Bad Taste
For the Culture is a podcast about how food shapes us - and how we shape food. Hosted by food writer Jess Ho, this six-part series explores how migration, memory, and the politics of the plate invite us to rethink what “Australian food” really is. Each episode questions the myth of authenticity and other fictions we feast on. Part cultural critique, part history lesson, and part food tour, the series brings together voices challenging how we see and taste food - asking how they’re doing it "For the Culture."
SBS · SBS Audio
Show overview
Bad Taste has been publishing since 2022, and across the 4 years since has built a catalogue of 14 episodes, alongside 2 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 6 hours of audio in total. Releases follow an irregular cadence, with the show now in its 2nd season.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 23 min and 32 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Arts show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 weeks ago, with 7 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2026, with 7 episodes published. Published by SBS Audio.
From the publisher
For the Culture is a podcast about how food shapes us - and how we shape food. Hosted by food writer Jess Ho, this six-part series explores how migration, memory, and the politics of the plate invite us to rethink what “Australian food” really is. Each episode questions the myth of authenticity and other fictions we feast on. Part cultural critique, part history lesson, and part food tour, the series brings together voices challenging how we see and taste food - asking how they’re doing it "For the Culture."
Latest Episodes
Food Without Borders
Balancing Acts
Who Gets To Experiment?
S2 Ep 3Redefining Filipino Cuisine
Award-winning chef John Rivera has long reimagined Filipino cuisine through a fine-dining lens, yet it’s ube that has become an unexpected global sensation. In this episode, Rivera joins Jess Ho to unpack how one ingredient came to symbolise an entire culture in the West, and what that kind of spotlight means for Filipino chefs navigating visibility, identity and the ongoing push for recognition in Australia.
S2 Ep 2Not Mauritian Enough?
Jess Ho sits down with Mauritian-Australian chef Nagesh Seethiah to unpack the tension between cultural expectation and creative expression in food. Through his hatted restaurant Manzé, Seethiah has created a space that reflects his vision of culture, community and care. But what happens when your food doesn’t meet the expectations of the community it comes from? Why are some cuisines given more freedom to evolve than others?
S2 Ep 1Fusion or Regional Expression?
Jess Ho investigates the myth of authenticity and takes a look at what Cantonese food is in the diaspora. They visit renowned Melbourne restaurant Flower Drum to eat pearl meat and explore how migration affects a regional cuisine. In conversation with New York food writer Francis Lam, Jess asks 'When does regional expression become fusion?' and in this context, ‘What IS the food of my people?’
Introducing For The Culture with Jess Ho
trailerWhat does 'Australian food' really mean - and who gets to define it? For the Culture host and foof writer Jess Ho introduces this six-part podcast series exploring migration, memory, and the stories behind what we eat.
S1 Ep 6Bad Taste - Instant noodles: junk food or delicacy?
Instant noodles are notoriously easy on the wallet and simple to prepare. But why is this affordable staple turning into a luxury item?
S1 Ep 5Bad Taste: How much should bánh mì cost?
Everyone loves bánh mì because they’re cheap and satisfying, but have you ever thought about what the human cost is in keeping the price so low?
S1 Ep 4Bad Taste: What is East African lasagne?
When we think of colonisation and its impact on cuisine, Italy invading Africa probably doesn’t come to mind first. In this episode of Bad Taste we unpack the messy history of a dish that's much-loved by the East African diaspora.
S1 Ep 3Bad Taste: That fabulous funk: The story of Kimchi
Fermented food is a growing industry thanks to wellness warriors and celebrity chefs, but is what you’re eating actually anything like the real thing?
S1 Ep 2Bad Taste: Will native grains be key to saving Australia’s water?
Farmers have grown grain in Australia on a commercial scale for years, but none of it is indigenous to our country. We talk to industry experts Bruce Pascoe and Jacob Birch about the potential of native grain crops and the impact they can have on Australia.
S1 Ep 1Bad Taste: Spam: yuck or yum?
People either love or hate Spam, but its popularity is undeniable. Find out why it is in such high demand in this episode of Bad Taste.
Bad Taste: A podcast about who we are through the foods we eat
trailerEverybody eats, but who gets to define what good food is? Join food writer Jess Ho on a journey through their pantry to dissect how Australian palates came to be. Meet expert eaters, farmers, researchers and chefs fighting to have their voice recognised - through the ingredients they champion, the aisles they stock, the prices they charge and the people they hire. People who dare to think differently and are all curious about the same question: what is good taste anyway?