Podcast
Everything Cookbooks
Hosted by Andrea Nguyen, Molly Stevens, Kate Leahy, Kristin Donnelly · EN
A podcast for curious writers, readers, and cooks. Episodes provide behind-the-scenes information and stories about how cookbooks get made.
40episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
177: Collective Book Studio with Angela Engel and Amy Treadwell
Yesterday00:47:27Tap to summarizeMolly and Kate go behind the scenes of a partnership publishing house as they speak about the Cookbook Collective with its founder, Angela Engel, and its editorial director, Amy Treadwell. Angela shares a bit of her background and her impetus for creating a more collaborative publishing model before walking us through some industry terms as she banishes stigma and describes the differences in her approach. Amy tells us how she got involved with the collective, what she tackles on the editorial side and how this changes her working relationship with authors. They both speak about the partnership and custom avenues, how they differ from traditional publishing and give us a broad overview of the process of expenses, distribution, submissions, acquisitions, design and drive before leaving us with a thought on the special, unique story that a physical cookbook can communicate. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions The Collective Book Studio Episode 02: Do You Need a Cookbook Agent? Episode 148: Heartland Masala with Jyoti Mukharji & Auyon Mukharji Episode 56: Hybrid Publishing with Vasudha Viswanath Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Heartland Masala, by Joyti and Auyon Muhkarji Vegetarian Reset, by Vasudha Viswanath 52 Shabbats, by Faith Kramer 20 Amici, 40 Ricette, by John Bersani Modern Hippie, by Lauren Thomas Nosh, by Micah Siva Aebleskiver, by Pim Pauline Overgaard
Transcribe →176: The Author-Editor Relationship with Alana Kysar and Kelly Snowden
1w ago00:47:15Tap to summarizeKate and Molly speak with author Alana Kysar and her editor Kelly Snowden about their professional relationship after working on two cookbooks together. Alana shares why she initially didn't think she had a second book in her and what she hopes this new vegetable focused book adds to the Hawaiian food conversation. Kelly talks about first connecting with Alana's proposal, the elements she brought to the project and the timeline of the process. Both of them discuss the lessons learned from book one and how they helped in the sequel's creation, how they worked together and some best practices for a strong, continuing working relationship. Alana talks about the recipe selection and testing, the design and structural decisions and the approachability of her photography while Kelly explains her thoughts on option clauses, comp titles and what she sees as her mission while working on a book. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Alana Kysar Website Instagram Ten Speed Press 4 Color Books Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Aloha Veggies, by Alana Kysar Aloha Kitchen, by Alana Kysar Kimi's Kitchen, by Kimi Werner Whole Food Cooking Every Day, by Amy Chaplin
Transcribe →175: Inside Ella Quittner’s Obsession with the Best
2w ago00:44:26Tap to summarizeKristin and Molly speak with writer Ella Quittner about her new book, Obsessed with the Best, and the work and intent behind it. They get right into the nitty gritty details of the book; its origins, proposal, the research and testing involved and its unorthodox release date and promotional experience. Ella talks about blending personal stories and journalistic research, the vast testing process and how it was organized and a peek at her cookbook collection and its own organization. She takes listeners through the photography and design choices, the editing and formatting decisions and finally leaves us with how the experience of commodifying herself has led her to a more thoughtful, intentional approach to future projects. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Ella Quittner Website Instagram Taste podcast interview with Ella Quittner Cherry Bombe Radio interview with Ella Quittner Milk Street Radio interview with Ella Quittner Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Obsessed with the Best, by Ella Quittner More than Cake by Natasha Pickowicz
Transcribe →174: On Being a Copyeditor with Melissa Haskin
3w ago00:42:15Tap to summarizeMolly and Kristin invite our very first copy editor to the show, Melissa Haskin. Melissa talks about getting started in the editing profession, her love of food writing and how her experience working with magazines like Cooking Light informs her work now. The hosts share some of their personal experiences and thoughts about copy editing and Melissa shares her own process and approach— the tiny details she looks for, the red flags she knows to avoid and the programs she uses to work. She discusses what it takes to be a good editor, what she's learned running her own freelance business and the projects she does, and does not, take on. Finally she tells us her favorite parts of the job and what led her to create an entire course on recipe editing. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Melissa Haskin Website Recipe Editing 101, 6-week course Reedsy PerfectIt Susan McWilliams Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Single Thread, by Kyle and Katina Connaughton Go to our Substack to find two downloads from Melissa: 1) A recipe editing reading list and 2) A self-editing checklist for cookbook authors. POSTSCRIPT: During our interview, Melissa mispoke and cited a Susan Williams as her mentor at Cooking Light. It was Susan McWilliams. Melissa also misheard Kristin’s question about professional editor groups. She is part of many such groups, but none that specialize in cookbooks. In characteristic copyeditor fashion, Melissa sent us these corrections immediately upon hearing the episode.
Transcribe →173: Writing a Narrative Cookbook Tanya Bush
4w ago00:46:51Tap to summarizeMolly and Kate speak with Tanya Bush, the author of Will This Make You Happy, about her cookbook/memoir mashup and how the pandemic contributed to her decision to marry a personal story and a technical text. Tanya shares some the life experiences behind the book, her impetus to create and the themes she wanted to explore as well as the process of getting an agent, earning an MFA and how the project shifted since its origins. We get into her thoughts on why she wanted to write this particular blend of genres, how the recipes, the book's design and her real life experiences fit in and how important critical distance and play are to her voice. Finally she hits on her hopes for the work, the audio version and potential adaptations and a few thoughts on her print magazine, Cake Zine. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Food Friends Podcast Newsletter Episode 162: The one in which we issue an apology and answer listener questions Tanya Bush Website Instagram Cake Zine The Little Egg Restaurant Why We Can't Stop Reading — and Writing — Food Diaries, Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker Clare Mao, agent Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Will This Make You Happy by Tanya Bush
Transcribe →172: Blurbs: Do They Actually Matter?
