Kitchen Confidante Podcast

Kitchen Confidante Podcast

Welcome to the Kitchen Confidante Podcast!

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but how do we find ourselves there?

For over a decade, I’ve shared taste and inspiration from my kitchen, as a recipe developer, food photographer, and author, and have had the chance to meet like-minded people along the way, from recipe developers and chefs, to farmers and wine makers, and photographers and bloggers like me!

Now it’s time to chat with these incredible creators and learn about their food journeys, what motivates them to cook and create, and find some inspiration we can try in our own kitchens.  I hope you join me on the Kitchen Confidante Podcast!

Listen to the episodes below, or subscribe on your favorite platforms.


Baking in the American South with Anne Byrn

In Episode 100, Liren chats with Anne Byrn, an award winning food author. They discuss her newest book: Baking in the American South, where she weaves stories and recipes from pre-Civil War times to today’s modern Southern kitchens.
Eden Passante

Entertaining with Charm with Eden Passante

In episode 98 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren chats with Eden Passante of the beautiful and inspiring lifestyle and food blog, Sugar and Charm and her new book, Entertaining with Charm. Eden shares her secrets to stress-free entertaining, hosting on budget, creating a charming vibe, and more!
Tune in to the 95th Episode of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast and learn about her original series from Pinterest and Tastemade called Deliciously Entertaining.

Deliciously Entertaining with Danni Rose

In Episode 95 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Danni Rose about her Pinterest and Tastemade series, Deliciously Entertaining. Tune in for her tips about creating the experience, community, and memories around the table!
Picture of Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West

Air Fryer All Day with Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West

In Episode 92 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Rebecca Abbott and Jennifer West about becoming accidental business partners, their vibrant Easy Air Fryer Recipes community on Facebook, and their cookbook, Air Fryer All Day: 120 Tried-and-True Recipes for Family-Friendly Comfort Food.

Gardening for Abundance with Brian Brigantti

In Episode 90 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Brian Brigantti of Red Leaf Ranch, who shares his incredible journey from urbanite to green-thumbed guru. We discuss his first book, “Gardening for Abundance,” and how it intertwines practical gardening tips with profound life lessons.
Headshot of Althea Brown

Caribbean Paleo with Althea Brown

In Episode 89 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Althea Brown of Metemgee about her cookbook, Caribbean Paleo: 75 Wholesome Dishes Celebrating Tropical Cuisine and Culture, Guyanese ingredients and flavors, and more!
Janani Elavazhagan

The Effortless Baker with Janani Elavazhagan

In Episode 86 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Janani Elavazhagan of Skillet to Plate about about her love of fusion baking, how she hones her photography craft, and some of the wonderful recipes in her new book, The Effortless Baker.
In Episode 81 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to bakery founder Colleen Worthington about some beloved recipes of Kneaders Bakery & Cafe, and the special people that are part of the family.

Kneaders Bakery & Café: Celebrating 25 Years with Colleen Worthington

In Episode 81 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Colleen Worthington of Kneaders Bakery and Cafe about the story and history behind the family bakery, the importance of fresh ingredients, and her new book, Kneaders Bakery & Café: A Celebration of Our Best Recipes and Memories.
Frankie Celenza headshot.

Worth the Hype with Frankie Celenza

In Episode 79 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Frankie Celenza about his new Tastemade show, Worth the Hype, what makes a restaurant buzz-worthy, and more!

Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea with Natalie Keng, the Sauce Maven

In Episode 76 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Natalie Keng about creating traditional Chinese dishes with local Southern ingredients, the culinary tradition in Georgia, and how she marries these two cultures in her cookbook, Egg Rolls & Sweet Tea!
Dale Talde headshot. Credit All Good.

All Up in My Grill with Dale Talde

In Episode 75 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to chef Dale Talde about the 3rd season of his Tastemade show, All Up in My Grill, harnessing Filipino flavors in his cooking, hands-on tips for better grilling, and more!
Linda Skeens headshot.

