Alessandra Ciuffo joins the pod to talk about being on Food Network’s “Hot List” and winning Guy’s Grocery Games at just 15 years old. She opens up about why social media wasn’t always part of the plan, and how documenting every single day of culinary school helped her truly “find her culinary voice”. She also shares why teaching people how to cook matters, how she balances classical training with nonna intuition, and why midnight pasta might just be the ultimate comfort food.

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Chef Mei Lin returns to the pod to talk about her Beverly Hills restaurant 88 Club, where nostalgic Chinese flavors meet a moody dining room and serious vibes. She shares how dishes like shrimp toast and Namu chicken connect to her childhood and why this chapter of her cooking feels more personal and unapologetic than ever.

Mei also dives into festival cooking, Lunar New Year collaborations, and the energy of live food events before opening up about her newest role as a judge on Tournament of Champions. She talks blind judging, missing the adrenaline of competing, and how social media trends are starting to show up on competition plates.

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HGTV stars Jenny and Dave Marrs join the pod to talk about season seven of Fixer to Fabulous. They open up about filming real life (mistakes and all), how Bentonville has changed since season one, and why authenticity is at the core of everything they do.

The couple also dives into farm life and how growing their own food reshaped their relationship with meals and local farmers. Their love of Italy comes up too, especially the country’s deep-rooted food traditions, long meals, and hospitality-first lifestyle that now inspires both their cooking and their home designs.

They share why the kitchen table is the true heart of their home, how antique pieces bring soul into modern spaces, and why craftsmanship still matters.

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Designer, author, and TV host Bobby Berk joins the pod to talk about the unexpected ways food and family shape the spaces we live in. He opens up about how his upbringing influenced his design philosophy, why kitchens are always the emotional center of a home, and how comfort (both visual and emotional) guides every project he touches.

Bobby also shares what he’s learned from years in front of the camera, the balance between function and feeling, and why creating welcoming spaces isn’t all that different from cooking a great meal. Plus: thoughtful design splurges, the power of small details, and what “home” really means at this stage of his life.

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Bryan and Michael Voltaggio return to the pod to talk holiday cooking, family rituals, and their big Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas victory. They share childhood memories: from sausage balls to two-house Christmases. And how those traditions influence the way they cook for their own families today.

The brothers open up about working together at their hometown restaurant, the emotional stakes of competing as a team, and the moment they realized they might actually win it all. Plus: Boursin-stuffing brilliance, massive lasagnas, onesie-clad fast-food holidays, and a story about a very unfortunate playlist choice.

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Chef, author, and Emmy-winning host Kardea Brown returns to the pod to reflect on marriage, a new restaurant, two cookbooks, and her ever-growing Food Network family. She shares how her Gullah Geechee roots remain the heartbeat of everything she cooks, why her new book Make Do With What You Have is a love letter to resourceful home cooks, and the emotional stories behind the dishes that shaped her childhood.

Kardea also takes us behind the scenes of Holiday Baking Championship, from Team Naughty vs. Team Nice to Duff and Nancy’s hilarious dynamic. Plus, she talks about restaurant life at Charleston Airport, family pride, and what she hopes 2026 brings.

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Chef Michael Jenkins joins Jaymee to talk about his festive return to Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown and how he channels calm in the chaos of high-pressure TV kitchens. He shares the pivotal moments that shaped his culinary journey from discovering food through wrestling and travel to training under Alex Guarnaschelli at Butter. Michael also breaks down his modern American style, the dish that best represents him, and why holiday cooking brings out both nostalgia and big creative swings.

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Actor and host Oliver Hudson joins the podcast to kick off the holiday season and share the heart-warming (and hilarious) stories behind his family’s legendary Christmas traditions. From Kurt Russell’s unforgettable sleigh-track illusion to Goldie Hawn’s famous biscuits and gravy.

Oliver opens up about stepping into his first-ever hosting role for Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition, Food Network and Magnolia Network’s newest holiday spectacle. He reflects on the creativity and emotion behind the builds, the surprising depth of the contestants’ stories, and why this show feels like “a big, cozy hug in TV form.”

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