Dr. Arielle Johnson and the Dorito of Sadness

Dr. Arielle Johnson and the Dorito of Sadness

From Tinfoil Swans by Food & Wine

May 12, 2026 · 54 min

About this episode

Dr. Arielle Johnson discusses her journey in food science and the emotional connections we have with flavors.

Flavor scientist and Flavorama author Dr. Arielle Johnson charts her path from fashion-focused teen to being the go-to food nerd for Noma and Alton Brown. She unpacks the neuroscience of taste and memory, explains why certain foods trigger powerful emotional reactions (like a potential “Dorito of sadness”), and explores how flavor can be engineered to shape how we feel. Visit foodandwine.com/tinfoilswans for more Episode Art Courtesy of Food & Wine / Dr. Arielle Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Food & Wine

Guest: Dr. Arielle Johnson

Topics covered

  • neuroscience of taste
  • emotional reactions to food
  • flavor engineering
  • food science
  • personal journey

Keywords

  • taste
  • memory
  • emotions
  • food science
  • Dorito of sadness

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Noma, Alton Brown

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