What if your kitchen could quiet anxiety and spark connection at the same time? We sit down with Chef Melanie Underwood—culinary educator, mindfulness teacher, and founder of Nourish and Gather—to explore how cooking, gardening, and simple rituals transform everyday meals into meaningful self-care. From farm roots and family dinners to high‑pressure hotel kitchens and meditation, Melanie shares the practices that helped her turn attention into ease and ingredients into anchors.

We dig into the power of seasonal, local food and why flavor is the best teacher for mindful eating. You’ll hear how phones‑off classes, garden harvests, and sensory prompts build confidence in teens and adults alike, and how a single request from a shy student can become a lifelong lesson in self‑advocacy. Melanie also opens up about navigating a rare cancer diagnosis and creating space for healing outdoors and at the stove, reminding us that solace lives in soil, steam, and shared tables.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make dinner feel less rushed and more restorative, this conversation offers practical steps: slow your pace, use all five senses, start a weekly family meal, and try thoughtful prompts—like Melanie’s Mindful Table napkins—to turn silence into stories. We also examine the culture of professional kitchens and why centering well‑being, mindfulness, and community is not just humane, it’s smart. Ready to cook with intention and gather with purpose? Listen now, then subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a calmer way to eat and connect.

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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

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A salty first batch of cookies, a cross-continental childhood, and a decision to walk away from nursing—Salome’s path to Afua's Sweets is equal parts grit and grace. We sit down with the Ghanaian cake artist to unpack how culture, constraint, and courage shaped a business that blends bold flavor with delicate technique.

Salome traces the roots of her palate from Ghana’s tropical brightness to Ethiopia’s Italian-leaning pastry traditions, revealing how coffee, mango, and passion fruit found their way into her modern designs. When lactose intolerance made traditional tasting impossible, she pivoted into vegan methods, testing butter and cream alternatives until she could whip, bake, and serve desserts that fooled even devoted dairy fans. Along the way, she rediscovered why baking calms the mind: small, intentional steps that transform stress into focus and joy.

The leap from hobby to business brought its own lessons. We break down the turning points: cost analysis that ended the “dirt cheap” label, coaching from Porsha Kimble that encouraged her to show up on camera and set prices with confidence, and boundaries that eliminated late-night DMs and last-minute chaos. Salome shares practical tactics for home bakers—how to price, how to practice, how to build systems—and casts a vision for the future with petite French-style desserts that let complex pairings shine in elegant bites. It’s a conversation about valuing your craft, honoring your limits, and letting your story be part of the brand.

If you felt seen by any part of this journey, hit follow, share the episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more bakers find us. Your support keeps Cake Therapy growing and brings more voices, more flavors, and more healing to the kitchen.

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

Beauty lives in the smallest details, and sometimes those details become a life. We welcome Gabby from Rosa’s Cakes in New Orleans—a self-described non-cook who transformed a love of clay miniatures into intricate fondant toppers, sought-after treat sets, and a thriving home-based bakery with her mom, Rosa. While preparing for an approaching hurricane, Gabby opens up about resilience, family legacy from Nicaragua, and the practical choices that keep their creative business strong through real-world storms.

You’ll hear how clay beads turned into cake toppers, and how event-planning experience evolved into stellar customer service and efficient production systems. Gabby breaks down her design workflow for cupcakes and sets, where three variations per dozen keep creativity structured and timelines sane. We dive into how she sources molds and materials, why she favors treats over towering cakes in sweltering summers, and how Instagram became their storefront—proof that consistent, thoughtful posting can elevate a neighborhood favorite into a regional go-to.

What stands out most is her definition of success: showing up for her kids, protecting quality, and shipping work she loves regardless of likes. She offers grounded advice for emerging cake artists—be patient with yourself, invest in presentation, and let motivation carry you through slow seasons. This is a warm, candid look at building a legacy of work ethic and craft, turning detail into identity, and finding freedom in a business shaped by care, culture, and grit.

If the story moved you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so others can discover the show. Your support helps us spotlight more makers and fuel the Cake Therapy Foundation’s work with women and girls.

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

What happens when your spark fades but your calling won’t stay quiet? We sit with author and strategist Octavia McIntosh to trace the honest arc from high-output corporate life to designing a freedom-aligned business that doesn’t demand constant presence. Octavia opens up about the subtle signs of burnout, the two-year inner conversation that led to her “I’m out” moment, and the practical blueprint she wished she had—now captured in her book and a growing I’m Out ecosystem.

Together we unpack four anchors that changed her leadership and her life: knowing herself, deepening self-awareness, understanding people, and regulating how she shows up. Octavia shares how she reframed the fear of failure with a better question—what if it works—and why freedom, for her, means income that continues even when she steps back. We explore small rituals that restore calm and clarity: faith as a steady center, quiet time under a tree, the medicine of wind and water, play with her dogs, and even coloring to release the need to chase. These practices aren’t escapism; they’re strategy, making space for better decisions and better results.

If your nine-to-five feels like a slow leak of energy, you’ll find clear first steps here: detach mentally, step outside the noise, watch your life like a film, and notice what needs to stop and what wants to start. Octavia’s roadmap isn’t a reckless leap; it’s a thoughtful plan to replace your salary, test your offers while employed, and transition with evidence and ease. Along the way, we return to our own mission—baking as therapy, memory, and community—because healing works best when our hands and hearts move together.

Subscribe, share this with someone who needs courage to change, and leave a review so others can find the show. When you’re ready to explore Octavia’s work, search “I’m Out” by Octavia McIntosh on Amazon and connect with her on Instagram at @iamoctaviamcintosh. Let’s bake clarity, one brave choice at a time.

