This week we discuss a few key things to consider when jumping into the world of homemade cheese. How difficult is it to make cheese at home? Is it super expensive? We cover these topics and more in this initial exploration of DIY cheese. In our never-ending quest to more deeply understand our motives behind DIY fermentation projects, we touch on the two major approaches to DIY cheese making. We also ponder the likelihood of mice eating cheese.

Coffee is often touted as being fermented but is it really? Can we really consider it a fermented food or beverage? Find out in this week's conversation and decide for yourself. We also discuss a British dairy farmer who makes vodka, a cheese festival in China, a Finnish festival in the US, and a new study that examines the like-ability of food when paired with caffeine.

Ginger beer plant, the world's largest mozzarella ball, and Michael Pollan's upcoming book release. This week we further our discussion on why we ferment or spend any time at all caring about food. Inspired by a few articles related to Michael Pollan's upcoming book about cooking and fermenting, we discuss the philosophy and politics behind fermented food choices.

This week we discuss the ban on Mimolette cheese due to so-called high levels of mites. Other cheese news includes a UK cheese maker that has gone carbon-neutral. Then we contemplate the importance of food awareness, convenience, specialization and the role of fermented foods in store and home.

This week we discuss the magical world of preserved lemons; how to make them, how to use them and the amazingness of their flavor transformation. We then provide a little background history on how and where lemons may have originated. We also discuss our thoughts on formal fermentation education and new opportunities at universities across the US. And then we look at alternative options for those wanting to get a deeper understanding of fermentation. Other news includes deer cheese, black garlic, a Greek yogurt lawsuit and CropMobster.

Even thought salt water fish can't jump out of the water and ferment themselves, with a little effort, humans have been preparing fermented fish sauces and pastes for thousands of years. This week we explore fermented fish and the flavor of umami.

This week we dive into the thick and viscous world of viili yogurt. If you haven't tried this heirloom yogurt then you are in for a treat. We cover the flavor, texture, origins, and cultural background of this prized heirloom yogurt from Finland. And speaking of slimy ferments, we also talk about natto! Branden is still undecided if his first batch of natto turned out as it was supposed to or if it over-fermented. We also cover a couple of news stories regarding fermented cow dung and chocolate. Yum!

This week we confront Botulism and other fears of food fermentation. Can you contract botulism from leaving vegetables to ferment at room temperature? The short answer is no. But listen in for a deeper understanding of why this doesn't happen, where botulism does occur and when these fears originated. Then we finish up with a brief discussion of Chicago's first Kimchi Challenge.

This week we talk about what not to do with kefir grains, a bit of history behind the people who originally drank kumis, whether marijuana infused kombucha is a gimmick or not, our thoughts on plastic kraut pouches with one-way valves, probiotic steering wheels, water kefir carbonation, and then we share the news that black garlic is not actually fermented.

This week we look at the fascinating world of the gut and mouth microbiota, how bacteria may affect health and disease, the similarities between fecal transplants and yogurt starter cultures, and how switching from hunter-gatherers to farmers altered dental hygiene. This is an exciting and lively discussion about bacteria, stool samples and food!