Not From Concentrate

Catherine Smart
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A lot of food, a little bit all over the place.  A food podcast for busy brains from cook/writer/mom/ADHD-er Catherine Smart.Tune in for conversations with chefs, authors, creators, and neurodivergent food lovers. We talk personal and professional journeys, sparking creativity, calming chaos, and putting our attention where it matters most. Together, we find joy in (and out of) the kitchen.

  1. 1 day ago

    Food Budgeting for Busy Brains with Meghan Splawn

    Food writer, recipe developer, and longtime meal-planning expert Meghan Splawn joins Catherine to talk about the emotional, practical, and very real work of getting a food budget under control. After realizing her family had spent more than $32,000 in a year on groceries, dining out, coffee, Costco runs, and food in general, Meghan began publicly documenting her effort to cut that spending in half. In this conversation, she shares why tracking is the first step, how food spending can become tangled up with shame and identity, and why budgeting does not have to mean giving up good food. Catherine and Meghan talk about impulse grocery buys, ADHD-friendly systems, low- and no-spend weeks, freezer meals, meal planning without perfectionism, and the joy of using up what you already have. They also get into the “sludge of shame,” unidentified frozen objects, pantry roulette, and why a plate of frozen dumplings and edamame can sometimes save the whole week. This episode is for anyone who loves food, feels overwhelmed by food spending, or wants a calmer, more realistic way to cook at home. In this episode:  Why tracking your food spending comes before setting a budget   How money and food shame show up in the kitchen   Meghan’s food budget diary and weekly tracking system   Low-spend and no-spend week strategies   Meal planning for people who hate meal planning   ADHD-friendly fridge, freezer, and pantry systems   Budget-friendly “emergency meals” to keep on hand   How to spend less without taking the joy out of food

    51 min
  2. Introducing Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel

    1 day ago

    Introducing Wayfinder: Life-Changing Travel

    In this mini episode, Catherine presents the Wayfinder podcast. It’s a podcast about travel journeys that transform us, told through immersive stories of places, people, and moments that stay with you even once you are back home. Give it a listen, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

    2 min

  3. 26 May

    You Can Cook Indian Food at Home with Heartland Masala

    When Indian food is on the menu at Catherine’s house, it usually means ordering dosa, saag paneer, and cauliflower Manchurian from a favorite local spot. But why do so many of us love eating Indian food while feeling intimidated to cook it at home? This week, Catherine is joined by Auyon and Jyoti Mukharji, the son-mother duo behind Heartland Masala, for a warm, funny, and practical conversation about bringing Indian cooking into your own kitchen. They talk about:  Why Indian home cooking doesn’t have to feel overwhelming   Building confidence with spices, techniques, and pantry staples   Family recipes, tradition, and adaptation across generations   What American home cooks often misunderstand about Indian food   How Heartland Masala makes this rich culinary tradition more accessible  Whether you’ve always wanted to dust off your spice grinder or you’re simply curious to learn more about the depth and diversity of Indian cuisine, this episode is a delicious place to start. Subscribe to the newsletter at catherinesmart.com for companion essays, recipes, and more from Not From Concentrate.

    46 min

  4. 19 May

    Veg Forward Local Hawai'i Food with Alana Kysar

    This week, Catherine chats with cookbook author, photographer, and recipe developer Alana Kysar about the rich, comforting world of local Hawaii food — and how she transformed some of Hawaii’s most beloved flavors into vegetable-forward recipes in her new cookbook, Aloha Veggies.  They dive into the cultural influences that shape Hawaii’s culinary identity, and why dishes like katsu, laulau, poke, and plate lunches are about so much more than vacation food. Alana also shares what it’s like to photograph her own cookbooks, navigate the modern food media landscape, and build a creative career that spans blogging, writing, recipe development, and photography.  Plus:  Why Hawaii cuisine is far cozier (and more comforting) than people expect   The surprising challenge of “vegifying” traditional dishes   What Alana always keeps in her pantry   The creative freedom of writing a second cookbook   How California changed the way she thinks about vegetables   Cleaning as a strategy for calming a busy brain  If you love food, Hawaii, cookbooks, creativity, or thoughtful conversations about cooking and culture, this episode is for you.  Follow Not From Concentrate wherever you get your podcasts.

    42 min

  5. 12 May

    Chef Spencer Horovitz on ADHD, Finding Calm in the Kitchen & California-Jewish Cuisine

    This week on Not From Concentrate, Catherine sits down with chef Spencer Horovitz , a 2025 James Beard semifinalist and the founder of Hadeem, a beloved California-Jewish Cuisine concept that's been popping up in San Francisco.  But this episode goes far beyond food. Spencer speaks candidly about living and working with ADHD in the high-pressure world of professional kitchens: the burnout, shame, impulsivity, time blindness, and sensory overload — but also the creativity, resilience, and self-awareness that ultimately helped him build a career that actually works with his brain instead of against it. Catherine and Spencer talk about:  Why fine dining kitchens can be especially difficult for ADHD brains   The accommodations and systems that genuinely help in restaurant life   Hyper-focus, multitasking, and “boy dinner”   Why labels, handwriting, and putting things away can feel impossible   ADHD-friendly cooking strategies that actually work   The emotional side of feeding yourself when your brain is overwhelmed   Culinary school, restaurant culture, and redefining success   Spencer’s California-Jewish cuisine philosophy and the story behind Hadeem  This is one of the most vulnerable and practical “busy brain” conversations the show has had yet — packed with insight for anyone navigating ADHD, creativity, burnout, or simply trying to make dinner without spiraling. Find Spencer and Hadeem:  Instagram: @wearehadeem  Website: wearehadeemsf.com  Subscribe to the Not From Concentrate newsletter at catherinesmart.substack.com for links to ADHD resources, recipes, and more from this episode.

