The Food Chain Podcast
The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food, and what it takes to put food on your plate.
Episodes to download
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Why do we love smoky flavours so much?
Today
We look at the enduring appeal of smoked foods around the world.
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Can music change the way food tastes?
Last Thursday
The surprising links between music, flavour and customer behaviour.
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Can I save the family restaurant?
Thu 4 Jun 2026
Following Lisa He as she puts her career on hold to try and save the family's restaurant
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The business of food tours
Thu 28 May 2026
How guided food experiences became a fast-growing part of global tourism.
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The craft of the cocktail
Thu 21 May 2026
Three renowned bartenders on what it takes to create the perfect drink.
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Rethinking the potato
Thu 7 May 2026
The rise, fall and return of one of the world's most popular foods.
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The food writers
Thu 30 Apr 2026
Three food writers on how their jobs matter more than ever in times of global uncertainty
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Can we eat for exam success?
Thu 23 Apr 2026
Can a good diet support brain health, sleep and concentration during exams?
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How to eat more fibre and why you should!
Thu 16 Apr 2026
So you think you eat enough fibre? You probably don't. Here's what to do about it.
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So you think you can't cook?
Thu 9 Apr 2026
Simple tips and expert advice to help you build confidence in the kitchen.
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Is kitchen culture changing?
Thu 2 Apr 2026
Chefs reflect on tough training, pressure, and life inside professional kitchens.
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How to have a stress-free family meal
Thu 26 Mar 2026
Expert tips on how to handle fussy eaters and take the tension out of family dinners.
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What to eat to run a marathon
Thu 19 Mar 2026
Running 26.2 miles? Paula Radcliffe and others explain what to eat to race and recover.
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Giving it all up for food
Thu 12 Mar 2026
Ruth meets three restaurateurs who quit high-flying careers to chase their food dream
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The story of the sandwich
Thu 5 Mar 2026
An easy meal with global appeal, endless possibilities and hidden meaning.
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Small kitchens
Thu 26 Feb 2026
From city flats to Michelin-starred eateries - what it's like to cook in a tiny space.
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How to write a recipe
Thu 12 Feb 2026
Ruth Alexander learns about the art, science and hard work that goes into recipe writing.
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Can you learn to love the foods you hate?
Thu 5 Feb 2026
Exploring where food dislikes come from and whether they can be changed
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Fermented foods: A beginner's guide
Thu 29 Jan 2026
Discover the basics of fermented food. How to make it and what it's doing in our guts.
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Should we all eat the Mediterranean way?
Thu 15 Jan 2026
How the Mediterranean diet came to be the world's most researched and recommended diet.
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Tweaks for 2026: How to eat better
Thu 8 Jan 2026
The smartest nutrition advice from 2025 to help you feel better in 2026
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What is the ultimate hangover cure?
Thu 18 Dec 2025
Find out what happens in your body after you鈥檝e had alcohol and whether any remedies work
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Food heroes and villains
Thu 11 Dec 2025
Why does social media cast some foods as heroes and others as villains?
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How to eat well in the cold
Thu 4 Dec 2025
What kinds of food and drink help people keep warm while living in extreme cold?
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To tip or not to tip?
Thu 27 Nov 2025
What wait staff really think about your payments for their service
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The servers: The highs and lows of waiting on tables
Thu 20 Nov 2025
What is your table server really thinking? We hear about the working lives of wait staff
Food Chain highlights
Tea, coffee, spices, chillies ... snack on a selection of programme highlights