Jun 1000:46:49Tap to summarizeKristin speaks with hosts Molly, Andrea and Kate about blurbs; the good, the bad and the questionable. The hosts define the term and share their first blurbing experiences before chatting about the purpose and goal behind these endorsements. They talk about a blurb's swaying power, what makes a good one, how to know if it is trustworthy and the etiquette and process of soliciting, editing and including them in the finished product. They each discuss their experiences on both sides of the request, their thoughts on how a blurb affects sales and the role they see the author, editor and PR team playing before getting into some of the practical procedures and personal relationships involved when creating a list of hopeful 'blurbists'. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions "Blurb Your Enthusiasm" by Sally Ekus "We Need to Talk About Blurbs" by Kathleen Schmidt "Are Publishers Dropping Blurbs?" by Lisa Tener "Here's How Social Media Is Changing Book Blurbs" (NPR, May 2025) "Author Blurbs: Do They Matter?" by Alessandra Torre Ink Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show A Bird in the Hand by Diana Henry
Transcribe →171: Crowdfunding Your Cookbook with Nandita Godbole
Jun 300:42:46Tap to summarizeKate and Kristin speak all about crowdfunding with Nandita Godbole, who has fully funded seven books (and counting) through Kickstarter. Nandita shares how it all began, from her wildly successful supper club to funding her first book in just a few days and takes us through the details, ups and downs and pros and cons of going this route. She speaks about finding her audience, why she decided to self-publish, how she learned the technical specs and what the driving mission behind her projects is. This approach takes an immense amount of work for quality control, design choices and even hands-on mailing, and Nandita's persistence and perseverance has gotten her through stolen laptops, co-opted ideas and immense challenges. She leaves us with lovely and sage advice for others curious about crowdfunding and gives us a little peek into what's next. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Nandita Godbole Website Books Instagram Food Friends Podcast Newsletter Kitchen Arts & Letters (Matt Sartwell) Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show
Transcribe →170: Becoming a Food Photographer While Writing a Debut Cookbook with Saeng Douangdara
May 2700:45:11Tap to summarizeMolly and Kristin speak with Saeng Douangdara, a personal chef and academic counselor turned online content creator and now, cookbook author and food photographer. Saeng shares what motivated him ten years ago to get into the online food space, why he wanted to show off Lao cuisine and how he's built up an audience and community during that time. His refreshing approach means he doesn't dilute or censor his interests and instead continues to challenge himself to learn and grow. This mindset came into play when he 'manifested' his cookbook, took on the daunting prospect of learning professional food photography on the job and collaborated with the writing and typography elements of the book. Saeng discusses why he wanted to create a book that acts as a Lao food primer and a way to share personal stories along with the recipes and leaves us with some sage advice and a look at how this book accomplishes some of his earliest goals. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Saeng Douangdara Website Food Tour Newsletter YouTube Instagram TikTok Fig & Light Lao Foodie Tour 2026 Food Friends Podcast Newsletter Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show The Lao Kitchen: Lao Flavors & Stories Told Through Family Recipes, by Saeng Douangdara
Transcribe →169: Kathy Gunst on What It Takes to Host a Food Writing Retreat
May 2000:48:16Tap to summarizeKristin and Molly speak with Kathy Gunst, a prolific cookbook author, teacher and now leader of food writing retreats, about her varied career and new project. Kathy shares how she got started in the food world by attending London's Le Cordon Bleu, what it is like being the resident chef for NPR's Here & Now and how she deals with creative burnout. She explains the ins and outs of running a writers retreat; the logistics, planning, travel and teaching that goes on behind the scenes and how much she's taken to this new venture. She gives us insights about how the retreat is set up, the way students respond, learn and grow their confidence and the types of writing she likes to foster. She leaves us with advice and a call for writers to invest in themselves, their talent and their future. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Kathy Gunst Website Instagram Tours NPR's Here & Now Hewnoaks Artist Residency Food Friends Podcast Newsletter Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Rage Baking by Katherine Alford and Kathy Gunst
Transcribe →168: Domenica Marchetti on Italian Cookies
May 1300:50:19Tap to summarizeKate and Molly speak with Domenica Marchetti about her newest book and finding a niche in the crowded Italian cookbook category. Domenica shares how she got her start as a food writer, bringing her journalistic background and other interests and experiences together in a unique way, and then talks about the personal importance of some of her early work. She gets into how a cookie captured her imagination, inspiring this new cookbook all about the history, stories and bakeries that create singular Italian cookies. We discuss her research, recipe development and writing process as well as the adventure of baking all of the cookies for the photoshoot (!). And we conclude with a discussion about how her newsletter figures into her professional life. Hosts: Kate Leahy + Molly Stevens + Kristin Donnelly + Andrea Nguyen Editor: Abby Cerquitella Mentions Domenica Marchetti Website Buona Domenica Substack Instagram Glorious Soups and Stews of Italy, by Domenica Marchetti Food Friends Podcast Newsletter Visit the Everything Cookbooks Bookshop to purchase a copy of the books mentioned in the show Italian Cookies, by Domenica Marchetti Preserving Italy, by Domenica Marchetti Ciao Biscotti, by Domenica Marchetti The Glorious Pasta of Italy, by Domenica Marchetti Everyday Italian Cookbook, by Domenica Marchetti The Italian Baker, by Carol Field
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