To continue Season 3 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with the vibrant and deeply soulful Marisa Mariella - culinary creator, educator, storyteller, and the heart behind Marisa’s Easy Kitchen.

More than a cook, Marisa is a passionate believer in the power of food to connect people, preserve culture, support mental wellness, and create community. Raised in an Italian-Canadian household by immigrant parents from Calabria, Italy, Marisa grew up understanding that food was never just food - it was love, identity, resilience, and deep care.

In this warm, heartfelt, and inspiring conversation, Marisa spills the tea on:

• Growing up in a home where food, faith, family, and friends were everything
• The lessons she learned from her mother about creating abundance from very little
• Why respecting food (and not wasting it) became a lifelong value
• Her 30-year career as a teacher and guidance counsellor and how that work shaped her purpose
• Creating the iMatter teen mental health and suicide prevention program
• Overcoming self-doubt to launch a television show and step into entrepreneurship later in life
• Building a business rooted in authenticity, culture, and connection
• Why she refuses to dim her light to make others comfortable

Marisa also reflects on the deeper meaning behind gathering around a table - and why she wants every person who experiences her food to feel loved, accepted, and at home. (I can now say that I've experienced this thanks to the homemade biscotti delivery!)

At the heart of this episode is a beautiful reminder: Food feeds more than hunger - it feeds connection, healing, memory, and community. This episode feels like sitting at the kitchen table with a glass of wine, a plate of pasta, and someone who reminds you what really matters.

Season 3 – Episode 2 is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E. Connect with Marisa Mariella online at https://marisamariella.com and on Instagram @marisamariella for Marisa’s Easy Kitchen for recipes, events, culture, and community storytelling.

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

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