Best 3 Fries Short Podcasts (2025)

1
Bananageddon! Say Goodbye to the Banana, and Hello to the Weird and Wonderful World of Bananas, Plural 54:13

6d ago54:13

54:13

Yes, it's true: the banana we know and love is going the way of the dodo bird. An incurable strain of the fungal Panama disease known as TR4 is currently wiping out tens of thousands of acres of banana plantations, from Malaysia to Australia and Mozambique to El Salvador. But what's bananas is that this has all happened before! Is history doomed to…

1
Going Bananas: How a Tropical Treat Became the World's Favorite Fruit 50:11

20d ago50:11

50:11

In 1870, a strange fruit arrived on the docks in New Jersey, starting an industry that would change the world. That fruit was a banana, and, although it was a staple food in tropical regions, most Americans had never tried one. Today, a century and a half later, even the most depressing gas station, corner store, or hotel breakfast buffet in the la…

1
Prodigy 1:38:08

1M ago1:38:08

1:38:08

This conflict brought to you by ✨The Patriarchy ✨ Lessons are learned. Eyes are rolled. Standard banger of a 3 Fries Short episode.

1
Do We Really Have Beer to Thank for the First Writing and Cities? 55:58

1M ago55:58

55:58

Humanity's love affair with beer goes *way* back: 5,000 years ago, the civilization that arose in Mesopotamia invented writing, and one of the very first things they wrote about was... beer! But where was beer itself invented? This episode, we've got the story of beer's origins, the debate over whether humanity domesticated grains for brewing or fo…

1
Seed Oil Scare: The Curious Case of Canola 51:46

2M ago51:46

51:46

If you've been hearing that canola is a killer, you're not alone. It's one of the so-called "hateful eight" seed oils: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. says it's among the most deadly things you can eat, and Joe Rogan agrees. But is it true? This episode, we get to the bottom of the debate over the plant formerly (and still, in some places) known as rapeseed…

1
Nutrition Advice Decoded: What Foods Are Actually Good For Us, What Should We Avoid, and Why Is It All SO Confusing? 1:00:33

2M ago1:00:33

1:00:33

Are eggs going to give you high cholesterol, or are they the base of a great protein-rich meal? Will coffee give you cancer, or will it help you live longer? If you're confused about what nutrition science has to say about which foods are healthy and which are not, you're not alone. But why is it so hard to figure out what's good for us, and why do…

1
The 3 Fries Short 100th Episode Celebration 2:26:14

2M ago2:26:14

2:26:14

We had a banger of a celebration for our 100th episode! We re-visited some of our best moments, including running jokes, failed projects, and the best off-the-rails bits. Also featuring surprise messages from friends of the pod, and some emotional fry "vows." Enjoy this BEEFY recap of 100 episodes of 3 Fries Short!…

1
The Light 1:38:30

2M ago1:38:30

1:38:30

Sarah hates it. Welles loves it. Cristina is probably worried about Daniel.

1
Absolute Power 1:35:54

3M ago1:35:54

1:35:54

Join the fries as we explore a potential future where Daniel is the Absolute Worst ™️

1
2010 1:50:52

3M ago1:50:52

1:50:52

We've made it to one of the most absolute BANGER episodes! Join us as we discuss at length everything about this episode that is also everything.

1
The Rise and Fall of Quinoa: From Incan "Superfood" to Buddha Bowl Basic 51:38

3M ago51:38

51:38

Quinoa is everywhere these days, the base for a million salads and grain bowls. But, until recently, barely anyone outside the nutritious seed's ancient's homeland—the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes—had ever heard of it. This week, we're telling the story of how a gorgeous spinach-like plant traditionally grown in a remote, high-altitude region of Sou…

1
The Shocking True Story of the World's First Seed Bank—And The Scientists Who Sacrificed Their Lives to Save It 50:39

3M ago50:39

50:39

During World War II, the Soviet city of Leningrad was surrounded, cut off from food supplies for nearly two and a half years. People were desperate: they ate boiled leather, machine oil, toothpaste, and wallpaper paste just to stay alive. But, in the center of the city, a group of botanists spent their days surrounded by food that they refused to t…

1
No Buzz Booze: The History and Science of Going Low- or No-Alcohol 55:55

4M ago55:55

55:55

Dry January may be over, but, for many people, drinking less alcohol or none at all is an increasingly common choice year-round. And, unlike in the past, when dealcoholized options were few and far between—and had a well-deserved reputation for tasting bad—there’s now a booming market for non-alcoholic beers, wines, canned cocktails, and even spiri…

