Food Podcasts Worth a Listen
Posted by Julie on Jul 12th 2018
Need a distraction while you’re weeding the garden, commuting to work, or preparing dinner? A new podcast or two might be just what you’re looking for. Podcasts are a great way to learn something new and be entertained while you work or play.
Similar to TV shows, podcasts are a matter of personal preference. It’s worth shopping around to find topics, hosts, and guests who appeal to you. Fortunately there’s plenty of top food podcasts out there to choose from. Check out some of the hits that rise to the top of every list, along with some podcasts that are brand new in 2018.
Food Podcasts at the Top of the Charts
Food podcasts are the new cooking shows. While challenge shows like Chopped and Iron Chef, and lifestyle and entertaining shows like Barefoot Contessa and the Pioneer Woman are still going strong, the best food podcasts are gaining popularity.
The Splendid Table: The name comes from a cookbook written by Lynne Rossetto Kasper, which became a weekend morning program on Minnesota Public Radio. In fact, Kasper hosted the program — and later, the podcast — until January of this year. Much more than a recipe show, The Splendid Table has always covered a wide array of food-related topics.
Listen to The Splendid Table
The Sporkful: Food journalist Dan Pashman created The Sporkful podcast, which has gone on to win awards from the James Beard Foundation, the Webbies, and Saveur. The Sporkful is for people who love to eat — and who want to learn about other people through the foods they eat.
Listen to The Sporkful
Gastropod: If you remember high school biology, the name of this podcast might seem familiar. Rest assured it’s not about molluscs, but about the convergence of history, science, and food. Co-hosts Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley are journalists who have covered science, technology, and food.
Listen to Gastropod
Gravy: From the Southern Foodways Alliance, Gravy covers the intricacies of growing, raising, harvesting, and preparing food in the tradition of the South. Don’t expect Paula Deen, however; Gravy handles tough topics on the intersection of food and history, culture, and race.
Listen to Gravy
FoodStuff: If you’re a fan of the site How Stuff Works and its companion websites, you’ll love the FoodStuff podcast. Co-hosts Anney and Lauren explore the details of food from pasta to pomegranates to popsicles. FoodStuff is part storytelling, part science, and always fascinating.
Listen to FoodStuff
Podcasts New in 2018 to Check Out
Dude Foods: This is definitely a podcast guys will appreciate. But it’s just as entertaining for anyone who doesn’t take themselves or food too seriously. For example, they’re fond of cooking with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, and meat figures prominently in most episodes. Dude Foods co-hosts Nicky Lasagna and Wes McKane were both fired from the same company, but that’s not going to keep them off the air.
Listen to Dude Foods
Pineapple Radio: This podcast comes from Pineapple Collaborative, an organization dedicated to furthering women’s roles in food production, policy, and entrepreneurship. Pineapple Radio features an all-female guest lineup, investigating below the surface of food issues and trends.
Listen to Pineapple Radio
Meat + Three: This podcast is one of several from Heritage Radio Network. That sounds antiquated, but it’s actually a food media nonprofit in Brooklyn. Meat + Three is reminiscent of Southern-style meals consisting of meat and three sides. In this case it’s a deep dive and three shorts. Each episode is only fifteen minutes.
Listen to Meat + Three
The TASTE Podcast: From the editors of TASTE — Anna Hezel and Matt Rodbard — this podcast is brand new, but it’s already attracted some top talent in the culinary world. Hear what Gail Simmons, Mark Bittman, Samin Nosrat, and other greats have to say about topics close to their hearts.
Listen to the TASTE Podcast
The Dave Chang Show: If you think you don’t know Dave Chang — trust us, you do. He’s the founder and chef of the Momofuku international restaurant group, as well as the newly-opened Majordomo restaurant in Los Angeles. He’s also the creator and producer of the Netflix series Ugly Delicious. That resume alone makes his podcast worth a try.
Listen to The Dave Chang Show