The Empty Bowl

40 Episodes
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By: Justin McElroy

A meditative podcast about cereal from cereal eater Justin McElroy and Cerealously creator Dan Goubert.

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One Hundred and Thirty Three
One Hundred and Thirty Three episode artwork
#133
Yesterday at 10:06 PM

This is the one hundred and thirty-third episode of The Empty Bowl, in which HUNTR/X breaks a curse, Dan determines whether Backflip Cereal stuck the landing, and Justin discovers the funniest cereal mail-in premium of all time.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Follow us on Instagram at ⁠instagram.com/emptybowlshow⁠!


One Hundred and Thirty Two
One Hundred and Thirty Two episode artwork
#132
07/27/2026

This is the one hundred and thirty-second episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Count Chocula soft-launches his return, Magic Spoon parasitizes Pop-Tarts, and we (extra) boldly go where no Empty Bowl episode has gone before.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Follow us on Instagram at instagram.com/emptybowlshow!


One Hundred and Thirty One
One Hundred and Thirty One episode artwork
#131
06/22/2026

This is the one-hundred and thirty-first episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Justin questions HUNTR/X's business sense, Dan recounts a cereal miracle, and we both try our best to assign an objective value to Cap'n Crunch's shovelware era.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


One Hundred and Thirty
One Hundred and Thirty episode artwork
#130
05/19/2026

This is the one-hundred and thirtieth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Tony skips the butter, Cinnamon Toast Crunch puts strong roots in newly broken ground, and Dan shares the best cereal he picked up on vacation.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


One Hundred and Twenty Nine
One Hundred and Twenty Nine episode artwork
#129
04/20/2026

This is the one-hundred and twenty-ninth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Cap'n Crunch has got to be kidding us, Dan tries the world's first cereal made from...yeugh...and Pop-Tarts finally does what people have been asking them to do for, like, 50 years.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


One Hundred and Twenty Eight
One Hundred and Twenty Eight episode artwork
#128
03/23/2026

This is the one-hundred and twenty-eighth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Gabe Fonseca returns to sub in for Justin, inform Dan about a Dollar Tree-exclusive cereal, and count down Cap'n Crunch's greatest/weirdest hits!

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


One Hundred and Twenty Seven
One Hundred and Twenty Seven episode artwork
#127
02/16/2026

This is the one-hundred and twenty-seventh episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Dan boldly names the most beautiful cereal box ever, Justin finds his new favorite uncanny mascot, and we both reevaluate our veneration of Neutron Berries.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!


One Hundred and Twenty Six
One Hundred and Twenty Six episode artwork
#126
01/24/2026

This is the one-hundred and twenty-sixth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Trolls Trix refuse to be forgotten, Justin does a (very) last-minute taste test, and we both put our heads together to solve Cap'n Crunch's big mystery.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠!


One Hundred and Twenty Five
One Hundred and Twenty Five episode artwork
#125
12/31/2025

This is the one-hundred and twenty fifth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we count down the most delicious and despicable new cereals of 2025. This time, our lists diverge more than ever, a cereal company outside of the Big 4 dominates, and a reliably terrible flavor profile continues its reign of terror.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠!


One Hundred and Twenty Four
One Hundred and Twenty Four episode artwork
#124
12/21/2025

This is the one-hundred and twenty-fourth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which the Cap'n presents a Conundr'm, Dan and Justin bond over a nauseating cereal experience, and we hear from an unnamed cereal legend.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠!


One Hundred and Twenty Three
One Hundred and Twenty Three episode artwork
#123
11/18/2025

This is the one-hundred and twenty-third episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we preview General Mills' 2026 new cereal lineup, contemplate moving to Mexico, and reflect on our brushes with cereal's A-list.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠!


One Hundred and Twenty Two
One Hundred and Twenty Two episode artwork
#122
10/30/2025

This is the one-hundred and twenty-second episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Pop-Tarts hit the gym, Honey Bunches of Oats come for the holiday cereal throne, and a '70s legend enters our cereal ranking battle royale.

Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠!

Support us on Patreon at ⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠!


One Hundred and Twenty One
One Hundred and Twenty One episode artwork
#121
10/03/2025

This is the one-hundred and twenty-first episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Kellogg's of Mexico brings our prophecy to life, two (cold) hot cocoa cereals duke it out, and our cereal ranking series returns with gusto!

Catch up on our cereal rankings at tinyurl.com/tebrank!

Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/theemptybowl!


One Hundred and Twenty
One Hundred and Twenty episode artwork
#120
09/08/2025

This is the one-hundred and twentieth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Dan sleeps in an egg, Justin hallucinates marbits, and we explore the many layers of what makes the perfect cereal treat.

Check in our cereal rankings ⁠⁠here⁠⁠!

Support us on Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠⁠!


One Hundred and Nineteen
One Hundred and Nineteen episode artwork
#119
08/06/2025

This is the one-hundred and nineteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we pity Oreo Puffs, brush our teeth with Lucky Charms, and demarcate oblivion with porridge.

Check in our cereal rankings here!

Support us on Patreon here!


One Hundred and Eighteen
One Hundred and Eighteen episode artwork
#118
06/29/2025

This is the one-hundred and eighteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which the Monsters go Muppet (maybe), Dan sweats over Pop-Tarts Ice Cream Sandwiches, and Justin drools over Frosted Mini Chex.


Follow along with our cereal ranking here.

Check out our Patreon here.


One Hundred and Seventeen
One Hundred and Seventeen episode artwork
#117
05/11/2025

This is the one-hundred and seventeenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which a savory cereal packs surprising depth, Walmart delivers an even bigger shock, and we're forced to rank a cereal we can't even believe is on the list.

Follow along with our cereal rankings here!

Check out our Patreon here!


One Hundred and Sixteen
One Hundred and Sixteen episode artwork
#114
04/14/2025

This is the one-hundred and sixteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we snitch to the WBDGCP, the Cap'n sets the bar for vanilla, and we ponder our priciest cereal purchases.

Follow along with our cereal rankings at tinyurl.com/tebrank!

Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/theemptybowl!


One Hundred and Fifteen
One Hundred and Fifteen episode artwork
#115
03/02/2025

This is the one-hundred and fifteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Dan's soul-bowl cereal returns, Raisin Bran leaves its comfort zone, and we brainstorm which liquids would make for a solid cereal.


One Hundred and Fourteen
One Hundred and Fourteen episode artwork
#114
02/02/2025

This is the one-hundred and fourteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which everyone in the world tells Justin about a new cereal, Life's newest flavor is a real mouthful, and we answer the age-old question once and for all: Boo Berry or Count Chocula?


One Hundred and Thirteen
One Hundred and Thirteen episode artwork
#113
01/05/2025

This is the one-hundred and thirteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we tackle 2025's first new cereals before looking back at 2024's biggest breakfast-aisle wonders and blunders.


One Hundred and Twelve
One Hundred and Twelve episode artwork
#114
12/16/2024

This is the one-hundred and twelfth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we investigate a corn puff-ification epidemic, Dan takes on a chocolate trio, and inscrutable cereals of yore come under scrutiny.


Check out our Cereal Ranking progress here.


One Hundred and Eleven
One Hundred and Eleven episode artwork
#111
11/16/2024

This is the one-hundred and eleventh episode of The Empty Bowl, in which General Mills overloads us with new cereal news, Bailey's brings the bite, and we finally make our cereal ranking progress public (check it out at tinyurl.com/TEBrank).


One Hundred and Ten
One Hundred and Ten episode artwork
#110
10/30/2024

This is the one-hundred and tenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which no Squishmallow goes to waste, we ideate the perfect cereal shape, and Dan praises a zeitgeist-defining gorilla.


