Cookbook Love Podcast

Maggie Green
  • 4.9 (44)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

In this weekly podcast, host Maggie Green celebrates cookbook readers, writers, collectors, and clubs, with interviews and conversations about cookbook writing and the role of cookbooks in our lives. Maggie's mission is to build and celebrate a community of people who would rather write, read, and buy a cookbook over any other genre of book.

  1. 4d ago

    Being a Cookbook Author & Publisher: Justin Ellen of @EverythingJustBaked

    Welcome back to the Cookbook Love Podcast! This week I sit down with Justin Ellen, the baker and content creator behind Everything Just Baked, whose fun, chaotic, personality-filled approach to baking has captured the attention of millions of people across social media. We talk all about his beautiful new cookbook, Better Than Grandma's: Comfort Desserts We Grew Up Loving, his path from posting cake photos on Instagram at sixteen to building a following in the millions, and the leap from social media into an independently published book, including the vulnerability of showing up on camera, the real math behind traditional advances versus going independent, and how he decided which recipes made the cut. In this episode, Justin will show you: Why the fear of showing up online never fully disappears, even after you've "made it," so that you can stop waiting for the fear to go away before you start What a traditional publishing advance would actually cost Justin in time and money, and how he weighed his own publishing options  How to decide which of your most-loved recipes or content belongs in a book versus staying just for your audience What it took to independently publish a book that looks and feels as polished as one from a traditional publisher, so that going independent doesn't mean settling for less Justin's journey proves your path to build your platform or publish your cookbook doesn't have to look like everyone else's journey. You truly can choose your own adventure. Mentioned in This Episode: Everything Just Baked Join waitlist for next cookbook publishing masterclass

    Being a Cookbook Author & Publisher: Justin Ellen of @EverythingJustBaked

  2. Sep 10

    Episode 418: Cookbook Publicity Secrets: What Top PR Agents Want Cookbook Authors to Know

    Welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast! Today's episode pulls together the best publicity advice from top cookbook PR agents who've been on this show. These experts have worked with names like Jacques Pepin, Julia Child, and Ina Garten, and have helped first time authors build a following from scratch. When I laid their advice side by side, the overlap was clear, and that's what this episode is built around: what to focus your time and energy on, and what to let go of, and what's working in 2026. After this episode, you will: Know where to put your time and energy, without spreading yourself thin Have clarity on publicity vs marketing, and choose the right tool for the job Release the pressure of one big launch so that you can build something sustainable Own your own origin story, so that you are ready for the moment someone asks why your book matters Stop chasing what isn't working, and put your energy toward what is If this episode has you rethinking where to put your energy as you build toward your own book, get on my email list for free training on cookbook writing. Mentioned in This Episode: Join waitlist for next cookbook publishing masterclass

    Episode 418: Cookbook Publicity Secrets: What Top PR Agents Want Cookbook Authors to Know

  3. Sep 2

    Publishers Are Waiting For You

    Welcome back to another episode of Cookbook Love Podcast. Today I'm tackling a belief I encourage every one of my students to hold: publishers and agents aren't just open to your ideas, they're actively waiting for them. I share the real story behind my first book deal, including the year I spent sitting on a business card before I found the courage to send my idea, and how that single decision led to four cookbooks with three different publishers over the next ten years and a life built around writing cookbooks and coaching cookbook writers. In this episode, we discuss: The stainless steel bowl analogy: why hiding your ideas keeps you invisible, and what to do instead The business card story: a year of silence, and what finally broke it What actually got me signed (hint: it wasn't a big Instagram following) Two questions to ask yourself about your own kitchen work and its value There's an abundance of publishers and agents ready for your unique perspective. This episode is my invitation to you to start believing they're waiting for you too. Mentioned in This Episode: Join waitlist for next cookbook publishing masterclass

    Publishers Are Waiting For You

  4. Aug 27

    Episode 416: Are There Too Many Cookbooks?

    Welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast! Today I'm talking about something I hear all the time, from people who visit my table at events and from readers on my own email list: the belief that there are already too many cookbooks. I went through a season where I believed this myself. I really did not think there was a need for any more cookbooks, mine included. If that thought has ever crossed your mind, I want you to know you are not alone, and I want to tell you why I no longer believe it. In this episode, we discuss: Why nobody ever says there are too many romance novels, cozy mysteries, or business books, and what that tells us about the "too many cookbooks" complaint The one truth about food that means a cookbook can never stop mattering: every single person alive needs to eat Why your perspective on a subject is worth just as much as the hundred other people who wrote about it first Why there is not too many cookbooks, but the perfect number, with always room for more If this episode has you thinking differently about the story you've been telling yourself about why you haven't started, get on my email list for free training on cookbook writing. Mentioned in This Episode: Join the waitlist for the next cookbook publishing masterclass

    Episode 416: Are There Too Many Cookbooks?

