Podcasts by Proof

Your Trash? My Treasure from 2022-06-09T04:00

For the season finale, we're bringing you three short stories on the theme: One person's trash is another person's treasure. Reporter Stephen Calabria digs into the story of a famous ha...

The Pho Must Go On from 2022-05-12T04:00

Many of us have family recipes that have been passed down for generations. For reporter Anh Gray, it's her late mother's piping hot bowl of beef pho. But what do we do when we need to amend thes...

Get Rich or Die Cracking from 2022-04-21T04:00

Black walnuts are probably nature's toughest nut to crack. But one man--television producer and newbie farmer Mike Trinklein--is determined to prove that it's a crop worth farming for. In this e...

Sakura and the Wild Boars from 2021-06-10T04:00

In the town of Yamanaka in Western Japan, wild boars are a threat to local farming. With the extinction of natural predators, the boars run rampant, leaving hunters like Sakura...

Reclaiming the Fifth Sense from 2021-06-03T04:00

Our five senses--sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell--can feel intrinsically linked to who we are. But when aspiring chef Molly Birnbaum lost her sense of smell in a traumatic accident, she re...

A Baloney Redemption Story from 2021-05-20T04:00

Baloney is one of the most well-known--and divisive--meat products in the United States. Many synonymize it with "fake" or "synthetic," but there are some who defend the maligned meat to its cor...

Nixtamalization and Indigenous Science from 2021-05-13T04:00

Tortillas, tortilla chips, and tamales—these are all foods that are easy to enjoy but not as easy to make from scratch. There's a process called nixtamalization that occurs, which unlocks nutrie...

Feeders, Eaters, and A Neither from 2021-05-06T04:00

For many of us, food and family are an intertwined bridge of our identity. We can trace so many things about ourselves and personalities to our family members and the meals we’ve shared. There a...

The Curious Curator of Culinary History from 2021-04-29T04:00

The Food Timeline has been a valuable resource for food professionals and laypeople alike. The website chronicles the origins of everything from emmer grain (which, dates back to 17,000 BC), to ...

France, Tin Cans, and the Missing Man from 2021-04-22T04:00

Canned foods are an essential part of our pantries. From pasta sauce, to pumpkin puree, to corn and beans, these ready-to-open options give cooking more ease. That is exactly what Nicolas A...

[Bonus] The Sporkful: Mission: ImPASTAble 1| Spaghetti Sucks from 2021-03-11T05:00

Dan Pashman is on a mission to make--and sell--a new pasta shape. Our friends at The Sporkful have a new five part series on Dan's journey (and in this episode, find out why he hates Spaghetti)....

Thanksgiving Times in Crises from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Becky Krystal of The Washington Post joins Bridget to talk about Thanksgiving during national crises.

[Bonus] The Genius Recipe Tapes: The #1 Way to Eat More Vegetables from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Our friends at Food52 have a new podcast called "The Genius Recipe Tapes".

You're a Good Man, Brady Keys from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In the 1960s, the path to Civil Rights was paved with profits — and Brady Keys’ All-Pro Chicken was the gold standard of Black capitalism.

How Orange Juice Was Built from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Minute Maid and Tropicana’s decades-long tête-à-tête for orange juice dominance.

Considering Blue Food from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How we got blue raspberry and the psychology of food color.

[Bonus] Rebel Eaters Club: Food is a Bridge with Francis Lam from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Listen to Rebel Eaters Club, a body- and food-positive podcast.

An Ice Cream Truck Music Controversy from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

One family takes on the biggest controversy in the ice cream truck industry.

Hive Heist from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Under the cover of almond groves, a new branch of crime has an unusual target: bees.

The Search for the Queerest Food from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Reporter Chad Chenail seeks to answer the question: What is the Queerest food?

Season 5 starts August 20 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Tune in for Season 5 of Proof beginning August 20.

Famous Death Row Meals from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Ashley Lecker, Author of the Serial Killer Cookbook, joins Bridget to talk about Famous Death Row Meals.

[Bonus] Antiques Roadshow's Detours Podcast from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Antiques Roadshow has a new podcast called Detours.

Will The Real Mr. Oreo Please Stand Up? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Biscuit wars, rebellion-by-Oreo, and the "Real" Mr. Oreo: In this collaboration with Business Insider’s Brought To You By, we take a closer look at the many layers of history behind America’s favor...

Wine and Whisky Copycats from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Some new wines and spirits are being created in the lab, not the cask. Using flavor technology, companies are able to replicate artisan wines and spirits at a fraction of the price. But, is there a...

Quaran-tiny Sourdough Starter from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Creating a sourdough starter can be difficult during a pandemic. Sourdough Guru, Andrew Janjigian is here to help.

Science Diction: Umami from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Science Diction host Johanna Mayer joins Bridget to talk about the history of Umami and MSG.

