The Chocolate Podcast

How did Mars go from a failed family candy business to the beginnings of one of the biggest chocolate companies in the world?

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, Ed Easton and Andrew Nason are joined by Melt’s Kitty to uncover the extraordinary story of Frank Mars and Forrest Mars, the father and son behind the Mars chocolate empire. From making candy at home and failed early businesses to a family feud that would transform the chocolate industry, the story of Mars is far stranger than you might expect.

We trace th...

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, Andrew & Ed Easton roleplay and discuss the life of Lope de Aguirre, a Basque conquistador who fought for Spain in Peru, who was publicly whipped for mistreating indigenous people, hunted down and murdered Judge Esquivel, then joined an El Dorado expedition led by Pedro de Ursúa.

Aguirre helps overthrow and kill Ursúa, installs Fernando de Guzmán as a figurehead prince, then betrays and kills Guzmán and others, imposes paranoid rules, and writes a manifesto-style letter rebelling against King Philip II and the Spanish monopoly system.

How did Captain Henry Morgan pull off one of the most audacious pirate attacks in history?

In the final chapter of our story of Captain Henry Morgan, we follow the legendary privateer as he attempts the seemingly impossible: the capture of Panama City.

After surviving the explosion of his own flagship, Morgan could have walked away. Instead, he assembled the largest Buccaneer force of its kind, bringing together around 2,000 English, French, Dutch, African and Caribbean fighters for an extraordinary expedition across Panama.

But Panama wasn’t waiting to be attacked.

The legend of Henry Morgan continues. In Part 2 of our deep dive into the life of the world’s most famous (and misunderstood) pirate, we explore the daring raids, political maneuvers, and the surprising legacy he left behind.

Was Henry Morgan a ruthless criminal or a tactical genius? From the shores of Port Royal to the heart of the Spanish Empire, we unpack the history that the textbooks often leave out. If you missed the beginning of this journey, make sure to catch up on the first part of our Henry Morgan series on the Chocolate Po...

In our limited series - The Chocolate Pirate Series, Ed Easton and Andrew Nason discuss Captain Henry Morgan’s role in 17th-century European power struggles that shaped the histories of sugar, plantations, and chocolate, including an account of privateers mistaking valuable cacao for “sheep’s poo.”

They outline what is known and disputed about Morgan’s origins (born around 1635 in Wales, possibly arriving in Jamaica as an indentured servant) and describe his rise in Jamaica as an ambitious, politically astute privateer with a negotiated crew code for shares and injury payments.

The episode centers on...

Was Stede Bonnet really the worst pirate in history? Or has history been too harsh on the so-called "Gentleman Pirate"?

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, in our limited series - The Chocolate Pirate Series, Andrew & Ed dive into the remarkable true story of Stede Bonnet, the wealthy Barbados plantation owner who abandoned everything to become a pirate.

Unlike every famous pirate before him, Bonnet had no naval experience, no military training, and no idea what he was doing. Yet within months he found himself sailing alongside Blackbeard, battling Spanish warships, raiding merchant...

In this episode of the Chocolate Podcast of our limited series - The Chocolate Pirate Series, we are diving into the incredible life of Peter Hein—the man who went from being a "privateer" to one of the most successful and feared naval commanders in history. Most people know the name, but few know the tactical genius (and sheer luck) that defined his career.

Andrew & Ed explore how Peter Hein managed the impossible: capturing a Spanish Treasure Fleet and changing the course of history. Was he a hero, a pirate, or just the right man at th...

In this episode of The Chocolate Channel, Ed Easton and Andrew Nason (aka "The Don Chocolier") don their armor to dive into the high-stakes world of 16th-century piracy and its surprising connection to the history of chocolate.

We explore the complex legacy of Sir Francis Drake, moving beyond the "English Hero" myth to uncover his role as a privateer, slaver, and a "thorn in the side" of the Spanish Empire. How did Drake’s global raids and state-backed piracy influence the Columbian Exchange? And more importantly, how did the battle for gold, silver, and spices pave th...

