Vittles and Vitals

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob talk eggs, bunnies, and exploding carts.  That’s right, it’s the Easter episode.  Of course, they definitely know the heart of Easter: that would be Jesus.  But the random facts out there about how the holiday began, why we hide eggs, and the history of the Reese’s holiday shapes are mind-boggling.  You’ll be amazed at the number of Cadbu...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob hunker down in the V&V studio to talk about…hunkering down.  Anyone else feel like they are living in a movie right now?  Quarantining?  Social distancing?  We’re all going to have a new vocabulary when this crisis passes.  In the meantime, what are some fun ways to pass the time?  What does one eat in quarantine?  Thou...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob take on one of the lesser-known holidays.  Well, lesser-known if you don’t come from a math family like they do.  March 14 (or to put it another way, 3.14) is Pi Day, when mathematicians celebrate the mysterious, transcendental, and often (or always) irrational ratio known as Pi.  They talk about where and when Pi Day started, how it’s celebra...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob get trendy.  That’s a stretch for Jay - he’s not usually up on trends.  Fashion?  Optional.  Hairdo?  No hair, don’t care.  Food trends, however, make life interesting, and health trends…well, he’s in the biz, after all.  Jacob on the other hand, knows all the things.  With hipster tendencies and all the coffee gadgets...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob talk all things pink and chocolate.  Not necessarily the same things, but on Valentine’s Day, the odds are good.  The history of this day of love may not be what you think.  Yeah, you’ve heard of St. Valentine, but how did things go for him in the end?  Not too good.  Yet somehow, it’s a happy holiday for most, unless you’re an ethic...

This is the episode where things get wheel-y deep.  Deep in the fryer, that is.  And it’s also the first listener-suggested topic Jay and Jacob have discussed.  Listener/Cousin Mike is a big fan of donuts, as are our hosts, but what vital cultural topic do they relate to?  Well, they look like wheels, right?  And wheels are important, right?  Of course they are. ...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob get artsy-fartsy.  We ask the vital questions: What is art, actually?  What is good art and what is bad art?  What should art cost and who should pay for it?  And they answer none of them.  But they do have things to say about them all.  Then they talk about food as art: cooking techniques, plating, cake decorating, actual paint...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob get accountable.  Sort of.  It’s almost time for 2019 to end, and that brings forth hope for new things in 2020, or at least an improvement on their resolutions from the previous year.  And bread.  There will be more bread.  Jay’s done some digging and learned about new year’s celebrations in cultures aside from the West, while Jacob...

The tales told in this episode will make you want to slap your mama.  But unless you are a certified saint and your mama is a heretic, the Vittles and Vitals legal experts don't recommend it.  Jay explores the origin stories of the three wise guys, and discovers the truth behind figgy pudding. (Spoiler: no figs were harmed in the making of this pudding.)  Jacob polls his vast Instag...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob talk about collections.  We begin with a virtual tour of the Vittles and Vitals Studio, which doubles as a museum housing many of Jay’s collections.  And they are legion.  (But he is not a hoarder.) Jacob is trying to catch up, but he has limits. (Definitely not a hoarder.) Their collecting tendencies do come naturally, though - it’s a family...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob get thankful.  Mostly we’re just thankful that Thanksgiving is still recognized as a holiday, despite the attempts by Halloween and Christmas to squeeze it out.  We have a theory about that, and it involves candy.  We’ll touch a little on history, how the “first” (but was it?) Thanksgiving connects to today’s Friendsgiving celebrations, what a...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob talk about Harry Potter.  And it’s not just because our family is a collection of Potter-centric Muggles, it’s also because November 4th is the 18th anniversary of the London premiere of the first movie: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.  So to celebrate this annivers-Harry, we talk about our evolving family history, the influence of J.K. Rowl...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob talk about college football.  You’ll hear about how to squeeze a city(and more) into a stadium, how much money is spent by your favorite teams, and then we get to the good stuff.  Stadium food.  Depending on where you spend your Saturday, you might get barbecue nachos, or you might get sushi.  Take a guess at what our choice would be.&nbs...

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob introduce themselves and the big idea behind this father-son podcast.  They’ll be swapping stories about important issues in culture (the vitals) and find the food connections to those issues (the vittles).

This is the episode where Jay and Jacob explain why Halloween is a big deal.  You may just be surprised at some of the reasons – there are billions of them.  Mickey Mouse, Leonardo the Ninja Turtle, and the 6 Million Dollar Man all make an appearance.  They give an answer to the question of which Halloween candy is king, and how is that determined?  Taste or pounds?  And d...