115: Unboxing the History of TV Dinners with Jeff Swystun

When you think about the concept of a TV dinner, there is a wash of nostalgia that can takeover how you remember the tastes and functions of the dinner itself. But the story of how these TV dinners came to our North American freezers is a fascinating and fun exploration into a lot of the social and technological progress of the 20th century.  

My guest today is here to unbox the TV dinner, Jeff Swystun. Jeff is a globally respected branding expert and author. He is the former Chief Marketing Officer for Interbrand and Chief Communications Officer at DDB Worldwide. He has ghostwritten ten business books, and has authored two of his own. He has spoked at over 75 conferences and appeared on media outlets such as CNBC, ABC, NBC, CNN, CTV, BNN, and the CBC. 

Jeff is here today to discuss the exciting topics of his latest book, TV Dinners Unboxed: The Hot History of Frozen Meals. He explores what makes the TV dinner such a perfect tool to unpack the social, cultural, and historical contexts of our North American dining habits, tackles the mystery of its origins, and examines how feminism, the Baby Boom, and television worked together to change eating habits and family gatherings. 

Learn More About Jeff!