

Smart Mouth
Katherine Spiers / TableCakes Productions
An addictively illuminating, often hilarious, conversational podcast about the surprising histories
behind the foods we love.
Hosted by independent journalist and food anthropologist, Katherine Spiers (LA Times, LA Weekly, KCET, Eater, How to Eat L.A.). Guests include Anthony Bourdain, Georgia Hardstark, Jacques Pepin, Llewellyn Clarke, Sarah Kuhn, Claudette Zepeda, Jon Garbus, Danny Trejo, Flula Borg and many other compelling people who eat food!
behind the foods we love.
Hosted by independent journalist and food anthropologist, Katherine Spiers (LA Times, LA Weekly, KCET, Eater, How to Eat L.A.). Guests include Anthony Bourdain, Georgia Hardstark, Jacques Pepin, Llewellyn Clarke, Sarah Kuhn, Claudette Zepeda, Jon Garbus, Danny Trejo, Flula Borg and many other compelling people who eat food!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 14, 2023 • 48min
Correct Episode! With Maya Lau
Maya Lau, a journalist and podcast guest, joins Smart Mouth to discuss topics such as the flavors of bay leaves, the truth about their toxicity, and a comparison between Oprah Winfrey and Gwyneth Paltrow's controversies. They also touch on Gwyneth Paltrow's comments about Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt, the quality of bay leaves in the market, and express gratitude to the guest.

Jun 8, 2023 • 48min
Bay Leaves with Maya Lau
Maya Lau joins Smart Mouth for the last episode of the season! They discuss bay leaves, living in foreign countries, compare Oprah and Gwyneth, and even touch on Gwyneth Paltrow's comments on celebrity bed performances and her show Sex Love and Goop.

May 24, 2023 • 40min
Industrial Meat and Coca-Cola with Jamie Loftus
Jamie Loftus, an expert on the food industry and author of 'Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs', discusses topics such as the ethics of running a hot dog business, the influence of Upton Sinclair's novel on the meat processing industry, the impact of the Pure Food and Drug Act on Coca-Cola, humorous conversations about drugs and women's rights, and the treatment of workers in the meat processing industry.

May 9, 2023 • 36min
From Other People’s Pockets: Katherine’s Journey from Food Writer to Business Owner
In this special episode, I’m sharing a conversation I had on a new podcast, Other People’s Pockets. On Other People’s Pockets, journalist Maya Lau asks people from all walks of life to get radically transparent about their personal finances in order to learn more about who we are and level the financial playing field along the way. Maya and I chatted about eating my way through L.A and what it means for my finances, along with how I went from food writing to business ownership. If you like what you hear, be sure to listen to Other People’s Pockets at apple.co/pockets.

May 3, 2023 • 44min
PBR with Sam Sanders
Meghan Markle drinks Pacifico, we’re sure of it. Vibe Check Into It Listen to Smart Mouth: iTunes • Google Podcasts • Stitcher • Spotify • RadioPublic • TuneIn • Libsyn • Amazon Music Check out all our episodes so far here. If you like, pledge a buck or two on Patreon. Sam IG Katherine TikTok Smart Mouth newsletter Smart Mouth IG Music: Party in the USA - Miley Cyrus Sources: Atlas Obscura Journal of Antiques Houston Chronicle Pabst Blue Ribbon

Apr 19, 2023 • 47min
Using Your Food with Tamar Adler
Tamar Adler does such cool work with cooking - her new book, The Everlasting Meal Cookbook: Leftovers A-Z, outlines how to actually use all the food you have in your kitchen. It’s extremely helpful and I really appreciate her point of view - there’s a tendency in the US to be like "here are things to buy to be more earth-friendly.” No. That is not the vibe today. Also I bonded with Tamar over the dirty looks we get in the grocery store for doing something that is considered so gross - but it’s not! The Everlasting Meal Cookbook: Leftovers A-Z Listen to Smart Mouth: iTunes • Google Podcasts • Stitcher • Spotify • RadioPublic • TuneIn • Libsyn • Amazon Music Check out all our episodes so far here. If you like, pledge a buck or two on Patreon. Tamar IG Katherine TikTok Smart Mouth newsletter Smart Mouth IG Related: Home Economics with Shauna Sever Music: Money for Nothing - Dire Straits Sources: Encyclopedia Washington Post Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo Utah State University Vinny Thomas

Apr 5, 2023 • 48min
Hotdish with Kristen Meinzer
Yes, it's one word - because it's one word in Swedish, too. Listen to Smart Mouth: iTunes • Google Podcasts • Stitcher • Spotify • RadioPublic • TuneIn • Libsyn • Amazon Music Check out all our episodes so far here. If you like, pledge a buck or two on Patreon. How To Be Fine Kristen Meinzer IG Katherine TikTok Smart Mouth newsletter Smart Mouth IG Related: Tater Tots Music: Uptown - Prince Sources: Eater Minnesota Hotdish: A Love Story

Mar 22, 2023 • 47min
Popcorn with Dan Pashman
Agriculture and movie theatres, working together since the Depression - but at absolute odds before that. Listen to Smart Mouth: iTunes • Google Podcasts • Stitcher • Spotify • RadioPublic • TuneIn • Libsyn • Amazon Music Check out all our episodes so far here. If you like, pledge a buck or two on Patreon. Dan Pashman IG The Sporkful Sfoglini.com Katherine TikTok Smart Mouth newsletter Smart Mouth IG Related: Apples (audio) Apples (print) Music: Let's All Go to the Lobby Sources: Simply Recipes Thought Co. Smithsonian magazine Serious Eats Popped Culture

Mar 8, 2023 • 9min
Fika, Sweden's Obsession
When you'll take any excuse for "coffee and cake." Related: Coffee with Nick Cho Listen to Smart Mouth: iTunes • Google Podcasts • Stitcher • Spotify • RadioPublic • TuneIn • Libsyn • Amazon Music Check out all our episodes so far here. If you like, pledge a buck or two on Patreon. Katherine TikTok Smart Mouth newsletter Smart Mouth IG Music: To Live With You - ABBA Sources: visitsweden.com hejsweden.com BBC Afar Popular Science Stoughton Chamber of Commerce Scandinavian Economic History Review The World of Caffeine The Infinite Emotions of Coffee

Feb 22, 2023 • 46min
Comfort Food with Niccole Thurman
What is your comfort food and why do you call it that? Listen to Smart Mouth: iTunes • Google Podcasts • Stitcher • Spotify • RadioPublic • TuneIn • Libsyn • Amazon Music Check out all our episodes so far here. If you like, pledge a buck or two on Patreon. Niccole Twitter Niccole IG Katherine TikTok Smart Mouth newsletter Smart Mouth IG Music: Cheeseburger in Paradise - Jimmy Buffet Sources: New York Times Foodtimeline.org The myth of comfort food JStor Daily The Comfort Food Fallacy: Avoiding Old Favorites in Times of Change Pleasurable behaviors reduce stress via brain reward pathways