🥐 Episode 12 – Dough Diaries: From Flour to Feasts Across Cultures

We knead to talk about it... no, really. From flaky flatbreads to pillowy bao, from pizza tossing in Naples to poori puffing in Kolkata — this is your passport to the world of dough!

In this episode, we roll through the rich and stretchy legacy of flour-based foods across continents. We explore the science of gluten, the cultural identity kneaded into every bite, and the way dough adapts — steamed, baked, fried, or fermented — to feed both body and soul. Expect laughter, lamination, and a sprinkle of sass as we travel from tortillas in Mexico to parathas in Punjab, injera in Ethiopia to sourdough in San Francisco.

Whether you’re a casual carb lover or a full-on dough devotee, this is your deep dive into the universal language of flour, water, and a little elbow grease.

Tune in for global food stories, science-backed fluffiness, and more puns than you can fold into a croissant.

Keywords:bread history podcast, global dough traditions, flatbread origins, paratha vs tortilla, sourdough culture, gluten science explained, food podcast, dough evolution, cultural breads, global baking traditions

BACKGROUND MUSIC CREDITS

"Pantheon Pulse / Greek music " by Faris Al Orfali (https://youtu.be/hg-FNnmQSR0?list=PLDGqcetPORQ-C09P9byofUbl05qQxC7hy)

Ikoliks, Music4commercials(MFCC)

Yellow Tunes ( https://www.yellowtunes.net/ )

Episode 11 – Grain of Truth: The Rise and Reign of Rice

Is rice just a side dish… or the main character of human history? In this episode of She’s Always on About Food…, we wake you up from your post-biryani nap and dive deep into the science, culture, controversy, and undeniable comfort of one of the world’s most consumed foods.

From ancient paddy fields in China to Bengali bhaat, Japanese gohan, and West African jollof, rice has been rolled, steamed, fried, fermented, and glorified. We’re dishing out the science of starch, the global flavour journey, its sugary alter ego in desserts and drinks, and even where rice sits in the climate crisis conversation. Trust us — this grain has a lot to say.

🌾 Segment 1 – Tiny Grain, Massive EmpireHow rice went from wild grass to global staple, travelling through empires, oceans, and ancestral kitchens.

🧬 Segment 2 – The Science of StarchA geek-out on amylose vs amylopectin, and the real reason rice sends you into a food coma.

🍱 Segment 3 – Rice Around the WorldSushi, biryani, risotto, jollof and more — how rice adapts, evolves, and expresses culture on every continent.

🍮 Segment 4 – Sweet Rice, Spiced LifeDesserts and drinks starring rice — from mango sticky rice to horchata and sake — proof that rice knows how to party.

🧠 Segment 5 – Symbol, Staple, Superfood?Rice as a cultural and spiritual symbol — and how wellness trends have complicated its reputation.

🌱 Segment 6 – The Pressure Cooker FutureWater woes, methane emissions, and the innovations trying to save the planet’s most loved grain.

SEO Keywords: Rice history, rice around the world, types of rice, biryani vs risotto, sticky rice science, rice desserts, fermented rice drinks, amylose vs amylopectin, climate change and rice, Bengali bhaat, sushi rice explained, jollof rice rivalry, wild rice benefits, brown rice vs white rice, rice in religion, cultural importance of rice, sustainable rice farming

Music Credits:

SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw https://goo.gl/HiccEi

Promoted by MrSnooze   • Acoustic Guitar Instrumental Background Mu...  

Almost There - Joe Alfaraby

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB50wr3sQ74&list=RDGB50wr3sQ74&start_radio=1

"Chris Haugen - Mirage" is under a Free To Use YouTube license 

/ chris-haugen-551939035 

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: • [Non Copyrighted Music] Chris Haugen ... 

Music Credits : Yellow Tunes ( https://www.yellowtunes.net/ )

🎧 Episode 10 – TikTok Took My Taste Buds: Food Trends That Took OverFrom Dalgona coffee to baked feta, from butter boards to birria tacos — this episode unpacks how social media reshaped our palates, our pantries, and even supermarket shelves. We dig into the science of virality, the cultural context of trending foods, and how TikTok transformed food from nourishment to performance.

🍝 Segment One-Liners:

1. Dalgona & Quarantine Cuisine – The lockdown that launched a thousand whisks.

2. TikTok Made Me Chew It – The trends we loved, hated, and air-fried anyway.

3. When Ancient Met Algorithm – How traditional cuisines went viral in 60 seconds.

4. From Algorithm to Aisle – Retail’s race to bottle the internet’s appetite.

5. What’s Trending Now? – From hot honey to adaptogens — what we crave in 2025.

6. The Culture Beneath the Crust – Why food trends are about more than just flavour.

📈 SEO Keywords:TikTok food trends, viral recipes, Dalgona coffee, air fryer meals, baked feta pasta, food culture, Gen Z food, trending foods 2025, food influencers, viral snacks, food and social media, recipe TikTok, foodie podcast, cooking trends, cultural foods on TikTok.

