Best Say Tomato Podcasts (2026)

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Is Your Cinnamon Fake? Where Does Kefir Come From? Plus: Why Is Citric Acid In Everything? Ask Gastropod! 42:33

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22d ago42:33

42:33

The season for holiday baking is upon us, and before you spice up your cookies and pies, you’ll probably want to know: is most of the cinnamon on grocery store shelves actually fake? That’s one question we’re investigating this week on behalf of you, dear listeners, in the latest installment of our popular Ask Gastropod series! This episode, we've …

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Forget Plain Vanilla: You'll Never See The World's Favorite Flavor the Same Way Again 50:45

1M ago50:45

50:45

Today, 'vanilla' often means boring, and yet the edible seedpod of this Central American orchid is one of the most expensive spices in the world, not to mention one of the most popular flavors globally. So how did this coveted bean get such a ho-hum reputation? Listen in this episode as Gastropod travels to vanilla's homeland in the highlands of Ve…

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Peaceful Easy Feelings: Self Regulation and Tech 19:57

2M ago19:57

19:57

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about self regulation and technology. People are persuaded by digital technology Technology and connection can reduce problem behavior Greater self regulation reduces problematic technology use Heather and I want to know ways that you try to be responsible when giving labels. https://www.psychologytoday.com/…

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From Fountain of Youth to Fruit on the Bottom: How Yoghurt Finally Made it Big in America 50:45

2M ago50:45

50:45

Yoghurt is the most diverse section of the dairy case: from Icelandic skyr to creamy Australian, and fruity French Yoplait to full-fat Greek. With something to suit every palate, plus a dose of microbes to support healthy digestion, yoghurt is a staple food in the US, hero of a million smoothies, berry bowls, and snack breaks every day. Which is wh…

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Yes, You Really Can Make Food From Thin Air—And We Tried It 48:19

2M ago48:19

48:19

Every second of every day, plants on earth do something miraculous: they take the carbon dioxide from air and turn it into food. With very few exceptions, everything we eat starts out that way. But what if we wanted to cut out the middlemen, re-wild all those fields full of wheat and corn, and manufacture dinner directly from the atmosphere ourselv…

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Pizza Pizza! 46:10

3M ago46:10

46:10

At last, an episode on pizza! But that raises a tricky question: what exactly is pizza? As it turns out, the original pizzas from eighteenth-century Naples looked nothing like a standard slice—they were more like a focaccia, topped with oil, herbs, anchovies, or whatever else was on hand. Even after these first pizzas met the tomato, the dish was a…

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You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato: How Do You Choose? 22:09

3M ago22:09

22:09

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about picking tomatoes and choosing great working environments Tricks for choosing can help or confuse Tomatoes are designed to look ready, not necessarily taste ready Delayed feedback makes it heard to learn from our choices AI can mimic your quality cues Heather and I want to hear about tips you have when …

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Everything You Know About Metabolism Is Wrong 48:00

3M ago48:00

48:00

By Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

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Against The Wind: Learning to Be Consistent 22:31

3M ago22:31

22:31

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about struggling to be consistent A tool not a test Infrastructure Frequency of consistency first, volume intensity comes second Heather and I want to hear about tricks you have that have helped you become more consistent. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-practice/202508/6-tips-for-people-who-strug…

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Durian Delight and Feijoa Fun: Adventures in Banned, Forgotten, and Unusual Fruit 50:46

4M ago50:46

50:46

This week on Gastropod, a feast of fruits! Specifically, feijoa and durian—and, if you haven’t heard of either, you’re not alone. Unlike the ubiquitous strawberry or banana, durian and feijoa are only popular in a handful of countries and almost unknown in the US, and we wanted to know why—especially because the people who love them really love the…

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2 Legit 2 Quit: Overconfidence in Supervisees 25:03

4M ago25:03

25:03

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about supervisees feeling overconfident. Reds flags impact assessment Red flags can be taken out of context Red flag signal strength confuses assessment Heather and I would interested to hear about ways that you assess. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-bad-looks-good/202508/how-overconfidence-lead…

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We Didn't Start The Fire: Breaking Rules in Counseling and Supervision 25:10

4M ago25:10

25:10

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about when it is time to break the rules. Adaptive thinking enables innovation Safe spaces and open-ended challenges Smart rule breaking solves problems Heather and I want to know how you leave for your supervisees to break the rules. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-algorithmic-mind/202507/how-to…

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Talking Taco 43:01

4M ago43:01

43:01

Whether or not it's Tuesday, tacos pretty much always hit the spot—and not just in their homeland in Mexico. These days, the taco can be found all over the world, although it's acquired some strange new fillings along the way, from French fries to canned corn. It's hard to imagine something so universal having to be invented—but, in fact, the taco …

