From Fountain of Youth to Fruit on the Bottom: How Yoghurt Finally Made it Big in America

2025-11-18 · 51 min · 11 entities

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Asserted relationships

→ hosted by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley person

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Feed author/publisher: Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley
→ discusses History website

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→ discusses Arts concept

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→ discusses food concept

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concepts 7

mentioned Science concept

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mentioned Arts concept

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mentioned food concept

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mentioned How Yoghurt Finally Made it Big in America concept

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evidence rules-v5
From Fountain of Youth to Fruit on the Bottom: How Yoghurt Finally Made it Big in America
discusses Science concept

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Feed category: Science
discusses Arts concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Arts
discusses food concept

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Feed category: Food

persons 2

mentioned Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley person

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evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley
hosted by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley person

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evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

websites 2

mentioned History website

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Feed category: History
discusses History website

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: History

Episode description as stored

Yoghurt is the most diverse section of the dairy case: from Icelandic skyr to creamy Australian, and fruity French Yoplait to full-fat Greek. With something to suit every palate, plus a dose of microbes to support healthy digestion, yoghurt is a staple food in the US, hero of a million smoothies, berry bowls, and snack breaks every day. Which is why it's pretty weird that, until about 50 years ago, most Americans had no idea what it was. This episode, we've got the story of the microbial miracle (and ants?) that gave us yoghurt, as well as the secret connection between those heat-loving bacteria and the evolution of lactose tolerance. Plus, for most of history, yoghurt was wildly popular in large parts of the world—the Middle East, the Balkans, Caucasus, much of Asia, and the Indian subcontinent—and totally unknown elsewhere. Even the promise that yoghurt would cure old age, made by a Nobel prize-winning scientist, couldn't persuade Americans to eat it. So how did yoghurt finally capture the hearts of Americans? Listen in now for the little-known story of our curious relationship with this creamy concoction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices