On today’s episode we tackle a future that was once a staple of science fiction: food pills. Instead of shopping and cooking and sitting down to eat meals together, we all simply pop our nutritional pills and move along with our lives. How feasible is this, really? Where did the idea come from? And what does the rise and fall in the popularity of the idea say about our changing relationships to food, culture and politics?

Guests:

Annalee Newitz, science journalist and science fiction author, co-host of Our Opinions Are Correct

Charlie Jane Anders, science fiction author, co-host of Our Opinions Are Correct

Helen Rosner, food correspondent for the New Yorker

Rob McGinley Myers, writer and podcaster

Katie Gordon, associate professor of psychology at North Dakota State University and co-host of Jedi Counsel Podcast

Mike Rugnetta, producer of Reasonably Sound

Soleil Ho, food writer, co-host of Racist Sandwich, host of Popaganda

→→→ For more information about the guests, links, and further reading, go to https://www.flashforwardpod.com/2018/10/21/farm-to-tablet/ ←←←

Flash Forward is produced by me, Rose Eveleth. The intro music is by Asura and the outtro music is by Hussalonia. The voices from the future for this episode were provided by Tony Garcia, Fernando Galdino and Ed Yong. The episode art is by Matt Lubchansky.

If you want to suggest a future we should take on, send us a note on Twitter, Facebook or by email at [email protected]. We love hearing your ideas! And if you think you’ve spotted one of the little references I’ve hidden in the episode, email us there too. If you’re right, I’ll send you something cool.

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