Foodie Pharmacology Podcast

The Henbane Theory of Berserkers with Dr. Karsten Fatur

You may have heard of the legends of the Norse Beserkers—a fierce group of wild warriors from Scandanavia that were known to enter a trance-like state that allowed them to fight with increased strength and a rage that granted them immunity to many forms of harm in battle. But, did you know that a new theory has emerged that instead of consuming Amanita muscaria mushrooms, a plant may be responsible for achieving the state of berserkeage? A nightshade plant from the same family where we find tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants? Tune in this week as I chat with Dr. Karsten Fatur about his theory concerning the use of the anticholinergic plant henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) by the Vikings! Learn more about Dr. Fatur’s work on ResearchGate.

#henbane #Berserker #Vikings

The Secret History of Food with Matt Siegel

Humans have a complex history with food—some foods were even used as weapons! This week, I chat with Matt Siegel, author of a new book The Secret History of Food.  We discuss a range of topics including why most vanilla products aren’t made with vanilla at all and how our food choices influence our emotions. Follow him on Instagram at @matt.siegel.author.

Pickles, Sauerkraut & the Gut Microbiome with Dr. Andrew Flachs

This week we dig into a fascinating study of the microbial composition of fermented foods and how they influence the gut microbiome! Our guest is Dr. Andrew Flachs, an anthropologist who researches food and agriculture systems, exploring genetically modified crops, heirloom seeds, and our own microbiomes. We also discuss the rich cultural heritage behind some of our favorite ferments and a simple recipe to making your own ginger beer at home!

#fermentatio #microbiome #ethnobiology #pickles #Bubbies

Around the World in 80 Plants with Jonathan Drori

This week we take a tour around the globe exploring some fascinating plants with Jonathan Drori! You may know Jon from one of his four TED talks on botany, which have had millions of views! He’s also the author of the international bestseller, Around the World in 80 Trees, now in 18 languages, and its sequel, Around the World in 80 Plants, which has just been published. Jon has been on the Board of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and The Eden Project and is an Ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund. Tune in to learn more about the plants that inspire us!

#botany #nutmeg #biogeography

Evolutionary Gastronomy with Prof. Jonathan Silvertown

This week I meet with Prof. Jonathan Silvertown, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist with a research interests in plant population biology. We chat about the evolution of our foods, exploring how the domestication of plants and animals has shaped our modern dinner plates. His book, Dinner with Darwin, explores how everything we eat has an evolutionary history. You can also follow him on Twitter: @JWSilvertown

#evolution #domestication #crops

Where the Wild Things Grow with David Hamilton

This week on the show, I chat with David Hamilton about his latest book Where the Wild Things Grow: A Foragers Guide to the Landscape. David is an expert forager and offers lots of great tips on easy things to forage along with some very tasty recipes! Who knew that magnolia flowers could make a delicious pickle for salad toppings? Or how about a wild mushroom calzone? My mouth is watering just thinking about some of these! Tune in to learn more and check out his website: https://www.davehamilton.co.uk/ . Follow David on Twitter and Instagram: @davewildish 

#Forage #WildFood #Recipes

Eat the Weeds with Prof. Philip Stark

This week, we’re talking about one of my favorite subjects: foraging! Our guest is Professor Phillip Stark, the founder of Berkeley Open Source Food and Wild/Feral Food Week and a professor of statistics at UC Berkley. Philip is passionate about urban foraging, including studying the safety, nutrition, and availability of wild foods in urban ecosystems and their value for ecosystem services and nutrition security. Bonus: we also share some of our favorite recipes for wild ingredients, including some delicious homemade wild plant liqueurs!

#forage #weeds #sustainability

Roundup & The Monsanto Papers with Carey Gillam

When global conglomerate Bayer AG paid $63 billion in 2018 to buy Monsanto Company, the deal was seen as a boost to Bayer’s wealth and power. But only two years later, Bayer was forced to agree to pay $11 billion to settle the claims of more than 100,000 cancer victims who alleged their suffering was caused by the use of Monsanto’s flagship herbicide, Roundup. That settlement may never have happened without Lee Johnson, whose story is told in investigative journalist Carey’s Gillam’s new book “The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man’s Search for Justice.” Tune in to this episode of Foodie Pharmacology to learn about the human toll of glyphosate-based weed killers. Follow Carey on Twitter @careygillam and find more information on this book and others at http://www.careygillam.com

#Roundup #Cancer #WeedKiller

The Secret Life of Fat with Dr. Sylvia Tara

You may not love your fat, but your body certainly does. This week, we explore the secret world of fat, discussing its complex biology, how it resists loss, and what can be done to remove stubborn fat. I chat with Dr. Sylvia Tara, a biochemist with a business background, about her new book on this subject! You can access more information about her book and her course at her website, https://www.thesecretlifeoffat.com/ 

#Fat #Diet #WeightLoss

Crop Diversity & Global Food Systems with Dr. Colin Khoury

This week, we ask some big questions about the origins of our food and how it connects people from across the globe. I speak with Dr. Colin Khoury, a crop diversity researcher who has spent more than 20 years trying to understand the state of diversity in the global food system. Colin shares how collaborative work brings together multidisciplinary expertise to inform conservation strategies for crops and their wild relatives, develop conservation indicators for international agreements, and support evidence-based decision making toward more sustainable food systems. Learn more about his work by reading his scientific papers and follow him on Twitter at @ColinKhoury

#Crops #Biodiversity #FoodSystems