1
Sen. Richard Blumenthal on the SAFE Bet Act 29:58

4M ago29:58

29:58

Is anyone trying to regulate sports gambling on the federal level in the US? In the fall of 2024, Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced a bill with New York Congressman Paul Tonko. The SAFE Bet would restrict sports gambling ads and would help fund more gambling addiction treatment, among other things. Blumenthal speaks with …

1
Dr. Laurie Santos on Group Psychology, the Teen Brain, and Happiness 29:54

4M ago29:54

29:54

Michael Lewis invites over Yale psychology professor Dr. Laurie Santos, host of The Happiness Lab at Pushkin, for a chat about what scientific research has to tell us about sports fandom, teenagers, and gambling. You can sign up for The Happiness Lab newsletter here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Chain Reaction 1:35:09

4M ago1:35:09

1:35:09

Gotta love peak Maybourne! Starsky and Hutch are at it... for the first time in Stargate SG-1! Season 4, Episode 16, "Chain Reaction."

1
The Serpent's Venom 1:09:03

4M ago1:09:03

1:09:03

Yeah, this episode was all about advancing the meta plot. Stargate SG-1, Season 4, Episode 14, "The Serpent's Venom."

1
Moon Rocks Wanted (guest episode) 40:53

4M ago40:53

40:53

(Guest episode) On September 18, 1998, an unusual ad ran in USA Today — a company called John's Estate Sales was looking to buy a moon rock. But the phone number on the ad didn't lead to, say, a store front in a strip mall. Instead, the phone number belonged to Special Agent Joe Gutheinz at NASA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic…

1
Natasha Schüll on the Antisocial Lure of Gambling 30:40

4M ago30:40

30:40

As an anthropologist, Natasha Schüll spent more than a decade doing field work in Vegas casinos, especially among the slot machine addicts. She tells Michael Lewis why many of those who play slots actually hate to win. And she talks about how the digital overhaul of Vegas has made all forms of gambling, including sports gambling, more like slots. F…

1
A Sassy Chat with our pal Teryl Rothery! 1:12:20

4M ago1:12:20

1:12:20

We had a great sit down and catch up with our dear friend, Teryl Rothery (Stargate, Virgin River). Take a listen!

1
The Curse 1:30:13

4M ago1:30:13

1:30:13

The uploading has re-commenced with "The Curse," in which, among other things, Shanks tries to yeet Teryl out of the Jeep. If we had a nickel for every time one of Daniel's girlfriends/wives became a Goa'uld, we'd have 2 nickels... which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

1
Episode 10: “Anybody Can Win, but Everybody’s Gonna Lose” 46:26

4M ago46:26

46:26

Perhaps you have someone in your life who’s prone to sports gambling. Michael Lewis has someone. So he comes up with a scheme to “inoculate” his 17-year-old son against the lure of placing bets online. All the while, Lewis tries to craft the perfect “master class” for would-be gamblers to understand the dangers of what they might be getting themsel…

1
Is My Dentist Scamming Me? (guest episode) 48:25

5M ago48:25

48:25

(Guest episode) Matt wants to know how to tell if he’s being scammed by his dentist. To find the answer, we open up the surprising history of dentistry, ask why it seems so different from internal medicine, and drill down on why dental insurance doesn’t really feel like insurance. Explain It To Me's host Jonquilyn Hill talks with journalist Mary Ot…

1
Episode 9: Framing the Gambler 29:51

5M ago29:51

29:51

Michael Lewis gets a glimpse of sports gambling's future by talking with writers in Great Britain and Australia, where the industry is even more entrenched. But the US has its own peculiar history of failing to regulate dangerously addictive new products, and blaming the users instead. Especially when powerful industry advocates are able to pay sci…

1
Episode 8: The Integrity Landscape 38:06

5M ago38:06

38:06

Has betting based on inside intel on games gone down since sports gambling was legalized in the US? Not really, as Michael Lewis finds out. But what's gone up is misery for athletes. We hear from Atlanta Hawks forward Larry Nance, Jr. about the rage, threats and wheedling that pro athletes now endure. The NCAA, former Massachusetts governor Charlie…

1
Michael Lewis on the Prof G Pod 31:47

5M ago31:47

31:47

Just recently, Michael Lewis was a guest on the "Prof G" podcast with Scott Galloway. He talks about the rise of sports betting and why the consequences might be a "disaster" for US society. And the two discuss the subject of Lewis's latest book, "Going Infinite." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Why Are Kids Dipping Cookies in Ranch, Are Food Comas Real, and What's Inside the Mummy's Stomach? 55:19

