The Southern Fork Picks 7 Favorite Food Podcasts
Stephanie Burt's Food Podcasts to Listen to Now
Profile photo by Leslie McKellar
Sure, I have a podcast of my own. But when The Southern Fork takes me on the road to gather the interviews I do with some of the most interesting people in the culinary South, these are the food podcasts I listen to on the way. That’s right. I never turn off. I have to eat three times (at least) a day, so why not dig in? Put in those earbuds and get your fill of food talk with me.
Photo by Libba Osborne
1. Gravy
Far and away, Gravy is my favorite podcast. Sure, I’m biased — I’m not only Southern but a writer for the Southern Foodways Alliance myself — but this podcast, to be sappy and straight up, speaks to my soul. It’s part oral history, part humor, part kick-ass production values, and all grassroots stories documenting the current Southern table. It can make me cry or want to explore, or both. Either way, it proves there’s a story in every bite.
2. Splendid Table
Lynne Rosetto Kasper is the reigning queen of food hosts in my opinion, and long before there were podcasts, she opened my ears to discussions on food on Sunday afternoon drives. The show’s varied subjects and guests feel similar to a varied snack table at a good cocktail party, but there’s definitely some meat there, and you can make a meal. These days, I often know at least one of her guests, so it feels good to hear their voice, but after one episode, Lynn will make you feel included at the party too.
3. Gastropod
High production values, bantering co-hosts, and an interesting diversity of subjects are reasons enough to subscribe to this show, but more than that, I learn something every time I take time to listen. There was a whole episode about cilantro that made me quit disdaining people who don’t like cilantro (it’s a chemical thing for some palates), I once learned more about food from every state, and there was that other show I even got to nerd out even further in the discussion about my current crush, mezcal. Gastropod is science and history, and it’s addicting.