Babe Cave

Amanda Polick

Welcome to Babe Cave, where creative conversations are honest, funny, and anything but boring. Inspired by Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, host Amanda Polick—cookbook and food memoir coach, storyteller, and recovering improv actor—takes you behind the scenes of writing and publishing without the elitist BS. With over 20 years of storytelling experience, Amanda has helped writers land Big 5 book deals, see their work in outlets like Food52 and Edible Communities, and craft stories only they can tell. She's worked with Michelin-Starred chefs, produced 300+ live segments at Time Inc., and knows the food and publishing worlds inside and out. Now, she's bringing that expertise and her trademark truth-telling to the mic. Each week, expect solo deep dives into the messy realities of creative life, unfiltered interviews with authors who actually say what they think, and real-world advice for writers ready to stop playing small. Think of it as the writing club you always wanted, minus the pretentious conference vibes. Whether you're writing your first cookbook, wrestling with imposter syndrome, or dreaming of a food memoir that's uniquely yours, Babe Cave is your curated playlist of what actually matters. Come for the writing insights, stay for the laughs, stories, and a little rock-and-roll spirit. Perfect for: writers, authors, cookbook and food memoir creators, and creative entrepreneurs. Mature language and topics included—listen at your own discretion. Questions? Visit amandapolick.com

  1. Episode 1

    The Yesteryear Episode

    Season five kicks off with Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, and people are still mad about it. So, obviously, it had to be the first thing Amanda Polick talked about. Amanda is joined by longtime friend of the show, Jacque, to talk about the novel that set the internet on fire this year. Natalie is a trad-wife influencer who wakes up in 1855 and has to actually live the life she's been selling online. It's weird, it's uncomfortable, and it made both of them furious in the best way. They get into trad-wife culture, the manosphere, unlikable women, and why the people who hate this book might be proving its point. Amanda also shares what it was like to watch a real trad-wife speak at a conference this year, and how disorienting it was to not nod along with everyone else in the room. Also in this episode: Why Natalie not having a redemption arc is actually the whole point The misinformation and performance baked into influencer culture — on and off the page The twist, the ending, and Caro's response to a very unhappy reader in her Instagram comments Jacque's wild plot theory that sends Amanda screaming If you read it and had feelings, this one's for you. If you haven't read it yet, consider this your sign. Spoiler warning: this episode discusses major plot points and the ending of Yesteryear. Resources mentioned: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, James by Percival Everett, A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, The End of the Story by Lydia Davis, House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, Caro Claire Burke's Marie Claire Australia interview Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com Free 1-hour cookbook masterclass: Writing Gold

  2. Episode 2

    The AI & Publishing Episode

    AI is everywhere, and writers are being asked to figure out what it means for their work. So Amanda Polick brought in literary agent Lauren MacLeod for an honest conversation about AI and publishing, without pretending the answers are simple or settled. They get into the risks writers should know about: copyright, reputation, accuracy, and the way AI can smooth the edges off a distinctive voice. Lauren explains why keeping drafts and notes matters, what to be cautious about with tools like Grammarly, and why AI detectors don't tell the whole story. But this isn't an all-or-nothing conversation. Amanda and Lauren also talk about where AI can be useful—from brainstorming and transcribing to handling tedious business tasks—and how to use it without letting it take over the creative work. They discuss the Anthropic lawsuit and settlement involving books used to train Claude, the need for more transparency from publishers, and the possibility of a future where creators are paid when their work is used to train AI. Also in this episode: Why AI-generated work raises copyright concerns for writers The difference between using AI to spark ideas and letting it rewrite your prose Why saving messy drafts and timestamped versions can help show your creative process How publishers are using AI behind the scenes and where more transparency is needed Why it's okay to change your mind as the technology and conversation evolve Perfect for writers, readers, and anyone trying to make sense of AI's place in publishing. Resources mentioned: The Anthropic lawsuit and settlement, Pangram, Grammarly, and Caribbean Cocktails by Chef Nelson German Find Lauren: Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com Free 1-hour cookbook masterclass: Writing Gold

  3. Episode 3

    The Kin Episode

    The next Babe Cave book chat brings Amanda Polick and Crystal Marie together for a conversation about Kin by Tayari Jones, and the Southern places, family ties, and complicated histories that make the novel feel so real. Crystal, a lifelong story enthusiast and host of Under Told by CM, shares how Kin helped her imagine her grandmother as a young woman, and why words like "trifling" and "no count" made the book feel instantly familiar. They get into the novel's vivid settings, the communities that help raise children, and the search for maternal love and belonging. They also discuss the history behind the story—from travel in the Jim Crow South to reproductive rights—and why those themes still resonate today. Also in this episode: Why the book's Southern details feel lived-in, not just described The power of "play cousins" and community care What letters allow Annie and Vernice to say that they might not say aloud The book's emotional impact, and why its story stays with you If you read Kin and had feelings, this one's for you. If you haven't read it yet, consider this your sign. Spoiler warning: This episode discusses major plot points from Kin. Resources mentioned: Kin by Tayari Jones, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, UnderTold by CM Find Crystal: @crystalmariecom | crystalmarie.com | UnderTold by CM wherever you listen to podcasts; video episodes are on Spotify and YouTube. Find Amanda: @amandapolick | amandapolick.com Free 1-hour cookbook masterclass: Writing Gold Babe Cave Book List (By clicking the links above, at no cost to you, I may receive some $$$ in my pocket.)

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About

Welcome to Babe Cave, where creative conversations are honest, funny, and anything but boring. Inspired by Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, host Amanda Polick—cookbook and food memoir coach, storyteller, and recovering improv actor—takes you behind the scenes of writing and publishing without the elitist BS. With over 20 years of storytelling experience, Amanda has helped writers land Big 5 book deals, see their work in outlets like Food52 and Edible Communities, and craft stories only they can tell. She's worked with Michelin-Starred chefs, produced 300+ live segments at Time Inc., and knows the food and publishing worlds inside and out. Now, she's bringing that expertise and her trademark truth-telling to the mic. Each week, expect solo deep dives into the messy realities of creative life, unfiltered interviews with authors who actually say what they think, and real-world advice for writers ready to stop playing small. Think of it as the writing club you always wanted, minus the pretentious conference vibes. Whether you're writing your first cookbook, wrestling with imposter syndrome, or dreaming of a food memoir that's uniquely yours, Babe Cave is your curated playlist of what actually matters. Come for the writing insights, stay for the laughs, stories, and a little rock-and-roll spirit. Perfect for: writers, authors, cookbook and food memoir creators, and creative entrepreneurs. Mature language and topics included—listen at your own discretion. Questions? Visit amandapolick.com