Your Mama’s Kitchen

In this special, live-taped episode actress Karen Pittman join Michele on stage to talk about her journey from Nashville to her career in Hollywood. She revisits the childhood kitchen where she watched her parents' fraught dynamics play out and where she learned to build worlds of her own imagination. Plus, we learn how to make her mama's buttery cinnamon rolls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malika Andrews, an ESPN sports journalist known for hosting WNBA and NBA Countdown, reflects on her childhood in a multicultural household. She shares heartwarming stories from her mother's kitchen in Oakland, revealing how those experiences helped her find her voice and confidence. Malika emphasizes the importance of representation in sports for young women and the challenges of navigating identity in predominantly white spaces. Plus, she talks about the joy of cooking and shares secrets to her family's beloved carrot cake.

Antoni Porowski, food expert on Netflix's Queer Eye and host of the new show No Taste Like Home, joins Michele to talk about being Polish-Canadian and why he was never allowed in his kitchen growing up. He opens up about why he hasn't spoken to his mother in several years, and how cooking and a shared passion for food connects them to each other. We also learn about the iconic restaurant that helped him settle into his Polish identity and the secret behind a classic Polish recipe: stuffed cabbage rolls! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Colicchio, renowned chef and Top Chef judge, has dedicated over a decade to advocating for better food policies. He passionately discusses the irony of food insecurity in a wealthy nation and explores the impact of government policies on hunger. Colicchio shares insights from his work on school lunch reforms and tackling food deserts, emphasizing the importance of community action. He also reflects on the evolution of culinary culture and urges listeners to get involved in local initiatives to combat hunger, especially for children.

New York Times Bestselling author Brad Meltzer joins the show to talk about his Sesame Street home in Brooklyn and the several influential kitchens that followed. He tells Michele about his mom’s gift for interior design, visits to his future father-in-law’s restaurant as a teenager and a propensity for the men in his family to get struck by lightning - literally. Plus he shares the fried conch recipe from the famous Miami restaurant and Civil Rights landmark, Jumbo’s! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actress, comedian and writer Michelle Buteau joins the show to talk about growing up in a lively Caribbean household in New Jersey. She shares how music, dance and food shaped her upbringing and the smells and flavors that took over her childhood kitchen. We also learn about the healing power of humor and how she found the confidence to become a comedian. Plus, she tells us how to make her family’s Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chef Roy Choi, renowned for his Kogi food truck, shares his vibrant culinary journey shaped by his Los Angeles childhood. He reflects on bridging gaps from his hot-headed youth, navigating the complexities of Asian American identity, and the importance of community gatherings. Discover the warmth of ‘underwear rice’ and how simple dishes like Bimbim Noodle Salad evoke nostalgia and connection. Choi emphasizes how food and shared meals foster emotional bonds, celebrating the power of culinary memories.

Michele chats with Andrew Rea, the creator behind the massively popular Binging with Babish, to talk about how a Reddit side project turned into a culinary empire. Andrew opens up about losing his mom at a young age, why making cooking videos connects him to both his parents, and how he handles the highs and lows of social media fame. Plus, he shares his spin on his mom’s cookie recipe. The trick? “Let out your inner child monster”!   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharing an episode of A Hot Dog Is A Sandwich. On the show, Mythical Chefs Josh Scherer and Nicole Enayati discuss, debate, and dissect the web’s most hilariously controversial culinary quandaries. In this episode, Josh and Nicole debate whether a cast iron skillet needs to be washed every time you use it. Listen to more “A Hot Dog is a Sandwich” episodes at https://link.chtbl.com/AHDIASYMKFD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan Orlean, a renowned journalist and bestselling author, shares her insights on growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and the Hungarian dishes that evoke her parents' lost home. She reflects on the culinary skills that her mother didn't teach her, and the significant role food plays in shaping identity and familial bonds. Orlean shares a delightful recipe for cheese balls, inviting listeners to explore their own culinary memories. Through rich storytelling, she connects food with nostalgia and the immigrant experience.