Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

---

A stray hair in your food, a feather in your child's hand? What's the harm? Science journalist Sadie Dingfelder joins Mike Pesca for another round of Is That Bullshit? To test the science of disgust. They compare bacterial counts on hair vs. feathers, trace the history of the hairnet industry, and uncover how Edward Bernays, the “father of spin,” convinced America that hair in food was a public menace. This episode will change how you think about what’s truly gross.

Listen to the full episode of The Gist Podcast with Mike Pesca and Sadie Dingfelder. 👉open.spotify.com/episode/0zoezpwrtUojpNRBviw4dK?si=hfXBZxMHQzm9T-Rnb8SOUg

#TheGist #SadieDingfelder #IsThatBullshit #SciencePodcast #EdwardBernays #HairnetHistory #BacteriaMyths #FoodSafety #PsychologyOfDisgust




Follow us:

INSTAGRAM:
/ pescagist

TWITTER:
https://x.com/PescaGist
https://x.com/pescami

Visit Mike's website:
mikepesca.com

Join the "Pesca Profundities" membership and get access to the Gist List Newsletter:
mikepesca.substack.com

Get a premium edition of the podcast and help support Mike's work:
subscribe.mikepesca.com

_______________________

CREDITS:

Creator & Host:
Mike Pesca

Producer:
Corey Wara