Join food writer Lee Tran Lam for another epic culinary podcast adventure kicking off with a curious dive into chocolate on the day of love. This Valentine’s Day, you might be tempted to gift your partner with the ultimate sweet treat, reassuring yourself that chocolate is practically a health food—but is it really?
Lam returns to host a second series of the award-winning podcast Should You Really Eat That? to unravel the cultural, social, and nutritional confusion surrounding staples in our diets.
Figuring out what’s truly good for our bodies can feel like a juggling act, with everyday Australians bombarded with conflicting advice. One moment olive oil shots are a wellness trend; the next we’re asking whether butter belongs in coffee. What about soy—an everyday ingredient or a supposed health threat for men? And on this chocolate-laced holiday, you may be wondering, where does chocolate even come from?
With a new menu to interrogate, host Lam continues to probe the mixed messaging around the food and drinks we consume, supported by a platter of chefs, dietitians, and other foodie guests.
“I’m thrilled there’s an appetite for a new season of the show, and it’s been great exploring the food history, cultural context, and nutritional debate around ingredients we reach for – such as salt, olive oil, soy, butter, Indigenous foods and, of course, chocolate,” Lam said.
“Regardless of your relationship status, it’s hard to avoid all the chocolate that’s around on Valentine’s Day or when it creeps up for Easter! Now seems like a good time to explore whether chocolate is as ‘healthy’ as people think, and dig into its cultural role, from its 4000-year-old contested history in Mexico to sweet treats being used to showcase Indigenous ingredients in Australia.”
In the opening episode, Lam talks to nutrition expert Saman Khalesi, chef Juan Carlos Negrete Lopez and proud Wiradjuri woman Fiona Harrison, chocolatier and founder of Australia’s first Indigenous chocolate company Chocolate On Purpose, to unwrap chocolate at its origin. The rest of the episodes will be rolled out on a weekly basis.
The second season of Should You Really Eat That? returns following a slate of awards and nominations in 2024 for its first season, including the Webby Awards (Winner, People’s Voice); Signal Awards (Silver, Food & Drink); Publisher Podcast Awards (Nominee, Best Food & Drink Podcast); and Australian Podcast Awards (Nominee, Factual).