Music Credit:

• Ukulele Hakuna Matata by Alvaro Angeloro https://www.hooksounds.com/
• Promoted by MrSnooze   • Happy Ukulele Background Music for Videos ...  
• Creative Commons — CC BY 4.0 https://goo.gl/9ezBZw

• Flying Blind   • Inspiring Acoustic Wedding by Infraction [... 

Episode 9 – “Crushed, Ground, and Gloriously Bold: The Spice Trail Reimagined”

What’s the secret behind every unforgettable meal? Spice — the bold backbone of global cuisines. In this richly layered episode, we explore the chemistry of flavour, the bloody and brilliant history of the spice trade, and the traditions that turned turmeric, cardamom, and cumin into cultural cornerstones. From ancient trade routes to modern kitchens, we unpack the science, symbolism, and sizzling stories behind your spice rack.

Segments include:

• The Chemistry of Flavour

• A Brief, Bloody History of the Spice Trade

• Global Spice Cultures (India, Middle East, Asia, Latin America, Europe)

• Spice Science at Home: From Jar to Genius
  

SEO Keywords: spice history, global spice trade, spice chemistry, Indian masala, garam masala, spice storage tips, homemade spice blends, spice cultures, podcast about food, cultural food stories, cumin turmeric cardamom cloves

Music Credit

Music: Devotional- NRC

Music Link: https://royaltyfreebgmusic.blogspot.com

royaltyfreebgmusic.blogspot.com

Episode 8 – The Art of the One-Pot Wonder

On this week’s She’s Always on About Food…, we ladle into the global love affair with meals that simmer, braise, and bubble their way to perfection—all in a single vessel.

Segments

1. Humble Brilliance – Why one-pot meals are practical and poetic.

2. Around the World in a Pot – Biryani, tagine, oden, chili, gumbo—passport optional.

3. Science of Simmer – Maillard magic, gelatin glory, and flavour diffusion 101.

4. Cultural Soul Food – How stews and braises carry heritage (and heal hangovers).

5. Psychology of the Pot – Why the smell of a slow stew triggers nostalgia.

Whether it’s a clay tagine or non-stick Dutch oven, these dishes prove time is the tastiest ingredient of all.

SEO Keywords: one-pot recipes, biryani, tagine, chili con carne, gumbo, feijoada, congee, comfort food, slow cooking, Maillard reaction, Dutch oven meals, global stews, food culture podcast, easy weeknight dinners, culinary science

Music Credit  : ‪@Shubhasurcreations‬     /@shubhasurcreations  

In this vibrant episode of She’s Always On About Food, we deep-dive into matcha — the ancient, vibrant green tea powder that’s gone from Zen temple staple to TikTok trend. We explore its Japanese roots, how it’s made, its ceremonial importance, and what makes it nutritionally unique. Along the way, we sip through health claims, debunk the wellness marketing, and meet matcha’s global cousins — from hojicha and genmaicha to yerba mate and Maghrebi mint tea.

🍵 Segment Highlights:

1. Meet Matcha – What is it, really? And why is it so… intense?

2. Shade & Blade – A look at how it’s grown, ground, and graded.

3. Ceremony & Culture – Zen monks, mindfulness, and matcha as ritual.

4. Global Tea Cousins – Teas like matcha from Japan, Korea, Morocco, and beyond.

5. Wellness or Hype? – The antioxidants, the science, and a bit of marketing mischief.

6. Modern Matcha Madness – TikToks, cafés, and the power of green aesthetic.

Whether you’re a matcha purist or latte-sipping newbie, this one’s steeped just right.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in!

Keywords: matcha, Japanese green tea, powdered tea, matcha benefits, tea ceremony, hojicha, genmaicha, wellness trends, global tea, antioxidant drinks, matcha science, TikTok food trends

Music Credits:

https://youtu.be/1z3hl-dUgTA?si=QRw98xkLUv_2iZF-

🎵 Music "Only Wanna Talk" by ‘Dust Diggers & Hicks’

https://youtu.be/nU9UenegZT4?si=FNGYxduI13vmjDLA

https://music.storyinvention.com/en/koto-oukyuu-en/

https://music.storyinvention.com/en/

https://music.storyinvention.com/en/koto-kyuutei-syoukyoku-en/

https://music.storyinvention.com/en/

"WINDING TIDES" by KuukikoKoto/Classical/Japanese cafe "Royal Palace"- Moji MomizobaJapanese.Koto/Classical/Relax "Pieces for the Court" - Moji Momizoba

Fermentation: it’s ancient, it’s alive, and sometimes, it smells real funky. In this episode, we explore how the art of controlled rot transformed the way we eat, preserve, and flavour our food.

