Proof

America's Test Kitchen

We take America's Test Kitchen's inquisitive and relentless approach to telling unexpected, funny, and thought-provoking narratives about food and drink. This is not a recipe show. And this is not a show about celebrity chefs or what they like to eat. Proof plunges into history, culture, science, and the psyche to uncover the hidden backstories that feed your food-obsessed brain. A production of America's Test Kitchen.

  • 37 minutes 26 seconds
    The (Social) Mushroom Network

    The way wild mushrooms make it to your plate defies almost every rule of the modern food system. Unlike most produce, wild mushroom cultivation isn’t easily scalable, predictable, or consistently regulated. Instead, a web of small-scale, often hidden systems connects wild fungi to the commercial marketplace, including one that operates deep in the forest. Reporter Sarah Vitak embeds with mushroom foragers to understand this mysterious supply chain.


    Foraged some mushrooms? Consider making our Wild Mushroom Lasagna, which uses oyster, shiitake, and chanterelle mushrooms.

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    6 November 2025, 5:00 am
  • 30 minutes 21 seconds
    The Hot Dog King: An Episode from The Sporkful Podcast

    Today’s story, from Dan Pashman and The Sporkful, is about the people behind New York’s hot dog carts, and one man’s fight to keep his spot. From street corners to museum steps, street vending is a grind that is shaped by city politics, impossible permits, and everyday hustle. In this episode, we meet Dan Rossi, a Marine vet who’s spent nearly 20 years guarding his cart outside The Met, the most coveted location for selling a hot dog in New York City, and fighting for his right to stay.

    Listen to and learn more from The Sporkful on their website.

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    30 October 2025, 4:00 am
  • 2 minutes 51 seconds
    A New Season of Proof Starts November 6!

    Is the mushroom foraging business as innocent as it seems? What does it take for two cultures at odds to come together to make the ultimate fusion cuisine? How does the development of a viral cookie recipe work here at America's Test Kitchen? We answer these questions and more on the new season of Proof.

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    23 October 2025, 4:00 am
  • 42 minutes 2 seconds
    The Legacy of America's Culinary Founding Father (Part 3: The James Hemings Story)

    In this three-part series, reporter Otis Gray explores the extraordinary life of James Hemings; the enslaved chef who forever changed American cuisine.

    Episode three investigates the mysterious final chapter of James Hemings' life, exploring the unanswered questions surrounding the death of one of America's first great chefs. We also examine his undeniable legacy and the widespread impact of his cooking on modern day American cuisine and traditions.


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    16 October 2025, 4:00 am
  • 33 minutes 20 seconds
    The Bargain for Freedom (Part 2: The James Hemings Story)

    In this three-part series, reporter Otis Gray explores the extraordinary life of James Hemings; the enslaved chef who forever changed American cuisine.

    Episode two meets Hemings back at Monticello where his cooking became the backdrop to some of the most pivotal moments of Jefferson's political career and our country's history; all the while training his brother Peter in exchange for his freedom.


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    9 October 2025, 4:00 am
  • 38 minutes 8 seconds
    The Man Who Commanded Jefferson's Kitchen (Part 1: The James Hemings Story)

    In this three-part series, reporter Otis Gray explores the extraordinary life of James Hemings; the enslaved chef who forever changed American cuisine.

    Episode one traces James’ early years at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, his journey to becoming the first American to train in the kitchens of Paris, and the pivotal choice that would ultimately shape his future and his freedom.


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    2 October 2025, 4:00 am
  • 53 minutes 13 seconds
    America's Beef with Beef

    Many meat eaters might have experienced a phenomena called the meat paradox, where we acknowledge our love animals--like beef, or cow--but we...eat them. Reporter Avery Thompson faces the paradox head-on at a farm in Oklahoma. (We discuss death, animal slaughter, and other sensitive topics in this episode, so listener discretion is advised.)


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    4 September 2025, 4:00 am
  • 36 minutes 5 seconds
    Has Airplane Food Actually Gotten Better?

    What does it take to serve a dinner in first class at 37,000 feet? And are we in a new golden age of fine dining on airplanes? Reporter Emily Siner reports.

    Want to channel your inner first-class diner? Check out our breakdown of different kinds of caviar here.


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    28 August 2025, 4:00 am
  • 57 minutes 2 seconds
    Was the Modern Gyro Invented in Chicago?

    When reporter Justin Barney first moved to Nashville, he kept seeing signs for "Chicago-Style Gyros." Chicago-style? What's that? And why Chicago? These questions sent him down a deep reporting rabbit hole as Justin tries to uncover the origins of this enigmatic dish.


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    21 August 2025, 4:00 am
  • 50 minutes 40 seconds
    Brewing a Revolution: The Origins of Fair Trade Coffee

    We often see labels that say "Fair Trade" -- particularly in the context of chocolate or coffee. But what does it actually mean for a food to be "fair trade"? Reporter Andrew Stelzer follows the people and revolutionaries who helped jumpstart fair trade coffee in the United States.


    Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at ⁠https://www.rula.com/proof⁠


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    14 August 2025, 4:00 am
  • 50 minutes 3 seconds
    Tradwives and the Original Kitchen Influencers

    In 1924, a man in Iowa named Henry built a radio station so that he could sell more seeds. Then, his rival Earl also created a radio station to sell more of his seeds. This rivalry laid the groundwork for the radio homemaker movement, where women—usually the men’s wives and sisters—filled air time sharing step-by-step recipes, dispensing advice and becoming early social media influencers recording straight from their kitchens, with fans writing letters by the thousands, and visiting the beloved hosts' homes by the busloads. We dive into who these radiomakers were in this episode of Proof.


    Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/proof


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    7 August 2025, 4:00 am
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