Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

Dr. Kevin Folta is a professor of molecular biology and genomics, and he has been hosting Talking Biotech on a weekly basis since 2015. With nearly 500 episodes under his belt, the show has become one of the most consistent long-running interview programs in the life sciences space. The format is straightforward: Folta brings on a researcher, scientist, or industry figure and talks through their work for about 35 to 60 minutes. Topics bounce around from CRISPR gene editing and GMO crop development to conservation genetics, medicinal plant research, and the regulatory frameworks that shape what reaches your plate. There is a strong agricultural biology thread running through the show, which makes sense given his own background in plant science, but it regularly branches into human medicine, environmental science, and synthetic biology too. What stands out is how Folta handles controversial subjects. Biotech is politically charged territory, and he does not shy away from that. He pushes back on misinformation about genetic modification with actual data while still giving guests room to present nuanced takes. The conversations feel like office hours with a professor who genuinely enjoys his field and wants you to understand it too. Episodes are rated 4.8 stars from about 270 reviews on Apple Podcasts. If you care about where food science, genetics, and environmental policy intersect, this one earns its spot on your feed.