Best Americas Test Kitchens Podcasts (2025)

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What Should Be The Last Cheese On Earth? (Reheat) 33:32

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2d ago33:32

33:32

This week we’re reheating two call-in episodes from 2015. First: Two Sporkful listeners call in to debate the best way to make enchiladas: flat (lasagna style) or rolled. Can Dan's advice restore peace and save Enchilada Party Night? Next up: Adam and Jonathan in L.A. call in to debate a dystopian future with only one cheese and to explain why ched…

1
Thanksgiving Special: NFL Abroad, QBs, & Kitchen Playbooks 1:23:10

4d ago1:23:10

1:23:10

Ben breaks down his experience attending an NFL game in Madrid, what international fans get right, what they don’t, and why the league’s global ambitions may never capture the uniquely American spirit of football. Next, ESPN senior writer and bestselling author Seth Wickersham joins Ben to unpack his acclaimed book American Kings: A Biography of th…

1
Grace Young on Championing Chinatowns 39:57

1h ago39:57

39:57

In this episode of In the Test Kitchen, host Dan Souza and co-host Lan Lam welcome cookbook author, culinary historian, and stir-fry guru Grace Young to discuss her work as a fierce advocate for Chinatowns across the country. Grace reflects on how, as a young girl, she was inspired by Julia Child—a spark that eventually led her to publish her first…

1
What’s It Like To Cook With A Brain Injury? 32:34

6d ago32:34

32:34

How does a traumatic brain injury affect the way you cook and eat? Filmmaker Cheryl Green, who has a brain injury, satirizes her own experiences in the kitchen in a short video called “Cooking With Brain Injury.” This week Dan talks with Cheryl about what it means to live with an invisible disability, how it affects her cooking, and why asking for …

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Hosting Thanksgiving With Amy Sedaris (Reheat) 25:38

9d ago25:38

25:38

Amy Sedaris offers advice on dealing with family members who are drunk or confrontational at the holidays. Plus, Robert Krulwich (formerly of Radiolab) on the time a turkey fell in love with his wife. This episode originally aired on November 21, 2014, and was produced by Dan Pashman, Kristen Meinzer, and Anne Saini. The Sporkful team now includes …

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Kennedy Says Republicans Need to Change Direction or Risk Defeat 44:32

11d ago44:32

44:32

Senator John Kennedy joins Ben Domenech on The Big Ben Show to discuss his new book “How to Test Negative for Stupid: And Why Washington Never Will.” They dive into the state of American politics, the decline of civility in Congress, and how ideology has replaced common sense in D.C. Ben and Senator Kennedy talk about unqualified judicial nominees,…

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The Last Meal Roy Wood Jr. Made For His Father 35:00

13d ago35:00

35:00

Roy Wood Jr. has long used humor to discuss topical issues and get at deeper truths. As a correspondent for The Daily Show, and now as the host of Have I Got News For You on CNN, he brings his own unique sensibility to political comedy. In his new memoir, The Man Of Many Fathers, he goes deep on his complicated relationship with his father, and the…

1
In The Test Kitchen With Dan Souza & Lisa McManus 51:35

16d ago51:35

51:35

Today we’re bringing you a conversation Dan had on the new podcast In the Test Kitchen, from America’s Test Kitchen. Hosts Dan Souza and Lisa McManus welcomed Dan into their Boston studio to dive deep into the world of pasta design, exploring what makes a perfect noodle and how texture, sauce-holding power, and mouthfeel come together in the ultima…

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Judiaann Woo on her mother's cooking, creating a flavor for Häagen-Dazs, and building community 1:15:14

10h ago1:15:14

1:15:14

Dream podcast guest alert! You know you're off to a good start when Trish asks "was food important growing up" and you get a solid 20-minute answer! Judiaann Woo not only has the beauty and the brains, but she came in with a catalog of stories - from childhood to her time in New York City. Judiaann is a marketing consultant & social media strategis…

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MAGA Chaos, Nigeria Violence, & Trump’s China Test 1:02:33

18d ago1:02:33

1:02:33

Ben Domenech breaks down the growing fractures inside the American right and whether we are witnessing the beginnings of a MAGA movement crack-up. He’s joined by Mariam Wahba from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to unpack the Christian persecution crisis in Nigeria, and by Michael Sobolik of the Hudson Institute to analyze Trump’s second-…

