Cookable Presents: The Psyche Eats

Latest Episodes:

Barron Lerner: The Feeling of Misophonia Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

Chewing. Lip-smacking. Sniffing. In repetition, these sounds or triggers are enough to make someone with misophonia experience an intense and involuntary response of anxiety, contempt, or even rage. While everyone's experience with misophonia is subjective, the psychological "fight-or-flight" response is so consistent that it has been the topic of medical study for two decades. It is a fascinating and chronic condition that renowned physician and writer Dr. Barron Lerner lives with and shares with me here.

Michael Parkot: "If I fail, I'm failing greatly" Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

Michael Parkot of Always Something Farm in Western New York came into farming six years ago, but the seeds were planted five years prior when his wife's grandfather taught him how to butcher a chicken. His on-the-ground insights on meat production and consumption, how he involves his kids on the farm, his business pivot during this time of COVID, and his hopes for contributing to a more sustainable and healthful existence for all are inspiring and revealing.

Darlena Cunha: Food, Judgment, and Weathering the Storm May 27, 2020

Show notes

Darlena Cunha's 2014 article "This is what happened when I drove my Mercedes to pick up food stamps" was Washington Post's most read article of all time for years running. At a time when unemployment numbers are higher than we've ever seen, her experience and insights are all the more relevant today. She revisits her experience with me and tells me how her personal struggles following the 2008 recession shaped her identity and prepared her to weather the worst of storms.

Derek Brown: Beyond the Mahogany May 20, 2020

Show notes

In his delightful book Spirits Sugar Water Bitters: How the Cocktail Conquered the World, Derek Brown writes: "The saloon-keep, bartender, or mixologist has provided humanity with the same service that was once reserved for shamans, alchemists, and wizards – they have helped heal, transform, and dazzle us." Derek is the renowned craft bartender behind The Columbia Room in Washington DC and, in 2015, was named Chief Spirits Advisor to the National Archives Foundation. He sat down with me virtually to talk about his evolution from bartender to spirits and cocktail expert, his pursuit of mental, physical, and spiritual health within a profession that can often divert attention away from underlying internal battles, and how we can foster a more positive and balanced relationship with alcohol in our everyday lives.

Cookable Presents: The Psyche Eats Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

An exploration of food and the emotional life.