    1 hr

  6. 5 May

    Food, Bravery, and Hope in Ukraine, with Felicity Spector

    In this episode, Catherine sits down with journalist and author of Bread and War Felicity Spector to talk about the role of food in one of the most difficult places on earth right now: war-torn Ukraine. Since 2022, Felicity has been traveling to Ukraine to support grassroots food initiatives—from mobile bakeries feeding frontline communities to chefs creating restaurant-quality meals for soldiers. Her work captures something often missing from headlines: the resilience, ingenuity, and humanity that keep people going. They talk about:  How mobile bakeries are feeding communities without electricity   The surprising logistics behind getting bread to the front lines   Why small food businesses are the backbone of society   Ukrainian food culture—and why bread is so deeply symbolic   The emotional reality of telling these stories in an overwhelming news cycle   Simple ways you can help  This conversation is honest, emotional, and unexpectedly hopeful. Links & Resources  Buy Bread and War by Felicity Spector   Donate to https://bakeforukraine.org/  Substack: Flour Power If this episode moved you, share it with a friend. It’s one small way to help these stories travel further.

    42 min

  7. 28 Apr

    Following the Silk Roads: Anna Ansari on Identity, Trade, and the Flavors That Connect Us

    This week, Catherine chats with cookbook author and food writer Anna Ansari, whose new book Silk Roads explores the rich, interconnected cuisines stretching from East Asia to the Middle East. Anna’s path to food writing wasn’t exactly linear—she started as an international trade and customs attorney in New York before moving to the UK and finding her way into recipe testing, food writing, and ultimately cookbook authorship. In this conversation, she shares how her background in law, her Iranian-American identity, and her global perspective all shaped the book. Together, Catherine and Anna unpack the idea of the “Silk Roads”—not as one single route, but as a vast network of trade, migration, and cultural exchange that still influences how we cook and eat today. They also get into:  What the Silk Roads actually are (and why the plural matters)   Growing up between cultures—and how that shows up in the kitchen   Why curiosity matters more than getting it “right” when exploring new cuisines   The unexpected entry points into Central Asian and Middle Eastern cooking   How markets can unlock a deeper understanding of food and culture   The recipes to start with (including a simple, crowd-pleasing Uzbek plov)  Plus, Anna shares her go-to strategies for sparking creativity in the kitchen—and calming the chaos when life (or dinner) feels overwhelming. Whether you’re a cookbook collector, a curious home cook, or someone who’s ever felt intimidated by unfamiliar ingredients, this episode is an invitation to dig in with curiosity, playfulness, and zero pressure to be perfect. Catherinesmart.com Tune in to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Not From Concentrate team: Catherine Smart, Host/Executive Producer Kevin O’Connell, Audio and Video Production Allie Miller, Associate Producer

    50 min

  8. 21 Apr

    Building a Creative Career with Food Photographer Nina Gallant

    In this episode, Nina Gallant pulls back the curtain on the world of food photography: what actually goes into building a shot, how creative careers evolve, and what it takes to turn artistic work into a sustainable business. balancing creativity with the demands of running a business, building community, and making work that people actually want to pay you for. We also talk about:  What a food photographer actually does (beyond taking beautiful pictures)   How lighting shapes emotion—and why “photography is light”   The art of building a visual world around food   How trends (Instagram, digital media) have changed food photography   The reality of creative careers—and how Nina made hers financially sustainable   Practical advice for creatives trying to make the leap  Plus, Nina shares how she sparks creativity (in and out of the kitchen) and the small rituals that help her calm the chaos. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into the images in cookbooks and magazines—or how to build a creative life that actually works—this one’s for you. Sign up for the Not From Concentrate newsletter. Follow the Not From Concentrate podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Connect with Nina Gallant: Nina Gallant’s website Nina’s Instagram Not From Concentrate team: Catherine Smart, Host/Executive Producer Kevin O’Connell, Audio and Video Production Allie Miller, Associate Producer

    41 min
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About

A lot of food, a little bit all over the place.  A food podcast for busy brains from cook/writer/mom/ADHD-er Catherine Smart.Tune in for conversations with chefs, authors, creators, and neurodivergent food lovers. We talk personal and professional journeys, sparking creativity, calming chaos, and putting our attention where it matters most. Together, we find joy in (and out of) the kitchen.

Information

  • Creator
    Catherine Smart
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Not From Concentrate
  • Show Website
    Not From Concentrate

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