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

5
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5 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