Baked In: how racism shows up in food & STEM

Baked In: how racism shows up in food & STEM

Author: JOY 94.9 - Rainbow Community Podcasts for our LGBTI, LGBTIQA+, LGBTQIA+, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGB, Gay, Lesbian, Trans, Intersex, Queer Communities March 31, 2026 Duration: 45:04

In this well-seasoned conversation, we’re after a recipe for change.

Food racism isn’t just about ingredients. It’s about whose knowledge counts as science, whose culture gets celebrated, and whose gets criminalised. Myths around the harms of MSG, the flavour enhancer, is a perfect case study. While it is found naturally in ingredients used around the world, these myths are specifically attached to Asian cuisine. That’s not science. That’s racism, baked into our beliefs.

But food racism is just one symptom of a much bigger problem: systemic barriers that keep minority communities invisible and excluded.

Dr Cat chats with Anastasia Le, a transgender woman who works to support inclusion for LGBTQIA+, migrant, and disability communities. She is launching a groundbreaking campaign on Trans Day of Visibility: “Count the Gaps: The Gaps Aren’t Empty”, because change starts with seeing what we’ve been missing.

Dig into how food racism shows up in our science and our culture. Tuck into what it’s like to navigate STEM workplaces as a transgender person, as a migrant, as someone from a minority community. Unpack the power of making visible the people and communities that institutions have been ignoring.

Originally aired 31st March, 2026.

The post Baked In: how racism shows up in food & STEM appeared first on Science Queeries.


Curiosity meets community in Science Queeries, a space where the wonders of the natural world and the vibrant spectrum of human identity intersect. Hosted by Cat, this podcast from JOY 94.9’s Rainbow Community collection approaches learning with a warm, questioning spirit. It’s less a formal lecture and more a series of engaging conversations that unpack scientific concepts through an inclusive, queer lens. You’ll hear explorations that connect the dots between biology, sociology, technology, and lived experience, making complex ideas both accessible and personally relevant. Each episode invites you to consider how science shapes and is shaped by the diverse LGBTIQA+ communities it seeks to understand. The tone is thoughtful and welcoming, designed for anyone who’s ever felt on the outside looking in at traditional science communication. Whether discussing the latest research or the fundamentals of how things work, this podcast consistently centers a perspective that is often overlooked. It’s a place for learning, questioning, and finding connection in the shared pursuit of knowledge. Tune in for a refreshing take that proves science is for everyone, and that some of the most insightful discoveries begin with a simple, open-minded query.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

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