Sourdough Sorcery

About Sourdough Sorcery

Sourdough Sorcery is a podcast for home bakers, bread lovers, and curious cooks who want to turn simple ingredients into something truly magical. Hosted by Gloria MacDonald, the Sourdough Sorceress, this show blends stories, science, and a sprinkle of sourdough magic to help you bake better bread, nourish your body, and fall in love with the slow, satisfying art of sourdough. Each episode dives into: The health benefits of sourdough and long fermentation The why behind the process—from starters and fermentation to flavor and texture Practical tips, techniques, and troubleshooting for real home kitchens Creative ideas for using sourdough beyond bread, including discard recipes and seasonal bakes The deeper joy of slowing down, baking with intention, and sharing food with the people you love Whether you’re brand new to sourdough or a seasoned baker looking for fresh inspiration, Sourdough Sorcery is your cozy companion in the kitchen—here to make sourdough feel approachable, empowering, and a little bit magical. New episodes serve up knowledge, encouragement, and plenty of crusty inspiration to help you bake with confidence and create loaves you’re proud to share. Learn more, explore recipes, and discover tools of the trade at SourdoughSorcery.com.

Publisher

Gloria MacDonald

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Dec 2025

Latest episode

16 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Apr 2026

   Bulk Ferment vs. Proofing vs. Cold Ferment: Finally Understanding Your Sourdough Timing

   If you’ve ever felt confused about bulk fermentation, proofing, and cold fermenting… you are not alone. And more importantly—this confusion is one of the biggest reasons your sourdough might be turning out dense, gummy, or just not quite right. In this episode, we’re breaking it all down in a simple, no-guesswork way so you can finally understand what’s actually happening in your dough—and when. You’ll learn: What bulk fermentation really is (and when it actually starts) Why ...

2. 

   2 Apr 2026

   Under-Proofed vs Over-Proofed Sourdough: How to Finally Know the Difference

   Most sourdough “failures” aren’t about your starter… your flour… or your recipe. They’re about timing. In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the most confusing (and frustrating) parts of sourdough baking—under-proofing vs over-proofing—so you can finally understand what your dough is actually telling you. Because if you’ve ever pulled a flat loaf out of the oven… seen big holes mixed with dense sections… or wondered why your dough felt perfect one minute and impossible the n...

3. 

   19 Mar 2026

   Stop Obsessing Over Starter Ratios: How to Actually Control Your Sourdough

   If you’ve ever felt confused by sourdough starter feeding ratios—1:1:1, 1:3:3, 1:5:5—you’re not alone. There’s a lot of noise online… and a lot of it makes it sound like there’s a “right” way to feed your starter. But here’s the truth: There isn’t. In this episode, we’re breaking down what feeding your starter actually does—and how you can use it to your advantage. Because once you understand this, sourdough stops feeling unpredictable… and starts feeling completely manageable. You’ll l...

4. 

   12 Mar 2026

   The #1 Reason Your Sourdough Isn’t Working (It’s Not the Recipe)

   If your sourdough bread isn’t turning out the way you hoped — dense, gummy, flat, or full of giant holes — you might think the problem is the recipe. But most of the time… it isn’t. In this episode of Sourdough Sorcery, Gloria (The Sourdough Sorceress) explains why the real problem is usually timing, not ingredients or technique. Sourdough isn’t just a recipe — it’s a living fermentation process. And if your starter timing or fermentation schedule is off, your bread can easily become under-fe...

5. 

   5 Mar 2026

   Stop Chasing Perfect Holes: The Truth About Sourdough Crumb

   If you’ve ever sliced into a loaf of sourdough and thought, “Why doesn’t mine look like the ones on Instagram?” — this episode is for you. Somewhere along the way, sourdough baking became a performance. Giant holes, dramatic crumb shots, dark blistered crusts… and suddenly people feel like their bread isn’t good enough. But here’s the truth: big holes do not automatically mean better bread. In this episode, I’m breaking down five sourdough mistakes that almost nobody talks about — especially ...

6. 

