The Sporkful

Jacques Pépin, a legendary French chef and author, shares his incredible journey from cooking for presidents at just 23 to embracing the creativity of American cuisine at Howard Johnson's. He recounts the life-changing car accident that shifted his focus to teaching, leading to his influential TV career alongside Julia Child. Jacques discusses experimenting with simple recipes, like glazed Spam, during the pandemic, and reflects on his evolving culinary style as he emphasizes minimalism in cooking and painting. A delightful blend of wisdom and humor!

Danny, a popcorn enthusiast who believes in eating as soon as he gets it, passionately debates the timing of movie snacks with fellow caller Emily, who argues that waiting enhances anticipation. Their discussion dives into how Danny's experiment with patience led to distraction, proving that mindful eating can conflict with movie indulgence. The episode also touches on a humorous salad dressing debate between a mother and daughter about adulthood and food preferences. Tune in for a delightful clash of culinary opinions!

Samia Bazille, a Paris-based reporter and podcaster, shares her popcorn dilemma shaped by French cinema etiquette, which frowns upon eating in theaters. Joining her is food historian Andrew F. Smith, who dives into popcorn's deep-rooted history and its rise in American movie culture. They discuss the contrasting popcorn preferences in France and the U.S., and how theaters embraced popcorn as a revenue source during tough times. Ultimately, Samia's experiment in a Paris theater shifts her view, revealing popcorn as a symbol of shared enjoyment rather than a cultural faux pas.

Katie Hacker, a dedicated baker and advocate for recovery from an eating disorder, shares her powerful journey alongside her husband Todd, who provides unwavering support. They dive into Katie's early struggles with calorie counting and the emotional toll it took on their relationship. Katie discusses how baking became a therapeutic outlet, transforming her relationship with food. They reflect on small victories, setbacks, and the ongoing challenges of recovery, ultimately highlighting the importance of support and the joy of reclaiming food.

Joining the discussion are Daniel Gritzer, an editorial director at Serious Eats and former pro cook, and Swetha Sivakumar, an industrial engineer turned food writer. They tackle fascinating food science questions, from how rinsing ice affects carbonation to why root beer floats create such stable foam. Swetha shares insights on storing fresh bread without starting marital disputes, while Daniel explains the science behind ice cream texture changes when soda is added. Prepare for a deliciously nerdy ride!

In this entertaining recount, Heather Coleman, an office worker from Elkhart, Indiana, shares her captivating story of persistent food theft from her workplace fridge. She details her frantic attempts to protect her lunches, including duct-taping containers and playing detective to profile the mysterious thief. The investigation takes a twist with a bizarre burrito clue and a dramatic confrontation in a bathroom stall. Heather’s relatable frustration and clever strategies make this story a humorous yet gripping exploration of office life.

Stanley Tucci, award-winning actor and food enthusiast, shares his culinary journey from films to cookbooks. He reveals how his viral Negroni video lifted spirits during lockdown and discusses the art of eating on camera. Tucci also reflects on his battle with oral cancer and its impact on his relationship with food. He shares fond memories of his late wife's recipes and the importance of family meals, all while emphasizing his love for crafting the perfect martini on set.

Bryant Terry, a James Beard Award-winning chef and author, shares his journey to veganism, sparked by a hip-hop song and his rich heritage. He highlights the vegetable-centric nature of Black food traditions and the growing interest in veganism among Black Americans. Terry discusses his struggles to publish impactful cookbooks and the creation of Black Food, which he views as a farewell to his writing career to focus on mentoring new authors. He also critiques the reliance on meat substitutes and advocates for more creative plant-based cooking.

What foods do Sporkful listeners resolve to eat more of in the new year, and why? And what’s Dan’s New Year’s food resolution for 2026? All is revealed in our annual year-end spectacular. We also replay one of the Sporkful crew’s favorite episodes of the year. Scott Wiener, founder of Scott’s Pizza Tours, has made a name for himself as one of the most knowledgeable and passionate pizza experts in America. (He has the Guinness Record for the world’s largest collection of pizza boxes — nearly 2,000.) This week, Dan and his family join Scott on one of his famous Sunday tours, in which pizza pilgrims board a school bus not knowing what pizzerias Scott plans to take them to. On the tour, Dan gets to watch Scott in action: figuring out his route on the fly, taking the temperature of pizza ovens with an infrared thermometer, and debunking NYC pizza myths. Plus, we have a big update on Scott’s personal life since he was on the show in 2018.The Sporkful production team includes Dan Pashman, Emma Morgenstern, Andres O'Hara, Kameel Stanley, and Jared O'Connell. Additional production by Grace Rubin.Right now, Sporkful listeners can get three months free of the SiriusXM app by going to siriusxm.com/sporkful. Get all your favorite podcasts, more than 200 ad-free music channels curated by genre and era, and live sports coverage with the SiriusXM app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is chock full of strategies for making your way in one of the world's most barren food wastelands. We cover both the airport and airplane, short domestic flights and long haul international flights, snacks, entrees, and more. We'll tell you how to mix your cocktail, how to use your pretzels to improve your other food, how to get served first, and how to end up with enough beverages to get you to your destination.This episode originally aired on August 16, 2011, and July 30, 2012, and was produced by Dan Pashman and Mark Garrison. The Sporkful team now includes Dan Pashman, Emma Morgenstern, Andres O'Hara, Kameel Stanley, and Jared O'Connell. This update was produced by Gianna Palmer.Every Friday, we reach into our deep freezer and reheat an episode to serve up to you. We're calling these our Reheats. If you have a show you want reheated, send us an email or voice memo at hello@sporkful.com, and include your name, your location, which episode, and why.Right now, Sporkful listeners can get three months free of the SiriusXM app by going to siriusxm.com/sporkful. Get all your favorite podcasts, more than 200 ad-free music channels curated by genre and era, and live sports coverage with the SiriusXM app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.