Darin’s Journey From Reactor Rooms to Recall Culture

In Episode 05 of Confessions of a Food Safety A**Hole, Gennette turns the mic on her co-host, Dr. Darin Detwiler, for a deep-dive (literally) into the making of his serialized New Food Magazine story, Silent Enemies. It’s part interview, part retrospective, part "what was I thinking?" and all about the invisible forces that shape both our food systems and our sense of responsibility.

From submarine reactor rooms to food safety policy, Darin unpacks the unexpected ways military life trained him for an advocacy career he never saw coming. The episode weaves personal story with cultural critique, revealing the shared DNA between life below sea level and the high-stakes work of protecting the food supply: invisible threats, moral conviction, and the pressure to act before it’s too late.

This one is reflective, geeky, heartfelt, and anchored in legacy. It also hints at a hidden pattern in the story titles themselves—so if you’re a fan of breadcrumbs, Darin’s leaving you one.

Silent Enemies Part 1

Silent Enemies Part 2

Silent Enemies Part 3