Cookbook Love Podcast

Welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Have you ever looked at the food you make every week and thought, there's a book in here somewhere? Here's what most people don't know: in traditional publishing, the publisher pays you to write your book, and a whole team comes with it. Editors, designers, a photographer, the people who put your book on shelves. If you've dreamed of your own cookbook, this is the perfect time to join my free masterclass, From Kitchen to Book Deal. In this three-part class, you will learn three insider truths...

If your dream is a publisher's yes, with a team behind you and a publisher who pays you to write, I'd love for you to join me for my free From Kitchen to Book Deal Masterclass, starting Tuesday, October 20. You'll learn 3 insider truths about traditional publishing so you can say yes to your dream without saying goodbye to your savings. Sign up here.

This week I'm joined by Ellyn Caruso, and the timing couldn't be more fitting. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Ellyn wrote her book for women who have walked through breast cancer and...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. If you have a cookbook idea but find yourself wondering how you're ever going to write, edit, photograph, design, publish, and market an entire book, today's episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why you don't need to become an expert in every part of cookbook production to become a cookbook author.

What you really need to focus on before you have a book deal: your cookbook concept and your connection with readers.

What happens after a traditional publisher says...

When I started this show 8 years ago, podcasting was still something people had to explain to their friends. Today it's mainstream. The global audience for podcasts has grown, and in the U.S. alone, more than half the population, roughly 158 million people, tune in every month.

The number of shows has exploded too. There are now over 4.5 million podcasts worldwide. But here's the number that matters most for today's episode: only about 10 to 15% of those shows are still actively publishing. Nearly half of all podcasts stop at 3 episodes or fewer, and industry researchers cite a "90/90 rule." Ninety...

Today I welcome David Murray and Leslie Jonath. David and Leslie are here to honor the life and work of Debbie Berne, a cookbook and book designer who passed away in December, and to share news of her recently published book, Cookbooking: A Fan's Guide, which all listeners of this show are going to love. Cookbooking is a visually stunning pop-history that traces cookbooks from their earliest days to their most iconic and downright wackiest moments, told through photographs, listicles, graphics, and Debbie's writing. At its heart, Cookbooking celebrates the genre, explores what makes it so engaging, and argues...

Welcome back to the Cookbook Love Podcast! This week I sit down with Justin Ellen, the baker and content creator behind Everything Just Baked, whose fun, chaotic, personality-filled approach to baking has captured the attention of millions of people across social media. We talk all about his beautiful new cookbook, Better Than Grandma's: Comfort Desserts We Grew Up Loving, his path from posting cake photos on Instagram at sixteen to building a following in the millions, and the leap from social media into an independently published book, including the vulnerability of showing up on camera, the real math behind...

Welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast! Today's episode pulls together the best publicity advice from top cookbook PR agents who've been on this show. These experts have worked with names like Jacques Pepin, Julia Child, and Ina Garten, and have helped first time authors build a following from scratch. When I laid their advice side by side, the overlap was clear, and that's what this episode is built around: what to focus your time and energy on, and what to let go of, and what's working in 2026. After this episode, you will:

Know...

Welcome back to another episode of Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I'm tackling a belief I encourage every one of my students to hold: publishers and agents aren't just open to your ideas, they're actively waiting for them.

I share the real story behind my first book deal, including the year I spent sitting on a business card before I found the courage to send my idea, and how that single decision led to four cookbooks with three different publishers over the next ten years and a life built around writing cookbooks and coaching cookbook writers.

...

Welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast! Today I'm talking about something I hear all the time, from people who visit my table at events and from readers on my own email list: the belief that there are already too many cookbooks. I went through a season where I believed this myself. I really did not think there was a need for any more cookbooks, mine included. If that thought has ever crossed your mind, I want you to know you are not alone, and I want to tell you why I no longer believe it.<...

Welcome back to the Cookbook Love Podcast! Before I launched my recent masterclass about how to grow your audience for a cookbook, I sent my email list two questions: what's holding you back from growing your audience, and what do you want answered in the class? In this solo episode, I'm sharing the answers my readers sent in, along with a mindset shift for each one, so you can see whether you're standing in the same gap they are.

In this episode, I discuss:

Welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast! Today we're getting into the myths I hear most often about what it actually takes to grow a cookbook audience.  Over the years, I keep hearing the same things repeated as if they're facts, and these are costly. They cost time, momentum, a book deal, book sales, or even the book itself. So today I'm walking through five of the biggest myths about audience growth, what's actually true underneath them, and why clearing them up now (not later) matters so much for cookbook authors.

