About this episode
This episode explores the history and marketing of sugary drinks and their impact on consumer behavior and society.
Over a hundred years ago, we started drinking soda. Today, soda is part of a larger category called sugar sweetened beverages, that includes energy drinks, Dunkin’ frozen matcha lattes, giant Boba teas and Starbucks strawberry acai refreshers. How did these companies tap into our innate cravings to sell us more drinkable calories than we are supposed to eat in a week? In this episode we explore why we are so susceptible to sugar and how soda companies influenced the way we drink today, marketing their drinks aggressively (especially to children), externalizing costs, and making the consumer and society at large responsible: for our excess calorie consumption and for the waste created by single use drink containers.
Topics covered
- sugar consumption
- soda history
- marketing strategies
- caloric intake
- consumer responsibility
- waste management
Keywords
- soda
- sugar sweetened beverages
- marketing
- calories
- waste
- energy drinks
- Dunkin’
- Starbucks
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Dunkin’, Starbucks
Products: Boba teas, soda, sugar sweetened beverages
More episodes of What You're Eating
- The Lie of the Little Red Barn · December 2, 2025 · 1h 4m
- What’s the Deal With MAHA? · November 19, 2025 · 1h 2m
- Eat More Beans · November 4, 2025 · 55 min
- Lives on the Line · October 21, 2025 · 37 min
- Going Nuts for Pistachios · April 1, 2025 · 1h 12m
- You’re Probably a Vegan in Waiting · March 11, 2025 · 56 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the What You're Eating podcast page.