Eating History
Every bite has a backstory. Welcome to Eating History, the podcast that serves up the wild, scandalous, and mouth-watering tales behind the foods that changed the world. Join Michelin-starred chef and Top Chef runner-up Adrienne Cheatham and her husband, history buff Stephen Bailey, as they pair elite culinary expertise with epic historical deep-dives. For Season 1, we’re slicing into the ultimate global obsession: Pizza. Discover how a dirt-cheap street food from the back alleys of Naples conquered the globe, sparked endless fiery debates, and built a multi-billion-dollar empire. Along the way, you’ll cross paths with emperors, immigrants, hustlers, chefs, and royalty—the fascinating people who turned food into history. Grab a seat at the table. New episodes drop every Wednesday!
Episodes
September 22, 2026 • 8 mins
Welcome back to a brand new season of Eating History! After tracking the evolution of pizza across the globe, Adrienne and Stephen return to tackle an entirely new culinary mystery: What exactly is a sandwich? Join them as they explore how "food inside bread" evolved from a prehistoric practice into a powerful cultural category, and why we are all still furiously debating the hot dog.
In this episode, we explore:
The Sandwich ...
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September 15, 2026 • 9 mins
Welcome to the grand finale of Pizza Bites! After an entire season devoted to the evolution of the slice, Adrienne and Stephen tackle the biggest question of them all: When exactly did pizza stop being an Italian import and become an undeniable American staple? By narrowing down the historical timeline between World War II and the rise of fast-food chains, they pinpoint the exact day pizza officially conquered American pop culture....
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September 8, 2026 • 8 mins
Welcome to the newest slice of Pizza Bites! This week, Adrienne and Stephen take a nostalgic trip back to the 1980s to explore the cultural phenomenon of Pizza Hut. What started as a humble $600 investment grew into a $2.7 billion empire that defined the modern experiential dining era. Discover how a brand that once represented the futuristic cutting edge of pop culture is now successfully betting on the comforting power of the pas...
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September 1, 2026 • 17 mins
What if we told you the story of McDonald’s didn’t start with the Big Mac, drive-thrus, or billions of burgers? In this special episode, Eating History presents one of our favorite episodes of History Daily, exploring the surprising story of how McDonald’s got its start, and the people and ideas that would ultimately change the way the world eats.
Every weekday, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, Americ...
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August 25, 2026 • 6 mins
On the latest Pizza Bite, Adrienne and Stephen unpack a beloved cultural phenomenon: how Friday became America’s undisputed pizza night. Instead of being engineered by a clever corporate marketing campaign, this shared national ritual evolved organically from the everyday choices of millions of exhausted families looking to kick off the weekend with ease.
In this episode:
How older customs, like Catholic meatless Fridays...
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August 18, 2026 • 6 mins
Welcome to the newest installment of Pizza Bites! This week, Adrienne and Stephen explore the origins of pizzas delivered straight to your door. While pizza didn't invent the concept of food delivery, it was uniquely built to perfect it. Discover how post-WWII suburban sprawl, the rise of the telephone, and the golden age of home video rentals turned a convenient dinner choice into a beloved American cultural tradition.
In this ep...
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August 11, 2026 • 9 mins
This week, Stephen and Adrienne uncover the unexpected military history behind America's favorite food. When millions of servicemen returned home from Naples, their deep cravings transformed pizza from a regional Italian-American specialty into a nationwide phenomenon.
In this episode:
Why the strategic port of Naples became the greatest accidental pizza field trip in history
The reality of wartime pizza: Why severe ing...
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August 4, 2026 • 6 mins
Welcome to episode five of Pizza Bites! This week, Adrienne and Stephen explore how a single coal-fired oven in early 20th-century New York City sparked an entire culinary dynasty. Tune in to discover the intricate family tree of New York pizza and how master pizzaiolos passed down the unwritten secrets of the craft from one generation to the next.
In this episode:
Why serious pizza fans debate whether America's first licensed...
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July 28, 2026 • 7 mins
Welcome to episode four of Pizza Bites! This week, Adrienne and Stephen tackle a fierce Midwestern debate: If Chicago is famous for deep-dish, why do most locals actually eat tavern-style pizza? Tune in to explore the 1930s neighborhood origins, the culinary differences, and the ultimate showdown between the city's two iconic pies.
