Best BBC Good Food Podcasts (2024)

1
Who'd Be a Whistleblower? 47:17

24d ago47:17

47:17

Whistleblower Dr Carl Elliott's life changed for ever, when he tried to alert his university about the running of a drug trial which had resulted in the suicide of a patient. A patient whose mother felt should never have been enrolled in a trial in the first place. Carl’s battle came at a huge personal and emotional cost and at the end of years of …

1
Could Dementia Be Preventable and Treatable? 1:27:04

1M ago1:27:04

1:27:04

The idea of developing dementia is probably one of our greatest health fears. We tend to think of it as an irreversible disease that gradually robs us of our faculties. But podcast guest, psychiatrist Dr Kat Toups is one of a group of doctors and researchers who argues that certainly in its early stages, the disease is actually reversible. The mist…

1
How To Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease 52:07

3M ago52:07

52:07

Cardiologist Dr Scott Murray discusses what we can all do to reduce our risk of heart disease. I think many of us are familiar with the idea that elevated levels of the so-called bad cholesterol - low density lipoprotein or LDL for short - have been linked to cardiovascular illness. (Although, in fact there is a group of scientists who argue that L…

1
Personalised Nutrition: How It Is Transforming Our Understanding of Food 1:05:37

4M ago1:05:37

1:05:37

Professor Sarah Berry discusses her research in personalised nutrition, which is uncovering the hugely varied effects different foods may have on one particular group or individual compared to others. This variability can be due to our genetics, metabolism or a number of other factors. This may well have important implications for what, when and ho…

1
12. Francis Bourgeois – On viral fame and dealing with criticism 37:51

3M ago37:51

37:51

Rylan is joined by trainspotter Francis Bourgeois to discuss becoming an overnight internet sensation. Francis tells Rylan about his tricky teenage years and growing up as an outsider, confronting accusations that his train persona is “fake”, and trainspotting with Joe Jonas. Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the sp…

1
11. Ekin-Su - Navigating fame and the personal impact of reality TV 38:51

3M ago38:51

38:51

Rylan is joined by Love Island winner Ekin-Su to discuss her mixed experiences in the spotlight. Ekin tells Rylan about her high-profile break-up with Love Island boyfriend Davide, her fall from grace after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, and the psychological damage of reality TV. Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust i…

1
Why Your Oral Microbiome Is Critical For Good Health 47:19

4M ago47:19

47:19

Dentist Dr Victoria Sampson argues that while the gut microbiome gets a huge amount of attention, funding and publicity, the oral microbiome gets almost entirely overlooked, yet it is essential to our health. As she explains in this podcast, it has a close symbiotic relationship with our gut biome, so changing the composition of one affects the oth…

1
10. Will Young - Leaving Strictly and homophobia in the music industry 38:55

3M ago38:55

38:55

Rylan speaks to pop sensation Will Young about life in the spotlight. Will discusses facing homophobia in the music industry, his experience on Strictly and facing mental health struggles in the public eye. Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the spotlight - with those who've lived to tell the tale. Host: RylanAssista…

1
9. Big Zuu - On classism in TV and stealing delivery food 33:58

4M ago33:58

33:58

Rylan sits down with Big Zuu to talk about his unique rise to fame - from rapper extraordinaire to double BAFTA award-winning TV presenter. They discuss making grime mainstream alongside Stormzy, Dave and AJ Tracey, his viral BAFTA acceptance speech for 'Big Zuu's Big Eats' and dealing with classicism in the TV industry. Rylan explores the good, th…

1
Are High Cholesterol Levels Dangerous On A Keto Diet? 50:58

5M ago50:58

50:58

This week's guest is Dave Feldman, who unusually for this podcast is not a doctor or a medical researcher, but actually a software engineer. For a long time, there has been concern that those on a very low carb or ketogenic diet are pushing their cholesterol to very high levels. This is something that Dave experienced personally, when he noticed th…

1
8. Matt Goss - On Brosmania and fans under the bed 29:27

4M ago29:27

29:27

Rylan is joined by singer and frontman of iconic 80s band, Bros, Matt Goss. With fedora in place, Matt and Rylan chat about finding fans under the bed at the height of Brosmania, having an 11 year-long Las Vegas residency, and wanting to reconcile with his brother and bandmate, Luke. Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust int…

