn more about your ad-choices at https:/ ... Show More
30m 14s
Mar 2024
Awful Candy, Part One: Tootsie Rolls Saved the War -- and Divided the World
Whether or not you have a sweet tooth, odds are you probably have some strong opinions about candy. Following up (finally!) on their earlier Halloween conversation, Ben, Noel and Max explore some of the most divisive candies on the planet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ... Show More
31m 2s
Oct 2022
History of Halloween
There is no holiday more strongly associated with horror, with all things creepy, frightening, and supernatural, than Halloween. It's the time of year when creatures of legend come alive, on tv and movie screens, in kitschy decorations, as suffocating rubber masks in costume shop ... Show More
22m 28s
