Imagine a classroom where every question is welcome, the instructor looks like you, and code feels less like a wall and more like a door. That’s the world Victoria Kyereme is building with Girls Dream Code, and it started with her own winding path from pre-pharmacy to computer science—and the stubborn belief that belonging should not be a lottery.

We talk about the moments that shaped her: arriving in Minnesota from Ghana, navigating majors without a roadmap, and finding that first programming class that balanced logic with creativity. Victoria explains how a lack of mentors and representation became her fuel to found a nonprofit that serves girls of color and low-income communities ages 10 to 24. Her blueprint is simple and powerful: small, safe cohorts; culturally responsive teaching; and real projects that translate into internships at major tech companies. Along the way, we unpack why representation matters, how culturally aware curricula beat imposter syndrome, and what it takes to move students from curiosity to career.

This conversation also gets practical about scale. Victoria shares a five-year vision to strengthen Minnesota’s tech pipeline—from first interest to education, from bootcamps and college to employer partnerships—and why consistent funding unlocks more cohorts, instructors, and outcomes. If you care about equity in STEM, women in tech, and creating real access for girls of color, you’ll find tangible steps to help: share the mission, connect hiring partners, and donate to sustain quality instruction that changes lives.

Join us for a story that blends resilience, technical grit, and community care. Then help us widen the doorway so more girls can step into rooms filled with code, confidence, and creativity. Subscribe, leave a review to boost visibility, and share this episode with someone who believes every girl deserves a seat at the table.

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Ever wondered what happens when therapy moves from the couch to the kitchen? We sit down with licensed clinical social worker and culinary therapist Mercedes Tiggs, founder of Eight16 Culinary Therapy, to explore how mindful cooking can transform anxiety, build confidence, and knit communities back together. Rooted in the legacy of her grandmother’s Sunday dinners and a foster care upbringing, Mercedes walks us through a sensory-forward approach that blends breathwork, essential oils, food safety, and teamwork into a healing ritual—then closes each class with a shared table and reflection.

Mercedes opens up about her shift from criminal justice to social work, the moment faith sparked the idea of “culinary therapy,” and how the pandemic turned a vision into action through virtual kitchen circles. She explains why food carries hidden stories—finish-your-plate rules, waste anxiety, cultural expectations—and how naming those scripts can free us to eat with intention. You’ll hear a powerful breakthrough from a student who moved from an apple peeler to confidently using chef’s knives, proof that safety, skill-building, and community can rewrite fear.

We also look ahead. Mercedes and her team secured a farm-to-school grant to bring culinary therapy into elementary, middle, and high schools as an alternative to detention—turning behavior challenges into opportunities for regulation and pride. She shares a bold vision for a community kitchen and, long term, a therapeutic farm that supports re-entry with housing, certifications, and farm-to-table training. Along the way, we swap comfort foods (shrimp and grits fans, unite), talk travel and technique, and celebrate the mantra at the heart of her work: meals that heal.

If you’re curious about trauma-informed care, school mental health, or creative wellness, this story offers tools you can use tonight—light a candle, breathe with your chop, taste slowly, and eat together. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find our healing community.

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

A dream of psychology turned into a love affair with sculpted sugar. We sit with Barbadian cake artist Gayrielle Harper to unpack how a gap-year culinary course sparked a 3D cake career that thrives on trust, humor, and the courage to price what craft really costs. From handbags and cars to interactive elements that surprise guests, Gayrielle shares why challenge fuels her creativity and how simpler buttercream orders act as strategic breathers between high-stakes builds.

We talk about the unglamorous but crucial parts of the job: importing supplies to a small island, swallowing customs fees, and doing the math so your business doesn’t. Her approach is disarmingly practical—charge for reality, communicate clearly, and let reliability earn you loyalty. She tells stories of white-knuckle deliveries, the relief when a cake lands safely, and the pure joy when a client lights up. That feedback loop keeps the work meaningful, even when the pressure spikes.

Social media plays a starring role. Gayrielle’s reels mix humor and behind-the-scenes shots to make buyers feel at home. Many clients book her because they enjoy her personality as much as her portfolio. The message to young bakers is sharp and kind: beware of borrowed fear. Start small, expect mistakes, keep improving, and protect your vision with honest systems. Whether you’re a cake artist, a creative entrepreneur, or someone craving a spark of courage, this story offers clear takeaways on pricing, resilience, and finding balance without losing your edge.

If this conversation inspires you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more makers find the skills and confidence to build the careers they imagine.

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