The Empty Bowl

Justin McElroy

A meditative podcast about cereal from cereal eater Justin McElroy and Cerealously creator Dan Goubert.

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20 episodes
Updated Monday

Episodes20

Newest first

Monday · 50 min
One Hundred and Thirty Two
This is the one hundred and thirty-second episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Count Chocula soft-launches his return, Magic Spoon parasitizes Pop-Tarts, and we (extra) boldly go where no Empty Bowl episode has gone before. Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Follow us on Instagram at instagram.com/emptybowlshow!
June 22 · 41 min
One Hundred and Thirty One
This is the one-hundred and thirty-first episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Justin questions HUNTR/X's business sense, Dan recounts a cereal miracle, and we both try our best to assign an objective value to Cap'n Crunch's shovelware era. Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
May 19 · 47 min
One Hundred and Thirty
This is the one-hundred and thirtieth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Tony skips the butter, Cinnamon Toast Crunch puts strong roots in newly broken ground, and Dan shares the best cereal he picked up on vacation. Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
April 20 · 1 hr 1 min
One Hundred and Twenty Nine
This is the one-hundred and twenty-ninth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Cap'n Crunch has got to be kidding us, Dan tries the world's first cereal made from...yeugh...and Pop-Tarts finally does what people have been asking them to do for, like, 50 years. Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
March 23 · 43 min
One Hundred and Twenty Eight
This is the one-hundred and twenty-eighth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Gabe Fonseca returns to sub in for Justin, inform Dan about a Dollar Tree-exclusive cereal, and count down Cap'n Crunch's greatest/weirdest hits! Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
February 16 · 46 min
One Hundred and Twenty Seven
This is the one-hundred and twenty-seventh episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Dan boldly names the most beautiful cereal box ever, Justin finds his new favorite uncanny mascot, and we both reevaluate our veneration of Neutron Berries. Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!
January 24 · 39 min
One Hundred and Twenty Six
This is the one-hundred and twenty-sixth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Trolls Trix refuse to be forgotten, Justin does a (very) last-minute taste test, and we both put our heads together to solve Cap'n Crunch's big mystery. Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠⁠!
Dec 31, 2025 · 39 min
One Hundred and Twenty Five
This is the one-hundred and twenty fifth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we count down the most delicious and despicable new cereals of 2025. This time, our lists diverge more than ever, a cereal company outside of the Big 4 dominates, and a reliably terrible flavor profile continues its reign of terror. Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠!
Dec 21, 2025 · 44 min
One Hundred and Twenty Four
This is the one-hundred and twenty-fourth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which the Cap'n presents a Conundr'm, Dan and Justin bond over a nauseating cereal experience, and we hear from an unnamed cereal legend. Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠⁠!
Nov 18, 2025 · 43 min
One Hundred and Twenty Three
This is the one-hundred and twenty-third episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we preview General Mills' 2026 new cereal lineup, contemplate moving to Mexico, and reflect on our brushes with cereal's A-list. Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠⁠!
Oct 30, 2025 · 39 min
One Hundred and Twenty Two
This is the one-hundred and twenty-second episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Pop-Tarts hit the gym, Honey Bunches of Oats come for the holiday cereal throne, and a '70s legend enters our cereal ranking battle royale. Catch up on our cereal rankings at ⁠tinyurl.com/tebrank⁠! Support us on Patreon at ⁠patreon.com/theemptybowl⁠!
Oct 3, 2025 · 44 min
One Hundred and Twenty One
This is the one-hundred and twenty-first episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Kellogg's of Mexico brings our prophecy to life, two (cold) hot cocoa cereals duke it out, and our cereal ranking series returns with gusto! Catch up on our cereal rankings at tinyurl.com/tebrank! Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/theemptybowl!
Sep 8, 2025 · 38 min
One Hundred and Twenty
This is the one-hundred and twentieth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Dan sleeps in an egg, Justin hallucinates marbits, and we explore the many layers of what makes the perfect cereal treat. Check in our cereal rankings ⁠⁠here⁠⁠! Support us on Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠⁠!
Aug 6, 2025 · 45 min
One Hundred and Nineteen
This is the one-hundred and nineteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we pity Oreo Puffs, brush our teeth with Lucky Charms, and demarcate oblivion with porridge. Check in our cereal rankings here! Support us on Patreon here!
Jun 29, 2025 · 47 min
One Hundred and Eighteen
This is the one-hundred and eighteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which the Monsters go Muppet (maybe), Dan sweats over Pop-Tarts Ice Cream Sandwiches, and Justin drools over Frosted Mini Chex. Follow along with our cereal ranking here. Check out our Patreon here.
May 11, 2025 · 38 min
One Hundred and Seventeen
This is the one-hundred and seventeenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which a savory cereal packs surprising depth, Walmart delivers an even bigger shock, and we're forced to rank a cereal we can't even believe is on the list. Follow along with our cereal rankings here! Check out our Patreon here!
Apr 14, 2025 · 38 min
One Hundred and Sixteen
This is the one-hundred and sixteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we snitch to the WBDGCP, the Cap'n sets the bar for vanilla, and we ponder our priciest cereal purchases. Follow along with our cereal rankings at tinyurl.com/tebrank! Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/theemptybowl!
Mar 2, 2025 · 33 min
One Hundred and Fifteen
This is the one-hundred and fifteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which Dan's soul-bowl cereal returns, Raisin Bran leaves its comfort zone, and we brainstorm which liquids would make for a solid cereal.
Feb 2, 2025 · 41 min
One Hundred and Fourteen
This is the one-hundred and fourteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which everyone in the world tells Justin about a new cereal, Life's newest flavor is a real mouthful, and we answer the age-old question once and for all: Boo Berry or Count Chocula?
Jan 5, 2025 · 46 min
One Hundred and Thirteen
This is the one-hundred and thirteenth episode of The Empty Bowl, in which we tackle 2025's first new cereals before looking back at 2024's biggest breakfast-aisle wonders and blunders.

The Empty Bowl

One Hundred and Thirty Two

One Hundred and Thirty One

One Hundred and Thirty

One Hundred and Twenty Nine

One Hundred and Twenty Eight

One Hundred and Twenty Seven

One Hundred and Twenty Six

One Hundred and Twenty Five

One Hundred and Twenty Four

One Hundred and Twenty Three

One Hundred and Twenty Two

One Hundred and Twenty One

One Hundred and Twenty

One Hundred and Nineteen

One Hundred and Eighteen

One Hundred and Seventeen

One Hundred and Sixteen

One Hundred and Fifteen

One Hundred and Fourteen

One Hundred and Thirteen