Unlock with PatreonAbout This Episode
Scientifically speaking, table salt is simply sodium + chloride. But historically, salt has had a major impact on human culture and society. Neil interviews Mark Kurlansky, author of “Salt: A World History,” to find out how the marriage of these two elements on the periodic table have periodically seasoned the flow of human events. Also joining us is Peter Whiteley, curator of anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, to discuss the importance of salt to the Native American tribes of the desert southwest. Co-host Eugene Mirman adds some salty commentary to our show that examines the explosive properties of what has proven to be one of the most important minerals on our planet.
NOTE: All-Access subscribers can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: The Salt of the Earth (Part 1).
Become a Patron
