✨ Want to host holiday gatherings this year that feel effortless? (Hint: The secret to effortless parties is in the prep work)
This week’s episode is for you.

I’m joined by Licia Householder — Hamptons Private Chef, CIA-trained, and co-author of 12 Loaves & Fishes cookbooks — and she’s sharing the hosting shortcuts, prep tips, and mindset shifts she uses for both clients and her own family.

In this episode:

🍽️ How Licia entertains with ease
🥕 What actually matters when guests look back on your gatherings
🗒️ Smart prep strategies you can steal for the holidays
👩‍🍳 Her path to becoming a chef — and how motherhood has shaped the way she feeds her own family
🏡 How to make hosting feel fun, elevated, and doable (even mid-week)

And of course, we get to hear the story of her rage bait video that went viral.

It’s warm, inspiring, and full of the kind of tips that make parties so much fun to host & attend.

If you’re a mom, a creative, or someone who wants to uplevel your entertaining game this season — this episode is a must.

And Licia also offers a recipe subscription. Just head to her IG to sign up: @liciahouseholder

New episodes every Wednesday.

Enjoy!

@noelleettoi

Today on Behind the Scenes with Noëlle, I’m joined by Rachel Hochhauser—writer, brand builder, and co-founder of Piecework, the cult-favorite puzzle brand that transformed a sleepy category into a design-forward obsession.

Rachel shares the unlikely Yosemite weekend that sparked the idea of Piecework. By 2019, Piecework launched with four puzzles and a mission to refresh a sleepy category with design, wit, and world-building. Within months, their puzzles were landing in Vogue, Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and beyond. And then came 2020. From February to March, as the world locked down and families looked for screen-free connection, Piecework saw a staggering 910% increase in retail sales.

We talk about creativity, burnout, building a visually iconic brand, and juggling it all while raising two young daughters.

Rachel also opens up about her next chapter: writing her debut novel, Lady Tremaine—a feminist, emotionally rich reimagining of Cinderella told from the perspective of its most misunderstood woman. She began drafting the book during her husband’s near-death experience, as a creative & therapeutic outlet.

If you love founder stories, creativity, reinvention, or conversations about ambition and motherhood, you’ll love this one.

This conversation is for anyone who loves:
✨ Beautiful design
✨ Brand-building origin stories
✨ The art of reinvention
✨ Honest talk about motherhood
✨ Women carving nonlinear creative paths
✨ Or simply… a really good puzzle

@noelleettoi

We’re done with diet culture — and Rachael Schwartz explains what to do instead.

Today’s conversation is such a good one. ✨
I loved spending an hour with Rachael Schwartz, a nutrition coach (and fellow mom) whose approach to health is grounded, smart, refreshingly realistic and hilarious- we laugh so much during this episode. Rachael keeps it REAL.

We talk about growing up in the 80s and 90s, the myths that shaped how we think about food, and how Rachael built a thriving coaching business that helps women feel strong and confident — without the all-or-nothing mindset. We talk about steps to take to invest in yourself to start a business, creating work boundaries (specifically for those in a service based industry), pricing your services, creating packages...and so much more.

From protein and strength training to finding balance through the holidays, this episode is packed with practical advice and an honest conversation about what wellness can look like today no matter your age. And no, you don't need to start making wraps with cottage cheese to lose those last 10lbs.

🎧 Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts — and swipe for a few favorite quotes from our chat.

@noelleettoi