1
7. Charlotte Church – Being a child star and weird fan encounters 39:14

5M ago39:14

39:14

Rylan is joined by singer and host of ‘Kicking Back with The Cardiffians’ Charlotte Church to discuss her mixed experiences in the spotlight. Charlotte tells Rylan about growing up as a child star and singing for the Pope as a 12-year-old, press intrusion in her rebellious years, and being accused of anti-Semitism. Rylan explores the good, the bad …

1
How Diet Can Help In The Prevention and Treatment of Cancer 47:18

5M ago47:18

47:18

Oncologist Professor Robert Thomas, argues along with standard conventional cancer treatments - all of which he uses - that exercise and diet can play a pivotal role in improving cancer outcomes. Robert says for the newer biological therapies which require a patient to have robust immunity, research is revealing that a healthier lifestyle and gut h…

1
6. Andy Coulson – Launching the Spice Girls and being arrested 31:34

5M ago31:34

31:34

Rylan speaks to Andy Coulson, former editor of News of the World and host of the ‘Crisis What Crisis’ podcast, about the highs and lows of his career in tabloid journalism. They discuss his role in shaping the careers of some of the biggest names in the spotlight, including the Spice Girls and The Beckhams, as well as his arrest in the wake of the …

1
5. Ainsley Harriott - Racism in the food industry and becoming a meme 37:31

5M ago37:31

37:31

Rylan speaks to TV chef and national treasure Ainsley Harriott about life in the spotlight. Ainsley tells Rylan about dealing with racism as a chef, providing in-flight entertainment for Richard Branson, and how he’s enjoyed becoming a Gen-Z meme. How to Be in the Spotlight - Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the sp…

1
Why is the Death Rate Higher for US Dialysis Patients Than Europeans? 49:07

6M ago49:07

49:07

Author and journalist Tom Mueller, after meeting whistleblowers working in the US dialysis industry seven years ago, decided to investigate further. Tom argues what he found is a cautionary tale not just about dialysis, but about the impact on healthcare of for profit medicine in general. His book How to Make A Killing: Death, Dollars and the Busin…

1
4. Jameela Jamil – Online feuds and problematic Vogue shoots 39:40

5M ago39:40

39:40

Rylan speaks to actor and activist Jameela Jamil about her experiences in the spotlight. Honest as ever, Jameela tells Rylan about the raucous years working at T4, accidentally getting her role on The Good Place, and the online feuds she regrets most. Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of being thrust into the spotlight - with those who'…

1
3. Leigh Francis – Bo' Selecta! and shedding his personas 34:50

6M ago34:50

34:50

Rylan speaks to comedian and star of Celebrity Juice and Bo' Selecta!, Leigh Francis. Joining Rylan in the studio, Leigh discusses the origin stories behind his most iconic characters, reappraising his portrayals of celebrities in Bo' Selecta!, and shedding his personas and becoming himself in the public eye. Rylan: How to Be in the Spotlight explo…

1
How Processed Food Is Engineered To Be Irresistible 51:32

6M ago51:32

51:32

Investigative reporter Michael Moss has spent many years uncovering just what it is about processed and fast food that makes it so hard for many of us to resist. This is the final podcast of three that I am doing in conjunction with the International Food addiction Consensus conference held on 17th May. Michael says he now believes from his decades…

1
2. Emily Atack – Growing up famous and leaving “sexy schoolgirl” roles behind 38:06

6M ago38:06

38:06

Rylan is joined in the studio by actor and comedian, Emily Atack to talk about her life in the spotlight. Emily tells Rylan about growing up in a famous family, breaking free from “sexy schoolgirl” roles, and how she deals with negative tabloid headlines. Rylan: How to Be in the Spotlight explores the good, the bad and the ugly of what it's like to…

1
1. Daisy May Cooper – On divorce and feeling underwhelmed after BAFTA win 36:37