In this episode, w...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today's episode is for the chef, the dietitian, the culinary professional who has a cookbook in them, and who has also been told that getting published means getting on TikTok.

If you've ever had your teenager laugh at you for trying to "be on camera," or quietly wondered whether your cookbook dream is dead simply because you refuse to perform for an algorithm, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

What publishers actually mean when they say "platform" and why it's...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today, I'm joined by Dora Ramirez. Dora Ramirez didn't set out to reinvent Mexican cuisine. She wanted to uncover the stories, ingredients, and traditions that were already there.

Before we get started: 

If you're a dietitian, chef, or culinary professional who wants to publish a cookbook with a traditional publishing house, I invite you to join my upcoming Grow Your Audience masterclass. You'll learn how to build an audience publishers value — without relying on social media algorithms — by creating a community, sharing your message, and testing cookb...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today, I'm joined by Sarah Trad, author of A House in the Lebanese Mountains: Recipes and Stories from Beit Trad. 

Before we get started, I'd love your help. I'm creating a brand-new class for aspiring cookbook authors who want to build the audience publishers are looking for. If you've ever wondered how to grow your visibility, connect with future readers, or strengthen your cookbook proposal before pitching publishers, I'd love to hear what questions you want answered. I've put together a quick, two-question survey, and your feedback will h...

What do comedy and death have to do with cookbook writing? In this episode, Maggie talks with comedian and first-generation Greek American Gus Constantellis about his debut cookbook, My Mom's Greek Recipes. Their conversation explores far more than recipes. It touches on storytelling, vulnerability, family traditions, grief, and the unexpected journey from writing a cookbook without a publisher to signing a traditional book deal.

Whether you're writing a cookbook, preserving family recipes, or wondering how personal stories can strengthen your work, this episode offers both inspiration and practical insight.

In this episode, you'll discover:

What can traditional drinking rituals teach us about writing a cookbook that celebrates culture and community?

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I sit down with Irene Yoo, food writer, recipe developer, and co-owner of Orion Bar in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Irene shares how she translated the vibrant world of Korean hospitality into her James Beard Award-winning cookbook, Soju Party: How to Drink and Eat Like a Korean. Our conversation explores why the most impactful cookbooks do more than list ingredients. They act as visual cultural statements, honor culinary heritage, and bring people together...

What can vintage cookbooks teach us about writing a cookbook readers will treasure? Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I sit down with Bobby Hicks, creator of Retro Recipes Kitchen and author of Retro Recipes: Vintage Dishes with a Modern Twist. Bobby shares how he combined his background as a videographer with his love of vintage recipes to build Retro Recipes Kitchen. This social media brand eventually led to a traditional cookbook deal. Our conversation explores why the most memorable cookbooks offer more than recipes. They preserve culture, spark nostalgia, and invite readers to gather...

What does it really cost to go from dreaming about writing a cookbook to signing a book deal?

Many aspiring cookbook authors assume they need a large budget, professional photography equipment, or significant upfront investments before they can pursue publication. In this episode, I break down the actual costs of writing and publishing a cookbook with a traditional publisher and explain why the most important investments are often not financial at all.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why many of the key steps in the traditional publishing process, from writing and pitching a pr...

The James Beard Awards are often called the "Oscars of the Food World," recognizing excellence in culinary arts, food writing, and cookbook publishing. In this episode, we celebrate three remarkable Cookbook Love Podcast guests whose books were honored by the James Beard Foundation this year and explore why cookbook awards matter so much in the culinary world.

In This Episode:

• Discover what makes cookbook awards such as the James Beard Awards influential in the publishing and culinary industries.

• Celebrate Sapna Punjabi, author of Dal Chawal, a James Beard Award nominee whose work highlights the...

In Episode 393, I discussed how an author platform is not just about visibility or follower count but something far more foundational. Since then, I keep thinking about this idea that a platform is not only something you build for publishing, but it is something that is actively forming you as an author while you build it.

Today, I want to explore something that is still deeply misunderstood by many aspiring cookbook authors: what a platform actually does beyond getting you noticed.

Because while publishers do care about platform, the real question is not whether your...

Most aspiring cookbook authors believe they need more time before they can start writing. But what if the real challenge isn't time at all?