[Bonus] Brought To You By from Business Insider: Jack Daniel's from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Listen to this episode about Jack Daniel's from the Brought To You By podcast from Business Insider

Exodus Bagels: A Small Business and COVID-19 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This is the story of one family, struggling to save their bagel cafe in Boston during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Reconstruction of A Royal Cake from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When a replica of Queen Elizabeth’s royal wedding cake was destroyed by vandals, hundreds of people would come together to recreate the show stopping replica cake.

[Bonus] Ask This Old House: Insulating Your Attic from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Our friends at This Old House have a new podcast "Ask This Old House".

Cheater Cheater Chili Eater from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

At a Chili Cook-off Championship, Don Eastep turned in a cup of chili to the judges filled with samples of everyone else’s chili mixed together. And then, he won first place.

The Journey of the Nem from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How did the nem, a Vietnamese Spring Roll, become a prominent feature on Senegalese restaurant menus in New York City?

Who Owns Nature? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Plant Patent Act of 1930 was designed to protect inventions from “The Wizard of Horticulture,” Luther Burbank. But would the law encourage innovation in the plant breeding profession, or stifle...

Yelp Therapy from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When the Yelp platform does little to help facilitate resolution, is the only hope of reconciliation to take their dialog “offline”?

Raiders of the Lost Yeast from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The creator of the Xbox assembles a rag-tag team to extract ancient yeast from Egyptian pots and bake bread with it.

Atomic Peanuts and Gamma Grapefruit from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is the possibility of an “Atomic Garden of Eden” worth the nuclear gamble?

Season 6 Starts December 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Listen to Season 6 of Proof beginning December 3.

Oyster Mushroom Revolution from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In Rwanda, is a better tomorrow just a mushroom farm away?

Underground Aams Trade, Part 2 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How hard could it possibly be to procure a Pakistani mango?

Underground Aams Trade, Part 1 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

To find the best Pakistani mangoes around, turn to WhatsApp.

Jamon, Y'all from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Pigs + pasture + nuts: Is Iberico ham more than the sum of its parts?

Tracing Jambalaya from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Tracing jambalaya’s roots takes us on a journey through the African Diaspora.

Why Not Eat Bugs? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The next big dairy alternative is made of… bugs—that is, if we can get over the ick-factor.

Prepping for the Worst from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Storing food for doomsday might not be as crazy as we think.

The True Cost of Mezcal from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The mezcal business is booming. But will the magic of mezcal be lost in order to keep up with demand?

The Villain of Trader Joe's from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Trader Joe's subreddit get infiltrated by a villain.

The Genetics of Taste from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Bridget speaks with Dr. Danielle Reed from the Monell Chemical Senses Center about the genetics of taste perception.

The Plan to Kill the Chinese Restaurant from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chinese restaurants are an essential part of the American landscape. But a century ago, they were almost extinguished by an organized effort to wipe out Chinese eateries altogether.

The Pretty Big Problem of Ugly Food from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

“Ugly Food” subscription boxes propose to solve a very big problem: nearly half of all the food produced in the United States is being wasted. But will delivering a box of three-legged carrots and ...

The Quest for Mystic Makgeolli from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Makgeolli is a traditional and complex brew that’s little known outside of Korea and widely misunderstood within the country. Can a new generation of brewers revive the lost art of the “true” Makge...

The OGs of America’s Oranges from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Every California navel orange you've ever eaten can be traced back to two trees in the front yard of Eliza Tibbet's Riverside, California home. This is the little known story of how an amateur farm...

Hidden Valley Wine from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Great wine begins with high quality grapes, careful fermentation, deft blending techniques, and, in Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe, a group of puritanical Russian immigrants called the “molokans.”

Frankenfish from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The snakehead fish is an invasive species that’s been plaguing the Potomac river system for nearly two decades. Can turning this monster into a local delicacy save the Potomac?

Welcome to the Microbiome from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Probiotics are everywhere, and heralded as the miracle cure to everything from indigestion to mood disorders. But do they really do anything?

Who Killed the Miracle Berry? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In the 1970s, the Miracle Berry was poised to become the sugar replacement of choice. So why haven't you heard of it?

Season 2 Starts May 23rd from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Season 2 of Proof starts May 23rd.

CELERY TONIC from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Jack Bishop discusses the history and unique flavor of celery tonic.

NATURAL VS. ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Reporter Sara Joyner explains the difference between natural and artificial flavors.

TEST COOK CRAVINGS from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How do the test cooks at America's Test Kitchen manage their cravings?

NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We get into the physics of ketchup.

ZEPPOLES from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Zeppoles are a staple of the San Gennaro street fair in New York city.

KETCHUP from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Do burgers need ketchup? We infiltrate Louis’ Lunch, a notorious no-ketchup joint, to get answers.

BOWLS from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When did adding the word bowl to everything from grain to breakfast become a thing? In this episode, we do a deep dive into bowl culture.

FAIR FOODS from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How and why did deep fried foods become a sport at state fairs?

The Case of the Disappearing Franchise from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Historian and fast food detective Marcia Chatelain explores the cases of franchises that disappeared without a trace.

BEANBOOZLED, Part 2 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In part 2 of our Beanboozled story, we go inside Givaudan, one of the largest flavor houses in the world, to uncover how stinky sock flavored jelly beans are made.