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, In our limited series - The Chocolate Pirate Series, we are continuing our conversation about Chocolate Pirates.

This time...the Shocking Political Scandal of Captain William Kidd 🏴‍☠️⚖️

Was Captain Kidd really the "worst" pirate in history, or was he a victim of the most corrupt political scandal of the 17th century?

In this episode, we break down the life and trial of William Kidd. From mooning the Royal Navy to the mysterious disappearance of the "French Passes" that could have saved his life, we explore ho...

Did you know that the journey of your favorite chocolate bar was once written in blood? In this episode, Ed and Andrew dive deep into the ruthless 16th-century maritime world where the line between "Admiral" and "Pirate" was razor-thin.

We explore the brutal legacy of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés—the founder of St. Augustine and the mastermind behind the Spanish Treasure Fleet—and his violent clash with the legendary French "Peg-Leg" pirate, François Le Clerc.

In this episode, we uncover:

The "Blood-Soaked" Trade: Why cacao was considered a treas...

Did pirates actually drink rum, or is that just a Hollywood myth? 🏴‍☠️🍫

In our limited series - The Chocolate Pirate Series, this episode of the Chocolate Podcast we sit down with guest Kitty Nason to debunk the "drunken sailor" tropes and explore the high-stakes reality of the 16th-century Caribbean.

We’re moving past the cardboard cutout version of history to look at the "panoramic view" of the struggle between European pirates and the Spanish Empire. From the Protestant raiders to the strategic innovations of Spanish Admirals like Bernardino de Mendoza, we reveal how chocolate—not...

In our limited series - The Chocolate Pirate Series, The Chocolate Channel puts one of history's most controversial figures on trial: Christopher Columbus. While often credited with "discovering" the Americas, his role in the history of chocolate - and his actions as a state-sponsored explorer - tell a much darker story.

In this episode of the Chocolate Podcast, host Ed Easton and Andrew Nason of Melt Chocolates dive into the "Columbian Exchange," exploring how cacao first made its way to Europe and the high cost of that journey. We debate whether Columbus was a legitimate explorer...

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, we dive into the fascinating debate:

Should you eat chocolate in the morning for a productivity boost, or in the evening to help you sleep?

Join host Ed and chocolate expert Andrew Nason as they break down the complex chemistry of cocoa - from the stimulating power of theobromine to the sleep-inducing benefits of magnesium.

In this video, you’ll discover:

The Magnesium "Goat": Why chocolate is one of the best absorbable sources of magnesium for relaxation and DNA repair.

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, we dive deep into the controversial world of "shrinkflation" and what Andrew Nason calls the "inshittification" of our favourite chocolate brands.

Are the chocolate bars we loved as kids actually getting smaller, or are they just being replaced with cheaper ingredients? From the iconic Toblerone geometry fail to the petroleum-derived antioxidants in Reese’s, we dissect the ingredients lists of mass-market giants like Cadbury Dairy Milk and Hershey’s to see what’s really changed since the 1960s.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Hi...

In this episode of The Chocolate Channel, we dive deep into the fascinating link between chocolate, creativity, and the evolution of human consciousness. We explore the "Drunk Monkey" vs. "Stoned Ape" theories and debate whether chocolate was actually the "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) catalyst for our creative breakthroughs.

If you’ve ever wondered if there’s a deeper, existential reason why we crave cacao, or how it might have shaped our history and even our concept of God, this deep dive into evolutionary psychology and food history is for you.

In this epis...

Is chocolate just a sweet treat, or is it a powerful cosmic substance?

In this mind-bending episode of The Chocolate Channel, Ed and Andrew (the "Chocolate Shaman") go beyond the candy bar to explore the deep, hallucinogenic roots of cacao.

We’re traveling 13.7 billion years back to the Big Bang to trace the stardust inside every cocoa bean, and then diving deep into the Amazon rainforest to uncover why ancient civilizations were built on chocolate—not just corn.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Cosmic Connection: How supe...

