Baking Therapy

John Kanell was a middle school math and science teacher before he turned his love of food into Preppy Kitchen, one of the most popular baking channels online. He's now a two-time New York Times bestselling author, and his third cookbook, Preppy Kitchen Everyday Baking: Because It's Always Time for Dessert, is out October 13, 2026. In this episode, John talks about leaving the classroom to build a food business from home, why he turned down his first book deal, and how he learned to let go of doing everything himself so he could still have a life outside his work. In this episode we cover: How John's husband encouraged him to combine his two passions, food and teaching, and why starting on Instagram with video first gave him an early edge Why "nobody can taste your food online" changed how he styles and photographs his bakes, and how his fine arts background helped Why you should start before things are perfect, and how failing teaches you the fastest Avoiding burnout by focusing on "the things only you can do" and getting help with the rest, plus how hard it is for artists and bakers to let go of control Why he turned down an early cookbook deal, and how moving from L.A. to a Connecticut farm inspired his first book Favorite recipes from the new book, including a Meyer lemon biscuit roll and ultra-buttery brioche conchas Bringing kids into the kitchen and why hands-on baking is such a powerful way to learn (fractions, anyone?) His closing advice: baking doesn't have to be a business to be a priority in your life To learn more about John, visit preppykitchen.com, follow him on Instagram at @preppykitchen, and subscribe on YouTube. Order Preppy Kitchen Everyday Baking at Simon & Schuster, Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your favorite bookstore.

Christin Marvin started as a line cook at 15 and became a managing partner by 30 — over the past two decades she's helped open 13 restaurants and scaled an independent hospitality group from 6 to 48 locations, and now runs Columbine Hospitality, coaching food and beverage business owners on leadership, systems, hiring, and culture. In this episode, she joins us to talk honestly about hustle culture, burnout, and how to build a business that scales without burning you out in the process. In this episode we cover: What "hustle culture" looks like in the restaurant and food industry, and how it can quietly turn toxic The physical, mental, and emotional signs of burnout — and how Christin worked through her own using tools like positive intelligence to quiet her inner critic How to build systems that create more freedom instead of stifling creativity Why letting go of control and learning to delegate is one of the hardest (and most important) parts of scaling A favorite client success story about growing leaders from within a team To learn more about Christin, visit irfbook.com

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.