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Rick Martinez Hates the Word "Authentic" 42:00

18d ago42:00

42:00

In this episode of In the Test Kitchen, host Lan Lam and co-host Nik Sharma welcome chef and author Rick Martinez to talk about his vibrant new cookbook, Salsa Daddy. Rick opens up about the creative process behind the book and the challenges of bringing a deeply personal project to life. The conversation moves from his Texas roots and early food m…

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Roy Choi’s Recipe for Redemption: From The Sporkful Podcast 44:38

20d ago44:38

44:38

Today's episode is from our friends atThe Sporkful podcast and features Chef Roy Choi, the man behind the legendary Kogi Korean taco truck and a pioneer of the gourmet food truck movement. Host Dan Pashman sits down with Chef Choi for a wide-ranging conversation about his unlikely path to success, the power of food to create community, and the TV m…

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What Is Colorado Style Pizza? 44:37

20d ago44:37

44:37

We all know the classic regional pizza styles: New York, Chicago, Detroit. But Colorado? If you haven’t heard of that one, you’re not alone. Paul Karolyi, a reporter and executive producer of City Cast Denver, spent six years trying to uncover the story of how Colorado style pizza was invented, and why more people don’t know about it. This week we …

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Phil Rosenthal Has A Menu Strategy (Reheat) 32:46

23d ago32:46

32:46

Wherever Phil Rosenthal goes, he wants to eat — which explains the name of his Netflix show, Somebody Feed Phil. He travels the world with wide eyes, an empty stomach, and a bottomless supply of delight at the people and food he encounters. And before Somebody Feed Phil and his new podcast Naked Lunch, Phil created the hit sitcom Everybody Loves Ra…

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Democrats Are Now the Party of Socialists and Would-Be Assassins 1:18:47

25d ago1:18:47

1:18:47

Ben Domenech dives into New York City’s shocking election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani and what it reveals about the far-left takeover of the Democratic Party. National Review columnist Caroline Downey joins to unpack Gen Z’s role, class resentment, and how socialism is reshaping America’s biggest city. Then, author and scholar Charles Mu…

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How Did Tony Shalhoub Learn To Play A Chef On Screen? 32:55

27d ago32:55

32:55

Tony Shalhoub is an actor whose roles skew towards the quirky and neurotic — and his characters’ quirks often come out through food. In the classic 1996 film Big Night, Tony plays an uncompromising Italian chef whose Jersey Shore restaurant is on the brink of failure. In the TV show Monk, he plays a detective with OCD who has many strong opinions a…

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A Comprehensive Candy Treatise For Halloween (Reheat) 25:38

1M ago25:38

25:38

This week we're talking about a number of key candy issues with special guests in time for Halloween. You'll hear from a Colorado-based Eater whose highly comprehensive candy treatise is on our blog and a candy blogger who has a Kit Kat eating technique that is bound to cause sustained widespread controversy or at the very least an significant upti…

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AOC Insists She's Not Crazy, Plus NBA Scandals and VA Elections 1:08:12

1M ago1:08:12

1:08:12

Ben Domenech dives into America’s political and cultural chaos in this episode of The Big Ben Show. He opens with a sharp look at the Democratic Party’s growing internal divide and how progressive elites have lost touch with working-class voters. Next, journalist Ethan Strauss joins to unpack the FBI’s explosive NBA gambling investigation, revealin…

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Dan Pashman Hates Spaghetti 51:07

1M ago51:07

51:07

Host Dan Souza and co-host Lisa McManus welcome Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful podcast and creator of the viral pasta shape cascatelli. Filmed on the Cook’s Country set, the trio dives deep into the world of pasta design, exploring what makes a perfect noodle and how texture, sauce-holding power, and mouthfeel come together in the ultimate bite.…

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What Makes Dorie Greenspan’s Recipes So Good? 34:22

1M ago34:22

34:22

Ask folks in the world of food and cookbooks, “Who writes the best recipes?” and you’ll hear one name more than any other: Dorie Greenspan. "Dorie does rock solid recipes," says Chandra Ram, who judges the prestigious IACP Cookbook Awards. So what's Dorie doing that makes her recipes better than others? This week, we travel to her home in Connectic…