6M ago55:19

55:19

Just in time for the holidays, Ask Gastropod is back with a plate full of listener questions for your listening delight! You came to us with mysteries both large and small, both ancient and eternal, and, honestly, all totally fascinating. Such as: What is up with ranch dressing, and how did a bottled salad dressing invented by a plumber and owned b…

1
Vegas Sports Bookies on Old-School Betting 30:12

6M ago30:12

30:12

On a visit to Las Vegas, Michael Lewis meets three old-school sports bookies. Chris Andrews, Jimmy Vaccaro, and Vinny Magliulo book bets and set odds at the South Point Hotel Casino. They talk about how they got started in Vegas, the origins of the prop bet, and why it's bad for business to limit smart bets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy …

1
Hacking Taste (encore) 45:58

6M ago45:58

45:58

Taste is the oldest of our five senses, and yet perhaps the least understood. It's far more complicated than salty versus sweet: new research is dramatically expanding our knowledge of taste, showing that it's intimately connected to obesity, mood, immunity, and more. In this episode, we get into the science of how taste works, why we taste what we…

1
Gambler Billy Walters on the Sharp's Life 37:10

6M ago37:10

37:10

Michael Lewis sits down with Billy Walters, one of the most famous sports bettors of all time. They talk about Walters' impoverished childhood in Kentucky, and his transformation from an auto dealer to a professional poker player in Las Vegas to a sobered-up millionaire who's been indicted five times. For further reading: Gambler: Secrets from a Li…

1
The Curiously Strong Story of Mint 51:10

6M ago51:10

51:10

What’s the coolest flavor of the holiday season? It's peppermint, obviously, and it’s showing up in everything from coffee to chocolate and cookies to ice cream right now. But while standing in line for a peppermint mocha is a standard feature of the holiday season today, there was a time when this garden-standard herb was seen as so special—even p…

1
Episode 7: Little Big Short 43:17

6M ago43:17

43:17

As a resident of California, Michael Lewis cannot place bets on any of the online sports books at the center of this season. They’re not allowed to operate in the state. But why? We hear from pastors, Native Americans and short-sellers about why a handful of states are still holding out, and why those efforts are most likely doomed. For further rea…

1
Episode 6: VIP 35:35

6M ago35:35

35:35

What does it mean to be a “very important person” in the world of online sports betting? Not necessarily what you think. We hear from recovering gambling addicts and state regulators frustrated with some of the perverse incentives to keep people on a losing streak. Meanwhile, our show’s own producers hope for a VIP night at the concert of the year.…

1
Tangent 1:15:51

6M ago1:15:51

1:15:51

In addition to a solid romp of a Stargate episode, the Fries discuss the election results and less-than-stellar farmers market signs.

1
Dishwashing Debates: The Soapy Science Behind Everyone's Favorite Chore 55:02

7M ago55:02

55:02

Next week, the US celebrates the dishwashing Olympics—also known as Thanksgiving. But how best to tackle the washing-up after the big meal can cause as much conflict as your uncle’s hot takes at the table. Do dishes get cleaner when they’re hand-washed or run through the dishwasher? Which is better for the environment? Are those convenient little d…

1
Episode 5: The Mule 32:06

7M ago32:06

32:06

The role has many names: “Runner,” “mover,” “betting partner,” and “mule.” As skilled sports gamblers find themselves limited on apps, they turn to these affiliates to place their bets in return for a piece of the proceeds. Against the Rules decides to explore this murky world by signing up for mule-dom with one of the world’s most skilled sports b…

1
An Interview with Ted Olson 33:55

7M ago33:55

33:55

Constitutional lawyer and former US Solicitor Ted Olson recently died at the age of 84. Olson represented the state of New Jersey in its efforts to overturn a federal ban on sports gambling. Those efforts succeeded, as we hear in our episode "Welcome to the Garden State." But Olson and Michael Lewis talked about many other aspects of his vivid lega…

1
V is for Vitamin (encore) 43:31

7M ago43:31

43:31

They're added to breakfast cereal, bread, and even Pop-Tarts, giving the sweetest, most processed treats a halo of health. Most people pop an extra dose for good measure, perhaps washing it down with fortified milk. But what are vitamins—and how did their discovery make America's processed food revolution possible? On this episode of Gastropod, aut…

