Gastropod

By: Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley
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  • Summary

  • Food with a side of science and history. Every other week, co-hosts Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley serve up a brand new episode exploring the hidden history and surprising science behind a different food- or farming-related topic, from aquaculture to ancient feasts, from cutlery to chile peppers, and from microbes to Malbec. We interview experts, visit labs, fields, and archaeological digs, and generally have lots of fun while discovering new ways to think about and understand the world through food. Find us online at gastropod.com, follow us on Twitter @gastropodcast, and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/gastropodcast.
    2021 Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley
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Art Food & Wine Science World
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Episodes
  • The Rise and Fall of Quinoa: From Incan "Superfood" to Buddha Bowl Basic

    The Rise and Fall of Quinoa: From Incan "Superfood" to Buddha Bowl Basic
    Mar 11 2025
    Quinoa is everywhere these days, the base for a million salads and grain bowls. But, until recently, barely anyone outside the nutritious seed's ancient's homeland—the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes—had ever heard of it. This week, we're telling the story of how a gorgeous spinach-like plant traditionally grown in a remote, high-altitude region of South America was transformed into one of the hottest foods on the shelves at Whole Foods. This is a tale that began with Coloradan hippies, the deliberate invention of a new Peruvian gastronomy, and beer, but truly took off when the United Nations declared that this so-called "superfood" was the secret to solving global hunger, adapting to climate change, and rescuing Andean farmers from poverty. So, did quinoa deliver? Listen in now for the story behind your next Buddha bowl. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • The Shocking True Story of the World's First Seed Bank—And The Scientists Who Sacrificed Their Lives to Save It

    The Shocking True Story of the World's First Seed Bank—And The Scientists Who Sacrificed Their Lives to Save It
    Feb 25 2025
    During World War II, the Soviet city of Leningrad was surrounded, cut off from food supplies for nearly two and a half years. People were desperate: they ate boiled leather, machine oil, toothpaste, and wallpaper paste just to stay alive. But, in the center of the city, a group of botanists spent their days surrounded by food that they refused to touch—nuts, seeds, and even a basement full of potatoes—even as several of them starved to death. The seeds for which these scientists were willing to sacrifice their lives formed the collection of the world's very first seed bank: a library of crop varieties that contained the genetic diversity future generations of plant breeders have relied on to feed the world. In this episode, the story of the almost unimaginable bravery that lies behind the food we eat today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • No Buzz Booze: The History and Science of Going Low- or No-Alcohol

    No Buzz Booze: The History and Science of Going Low- or No-Alcohol
    Feb 11 2025
    Dry January may be over, but, for many people, drinking less alcohol or none at all is an increasingly common choice year-round. And, unlike in the past, when dealcoholized options were few and far between—and had a well-deserved reputation for tasting bad—there’s now a booming market for non-alcoholic beers, wines, canned cocktails, and even spirits for the so-called "sober curious." But how do they get the booze out of our favorite tipples—and why is hard to keep the flavor? Gastropod is here to investigate! Join us for the history of breakfast beer, worker’s wine, and Welch’s Prohibition-era roots, as well as the science behind the “spinning cone” technology that revolutionized the world of non-alcoholic beverages. Plus: our hosts and a few brave volunteers put their taste buds on the line to find out which of these new drinks is worth swapping for the hard stuff, and which they wish they'd left on the shelf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    56 mins

Featured Article: The Best Podcasts for Ravenous Foodies


To many aspiring cooks, getting into the culinary game may seem like an impossibly daunting task. Luckily, it has never been easier to dive headfirst into chef-worthy content. Free recipes, culinary history, and even instructional cook-alongs with celebrity chefs can be found pretty much anywhere online, even in audio form! If you’re looking to up your game in the kitchen, we’ve got you covered with some of the best food-related podcasts out there.

Featured Article The Best Podcasts for Ravenous Foodies

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Profile Image for Bookwyrme

So much fun, so much information!

These two know their stuff & have fun sharing their knowledge. They cover history, science, taste, and travel with flair. They invite plenty of knowledgeable people to share as well. And the production value is good. I have been listening to Gastropod for a couple of years now and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

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Profile Image for Dylan Graves

Absolutely Amazing

I’ve been listening to Cynthia and Nicky for years. Their dynamic together is incredible. I love how through it all they’ve kept to form as a food podcast, where others have strayed from their original content. Everything from curry to bagels and even now during the pandemic they are going strong. I eagerly await each new episode by revisiting old ones.

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Profile Image for Emleo

The perfect podcast for foodies

Lovers of food, science and history will love Gastropod. My daughter and I have been learning all sorts of interesting facts about random foods. I appreciate how deep Cynthia and Nicola dive, and their interview and conversational style is engaging and witty.

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