   26 Feb 2026

   Sourdough Discard: Waste, Wisdom… or the Healthiest Part of Your Starter?

   Are you throwing away something valuable every time you feed your starter? In this episode of Sourdough Sorcery, Gloria breaks down the truth about sourdough discard — what it actually is, why we discard in the first place, and whether it’s healthier than active starter. You’ll learn: • Why discarding is essential for a strong, balanced starter • The real difference between discard and active starter • Whether discard contains more fermentation benefits • What actually impro...

7. 

   18 Feb 2026

   The 4 Variables That Control Your Sourdough Starter

   If your sourdough starter isn’t rising, seems weak, or won’t bounce back after sitting in the fridge, this episode will simplify everything. Your starter responds to just four variables: Flour Water Temperature Time In this episode, I walk you through how each of these affects activity and strength, why bleached flour can cause problems, why temperature control matters more than most people realize, and what to expect when reactivating a starter that has been unfed in the re...

8. 

   13 Feb 2026

   The Truth About 100-Year-Old Sourdough Starter

   Are 100-year-old sourdough starters really better? You’ve seen the ads. Authentic 100-year-old starter. Gold Rush era culture. 150-year-old San Francisco sourdough. It sounds magical. Historic. Powerful. But is it? In this episode of Sourdough Sorcery, we separate romance from reality and talk about what a sourdough starter actually is — a living ecosystem of wild yeast and bacteria that is constantly shifting and adapting. We explore: • Whether a starter can truly be 100 years old • Wh...

9. 

   5 Feb 2026

   Gluten Isn’t the Enemy - We Forgot Fermentation

   For years, we’ve been told that gluten is the problem. That bread is something to fear. That our bodies just “can’t handle it anymore.” But what if gluten was never the enemy? In this episode of Sourdough Sorcery, we take a step back, way back, to explore what gluten actually is, how it’s created, and why fermentation has always been the missing piece in the conversation around bread and digestion. Inspired by the Air episode of the Netflix series Cooked, this episode dives into the ancient o...

10. 

    29 Jan 2026

    Flour Matters - Choosing the Right Flour for Better Sourdough

    If your sourdough starter feels weak, your dough won’t hold its shape, or your bread just isn’t rising the way you expect, this episode is for you In this podcast, we’re talking about why flour matters so much in sourdough baking, especially the difference between all-purpose flour and bread flour, and how protein content affects gluten development, fermentation, and rise. You’ll learn: • The typical protein content of all-purpose vs bread flour • Why higher protein can improve st...

11. 

    15 Jan 2026

    Homemade Sourdough: Healing Your Gut & Baking Made Simple

    In this episode of Sourdough Scorcery, I sit down with Sue Henry to talk about the amazing ways homemade sourdough can transform your gut health—and your kitchen! Sue shares her personal story of struggling with digestive issues for years and how switching to homemade sourdough completely changed her life. We also cover: Why store-bought sourdough isn’t the same as homemadeHow sourdough naturally supports your gut with good bacteriaTips for baking with your starter without stress or fus...

12. 

    30 Dec 2025

    Your Sourdough Starter: Feeding, Fixing & Falling in Love With It

    Your sourdough starter is more than flour and water — it’s the heart of every great loaf. In this episode of the Sourdough Sorcery Podcast, Gloria, The Sourdough Sorceress, walks you through everything you need to know about caring for your starter with confidence and ease. From daily feeding to fridge storage, traveling for weeks at a time, and even freezing or dehydrating your starter, this episode takes the mystery (and fear!) out of sourdough. You’ll learn: How often to feed your starter ...

13. 

    19 Dec 2025

    Store-Bought vs. Homemade: Why Real Sourdough Wins Every Time

    Ever wonder why homemade sourdough tastes better, feels better, and is easier on your digestion than anything you’ll find on a grocery store shelf? In this episode, we explore the real differences between store-bought “sourdough” and the slow-fermented magic that happens in your own kitchen. You’ll learn: What’s really inside commercial loaves, Why fermentation time matters, The surprising health benefits of traditional sourdough, and How homemade bread connects you...

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

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Guest appearances

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