1
Episode 4: A Hard Way to Make an Easy Living 37:05

7M ago37:05

37:05

Michael Lewis heads to Las Vegas to explore the way sports betting used to work, up until the day it was rapidly legalized by states around the country. We meet the betting sharps who figured out what others couldn’t and set the odds for other bookies. That is, up until everyone seemed to have a casino on their smartphone. But the new online casino…

1
Bringing Salmon Home: The Story of the World's Largest Dam Removal Project 1:02:50

7M ago1:02:50

1:02:50

The Klamath River on the California-Oregon border was once the third largest salmon river in the continental U.S. There were so many fish, indigenous histories claim that you could cross the river walking across their backs—which made the peoples who lived in this remote, beautiful region some of the wealthiest in pre-colonial North America. But, f…

1
Potatoes in Space! (encore) 47:56

7M ago47:56

47:56

Today, a half century after Neil Armstrong took one small step onto the surface of the Moon, there are still just ten humans living in space—the crew of the International Space Station. But, after decades of talk, both government agencies and entrepreneurs are now drawing up more concrete plans to return to the Moon, and even travel onward to Mars.…

1
Nate Silver on the Risky Business of Sports Betting 37:40

7M ago37:40

37:40

As the US election nears, Michael Lewis sits down with Nate Silver, co-host of the Pushkin podcast Risky Business (along with the writer, psychologist and professional poker player Maria Konnikova). They talk about why people bet on elections, the problem with sports gamblers in the United States, and Silver’s new book, On the Edge: The Art of Risk…

1
Marci Cottingham on the Religious Passion of Steeler Nation 23:55

7M ago23:55

23:55

Is there a difference between fandom and religion? In Pittsburgh, it can be hard to tell. Fans of the city’s football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, seem to have a cradle-to-grave devotion, complete with a golden relic, the “terrible towel.” Michael Lewis talks with sociologist Marci Cottingham, a native of Steeler Nation, about her work studying t…

1
Absinthe: The World's Most Dangerous Drink? 45:14

8M ago45:14

45:14

To painters and poets in late-1800s France, absinthe was "the green muse" or the "green fairy," an almost magical potion that promised vivid dreams, wild ideas, and artistic inspiration with every sip. By the 1910s, this once incredibly popular herbal liquor was banned—not only in France, but in countries around the world. Condemned as the cause of…

1
Point of No Return 1:21:11

8M ago1:21:11

1:21:11

Donate to the Asheville River Arts District Artists here: https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/Join us as we recap Stargate SG-1 Season 4, Episode 11: "Point of No Return"! In this fun episode, SG-1 meets a UFO enthusiast who claims to know the truth about aliens on Earth. 👽

1
Alison LaCroix on How History Rhymes at the Supreme Court 34:13

8M ago34:13

34:13

It may seem like sports gambling got legalized overnight in the US. But it was in fact a winding road to get there. Michael Lewis speaks with legal historian and University of Chicago professor Alison L. LaCroix about all the factors that led to the Supreme Court overturning, in 2018, a federal law called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protect…

1
Episode 3: Welcome to the Garden State 44:36

8M ago44:36

44:36

How did we get from fantasy sports to legalized sports betting? The path is convoluted, but most of it winds through New Jersey. Michael Lewis speaks with former governor Chris Christie, among other Jersey politicians, as well as lobbyists for the gaming industry. Plus we hear from Ted Olson, the lawyer who kept bringing the Garden State’s constitu…

1
From Trash to Treasure: Why's It So Hard to Save Restaurant Leftovers From the Dumpster? 48:56

8M ago48:56

48:56

Every day, at the end of service, restaurants throw away tons of entirely edible food: heaps of pastries and whole loaves of bread, vegetables chopped but not cooked, noodle dough, fish off-cuts, and more. An estimated 20 billion meals's worth of still edible food overall is tossed every year here in the US, and more than 85 percent of it ends up i…

1
Episode 2: Values of the Game 34:18

8M ago34:18

34:18

Bill Bradley was already famous in college as the epitome of certain American virtues: integrity, honesty, and athleticism. As an NBA star, he took those virtues to the big leagues. As a US Senator, he had a chance to codify some of them into law and prevent the rise of sports betting. But at the same time, others in Bradley's state were making hug…

1
Episode 1: What’s Wrong with Eric? 29:00

8M ago29:00

29:00

Sports fans experience incredible highs and lows, and spend loads of money on a product over which they have no control. But for a long time, no one bothered to study the minds or impulses of fans. Michael Lewis finds out how that's changing as writers and academics learn more about the powerful psychology of fandom. Just in time for technology to …

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