Did chocolate really begin in the Amazon rainforest?

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, Ed Easton and Andrew Nason explore the mysterious Capybara Caves, ancient cave art, lost Amazon civilisations, and the forgotten origins of cacao.

We discuss whether the first tree ever painted by humans could actually have been a cacao tree, how ancient Amazonian peoples may have cultivated chocolate long before the Maya or Aztecs, and why the first European explorers were stunned by what they found in the Amazon.

This episode covers:

Chocolate didn’t start with the Maya or Aztecs. In this episode, we go deeper into the Amazon rainforest to explore the true origins of cacao and the early civilisations that first cultivated chocolate.

Ed and Andrew break down the latest thinking on cacao’s origins, from ancient Amazonian agroforestry and Terra Preta soil to the idea that the rainforest itself was a carefully engineered orchard. We explore how early Amazonian peoples may have discovered, fermented and developed cacao long before it spread across the Americas.

The episode also looks at the role of t...

What if everything you’ve been told about the Inca… is wrong?

In this episode, Andrew and Ed go deep into one of the most fascinating civilisations in history - not through war or politics, but through food, science, and chocolate.

From 4,000 metres up in the Andes, the Inca built an empire that could transport fresh fish from the Pacific in under 24 hours, engineer vast agricultural systems with thousands of crop variations, and store food on a scale that rivalled anything in the ancient world.

But here’s the question that s...

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, we leave the chocolate yurt and head into the Melt kitchen to do something we have wanted to try for a while: recreate traditional Mayan chocolate drinks.

After speaking to archaeologist Dr Ed Barnhart about the Olmec and Maya, we became slightly obsessed with one question: what did chocolate actually taste like before Europe added sugar and turned it into the version most of us know today?

So we got to work.

Using ingredients the Maya would have known, we experiment with chilli...

What if chocolate didn’t start as a sweet treat… but as something far stranger?

On a new season of The Chocolate Podcast we go right back to the beginning — long before supermarkets, chocolate bars, or even sugar — to uncover the people who first discovered cacao and turned it into something drinkable (and possibly a little magical).

We’re diving into the world of the Olmec — one of the earliest civilisations in Mesoamerica — and asking a simple question: who really invented chocolate?

Along the way, we explore:

What is the healthiest food in the world?

A very normal question.

To which we have given a very abnormal amount of thought.

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, we set out to do something deeply sensible and only slightly unhinged: rank the greatest foods of all time and work out whether dark chocolate can genuinely hold its own against the usual health-food royalty.

So yes, kale is involved.

Lentils are involved.

Blueberries make a strong showing.

Walnuts get quite...

Is chocolate really a drug?

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, we leave the gut behind and head straight into the brain. We’re talking dopamine - the most misunderstood neurotransmitter on the planet.

It’s not the “happiness chemical.”

It’s not about pleasure.

It’s about motivation.

Drugs. S*x. Social media. Fast food. Achievement. Risk. Cold water swimming. They all sit on the same neurological spectrum. So where does dark chocolate fit in? This episode is less about nutrition… and more about how to live we...

Welcome back to the We Need To Talk About Chocolate podcast, we're your hosts Ed Easton, writer and journalist and Andrew Nason, chocoholic and amateur chocolate historian. We’re in the Melt chocolate yurt, we’ve got brand new audio gear (so yes… everything is extra crisp), and we’re using that power responsibly by talking about… fibre.

That’s right. Fibre. The Cinderella of nutrition. The thing everyone knows they “should” care about… and then immediately ignores in favour of basically anything else.

But here’s the twist: dark chocolate is genuinely one of the most fibr...

This year, we’re doing something different.

Instead of cutting things out, restricting ourselves, or chasing the latest diet trend… we decided to build the perfect lifestyle around one question:

If chocolate is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet… what would a chocolate-inspired life actually look like?

