What Food Can Teach Us About Power, Land, and Belonging
About this episode
Beth interviews chef and culinary historian Mica Chavez about the historical and cultural significance of food in shaping society.
Sarah's on summer break this week, so Beth sits down with chef, culinary historian, and seventh-grade history teacher Mica Chavez to trace how food actually built the world we live in — from the Columbian Exchange and the science behind corn, to slavery, immigration, and the industrial food system we're stuck with today. Topics discussed: The Columbian Exchange: how corn, chili, potatoes, and tomatoes reshaped diets on both sides of the Atlantic The science of nixtamalization — why New World corn didn't wreck teeth the way Old World wheat did How chili peppers spread across the globe via birds The Irish potato famine's surprising link to New Mexico settlement history Indigenous and Spanish foodways merging in the Southwest: acequias, sheep, and companion planting How mechanization and post-WWII food policy created the mass-produced, processed food system Precision farming, AI, and the tension between efficiency and sustainability What to cook this summer (hint: it's pie) Speaking of good food and good company — the Minneapolis live show after party has both! Get your tickets here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Hosts: Sarah, Beth
Guest: Mica Chavez
Topics covered
- food history
- Columbian Exchange
- industrial food system
- sustainability
- cultural foodways
- agriculture
Keywords
- food
- power
- land
- belonging
- Columbian Exchange
- nixtamalization
- chili peppers
- Irish potato famine
- industrial food system
- sustainability
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Columbian Exchange, New World, Old World
Places: New Mexico, Southwest
More episodes of Pantsuit Politics
- Vinok Libraries: Bringing Books to Ukraine's Children
- Building Cities (and Lives) Kids Can Actually Move Through
- Graham Platner's Collapse, the Progressive Movement, and AI's Accountability Gap
- What Elected Officials Owe Us with Lauren Pinkston
- America's Next 250 with Ezra Klein
- Rick Atkinson on the Revolution We Misremember
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Pantsuit Politics podcast page.