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Cindy sits down with Lauren Maloney, director of merchandising at Hestan, for an honest and lively conversation about quality cookware and building kitchen confidence.

From growing up in entertaining families to careers at Williams Sonoma and beyond, Cindy and Lauren share stories of learning curves, favorite kitchen memories, and the passions that drive their work. Discover the innovation behind Hestan’s cookware, the story of its family founders, and why investing in the right tools can transform everyday cooking.

Plus, get inspired by pro tips — for everything from flipping eggs in stainless steel to caring for your pans — and learn why the things we choose for our kitchens matter, now more than ever.

Whether you’re an aspiring chef, a seasoned home cook, or just love a good story, this episode will leave you feeling empowered and ready to embrace the joy of cooking with confidence.

Products featured in this episode:

Hestan products at Berry & Basil

For more thoughtfully curated joy, check out berryandbasil.com and follow the store for all the latest products, events and sales at @theberrybasil

Follow the show at @joycuratedpodcast (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) and make sure to subscribe to us on the podcast app of your choice. It helps us grow and share the story of all the brands we love.

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What do you get when two small-town independent kitchen owners sit down to talk shop? A wonderful, heartfelt conversation with some truly excellent stories!

Join Cindy Peterson, co-founder of Berry and Basil, as she sits down with Nate Whited, co-owner of The Brick Kitchen in Independence, Iowa. In this lively conversation, they dive into the unique journey of building a family-run kitchen store in a small Midwestern town, the importance of quality tools in everyday life, and the special sense of community that comes from serving rural customers.

From renovating a historic opera house into a bustling retail space to creating meaningful connections with customers and industry friends, Nate and his wife Shelly prove that small-town businesses can offer just as much — if not more — than the big-box stores.

Tune in for stories about kitchen gadgets, lessons learned from retail, creative marketing strategies (like sponsoring a college marching band’s mellophone section!), and plenty of laughs along the way.

Stay tuned for bloopers at the end of this episode!

Products featured in this episode:

Dreamfarm Flapple slicer

Messermeister Chef’s Knife

Jura coffee products

Follow The Brick Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram.

For more thoughtfully curated joy, check out berryandbasil.com and follow the store for all the latest products, events and sales at @theberrybasil

Follow the show at @joycuratedpodcast (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) and make sure to subscribe to us on the podcast app of your choice. It helps us grow and share the story of all the brands we love.

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One of the most frequent questions that Cindy Peterson, co-founder of Berry and Basil, gets is how to choose the right knife. So she sat down with Ed Bartush, an industry veteran from Cangshan Cutlery with nearly four decades of cutlery experience, to explore the surprisingly complex world of kitchen knives.

From the basics of stamped vs. forged blades, to the allure of layered Damascus steel, we’ll break down what actually matters when shopping for a knife.

• Which steel should you look for?
• Why does handle design matter?
• Is a block set really better than customizing your own collection?
• What will help you make your decision?

Ed demystifies these questions and offers practical, confidence-boosting advice for every home cook — reminding us all that the best knife is the one that feels right in your hand and fits the way you cook. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or just starting out, get ready to rethink how you choose the most essential tool in your kitchen.

Products featured in this episode:

Cangshan collection

*Note: Items will be restocked soon, plus new items will be added!

For more thoughtfully curated joy, check out berryandbasil.com and follow the store for all the latest products, events and sales at @theberrybasil

Follow the show at @joycuratedpodcast (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) and make sure to subscribe to us on the podcast app of your choice. It helps us grow and share the story of all the brands we love.