In this episode, we take everything we’ve uncovered about dark chocolate — healthy fats, polyphenols, fermentation, bitterness, satiety — and use it as a blueprint for designing an optimal way to eat and live.

We talk about:

– Why...

Welcome back to the We Need to Talk About Chocolate Podcast!

This week, join hosts Ed Easton and Andrew Nason in the chocolate yurt as they dive into the fascinating world of polyphenols - mysterious compounds frequently associated with the health benefits of dark chocolate.

Discover what polyphenols are, how they work to protect both plants and humans, and why dark chocolate is deemed the king of polyphenol-rich foods.

Learn how to incorporate these powerful antioxidants into your daily diet and explore their myriad benefits, from heart and brain health...

Welcome to another deliciously informative episode of 'We Need to Talk About Chocolate'!

Join us as we delve into the essential skills and secrets of melting chocolate to perfection. Hosted by chocolate aficionado Ed Easton, and featuring the expertise of renowned chocolatier Paul from Melt Chocolates, this episode covers everything you need to know to avoid common pitfalls and achieve that luxurious, mouth-watering melt.

Discover the best techniques for both home and professional settings, understand the intricacies of chocolate's crystalline structure, and witness real-time demonstrations of seed tempering and table tempering. Whether you're...

In this episode of We Need to Talk About Chocolate, Ed and Andrew tackle one of the most misunderstood ingredients in modern nutrition: fat.

From the low-fat craze of the 90s to today’s ultra-processed “health” swaps, we’ve been taught to fear fat - while quietly eating more sugar than ever.

We discuss what the secret tasty ingredient inside chocolate is - cacao butter - the naturally occurring fat inside the cacao bean which gives real chocolate its signature melt, snap, and satisfaction.

Together, we break down:

Welcome to We Need to Talk About Chocolate, the podcast where writer and lifelong chocoholic Ed Easton, and amateur chocolate historian Andrew Nason of Melt delve into the complex world of taste. This episode we discuss Ed's and Andrew's weeks of sugar consumption, the differentiation between sweet and bitter tastes, and the impact of these flavours on health.

We explore the nature of bitterness, how it affects our bodies, and why we have developed a preference for these flavours over time. We also conduct taste tests and scientific experiments to understand bitterness better and end the...

You walk into a supermarket thinking you’re making choices.

You’re not.

This week, writer and journalist Ed Easton and Melt Chocolates founder Andrew Nason pull apart a “normal” shopping basket — crisps, chocolate bars, cereal, sauces… even dog treats — and reveal the illusion of choice behind ultra-processed food.

We trace how a small group of mega-brands quietly covers every aisle, why modern food is designed to be cheap, addictive, and endlessly snackable, and how that connects to the modern health crisis - from obesity and diabetes to heart disease and more.

What happens when you stop eating?

In this episode of We Need to Talk About Chocolate, writer and journalist Ed Easton and Melt Chocolates founder Andrew Nason attempt a fast - and immediately discover how differently the human body (and mind) can respond.

Andrew completes a six-day water fast.

Ed… doesn’t make it past a missed meal.

But this isn’t about willpower, weight loss, or internet “biohacks.” It’s a deep dive into why fasting has existed for thousands of years - from cavemen and philosophers to monks, pr...

Chocolate or alcohol? The god of cocoa or the god of wine?

In this episode of We Need to Talk About Chocolate, journalist and writer Ed Easton and Melt Chocolates founder Andrew Nason leave the yurt and enter the kitchen - to stage a full-scale showdown between two of humanity’s oldest and most beloved drugs.

Ed is promoted to Bacchus, god of wine.

Andrew becomes the Chocolate God.

And together, they run a carefully (and questionably) scientific experiment. Matching calories, exploring ancient rituals, and testing the effects on br...

Join journalist and lifelong chocoholic Ed Easton and amateur chocolate historian Andrew Nason of Melt as they go prehistoric to explore the Keto Diet! 🍫 🦴

In this episode of The Chocolate Podcast, Ed and Andrew dress as cavemen to dive deep into the world of ketosis—a metabolic state triggered by a zero-carb, zero-sugar diet. Can a dedicated chocolate lover actually survive on Keto?

