Dish + Tell

Kayla Gorski

Dish + Tell is a podcast rooted in the belief that some of the best stories are told around the table. Hosted by Kayla Gorski, each episode begins with a dish – one that holds memory, meaning, or a good story – and unfolds into an honest, meandering conversation. Using food as the connective thread, Kayla invites guests to share a meal and explore identity, culture, creativity, joy, grief, and the moments that shape us. Think of it as a dinner party where food brings us together and the stories linger long after the last bite.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Rethinking Wealth: Time Affluence + Huckleberry Chipotle Ribs

    Busy has become a status symbol. We wear packed calendars like a badge of honor, and yet Harvard research on time poverty found that feeling chronically short on time drags down happiness more than unemployment does. So what does it look like when someone opts out of the hustle…on purpose? Enter Michael Manzer: bartender, climber, world-wanderer, and the man Kayla lovingly refers to as her favorite dirtbag. The table holds three things. First, Huckleberry Chipotle BBQ Ribs, a Missouri-meets-Montana mashup (recipe linked below!). Second, a Blackberry Huckleberry Cobbler with Lemon Chantilly inspired by his grandma’s farm. Third, a bottle of Romanelli’s Terra Cupa Montefalco Sagrantino. Over all of it, the two dig into time affluence: the luxury of having time that’s truly your own. What unfolds is a conversation about reclaiming a word that started as an insult, what it really costs to choose time over money, and why Kayla’s own career detour has her rethinking what “ambition” even means. WHAT’S ON THE TABLE: The 48-hour gap in a Hawaii itinerary, and why Michael never once considered booking a hotelWhere the word “dirtbag” actually comes fromThe Harvard prescription for time poverty, and the one question Michael asks that flips it on its headCan you have too much free time? What a UCLA researcher found, and what happens to a dirtbag when an injury takes away the dirtThe spending filter Michael swears by (bikes: yes; clothes: don’t ask), and the one Kayla built from itHow Michael answers the dreaded “So, what do you do?” (Kayla’s been trying on a few answers of her own)The 110-pound grandma who out-picked everyone in the blackberry patch, and Michael’s theory on why sharing food might be the most generous thing humans doCome for the beefy ribs, stay for the radical idea that your time might be the richest thing you own. (Bonus: the pair call Michael’s voicemail. On air. You’ll understand.) Eat up more details and RECIPES on Substack @kaylagorski and follow Dish + Tell on Instagram @DishandTellWithKayla.  CREDITS:  Host + Creator: Kayla Gorski Guest: Michael Manzer Filmed + Edited by: Erika Share for Montana PBS Production Services Music: “Pretective Boy” by Skating Polly Artwork: John Wilson Baker MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE: Tim Kasser & Kennon Sheldon: psychologists whose 2009 paper put "time affluence" on the map, linking it to greater well-being.Ashley Whillans: Harvard professor and author of Time Smart, a playbook for reclaiming your time.Cassie Holmes: UCLA professor and author of Happier Hour. Her co-authored study found 2–5 hours of free time a day is the happiness sweet spot.The 9% stat: in a 2010 survey, just 9% of adults often had time on their hands; 45% almost never did.Spider Sabich: the '70s ski racer who reportedly called himself "just a dirtbag," the word's first media reference. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Welcome to the Table: Meet Michael Manzer  3:25 Dealer’s Choice: Bartending, Outdoor Adventure + Dirtbaggery  9:13 Sleeping on Hawaii Beaches + “Dirtbag” Origin Story  13:12 Huckleberry Chipotle BBQ Ribs, Sagrantino + Grandma’s Cobbler  23:42 Pirate Voicemails, Sharing Food + Dirtbag Camp Meals  31:27 What Is Time Affluence? Time Poverty + Kayla’s Career Change  46:24 Bikes vs. Shirts: Experiences Over Things + Finding Purpose  1:04:03 Lingering Thoughts

