Episode 8: Pizza Forever: The Future of Pizza on Earth and Beyond

In episode eight of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey look ahead to the future of pizza while asking one final question: what is pizza now? After tracing its journey from the streets of Naples to every corner of the globe, they explore how technology, sustainability, and changing ideas about authenticity are shaping the next chapter of one of the world’s most beloved foods.

Topics Covered:

What pizza means in the modern world

The debate between authenticity and “authentic-ish” pizza

Ghost kitchens and delivery-only pizza brands

Automation, robotics, and the future of pizza making

Sustainability and pizza’s environmental impact

3D-printed pizza and emerging food technologies

Questions of class, affordability, and accessibility

The tension between innovation and tradition

Japanese pizza culture and the pursuit of perfection through kaizen

Pizza’s journey to space