🦃 In this special holiday episode of Smash or Pass, we’re diving fork-first into the ultimate Thanksgiving feast! From classic turkey and stuffing to wild-card dishes like Ambrosia salad and spinach casserole, we’ll rate which festive foods make us say “smash!” and which get a hard “pass.” Tune in as we roast, toast, and maybe even gag over some of the most beloved Thanksgiving treats.

Will pumpkin pie reign supreme, or will green bean casserole steal the show?

Grab your stretchy pants and join us for a feast of flavor, laughs, and hot takes!

Food is essential to life, but what happens when it turns deadly?

This episode explores the bizarre and macabre tales of individuals who met their untimely ends because of food. From factory workers tragically killed by industrial food production to mysterious and fatal meals, we delve into the dark side of our culinary world. Stories include the potato poisoning that claimed lives, a box of chocolate disaster, the sticky horror of a caramel catastrophe, toxic mushrooms, and even the dangers lurking in poultry processing plants. It's a feast of the fatal, blending history, true crime, and a chilling look at our relationship with what we eat.

The Flaky Foodie: Molasses: History of a Holiday Sweetener with Kiki of Mission Spooky

Join us for a lovely chat with Thersa Matsuura, author of The Book of Japanese Folklore. Known for her podcast Uncanny Japan and decades of exploring Japan's cultural myths and legends, Thersa shares insights into her favorite Yokai, her journey through Japanese folklore, and which Yokai she wouldn't like to meet in a dark alley! We also discuss Halloween's rising popularity in Japan, exploring how this Western tradition has been embraced and transformed with a unique Japanese flair.

Resources for Thersa Matsuura and Her Work:

Thersa Matsuura

The Book of Japanese Folklore

Uncanny Japan