UnChefed

Talking Food and Plants with Vikram from Planthropology

Vikram Baliga knows his plants. He is driven by a passion to understand them and to share that knowledge. We thought it would be a good idea to ask him about his motivations as well as his feelings on the current state of agriculture in the US. Along the way, we learn a bit about where he comes from, and what he likes to eat. Central themes in this episode revolve around water, farmer’s markets, agriculture and family. Reach out to/Follow Vikram: Twitter: @Planthropology_ Instagram: @Plan...

I Love Food: Antonio from The Cultworthy

We continue to explore the lives of our friends in hopes of better understanding our own relationship with food. In this episode, Chef and Host of the podcasts "The Cultworthy" and "The Cultworthy: Classic" Antonio Palacios talks about his past growing up in a multi-ethnic circus community, and the joys he finds through both sharing new foods with his young daughter and being responsive to the needs of his autistic son. Central themes in this episode revolve around family, community, techn...

The Power of Wendy's Marketing: Freshness and the Cold Chain

Wendy's is arguably the most influential fast food franchise out there. While McDonald's and Burger King were selling frozen patties on their limited menus, Wendy's was selling "fresh, never frozen" beef on a menu loaded with chili, baked potatoes, and salads. These days, in the year of our lord 2022, fast food burger menus from the twin titans at the top look WAY more like a Wendy's menus from the 80s than the other way around. Join us as we ask "what's up with that" and explore the impact...

I Love Food: Kay from F**k My Work Life

I know, we collaborate with them a lot...but we love F**k My Work Life, so we aren't complaining. In this episode, we get in touch with how the pandemic has us a little frazzled. Maybe we stopped cooking for ourselves, maybe we fell a little out of love with the thought of cooking for ourselves. We attack these feelings directly with our friend Kay by digging deep and pulling out the memory of a perfect dish, and thinking a bit on what made it so special. Reach out to/follow F**k My Work L...

I Love Food: Nicholas Haskins from Nikoli's Kitchen

Nick Haskins joins us from Nikoli's Kitchen to continue the conversation of who we are and how what we eat changes us.We discuss mental health, the calming affects of cooking, and why we love our grandmother's in this episode. We also discuss mental anguish, and we encourage you to seek help if you feel like you need it.Please check out Nikoli's Kitchen wherever you listen to your podcasts, and kindly give Nick a follow @NikolisKitchen.

I Love Food: Jay from the F**k My Work Life Podcast

In the first of what will hopefully be a recurring episode format, Brendan gets to the bottom of Jay from the F**k My Work Life Podcasts relationship with food.Stories shared, laughs laughed, and memories explored. Kindly reach out to me at [email protected] to start chatting with us!Follow Jay (and Kay) @fmwlpod on twitter!

I Love Food: Jay from the F**k My Work Life

In the first of what will hopefully be a recurring episode format, Brendan gets to the bottom of Jay from the F**k My Work Life Podcasts relationship with food.Stories shared, laughs laughed, and memories explored. Kindly reach out to me at [email protected] to start chatting with us!Follow Jay (and Kay) @fmwlpod on twitter! 

The History of Fish Sauce

UnChefed chats with Greta Hardin from the amazing podcast "The History of American Food" about the history and mystery of one of the world's most polarizing...and delicious...condiments.Kindly check out Greta's show, The History of American Food, at the following locations:@THoAFoodTwitter: https://twitter.com/THoAFoodIG: https://www.instagram.com/thoafood/Website: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/Brain Trust Promo:@talkingSMAChttps://linktr.ee/TalkingSMACResearch...

The Benefits of Poison with Against All Oddities

We used to tell stories about the plants in our lives. We look to a contradiction, how things that could kill us can also be nourishing, to explore these stories and start piecing together a better way to view the things that we grow, our fear of them, and the benefits they may offer.Mentioned in this episode:Seamus Black: https://www.emporiumblack.com/AAO Podcast: https://dorfyou.com/podcast-1Ads:It Should have been in there, but...Livestream for the Cure: https://allmylinks....

