Your Mama’s Kitchen
Higher Ground
“Tell me about your mama's kitchen.” That’s the simple request which begins each episode of this Audible Original podcast from acclaimed journalist Michele Norris (NPR’s All Things Considered, The Washington Post) and Higher Ground, Barack and Michelle Obama's media company. Every week, hear guests like Michelle Obama, Conan O'Brien, Ina Garten, José Andrés, John Legend, and more explore the complexities of family life and how their earliest culinary experiences helped shape their personal and professional lives—and of course, each guest brings a recipe for a favorite dish from their youth so you can taste a bit of their story.With a delicious buffet of actors, authors, chefs, musicians, and more, the rich conversations that flow from that simple, initial prompt reveal the histories, memories, and cultures that emerge from the kitchen—the heart of the home—where we are nourished physically and spiritually. Your Mama’s Kitchen is a podcast about cuisine and culture, ingredients and identities, and the meals and memories that make us who we are.Your Mama’s Kitchen is a production of Higher Ground.Produced by Sonia Htoon.Associate Producers are Jenna Levin, Stella Hartman, Itxy Quintinilla and Camila Thur de Koos.Sound design and engineering from Andrew Eapen, Ryan Kozlowski and Roy Baum.Executive producers for Higher Ground are Mukta Mohan, Dan Fierman and Michele Norris.The show’s closing song is 504 by The Soul Rebels.Editorial and web support from Melissa Bear and Say What Media. Our talent booker is Angela Peluso.Copyright 2024 by Higher Ground Audio, LLC / Sound Recording copyright 2024 by Higher Ground Audio, LLC.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 23, 2025 • 47min
Tom Colicchio on Hunger, Food Deserts, and a Broken System, from Assembly Required
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.
May 20, 2025 • 1h 1min
Why You Don’t Stand Next to Brad Meltzer in a Lighting Storm
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!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 13, 2025 • 55min
The Caribbean Kitchen That Nourished Michelle Buteau
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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
May 6, 2025 • 1h 3min
Roy Choi on The Comforts of Underwear Rice
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.
Apr 29, 2025 • 55min
Why Binging with Babish Had to Detox from Craving Online Fame
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”! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 25, 2025 • 46min
Should You Wash a Cast Iron Skillet? From A Hot Dog Is A Sandwich
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/AHDIASYMKFDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 22, 2025 • 53min
Food that Connected Susan Orlean to the Land her Parents Fled
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.
Apr 15, 2025 • 58min
The Secret Behind Tanya Holland’s Famous Cornmeal Waffles
Tanya Holland, a celebrated chef and U.S. Culinary Diplomat, shares her passion for food and hospitality, rooted in her family's tradition of hosting gourmet supper clubs. She discusses the significance of her Oakland restaurant, Brown Sugar Kitchen, and the cultural heritage behind her famous cornmeal waffles. Tanya reflects on how personal experiences and community shape her culinary journey while addressing the evolution of soul food and the emotional ties that food fosters among people.
Apr 8, 2025 • 56min
Randall Park on Following Dreams without Parental Permission
Actor, comedian and director Randall Park takes us back to his upbringing in Los Angeles, where he learned important lessons about community in his father's small 1-hour photo shop. He gets into how he managed to jumpstart his career in entertainment without telling his parents -- while living under their roof. Plus, we learn how to make his mama's Korean soup, Tteokguk.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Apr 1, 2025 • 52min
How Sarah Ahn Built a TikTok Empire From Her Mom’s Korean Kitchen
Sarah Ahn, a cookbook author and popular content creator behind 'Ahnest Kitchen', shares her family's inspiring journey from Korean War survival to TikTok fame. She discusses the emotional significance of '손 맛' (hand taste) in Korean cooking and reveals her mother's thoughts on their newfound social media stardom. Sarah dives into the challenges of preserving culinary heritage, the joy of family cooking, and the secrets to perfect dishes like kimchi and fried chicken. Her heartfelt reflections bring warmth and nostalgia to the kitchen.
