Licorice opinions! Chocolate rations! Candy corn origins! The incredibly charming author, journalist, candy historian, and Confectiologist Susan Benjamin chats about everything from the sourest of sour candies, ancient chewing gum, sugar sources from beets to grains to honey, Turkish temptations, what a sugar plum even is, and how candy became a treat made for anyone to enjoy. An instant classic.

Visit Susan Benjamin’s historic candy company True Treats

Buy Susan’s latest book, Fun Foods of America: Outrageous Delights, Celebrated Brands, and Iconic Recipes, on Amazon or Bookshop.org

A donation went to the Animal Welfare Society of Jefferson County

Full-length (*not* G-rated) confectionology episode + tons of science links

More kid-friendly Smologies episodes!

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Sound editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

Made possible by work from Noel Dilworth, Susan Hale, Kelly R. Dwyer, Aveline Malek and Erin Talbert

Smologies theme song by Harold Malcolm

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SEALS & WALRUSES with Luis A. Hückstädt

SEALS & WALRUSES with Luis A. Hückstädt •
iHeart

Smologies with Alie Ward