When Bill Mitchell took his family on vacation in 1957, he kept finding himself drawn to unique roadside attractions: small stands shaped like oranges, selling fresh-squeezed orange juice. As a food scientist, Mitchell believed he could make an instant breakfast drink that tasted like OJ without the hassle of squeezing oranges. And that's how Tang was born..
From its inception, to its trip to the moon, to its status as a cultural phenomenon, to its continued sale all over the world today, Tang is like no other drink mix in history.
There's just something interesting about a powder that dissolves in water and becomes a whole new drink. Join host and producer Stuart as he takes a deep dive into the history of Tang.
LinksRichard Foss books The Cult of Convenience by Dr. Maggie Weber Original music for this series is written and record by
Doug Hoyer[additional tracks come from Blue Dot Sessions and Storyblocks ]More episodes can be found at
crewcollectivepodcast.com Support the show by
getting some our new merch Executive Producers: Matt Medeiros, Carl Hancock and Travis Totz
Graphic and web design by Melissa Jelich-Stohmaier
This episode was written, researched, edited, produced and narrated by
Stuart Barefoot Sources:Foss, R. (2015).
Food in the air and space: The surprising history of food and drink in the skies. Rowman & Littlefield.
WEBER M. The Cult of Convenience: Marketing and Food in Postwar America.
Enterprise & Society. 2021;22(3):605-634. doi:10.1017/eso.2020.7
Steyn, M. (2004, November). Tastemaker with a sweet tooth.
The Atlantic,
294(4), 186-187.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/11/tastemaker-with-a-sweet-tooth/303577/"A Match Made in Heaven,"
The Baltimore Sun, July 20, 1999 –
Read it here
What is Crew Collective?
Crew Collective is a podcast dedicated to the art of storytelling. Hosted by Stuart Barefoot, each episode will explore the stories that help shape us—books, movies, songs, video games—nothing is off limits. We’ll talk to creators of all stripes about their process, their craft, and the worlds they build.
Whether you’re a seasoned creator, just starting your journey, or simply a casual observer who likes behind the scenes looks at creative work, Crew Collective will provide an entertaining and informative listening experience. By mixing interview and documentary style storytelling, this show will provide in depth conversations and curated storytelling.
Season One: Space Stories
For season one, we'll explore six stories about outer space. Each episode will feature a creator from a different medium.