Why We Wander

In this episode we explore the intersection of travel, history and food with food historian Ashley Rose Young, PhD. Dr. Young joined the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 2017 as the Historian of the American Food History Project. In January 2021, Britannica recognized Young as one of the “20 Under 40: Young Shapers of the Future” in the category of Academia and Ideas for her work with the Smithsonian and her scholarly research. We discuss the meaning of culinary diplomacy; how paying attention to the way food plays a role in society helps you understand cultural, socioeconomic, and political influences of a region; and explore the ever-evolving role of street markets across the globe. We've also rounded up some links related to topics covered in this episode. For more on Dr. Young's background and research, check out: https://ashleyroseyoung.com/ And if you'd like to see her work in action through the Smithsonian's "Cooking up History" program, a free virtual series in which Dr. Young