  2. Jul 2

    Ep08 Front Porch Culture: A Montana Pot Roast and Generational Ranching

    Beef is absolutely what’s for dinner – record high prices, the smallest U.S. cattle herd in more than 70 years, a brand-new (and upside-down!) federal food pyramid that puts protein front and center, and more and more people want to know where their dinner comes from. That’s why Kayla pulled up a chair with her “beef guy” and friend, fifth-generation Montana rancher Eric Robinson.  Over a Montana Pot Roast (fear not, the recipe is linked below!) and a bottle of Nebbiolo, Eric reveals that the dish holding the most story for him isn’t the roast at all – it’s the leftovers. From there, what unfolds is a conversation about lineage you can feel in your bones: the "ghosts in the ground" Eric senses beside him every time he walks the land, the regenerative decision that nearly cost him the ranch, and the moment at 22 when he asked himself a question that changed everything. In this episode, Kayla and Eric discuss: What it means to have a generational career that lives "in the marrow of your bones"The depression-era reason nothing ever got wasted (and why Eric swears the leftovers, not the roast, are the main event)The "ghosts in the ground" — feeling five generations standing beside you every time you walk the landThe question Eric asked himself at 22 that rerouted his whole life Eric's regenerative journey — going cold turkey on chemical fertilizers, and the two lean years it nearly cost the ranchThe dying art of front-porch culture, and why the farmers market became Eric'sBeef's big moment: record prices, tight supply, and what it actually means for a small family operationWhy "rich rancher" might be the biggest misconception of all Come for the pot roast, and stay for a definition of wealth that has nothing to do with your bank account. Eric will tell you the front porch is dying — but step up to his farmers market booth and you'll find it's just moved. Bozeman-area locals can catch him and his wife Juliana at the Gallatin Valley Farmers’ Market every Saturday. 🍽️ Score Kayla’s recipe for Montana Pot Roast by subscribing to the Dish + Tell substack: https://substack.com/@kaylagorski  📍Follow the Ranchers of Shields Valley family on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranchersofshieldsvalley/  🥩 Visit Eric’s “front porch” (and meet the rest of his family!) at the Gallatin Valley Farmers’ Market, every Saturday at the fairgrounds: https://gallatinvalleyfarmersmarket.com/ KEYWORDS: generational ranching, regenerative agriculture, Montana ranch, pot roast, sustainable beef, Bozeman Farmers Market, Dish + Tell, Kayla Gorski

  3. Jun 16

    Ep07 An Empty Seat: A Root Beer Float and Lessons in Grief

    What if grief could be a guide instead of an enemy?  In a special solo episode, Kayla shares a root beer float with her dad – gone thirteen years, but invited to pull up a chair in spirit. What follows is five hard-won lessons about loss, presence, and the love that has nowhere to go but everywhere.  Alongside her dad, Kayla reflects on:  Why the "I've lost someone" club has the most beautiful members — and the unspoken shorthand that forms between people who've grievedHow to navigate Father's Day, Mother's Day, birthdays, and the calendar dates that hit the hardestWhy suppressing the share erases the experience — and the most generous thing you can do for a grieving friend (hint: it's not in the first week)Why pedestals are a disservice to the people we've lostGrief as a shapeshifter — and the moment after a loss when it really landsThe paradox of time — its ability to both heal and steal   Tender, vulnerable, and root beer float-fueled, this episode is for anyone already in the club, and anyone who hasn’t yet found their way there.  A written companion to the episode is on Substack and available without a paywall to subscribers and non-subscribers alike: substack.com/@kaylagorski SHOW NOTES: 📺 Discover where to watch Andrea Gibson's documentary “Come See Me in the Good Light,” at https://andreagibson.org/events.  📖 Read “Marrow,” by Elizabeth Lesser, or “Signs” by Laura Lynne Jackson, both available wherever books are sold. KEYWORDS: grief, Father’s Day, Dish + Tell, Kayla Gorski, food podcast, Andrea Gibson, Elizabeth Lesser, Laura Lynne Jackson, root beer float, recipe

  4. May 29

    Ep06 Old Fashioned, On Purpose: Brown Butter Miso Donuts and the Case Against Throwaway Consumerism

    Fast fashion is having a moment – and not a good one. When SHEIN bought Everlane, the Millennial girlies (Kayla included) mourned loudly…but now will they keep shopping? On the latest episode of Dish + Tell, Kayla is joined by Madysen Rosenberg to ask the question: at what point does consumer grief actually change anything?  Over Brown Butter Miso Donuts (the recipe is linked below), Kayla and Maddy trace the thread from Maddy’s multi-generational upbringing – sharing donut and black coffee with her grandma – to the repair, repurpose and reuse movement she’s building in Bozeman, Montana, to combat throwaway consumerism head-on.  In this episode, Kayla and Maddy explore: Why the SHEIN-Everlane acquisition feels like a gut punch - and what it reveals about sustainability as a marketing tool How growing up with generational living can influence your relationship to things: what to keep, what to repair, and what to pass downThe staggering stat that will make you think twice before your next purchase (hint: garbage trucks are involved) Why borrowing, swapping and shopping your friends’ closets might be the most underrated sustainability moveWhat to expect at the upcoming Hidden Gem Repair Fair – zipper rescue, Mystery Ranch gear repair, embroidery, and more  Come for the donuts, and stay for the quiet argument that repair is the newest act of rebellion! See you at the Repair Faire on June 13th, 1-5pm, at Studio Wheelhouse in Bozeman!  SHOW NOTES: 🍩 Score Kayla’s recipe for Brown Butter and Miso Donuts by subscribing to the Dish + Tell Substack.   🧵 If you live in the Bozeman-area, make a plan to visit the Repair Fair on Saturday, June 13 from 1pm - 5pm at Studio Wheelhouse.  💎 Follow the Hidden Gem Market for Repair Fair and other updates on Instagram @HiddenGemMarket406.  ☕️ Whether you’re in Bozeman or beyond (they deliver!), caffeinate with Roly-Poly Coffee (https://rolypoly.coffee/). KEYWORDS: fast fashion, SHEIN Everlane acquisition, sustainable fashion, repair culture, thrifting, vintage fashion, slow fashion, textile waste, fashion sustainability, upcycling clothes, mending and repair, Hidden Gem Market Bozeman, repair fair Bozeman, Dish and Tell podcast, Dish + Tell, brown butter miso donuts, donut recipe, Bozeman Montana, generational living, millennial sustainable fashion, conscious consumerism