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Time After Time: Timing of Counseling and Supervision Inventions 19:18

4M ago19:18

19:18

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about when it is time to intervene. Timing of interventions impact outcome Problems can be avoided by being proactive Different strategies for different times Heather and I want to know your thoughts about the timing of interventions. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/aligning-for-growth/202508/timing-…

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Tomatoes: A Love Story 50:48

5M ago50:48

50:48

The tomato is Gastropod’s favorite flavor of summer, and we’re not alone: today, it’s the most popular vegetable on the planet, despite the fact that it's technically a fruit. But, until a couple of hundred years ago, the tomato wasn't really anyone's favorite. In South America, where the tomato originates, no one even bothered to domesticate it; i…

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It’s My Life: Self Disclosure, Technology, And Supervision 25:10

5M ago25:10

25:10

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about self disclosure in counseling and supervision Sharing through technology creates a sense of closeness When you stop sharing it can create conflict Sharing can create digital drama Heather and I would interested to hear what you were taught about self disclosure and what self disclosure looks like in yo…

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The Most Dangerous Fruit in America 45:20

5M ago45:20

45:20

It's the epitome of summertime: there’s nothing like a cold, juicy slice of red watermelon on a swelteringly hot day. But, once upon a time, watermelons were neither red nor sweet—the wild watermelon has white flesh and a bitter taste. This episode, we scour Egyptian tombs, decaying DNA, and ancient literature in search of watermelon's origins. The…

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Tokyo Nights: Incorporating Japanese Wisdom Into Supervision 21:05

6M ago21:05

21:05

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about applying Japanese wisdom to counseling and supervision Connect with others Appreciate the small things Intuitive understanding Appreciate quiet moments Heather and I would love to hear about connect https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/between-cultures/202504/japanese-wisdom-for-a-good-life…

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The Colorful Tale of Mexico's A-maize-ing Grain 50:56

6M ago50:56

50:56

This might sound corny, but the relationship between maize and humanity is essential. We rely on corn—globally, more maize is grown than wheat or rice—and, in turn, corn is utterly dependent on us, to the extent that it's lost the ability to reproduce without our help. But corn's wild ancestor is such an unappetizing weed that, for decades, archaeo…

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Should You Be Eating Poison Oak? 31:22

6M ago31:22

31:22

Probably not. But Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz decided to try it anyway, putting his body — and specifically his butt — on the line to answer a seemingly straightforward question: Is it possible to build up a tolerance to poison oak by eating it? (Guest episode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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The Story of Love: Storytelling in Supervision 20:45

6M ago20:45

20:45

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about using storytelling in supervision Create meaning Find purpose Enhances impact Meaning plus purpose equals lasting happiness https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-regret-free-life/202505/the-story-you-tell-yourselfBy Therapy Academy

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Ask Gastropod: Bubblegum, Meal Kits, and the Real Truth About Rooibos 46:13

7M ago46:13

46:13

What do bubblegum, rooibos tea, and meal kits have in common? They’re all topics that puzzle and fascinate you, dear Gastropod listeners. This episode, we're getting to the bottom of your most pressing culinary questions! Such as: Are meal kits really better for the planet than buying and cooking dinner from scratch? Can all the rooibos tea in the …

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Space Oddity: Learning From Other Intelligent Lifeforms 20:00

7M ago20:00

20:00

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about interactions with other intelligent lifeforms There are intelligent lifeforms all around us Contact can be life changing How do we fit new experiences into our practice https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/about-thinking/202505/would-first-contact-with-aliens-melt-our-minds…

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Feasting With Montezuma: Food and Farming in a Floating City 52:26

7M ago52:26

52:26

Five centuries ago, before Spanish conquistadors arrived, what's now Mexico City was the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan—and it took the European invaders' breath away. It was built on an island threaded with canals; it was one of the largest cities in the world; and the Spanish could hardly believe the sheer volume of food sold in the city's main ma…

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Bananageddon! Say Goodbye to the Banana, and Hello to the Weird and Wonderful World of Bananas, Plural 54:13

8M ago54:13

54:13

Yes, it's true: the banana we know and love is going the way of the dodo bird. An incurable strain of the fungal Panama disease known as TR4 is currently wiping out tens of thousands of acres of banana plantations, from Malaysia to Australia and Mozambique to El Salvador. But what's bananas is that this has all happened before! Is history doomed to…

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Going Bananas: How a Tropical Treat Became the World's Favorite Fruit 46:11