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What It’s Like to Cover Trump’s Whirlwind 42:38

1M ago42:38

42:38

In this bonus episode of The Big Ben Show, host Ben Domenech sits down with Brent Scher, editor-in-chief at The Daily Wire for a candid discussion on the future of journalism and political media. They explore how the news landscape is shifting, what independent media means for public trust, and how new voices are challenging legacy outlets. From ne…

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Norman Van Aken on New World Cuisine, Key West (Louie's Backyard!), and his culinary journey 1:06:28

18d ago1:06:28

1:06:28

So many stories and simply not enough time. Trish chats with Chef, Author, Consultant, and teacher Norman Van Aken about his culinary journey. Dubbed "Florida's Culinary Icon" by the Jacques Pépin Foundation, Trish learns how Norman went from a short order cook in a diner to creating an American regional cuisine. Norman talks about watching his mot…

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How Did Staying Hydrated Become A Thing? (Reheat) 36:53

1M ago36:53

36:53

To say that hydration is an invention is only a slight exaggeration. Water bottles have become a crucial accessory — a status symbol. How did that happen? This week we bring you an episode from our friends at the Slate podcast Decoder Ring. They investigate how bottled water transformed itself from a small, European luxury item to the single larges…

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Winning the War, Losing a Generation: Israel, Sobriety & America’s Shift 1:07:33

1M ago1:07:33

1:07:33

In this episode of The Big Ben Show, Ben Domenech unpacks a defining question of our time: What happens when you win the war but lose a generation? Ben explores how Israel’s global image is shifting among Gen Z, young Christians, and American conservatives and why social media, faith, and foreign policy are reshaping how a new generation views the …

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How Does Paul Hollywood Dunk His Cookies? 43:35

1M ago43:35

43:35

On The Great British Bake Off, Paul Hollywood is known for his tough but fair judgments, his piercing blue eyes, and his handshake, which he offers to a contestant only when they really impress him. But before he was ever a TV judge, he was a baker. When he first started doing TV appearances, it was nothing more than “icing on the cake” of his baki…

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Nadiya Hussain, From “Great British Bake Off” To Elbows Out (Reheat) 33:11

1M ago33:11

33:11

When Nadiya Hussain competed on The Great British Bake Off in 2015, it seemed like all of Britain — from self-proclaimed #Nadiyators to the prime minister — was rooting for her. Since then, she’s hosted TV shows, written best-selling books, and become a household name in the UK. But the transformation we focus on in this conversation is the one tha…

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Virginia's Election Heats Up, and the Lawfare Backlash with Peter Navarro 1:20:19

2M ago1:20:19

1:20:19

Ben kicks off with reaction to a breakthrough Middle East deal and why critics are suddenly quiet. Senior Editor of the Daily Caller, Amber Duke, joins to break down Virginia’s governor race, Spanberger’s debate stumbles, the Jay Jones text scandal, and how crime and school policies are driving voters. Peter Navarro then details his Reagan National…

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Lidey Heuck Loves Grocery Shopping 47:56

2M ago47:56

47:56

Host Dan Souza and co-host Morgan Bolling welcome food writer and recipe developer Lidey Heuck. Lidey shares stories from her new cookbook Cooking In Real Life and reflects on the lessons she learned working alongside Ina Garten. They also dive into rice crispy treats, swapping their favorite variations and debating the best way to make this nostal…

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Why Would You Put A Recipe On Your Gravestone? 30:33

2M ago30:33

30:33

Rosie Grant was already obsessed with cemeteries when she came across her first gravestone recipe. The headstone was carved into the shape of an open cookbook with a cookie recipe on it. Rosie made the cookies, posted about it on TikTok, and overnight she became the gravestone recipes lady. She tracked down dozens more gravestone recipes, meeting t…

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Can I Wipe My Oily Hands On My Legs? (Reheat) 35:27

2M ago35:27

35:27

We open the phone lines to settle your most contentious food disputes this week. Eliza wants to wipe her oily hands on her bare legs — is her boyfriend Connor right to object? Then, Natalie thinks she’s entitled to half of what her husband Josh cooks, even though he’s generally hungrier. What’s the fairest way to divvy up meals? To answer these que…

