Joy Curated

15 Episodes
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By: Cindy Peterson

What if confidence in the kitchen didn't come from perfection, but from curiosity? Joy Curated is for anyone who loves food, values quality products, and believes the kitchen is where everyday life comes together. This food and lifestyle podcast is all about confidence, curiosity, and connection in the kitchen and everyday life — without the pressure to get it perfect. Hosted by Cindy Peterson, co-founder of Berry + Basil, a thoughtfully curated kitchen store in downtown Chamberlain, South Dakota, this show carries the same spirit as the store — every product on our shelves is intentionally curated to support real cooking and to serve...

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Bringing Back Sunday Dinners: Connection and Confidence with Chef Jeni
#14
Today at 5:00 AM

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Cindy and Jeni Bergan's conversation focused on the real-life journey of transitioning from an unlikely start in the kitchen to running a successful catering business. 

A key theme that emerged was the pervasive feeling of imposter syndrome — even after 25 years of professional experience — and how the pressure for perfection can keep people from enjoying cooking or believing they deserve nice things in their kitchens.

The discussion explored 

the challenges of entering the world of food without classical training the sometimes unnecessary competitiveness of the culinary worldthe belief that everyon...


Exploring Coffee, Wine, and Cake Decorating with Miriam at Berry & Basil
08/11/2026

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This episode pulls back the curtain at Berry & Basil to introduce a key figure behind the store’s unique energy: Miriam Schultz, the store manager whose diverse passions and talents help keep everything running beautifully. 

Cindy and Miriam dig into Miriam’s journey — from living across the country, to her deep connection with coffee and wine, to her stunning cake-decorating skills that have captivated the community. 

The discussion explored her 

transition from preschool teaching to being part of the Berry & Basil team, her expertise in coffee and wine (and why sh...


How Beautiful Kitchen Towels Spark Joy and Community with Jodi Kostelnik
#12
07/14/2026

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Have you ever found yourself in a lunch line, only to end up deep in conversation with a complete stranger and walk away inspired? 

That’s exactly how today’s episode of Joy Curated begins, with a chance encounter at an Atlanta market with Jodi Kostelnik, the creative force behind The Neighborgoods. 

Jodi’s vibrant, food-themed dish towels and gifts now brighten kitchens worldwide — and she’s just opened her own flagship store inside D.C.'s Reagan National Airport.

In our conversation, we explore how following a curious cr...


From Potlucks to Oprah: The Magic of Insulated Bowls and Pitchers
#11
06/30/2026

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Cindy sits down with Bryn Wilson, a former attorney who transformed a simple, real-life frustration into a thriving business. After years of bringing wilted salads and cold casseroles to potlucks, Bryn invented Served, a line of beautifully designed, insulated serveware that keeps food hot or cold, and has even landed a spot on Oprah’s Favorite Things list.

Join Cindy and Bryn as they dive into:

the realities of entrepreneurship, discuss the importance of functional design, advice on following through on product ideas, a killer mojito recipe, and how simple soluti...


Cooking With Confidence: Lessons on Heat, Fat, and Stainless Steel
#10
06/16/2026

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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 i...


Elevating Small Town Kitchens: The Brick Kitchen's Story
#9
06/02/2026

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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 re...


What Knife Should I Buy? Cangshan’s Ed Bartush Shares the Essentials
#8
05/19/2026

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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 blo...


Let Fun, Colorful Kitchen Tools Create Family Memories
#7
05/05/2026

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Cindy Peterson sits down with Molly Hauge from Talisman Designs to explore the story behind one of the kitchen industry’s most joyful and innovative brands. 

Together, they discuss how Talisman Designs has spent the last 25 years bringing happiness into the kitchen through colorful, practical, and thoughtfully crafted tools — many inspired by everyday family moments. 

From crowd-favorite gadgets like Butter Boy and the adjustable pie shield, to creative solutions for bacon lovers and apple spiralizers, you’ll hear how these products are designed not just to make life easier, but to e...


