Chewing gum might seem like an innocuous treat, but the moment its chemicals get digested by our bodies, or flattened onto city sidewalks, or dissolved into our rivers, it becomes a menace to society. And with a worldwide consumption of trillions of sticks per year, that’s a big deal for our health and our planet. Andrew Nisker embarks on a whimsical year-long journey to uncover the history of our chewing gum addiction, the full extent of the problem, and what we can do to fix it, talking to gum-makers, activists, scientists, and everyday people around the world.