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Sam Block on something new at America's Test Kitchen, paint by numbers, and definition of success 1:17:20

1M ago1:17:20

1:17:20

There's a reason Sam Block has been on this podcast 4 times now - not only is she an absolute delight, but there's a natural familiarity when it comes to Sam and Trish... like they've known each other for years.Sam fills us in on what she's been up to lately, which includes some very exciting things at America's Test Kitchen. It's a project Sam is …

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Maria Bartiromo on Trump, China, and Investing for Your Kids 1:26:27

2M ago1:26:27

1:26:27

Ben opens with the Virginia firestorm around attorney general candidate Jay Jones. He details the reported texts, plays the apology, and reacts to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s response. He also lays out why this controversy raises questions about early voting and accountability. Maria Bartiromo joins Ben to talk AI bias, jobs, and how to keep perspective …

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What's In Taylor Swift's Signature Cocktail? 47:18

2M ago47:18

47:18

Are chicken tenders having a renaissance? Are lit candles in restaurants worth the risk of a few people’s hair catching on fire? And when Taylor Swift designs a signature cocktail…what’s in it? We cover all these questions and more in this edition of the Salad Spinner — our rapid-fire, roundtable discussion of all the biggest and buzziest food news…

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How Ketchup Got Its Name (Reheat) 37:52

2M ago37:52

37:52

Ketchup started as a far different product from what’s on the shelves today. A lot of its evolution can be traced to an early government agency and a group there called “The Poison Squad” that tested the safety of different chemicals -- by eating them. We hear that story. Then a linguist explains why the name “rocky road” actually makes the ice cre…

1
Shutdown Showdown with Nancy Mace and Brian Kilmeade 58:33

2M ago58:33

58:33

Ben opens on faith, family and the state of men in American life, pushing back on Hillary Clinton's narrative and explaining why a renewed admiration for strong fatherhood is rising. He ties it to recent cultural flashpoints and the reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death. Nancy Mace joins to break down the shutdown fight, why she calls it a left flank pr…

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Marina Mabrey Creates Chaos in the Kitchen 41:47

2M ago41:47

41:47

Join host Dan Souza and co-host Morgan Bolling for a special conversation with Marina Mabrey of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun. Marina opens up about overcoming adversity on the court and how an injury led her to discover a new passion in cooking. She shares the ways food became a source of inspiration and healing, along with the favorite dishes she lo…

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What Can McDonald’s Tell Us About Black America? 34:26

2M ago34:26

34:26

Growing up as a Black kid in Chicago, Dr. Marcia Chatelain says she learned more about Black history from McDonald’s than from her fancy prep school. Now, she’s a professor of Africana studies at the University of Pennsylvania. In her Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America, Dr. Chatelain explores the role that Mc…

1
Celebrating Shabbat At Wendy’s (Reheat) 26:28

2M ago26:28

26:28

Shabbat — the Jewish Sabbath – begins every Friday at sundown with a meal. But in all the years that Jews have been having Shabbat dinner, there’s no record in the rabbinic texts of it happening at the fast food chain Wendy’s. Until, that is, a group of seniors in Palm Desert, California, made it their weekly tradition. This week Dan joins in on th…

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ABC Caves on Kimmel as Affiliates Hold Out | The Big Ben Show 1:11:53

2M ago1:11:53

1:11:53

Ben opens with the Kimmel saga and why affiliates, not just the FCC chatter, drove ABC’s decision. He breaks down Disney’s calculations, media double standards, and what this moment says about free speech and accountability. Lee Smith, journalist and author of “The China Matrix,” joins to unpack Gaza politics at the UN, Saudi leverage on a Palestin…

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Stacey Gibson on marrying the chef, her Sommelier journey, and (Portland's) Parallel 1:11:31

2M ago1:11:31

1:11:31

A fun breath of fresh air, Sommelier and co-owner of Parallel Food & Drink in Portland, Oregon, Stacey Gibson chats with Trish about her adventures in wine and food. She grew up in Connecticut, went to college in Boston and then studied abroad in Tuscany - where a lot of this love of food and wine started. A desire for politics led her to Washingto…

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What’s A Jewish Tavern And House Of Learning? 33:58