8M ago46:11

46:11

In 1870, a strange fruit arrived on the docks in New Jersey, starting an industry that would change the world. That fruit was a banana, and, although it was a staple food in tropical regions, most Americans had never tried one. Today, a century and a half later, even the most depressing gas station, corner store, or hotel breakfast buffet in the la…

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Do We Really Have Beer to Thank for the First Writing and Cities? 55:58

9M ago55:58

55:58

Humanity's love affair with beer goes *way* back: 5,000 years ago, the civilization that arose in Mesopotamia invented writing, and one of the very first things they wrote about was... beer! But where was beer itself invented? This episode, we've got the story of beer's origins, the debate over whether humanity domesticated grains for brewing or fo…

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Riders on the Storm: Grow Or Be Cynical 25:11

9M ago25:11

25:11

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about the effect of cynical attitudes Limits creativity and growth Blocks meaningful change Name the feeling behind cynicism Replace cynicism and find stronger ideas, real contribution Heather and I would love to hear suggestions you have for squashing a cyclical attitude https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/b…

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Seed Oil Scare: The Curious Case of Canola 47:46

9M ago47:46

47:46

If you've been hearing that canola is a killer, you're not alone. It's one of the so-called "hateful eight" seed oils: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. says it's among the most deadly things you can eat, and Joe Rogan agrees. But is it true? This episode, we get to the bottom of the debate over the plant formerly (and still, in some places) known as rapeseed…

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Should I Stay Or Should I Go: Bored or Go Exploring? 22:04

9M ago22:04

22:04

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about the relationship between being bored and burnout Learning and novelty experiences are necessary Stay in comfort zone or venture out? Our brains need exploration and experiences Heather and I would love to hear about ways that you are o https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-art-of-self-improvement…

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Nutrition Advice Decoded: What Foods Are Actually Good For Us, What Should We Avoid, and Why Is It All SO Confusing? 56:33

10M ago56:33

56:33

Are eggs going to give you high cholesterol, or are they the base of a great protein-rich meal? Will coffee give you cancer, or will it help you live longer? If you're confused about what nutrition science has to say about which foods are healthy and which are not, you're not alone. But why is it so hard to figure out what's good for us, and why do…

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Let's Give Them Something To Talk About: Powers of Talking To Yourself 15:30

10M ago15:30

15:30

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about when we talk to ourselves We can problem solve without needing new information Increases motivation Self affirming Heather and I want to know about some of the things you talk to yourself about https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/defining-memories/202502/7-benefits-of-talking-to-ourselves-aloud…

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The Rise and Fall of Quinoa: From Incan "Superfood" to Buddha Bowl Basic 47:38

10M ago47:38

47:38

Quinoa is everywhere these days, the base for a million salads and grain bowls. But, until recently, barely anyone outside the nutritious seed's ancient's homeland—the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes—had ever heard of it. This week, we're telling the story of how a gorgeous spinach-like plant traditionally grown in a remote, high-altitude region of Sou…

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The Shocking True Story of the World's First Seed Bank—And The Scientists Who Sacrificed Their Lives to Save It 46:39

11M ago46:39

46:39

During World War II, the Soviet city of Leningrad was surrounded, cut off from food supplies for nearly two and a half years. People were desperate: they ate boiled leather, machine oil, toothpaste, and wallpaper paste just to stay alive. But, in the center of the city, a group of botanists spent their days surrounded by food that they refused to t…

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The Lazy Song: To Do Or Not To Do 19:33

11M ago19:33

19:33

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about how we use To-Do Lists Constantly thinking about to dos is stressful Same stress thinking about to do as doing them Shift to done lists, plan to complete Heather and I would want to hear about how you manage your to do list, making the most effective. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-art-of-…

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No Buzz Booze: The History and Science of Going Low- or No-Alcohol 51:55

11M ago51:55

51:55

Dry January may be over, but, for many people, drinking less alcohol or none at all is an increasingly common choice year-round. And, unlike in the past, when dealcoholized options were few and far between—and had a well-deserved reputation for tasting bad—there’s now a booming market for non-alcoholic beers, wines, canned cocktails, and even spiri…

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Dirty Laundry: Complaints 25:19

11M ago25:19

25:19

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about complainers People are complainers This is not endearing Complaints can guide positive change Heather and I would want to hear about a complaint that you turned into magic, and you love the outcome. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-intuitive-scientist/202501/complaints-can-solve-problems…

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Moon Rocks Wanted (guest episode) 36:53

