Iโve always been into podcasts โ or maybe the better way to say it is that Iโve always been into the archived radio shows on NPR, which keep me company in all manner of situations, particularly in the most suburban of situations known asย Waiting for Practice to End. But lately Iโve been way more into podcasts than ever before. Why? Well, sure, like everyone else in the world, I was addicted to Serial last fall and felt a real void when it was over,ย but I also think what kicked me into gear was something I should probably be embarrassed to admit: I only recently discovered that the iTunes podcast app was right there on my smartphone. The whole process of finding them and subscribing used to confuse me, but now that Iโve discovered this, I just search for my show, press a button, and itโs playing through my phone or Bluetooth connection in the car. (Related: have you heard of this thing called the World Wide Web?) Iโve been going a little crazy ever since, heading way way down the Hereโs the Thing and WTF with Marc Maron* rabbit hole. I think Andy might short-circuit if I begin one more conversation โOn Marc Maron todayโฆโ
Anyway, what does this have to do with you and the dinner table, you might ask!? Well, amidst all my searching, Iโve uncovered some awesome food podcasts and thought if you ever found yourself waiting for practice to end, or bored on your commute home from work, or craving a conversation about the finer points of wok technique during a workout, you might consider subscribing to some of these:
Americaโs Test Kitchen/ATK Radio
Iโm addicted to this one. Anyone familiar with Christopher Kimball and the Americaโs Test Kitchen enterprise shouldnโt be surprised to hear that itโs the most expert-driven podcast Iโve uncovered yet. Youโll hear product reviews, road tests, feature interviews with big-name food people (like Ina Garten and Fuchsia Dunlop), and call-ins, which are my favorite. As far as I can tell, thereโs no question Kimball and co-host Bridget Lancaster canโt answer.
Typical topics: Best rice pilaf mix on the market, an interview with Pig Tales author and activist Barry Estabrook, the perfect technique for soft-boiling an egg
Average Length: 1 hour
The Bon Appetit Foodcast
Adam Rapoport, editor in chief and born host (whether itโs a dinner, a party, a podcast or otherwise) invites his test kitchen staff and a rotation of food luminaries to discuss cooking for an upcoming holiday or a deeper look at a story in the current issue of BA.
Typical topics: How to celebrate Valentineโs day โwithout being totally lame,โ an interview with New York Dirt Candy chef Amanda Cohen, making the most of spring vegetables
Average Length: 30-40 minutes
Spilled Milk
In each episode, co-hosts Molly Wizenberg (ofย Orangetteย fame) and Matthew Amster-Burton go deep on a single dish or food (scrambled eggs, beer, orange soda, birthday cake). They are the first to admit itโs not always the most instructional half hour, but what they lack in hardcore kitchen tips they make up for in personality and chemistry. Itโs been around for over five years, which is saying something โ if you like Molly and Mollyโs blog, you canโt not like this.
Typical topics:ย See above plus Cheap Beer, Waffles, Oatmeal Cookies
Average Length:ย 20-25 minutes
Food52โs Burnt Toast
So far BT hasnโt proven to be heavy on recipes and technique (itโs relatively new, so who knows), but itโs fun to hear Food52ย founders Amanda Hesser, Merrill Stubbs and an array of staffers share personal stories about food and cooking โ feels sort of like youโre a fly on the wall in their office. Featured guests includeย Lucky Peach editor Peter Meehan and Saveur editor Adam Sachs.
Typical topics: Where and how to eat on a first date, what makes a great cookbook, how to launch a career in food or food writing
Average Length: 25 minutes
The Sporkful
This one is food nerd city. Host Dan Pashman (who also hosts the Cooking Channel show โYouโre Cooking it Wrongโ) seems to obsess about every possible level of consumption (the showโs tagline: Itโs not for foodies, itโs for eaters) and somehow manages to get you to do the same.
Typical topics: What Makes a sandwich a sandwich (i.e. does a hot dog count?), how to eat while driving a tour van (!), interviews with Eddie Huang, Zach Woods, and โฆMarc Maron!
Average Length: 25 minutes
Queued up next: The Splendid Table, Radio Cherry Bombe, Dinner Party Download;ย what am I overlooking?
{Sorta Related:ย Last week, instead of listening to podcasts, I listened to To Kill a Mockingbirdย through the Audible app. I hadnโt read it since I was in sixth grade and letโs just say I couldnโt wait to be sitting in the parking lot of a random field complex listening to the brilliant Sissy Spacek read as Scout and Jem and Atticus Finch, who Iโm naming my next child after. Or at least my next dog. Holy Moly. Subscribe now!}
*WTF with Marc Maron: NOT FAMILY LISTENING
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I wonder what it will be like to listen to food podcasts while running. Itโs the only time I get for it, so weโll see.
Also #makedinnernotwar because I really want a bumper sticker!
I absolutely love food podcasts! I listen to Spilled Milk and Sporkful on my drive home. They help me recharge and look forward to whipping up a meal after a long day at work. Kudos guys!
I love listening to podcast shows. They are interesting, natural and enjoyable
I didnt even know these existed! Great find!
i love the word ..good to hear about food