Denise Kuhn

Denise Kuhn, a chili researcher at New Mexico State University who helps farmers and breeds peppers. Chris Naka, a reporter who narrates his visit to Walter De Maria’s Lightning Field. Dylan Thuras, Atlas Obscura co-founder and reporter who covers place-based stories. They explore the Chili Pepper Institute’s history and breeds, then recount the secretive, meditative experience of visiting the Lightning Field.

Join Nicola Twilley and Cynthia Graber, co-hosts of Gastropod, alongside culinary historian Maricel Presilla and chili researcher Denise Kuhn. They explore why we crave spicy foods despite the heat. Discover chili peppers’ fascinating origins and their evolutionary journey. Find out about the unique flavors of various chili species and the science behind their burn. Learn how peppers traveled the globe, influencing cuisines, and hear about the rise of super hot varieties and their cultural impact.