Condensed Soup

Trader Joe's has new crustless PB&Js; what do they have in common with World War II rations and NFL locker rooms? A lot more than you'd think. Today's episode dives into the history and obsession behind America's most nostalgic sandwich—now reimagined by a grocery chain that's always up to something quirky. From vintage recipes to Reddit air fryer hacks, we trace the evolution of peanut butter & jelly from humble lunchbox staple to a cultural icon worthy of cheesecake controversy and Super Bowl stats.

Whether you're team jam or jelly, you'll want a napkin for this one.

Trader Joe's Just Released a Take on This 'Super Nostalgic' Snack — and Shoppers Say It's Better Than the Original (Samantha Leffler, Real Simple, Aug 21, 2025)

How PB&J Became America's Favorite Sandwich (Sarah Lohman, Epicurious, Oct 4, 2023)

PB&J: An American Love Story (Linda Rodriguez McRobbie, The Saturday Evening Post, Aug 14, 2023)

Step Inside Scat Cat Lounge on the Disney Treasure: The Purr-fect Evening Spot Aboard (Mommy Frog, Undercover Tourist, Apr 25, 2025)

Minute of History: the PB&J and US military (Defense Commissary Agency, US Army, Dec 6 2022)

The Surprising History of the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich (Ashley M. Biggers, Mental Floss, Apr 2, 2021)

NFL Players Eat 'at Least 80,000 Uncrustables a year' — See the Breakdown by Team (Erin Clack, People, Oct 27, 2024)

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New U.S. tariff rules are throwing a wrench into global shipping—just in time for birthday season. Nearly 30 countries have halted some parcel deliveries to the U.S., and that surprise international package from grandma? It might not arrive. We're breaking down how this affects personal gifts, small business imports, and your online shopping habits in a world of rising trade tensions and "Buy American" policies.

Postal services around the world suspend deliveries to US: how will it affect you? (Luca Ittimani, The Guardian, Aug 26, 2025)

European post offices to stop sending some parcels to US over tariffs (Marianne Gros, Politico, Aug 23, 2025)

A US tariff exemption for small orders ends Friday. It's a big deal to some shoppers and businesses (Mae Anderson, AP, Aug 26, 2025)

How companies are responding to Trump's tariffs (Reuters, Jul 21, 2025)

Why Tomatoes are Becoming a Lot More Expensive (Alana Semuels, Time, Jul 15, 2025)

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Buy Now, Pay Later services like Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm have changed the way we shop—and the way we think about affordability. In this episode, we explore the rise of installment payment plans, from festival tickets and flights to takeout and groceries. Plus, some personal confessions: the purchases I'll finance guilt-free, and the ones I refuse to put on a payment plan (looking at you, iPad). Let's talk money detoxes, social pressure, and the power of drawing the line—even when it comes to matching cruise shirts.

How Does Gen Z Travel So Much? Payment Plans (Kelsey Allen, Thrillist, Jun 4, 2025)

The Rise of 'Cute Debt' (Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, Aug 16, 2025)

Americans Are Turning to Short-Term Loans to Afford Their Groceries (Derin Yilmaz, Food & Wine, May 13, 2025)

How to Turn Down a Friends Trip if You Can't Afford it (Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, Self, Mar 21, 2023)

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What if butter didn't come from cows, or even plants? Meet Savor, a biotech startup in Illinois that's making rich, creamy butter entirely from air and water. Using carbon dioxide and hydrogen as their building blocks, they've engineered fat molecules identical to dairy—all without a single animal or crop. It's futuristic food tech with a delicious goal: reducing the environmental footprint of butter by nearly 1,000 times. Chocolates made with this planet-friendly fat could hit shelves by the holidays, with full butter rolls out by 2027.

Bill Gates backs lab-made carbon butter than tastes like real butter; here's how it is made and what makes it special (Times of India, Aug 15, 2025)

Homemade Butter (Justine Doiron, Jan 29, 2022)

How to Make Butter — The Victorian Way (English Heritage, May 24, 2019)

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Is your web browsing flying through the air? What about your Instagram location? In this episode, we dive into Instagram's new real-time location sharing map—a feature that may sound helpful, but could be giving away way more than you bargained for.

