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Looking for something to chew on (food pun intended) during your summer travels? These 10 food policy–focused podcasts cover a range of topics, including climate-friendly diets, Indigenous food sovereignty, supply chains, and restaurant labor rights. Whether you’re a policymaker, advocate, student, or curious eater, these shows dive deep into the systems that shape what ends up on our plates.
1. Doughboys
- Hosts: Mike Mitchell & Nick Wiger
- Category: Chain & Corporate Food Culture
- Episodes-to-Date: 400+ (debuted 2015)
- What It’s About: A comedic yet sharp podcast reviewing fast-casual chains. Despite the humor, the show offers insight into consumer habits and the influence of corporations in the food industry.
- Listen On: Patreon, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.
2. Eat. Drink. Think.
- Produced by: Civil Eats
Category: Food, Hunger & Climate - Episodes-to-Date: ~60–70
- What It’s About: Interviews and explainers from leaders in food policy and climate change, including conversations with Frances Moore Lappé and other food justice advocates.
- Listen On: CivilEats.com, Apple Podcasts.
3. Gastropod
- Hosts: Cynthia Graber & Nicola Twilley
- Category: Food History & Science
- Episodes-to-Date: ~279 (since 2014)
- What It’s About: A biweekly podcast exploring the hidden history and science of food, from fermentation and flavor to technology and food policy.
- Listen On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, gastropod.com.
4. Life Kit – Food & Climate
- By: NPR
- Category: Practical Climate Policy in Diet
- Episodes-to-Date: One focused episode
What It’s About: A short, practical guide to reducing your food-related climate impact. Covers plant-forward diets and the personal actions that support global policy efforts. - Listen On: NPR.org, NPR One, Apple Podcasts.
5. Meat + Three – “A Food (Policy) Tour of New York”
- By: Heritage Radio Network
- Category: NYC Food Policy & Regulation
Episodes-to-Date: One flagship policy-focused episode (plus ongoing series) - What It’s About: A mini-audio tour through New York’s evolving food policies: from composting and cocktails to vendor permits and soil legislation.
Listen On: Heritage Radio Network, Apple Podcasts.
6. Odd Lots – “This Is How NYC Gets Its Produce”
- By: Bloomberg
- Category: Supply Chains & Urban Food Access
Episodes-to-Date: 200+ (one NYC-specific episode) - What It’s About: Explores the infrastructure and policy that enable New York City to receive its fresh produce. A must-listen for urban food planners and policy advocates.
- Listen On: Bloomberg.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify.
7. Politics of Food
- Host: Cristina Gonzalez
- Category: Power, Policy & Injustice
- Episodes-to-Date: 10 (limited series)
What It’s About: Tackles systemic injustice across the food world—exploring restaurant labor, pandemic relief, racism in food media, and more. - Listen On: TuneIn, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.
8. The Four Top
- Host: Katherine Cole
Category: Food & Beverage Culture + Policy - Episodes-to-Date: 150+
- What It’s About: Each episode breaks down a food or drink issue—from regenerative farming to global wine policy—through a roundtable of industry and policy experts.
- Listen On: Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify.
9. The Racist Sandwich
- Hosts: Stephanie Kuo & Juan Diego Ramírez
- Category: Race, Culture & Food Justice
- Episodes-to-Date: ~80
- What It’s About: Explores the intersections of race, class, and gender in the food world—addressing representation, labor, and activism through personal storytelling.
- Listen On: Apple Podcasts
10. Toasted Sister
- Host: Andi Murphy
Category: Indigenous Food Sovereignty
Episodes-to-Date: ~94
What It’s About: Uplifts Indigenous chefs, seed keepers, and farmers. The podcast centers Native voices reclaiming their foodways, discussing sovereignty, nutrition, and healing. - Listen On: Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, toastedsisterpodcast.com.