In this episode:
The defining characteristics of tavern-style pie (crispy edges, caramelized che...
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July 21, 2026 • 8 mins
In the third edition of Pizza Bites from Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen ask a big question: Is New Haven, Connecticut, the real pizza capital of America? Tune in to explore the intense family rivalries and unique coal-fired "apizza" that put this small city on the culinary map.
In this episode:
Why New Haven produces more elite pizza per capita than any other city in America
The defining characteristics of coal-fire...
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July 14, 2026 • 8 mins
In the second Pizza Bite from Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen tackle America’s undisputed favorite pizza topping: pepperoni. From the surprising reality of ordering "peperoni" in Italy to its mysterious origins in early 20th-century New York, they explore how an Italian-American community creation transformed into a national culinary staple.
In this episode:
Why ordering a "pepperoni" pizza in Naples will get you a p...
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July 7, 2026 • 7 mins
Welcome to the first installment of Pizza Bites, a new series from Eating History featuring short stories from the evolution of pizza. This week, Adrienne and Stephen tackle one of the culinary world's most polarizing debates: pineapple on pizza. From an international controversy involving Iceland’s proposed ban to its true origins in Canada, they explore how a 1960s experiment by a Greek immigrant sparked a global phenomenon...
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June 30, 2026 • 29 mins
In episode eight of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey look ahead to the future of pizza while asking one final question: what is pizza now? After tracing its journey from the streets of Naples to every corner of the globe, they explore how technology, sustainability, and changing ideas about authenticity are shaping the next chapter of one of the world’s most beloved foods.
Topics Covered:
What ...
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June 23, 2026 • 24 mins
In episode seven of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey explore the gourmet pizza revolution that transformed pizza from an everyday meal into a culinary canvas. From Beverly Hills restaurants to neighborhood pizzerias, they trace how innovative chefs, changing tastes, and new technologies challenged traditional ideas about what pizza could be.
Topics Covered:
How Wolfgang Puck and Ed LaDou launched the...
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In episode six of Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen follow pizza on an unexpected journey back home. After conquering America and much of the world, pizza returned to Italy transformed, forcing Italians to reconsider a food that had once been a regional specialty. Along the way, they explore how migration, globalization, and cultural exchange helped turn pizza into a true international phenomenon.
Topics Covered:
The sprea...
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June 8, 2026 • 24 mins
In episode five of Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen explore the battle that changed pizza forever. What happens when a beloved local food becomes a national business? From a small pizza shop founded by two brothers in Kansas to the rise of massive restaurant chains, this episode examines how franchising transformed pizza from a regional specialty into one of the world's most recognizable foods.
Topics Covered:
The foundin...
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June 2, 2026 • 22 mins
In episode four of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey dive into one of pizza’s greatest debates: how did America’s regional pizza styles emerge, and why do people defend them so fiercely? From wartime Chicago to the factories of Detroit, they explore the innovators who transformed pizza from an immigrant tradition into a distinctly American phenomenon.
Topics Covered:
The origins of Chicago...
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May 26, 2026 • 22 mins
In episode three of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey follow pizza across the Atlantic as it makes its way from the streets of Naples to the immigrant neighborhoods of New York City. Discover how pioneers like Gennaro Lombardi helped transform pizza from a quick street snack into a sit-down dining experience, setting the stage for America's pizza obsession.
Topics Covered:
Gennaro Lombardi and the bir...
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May 19, 2026 • 28 mins
Join us on episode one of Eating History as we explore the fascinating origins of pizza. Hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey start at the very beginning. Discover how this beloved dish evolved from ancient flatbreads to a global icon.
Topics Covered:
The beginnings of flatbread in ancient Persia
Pizza's evolution through Roman and Middle Eastern cultures
The introduction of tomatoes to Europe and their impact
S...
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May 19, 2026 • 26 mins
In episode two of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey continue the saga of Pizza’s origins. Discover the intriguing story of how pizza evolved from a simple Neapolitan street food to a symbol of Italian identity. Was it truly a royal favorite, or just a clever marketing tale?
Topics Covered:
The legendary story of Queen ’s pizza
Pizza as a symbol of Italian pride
The iconic...
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