I have a bad habit of mindlessly scrolling through the entire internet at 3am. Those wee morning hours are prime padding for my brain to do its habitual summersaults. For example:

1. “I’m excited for coffee tomorrow”

2. “Ooh I’m going to make a honey rose latte”

3. *why doesn’t oat milk froth as well as regular milk?*

4. *listens to a podcast about whether oat milk is actually a sustainable choice or just really good marketing*

5. “Wait, what even IS sustainable anymore?”

6. I’ll order with regular milk and just be so cool and chill and free spirited

7. *aren’t humans not supposed to drink regular milk after infancy?*

8. Ugh, men are such children.

9. I should text him…

Just typing out that Olympic-level mental gymnastics routine makes me cringe at myself, but these leaps have led me to finding some of my favorite podcasts. Sometimes a simple question about oat milk invites a four-hour deep dive into the geopolitical implications of quinoa cultivation, the colonial history of your spice cabinet, and why your morning coffee is basically liquid capitalism (but you're still gonna drink it because in the morning, baby needs her bottle), and why not? That said, there is infinite content out there to satiate those curiosities so this week, I’m sharing 10 exceptional food podcasts across 8 categories that range from rigorous investigative journalism to intimate storytelling.

Food science and history

The thing that I love most about food podcasts specifically is the way that they democratize culinary knowledge.

Gastropod

Gastropod, of course, stands as the undisputed leader in making food science accessible and compelling. Hosts Cynthia Graber (award-winning science journalist and Knight Fellow at MIT) and Nicola Twilley (food geographer and author) combine rigorous scientific research with engaging historical narratives. Their Edward R. Murrow Award-winning approach has earned multiple James Beard nominations and established them as the gold standard for educational food content.

Favorite Episodes:

• "Caffeine: The World's Most Popular Drug"

• "Say Cheese!"

• “Hacking Taste”

The Food Programme

The Food Programme from BBC Radio 4 brings 45+ years of authoritative food journalism to podcasting. As one of the longest-running food programs, the show features veteran journalists Sheila Dillon and Dan Saladino investigating food systems at a macroscopic level.

Favorite Episodes:

• “The World’s Historic Restaurants”

• “Second to Nan”

• “Food and AI”

A Taste of the Past

A Taste of the Past with culinary historian Linda Pelaccio offers scholarly deep-dives into food history. With 400+ episodes since 2009, Pelaccio's background as a Food Network producer and Culinary Historians of New York program director brings professional expertise to conversations with James Beard Award winners and renowned food historians.

Favorite Episodes:

• “A Gastronomic Journey of Peru”

• “Endangered Foods”

• “Ways of Eating”

Proof

Proof from America's Test Kitchen represents the pinnacle of food investigative journalism. James Beard Award-winning journalist Kevin Pang applies rigorous testing methodology to compelling food stories, earning the 2022 IACP Award and multiple Signal Awards. Their episode investigating "Will Hot-Boxing a Lobster Before It's Cooked Alleviate Its Pain?" exemplifies their scientific approach to ethical food questions.

Favorite Episodes:

• "Will Hot-Boxing a Lobster Alleviate Its Pain?"

• "The Truth About Organic"

• "MSG: The Umami Conspiracy"

Celebrity chefs and restaurant culture

The Dave Chang Show

The Dave Chang Show provides unmatched insider access to restaurant culture through David Chang's perspective as Momofuku founder and Netflix host. Chang's candid, unfiltered approach and industry connections offer authentic insights into modern dining culture that can't be found elsewhere.

Favorite Episodes:

• "Roy Choi Returns"

• "Anthony Bourdain's Legacy"

• "The Future of Restaurants"

Table Manners

Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware creates magic through its intimate dinner party format. Jessie Ware and her mother Lennie host A-list celebrities around their kitchen table, generating unexpectedly revealing conversations.

Favorite Episodes:

• “Paul and Linda McCartney”

• “Noel Gallagher”

• "Stanley Tucci"

Special Sauce

Special Sauce with Ed Levine introduces us to some of the biggest names in food media and culture in a beautifully conversational way. From cookbook authors to chefs and TV hosts to actors, this Serious Eats production is educational while also being low-maintenance and easy to listen to.

Favorite Episodes:

• “James Poniewozik on ‘The Bear’”

• “Phil Rosenthal: The Hardest Working Man in Food Media”

• “Melissa Clark”

Comedy and entertainment

Off Menu

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster has become a cultural phenomenon through their dream restaurant concept where celebrities order fantasy meals. The British comedy duo's improvised character work and genuine food enthusiasm created the perfect pick me up show.

Favorite Episodes:

• "Jeff Goldblum"

• "James Norton"

• "Florence Pugh"

Spilled Milk

Spilled Milk achieves the perfect balance of food education and comedy through the chemistry between Molly Wizenberg (New York Times bestselling author) and Matthew Amster-Burton (food writer with five published books). With 700+ episodes over 14 years, they've mastered the art of following comedic tangents while maintaining educational value.

Favorite Episodes:

• "The Great Cereal Debate"

• "Pizza Controversies"

• "Thanksgiving Disasters"

WTF with Marc Maron

WTF with Marc Maron creates unusually intimate conversations with guests through Maron's neurotic vulnerability and probing interviewing style. His personal kitchen experience and food obsession allow for deeply authentic discussions about culinary craft.

Favorite Episodes:

• "Anthony Bourdain"

• "David Chang"

• "Samin Nosrat"