From Korea’s kimchi crocks to Bengal’s humble bowl of panta bhat, from cheesy corners of France to fizzy drinks made of rye and pineapple — we take you on a global journey of foods that got better by going bad.

🧫 Segment 1: A Controlled Rot – And Why We Love It
How fermentation started as survival and became a global culinary cornerstone.

🌶️ Segment 2: Asia’s Funky Foundations
India, Korea, Japan, and Indonesia: the fermented icons that built entire cuisines.

🧀 Segment 3: Europe’s Acidic Affection
Cheese, sourdough, kraut, and kvass — the continent’s microbial marvels.

🌎 Segment 4: America’s Modern Funk
Indigenous brews, spicy sauces, and the rise of kombucha culture.

🧪 Segment 5: Microbial Magic – The Science of Funk
The fermentation process, gut health benefits, and the unlikely foods that start with funk — like chocolate and coffee.

💡 Segment 6: Fermented Futures
The rebirth of an ancient tradition in the era of plant-based food and probiotics.

🔍 SEO Keywords: fermentation, fermented foods, probiotics, gut health, kimchi, miso, sourdough, kombucha, tempeh, panta bhat, ponkal bhaat, kvass, tepache, fermented drinks, fermented rice, food preservation, culinary science, traditional food, global fermentation, fermented food podcast

Music Credits- Music by Joe Alfaraby

https://youtu.be/GB50wr3sQ74

https://youtu.be/Jno-oleze6g?si=K2zynFQC3HhbhDQP

In this episode of She’s Always on About Food..., we explore the vibrant and diverse flavours of Romanian cuisine. From the comforting sourness of ciorbă (Romanian soup) to the sweet indulgence of cozonac (traditional Christmas bread), we uncover the history, cultural influences, and family traditions that make Romania’s food so unique. Learn about beloved dishes like mici, papanași, and the role of iconic spirits such as țuică and palincă in Romanian dining rituals. Whether you’re a foodie, a travel lover, or curious about Eastern European gastronomy, this episode offers a delicious journey through Romania’s culinary heritage.

Keywords: Romanian food, traditional Romanian recipes, Eastern European cuisine, Romanian desserts, Romanian drinks, țuică, palincă, cozonac, ciorbă, papanași, mici, food culture podcast, culinary travel, food history

Music Credits:

Balkan Instrumental Music - No Copyright -MelodyFreeWay

In this thought-provoking episode of She’s Always on About Food..., we navigate the complex world of meat and plant-based eating. Discover the science behind meat substitutes, the innovative use of starches and fibers to mimic textures, and the rise of ultra-processed vegan products. Dive into the cultural nuances of vegetarianism in Indian and Bengali cuisine, featuring beloved eggless dishes like dhokar dalna, begun bhaja, and the unique ‘gachh pantha’ (plant lamb) jackfruit delicacy. Whether you’re a meat lover, a curious plant-based eater, or simply food curious, this episode unpacks the plant-based dilemma with humor, intellect, and heart.

Keywords: plant-based vs meat, meat alternatives, vegan food science, Bengali vegetarian dishes, jackfruit recipes, plant lamb, dhokar dalna, begun bhaja, vegan meat texture, food culture podcast, meat vs plants debate, superfoods, plant-based trends

[ audio source -------) / @zenfulnotes ]

Summertime by Joe Alfaraby

https://youtu.be/XpV-n_VLjPE?si=8WKKdirRzC2oICkI

https://youtu.be/id25WIV2x4k?si=RQphU1rllBvhd_Eo

https://youtu.be/QxT4s7-P6SA?si=Ceb829J_1-H76O8v

https://youtu.be/g9PFI042K04?si=VAhShETHOTE2DJ6p

Salt: the most ordinary ingredient with the most extraordinary story. In this episode, we dig deep into the crystal that built trade routes, inspired revolutions, and gave life to entire cuisines. From Himalayan pink to flaky Maldon, temple offerings in India to fermented fish sauce in Southeast Asia—we explore salt’s global journey through culture, myth, science, and health debates. Plus: how did it go from sacred to scapegoat? And is sea salt really better than table salt?

Grab a pinch and press play. 🧂

Music Credits:

"Chris Haugen - Mirage" is under a Free To Use YouTube license

/ chris-haugen-551939035

Music powered by BreakingCopyright: • [Non Copyrighted Music] Chris Haugen ...

Music Credits : Yellow Tunes ( https://www.yellowtunes.net/ )