Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists' obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life.
Black American Magirology (FOOD, RACE & CULTURE) with Psyche Williams-Forson
What’s the difference between Southern cooking and “soul food?” Is there a correct type of mac and cheese? And whose business is it what you eat? (Hint: no one’s). Culinary historian, scholar of African American life and culture critic Dr. Psyche Williams-Forson is a professor at University of Maryland College Park and department chair in the Department of American Studies. She also authored the books “Eating While Black: Food Shaming and Race in America” and “Building Houses out of Chicken Legs: Black Women, Food, and Power.” We chat about everything from oral traditions to “soul food” in popular culture, gendered roles in cooking, hyperlocal produce, systemic oppression and why someone would make chicken without seasoning it. On national television.
Visit Dr. Psyche Williams-Torson’s website and follow her on Instagram and Twitter
Buy Dr. Williams-Torson’s books: Eating While Black: Food Shaming and Race in America and Building Houses out of Chicken Legs: Black Women, Food, and Power
A donation went to: Cultivate Charlottesville
More episode sources and links
Other episodes you may enjoy: Glycobiology (CARBS), Microbiology (GUT BIOME), Indigenous Cuisinology (NATIVE COOKING), Food Anthropology (FEASTS), Bisonology (BUFFALO), Critical Ecology (SOCIAL SYSTEMS + ENVIRONMENT), Melaninology (SKIN/HAIR PIGMENT), Black AF in STEM, Genealogy (FAMILY TREES)
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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media and Mark David Christenson
Transcripts by Emily White of The Wordary
Website by Kelly R. Dwyer
Theme song by Nick Thorburn