You Are What You Eat

This special episode features three documentary stories about the ways in which, as the old saying goes, “you are what you eat.” The modern industry of food, the ritual of eating, and the politics of agricultural production. You’ll hear about how long a twinkie can last, and about whether or not the US government puts its money where its mouth is, regarding what it tells us to eat, compared to what it subsidizes through the farm bill. What we eat – and how we eat it – reveals the workings of our societies.

Host: Bonnie Swift
Producers: Micah Cratty and Jonah Willihnganz
Featured: Bonnie Swift, Jessica Schaefer, Mozzi Etemadi, Katherine Wells, Sherrie Chung, Micah Cratty

Music: David Chilsolm, John Serna, Taylormayd
Video Podcast: Pie from Scratch by Matt Harnack

Release Date: 3 December 2007

Listen to the Full Show:

Story 1: What’s in a meal at Stanford?

Two students takes us out dinner at the Stanford dining halls to tell us about what you ate for dinner.

Producers: Jessica Schaefer and Mozzi Etemadi

Story 2: How long does a Twinkie last?

This piece reveals the hidden powers of an archetypal American junk food: the Twinkie. Even though the Twinkie seems devoid of nutritional value, it has nonetheless evolved into a cultural symbol. And there’s power in symbols.

Producers: Katherine Wells and Sherrie Chung

Story 3: Does the gov’t put its money where its mouth is?

An interview with Professor Walter Falcon about the political forces that shape our everyday choices in the grocery store. The FDA recommends certain foods – but which foods are actively subsidized by the government?

Producer: Micah Cratty
Featuring: Walter Falcon

story 1 image via flickr | story 2 image via flickr | story 3 image via flickr