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Artwork for Lunchbox Envy

Lunchbox Envy

Lunchbox Envy
Cheese
Onions
Chocolate
Potatoes
Aphrodisiacs
Fast Food
Tomatoes
Ice Cream
Eggs
Pizza
Bacon
Beef
Chicken
Salt
NASA
Pasta
Black Pepper
Sandwich
Mcdonald's
Garlic

From the makers of QI and No Such Thing As A Fish: Gastronomically-minded QI researchers Jack Chambers and Manu Henriot join chef and food writer Rosie MacKean to unpack the world of food and drink, one lunchbox at a time. Can you unboil an egg? Why would you milk a spider? How much Dairy Milk would it take to kill you? Dig in now to get answers to the questions you never knew you had.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes73Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsFood

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Artwork for Lunchbox Envy

Latest Episodes

Why should you beware of Chinese gutter oil? Which oil is the healthiest to fry with? Does snake oil actually work?

Why are frozen peas better than fresh peas? How do you use a pea as an alarm clock? Whose constipation can be cured with a single pea?

YouTube

When is it a good idea to set fire to your sugar cane field? Why would you sprinkle sugar over a bee? Do you prefer your sugar in cubes or loaves?

YouTube

Why would you put spectacles on a chicken? What's the secret to a perfect roast chicken? Do chickens find you beautiful?

Another bite of the drumstick with cook and writer Ed Smith.

YouTube

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ed Smith
Chef and food writer
Author of Peckish
Episode: 66: 🐔 Why Chickens Need Spectacles
Tim Hayward
Author, food journalist, broadcaster
Tim Hayward Ltd
Episode: 62: 🍴 Buckingham Palace's Upside-Down Forks
Vicky Clarus
Food scientist and former manager of food systems at NASA for the Space Shuttle Program and International Space Station
NASA
Episode: 50: 🚀 Where To Get A Good Drink In Space
Ken Albala
Food historian, author, and broadcaster
University of the Pacific
Episode: 49: 🫀 The Scottish Delicacy Banned In America
Jodie Nixon
Recipe developer and food stylist
Episode: 42: 🎓 Jamie Oliver Is Screaming At Our Home-Twizzled Turkeys
Gazina Bullock Prado
Chef, baker, and cookbook author
Food Network
Episode: 41: 🦃 CALL NOW: The Emergency Turkey Hotline
Edd Kimber
Baker, cookbook writer, and winner of the first ever series of The Great British Bake Off
Episode: 23: 🥐 The Secret Curvy Croissant Code
Rosie MacKean
Food writer and chef
Not mentioned
Episode: 16: 🍷 Does More Expensive Wine Actually Taste Better?

Hosts

Rosie MacKean
Chef and food writer hosting with QI collaborators
Jack Chambers
QI Elf, co-host; brings research-informed banter to the table
Alex Bell
Host with QI Elf background; co-host
Manu Henriot
Co-host, QI Elf; brings expert knowledge and curiosity

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 518 ratings
  • Not bad but…

    This is a gentle and mildly amusing podcast with some fun facts.

    Sadly there tends to be a point in each episode where Manu (who is otherwise very lovely) starts making little “uhuh” type agreeing noises every two seconds. It drives me bonkers! Please could these wee verbal ticks be thinned out in the edit 🙏

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Tookie7
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • An Italian Aperitivo

    Rosie MacKean is a bully and *very* vulgar. Let Manu and Jack do the show by themselves or with another chef guest who doesn’t swear and is less pushy..

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Banana belt
    Canada3 months ago
  • Stale

    Professional production and charming hosts. If you are quite young or don’t know anything about food, you might find it interesting. If you’ve had any exposure to food and cooking media over the last 20 years, you will have already heard nearly every fact and anecdote they mention. Disappointing. I wanted to like it because of the QI and “Fish” connection.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    BarnOwl66
    United States3 months ago
  • A rare QI miss.

    Very little chemistry amongst the bland, interchangeable hosts. When a substitute host sits in, I can't tell who is being replaced.

    A few instances of agenda presented as fact.

    I had high hopes for a culinary NSTAAF, but I had to give up.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    hjohnl
    4 months ago
  • buttery smooth

    my perfect relaxing show I listen to to unwind. knock out production!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VValtersVV
    Germany5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Mixed opinions on language and pacing; chemistry and research depth are frequently praised.
Very positive about host knowledge and humor, with some criticism of swearing for certain audiences.
Listeners often cite informative, fun segments and strong trio dynamics as key strengths.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#42
United States/Arts/Food
Spotify
#33
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#6
United Kingdom/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#14
Canada/Arts/Food
Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#98
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

66: 🐔 Why Chickens Need Spectacles
Q: What have you brought to Lunchbox this week, Ed?
Ed brings chicken livers, highlighting their accessibility, nutritional value, and versatility, including a mapo-style preparation with tofu.
49: 🫀 The Scottish Delicacy Banned In America
Q: What have you brought for us today?
I brought some haggis, which I made last night, which turned out really nice.
49: 🫀 The Scottish Delicacy Banned In America
Q: Can you tell us a bit about what you do?
I'm a food historian in Stockton, California, at the University of the Pacific. And that often involves cooking historic dishes to see what they taste like.
30: ♨️ The Insane Truth Behind Microwave Clocks
Q: So should we talk about how the microwave works?
Yes, the bit that's creating the electromagnetic waves is called a cavity magnetron.
30: ♨️ The Insane Truth Behind Microwave Clocks
Q: Rosie, as a professional chef, are you a massive microwave snob?
Quite the contrary, I think microwaves are brilliant.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Lunchbox Envy

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

A witty, science-infused food show where three hosts explore the history, science, folklore, and culture behind everyday edibles. Episodes traverse topics from fruit biology to kitchen myths, culinary history, and unusual food facts, all delivered with humor, banter, and a shared curiosity about how food shapes culture. A standout element is the blend of QI-adjacent research, accessible cooking ideas, and hosts' friendly chemistry, which makes it approachable for curious listeners who love learning something new at every bite. The show tends to mix deeply sourced tidbits with playful speculation, making it entertaining for food nerds, trivia lovers, and podcast fans who enjoy lighthearted banter with educational texture.

Where can I find podcast stats for Lunchbox Envy?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Lunchbox Envy. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Lunchbox Envy and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Lunchbox Envy get?

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What are the audience demographics for Lunchbox Envy?

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How many subscribers and views does Lunchbox Envy have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Lunchbox Envy has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Lunchbox Envy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lunchbox Envy:

1. No Such Thing As A Fish
2. You're Dead to Me
3. Answer Me This!
4. Lateral with Tom Scott
5. Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

How many episodes of Lunchbox Envy are there?

Lunchbox Envy launched a year ago and published 73 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Lunchbox Envy?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Lunchbox Envy?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Lunchbox Envy from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Lunchbox Envy?

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What guests have appeared on Lunchbox Envy?

Recent guests on Lunchbox Envy include:

1. Ed Smith
2. Tim Hayward
3. Vicky Clarus
4. Ken Albala
5. Jodie Nixon
6. Gazina Bullock Prado
7. Edd Kimber
8. Rosie MacKean

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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