Basically, your privacy settings need a refresh in 2025.

Whether you're a tech-savvy listener, an online privacy advocate, or someone just trying to make Instagram feel safer, this episode has your back. We'll keep it light but make sure you leave smarter.

This New Instagram Feature Is An Absolute Privacy Nightmare (Monica Torres, Huffpost, Aug 8, 2025)

Instagram Privacy Settings You Should Change Right Now (Thomas Germain, Consumer Reports, Jan 28, 2025)

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In today's episode, a rainbow crosswalk becomes a battleground. Overnight, state workers painted over Orlando's Pulse memorial crosswalk, igniting outrage from local leaders and LGBTQ+ advocates. We break down why the move wasn't just about paint—it was about politics, pride, and power.

From Florida's new ban on "surface art" to federal letters warning cities to eliminate crosswalk "distractions," we explore how public space is being reshaped under the guise of traffic safety. Plus, a look at other cities fighting back with creative expression, and the local chalk artists ready to bring the rainbows back—hairspray in hand.

Officials denounce removal of rainbow crosswalk near site of Pulse nightclub shooting (Mike Schneider, ABC News / AP, Aug 21, 2025)

Florida Locals Defy Ron DeSantis By Restoring Pulse Rainbow Crosswalk (Marni Rose McFall, Newsweek, Aug 22, 2025)

'Deeply concerning': reading for fun in the US has fallen by 40%, new study says (Benjamin Lee, The Guardian, Aug 20, 2025)

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Chipotle is taking to the skies—literally. In today's episode, we unpack a future-flavored mix of drone delivery, adult Happy Meals, and the rising cost of fast food in America. From a flying burrito bowl to the true weight of guac, we explore how convenience, tech, and inflation are reshaping what—and how—we eat.

Automation is reshaping how we eat and pay. We dig into rising fast food prices, shrinking portions, and how inflation is pushing adults toward Happy Meals. Plus, the global economy gets a fast food twist with this year's Big Mac Index results, revealing where a burger gets you the most bite for your buck.

Chipotle uses Zipline drone delivery to fly orders to customers (Megan Cerullo, Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, Aug 21, 2025)

Almost half of adults say they are ordering kids' meals. Here's what's behind the trend. (Megan Cerullo, Aimee Picchi, CBS News, Aug 21, 2025)

Big Mac Index by Country 2025 (World Population Review, accessed Aug 21, 2025)

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What happens when a whole town has to pack up and move? In Sweden's far north, the Arctic town of Kiruna is literally rolling away—starting with a 672-ton Lutheran church.

In today's episode, we follow the incredible slow-motion relocation of Kiruna Kyrka, a beloved century-old church being moved five kilometers to make room for the expansion of Europe's largest underground mine. But this isn't just about architecture—it's about land and identity. And a whole lot of mining.

The 'big church move': Swedish town begins to roll historic building 5km (Miranda Bryant, The Guardian, Aug 19, 2025)

Why a Swedish town is on the move - one building at a time (Jennifer Rankin, The Guardian, Feb 5, 2023)

World's Deepest Marathon (official, accessed Aug 20, 2025)

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Intro: I'm at Podcast Movement, and I'm enamored with some of the tech. Our disco and conference eras are combining in a very clever way.

The FDA has issued a warning about specific lots of Great Value frozen shrimp sold at Walmart that may be contaminated with Cesium-137, a radioactive isotope. While no contaminated shrimp has entered the U.S. food supply, a recall is in motion. Check the FDA recall notice (linked below) for lot numbers and safety tips.

And let's chat about what shrimp you should be eating, highlighting sustainable seafood choices like U.S. wild-caught whiteleg shrimp and ASC- or MSC-certified farmed varieties.

FDA warns public not to eat possibly radioactive shrimp sold at Walmart (Sony Salzman and Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, Aug 19, 2025)

Sustainable shrimp guide (Monterery Bay Aquarium, accessed August 19, 2025)

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If you've ever wondered, "should I put my alarm clock on the other side of the room?" -- this episode is for you.

Products for Waking Up Early, According to Actual Morning People (Griffin Wynne, HuffPost, Aug 19, 2022)

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