One Hundred and Nine
One Hundred and Nine episode artwork
#110
10/08/2024

This is the one-hundred and ninth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Life self-nullifies, Carmella meets her match, and we make what is easily our most controversial Cereal Ranking decision yet.


One Hundred and Eight
One Hundred and Eight episode artwork
#108
09/13/2024

This is the one-hundred and eighth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Justin's life is in Jimmy Dean's hands, Dan does some Pop-Tarts geometry, and we both keep ranking old cereals, because it ain't much...but it's honest work.


One Hundred and Seven
One Hundred and Seven episode artwork
#107
08/16/2024

This is the one-hundred and seventh episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Toucan Sam explores his final frontier, a Cereal of the Year contender comes out of nowhere, and Dan's Movie Corner returns for an especially Freaky film.


One Hundred and Six
One Hundred and Six episode artwork
#106
07/28/2024

This is the one-hundred and sixth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which the Kelce brothers defy reason, Pop-Tarts approaches singularity, and we embark on the most ambitious project of our cereal podcasting career.


One Hundred and Five
One Hundred and Five episode artwork
#105
06/29/2024

This is the one-hundred and fifth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Cereal Time's Gabe Fonseca subs in for Justin again for some compulsory exclamations, a trio of chocolatey newcomers, and a souped-up trivia gauntlet that might just stump the web's biggest cereal expert.


One Hundred and Four
One Hundred and Four episode artwork
#104
05/28/2024

This is the one-hundred and fourth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we witness the dawn of Meowberry, Cinnamon Toast Crunch boldly goes where it's already gone before, and Dan exposes Jerry Seinfeld's big cinematic blunder.


One Hundred and Three
One Hundred and Three episode artwork
#103
05/05/2024

This is the one-hundred and third episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we climb a mountain of new cereal news, Dan becomes Walmart's clown prince, and Justin revisits an under-acknowledged classic.


One Hundred and Two
One Hundred and Two episode artwork
#102
04/08/2024

This is the one hundred and second episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we contemplate "loaded cakes," celebrate a post-recall return, and say the names of a lot of old cereals.


One Hundred and One
One Hundred and One episode artwork
#101
02/26/2024

This is the one hundred and first episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Tony the Tiger makes cookies, Dan lives más, and we both ideate our Monstersonas.


One Hundred
One Hundred episode artwork
#100
01/25/2024

This is the one-hundredth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we present our longest cereal conversation yet, thanks to all the questions and support from listeners like you.


Ninety-Nine
Ninety-Nine episode artwork
#98
01/05/2024

This is the ninety-ninth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which an '80s classic returns, 2024's first contenders enter the fray, and we look back at 2023's cereals from top to bottom.


Ninety-Eight
Ninety-Eight episode artwork
#98
12/15/2023

This is the ninety-eighth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which the Cap'n raises eyebrows about his eyebrows and we hash out MishMash Cereal, before answering a bunch of questions you didn't ask us.


Ninety-Seven
Ninety-Seven episode artwork
#97
11/16/2023

This is the ninety-seventh episode of The Empty Bowl, in which General Mills reloads its cereals, Dan locks lips with Boo Berry, and we put out a casting call for mascot cohosts.


Ninety-Six
Ninety-Six episode artwork
#96
10/26/2023

This is the ninety-sixth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we do a quick catch-up with the present before taking a fantastic voyage into the past.


Ninety-Five
Ninety-Five episode artwork
#91
09/29/2023

This is the ninety-fifth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which our most-awaited cereal of all time finally materializes, Walmart presents a toothsome trio, and Justin runs through Dan's Monster Cereal Trivia Gauntlet.


Ninety-Four
Ninety-Four episode artwork
#94
09/08/2023

This is the ninety-fourth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we dive into autumn Crocs-first, Dan pays tribute to Honey Bunches (again), and Justin ponders the past.