What does food science actually mean — and how does it shape what we eat, how food tastes, and even how humans evolved?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, a food scientist with a PhD, author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered, and the creator of an upcoming documentary on flavor chemistry called The Flavor Matrix. Together, we explore the science behind flavor, fermentation, and umami — and how culture, psychology, and sustainability are deeply intertwined with what ends up on our plates.

We talk about:

• What food science really is (and what it isn’t)

• How flavor is created at scale

• Plant-based meats and the future of food

• Fermentation, umami, and why taste is culturally learned

• Indigenous food knowledge and lost food traditions

• Why cooking may be one of the most important reasons humans evolved

This episode is a deep, curious conversation about food as culture, science, and survival — and why paying attention to what we eat matters more than ever.

- Watch the trailer for The Flavor Matrix: https://vimeo.com/1114030763- Visit the website - Check out 150 Food Science Questions Answered