Knife Skills Unlocked: Expert Tips for Sharper, Safer Kitchen Tools
#6
04/21/2026

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Host Cindy Peterson and Darian Tomas, co-founder of a unique knife-sharpening solution, dig into the real-life frustrations home cooks face with their kitchen tools — and learn some new vocabulary while they're at it! 

From the dilemma of never using prized chef’s knives out of fear of ruining them, to common mistakes we make when storing and sharpening knives, Darian shares his journey from a small Canadian town to developing an accessible product designed for busy families. 

Together, they cover everything from the science of blade angles and the pitfal...


Stand Mixers Reimagined: Old School Durability Meets Modern Needs
#5
04/07/2026

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In this episode, host Cindy Peterson is joined by Ashley Mccord, a longtime expert and advocate for the Ankarsrum mixer — a Swedish heritage kitchen appliance with a rich history dating back to 1940, and so versatile that it’s been called “the assistant” for decades. 

From its unique bottom-motor design and versatile attachments to its reputation as an heirloom-quality appliance, they discuss why investing in quality tools transforms both your confidence and creativity in the kitchen. Whether you're baking bread, making (smoked!) butter, or tackling monster cookies, a quality stand mixer is truly is...


The Ultimate Dream Apology Gift List, Plus Emerging Kitchen Trends
#4
03/24/2026

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Cindy shares her first solo adventure at the Inspired Home Show (IHA) in Chicago, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how this event stands apart from typical markets — and why it’s such a big deal for kitchen store owners. You’ll hear about her favorite discoveries, chats with the actual makers behind beloved kitchen brands, and some exciting product trends coming soon to Berry + Basil.

But the true gold in this episode is just how relatable Cindy’s dream is and her response. Who hasn’t had a vivid dream where your partn...


From Crazy Idea to Community Staple: Launching Berry + Basil
#1
03/10/2026

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Welcome to the very first episode of Joy Curated! Join Cindy Peterson, co-founder of Berry + Basil in Chamberlain, South Dakota, as she sits down with her longtime friend and business partner Angi Hanzlik for an honest, lighthearted conversation. 

They discuss the origins of their thoughtfully curated kitchen store, and the joyful, sometimes wild, journey of launching a small business in the heart of rural America.

In this episode, Cindy and Angi reminisce about dreaming big, taking risks and following their mission to inspire people to cook, entertain and gather — no...


Fresh Flavor, Easy Joy: Why A Quality Pepper Grinder Earns a Place in Real Kitchens
#2
03/10/2026

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In this episode, Cindy brings on David Nelson from Finamill — a company that's aiming to change not just how we grind pepper, but how we experience all spices.

Together, they share the inspiration behind Finamill’s unique spice mill, from overcoming the frustrations of manual grinders to enabling home cooks to easily experiment with flavors. 

Dave opens up about the engineering journey that led to a simple, one-handed, pod-based system for fresh spices, making it easier than ever to switch between flavors — even for those with busy hands or mobilit...


Navigating Kitchen Trends: Social Media Virality vs. Thoughtful Curation
#3
03/10/2026

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There is a fascinating intersection of independent kitchen stores and the whirlwind of viral product trends shaping what we use in our kitchens every day. Cindy’s joined by Robert McGinnis, COO of the HTI Buying Group and the popular face behind @robhomecook on TikTok and Instagram — a guest who truly sees both sides of the kitchen product world, from industry insiders to online sensation.

In this episode, Cindy and Robert open up about the realities of curating products for independent stores — why quality, utility and customer trust always come before follow...


Build Confidence in the Kitchen With the Joy Curated Podcast
02/19/2026

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What if confidence in the kitchen didn't come from perfection, but from curiosity? Welcome to Joy Curated. I'm Cindy Peterson, co-founder of Berry and Basil, a gourmet kitchen store in downtown Chamberlain, South Dakota. 

Our store and this podcast share the same beliefs: good food and well-made tools bring people together. 

Each episode features relaxed, honest conversations with designers, makers, and food experts about how products are made, how they perform in real kitchens, and how to choose tools that genuinely support the way you cook. 

No tre...