Episode 277: Dr. Rachel Herz | The Science of Disgust, Smell, and Why You Eat What You Eat

What if the key to understanding your relationship with food isn't willpower — it's neuroscience? In this fascinating episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Rachel Herz, neuroscientist, leading expert on the psychology of smell, and author of Why You Eat What You Eat and That's Disgusting. From the evolutionary roots of disgust to why ultra-processed foods bypass our natural aversion responses, this conversation will genuinely change how you think about what ends up on your plate — and in your mouth.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why disgust is almost entirely learned — and what the one innate exception is
• The neuroanatomy of smell and why scent is so deeply tied to emotion and memory
• How one bad experience with a food can create a lifelong aversion (one-trial learning)
• The difference between disgust and fear — and why that distinction matters for disordered eating
• Why non-tasters may be more prone to overeating than super tasters
• How ultra-processed food is engineered to bypass our natural "this isn't real food" signals
• Whether disgust could be a therapeutic tool in changing our relationship with UPFs
• Why Dr. Herz believes disordered eating is psychological and behavioral — and where she and the Food Junkies team respectfully differ on the addiction model
• Practical, science-backed strategies for becoming more intentional around eating

About Dr. Rachel Herz

Dr. Rachel Herz is a neuroscientist and faculty member at Brown University, widely regarded as the world's leading expert on the psychology of smell. She is a TED 2019 and TEDx 2024 speaker, has published 108 peer-reviewed research articles, and serves as an expert witness in legal cases involving smell. She is the incoming president of the International Society of Neural Gastronomy.

Her books include:

• Sensation and Perception (widely used neuroscience textbook)
• That's Disgusting: Unveiling the Mysteries of Repulsion — a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice
• Why You Eat What You Eat: The Science Behind Our Relationship with Food — named among the best food books of 2018 by Smithsonian and The New Yorker

Connect with Dr. Rachel Herz

🌐 rachelherz.com

Connect with Food Junkies

🎙️Food Junkies Podcast — available on all major platforms

🌐 foodjunkiespodcast.com

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoodJunkiesPodcast

📘 Sugar-Free For Life: I'm Sweet Enough FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SugarFreeForLife

✨ Back-to-Basics Workshop: https://sweetsobriety.newzenler.com/courses/back-to-basics

The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. We are dedicated to honest, evidence-informed conversations about food addiction, ultra-processed food use disorder, and recovery.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.