UnChefed Presents: F**k My Worklife featuring Brendan

Due to an unfortunate technical error with that occurred during our conversation with Antonio over at the Cultworthy Podcast, we aren’t able to bring you our talk about cults, movies, and food. Instead, we hope you enjoy this episode of one of our absolute favorite podcasts featuring Brendan..... recorded with Jay and Kay, friends of the show over at the Fuck My Work Life Podcast.In conversaion, Jay, Kay and Brendan talk about working for the man, kitchen stories in general...

Hipsters Stole my Mason Jars with Josh Wilson

We call upon a wise man to help us explore what it means to be a hipster. While we have him, we share the history of Mason jars, why they are associated with hipsters, whether this is fair or not, and why the hell we should even care.Look for us to rap about our mutual experiences regarding Mason jars in the south, layering critical analysis in food, sustainability in food packaging and how to make a million dollars in the HOT field of artisanal drink ware. You don’t want to m...

The Amazing Roo of the Catawba Nation

We had originally planned on talking about the amazing diversity Indiginous North American tribes brought to a robust food culture ranging from Alaska down to the Caribbean, and the impact that their techniques and practices have to this day on what and how we eat. Then we met Roo, and decided we just wanted to listen to him talk.In this episode we discuss the revival of lost crops, colonial waste, the meaning of an important Catawba word for family, and the actual role of whi...

F**K My Vegan Life

Today we are joined by the inimitable Kay, from F**k my Work Life fame. It seemed like a good opportunity to talk to her about the perception of veganism in America, the nature of plant-based labeling, and vegan junk food.Don't forget to check out the F**k my Work Life Podcast's 3rd season, out now!Social:Twitter: @fmwlpodIG: @fmwlpodMore Fun Material Related to this discussionBusting Myths and Stereotypes About Veganshttps://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/busting-myths-and-...

Discussing Anti-Fat Bias with Victoria Edel

UnChefed chats with Writer and Comedian Victoria Edel about her article written for Eater titled "Fast Food Fashion is Everywhere- Except on Fat Bodies".Why is it so easy to form uninformed opinions about people's body types, especially those we consider fat? Why do we care so much about the bodies around us? Why is it so hard to just chill and except the diversity of body types for the wonderful thing that it is? Answers to these questions, and a helpful list of what is in an...

Talking GMO's with Kelli Madden of Drunk Theory

Mad Scientist Kelli Madden of the obscenely enjoyable Drunk Theory podcast joins Brendan and Matt to share some laughs and chat about GMO's and food allergens. Why does feeling crappy all the time seem so normal? What is food fear? What is a no-food? Sub up and leave us a review!Kelli Madden:Twitter: @KelliMadden80IG: @KMadden80Drunk Theory:Twitter: @DrunkTheoryIG: @Drunk_TheoryWebsite: https://www.drunktheory.com/Promo:The Cultworthy: https://thecultworthy.com/Research Source...

UnChefed Learns to Love the Bug

In the Season 1 Finale, Brendan interviews edible insect guru and all around great guy Bill Broadbent, the President of Entosense. Matt and Brendan reflect on the interview and a lot of the points made within. How are insects perceived elsewhere in the world? What exactly can they do for us and our future? Why is it becoming increasingly difficult to separate our revulsion of eating them from racially charged colonial tendencies? Listen up to find out!You can follow Bill Broad...

Goodburger: Unchefed, Talking SMAC, and a burger wth nothing on it.......

Matt and Brendan are joined by Josh Skaar ( @josh_skaar ) of the Talking SMAC Podcast ( @TalkingSMACpod) to disect the 1997 Nikelodeon Film Goodburger.

Update: Upcoming Episodes and Holiday Break

Guess Who... It's America's (almost) Favorite Holiday Beverage.

Who DOESN'T love Eggnog....... The answer is 51 percent of the US population. In our first Holiday episode, we discuss the history of this beverage from its origins in Medieval England to its reinvention in the US in the 1700s, and discuss variations of this beverage from around the world. Get the booze ready.

Natalie Bishnoi Wants to Feed Kids

Natalie Bishnoi, Co-Manager of the Farm Food Collaborative chats with us about how helping farms and helping schools can look very similar with the right kind of plan.

Surpise! Food Can Make You Healthy

Healthcare…hot topic for sure. With the ability to both make us healthy and keep us healthy, why isn’t food a bigger part of this conversation?