11M ago36:53

36:53

(Guest episode) On September 18, 1998, an unusual ad ran in USA Today — a company called John's Estate Sales was looking to buy a moon rock. But the phone number on the ad didn't lead to, say, a store front in a strip mall. Instead, the phone number belonged to Special Agent Joe Gutheinz at NASA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic…

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I Don't Even Know Your Name: What Title Do You Use? 21:32

12M ago21:32

21:32

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about titles Sometimes have been given to us Titles can minimize our work New titles fit corporate or cultural changes We can change this Heather and I would want to hear what you and the people work with call yourselves. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/abcs-of-child-psychiatry/202501/prescriber-prov…

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Is My Dentist Scamming Me? (guest episode) 44:25

12M ago44:25

44:25

(Guest episode) Matt wants to know how to tell if he’s being scammed by his dentist. To find the answer, we open up the surprising history of dentistry, ask why it seems so different from internal medicine, and drill down on why dental insurance doesn’t really feel like insurance. Explain It To Me's host Jonquilyn Hill talks with journalist Mary Ot…

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It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday: Letting Go of Dreams 20:25

12M ago20:25

20:25

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about throwing in the towel Chasing goals Giving up is a choice Let it Go Heather and I would want to hear about goals you gave up on and how you celebrated. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/decisions-and-the-brain/202412/winners-do-quit-dare-to-give-up…

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Check Yes or No: The Benefits of No 20:03

1y ago20:03

20:03

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about making the most out of a NO Strong emotions reveal values Refusing things as they are leads to creativity Refusal moves us to action Heather and I would love to hear about NOs that you have turned into a win. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-bigger/202412/the-art-of-refusal…

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Goodbye Stranger: The Power of Beginnings and Endings 25:36

1y ago25:36

25:36

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about beginnings and endings. Set the tone Lasting impression Beginnings and endings shape the future Heather and I would love to hear about some of your favorite beginnings and endings. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-journey-of-your-life/202409/bookends-the-power-of-beginnings-and-endings-in-in…

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Lean On Me: Trust Yourself and Be Trustworthy 19:27

1y ago19:27

19:27

Send us a text Heather and I are talking about trusting yourself. Trust yourself before others will trust you Sincerity, reliability, competence You can grow trust in yourself Heather and I would love to hear about some of ways you help your supervisees learn to trust themselves. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/speak-easy/202410/before-anyo…

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Why Are Kids Dipping Cookies in Ranch, Are Food Comas Real, and What's Inside the Mummy's Stomach? 51:19

1y ago51:19

51:19

Just in time for the holidays, Ask Gastropod is back with a plate full of listener questions for your listening delight! You came to us with mysteries both large and small, both ancient and eternal, and, honestly, all totally fascinating. Such as: What is up with ranch dressing, and how did a bottled salad dressing invented by a plumber and owned b…

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Hacking Taste (encore) 45:58

1y ago45:58

45:58

Taste is the oldest of our five senses, and yet perhaps the least understood. It's far more complicated than salty versus sweet: new research is dramatically expanding our knowledge of taste, showing that it's intimately connected to obesity, mood, immunity, and more. In this episode, we get into the science of how taste works, why we taste what we…

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The Curiously Strong Story of Mint 47:10

1y ago47:10

47:10

What’s the coolest flavor of the holiday season? It's peppermint, obviously, and it’s showing up in everything from coffee to chocolate and cookies to ice cream right now. But while standing in line for a peppermint mocha is a standard feature of the holiday season today, there was a time when this garden-standard herb was seen as so special—even p…

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Dishwashing Debates: The Soapy Science Behind Everyone's Favorite Chore 51:02

1y ago51:02

51:02

Next week, the US celebrates the dishwashing Olympics—also known as Thanksgiving. But how best to tackle the washing-up after the big meal can cause as much conflict as your uncle’s hot takes at the table. Do dishes get cleaner when they’re hand-washed or run through the dishwasher? Which is better for the environment? Are those convenient little d…

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V is for Vitamin (encore) 43:31

1y ago43:31

43:31

They're added to breakfast cereal, bread, and even Pop-Tarts, giving the sweetest, most processed treats a halo of health. Most people pop an extra dose for good measure, perhaps washing it down with fortified milk. But what are vitamins—and how did their discovery make America's processed food revolution possible? On this episode of Gastropod, aut…

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Bringing Salmon Home: The Story of the World's Largest Dam Removal Project 58:50

1y ago58:50

58:50

The Klamath River on the California-Oregon border was once the third largest salmon river in the continental U.S. There were so many fish, indigenous histories claim that you could cross the river walking across their backs—which made the peoples who lived in this remote, beautiful region some of the wealthiest in pre-colonial North America. But, f…