Dive into the comforting world of baking therapy with our season three opener, Kareem, better known as Mr. Bake. His journey from the bustling streets of Harlem to recognized baker and community advocate encapsulates the dynamic relationship between food and emotional wellness. With a rich tapestry of family recipes and modern desserts, Kareem reveals how baking transcends mere cooking—it's a powerful medium for healing, community, and self-affirmation.

Kareem recounts childhood memories that shaped his baking identity, highlighting the profound connections made through food. As he navigates his culinary path, he emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusivity and representation in the culinary world. In his eyes, every dessert has a story, and each recipe serves as a bridge to connect us with our roots and with one another.

Throughout this inspiring conversation, listeners will discover that baking is not only about creating delicious treats but is also a therapeutic outlet that nurtures mental health. With stories of overcoming adversity and uplifting others, Kareem’s insights offer practical advice for those looking to embrace their passions and prime their kitchens for healing.

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Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

A cease and desist can feel like a career-ending punch, but what if it’s also the moment you finally build the brand you were meant to lead? I’m joined by Callie Simons, the founder and creative force behind Created by CTB (many of you first knew her as Cal the Baker), and she tells the real story behind her rebrand, the trademark opposition that forced a sudden stop, and how she turned that disruption into a clearer business identity.

We talk about the intentional pause and why it’s not a failure, especially for women balancing creativity, anxiety, motherhood, and the pressure of staying visible on social media. Callie shares what it’s like to rebuild through big life changes and relocations across markets, how baking keeps calling her back to herself, and why burnout and “the algorithm” can’t be the boss of your nervous system.

You’ll also hear practical lessons for bakers and creative entrepreneurs: setting boundaries, niching down into signature offerings, getting comfortable with pricing strategy, and accepting that not every client is for you. We end on the reminder that food and dessert don’t just sell, they connect people to milestones, comfort, and a sense of self.

Subscribe for more conversations on baking therapy, healing through creativity, and building sustainable small businesses, then share this with a friend and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments.

Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts

Cake is invited to life’s biggest moments, yet the artists who make it are often asked to accept bargain pricing, rushed timelines, and invisible labor. Dr. Altreisha Foster sits down with returning guest Jasmine Rae, fine art cake designer and instructor, to name that disconnect out loud and map a path forward through Cake Circle, a new community she is building with Azara of Milkmoon Kitchen.

We get real about what drives burnout in the cake industry: a low barrier to entry, the pressure to perform before you feel fully trained, and the constant demand to be creative while also running a business. Jasmine shares why developing a creative voice is not a switch you flip but a long process of practice, copying, and growth, and how underpay and overwork can crush that process fast. We also talk about why community is not a luxury for creative entrepreneurs, it is a nervous-system need, especially for bakers working long hours in isolation.

Jasmine breaks down what Cake Circle is building, from co-caking hours that make Friday prep less lonely to Cake Play design practice and small-group consulting circles for targeted business support. Then we zoom out to the bigger vision: culture change. Think guild-like frameworks, clearer experience levels, and public education that helps clients understand what cake artistry is worth, so cake makers can earn a livable wage and build sustainable careers.

If you care about baking therapy, creative entrepreneurship, cake artistry, and mental wellness for small business owners, this conversation will hit home. Subscribe, share with a cake friend, and leave a review with one change you want to see in the industry.

Remember to subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Share the episodes and let's chat in the comments.

Support the Cake Therapy Foundation:
1. Cake Therapy - Cake Therapy (thecaketherapyfoundation.org)
2. Buy Me A Coffee : The Cake Therapy Foundation (buymeacoffee.com)
3. Buy The Book: Cake Therapy: How Baking Changed My Life https://a.co/d/76dZ5T0

4. Buy The Book: Lessons I Never Learned from My Father: Things We Missed Out On and How They Still Impact Me https://a.co/d/9wLOguc

Follow Sugarspoon Desserts on all social media platforms @sugarspoondesserts