Episodes

  • 175 New American Sugar

    175 New American Sugar
    Jul 1 2026
    Sugar can reasonably be called "The White Stuff"

    It makes us happy - and yet people are willing to abuse it, and commit crimes to make it happen.

    The late 19th century is when America goes from eating a similar amount of sugar as the rest of the up and coming mechanical world - to becoming the greediest of all.
    The combination of extending sugar plantations out into Cuba, Puerto Rico and now Hawai'i along with the rise of maufactured foods - expecially sweet treats is going to place America at the front of the Suger Consumer Pack. And we'll stay there.

    To get into the nitty gritty of Sugar vs. The World - Check out Sidney Mintz Sweetness and Power
    To dig deep into what American Corruption looked like at the start of the 20th Century check out The Teapot Dome Scandal by Laton McCartney

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
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    29 mins
  • 174 Foreign Salt, Local Salt, Industrial Salt

    174 Foreign Salt, Local Salt, Industrial Salt
    Jun 24 2026
    This week is the start of a few shows on the bad mic. And it is all my fault.
    But "A" mic is still better than no show at all.
    Let’s talk salt in late 19th century America. It used to be all about food but isn’t any longer. Listen along as we look out how the Industrial Revolution - especially around food - runs on salt. And how the living away from the farm and shopping in the stores needs salt to happen at all.

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
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    32 mins
  • 173.5 BONUS Interview - The Pickled City

    173.5 BONUS Interview - The Pickled City
    Jun 17 2026
    This week I talk to

    Designers, Authors and Storytellers Paul van Ravestein and Monique Mulder about their book
    The Pickled CIty Availible in Bookstores now!

    We dive into the history, culture and importance of place of pickles. I also learn a few things about why pickles are that way. So listen in to this extra long bonus episode on Pickles, Salt and History

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
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    49 mins
  • 173 Potatoes for Frontier & Factory

    173 Potatoes for Frontier & Factory
    Jun 10 2026
    How did America become the land of Meat & Potatoes


    I don't have all the answers yet - but I think I've found the well spring of the "& potatoes" portion. I'm about to sneak up on the big answer to the meat.
    But in the meantime, we look at whether you can have factory culture at the same time you pushing out a wild frontier - and what the potato has to do with it.

    Side quests - the origin on the French Fry, the Potato Chip and Breakfast Hash - not to mention why didn't America get the potato blight. (short answer... actually, we did)

    Tune in for lots of Potato News

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
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    32 mins
  • 172 The Potato - A History

    172 The Potato - A History
    Jun 3 2026
    Po-tay-toes

    Where are they from? Why do we call them Irish? Are they poisonous? And what was the blight? I answer all these questions and more - as well as providing you with a link to a really cool paper published about the origins of potatoes 9 Million Year Ago!

    Cell September 2025 Full Text Article on the Origin of Potatoes

    Cell Press Release on Potato Origins (less technical)

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
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    35 mins
  • 171 Iron Has New Jobs in Food

    171 Iron Has New Jobs in Food
    May 27 2026
    Iron is back and it has a bunch of new tricks up it sleeves. Sure we still cook on it - but it's doing lots of other new things it has never done before.

    And that is going to change the way we eat - because what food we get, and how much we have to work to prepare it, and how fast we - and the food can travel is going to upset everything.

    So much of how long we think things should take is about to change in a big way.

    Hop on - don't miss the train.

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
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    29 mins
  • Season 6 Preview - I Wanna Go Fast

    Season 6 Preview - I Wanna Go Fast
    May 20 2026
    Let's Go Season 6

    (last season was way more dreary than I had thought)

    All I can say is Ice Cream for Everyone - and let's road trip... Rail Trip?

    The end of the 19th Century is exciting, colorful and yeah full of mistakes. But we are Doing Things, Building Things and Going Places.

    Let's Go.

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
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    18 mins
  • 170 Prisoner of War Food for - Wait How Many Guys? The Long Tail of War

    170 Prisoner of War Food for - Wait How Many Guys? The Long Tail of War
    May 13 2026
    The LAST Civil War Episode becasue I'm writing this - and have decided that is ENOUGH Civil War.

    And, yes I'm not happy about writing about war while there is a "we are pretending it's not a war" going on. My poor brain has said enough.

    That said - it's an interesting topic. And despite how dire it is - things are actually better now than they used to be.
    Eat your veggies, brush your teeth, wash your hands.

    The American Battle Field Trust article on Andersonville: Hell Hath a New Name

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
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    27 mins