They might be used to pull an all-nighter (for studying, gaming, or long-haul truck driving) but energy drinks actually have a fascinating history behind them! For the last regular episode of the season, Kiona and Luis decided to explore the origins of two famous caffeinated beverages. Our journey first takes us to Austria by way of Thailand as we learn about the social situations and cultural traditions that inspired the invention of Red Bull. Then we head south to Brazil to discover the many benefits of guaraná and how one beer company ended up producing the country’s most beloved soft drink.

This is our last regular episode of the season, and we’ve had a blast! But stick around, as we have more live shows with special guests coming soon.

Follow us on Instagram @‌hownottotravelpod and @‌ochentapodcasts. You can also follow us on Twitter @‌ochentapodcasts and on TikTok @‌studioochenta.

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Studio Ochenta’s creative work reflects our motto: Raising Voices across Cultures.

We produce global stories for international audiences to make sure language isn’t a barrier to enjoying a great story.

Check out our award-winning original podcasts for kids of all ages, which reached #1 in over 31 countries.

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What do banchan, baby-back ribs, and taquitos de cabeza all have in common? Well, they all involve the world’s oldest cooking method! In this episode, Kiona and Luis explore the history and different forms of open-flame and pit barbecue, from the Caribbean origins of the word, passing through the way it relates to Mexican barbacoa, and finally landing in Korea to wonder if bulgogi goes well with tortillas.

Follow us on Instagram @‌hownottotravelpod and @‌ochentapodcasts. You can also follow us on Twitter @‌ochentapodcasts and on TikTok @‌studioochenta.

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Both Kiona and Luis love Japanese curry rice, and they also both agree that they prefer when it’s on the spicier side. But how did an ingredient so associated with India become Japan’s national dish? In this episode, we explore how curry sailed the seas and made itself a home in many places around the world, and how one Indian man went on a lifelong journey to make sure all of Japan could taste curry just the way he made it back home.

Follow us on Instagram @‌hownottotravelpod and @‌ochentapodcasts. You can also follow us on Twitter @‌ochentapodcasts and on TikTok @‌studioochenta.

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How is it that vanilla is such an expensive spice, yet so many vanilla-flavored products are very cheap? How is vanilla produced and harvested in so many different countries despite the fact that the only insect that pollinates it can only be found in Mexico? And what does the word “vanilla” even mean? For this episode, Kiona and Luis take a pint of vanilla ice cream out of the freezer to discuss a dessert that we often unfairly consider dull, but in fact has an incredibly rich history.

Follow us on Instagram @‌hownottotravelpod and @‌ochentapodcasts. You can also follow us on Twitter @‌ochentapodcasts and on TikTok @‌studioochenta.

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Who would have thought that bananas were such amazing travelers? This episode, Kiona and Luis pull up a world map to trace the unique routes of the world’s favorite starchy fruit, from Polynesia to Portugal, then throughout Africa and the Americas. We also go into one of our favorite subjects, linguistics, to explore the origins of the many words for this fruit in different languages around the world.

Follow us on Instagram @‌hownottotravelpod and @‌ochentapodcasts. You can also follow us on Twitter @‌ochentapodcasts and on TikTok @‌studioochenta.

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Ok, so there’s no way that this iconic pastry is anything but French, right? Well…it’s a little more complicated than that. In this episode, Kiona and Luis deconstruct this classic flaky treat, from the invention of butter several thousand years ago to the military history behind their shape. And that’s not the only part of their story that has to do with war!

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Follow us on Instagram @‌hownottotravelpod and @‌ochentapodcasts. You can also follow us on Twitter @‌ochentapodcasts and on TikTok @‌studioochenta.

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This season, as you know, is all about the journeys of some of the world’s most fascinating foods, and for each episode we release, we're hosting live listening sessions with content creators from around the world to give us more insight into the subject at hand.

For this session, we discussed our episode about Tabasco Sauce with Chef Nini Nguyen, a Vietnamese, New Orleans-based chef. We learned about hot sauces in New Orleans cooking traditions, as well as the rich Vietnamese influence in Lousiana’s cuisine, food production, and culture.

This episode is a discussion we held after listening to our main episode about Tabasco sauce, so if you haven’t already, please go listen to that one before making your way to this one!

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