No Such Thing As A Fish 600: No Such Thing As The Doughnut Ambassador
47 snips
Sep 11, 2025 Dive into the quirky world of donuts and the eccentric man who set their standards. Discover the delightful history of donuts during wartime and the unusual culinary terms that pop up, like 'nun's fart.' Laugh along as the podcast uncovers the police-doughnut stereotype and links it to modern streaming woes. Marvel at the surprising connection between ancient poetry and porpoises. From unique mating rituals of harbour porpoises to the innovative use of beet juice in tractors, this discussion weaves humor with fascinating insights!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
The Donut Man Who Measured Holes
- Anna recounts Edward Velasca touring America in the 1940s measuring doughnut holes and promoting smaller holes to avoid dunker dimples.
- She links the story to Sally L. Steinberg's Smithsonian donut ephemera and The Donut Book as the source of the photo and lore.
War Popularised The Doughnut
- The Salvation Army 'dough-lassies' popularised doughnuts at the front in World War I because they were easy to fry and distribute.
- That front-line service helped embed the doughnut into American culture when soldiers returned home.
The Ship Captain Who Claimed The Hole
- Andy and the team narrate the disputed origin story of the doughnut hole credited to Hanson Gregory, a ship's captain who claimed he purposefully made the hole.
- Gregory repeatedly embraced the origin claim and compared his pride to Columbus when asked late in life.
