Guest: Sara Cann — co‑founder of Birdie's Batch. (birdiesbatch.com)

Topics we cover in this episode:

• Sara's transition out of the restaurant industry and why the pandemic created the opportunity to start a cottage‑food business.
• The practical and emotional challenges of launching and scaling a home‑based food business.
• How a cancer diagnosis changed Sara's priorities, influenced her business decisions, and shaped her outlook on life (personal reflections and lessons learned).
• The role of family, community markets, and ingredient sourcing in building a brand people trust.
• Advice for other food entrepreneurs about resilience, keeping product quality consistent, and finding balance.

This episode marks our exciting first interview as Ben & Nicole welcome Jasmin Parks-Papadopoulos from CHOW (Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness)!

• Jasmin shares the mission of CHOW and the inspiring story behind its founding.
• She discusses her personal CHOW success story and its impact on her life and career.
• The conversation highlights the importance of CHOW's movement to break old patterns and stigma in the culinary and hospitality industries.
• She shares the variety of free resources CHOW offers for culinary and hospitality workers at all levels, encouraging listeners to seek help and support.
• For more information about CHOW and their initiatives, visit chowco.org

Episode 9: Therapy in the Oven: Keeping Yourself From Getting Burnt

In this insightful episode of the Baking Therapy podcast, hosts Ben and Nicole take a unique approach as they engage in a candid conversation about work-life balance. Here are the highlights:

• This episode follows up on their previous discussion about burnout but feels more like an authentic therapy session.
• Nicole shares her personal struggle with over-committing and the exhaustion that follows.
• Ben conducts a deep dive into the root causes of Nicole's tendency to over-schedule herself.
• Together, they explore practical strategies that bakers can implement to avoid falling into the same traps.
• Tune in to catch a teaser about an upcoming interview episode featuring a representative from the non-profit organization Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness (chowco.org), who focuses on mental health in the culinary/hospitality industry.

Join us for this honest exploration and practical advice on maintaining a healthier work-life balance in the demanding world of baking & pastry.