6M ago36:37

36:37

Rylan speaks to the actor and writer Daisy May Cooper. Dialling in from her home in the Cotswolds, the star of This Country talks about the real-life inspiration behind her character Kerry, her turbulent time at RADA, and dealing with personal issues in the public eye. Rylan: How to Be in the Spotlight explores the good, the bad and the ugly of bei…

1
Introducing - Rylan: How to Be in the Spotlight 1:32

6M ago1:32

1:32

How to Be in the Spotlight – Rylan explores the good, the bad and the ugly of what it's like to be thrust into the public eye – with those who've lived to tell the tale. Over 12 episodes, Rylan will be joined by guests who will share how they have learned to navigate the spotlight, reflecting on what they did right – and what they did very wrong… L…

1
How Sugar - Like Drugs & Alcohol - Impacts Our Dopamine Levels 46:11

7M ago46:11

46:11

Psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke discusses how addictive substances like alcohol and drugs cause our dopamine levels to rocket, and reveals - perhaps surprisngly - that highly processed, high sugar food can also have a similar effect on our brains. This is the second podcast of three that I'm doing in conjunction with the International Food Addiction C…

1
Is Food Addiction Real? 47:41

7M ago47:41

47:41

Dr Rob Lustig discusses whether it’s really possible to become addicted to food, and if it is, does that change how we view those who struggle in their relationship with food? In our conversation, Rob argues that the phrase "food addiction" is a misnomer, and that the real issue is food additive addiction. He says all the medical evidence suggests …

1
Freshness and Grinding, Part 2: How grinders work deep inside 47:24

7M ago47:24

47:24

Deep inside your coffee grinder, tiny changes can have massive consequences. This episode takes you deep inside Mahlkönig’s grinders to show you how coffee is ground and the importance of particle sizes on flavour. If you’re a home coffee lover, you could easily spend thousands of dollars on your coffee grinder. But after diving deep into the R&D o…

1
Freshness and Grinding, Part 1: Protecting your coffee’s flavours 49:40

8M ago49:40

49:40

For your coffee to taste its best, it’s crucial you buy fresh roasts and grind fresh.… .….Or maybe not. When I began creating this episode, I was convinced that ‘fresh is best’. But, after delving into the science of coffee freshness, I don’t believe that anymore. This episode goes deep into how diffusion and oxidation changes a coffee’s flavours. …

1
What Is Good Science? Part 2: How to think like a scientist 55:15

8M ago55:15

55:15

In the last episode, I discovered that rinsing my Chemex filter papers was a waste of time! As a result I’ve managed to claw back over seven days of my life left on earth. But why stop there? The coffee industry is full of elaborate ways of brewing and savouring coffee: fancy drippers, cold metal balls, “slurp-able” cupping spoons. These are very f…

1
Allergies: What You Need To Know 47:39

8M ago47:39

47:39

In the last few decades, there has been a huge increase in allergy and allergic reactions, but why? Just what has changed in our health and environment to bring this about? Consultant NHS allergist Dr Sophie Farooque discusses one of the biggest puzzles in medicine. For example peanut allergies were almost unknown before the 1990s, but today it and…

1
What Is Good Science? Part 1: How to brew coffee like a scientist 46:21

8M ago46:21

46:21

Should you rinse your filter paper before making a filter coffee? Almost everybody in coffee internet says you should. But what if most of coffee internet was wrong? In this episode, I show you how I try to answer this question like a professional sensory scientist would. It’s hard. It’s frustrating. But ultimately, it’s worth it because I end up s…

1
Why Hormones Not Calorie Counting May Be Key In Obesity 45:44

9M ago45:44

45:44

Dr Jason Fung argues that much of what we think we know about weight loss is simply wrong. Jason says that the critical factor in losing weight is hormones - not calories. He believes calorie counting is an overly simplistic approach. And that actually dieting may be the worst thing you can do, because it slows your metabolic rate which actually ma…

1
Organic Coffee, Part 2: Why don’t we see more organic coffee farms? 41:22

9M ago41:22

41:22

Farming coffee organically is amazing because soils are more alive, birds and insects are more plentiful, farmers avoid getting sick with agrochemicals. But, if it’s so great, why is less than 10% of the world’s coffee grown organically? The fact is, going organic is hard. Much harder than growing coffee conventionally. In this episode I show you t…