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 thriving ad agency, a growing ache, and a leap into the unknown. That’s the backdrop for our conversation with Jamaican wood artisan Tamara Harding, whose purpose found her in the grain of fallen trees and the quiet of a bamboo-lined workshop. She didn’t tinker her way into a craft; she built a values-first brand, wrote a business plan, and let the material lead. The result is a body of work that rescues condemned trees, restores damaged slabs with resin, and turns flaws into features—sustainability you can touch.

We dig into the moments that changed everything: a failed holiday craft table, a backyard plum tree, and the first sellout that proved people crave pieces with story. Tamara breaks down why she uses electric hand tools, how dyslexia fuels inventive problem-solving, and what it means to let a piece “decide” what it wants to be. She shares her “no wood left behind” ethos and the logistics (and costs) of deconstructing trees at construction sites so their history lives on as tables, mirrors, and sculptural forms. If you’re curious about sustainable design, circular economy principles, and mindful making, this conversation shows how art and ecology can reinforce each other.

We also get real about the tough stuff: staying present on social media while working long shop hours, recovering from a recent grinder injury, and learning to delegate to protect both body and business. For aspiring makers, Tamara offers a clear, actionable playbook: craft your brand identity first, write a detailed business plan, plan your launch and PR with intention, and use a simple filter for new projects—will this feed my soul? Expect practical wisdom, candid stories, and a reminder that purpose sits on the other side of silence and courage.

If this story moved you, follow and share the show, leave us a review, and invite a friend who’s on the edge of a big leap. Your support helps us keep bringing purpose-driven conversations to your ears.

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

What if the most healing room in your home isn’t the one with the couch, but the one with the stove? We sit down with Charlotte Hastings, the pioneering force behind Kitchen Therapy, to explore how simple, hands-on cooking can lower anxiety, unlock conversation, and guide people back to trust and connection. From a childhood marked by trauma to eight years of sobriety, Charlotte shares how food became a safe third space—where a wooden spoon can reflect a life story, and a cheese sauce can invite truth without pressure.

We trace her path from teaching to psychodynamic counseling to a practice that uses recipes as living maps. Instead of rigid measurements, she leans into play and adaptation: swap ingredients to fit your needs, taste as you go, and let intuition lead. Together we unpack why repetitive kitchen tasks soothe the nervous system, how teens open up when eye contact is optional, and why a finished loaf can be the proof someone needs to believe they can finish hard things. Charlotte’s book frames cooking as a life-seasoned journey, with feminist tarot imagery, family illustrations, and recipes designed to evolve with you.

We also look beyond the countertop. Charlotte’s community interest company builds groups that cook outdoors around a fire, restoring a sense of belonging and shared purpose. In a fast, AI-driven world, this is our first technology—flame, food, and fellowship—bringing people back into their bodies and back to each other. If you’re curious about alternative therapy, mental health tools you can touch, and ways to turn small kitchen wins into bigger life changes, you’ll feel right at home here.

If this conversation feeds you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find their way back to the table.

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

Season four starts with a warm whisk of honesty, relief, and purpose. Dr. Altreisha Foster shares a heartfelt update on her mom’s recovery and how the kitchen became a steady anchor during Hurricane Melissa, setting the tone for a year that favors truth over polish. We revisit how Cake Therapy Foundation grew from two students to serving 75 girls across Minnesota, and why simple tools, reliable recipes, and a safe space can transform confidence, voice, and community.

We map the road ahead—deeper conversations with multidimensional guests from mental health, business, education, and food—people who use the kitchen to make meaning and build resilience. You’ll hear the story behind an historic 8-tier centerpiece for Betty Crocker’s 104th birthday and what that Red Spoon means for access and legacy. From archival details to many helping hands, the cake became a symbol of how one idea can connect millions through care. That same spirit shows up in our programs, where accessible mixes lower barriers and amplify what matters: presence, practice, and pride.

Grounded in mindfulness, Dr. Foster guides a short breathing moment and a focus exercise you can bring to any countertop or commute. Crack, measure, mix—one step at a time—because peace is possible even on loud days. Along the way we thank partners, announce our spring Dessert Experience fundraiser, and recommit to giving listeners something to think about, something to try, and a reminder that growth is possible, even when it’s slow.

Pull up a chair in our bake space and join the conversation. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find their way to healing, creativity, and community—one bowl at a time.

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

What if the sweetest way to learn money basics starts with a whisk? We sit down with journalist and producer Leah Sherman to trace a winding path from PR to newsroom, then into the kitchen where baking becomes a refuge, a love language, and a vivid toolkit for storytelling. Leah opens up about studying psychology and economics, learning to see how media shapes identity, and translating those insights into pieces that feel personal without losing rigor.

The heart of our conversation is Money Bakers, a NowThis series that turns finance into something you can see and almost taste. Think meringue to explain high-yield savings accounts or cake layers to compare 401k and Roth IRA taxes. Leah walks us through the creative choices that make these metaphors work: picking foods that won’t wilt under lights, designing shots that build understanding step by step, and avoiding visuals that confuse rather than clarify. Early feedback has been encouraging, and the team is lining up topics like budgeting, credit card rewards, and student debt with the same playful precision.

We also dig into the therapy of baking itself—why working with your hands resets a screen-tired mind, how custom cakes become portraits of care, and the real talk behind deadlines, flops, and the nerve it takes to try again. Leah shares practical advice for new hobby bakers (buy extra ingredients, read the recipe, embrace mistakes) and honest guidance for young creatives weighing “safe” careers against work they love. The throughline is choice: you’ll work hard no matter what, so pick a path with meaning, keep doors open, and let your creativity in one area feed the others.

If this blend of creativity, mental health, and financial literacy speaks to you, tap follow, share with a friend who needs a gentler way into money talk, and leave a review with the dessert you’d use to explain your budget. Your notes help us shape what comes next.

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