In this episode, we explore:

What is Ketosis? Breaking down the science of how the body processes energy without sugar.

The Impact of the Keto Diet: Un...

Welcome to 'We Need to Talk About Chocolate,' hosted by writer and lifelong chocoholic Ed Easton and world-renowned chocolatier Andrew Nason of Melt.

In this episode, Ed undergoes a challenging experiment to understand the real impact of a sugar crash. Guided by Andrew, Ed consumes the maximum daily sugar limit in an hour to explore how sugar affects the body and debunk the myth that sugar equals energy. They talk Red Bull, Monster Energy and Coca-cola, and how these drinks are encouraged to make you "high-performing" - when in fact they do the complete opposite. <...

Welcome to the 'We Need To Talk About Chocolate' Podcast!

Join us, host Ed Easton and chocolatier Andrew Nason in part two of our fermentation special.

Andrew explains why his homemade cacao experiment failed, discussing the complexities of chocolate fermentation and the impact of temperature on bacterial growth. We also explore the intricate world of taste, engaging in fascinating experiments with miracle berries that alter flavour perception.

The episode delves into the evolutionary roots of taste, the role of industrialization in our diet, and the universal human fascination with fermented...

In this episode, hosts Ed Easton and Andrew Nason delve into the fascinating world of chocolate fermentation from their chocolate yurt in West London. They discuss how the intricate process of fermentation, involving various bacteria and fungi, plays a crucial role in crafting high-quality chocolate.

While debunking myths like the 'Mars bar being made on Mars,' they explore the concept of panspermia and the idea that yeast may be an alien species.

They also initiate a live fermentation experiment with cacao pods, highlighting the complexity and unpredictability of the process, influenced by...

In this episode of 'We Need to Talk About Chocolate,' host Ed Easton and Andrew Nason, also going by the name Montezuma II, dive into the rich and diverse cuisine of the ancient Aztecs.

Broadcasting from the Melt Chocolate Yurt, they compare the plain, often unappetizing diet of the 16th-century Spanish conquistadors to the vibrant and varied foods of the Aztecs, including avocado, maize, chili peppers, and chocolate straight from the cacao pod.

The episode offers an entertaining experiment where Ed tries these traditional foods, providing a humorous and insightful commentary on...

Are You a Grass-Eating Cow? The Shocking Truth About Your Diet!

Join hosts Ed Easton and Andrew Nason in this eye-opening episode of the 'We Need to Talk about Chocolate Podcast' as they delve into the surprising parallels between modern human diets and the eating habits of cows.

Ed tries to convince Andrew that he's ready to embark on a journey towards enjoying dark chocolate, while Andrew challenges Ed's dietary choices by pointing out the high consumption of 'grasses' like bread, pasta, and rice.

They also discuss the historical significance...

Blind Taste Test: Cheap vs. Expensive Chocolate – Uncovering the Truth

Welcome to the latest episode of the 'We Need to Talk About Chocolate' podcast where host Ed Easton and co-host Andrew Nason delve into the world of chocolate.

In a special blind taste test, they compare cheap supermarket chocolates with high-end brands like Montezuma and Melt.

Along the way, they discuss the origins of chocolate, the impact of sugar, and the ethical considerations of chocolate production. Discover the surprising results of their taste test and learn about the science and et...

The Dark History of Chocolate: Slavery and Exploitation

In this episode of 'We Need to Talk About Chocolate,' host Ed Easton and chocolatier Andrew Nason discuss the grim history of slavery linked to sugar and chocolate production. From the Portuguese and Spanish slave trades to the brutal conditions on sugar and cacao plantations, the hosts delve into the atrocities committed in the name of profit. They emphasize the importance of consumer awareness and responsible choices in combating modern exploitation in the chocolate industry. Listeners are taken on a journey through historical and present-day issues, aiming...