The Dark Side of Dining

Discover the surprising and vital link between the dirt your food grows in and the health of your own digestive system! In this eye-opening episode of The Dark Side of Dining , host Kenny Mears speaks with soil expert Chris Nichols about the profound connection between the soil microbiome and the gut microbiome. Chris explains that both systems function under a highly efficient "carbon economy": j...

Dive into the highly polarized world of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) in this exclusive, uncut interview with environmental and science writer Mark Lynas, who famously transitioned from a staunch anti-GMO activist to a pro-science advocate. Lynas shares that his initial opposition in the mid-1990s was driven by a "yuck factor," corporate opposition to companies like Monsanto, and a suspici...

Delve into the harsh culinary history of Russia in this episode of The Dark Side of Dining , as host Kenny Mears welcomes back author and food scholar Darra Goldstein to explore how food has continuously shaped, and often plagued, the nation. Goldstein, a professor of Russian literature, reveals that Russia's challenges stem from a combination of geographical hostility (poor soil in the North) and...

Uncover the shocking truth behind your rising grocery bills with food professor Sylvain Charlebois in this episode of The Dark Side of Dining , as he breaks down Canada's massive, multi-million dollar bread price-fixing scandal. Charlebois details the 14-year scheme (from 2001-2015) involving seven major companies, including leading retailers like Loblaw, Sobeys, Metro, and Walmart, and bakers lik...

Is it possible to be an Ethical Carnivore? In this candid episode of The Dark Side of Dining, host Kenny Mears speaks with environmental journalist and author Louise Gray about her unique two-year journey consuming only animals she killed herself. Motivated by the major environmental impact of meat (upwards of 60% of food-related emissions come from livestock) and her desire to find a non-judgment...

Sci-fi tech is already in your kitchen, and it’s nanotechnology. In this episode, we dive into the dark side of materials measured at a billionth of a meter, which, as environmental lawyer George Kimbrell of the Center for Food Safety explains, are fundamentally different than their larger counterparts. These tiny engineered particles, though not yet directly in most food (that we know of), are ex...

A new kind of disruptor is threatening the bottom line of the world's biggest food corporations: GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. In this fascinating episode of The Dark Side of Dining , host Kenny Mears welcomes back Sylvain Charlebois, The Food Professor, to analyze how these weight-loss drugs are fundamentally changing the way people eat—and what that means for fast food and snack giants. Charlebois c...

Every piece of food has a complex, often surprising, story. In this episode of The Dark Side of Dining, host Kenny Mears talks with environmental journalist and author Louise Gray about the hidden realities, ethical dilemmas, and sheer complexity of our global food supply. Louise, author of The Ethical Carnivore and Avocado Anxiety, explains that digging for the unanswered questions about where ou...

Food is more than sustenance; it's a powerful tool for diplomacy, identity, and even conflict. In this episode of The Dark Side of Dining , host Kenny Mears sits down with acclaimed author, food scholar, and founding editor of Gastronomica , Darra Goldstein, to explore the profound social and political meaning embedded in our meals. Goldstein delves into the concept of a "companion"—a word rooted...

It's rich, creamy, and apparently a hot commodity for criminals. In this episode of The Dark Side of Dining , we uncover the baffling world of Canadian butter with food policy expert, Sylvain Charlebois, famously known as The Food Professor. From the shocking theft of two truckloads of butter (worth nearly $200,000!) to the secret existence of Canada's strategic butter reserve, we explore why butt...

Ever wonder what started the American Revolution? It wasn't just about taxes and freedom. In this episode of The Dark Side of Dining, we uncover the shocking and delicious truth behind America's founding: it was fueled by the smuggling of molasses. Join us as we talk with Peter Andreas, professor of political science at Brown University and author of Smuggler Nation: How Illicit Trade Made America...

In this inaugural episode of The Dark Side of Dining, host Kenny Mears chats with Danielle "Dani" Nierenberg, co-founder and president of Food Tank, a leading organization dedicated to food system change. They dive into the complexities of our global food supply, from the struggles of small-scale farmers in Ethiopia and the impact of climate change in Europe to the surprising simplicity of how we...

Have you ever heard about the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist of the 2010's? What about the debate over so-called "slow food?" Do you ever wonder how identity is tied to food? Have you ever questioned if your parmesan and olive oil are actually made in Italy? If you've ever wanted to know more about humanity's complicated and storied history with food, then this is the podcast for you. Join host...