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 3

    The Jannell Lo Episode

    What happens when nobody signs up for your class, but you leave it posted anyway? Sometimes, two months later, the exact right person finds it—and four years later, you're celebrating their debut cookbook launch. Jannell Lo is a food creator and writer whose journey to publication defied every traditional publishing rule. She got her cookbook deal without an agent, through a cold email that led to a call with Penguin Random House Canada six weeks later. But between that email and her book launch this week, she raised $150K fighting anti-Asian hate through Dump the Hate, learned to write "hot garbage" instead of perfect prose, and discovered that creative processes don't have to be linear. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why platform building happens organically when you focus on work that matters to your community rather than trying to "build platform" The book proposal elements that actually matter and how a solid proposal makes writing your manuscript exponentially easier How to break free from rigid creative routines that kill your inspiration instead of nurturing it Why getting a book deal is about mutual benefit not begging for an opportunity—publishers need you too The "hot garbage" writing philosophy that helps authors actually finish their manuscripts Perfect for: Aspiring cookbook authors, food writers, creative entrepreneurs, anyone stuck in perfectionism, writers building their platform, people looking to find their authentic creative process About Jannell: Founder of My BF is GF blog, championing gluten-free Asian cuisine inspired by her Chinese-Canadian upbringing and her husband Reid's celiac disease. Former line cook (Hong Kong), pastry training (Montreal), catering manager (Toronto). Her debut cookbook My BF is GF: 100+ Asian-Inspired Recipes for Bringing People Together releases October 21. Resources: mybfisgf.com | @mybfgf | Newsletter signup Show notes: https://www.amandapolick.com/blog/jannell-lo-episode Instagram: @amandapolick

    1h 3m
  2. EPISODE 6

    The Cookbook Coach Episode

    Ever wondered what a cookbook coach actually does? (Most people don't even know it's a thing!) In this solo episode, Amanda pulls back the curtain on my work helping food creators and influencers turn their ideas into traditionally published cookbooks. From the detailed intake form that reveals everything about working together, to the 4-month breakthrough moment that every author experiences, this is your insider look at the cookbook publishing process. In this episode, you'll discover: ✨ What makes a cookbook proposal so critical (and why you can't skip sections) ✨ Why platform size matters less than you think—and what publishers actually care about ✨ The counterintuitive truth: Being uber-specific about your story makes it MORE universal ✨ Real stories from the coaching process (including the French translation incident) ✨ Why cookbooks are incredible marketing tools even if they don't make you millions Perfect for: Food bloggers, content creators, recipe developers, and anyone dreaming of writing a cookbook who wants to understand the real timeline, investment, and vulnerability required. About Amanda Polick: Amanda is a cookbook coach who has spent 5+ years helping food creators develop proposals that agents and publishers can't ignore. Her blog post on cookbook proposals ranks #2 on Google, and her clients consistently hear from editors that their proposals are "so tight" they can just run with them. Resources: Show notes: https://www.amandapolick.com/blog/cookbook-coach-episode Newsletter signup for weekly writing insights: https://amandapolick.myflodesk.com/writinggold Instagram: @amandapolick

    32 min
  3. EPISODE 8

    The War of Art Episode

    If you keep asking yourself "Am I really a writer?"—that's your answer. You already are. In this episode inspired by Steven Pressfield's The War of Art, writing coach Amanda Polick tackles the creative resistance that keeps writers stuck in planning mode and afraid to put words on the page. From her own experience resisting personal material in her novel to coaching clients who avoid their most powerful stories, Amanda reveals why fear is actually your creative compass. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why the question "Am I really a writer?" proves you are one—and why confident people aren't always the real artists How creative resistance points directly to your most important work (and why the things that scare you most are exactly what you need to write) The difference between amateur and professional mindsets: why waiting to overcome fear keeps you stuck forever Why your "easy" lived experiences are actually your strongest material—and how avoiding them makes your work lifeless Practical strategies for moving past perfectionism and finally finishing that book you've been dreaming about Perfect for: Writers struggling with imposter syndrome, creative professionals facing resistance, aspiring authors who keep starting and stopping projects, anyone tired of treating their writing like a hobby Amanda Polick is a cookbook and food memoir coach guide influencers and creators through the book writing process. Her clients have landed literary representation and Big 5 publishing deals.  Resources: Show notes and full blog post: https://www.amandapolick.com/blog/war-of-art-episode  Newsletter signup: https://amandapolick.myflodesk.com/writinggold  The Done Club 6-week writing workshop: https://amandapolick.myflodesk.com/doneclub  Connect: @amandapolick on Instagram | amandapolick.com

    21 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

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