Just Put Some Vicks on It

The Experiment

The Atlantic and WNYC Studios

Law, Wnyc, Documentary, American, Policy, State, Court, Congress, Government, History, Race, The, Joe, Society & Culture, Presidency, President, Biden, Racism, Supreme

4.5 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 24 February 2022

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Experiment host Julia Longoria has always had a special relationship with Vicks Vaporub—the scent transports her right back to childhood, to days in bed with the flu at her grandmother’s house in South Florida. Julia and her cousins all knew not to tell grandma when they were sick, or they’d risk being slathered with “Vickicito.” Julia never had a reason to wonder why grandma loved Vicks so much, but this week’s episode reveals that grandma’s love for the product is deeper than Julia imagined. And while investigating grandma’s (and the world’s) Vicks obsession, Julia is pulled into her family’s past, back to Cuba, before the revolution. This story originally aired on Only Human, a show about health that we all can relate to. Because every body has a story. Be part of The Experiment. Use the hashtag #TheExperimentPodcast, or write to us at theexperiment@theatlantic.com.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the experiment. I'm Julia Lungoria.
0:03.0	Last week, we brought you the final installment of our series about food, work, and family
0:10.0	told through the history of spam.
0:12.0	You know, the mystery me that comes in the blue and yellow can.
0:16.0	If you haven't listened, go back three episodes and take an epic journey into the heart of spam.
0:23.0	The iconic American food that's eaten by people around the world.
0:31.0	We learned it conjures strong emotions for people.
0:35.0	Old Filipinos love spam from Filipinos.
0:41.0	It was used heavily by the troops.
0:43.0	To American GIs.
0:45.0	Did you think that's where my dad got his taste for?
0:49.0	But it doesn't do that for everyone we talk to.
0:55.0	And did you ever eat spam?
0:58.0	No.
1:00.0	I can honestly tell you I've eaten spam once in my life.
1:06.0	Yes. Only once and that was it.
1:11.0	We spent time with the workers who helped make spam today.
1:19.0	Did you know that the company that you would be working for made spam?
1:23.0	Never.
1:24.0	Many of them are Latino.
1:26.0	I've eaten spam before.
1:29.0	No, I don't know.
	...

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