  5. Aug 20

    Common Obstacles That Keep Cookbook Writers Stuck

    Welcome back to the Cookbook Love Podcast! Before I launched my recent masterclass about how to grow your audience for a cookbook, I sent my email list two questions: what's holding you back from growing your audience, and what do you want answered in the class? In this solo episode, I'm sharing the answers my readers sent in, along with a mindset shift for each one, so you can see whether you're standing in the same gap they are. In this episode, I discuss: Why writing a blog isn't a barrier to your email list, it's one step away from it Why consistency isn't a personality trait, it's a weekly decision you keep making The difference between engagement and attention, and how to invite more of the first Why internet politics doesn't have to touch your dream of writing a cookbook What to do when you haven't identified your cookbook topic yet I close the episode with a reminder that waiting to grow your audience or build your platform isn't neutral. A small shift in how you think about these five "excuses" can be the difference between staying stuck and finally starting to build an audience and get a book deal you dream about. Mentioned in This Episode: Cookbook Concept Map (free download)

    Common Obstacles That Keep Cookbook Writers Stuck

  6. Aug 13

    Episode 414: 5 Myths About Your Cookbook Audience

    Welcome back to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast! Today we're getting into the myths I hear most often about what it actually takes to grow a cookbook audience.  Over the years, I keep hearing the same things repeated as if they're facts, and these are costly. They cost time, momentum, a book deal, book sales, or even the book itself. So today I'm walking through five of the biggest myths about audience growth, what's actually true underneath them, and why clearing them up now (not later) matters so much for cookbook authors. In this episode, we discuss: Why your follower count isn't the same thing as your audience, and what actually is The real order of operations between building a platform and landing a book deal What publishers actually expect authors to bring to the table these days Why a well-written book still needs something else to sell The "I'll do it once things settle down" trap, and why that moment tends not to come If any of these myths have been quietly running the show in your own thinking, this episode is your reset. Growing an audience isn't a nice-to-have side project. It's the infrastructure that makes everything else, from pitching to publishing to selling, actually work. And the good news is you don't have to perform for social media algorithms to do it. Ready to learn how to grow your audience the right way? Head to the link below to register for the free Grow Your Audience Masterclass, where I'll show you exactly how to build the kind of audience publishers actually want. Mentioned in This Episode: Grow Your Audience Masterclass: free 3-part video series on growing your audience without performing for social media algorithms

    Episode 414: 5 Myths About Your Cookbook Audience

  7. Aug 6

    Episode 413: You Don't Have to Dance for a Book Deal

    Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today's episode is for the chef, the dietitian, the culinary professional who has a cookbook in them, and who has also been told that getting published means getting on TikTok. If you've ever had your teenager laugh at you for trying to "be on camera," or quietly wondered whether your cookbook dream is dead simply because you refuse to perform for an algorithm, this episode is for you. In this episode, we discuss: What publishers actually mean when they say "platform" and why it's not what you think The real difference between building trust and chasing an algorithm Why your years of professional expertise may already be your biggest advantage Whether it's really too late to start building an audience today A different way to think about "platform" that doesn't involve a single dance move If you're a dietitian, chef, or culinary professional who wants to publish a cookbook with a traditional publishing house, I invite you to join my upcoming Grow Your Audience masterclass. You'll learn how to build an audience publishers value, without relying on social media algorithms, by creating a community, sharing your message, and testing cookbook ideas with the people who will eventually become your readers. Mentioned in This Episode: Register for the Grow Your Cookbook Audience class

    Episode 413: You Don't Have to Dance for a Book Deal

  8. Jul 30

    Dora Ramirez James Beard Award-Winning Cookbook Author of Comida Casera

    Welcome to another episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast. Today, I'm joined by Dora Ramirez. Dora Ramirez didn't set out to reinvent Mexican cuisine. She wanted to uncover the stories, ingredients, and traditions that were already there. Before we get started:  If you're a dietitian, chef, or culinary professional who wants to publish a cookbook with a traditional publishing house, I invite you to join my upcoming Grow Your Audience masterclass. You'll learn how to build an audience publishers value — without relying on social media algorithms — by creating a community, sharing your message, and testing cookbook ideas with the people who will eventually become your readers. Register for upcoming Grow Your Cookbook Audience class In today's episode, I talk with Dora about the journey behind Comida Casera: More Than 100 Vegan Recipes from Traditional to Modern Mexican Dishes, her James Beard Award-winning cookbook celebrating the indigenous roots and plant-based traditions of Mexican cuisine. Born in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, Dora came to the United States to attend the Culinary Institute of America before building a career as a chef, recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator. Her cookbook grew from a desire to share a deeper story about Mexican food — one centered on history, culture, and the ingredients that have shaped the cuisine for generations. In this episode, we discuss:  How Dora transformed her personal experience and culinary background into a unique cookbook concept Why Comida Casera focuses on uncovering indigenous Mexican plant-based foundations rather than simply adapting recipes How she documented recipes and stories from indigenous cooks across Mexico The thought process behind organizing a cookbook as a journey through Mexican culinary traditions What it was like to see her nearly three-year cookbook project recognized with a James Beard Award Dora also shares her new online cookbook club, where she explores historical Mexican cookbooks and brings their recipes and stories to a new audience. Dora's story is also a reminder that a cookbook begins long before the manuscript is written. It starts with understanding your unique perspective, knowing the story you want to share, and building a community of readers who care about your work. If you're a dietitian, chef, or culinary professional who wants to publish a cookbook with a traditional publishing house, I invite you to join my upcoming Grow Your Audience masterclass. You'll learn how to build an audience publishers value — without relying on social media algorithms — by creating a community, sharing your message, and testing cookbook ideas with the people who will eventually become your readers.  Mentioned in This Episode: Register for upcoming Grow Your Cookbook Audience class Dora Ramirez  Comida Casera by Dora Ramirez

    Dora Ramirez James Beard Award-Winning Cookbook Author of Comida Casera
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In this weekly podcast, host Maggie Green celebrates cookbook readers, writers, collectors, and clubs, with interviews and conversations about cookbook writing and the role of cookbooks in our lives. Maggie's mission is to build and celebrate a community of people who would rather write, read, and buy a cookbook over any other genre of book.

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