2M ago33:58

33:58

Josh Foer and Rabbi Charlie Schwartz set out to create a new kind of Jewish space, one that would be welcoming, thought-provoking, delicious, and even cool. The result is Lehrhaus — a Jewish tavern and house of learning. This week Dan visits Lehrhaus in Somerville, Massachusetts, where he takes a tour of their “magical Jewish objects,” checks out t…

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Is The Future Of Bourbon Female? (Reheat) 35:31

2M ago35:31

35:31

Bourbon's growing popularity is changing an industry with deep roots in Kentucky. We travel there to learn what that means for one of the oldest and one of the youngest bourbon masters. This episode originally aired on January 14, 2019, and was produced by Dan Pashman and Anne Saini, edited by Gianna Palmer and Emma Morgenstern, and mixed by the Re…

1
Why The Left Has To Lie About Charlie Kirk 1:28:21

2M ago1:28:21

1:28:21

Ben opens with a personal reflection on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the media spin that followed, then digs into how we got here and what it means for free speech and civic life. Andy Ngo joins to unpack the online radicalization pipeline, Discord and Steam footprints, and why euphemisms for political violence keep spreading. Peter Hasson…

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Jessica B. Harris Travels with Food History and Cotton Candy 38:32

2M ago38:32

38:32

Dan Souza and co-host Elle Simone sit down with culinary historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris to talk about her new book, Braided Heritage. They explore the foundational food cultures of the Americas: Native, European, and African, and how these influences shaped the way we cook and eat today. Dr. Harris shares her love of okra, the surprising story of …

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Why Does Cracker Barrel Keep Making People So Mad? 34:39

3M ago34:39

34:39

A few weeks ago, Cracker Barrel announced it was changing its logo — removing the old man in overalls and the barrel, updating the font, and removing the words “Old Country Store.” Longtime Cracker Barrel fans went nuts, decrying the “sterile” look. Conservative commentators tied the change to a “DEI regime” and called the new logo “woke.” Even the…

1
How To Host Your Own Porkapalooza 23:13

3M ago23:13

23:13

This week, we’re ringing in fall tailgating season with a barbecue, featuring three different cuts of pork: ribs, pork chops, and bratwurst. The grillmaster in charge of it all is Jimmy Tchinnis, owner and executive chef at Swallow Kitchen and Cocktails and L’uccello Pizza and Italian Fare in Greenlawn, NY. Jimmy started out cooking in high-end res…

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Free Speech Under Attack: From Charlotte to the UK | The Big Ben Show 1:19:14

3M ago1:19:14

1:19:14

Ben opens with the Charlotte light-rail killing of Irina Zyrutska, why legacy outlets tried to look away, and what that says about free speech, crime policy, and who gets to control the narrative. He connects the story to the broader fight over platform power and speech. Ben asks where we’d be without X’s openness and a political climate less toler…

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Soju, Snacks, And Ramen: How To Party Like A Korean 33:44

3M ago33:44

33:44

This week’s show is a raucous Korean-style night out, all on a weekday afternoon. Dan heads to Orion Bar in Brooklyn to learn how to drink like a Korean with Irene Yoo and Peter Kim. Irene is the owner of Orion Bar and author of Soju Party, a book of drink and food recipes that’s also a guide to Korean drinking culture. She shows Dan some drinking …

1
Writer Samantha Irby Is Having Fewer Over-The-Sink Moments (Reheat) 32:50

3M ago32:50

32:50

Best-selling author Samantha Irby specializes in wringing comedy out of her own personal tragedies. Among her favorite topics: poop (she’s got Crohn’s disease), depression (which she also has), and sex. Throughout her writing, food is a recurring character. You can often gauge where she's at in life by what she's eating at the time. This week she t…

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Trump’s Cartel War, Media Censorship, NFL preview w/Matt Taibbi & Mark Schlereth 1:14:35

3M ago1:14:35

1:14:35

Donald Trump has launched a new war on the cartels, escalating U.S. military action after a Venezuelan drug boat linked to the Tren de Aragua cartel was destroyed, killing 11 members. Ben Domenech explains why this marks a dramatic shift in America’s fight against cartel power and what it could mean for the border. Then, NFL legend Mark Schlereth b…