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Gastronomics

Alex Mayyasi
Economics
Domino's
Aldi
Portland, Oregon
Egg Industry
Rose Knox
Chicken Thighs
Japanese Wagyu
Restaurant Reservation Apps
Pop-Up Bagel
Knox Gelatin Company
Food Industry
Time Perception
Emotional Ergonomics
Unbundling
Private Label
White Tea
Antitrust Law
Peru
Women In Business

Gastronomics is about the business of food. In each episode, Planet Money author Alex Mayyasi talks to chefs, economists, and people with insights and stories about how economics shapes the modern menu. Meet a trend forecaster who tracks thousands of menus to know exactly when restaurants should start serving yuzu lemonade or ube pancakes. Discover how Best Restaurant lists get made. And learn why... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes11Founded7 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Business NewsBusinessNews

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Artwork for Gastronomics

Latest Episodes

When Rose Knox's husband died in 1908, she did something totally unexpected for that day and age: She took over his business. Secretly. And eventually became the progenitor of Martha Stewart—and the most important businesswoman of her era.

Show Not... more

How a weak yen made Japanese beef the new truffle. Plus the fall and rise of chicken thighs and a food fight between credit card companies that's making it impossible to get dinner reservations. With guest Adam Chandler of the WSJ.

Show Notes Adam ... more

Peru gets a lot more tourism from North America and Europe than you might expect for a country so far away. The hidden reason why? Asparagus. And the War on Drugs.

Show Notes "Going on Vacation to Peru? Thank Asparagus," Jonathan English, June 22,... more

Private equity firms and venture capitalists are investing millions in new bagel shops. Can they bring great bagels to towns and cities across the country? Or are bagels the next investment bubble?

Show Notes "Grip, Rip, Dip, Repeat. Grip, Rip, Dip... more

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Recent Guests

Rachel Greenfield
Business executive and historian, and author of a book about Rose Knox.
Episode: The Woman Who Secretly Built a Gelatin Empire
Adam Chandler
Wall Street Journal columnist covering food, business, and culture, and author of Drive-Thru Dreams.
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Status-Symbol Beef, Reservation Wars, and the Rise of Chicken Thighs
Jonathan English
Transportation and infrastructure expert, founder of Infrastory Insights; NYU Marin Institute fellow
Infrastory Insights
Episode: Asparagus, the War on Drugs, and Cheap Flights to Machu Picchu
Liz Dunn
Award-winning journalist who writes about food and business
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Consumed (substack)
Episode: Can Private Equity Scale (Good) Bagels?
Basel Musharbash
Antitrust lawyer
Farm Action (with DOJ case background)
Episode: Was the Price of Eggs a Conspiracy?
Jolyn Chen
Co-owner and general manager of Xiao Ye
Xiao Ye, Portland
Episode: How to Run Your Dream Restaurant Like a Business
Louis Lin
Co-owner and head chef of Xiao Ye
Xiao Ye, Portland
Episode: How to Run Your Dream Restaurant Like a Business
Josh Freedman
Tea entrepreneur and China scholar who started the PHT tea drops
PHT (tea business)
Episode: Why a China Scholar Started a Tea Business
Lizzy Freier
Senior Director of Menu Research and Insights at Technomic
Technomic
Episode: ​How top chefs unknowingly do R&D for Applebee's

Host

Alex Mayyasi
Planet Money author who reports on how economics shapes food and restaurants.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 34 ratings
  • Chicken Breast is racist

    The popularity of white mean over dark meat was not because of racism, you absolutely weirdos. OMG I can’t.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Richelle85
    United Statesa month ago
  • New go-to food podcast

    Fun and fascinating new food podcast for anyone who likes shows like gastropod, planet money, or sporkful. Had no idea I could be sitting above asparagus while flying or that the status trackers we see all over the place sprang from the Domino’s pizza tracker.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    D-rej
    United Statesa month ago
  • Terrific show

    Looking around for new podcast this one caught my eye. It's a terrific blend of food and finance. I learn something new every week.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cat the Owl
    United States2 months ago
  • Yummy

    This podcast is great food for thought. Alex is engaging and the topics ate fun!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Podcast philos
    United States2 months ago
  • Learning economics through something we can all relate: food

    As someone who enjoys learning about politics and history through food, this podcast has been such a delight. I used to scour Planet Money episodes for ones that covered food so Gastronomics has been such a treat. Very informative and interesting, whether you enjoy learning about food, politics, or economics - this podcast is for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dina Yaz
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the accessible blend of food, economics, history and politics, often saying they learn something unexpected.
Some listeners object to loud, intrusive advertisements, which can detract from the listening experience.
Alex Mayyasi is described as engaging, and listeners appreciate his perspective and preparation.
The distinctive connections between familiar foods and broader economic systems stand out as a strength.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Woman Who Secretly Built a Gelatin Empire
Q: What was the first big strategic change Rose made to the company's marketing?
She shifted attention from grocers to housewives, adding recipes and images of the gelatin box and finished dishes to advertisements, while expanding advertising in consumer magazines.
The Woman Who Secretly Built a Gelatin Empire
Q: What was Rose's life like when Charles was running Knox Gelatin and she was a housewife?
She described herself as her husband's silent partner, learned about the business through his conversations and their travels, and also managed their household budget and participated in community and study-club activities.
Status-Symbol Beef, Reservation Wars, and the Rise of Chicken Thighs
Q: What do you want to do is buy a very small portion that will psychologically take the edge off, but also you don't have to eat that much of it?
Chandler advises buying a small portion, cooking it briefly with little or no neutral oil, and pairing it with sharp flavors such as wasabi and soy sauce rather than rich sides.
Status-Symbol Beef, Reservation Wars, and the Rise of Chicken Thighs
Q: Is the chicken thigh just better than a chicken breast?
Chandler says thighs are fattier and more forgiving to cook, making them well suited to everyday meals and mass consumption, though a perfectly cooked breast can be hard to beat.
Can Private Equity Scale (Good) Bagels?
Q: Why now, with PE money flowing into bagel shops, and what does this say about the broader food industry?
PE money is flowing in because firms see a scalable, centralized-operational model with strong branding and social-media traction, particularly for breakfast-focused concepts. This reflects a broader shift in the industry toward premium experiences in mainstream formats, though it risks sidelining independent, locally rooted shops.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gastronomics

What is Gastronomics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Food is the lens for exploring how economics shapes businesses, consumer habits and the modern menu. Alex Mayyasi leads reported conversations with chefs, economists, journalists, lawyers, designers and other specialists, connecting everyday subjects such as restaurant pricing, grocery shopping and food trends to larger forces including private equity, supply chains, antitrust and technology. The format pairs expert interviews with historical context, business analysis and practical details from the food world. Topics range from how a restaurant makes its finances work to how airline cargo networks affect what produce reaches consumers, giving listeners a way to understand economic systems through familiar meals and brands. Its distinctive ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Gastronomics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Gastronomics:

1. Planet Money
2. The Indicator from Planet Money
3. Short Wave
4. The Economics of Everyday Things
5. 99% Invisible

How many episodes of Gastronomics are there?

Gastronomics launched 7 months ago and published 11 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Gastronomics?

Recent guests on Gastronomics include:

1. Rachel Greenfield
2. Adam Chandler
3. Jonathan English
4. Liz Dunn
5. Basel Musharbash
6. Jolyn Chen
7. Louis Lin
8. Josh Freedman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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