The Interesting Historical Relevance of America’s First Cookbook

As we gather to either love or yell at each other on America’s most eating-est holiday, we thought it would be fun to sharpen your trivia skills with a little bit of American history. Let’s talk about the first cookbook printed on US soil, and its impact on our holiday traditions.American Cookery: https://www.google.com/books/edition/American_Cookery/_6CggcPs3iQC?hl=en&gbpv=1Related Article:https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-americas-first-cookbook-says-about-our-coun...

America’s Seafood Problem

Seafood is delicious AND it’s healthy, so why are we relying on other countries to produce it for us, and how does this impact both domestic and foreign policy?

How Analog Meats are Rewriting Our Future

We are at the point in human history where we have taught veggies to bleed. What is spared thanks to their sacrifice?

What is the Liberal/Conservative Food Index?

People are not so simple as to be placed in one of only two buckets. If you close your mind…you may miss a good meal.

Who Will Win: Local vs Organic- Dawn of Justice

Hear why we think Local is a better purchasing practice than Organic…despite the USDA’s confusing definition of it.

Where's the Love for Small Scale Farmers?

Ooh, look at them, tomatoes. Oh man. Check out the ass on those Sungolds baby. Oh man. tomato jam here I come…Question: If we love farms so much, why don’t we f*cking MARRY them?

Who Wants a Sandwich?

What are UnChefed's favorite sandwiches? Matt and Brendan talk sandwiches and get into the history and build on everything in Brendan's Top 5 list.

How Kimchi Might Save Us

Say you’re hungry and I offered you the choice between a turnip and a cheeto. Which would you want? Join us to see how that question doesn't need to be as one-sided as it seems.

Our Mouths to Anthony Bourdain's Ears

We just wanted to talk about a hero of ours. In the process we end up covering topics like deep fake tech, immigration laws, and liberalism in food. Here's hoping we did Tony justice.

Indiana Jones Wanted You to Eat Hippos

Indiana Jones invented the Boy Scouts of America and wanted you to eat hippos. Teddy Roosevelt supported him. We don't make the facts, we just provide them to you.

Plastics are Anti-Archives with Dr. Aaron Pinnix

Dr. Pinnix writes about the ocean. A large focus of his has been on plastic in the ocean. Today, we discuss how plastic serves as a form of "anti-archive" by comparing it to cookbooks and talking about long term affects on our food supplies.

Post Pandemic Restaurant Blues

Restaurants are coming back, BABY! Kind of...maybe. Let's chat about it!

Should We Rename This Fruit?

How did this fruit come to be viewed as an extension of racism? Is it actually that? Who will save us from a crippling lack of information on this issue?!? Us, baby.

Words with Brett Hogancamp of White Stag Farms

Brendan and Matt discuss, among other things, regenerative agriculture, how farmers price food, and the difficulty small scale farms have working with restaurants. Featuring friend of the show, Farmer Brett Hogancamp.

What Does the Secretary of Ag Even Do?

Ever wonder what ol’ Tom Vilsack is doing? All the time you say? Well that’s great! He’s basically the Thanos of the modern agricultural world…though I’ll admit, he is a tad bit nicer than Marvel’s big bad. Pretty decent politician actually…Sonny Perdue however, hoo boy.

The Day the Milk Board Came for Mr. Nebbia

The FDR administration changed agriculture in America forever. The new systems definitely saved us from the depression, but what lasting impacts did they have? And why is what happened to Leo Nebbia a good place to start this chat? UnChefed, food...unpacked.

We Sold Our Food Culture to the Mob

Ok, right at the top, let's take a moment to thank the Capones for removing fresh mozzarella from our pizza places. While we are at it, who is Moe Steinman, and why does he suck? Finally, can Brendan tap into his ex-chef instincts to pick the perfect plate for famous mob bosses? Who knows? This is UnChefed, food...unpacked

Tomato, Fruit or Vegetable? Let's Ask the Supreme Court

Is the tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Who knows? Actually, maybe the United States Supreme Court knows. The 1893 case Nix v Heddon pitted our strongest judicial minds against the concept of botanical value. In this episode we discuss some interesting facts of the case as well as give you some 19th century foodie financial advice. Pro-Tip: Make sure most of your meals are mostly water!