Episode Summary: “IDKMYDE: The Snack Heard Around the World”

Podcast: The Breakfast Club – Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts
Date: February 10, 2026
Host: B Dot

Overview

This episode explores the fascinating, lesser-known origin story of the potato chip—one of the world’s most popular snacks—while shining a light on the Black and Native American innovator behind it, George Crumb. Through storytelling, personal reminiscing, and cultural insight, host B Dot uncovers why the potato chip is truly the “snack heard around the world,” and the overlooked history behind its creation.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Personal Connection & The Mount Rushmore of Chips

Timestamps: [01:01–01:30]

• B Dot opens by humorously admitting his growing preference for “plain” potato chips, then ranks his top flavors: sour cream & onion, salt & vinegar, and sour cream & cheddar.
• Sets a fun, personal tone and connects the universal love for chips with the episode’s theme.

2. Three Useless Facts About Potato Chips

Timestamps: [01:31–02:05]

• The potato chip was invented due to an annoying customer.
• That invention became a multi-billion-dollar global industry.
• The inventor, George Crumb, was Black and Native American.

Notable Quote:

“The potato chip was invented because a customer was being annoying... the man who made it happen was Black and Native American. Did you know his name? Cause I didn’t.”
– B Dot [01:38]

3. Storytime: The Invention of the Potato Chip

Timestamps: [02:18–04:15]

• Vivid recreation of the 1850s setting at Moon’s Lake House, Saratoga Springs, NY.
• George Crumb, the chef, repeatedly receives a complaint from a customer about his fried potatoes being “too thick, too soggy, not crispy enough.”
• Out of frustration (and a dash of pettiness), Crumb slices the potatoes paper-thin, fries them to a crunch, and “puts hella salt on them.”
• The customer ends up loving them and the Saratoga chip craze is born.

Notable Quote:

“He fried them till they was as crunchy as a dope boy’s toenails. Then he put hella salt on them, sent them back. ‘Oh, you want crispy? I’ll give you crispy.’ Bro was not trying to invent an industry. He was being petty, Murphy.”
– B Dot [02:49]

4. Beyond the Legend: Historical Realities & Recognition

Timestamps: [04:15–04:48]

• George Crumb’s heritage: mother was Mohawk Nation, father was Black.
• Credits to possible co-inventor: his sister, Kate Wicks.
• Potato chips evolve not only as a kitchen innovation but as a catalyst for a global snack industry—yet Crumb remains unrecognized.
• Run-through of modern chip brands and flavors, underscoring the unseen legacy of Crumb.

Notable Quote:

“George Crumb’s face ain’t on none of the bags. But again, that’s infrastructure. A moment of creativity that becomes a permanent feature of daily life. And it fits perfectly with the marching 100.”
– B Dot [04:27]

5. Reflection: Innovation Born from Irritation

Timestamps: [04:15–04:48]

• Emphasizes the broader theme: some of the world’s defining innovations arise quietly, often from frustration or necessity.
• Connects Crumb’s story to a larger message about Black ingenuity, resilience, and under-recognition through history.

Notable Quote:

“Excellence don’t always arrive with applause. Sometimes it shows up in irritation, then innovation, and then execution… Every bag you open is a tribute to a man most people never learned about.”
– B Dot [04:30, 04:44]

Memorable Moments & Speaker Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------|-------| | 01:38 | B Dot | “The potato chip was invented because a customer was being annoying... the man who made it happen was Black and Native American. Did you know his name? Cause I didn’t.” | | 02:49 | B Dot | “He fried them till they was as crunchy as a dope boy’s toenails. Then he put hella salt on them…” | | 04:27 | B Dot | “George Crumb’s face ain’t on none of the bags. But again, that’s infrastructure… A moment of creativity that becomes a permanent feature of daily life.” | | 04:30 | B Dot | “Excellence don’t always arrive with applause. Sometimes it shows up in irritation, then innovation, and then execution.” |

Important Segments by Timestamp

• Opening/Mount Rushmore of Chips: [01:01–01:30]
• Three Useless Facts: [01:31–02:05]
• Storytime – Saratoga Springs & George Crumb: [02:18–04:15]
• Reflection/Legacy: [04:15–04:48]

Takeaway

With humor, insight, and pride, B Dot takes listeners through a surprising chapter of history, reminding us that everyday things often have extraordinary—and underappreciated—origins. George Crumb’s enduring, crunchy legacy lives on with every chip, even if history left his name behind.

For listeners seeking a fun, enlightening dose of hidden Black history, this episode is a perfect snack.