Today, in this episode, I share a powerful mindset shift that has helped hundreds of cookbook writers move from "someday" to steady progress. You learn why waiting for a quieter season rarely works and how creating simple, repeatable containers for your writing can help you gain momentum even in the middle of a busy life.

In This Episode You Discover:

How to stop waiting for more time and start...

Welcome to another episode of Cookbook Love Podcast,

Register for the How to Master Cookbook Design and Photography Workshop 

If you want to understand what publishers are really looking for before they say yes to a cookbook this is the show for you. In this episode, I share why recipes and beautiful photography are not always the deciding factor in getting a book deal and introduce a special live workshop on cookbook design and photography taught by a senior art director from a major cookbook publisher. If you've ever wondered who handles the visuals, what p...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today on the show I present an interview with Sheldon Simeon about his new cookbook, Ohana Style.

Born and raised in Maui, Sheldon is a chef, restaurateur, husband, father, and former Top Chef competitor. Alongside his wife Tiffany, he owns Tiffany's and Tin Roof Maui. In this conversation, Sheldon shares the deeper meaning of "ohana" and how the spirit of hospitality, family, and community shaped both his life and his cooking.

Listeners will hear:

The difference between indigenous Hawaiian cuisine and plantation-era immigrant influences<...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Before we get started, the doors are now open for Cookbook Writing Foundations for a very limited time, my new program for aspiring cookbook authors who want to move from cookbook idea to clear direction.

Inside the program, I'll help you stop sitting on your cookbook idea and finally begin building it with confidence. Whether you want to preserve family recipes, share your expertise, grow your business, or create something meaningful to pass on, this program will help you make the decisions and take the steps...

Welcome to Episode 400 of the Cookbook Love Podcast!

If you've been thinking about writing a cookbook, collecting recipes, organizing ideas, or waiting for the right time to begin, I invite you to join my free masterclass happening now:

Stop Dreaming About Writing a Cookbook, Start with a Clear Plan.

Inside the class, I'll walk you through the decisions that actually move cookbook projects forward so you can stop circling the idea and start building your book with clarity and direction. If writing a cookbook has been on your heart for a while, this...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Today I'm talking with Katherine Anderson, owner of The London Plane, a restaurant, flower shop, and bakery that became a meaningful community gathering space.

When The London Plane closed in 2023, Katherine chose not to let the story end there. In this conversation, we talk about the vision behind her book, The London Plane Flower and Cook Book, created to capture the spirit of the space and preserve what it meant to so many people.

Inside this episode:

How the restaurant, flower shop...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Today I talk about why your cookbook can feel like it's not going anywhere, even when you're actively working on it—and how a lack of direction underneath the work creates hidden costs that most people don't see at first.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why recipe writing, organizing, and planning can still feel like you're not making progress
• The hidden costs of working without a clear direction for your cookbook
• How lack of direction affects time, money, momentum, and decision-making
•...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

In this episode, I'm sharing something personal. There's a lot of conversation right now about AI. How to use it, how to move faster, how to generate more. And while I do use it in certain ways, I've found myself coming back to something very different that is not faster or more. 

In this episode, I walk you through the rhythm I've developed to support how I think, write, and cook. These are simple practices I return to every day and every week, not as a s...

In this episode, I'm joined by chef, author, and vintage curator Spring Council to talk about her beautiful new book Southern Roots. Spring spent over 50 years working in her family's restaurant, Mama Dip's Kitchen, where she learned firsthand how food creates connection, community, and lasting memories. In our conversation, we talk about how that experience shaped her cookbook — from the stories she tells to the recipes she creates — and what it really looks like to bring a book like this to life.

In this episode, we talk about:

What "Mama Dip's University" taught her about food...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.  Today I'm excited to have an interview with Hannah Dasher. Hannah is a country music artist, creator, and author of Stand By Your Pan.

Hannah built a loyal audience during quarantine by sharing nostalgic, personality-filled cooking videos—and has now turned that visibility into a cookbook rooted in Southern food, storytelling, and style.

In this conversation, we talk about how her online presence shaped her book, the recipes and traditions behind it, and the practical techniques that bring her cooking to life.

In this epi...

What if your cookbook idea doesn't match your profession?  In this episode, I'm talking about one of the most common and costly questions I hear from aspiring cookbook authors, especially experts like dietitians, chefs, and health professionals. Many people assume their cookbook needs to match their credentials. That it should sound serious, clinical, or highly technical to be taken seriously. But publishing doesn't work that way.

