Based on years of observation, ethnographic fieldwork, and countless shared meals, mother and son Merry White and Ben Wurgaft explore how our foods reach our plates and how every bite is part of a complex web of social meaning and value. From the Venetian spice trade to the Columbian Exchange, from Roman garum to Vietnamese nớc chấm, from the origins of agri ... Show More
Apr 27
A Taste of Spain via Hemingway
Linda interviews author Howie Southworth about his new book, Hemingway’s Spanish Table. Part travelogue, part cookbook, this compelling culinary journey traces Hemingway’s travels through the provinces of Spain he visited and the foods he ate. Howie Southworth presents the allure ... Show More
41m 25s
Jan 2026
The History of Mac ’n Cheese, from Ancient Rome to Modern America
Today, macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, a staple of weeknight dinners, family gatherings, and Soul Food restaurants. Humble though the dish may seem, culinary historian Karima Moyer-Nocchi traces its history to Ancient Romans, Renaissance cardinals and popes and ... Show More
53m 7s
Dec 2025
Politics in the Grocery Aisle with Marion Nestle
Marion Nestle, America’s preeminent nutrition and food activist joins Linda to discuss her new book, What to Eat Now, a rewrite of her 2006 groundbreaking book, What to Eat. In those twenty years food in America has undergone a radical change. Ultra-processed foods dominate the s ... Show More
38m 33s
Dec 2023
Benjamin A. Wurgaft and Merry White, "Ways of Eating: Exploring Food Through History and Culture" (U California Press, 2023)
What we learn when an anthropologist and a historian talk about food.
From the origins of agriculture to contemporary debates over culinary authenticity, Ways of Eating: Exploring Food Through History and Culture (U California Press, 2023) introduces readers to world food history ... Show More
1h 2m
Dec 2020
The Wide World of Food Conspiracies, Part II
<p>Food is one of the few things that unites the human species -- so it's no surprise the world of food is chock-full of conspiracies. In today's episode, the guys return to the world of conspiracy and cuisine, fielding some of the strangest, most disturbing urban legends and rum ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 2021
How You Can Honor Your Heritage — And Improve Your Health — Through Food
Food is more than just fuel for your body. Food is a connection to the stories of your ancestors and the stories of your descendants.In this episode of Life Kit, Michael W. Twitty, nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, and professor Devon Mihesuah share their advice on how to strengthen t ... Show More
22m 53s
May 2025
CLASSIC: The Wide World of Food Conspiracies
Whether rich or poor, young or old, everyone on the planet has to eat. Government institutions monitor the safety, cleanliness and consistency of our favorite foods, but as with any global industry, there are more than a few skeletons in the collective closet of the food and beve ... Show More
1h 7m