Gastronomics is about the business of food. In each episode, Planet Money author Alex Mayyasi talks to chefs, economists, and people with insights and stories about how economics shapes the modern menu.
Meet a trend forecaster who tracks thousands of menus to know exactly when restaurants should start serving yuzu lemonade or ube pancakes. Discover how Best Restaurant lists get made. And learn why billionaires like Bill Gates buy lots and lots of farmland.
Subscribe here, on YouTube, or any podcast player. And subscribe for email updates at gastronomicspodcast.com.
Latest episodes
Showing 10 · updated from the feed
Status-Symbol Beef, Reservation Wars, and the Rise of Chicken Thighs
#20 trending · Business News
How a weak yen made Japanese beef the new truffle. Plus the fall and rise of chicken thighs and a food fight between credit card companies that's making it impossible to
Oct 14 46 min
Asparagus, the War on Drugs, and Cheap Flights to Machu Picchu
Peru gets a lot more tourism from North America and Europe than you might expect for a country so far away. The hidden reason why? Asparagus. And the War on Drugs.
Sho
Sep 30 43 min
Can Private Equity Scale (Good) Bagels?
Private equity firms and venture capitalists are investing millions in new bagel shops. Can they bring great bagels to towns and cities across the country? Or are bagels
Sep 17 54 min
Was the Price of Eggs a Conspiracy?
After the pandemic, eggs were the poster child for inflation. Experts said egg prices were high because of avian flu. But then, this summer, the Department of Justice cha
Sep 2 59 min
How to Run Your Dream Restaurant Like a Business
Great cooking is an art, and people make pilgrimages to restaurants that make us feel a certain way. But a restaurant is also a business. A notoriously hard business. So
Aug 25 44 min
Why a China Scholar Started a Tea Business
The state of tea in the United States is something of a national embarrassment. Josh Freedman started a tea business so more Americans can try and buy great teas from Chi
Jul 29 33 min
How top chefs unknowingly do R&D for Applebee's
Imagine for a moment that you are a head chef. Not at The French Laundry or Alinea. Not at a local diner or greasy spoon. No. You're the head chef at a big chain like App
Jul 9 41 min
Aldi Is Unbundling the Grocery Store
Aldi, the cheap and quirky grocery store chain, is opening so many stores in the U.S. that it's on track to become the 2nd largest grocery chain within a few years.
How
Jun 27 33 min
The secret life of the Domino's pizza tracker
You are probably familiar with the Domino's pizza tracker. What you may not know is that it is one of the most influential design innovations of all time. Its subtle bril
Jun 10 29 min
Introducing Gastronomics
Gastronomics is about the business of food. In each episode, host Alex Mayyasi talks to chefs, economists, and people with insights and stories about how economics shapes
Apr 7 1 min
Chart trend
Position in the Business News chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#93#185JulAugSepOct
#3
all-time peak
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day in the top 3 since Apr 2026
Chart positions
Where Gastronomics ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 15, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Fun and fascinating new food podcast for anyone who likes shows like gastropod, planet money, or sporkful. Had no idea I could be sitting above asparagus while flying or that the status trackers we see all over the place sprang from the Domino’s pizza tracker.
D-rej · Oct 2026
Looking around for new podcast this one caught my eye. It's a terrific blend of food and finance. I learn something new every week.
Cat the Owl · Sep 2026
As someone who enjoys learning about politics and history through food, this podcast has been such a delight. I used to scour Planet Money episodes for ones that covered food so Gastronomics has been such a treat. Very informative and interesting, whether you enjoy learning about food, politics, or economics - this podcast is for you.
Dina Yaz · Sep 2026
Great podcast, love Alex Mayyasi’s perspective and the work he’s done on this podcast so far. I’m a long time Planet Money listener, check out the new book which Alex wrote. Would love a version of “Gastronomics” that’s a few $ a month for ad free; would love to support the pod and also I hate ads in the middle of the episode and will pay to avoid!! :D
scubadiverman34 · Jul 2026
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
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Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Gastronomics, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