1
The Secrets To A Successful Keto Diet 53:49

9M ago53:49

53:49

Beth Zupec–Kania is a dietician and nutritionist, who has spent over 30 years developing very low carb - otherwise known as ketogenic diets - to treat a range of both physical and mental health conditions. She has worked with many of the leading neurologists and psychiatrists pioneering this field. I heard Beth speak at a conference Metabolic Psych…

1
Organic Coffee, Part 1: The magic of soil 38:49

10M ago38:49

38:49

The world’s farming soils are deteriorating quickly. Conventional coffee farming where plants are grown using agrochemicals allowed farmers to reap huge harvests these last 70 years. But these agrochemicals have been at the expense of soil health. I travel to Honduras to explore a potential solution: organic coffee farming. Come with me as I show y…

1
Should You Take A Weight Loss Drug? 50:02

10M ago50:02

50:02

Dr Barbara Mintzes and Dr Joel Lexchin, have recently published a review paper on the weight loss drug Wegovy (generic name semaglutide). They discuss it and the new generation of similar obesity medications. The hype surrounding this new class of drugs has been huge, but is it justified? These pharmaceuticals are called glucagon-like peptide 1 ago…

1
Coffee Roasting, Part 2: Roasting made easy 46:20

10M ago46:20

46:20

Roasting coffee can be maddening. Just 4° Celsius is enough to make the same green beans taste distinctly different! And there are so many things roasters can play around with: temperature, time, fan speed, drum speed, types of probes…the list goes on and on. So, if you want to start roasting yourself, where do you start!? In the first half of this…

1
Deprescribing from Psychiatric Drugs: The Problems and the Solutions 55:46

10M ago55:46

55:46

Dr Mark Horowitz discusses why psychiatric medication has turned out to be far harder to stop than any one expected. For Mark, this is as much a personal as well as a professional interest. For as a patient, at one point he was taking five different psychiatric drugs. Ironically, although Mark was working in London at the Institute of Psychiatry, h…

1
Coffee Roasting, Part 1: How heat transforms coffee beans 37:42

11M ago37:42

37:42

What flavours do you want from your coffee? Every coffee bean begins its life green. And if you brewed it up without first roasting it, you’d get a yellow-green cup of grass-flavoured water. But, as soon you apply heat to a bean, the flavour can morph to from something quite vegetative to a very acidic unripe fruit, then a very sweet fruit, and eve…

1
Could Changing Your Diet Improve Your Mental Health? 58:17

11M ago58:17

58:17

Psychiatrist Dr Georgia Ede argues that the medical profession has completely underestimated the huge impact of diet on our mental health. In her new book, Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind, Georgia reveals improvements we can all make to our diet, and in particular, three different dietary approaches for those looking to improve their mental heal…

1
Smell and Taste, Part 2: Are you and me tasting the same flavours? 39:19

11M ago39:19

39:19

Ever wonder why you and your friends can taste the same coffee, but you can’t agree on the flavour notes? Join me as I explore this metaphysical mystery! I speak with leading scientists and ask: are the flavour receptors in your nose and mouth the same as mine? How does music and the shape of a cup affect what we taste? What about our different cul…

1
Treating Long Covid 43:06

11M ago43:06

43:06

Dr Lisa Sanders, writes a column called Diagnosis in the New York Times magazine, which was the inspiration for the Fox medical drama House, M.D. .The show in which Hugh Laurie, playing Dr Gregory House, regularly managed to diagnose the most obscure of medical conditions. But today Lisa has arguably a rather tougher challenge than Hugh Laurie ever…

1
Smell and Taste, Part 1: How to be a better coffee taster 44:33

11M ago44:33

44:33

So you’ve just taken a sip of a very rare coffee, and flavours of passion fruit explode in your mouth. But here’s the thing: that flavour of passion fruit is not coming from your mouth. It’s not even coming from your nostrils. It’s being picked up behind your eyes! In this first episode of The Science of Coffee's second series, I unravel how our se…

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