Publishers are not buying credentials alone. They're looking for ideas readers care about and that often comes from something much more personal. In this episode, I share my own experience navigating t...

Many aspiring cookbook authors believe they need a huge social media following before a publisher will take them seriously. But in traditional publishing, follower count alone is not what gets a cookbook deal.

In this episode, I talk about what publishers are really looking for when they ask about your platform. They want to know whether you have real relationships with people who know you, trust you, engage with your work, and are likely to buy your book. I also share why writing, conversation, and proof of engagement matter so much more than chasing random followers.

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Most people think the outcome of writing a cookbook is the finished book, but I've seen something much bigger happen along the way. In this episode, I explore what really happens when we choose a meaningful creative challenge like writing a cookbook.

Many cookbook writers I work with are already successful professionals: chefs, dietitians, coaches, and entrepreneurs who decide to write a book not because they have to, but because the work matters to them. I share the unexpected benefits I've seen from writing a cookbook...

Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast.

Today I'm excited to share a conversation with Helen Goh, the author of the beautiful new cookbook Baking and the Meaning of Life: How to Find Joy in 100 Recipes.

Helen is widely known for her work as a recipe developer with Yotam Ottolenghi, co-authoring the New York Times bestselling books Sweet and Comfort. In this episode, we talk about her debut solo cookbook and the deeper meaning behind baking.

Helen brings a unique perspective to the kitchen. In addition to her acclaimed baking work...

Many aspiring cookbook authors believe they need to finish writing their book before pitching it to publishers. It sounds logical — but it often leads to years of uncertainty, backtracking, and stalled momentum.

In this episode, Maggie explains why traditional cookbook publishing is a process, not a guessing game, and how clarity — not a finished manuscript — is what leads to a book deal and an advance.

You'll learn:

• why publishers buy concepts, positioning, and authors — not finished manuscripts
• how lack of clarity creates hesitation for agents and editors
• the hidden trap of writing first...

Today I'm excited to have an interview with Abby Cheshire. Abby is a private chef, culinary educator, and content creator best known for her social media presence as @abbyinthegalley. With experience cooking on luxury yachts and for private clients, Abby shares what it's really like to work as a chef from high-pressure yacht kitchens to immersive dinner events while teaching accessible global recipes and telling stories through food.

Before we get started, I want to share a quick invitation. If you are a food, nutrition, or culinary expert — a chef, dietitian, food blogger, culinary educator, caterer, or pa...

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the podcast. Before we dive into our interview today, I want to let you know I have a very special masterclass coming up called How to Get Paid to Write a Cookbook. In this clas,s I will help you:

Discover what traditional publishers want in 2026

Position yourself for a publishing deal without years of trial & error 

Craft a viable cookbook concept that attracts agents & publishers 

Build three deal-ready essentials to help you feel prepared 

To register, head over to Cookbook Wri...

In today's episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast, Maggie sits down with former student and now published cookbook author Nina Greipel, creator of Gasthaus: Cookbook & Memories.

Before we dive in, I want to invite you to register for my upcoming masterclass — Get Paid to Write a Cookbook. If you're a food, nutrition, or culinary expert who dreams of writing a cookbook and attracting a traditional publishing deal, this masterclass will walk you through what publishers are looking for in 2026, how to craft a cookbook concept that stands out, and how advances really work. You can register for th...

In today's episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast, Maggie sits down with chef and cookbook author Emily Maxon, whose newest book Real Food, Every Day was born out of a life-changing health journey.

Emily is a trained chef and lifelong food lover who, at age 28, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. That diagnosis led her to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet — a rigorous way of eating designed to support gut health and healing. Drawing on her years of experience as a chef and caterer, Emily made it her mission to create recipes that not only met the diet's strict gu...

Today on the Cookbook Love Podcast, I am honored to welcome Pyet Despain, a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Tribe, award-winning global private chef, and the first winner of Gordon Ramsay's groundbreaking competition series Next Level Chef. Pyets's life and work are rooted in Indigenous fusion cuisine, where she weaves together the food traditions of her Native American and Mexican heritage. Through her cooking, storytelling, and travel, Pyet is dedicated to uplifting Indigenous culture and honoring the traditions passed down through generations.

Originally from the Osage Indian Reservation in Kansas City, Kansas, Pyet now resides...