The end of the dollar slice

Starbucks Korea's epic marketing fail

A Starbucks marketing campaign in Korea has gone terribly wrong. People are smashing coffee cups, demanding refunds, and calling for corporate responsibility. SOUP: 10 minutes of cozy curiosity * Starbucks Korea to close stores early for mandatory history training after marketing row (Kim Tong-Hyung, AP, 15 Jun 2026) [https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-starbucks-gwangju-tumbler-ae7b80e6ef89a3cb928a633152f2ecf3] * Starbucks Korea sacks CEO over controversial 'Tank Day' promotion (Kelly Ng and Jake Kwon, BBC, 19 May 2026) [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0k2dz4y6gxo] * Starbucks Korea to shut stores for history training after 'Tank Day' furore (John Power, Al Jazeera, 15 Jun 2026) [https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/6/15/starbucks-korea-to-shut-stores-for-history-lessons-after-tank-day-furore] * How a Starbucks marketing stunt spiraled into mass boycotts in South Korea (Raphael Rashid, The Guardian, 5 Jun 2026) [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/06/starbucks-south-korea-tank-day-promotion-blunder] Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me [condensedsoup@proton.me] *This episode was recorded in my bathroom.

The end of the dollar slice

A proposed bill to ban potassium bromate in New York could permanently alter the city's pizza and bagel landscape -- while catching the U.S. up to the rest of the world. CONDENSED SOUP: 10 minutes of cozy curiosity * A proposed additive ban could change New York's pizza and bagels, some say for the better (Jake Offenhartz, AP, May 22, 2026) [https://apnews.com/article/new-york-dough-pizza-bagel-food-dbad6aecd0ff0e3a49108ccc55b27fdb] * This Popular Pizza Flour is Getting Banned (Scott Wiener, Scott's Pizza Tours, 23 April 2026) [https://www.scottspizzatours.com/blog/potassium-bromate-ban/] * Proposed Bromate Ban in NY Pushes Pizzerias & Bakeries Toward New Dough Strategies (Gourmet Cooking Magazine, 12 Jun, 2026) [https://gourmetcookingmagazine.com/proposed-bromate-ban-in-ny-pushes-pizzerias-bakeries-toward-new-dough-strategies/] Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me [condensedsoup@proton.me] *This episode was recorded in my bathroom.

The Whale Foundation and guide life

Adventure guides help us see the beauty and majesty of the world, whether it's navigating river rapids or touring the Grand Canyon. It's a demanding life, but the Whale Foundation is helping to support this unique community. CONDENSED SOUP: 10 minutes of cozy curiosity Trip Tracker (You Row Kelsey, accessed 12 Jun 2026) [https://yourowkelsey.com] Employment Opportunities (Hatch River Expeditions, accessed 12 Jun 2026) [https://hatchriverexpeditions.com/about-hatch/work-for-hatch/] How to Become a Western River Employee (Western River Expeditions, accessed 12 Jun 2026) [https://www.westernriver.com/employment] Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me [condensedsoup@proton.me] *This episode was recorded in my bathroom.

Kelsey Pfendler is rowing solo from California to Hawaii

Kelsey Pfendler is rowing solo from California to Hawaii -- 2400 miles. Hopefully, she has a lot of podcasts to listen to. CONDENSED SOUP: 10 minutes of cozy curiosity Kelsey Pfendler is trying to become the youngest woman to row solo from California to Hawaii (Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 28 May 2026) [https://www.popsci.com/science/kelsey-pfendler-rowing-alone-califorina-hawaii/] The first American woman is rowing solo across the Pacific — 2,400 miles, roughly the distance from NYC to LA — and raising money for a special cause (Emma Caplan-Fisher, Moneywise, 10 Jun 2026) [https://moneywise.com/life/lifestyle/kelsey-pfendler-solo-pacific-row-whale-foundation?placement_syn=original_2&utm_source=syn_oath_mon&utm_medium=WL&utm_campaign=193956&utm_content=syn_d8de1598-ea93-45a2-a0d7-e26207f8227f] Trip Tracker (You Row Kelsey, accessed 12 Jun 2026) [https://yourowkelsey.com] Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me [condensedsoup@proton.me] *This episode was recorded in my bathroom.

Killer squirrels in California

Researchers have observed squirrels in California engaging in some very un-squirrel-like behavior -- hunting prey. CONDENSED SOUP: 10 minutes of cozy curiosity * Carnivorous Squirrels Documented in California (Kat Kerlin, UC Davis, Dec 18, 2024) [https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news/carnivorous-feeding-squirrels-documented-california] * Squirrels Are Displaying 'Widespread Carnivorous Behavior' for the First Time in a California Park, New Study Finds (Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, Dec 20, 2024) [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/squirrels-are-displaying-widespread-carnivorous-behavior-for-the-first-time-in-a-california-park-new-study-finds-180985707/] Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me [condensedsoup@proton.me] *This episode was recorded in my bedroom.