The Mysterious Yamei Kin from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Dr. Kin had charisma, a medical degree, and support from the USDA — but she still couldn't convince Americans to eat tofu.

BEANBOOZLED, Part 1 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How in the world did Jelly Belly create a stinky sock-flavored jelly bean? We take a deep dive into the weird science of flavor in part 1 of this 2 part journey.

TIKI from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We follow the popular cocktail on a historical journey through the rise and fall of tiki culture in America.

CRAVINGS from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Where do food cravings come from? Are they cultural, genetic, gender-specific? We find out if science has the answer.

CELERY from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Celery was the "it" vegetable of the Victorian era. We trace celery's fall from grace and ask the important question: is it poised for a comeback?

Introducing Proof from America's Test Kitchen from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Proof is a new podcast from America’s Test Kitchen that goes beyond recipes and cooking to solve food mysteries big and small.

Sizzler and the Search for the American Dream from 2020-12-17T05:00

When Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee and her family moved to America from Korea in the 1980s, they were immersed in a whole new world. New schools, friends, jobs, and new food. None was more remarkable than...

France's Forbidden Wine from 2020-12-10T05:00

Hervé Garnier owns a small vineyard in the tiny French town of Beaumont making wine from hybrid Franco-American grape varieties. But this fruity, floral, rich red wine he makes… is ille...

The Case of the Snail in the Ginger Beer from 2020-12-03T05:00

Modern personal injury lawsuits are now considered frivolous, at best. But 66 years before the infamous spilled McDonald’s coffee, May Donoghue drank a ginger beer in Paisley, Scotland and chang...

Proof Presents: The Walk-In from 2020-10-01T04:00

In this special episode of Proof, Bridget Lancaster talks with America’s Test Kitchen Executive Editor Elle Simone Scott about Elle’s new podcast, The Walk-In. Then, food historian Dr. Jessica B...

Season 4 Starts April 9 from 2020-04-02T04:00

4,500 year old yeast, atomic peanuts, and a cheating scandal at a chili cook-off. Season 4 goes even deeper to reveal what’s on our plates and how it got there. Tune in for Season 4 of Proof beg...

[Bonus] The Bitter Southerner: Waffle House from 2020-03-20T04:00

We want to share with you a podcast from our friends at The Bitter Southerner called "The Ways of Waffle House" that attempts to answer a large question: How could a 2,000-store restau...

Introducing Mystery Recipe, a New Podcast from America's Test Kitchen Kids from 2020-03-16T12:59:27

Mystery Recipe is a new podcast from America's Test Kitchen Kids! With new episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, this short-form podcast will help kids AND their grown-ups uncover the fu...

[Bonus] Introducing Clearstory from This Old House from 2020-02-06T05:00

Our friends at This Old House have a new podcast called Clearstory. Hosted by Kevin O'Connor, Clearstory is a podcast that sheds light on the surprising stories behind our homes. The episode we ...

Season 3 Starts November 7th from 2019-10-17T04:00

An underground mango industry, the hidden costs of your favorite Mezcal, and ice cream made from bugs. Season 3 goes deep to challenge our ideas about what we eat and uncover where it comes from...

Can You Prevent Brain Freezes? from 2019-10-03T04:00

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: does eating ice cream slower prevent a brain freeze?

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Can Pistachios Spontaneously Combust? from 2019-09-26T04:00

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: do pistachios spontaneously combust?

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What Food Should I Wish For On A Deserted Island? from 2019-09-19T04:00

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: If I was stranded on a deserted island, what's the best food to wish for?

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What Weird Things Did Presidents Eat? from 2019-09-12T04:00

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: What are the weirdest things US presidents ate?

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Can You Bake A Cookie In Space? from 2019-09-05T04:00

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: If you flung a cookie dough ball into space, how long until it bakes into a cookie?

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Why Is Ranch So Addictive? from 2019-08-29T04:00

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: why is ranch so addictive?

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Are We All Victims of Food Fraud? from 2019-08-22T04:00

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: In a world fraught with food fraud, how do you know what you're buying?

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Can You Get Drunk Off Kombucha? from 2019-08-15T04:04:19

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: How much kombucha would it take to get you drunk?

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Is Cereal Soup? from 2019-08-08T04:00

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: Is cereal soup?

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Why Does OJ Taste Bad After Using Toothpaste? from 2019-08-01T04:00

In these bonus episodes, we try to answer your weird food questions. This week: Why are some flavor pairings divine (chocolate + coffee) and others horrible (orange juice after toothpaste)?

Proof from America's Test Kitchen from 2018-10-25T04:00

Proof is the flagship narrative podcast from America's Test Kitchen, where we take ATK's inquisitive and relentless approach to telling unexpected, funny, and thought-provoking stories about foo...

Proof from America's Test Kitchen from 2018-10-25T04:00

Proof is the flagship narrative podcast from America's Test Kitchen, where we take ATK's inquisitive and relentless approach to telling unexpected, funny, and thought-provoking stories about foo...