America’s Favorite County Fair Champion, Linda Skeens

In Episode 73 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Linda Skeens, America’s favorite county fair champion, about her life and family in Appalachia, her long history with county fairs, and her book, Blue Ribbon Kitchen: Recipes and Tips from America’s Favorite County Fair Champion.
Photo by Niki Cram

Vegan Instant Pot Cooking with Nisha Vora

In Episode 70 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Nisha Vora of Rainbow Plant Life her transition from a career in law to vegan cooking, her favorite ways to use an Instant Pot, how going vegan has expanded her exploration and joy of cooking, and more!
Kitchen Confidante Podcast Episode 69 - Anna Olson

Anna Olson’s Baking Wisdom

In Episode 69 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Anna Olson, the professionally trained chef and host of Food Network’s Bake with Anna Olson, as well as the popular Oh Yum with Anna Olson channel on YouTube, about her latest book, Anna Olson’s Baking Wisdom: The Complete Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Make you a Better Baker, troubleshooting baking blunders, her love of Eastern European desserts, and more!
Gesine Bullock-Prado

My Vermont Table with Gesine Bullock-Prado

In Episode 66 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks Gesine Bullock-Prado about about the six (!) seasons of Vermont, cooking and baking with maple syrup, her newest book, A Vermont Table: Recipes for All Six Seasons, and more!
Susan Gravely headshot.

Italy on a Plate with Vietri Founder, Susan Gravely

In Episode 65 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Vietri founder Susan Gravely about her book, Italy on a Plate, the friendships and partnerships in Italy that have made Veitri so successful, the parallels between Italian and Southern hospitality, and more! 
Karista Bennett headshot.

For the Love of Seafood with Karista Bennett

In Episode 64 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Karista Bennett about her surprising love story with seafood, the coastal cities she has called home, and her travels that inspired the flavors in her cookbook, For the Love of Seafood.
Maggie Zhu Headshot

Chinese Homestyle with Maggie Zhu

In Episode 63 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Maggie Zhu about her first cookbook, Chinese Homestyle: Everyday Plant-based recipes for takeout, dim sum, noodles & more!
Molly Chester Headshot

Apricot Lane Farms with Molly Chester

In Episode 61 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Molly Chester about how human gut health and soil health are interconnected, the importance of biodiversity on the farm, and how her farm comes to life in The Apricot Lane Farms Cookbook.
Vicky Bennison Headshot

Comfort Cooking with Pasta Grannies

In Episode 60 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Vicky Bennison about her latest cookbook, Pasta Grannies: Comfort Cooking, the nonnas and the traditional regional dishes they share, their secrets to staying young and active, and what the next generation of pasta makers in Italy will look like.
Sarah Koszyk Headshot

Sports Nutrition with Sarah Koszyk

In Episode 59 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Sarah Koszyk about elite athletes and fitness enthusiasts can boost their performance through nutrition, brain health, how superfoods can help our skin, and more!
Mary Ann Esposito Headshot

Plant, Harvest, Cook! with Mary Ann Esposito

In Episode 58 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Mary Ann Esposito about her latest cookbook, Ciao Italia: Plant, Harvest, Cook!, Ciao Italia’s longevity as the longest running television cooking series, her home garden with her husband Guy, and more!
Molly Gilbert Headshot

Sheet Pan Sweets with Molly Gilbert

In Episode 57 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Molly Gilbert about her latest book, Sheet Pan Sweets: Simple, Streamlined Dessert Recipes.
Bri Beaudoin Headshot

Evergreen Kitchen with Bri Beaudoin

In Episode 56 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Bri Beaudoin about her first cookbook, Evergreen Kitchen: Weeknight Vegetarian Dinners for Everyone, what it’s like to work as a husband and wife team, the secret to a good vegetarian congee, and more!
Tune in to the Kitchen Confidante Podcast and learn about Writing Food Memoirs with Sylvie Bigar.