  5. May 6

    Ep05 Ride or Die: Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats and the Art of Adult Friendship

    Love is on the brain at Dish + Tell because when this episode drops, Kayla’s friend and guest Morgan Klaas is days away from walking down the aisle. And while they could have talked about romance, they went somewhere even richer: the big, brave, beautiful world of adult friendship. Over a plate of Kayla’s Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie treats (which Morgan has since rebranded "divorce treats" — you'll have to tune in for that story) and a glass of cava, they unpacked lost friends, the ones who stayed, and what loyalty looks like in action. Kayla also shares her belief that experiencing awe together might be the secret sauce to a lasting bond. In this episode, Kayla and Morgan explore: Why adult friendship requires a different kind of intention — and what gets in the wayThe "10X friendship" philosophy and how to apply it to your own circleThe difference between leading with love vs. leading with loyalty when making new friendsHow shared experiences of awe — in nature, in music, in travel — create bonds that lastThe loneliness epidemic and what it really means that 16% of Americans are turning to AI for companionshipMorgan's beautiful, tender definition of what true friendship looks like in its purest form As you listen, think about your own circle. Who's on the bus ride with you — and are they truly deserving of that seat? And is there room to invite someone new on for the next leg of the ride? The recipe for divorce treats (officially: Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie treats, with a super secret ingredient) is live on Substack: substack.com/@kaylagorski 🥂 Cheers to Morgan and her HUSBAND, and all of the ones who show up. SHOW NOTES: 🎙️ Listen to The Huberman Lab podcast episode with Dr. Dacher Keltner referenced.  📖 Pick up a copy of Dan Sullivan’s 10x is easier than 2x wherever books are sold.  🌹 To re-live the moment when Kayla and Morgan FINALLY understood the magic and poetry of Drums and Space, listen to this Dead & Company show from Folsom Field, Boulder, July 3, 2023. KEY WORDS: friendship, loyalty, vulnerability, adult relationships, awe, support, connection, personal growth, social dynamics, emotional health, adult friendship, making friends as an adult, loneliness epidemic, 10X friendships, shine theory, meaningful relationships, friendship advice, Dish and Tell podcast, Rice Krispie treats recipe, salted brown butter treats, cava wine pairing

  6. Mar 25

    Ep03 When Life Gives You Lemons: Lemon Bars and Leaping Into the Unknown

    What does it really mean to follow your happiness — and what does it cost? In this episode, Kayla sits down with Carolyn Williams, founder of Zephyr cycling and movement studio in Bozeman, Montana, over lemon bars and dog treats – because wherever Caro goes, her pups are at her side! Caro built something beautiful — and then had the courage to let it go. What she learned through that experience, and through other heartbreaks and heartquakes along the way, is the kind of wisdom that lingers long after the last bite: that following your happiness doesn't guarantee an easy, smooth, or grief-free path. But it does guarantee that the path is yours. This is a conversation about authenticity, entrepreneurship, reinvention, and the quiet bravery it takes to listen to your own heart — even when it's hard. Pull up a chair, we saved you a seat! Show Notes: Score Kayla’s recipe for Lemon Bars and CharLu Ranch Bites by subscribing to the Dish + Tell Substack.  For more of Caro’s wisdom, subscribe to her Substack, The Aerie. She often features animals available for adoption, so give her a follow if you’d like to put her matchmaking skills to work!  Did the bug soup analogy resonate? Learn more about Martha Beck’s “Change Cycle.” If you love the sight of dogs without leashes, pick-up a copy of Dog Songs by Mary Oliver.  To learn more about the animal organizations mentioned in this episode, visit Heart of the Valley, Spay Montana, and Stafford Animal Shelter - there are a number of ways you can get involved!

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Dish + Tell is a podcast rooted in the belief that some of the best stories are told around the table. Hosted by Kayla Gorski, each episode begins with a dish – one that holds memory, meaning, or a good story – and unfolds into an honest, meandering conversation. Using food as the connective thread, Kayla invites guests to share a meal and explore identity, culture, creativity, joy, grief, and the moments that shape us. Think of it as a dinner party where food brings us together and the stories linger long after the last bite.