Episode 94: Falling in Love with a Shopping List from Trader Joe's

Is it still summer in your neck of the woods? Scorching temps and sunny skies? Call us crazy, but even when the weather is wonderful, we’re hankering for the flavors of fall. And it just so happens that fall is well underway at your neighborhood Trader Joe’s. Maple Ice Cream Sandwiches, Juicy Apple Gummies, Maple Brown Sugar Cold Foam (YES!), Butternut Squash Risotto, Maple Brown Butter Almonds… perhaps you’ve realized we’re mad for maple! This list is filled with so many new products, destined to be seasonal stalwarts. Have a listen, then pay us a visit and pick up your faves. Check out traderjoes.com and @traderjoes on Instagram for more on what’s new and what’s back (finally!) at your Trader Joe’s. Transcript (PDF)

When the weather’s warm (okay, scorching hot), and the last thing you want to do is heat up your kitchen, turning up the heat on your grill is a great way to get dinner on the table. In this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, we’re going outside for some grilling tips from some of our grill-grate gurus. In place of the usual suspects, we’re firing up some unexpected burgers and well-seasoned lamb. Then we’re taking a trip through the garden to discover some truly delightful (and delicious!) veggies and fruits that really shine after a few quick minutes over an open flame. Have a listen, then switch off the oven, heat up the grill, and enjoy these dog (and burger!) days of summer. Transcript (PDF)

It’s a known known that people across the land love a good contest. It’s also a known known that Trader Joe’s Crew Members across the country know the very best ways to use Trader Joe’s products. The known unknown in the 2025 Store Recipe Contest scenario… which store would come up with the very best recipe, crafted using a mere five Trader Joe’s products? That, dear podcast listeners, is revealed in this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s. We’ll go inside the winning store, talk to the creative Crew behind the winning entry, and find out how the judges came to their decision. You’ll find the winning recipe at traderjoes.com, and all the ingredients you need to recreate it at your neighborhood Trader Joe’s. Transcript (PDF)

Welcome to another episode of the Trader Joe’s Wine Club, brought to you by Inside Trader Joe’s. In this sip-sized segment, we’re going all-in on super sippers for summertime soirees, with bottles you may have missed in our wine section; wines that are excellent for afternoon barbecues, evenings with friends, and weekends relaxing on a patio chair. Listen in for a quick introduction to our favorite Italian Vermentino and a classic Pacific Northwest Pinot Noir, then head to your neighborhood Trader Joe’s to pick up a bottle of each! Transcript (PDF)

Here comes summer! And Trader Joe’s is READY. There’s nothing summerier than watermelon, and we are wading in ‘em – the yellow variety, and the marshmallow variety. Have a listen, and this will make sense. A skincare set to give you a little summertime glow-up? Yes, please. A new Mini Sheet Cake? OMS – again, listen and ye shall understand. We have buns a-plenty, dogs for dressing, and did we mention an all-new mochi? Yes! Plus, a root beer float you can bring along in your backpack or purse. A noodle salad that will knock your socks off. And just the thing to add a finishing flourish to your sweltering-summer-day ice cream treat. Fourteen products in all, each and every one available this summer at your neighborhood Trader Joe’s. Transcript (PDF) 

We get a lot of questions at Trader Joe’s. And we really love answering them. Especially when it means we get to eat ice cream. For research. To all those who ask what makes Trader Joe’s ice cream so special, we say, all the things! It starts with high quality ingredients, and a dedication to making ice cream that over-delivers on all of your expectations – it’s rich, it’s creamy, it’s incredibly flavorful, and you may be surprised by how it stacks up next to other so-called “premium” ice creams out there. Tune in to the latest in our series of bite-sized episodes, ITJ ICYMI, to really get the scoop on Trader Joe’s ice cream.  Transcript (PDF)

Imagine a small town in western Italy, home to a family-owned company that got its start canning fresh fruits and veggies more than 80 years ago. Now imagine that company in 2025, still owned by the same family, and still preserving the flavors of the local produce – not just in canned fruits and veggies, but in supremely satisfying sauces, too. And now imagine you’re listening to a podcast… oh, wait, here’s where reality and imagination intersect. In this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, we’re up close and personal with the supplier of a number of Trader Joe’s sauces – including Lemon Pesto, recently returned to our grocery shelves for a limited time. It’s a captivating conversation that covers topics as wide-ranging as tradition and innovation, and definitely left us hungry for more. Pass the pesto, please! Transcript (PDF)

In this episode of Inside Trader Joe’s, we’re taking you inside our customers’ shopping carts to find out what keeps them coming back to Trader Joe’s again and again. For this edition of our Customer Cart Conversations, we go to Trader Joe’s number 691 in Chicago’s iconic Lincoln Park neighborhood. Captain Ken, a Chicago native – who may or may not have a favorite Chicago baseball team – gets up close and personal with the contents of customers’ carts, with questions about favorites. Along the way, we get some insights into how Trader Joe’s brings a little joy and deliciousness into their busy lives. We even talk to some Crew Members who share their go-to product recommendations for customers (and podcast listeners!). What’s in YOUR cart? Transcript (PDF)

Welcome to another episode of the Trader Joe’s Wine Club, brought to you by Inside Trader Joe’s. This sip-sized segment has us blushing a bit. Because, of course, we’re talking about Rosé. Contrary to the opinions of some, Rosé is a serious wine, and we sat down for a serious conversation about three of our favorite Rosé options in the wine section at your neighborhood Trader Joe’s. While all three share similar (yet different) pink-ish hues, each has its own story to tell and its own flavor profile to enjoy. What they all have most in common is the incredible value they represent – whether you choose La Ferme Julien Rosé, Emma Reichart Rosé of Pinot Noir, or Maison Barboulot Cinsault Rosé, you’ll enjoy superior quality wine at a great price. Every day. Transcript (PDF)

There are certain foods that are synonymous with their place names. Parmigianno Reggiano. Kalamata Olives. And the focus of this episode, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. A world-renowned product with a long and fascinating history, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is produced exclusively in the Modena region of Italy. In this episode we sit down (and do a bunch of walking!) with one of Modena’s largest and most respected producers of this vigorous vinegar – they’ve been supplying Trader Joe’s for decades – where we learn some history and get a behind-the-scenes look at how it’s made. Listen in for a sneak peak at a new TJ’s product coming soon to your neighborhood Trader Joe’s. Trasncript (PDF)