Cassoulet Confessions with Sylvie Bigar

In Episode 53 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Sylvie Bigar about how cassoulet has become a beloved dish in France, how she immersed herself in Carcassonne with her mentor and cassoulet master, Chef Eric Garcia, her beloved father, and more.
Tara Bench Headshot

Delicious Gatherings with Tara Bench

In Episode 53 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Tara Bench about ll about cooking with her mom growing up, her career as a food stylist and now book author and blogger, and the inspiration behind her new book, Delicious Gatherings.
Alice Zaslavsky Headshot.

In Praise of Veg with Alice Zaslavsky

In Episode 50 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren Baker talks with Alice Zaslavsky about her book, In Praise of Veg, secrets to enjoying vegetables (for both kids and grown-ups!), the hot veggies of the moment, and more!
Headshot of Sophie Minchilli

The Sweetness of Doing Nothing with Sophie Minchilli

In Episode 45 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Italian food and travel expert Sophie Minchilli about her book, the Sweetness of Doing Nothing, and how we can incorporate the beloved Italian philosophy of Dolce Far Niente into our own lives, no matter where we live!
Hannah Sunderani Headshot

The Two Spoons Cookbook with Hannah Sunderani

In Episode 41 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Hannah Sunderani about what led her to plant-based and vegan eating, enjoying a plant-based life in France, bringing the food culture of France back to Canada, the inspiration behind her new cookbook, The Two Spoons Cookbook, and more!
Purple artichoke field at Ocean Mist Farms in Castroville, CA

All Things Artichokes with Ocean Mist Farms CEO & President, Chris Drew

In Episode 40 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Chris Drew, the CEO and President of Ocean Mist Farms, on location in Castroville, California, which is now known as the Artichoke Capital of the World. In this episode, they chat about all things artichokes, including Ocean Mist’s farming history, the artichoke varieties they grow, Chris’ favorite way to enjoy artichokes, and more!
Tune in to the Kitchen Confidante Podcast and learn about Chef Ji Hye Kim

Cooking Traditional Korean Cuisine With Local Ingredients — With Chef Ji Hye Kim of Miss Kim

In Episode 39 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Chef Ji Hye Kim. Chef Ji Hye has had the honor of being recognized as a Food & Wine Best New Chef in 2021 and a James Beard Semifinalist 2020 in 2022. In this episode, Ji Hye talks about her journey as a chef, the inspiration behind her restaurant, Miss Kim, and how she cooks traditional Korean cuisine with local Michigan ingredients.
Tune in to the Kitchen Confidante Podcast and learn about Nom Nom Paleo: Let's Go! with Michelle Tam

Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! with Michelle Tam

In Episode 38 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to New York Times best-selling author Michelle Tam about her path with husband and coauthor Henry Fong to paleo living, working together as a team, and what makes their newest book, Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! #VeryAsian.
Tune in to the Kitchen Confidante Podcast and learn about opening Goldilocks Filipino Cuisine at San Francisco International Airport with Iva Chen.

Launching Goldilocks Filipino Cuisine at San Francisco International Airport

In Episode 37 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Iva Chen, the Director of Business Development and Marketing of Lady Luck Gourmet, which owns and operates Goldilocks at San Francisco International Airport. They chat about Iva’s path to restaurant development, the challenges of opening an airport restaurant during the pandemic, and introducing a taste of Filipino food to travelers from around the world.
Tune in to the Kitchen Confidante Podcast and learn about Writing Food Memoirs with Sylvie Bigar.

Writing Food Memoirs with Sylvie Bigar

In Episode 36 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to award-winning food and travel writer Sylvie Bigar about her childhood in Geneva, her path to journalism and food writing, and the art of writing a food memoir.

The Science Behind Food and Flavor with Nik Sharma

In Episode 32 of the Kitchen Confidante Podcast, Liren talks to Nik Sharma, author of the blog A Brown Table, about his childhood in India and his journey from a career as a scientist to becoming a food writer and cookbook author.
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